ELSA Weed and Seed to Provide Tax Help

(posted Feb 14)

Eagledale Lafayette Square Area Weed and Seed (ELSA) is planning its own local stimulus plan by offering tax services to low income residents. ELSA Weed and Seed is seeking tax preparer volunteers.

ELSA Site Coordinator Scott Rosenberger said they hope to be able to provide services at Covenant Baptist Church, 4201 W. 30th St, by March. The goal is to help people making under $40,000 a year receive their earned income tax credits, and provide a chance for the elderly to recover missed stimulus checks on their tax returns.

ELSA Weed and Seed President Mark Killgo is hopeful those who qualify for the earned income tax credit will spend the dollars in the local area.

Rosenberger said that ELSA is hoping to open a site office soon by using the old parsonage of Covenant Baptist. He has made a draft agreement to pay $500 a month to use the parsonage. Rosenberger said the mayor's liaison is looking at zoning to see if the office would be permitted in the neighborhood.

Pastor Steve Horsman said the property is currently being used as residential income property, but the church is in the process of ending that practice and wants to use the parsonage for community gatherings.

IMPD Northwest District Major Paul Ciesielski said the district officers made 30 burglary arrests in January, with 17 being a result of 9-1-1 calls. He said the community is doing its job by reporting suspicious activity. The other arrests were made by detectives finding fingerprints. Killgo attested the apprehension rate to the team work effort between the police and public. Killgo and his employees were victims of a robbery and the police apprehended the suspects within 30 minutes because Killgo was able to relay the suspects' whereabouts by tracking his stolen phone through its GPS feature.

Ciesielski also cautioned the public not to leave their cars running unattended. He said some of the thefts are committed by students not wanting to walk or wait for the bus to attend Northwest High School. He said stolen cars have been recovered at the high school. One student was apprehended for car theft.

The Marion County Prosecutor's Officer is recruiting volunteers for its new Crosswalk program. Volunteers are needed to watch bus stops to protect students from becoming robbery victims. Those interested can contact Kevin Tichneor at 317.327.5641.