I am often asked for gift ideas for many of my friends that share my interest in the outdoors. Finding that perfect gift can be a daunting task, especially is the shopper does not hunt and fish.
Father’s Day as a national holiday is a recent development. Mrs. John Bruce Dodd of Spokane, Washington, began promoting Father’s Day, and had a celebration in the YMCA building in 1910. The idea was to complement Mother’s Day. By 1936 the custom had spread to many parts of the United Sta…
According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, nearly 30 percent of businesses are victims of payroll malfeasance, with small businesses twice as likely to be affected than large businesses. Here are four scary payroll fraud schemes you need to know:
Today's E-Edition
Through the years, I have been designated cook in camps from the wilds of Canada to south of the border. I absolutely love cooking outside and preparing meals that are simple and tasty. This past weekend while filming a cooking segment for my weekly outdoor show, I prepared a Dutch Kettle re…
Scientist tell us that thinking hard weighs heavy on the brain. I stand in awe of the amazing mental accomplishments of Einstein, but he belongs to a rare breed. Few have the intellectual capacity, or the will power to compel them to engage in heroic mental exercises.
Sleuthing your way through a tax audit by yourself is not the same as fixing a leaky faucet or changing your oil. Here are reasons you should seek professional help as soon as you receive a letter from the IRS:
Millions of Americans saw their religious freedom come under attack on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this week. The principles outlined in the First Amendment are the building blocks of American liberty. The first individual freedom codified by our founding fathers, the righ…
Do you ever “fume” and “fret?” Here is a picture of yourself if you do. The word “fume” means to boil up, to blow off, to emit vapor, to be agitated, to be distraught, to seethe.
What does it mean to be an American?
A fly-in fishing trip to a remote lake in northern Saskatchewan is an experience that anyone that loves the outdoors and fishing should consider doing. I believe it’s lack of information that deters many fishermen from enjoying the fun of catching fish that have never seen a hook and dining …
Your bookkeeping system is the financial heart and lifeblood of your business. When set up and operating properly, your books help you make smart decisions and seamlessly turn your financial data into useful information. Here are four key characteristics to build and maintain a healthy bookk…
Some kids tend to be a little lazy. When I was a boy and reluctant to finish a task, Dad would say, “Son, where’s your gumption?”
During my three-decades career as an outdoors writer, I have had the opportunity to travel to many places and spend time with some wonderful people. This past week, I enjoyed a turkey hunt up in Palo Pinto County on a ranch that ranks very high on my list.
The Texas House just passed the Texas Taxpayer Transparency Act, which provides much needed transparency in the property tax system!
Medicare wants to help you use prescription pain medications safely.
In the outdoors, there are very few constants. So many factors influence the way fish and game go about their day to day lives that we mere humans will never be able to always accurately pattern them. But there is one constant that we can ‘take to the bank’! After a period of heavy rainfall…
Are you superstitious? Superstitions are those illogical feelings that some magical force influences the events of our lives. Few people in every era of history have been entirely free of them.
May is American Wetlands Month and a great time to highlight how important wetlands are to supporting reliable water supplies in our fast-growing North Texas region. The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) is the wholesale drinking water provider for nearly 80 communities in our are…
Anyone thinking about starting a small business should never feel alone. Your success is important to many people. Your community relies on your success because it means better neighborhoods and better schools. America relies on your success because it means more jobs, a stronger economy and…
Have you conducted a business insurance review lately? Changes in your business equipment, real estate holdings, the amount of inventory, and the number of employees are all good reasons to review your insurance. Here are a few policy review tips to consider:
In years past those who lived on farms canned vegetables and meats. The women were usually responsible for the canning. They had two pressure cookers: a large one for canning and a smaller one with a handle for cooking. One day my mother was cooking a roast in the smaller cooker.
This past weekend, my good friend Jeff Rice and I fished the Yantis Catfish Classic at Lake Fork together, using techniques that I am sure the majority of the contestants considered better suited to the 1950’s! As we pulled into the parking lot on the Friday afternoon before the tournament, …
The human mind has incredible ability; our knowledge is impressive, even awesome. We can construct skyscrapers, build and program computers, split the atom, explore outer space, and even explain many of the mysteries of the universe. But we don’t know about tomorrow.
Even the best, well-prepared business plans can unravel quickly without a process in place to evaluate performance. Creating a scorecard with quality metrics can give you the daily insight you need to successfully run a business without drowning in the details.
Fall remains my favorite time of the year but spring runs a very close second place. In early fall, we have all the hunting seasons to look forward to, with the exception of course of spring turkey. But, right now we can enjoy some of the best fishing of the year for many species during a pe…
Wild turkeys are the crappie of the hunting world. At times, they can be ridiculously easy to catch. But much of the time, they are one of the more challenging fish to pattern. It’s likewise with turkeys.
We complain about blue Mondays and black Fridays. If Mondays and Fridays were eliminated, our gloom and despair wouldn’t be cured. Someone would say, “Oh, those red Tuesdays and purple Thursdays.”
Too often major life decisions have tax implications attached to them. For the unwary, this can create a fairly large and unexpected tax bill. Here are four examples of major life changes that can have complicated tax implications:
Through the years while working as a guide in Colorado’s high country, I’ve called elk and bear using predator calls. I’ve learned that the right sound, at the right time will bring most critters in for a close look. I’ve called coyote, bobcat, turkey, deer, waterfowl and even squirrels but…
How times change! In Colonial times—when laughing on the Lord’s Day could land a person in stocks on the public square—Sundays meant dreary afternoons for children.
One morning I was late for an appointment. I rushed from my office got in my car, put the key in the ignition and turned the switch—nothing!
Abolishing the “big brother” era of the notorious red light cameras has been a major issue for grassroots Texans for several years. Red light cameras, with their abominable safety record, exemplify an ill-conceived government project which is fueled almost entirely by bureaucratic greed. The…
As I pulled up to the camp house at my buddy Jeff Rice’s Buck and Bass Ranch, Jeff met me in the yard and commented on the gear I was hauling. My old truck looked a bit like a rolling vending machine for used outdoor gear. In the back were 5 freshly cut ‘cane’ poles, rigged and ready for som…
The following are excerpts of the final speech of Congressman Jeb Hensarling of the Fifth District of Texas delivered on the floor of the United State House of Representatives on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Hensarling is stepping down after eight terms representing Kaufman County.
The IRS continues to focus its audit activities in key small business areas. The wise business owner is well advised to be able to defend the following five areas to keep the IRS at a comfortable distance:
To the editor:
The more things change the more they stay the same. This is especially true when it comes to reviewing your tax situation. Mark your calendar to review these essential items each year to ensure you are not missing something that could cause tax trouble when you file your tax return:
If you are like millions of taxpayers trying to make a living running a small business, you know it is tough out there. Here are six ideas to help your business survive and thrive.
We are five weeks into our three-month campaign to raise money to assist Kaufman County agencies with much-needed funding to continue their great work.
As students are back in school, there are some changes to education deductions that could save or cost you more in taxes and even raise college tuition costs. Here is what you need to know to get up to speed:
Often lost in the excitement of large-scale tax change is how they can negatively impact some individual situations. Check out the questions below to see if you might be in for a tax surprise this year.
In today’s digital age, it is impossible to avoid the internet. Even if you don’t have a computer and actively avoid social media, there is information about you in some corner of the web. Here are some tips to help you manage your digital footprint:
You’ve done the hard work. You have a new business idea or you’ve found an existing business to purchase. Want to help ensure your business success? Pay attention to correctly setting up your business’ accounting system. Here’s how:
No one likes to be blindsided by financial hardship. Listed here are 10 ideas to help ensure your financial situation stays healthy.
Like a bundle of sticks, good business partners support each other and are less likely to crack under strain together than on their own. In fact, companies with multiple owners have a stronger chance of surviving their first five years than sole proprietorships, according to U.S. Small Busin…
Whether it makes sense to amend your return depends on which of these situations you’re in:
The average household carries $137,063 in debt, while the median household income is less than $60,000, according to data from the Federal Reserve and U.S. Labor Department. While it’s easy to get into debt, it can be hard to get out. Here are five tips personal finance experts recommend to …
featured
This past week, I made my second trip to the vast 45,000 acres Choctaw Hunting Lodge, located less than an hour west of Hugo, Okla., this time with several great friends including Larry Weishuhn, aka “Mr. Whitetail.”
We know that people pray for all types of things, and many times I wonder if God takes every request seriously or if He considers some of them unreasonable.
Mobile phones not only contain our personal details and information about everyone we know; they are used to verify our identities and unlock access to our financial accounts.
There’s a new business tax credit that partially reimburses employers for providing paid family and medical leave for select employees. But small businesses should be informed before they try to use this new Family and Medical Leave Act tax break.
I’m sure that many of you remember the man who portrayed the friendly neighbor in the popular children’s program known all over the world as Mister Rogers. Who can forget the childlike song that asked the question, “Won’t you be my neighbor?”
If you own or are considering owning a home, you can take advantage of many tax benefits. Here are six of the most commonly used homeowner’s tax breaks:
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.