Dec/090
Omaha Unchained
Support your locally-owned, independent businesses! Nov. 25 – Dec. 18
View the ad here to find out how you can help your local economy this Holiday Season.
Dec/091
They work among us!
The delivery drivers that I am so fortunate to work with never fail to amaze me. They are on the job day in and day out, delivering material to our customers, sometimes finding themselves in some pretty precarious positions. They deal with all of the elements that Mother Nature can throw at them and them some.
Through all of that they still manage to lend a helping hand to those who need it. About a week ago we had the situation with Ray Punko and the van that rolled over in front of him. As we all know Ray stopped and gave his assistance to the accident victims. Today I find myself sitting here and being concerned with the weather conditions that I have asked these drivers to deal with.
As I look at the current weather conditions/reports on the internet I receive a phone call. I am told that someone wants to talk to me about a driver. The call is then transferred to me. The gentleman on the other end begins with “I just want you to know that I am not calling to complain.” “ I wanted to let someone know that your drivers are some of the most helpful people I have encountered.”
The caller tells me that he has been stuck in a ditch for about 45 minutes and no one, not even the county and city trucks that went by him, stopped to see if he needed any assistance. Lo and behold here came a truck from Millard Lumber. Not only did this driver stop to see if this man was ok but also offered to help him out. The driver, Dave McCullogh and his helper, Don Bryson, stopped and helped this gentleman dig the snow out from around his car and then chained up and pulled the car from the ditch.
The caller was very appreciative of this was just amazed that these guys would help him when everyone else just passed him by. I told the gentleman that I was happy that we were able to help and thanked him for the call. Now as I sit back at my desk, with a very warm and fuzzy feeling, I can only wonder what the next incredible act of kindness will be from one of our employees!
Rick Klein / Millard Lumber / Dispatch Supervisor / Waverly, NE
Nov/090
Understanding the EXTENDED first-time home buyer tax credit.
On November 6, 2009 President Obama signed into law new legislation that extends the first-time home buyer tax credit beyond its Nov. 30 deadline and expands it to a wider group of home buyers. This video explains the facts and answers many home buyer questions regarding the tax credit.
2009-2010 Home Buyer Federal Tax Credit Facts:
Who is Eligible
- First-time home buyers, who are defined by the law as buyers who have not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase, may be eligible for a tax credit of 10% of the home purchase price, up to a maximum of $8,000.
- Existing home owners who have been residing in their principal residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight and are purchasing a home to be their principal residence (“repeat buyer”), may be eligible for a tax credit of 10% of the home purchase price, up to a maximum of $6,500.
- All U.S. citizens who file taxes are eligible to participate in the program.
Income Limits
- Home buyers who file as single or head-of-household taxpayers can claim the full credit ($8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers) if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $125,000.
- For married couples filing a joint return, the combined income limit is $225,000.
- Single or head-of-household taxpayers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000, and married couples who earn between $225,000 and $245,000 are eligible to receive a partial credit.
- The credit is not available for single taxpayers whose MAGI is greater than $145,000 and married couples with a MAGI that exceeds $245,000.
Effective Dates
- The eligibility period for the tax credit is for homes purchased after Nov. 6, 2009, and before May 1, 2010. However, home purchases subject to a binding sales contract signed by April 30, 2010, will qualify for the tax credit provided closing occurs prior to July 1, 2010.
Types of Homes that Qualify
- All homes with a purchase price of less than $800,000 qualify, including newly-constructed or resale, and single-family detached, townhomes or condominiums, provided that the home will be used as their principal residence. Vacation home and rental property purchases do NOT qualify.
Tax Credit is Refundable
- A refundable credit means that if the amount of income taxes you owe is less than the credit amount you qualify for, the government will send you a check for the difference.
- For example:
- A first-time buyer who qualifies for the full $8,000 credit who owes $5,000 in federal income taxes would pay nothing to the IRS and receive a $3,000 payment from the government. If you are due to receive a $1,000 refund, you would receive $9,000 ($1,000 plus the $8,000 tax credit).
- A repeat buyer who owes $5,000 would pay nothing to the IRS and receive $1,500 back from the government. If you are due to get a $1,000 refund, you would get $7,500 ($1,000 plus the $6,500 tax credit).
- All qualified home buyers can take the tax credit on their 2009 or 2010 income tax return.
Payback Provisions
- The tax credit is a true credit. It does not have to be repaid unless the home owner sells or stops using the home as their principal residence within three years after the purchase.
For more information, go to: www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com
Oct/090
2009 United Way of the Midlands Campaign – “Live United”
A very special thank you goes to all the Millard Lumber associates who generously gave and contributed to this year’s United Way campaign.
United Way’s mission is to improve lives by uniting the caring power of our communities. The best way to do this is by focusing on underlying causes to our community’s most serious human services problems. United way brings together neighborhoods, faith-based groups, agencies, business, labor, government, schools and volunteers – because together we will achieve results no one group can accomplish alone.
This year’s Millard Lumber employee campaign was a tremendous success, and all who contributed should be very proud of your commitment to helping those in your communities who require the services supported by the United Way. Companywide we contributed a total of $27,755 and we had a 45% participation rate. This is a tremendous achievement during these difficult economic times, but it makes an important statement that we care and are committed to giving something back to our communities.
Special thanks to this year’s campaign volunteers: Rob Sturgis, Eric Briggs, Sue Eaton, Bryan Foxhoven, Angela Lliteras, Earvin Brown, Terry Barker, Pat Dougherty, Linda Hansen, Rich Jackson and Rod Williamson.
Thank You to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this year’s campaign!!
Oct/090
Building Tips: Preventing a warped door.
Warped doors are most common during seasonal changes, when there is a rapid change in temperature and humidity (specifically winter months). Warp in most cases is not affiliated to a manufacturing defect; it is simply a product reacting to changing environmental conditions.
In more specific terms “moisture imbalance” is the main cause of warp. This is when the atmosphere on the two sides is different. The stresses on one side of the door are not balanced in direction to the other side. If there is an increase of moisture content on one face but not the other, the side with the higher moisture content will tend to elongate and cause the door to bow. Newly- installed doors should be left open until plaster and cement are fully cured. It’s very important to seal all six sides as soon as possible and seal only if the door is straight. When the door is straight the moisture is balanced inside the door. Don’t seal warped doors, this will not allow the imbalance to correct itself.
In most cases a warped door will straighten out after it has acclimated to its surroundings. We recommend the door be allowed to hang through at least a heating and cooling season to allow it to straighten out. A replacement door installed in the same environment may experience the same problem. Again, the door must be sealed all six sides to prevent the moisture penetration into the product, which can cause warp.
In order to minimize the possibility of warp doors, we recommend the following.
- Doors should be stored in a dry area, do not store in areas such as newly poured concrete or recently dry walled or plastered rooms.
- Doors need to be allowed to acclimate to their surroundings. Allow adequate circulation but do not expose to direct sources of heat or cold.
- Doors must be sealed six sides or all warranties are void. This means that the top and bottom of the doors must be coated the same as the stiles and faces of the door. “Dust coating” or overspray is not adequate to properly seal the product. Primed doors such as molded panels must also be painted on top and bottom as well, the prime coat is not an adequate sealer.
All possible steps are taken at the manufacturing facility to minimize the possibility of warp occurring. In addition, following the aforementioned steps should prevent any chance for a warped door.
For more building and construction tips visit our How-To-Library at:
http://howto.millardlumber.com/index.html
Sep/090
A month of free prizes.
Every week throughout the month of August Millard Lumber gave away prizes that ranged from a Weber grill to a Dewalt power saw.
Thanks to all who signed up, and congratulations to our winners!
Aug. 3-9 / Weber grill winner: Paul Berg of Frontier Homes
Aug. 10-16 / Shop Vac winner: Danny Owens
Aug. 17-23 / Dewalt compressor winner: Ron Rech of RLR Enterprises
Aug. 24-31 / Weber grill winner: Duke Hawkins from R.G. Olson Construction
GRAND PRIZE WINNER / Dewalt power saw: Dan Huss of Huss Tile Inc.
Pay attention for our next month of free prizes! Instore – and online will provide details.
Sep/090
Decking that goes well beyond “ordinary”.
With summer coming to a close it’s sad to admit that our time spent outdoors will become less and less. The day’s will inevitably become shorter, and undeniably colder. Your deck or patio may sit un-used, covered in piles of autumn leaves and winter snow. But who says your deck cannot be enjoyed year round? Not only for its purpose but for its “artistic appeal”.
New to Millard Lumber comes Estate Metals. Estate Metals goes beyond the mere traditional decking rail, to truely transform any outdoor or indoor railing application, adding an artistic edge to embody the mood and style of your home.
Sculptor Tom Schlosser (Principal of Estate Metals) uses metal as his medium to create functional pieces for many architectural applications. For years, his work has been only available through private commission. Now, Estate Metals is exclusively at Millard Lumber Inc. Visualize taking art outside with an Estate Metals exterior rail. Or showcasing your style in the entryway with a show-stopping handrail. No matter the application, Millard Lumber will help you select the design, color and texture that works best for your setting.
See Estate Metals on display at Millard Lumber today!
Visit www.estatemetals.com to learn more.
Sep/090
You requested it. We updated it.
We have recently updated our home page. Our new site should make access to our information even easier. Let us know what you think of the site and if we can improve any other way.
Enjoy!