Veterans Service Office
Burnett County Veteran
Services
7410 County Road K, #128
Siren, Wisconsin 54872
Phone: 715-349-2179
Fax: 715-349-2102
E-mail: dstubbe@burnettcounty.org
Services and Information
The Burnett County Veterans Service Office is here to assist those who have served our nation in the armed forces. We counsel, assist, and advocate for veterans and dependents in issues with federal and state benefits, military matters, referrals, and offer all possible assistance. We work with the State of Wisconsin Dept. of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, the armed forces, and work closely with local service providers such as the county aging programs, public health agency, social services, area hospitals, clinics, lending institutions, and other government agencies as needs arise.
Assistance in obtaining medical care at VAMC'S, loans, grants, etc., with applications and assistance available from 8:30 through 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Office personnel are Doug Stubbe, CVSO, and Linda Anderson, Secretary.
Significant Dates - Updated Monthly
May
6 Nurses Day
7 Unconditional surrender German forces
7 Vietnam War Ends (1975)
8 Victory in Europe Day (1945)
11 Military Spouse Appreciation Day
15 Peace Officer’s Memorial Day
17 Armed Forces Day – 3rd Saturday
26 Memorial Day – Last Monday, until sunsetFrank Buckles, age 107, of Charles Town, WVa, is the last remaining WWI veteran in the U.S.
Hot Links
Publications
News & Views U.S. Small Business Administration January 2008 and February 2008 - PDF
VET Gazette Third Quarter 2007 - DOC
VA News
Stimulus Check Scam Alert:
An email is floating around, supposedly from the IRS, that requests personal information such as account numbers so that your stimulus check can be deposited quicker. It is a scam. The IRS has all the information they need and will not ask for information via email.
Small Business Resources:
VA maintains a website at http://www.vetbiz.gov to assist veterans who wish to start a small business. Also under newletters is a link to the Small Business Association newsletter for additional information. These are two separate resources.
State Park Passes for Veterans
On 7 Apr, Gov Doyle signed into law permitting free access to state parks for former POWs and veterans who are rated 70% SC or more. This law should go into effect on 1 Nov 2008.
Federal Stimulus Checks:SEC 101.2008 Recovery Rebates For Individuals. SEC 6428 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 was amended to not count/consider the Economic Stimulus checks as income for any Federal, State or local assistance program that is funded in whole or in part with federal funds. For us veterans, this means we do not have to report the stimulus checks as income for VA benefits. The actual wording is as follows:
Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 H.R.5140 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)
SEC. 101. 2008 RECOVERY REBATES FOR INDIVIDUALS.
(a) In General- Section 6428 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
SEC. 6428. 2008 RECOVERY REBATES FOR INDIVIDUALS. (d) Refunds Disregarded in the Administration of Federal Programs and Federally Assisted Programs- Any credit or refund allowed or made to any individual by reason of section 6428 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by this section) or by reason of subsection (c) of this section shall not be taken into account as income and shall not be taken into account as resources for the month of receipt and the following 2 months, for purposes of determining the eligibility of such individual or any other individual for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of benefits or assistance, under any Federal program or under any State or local program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.
WASHINGTON (January 31, 2008) - Over a million eligible veterans will see their mileage reimbursement more than double starting tomorrow, for travel to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities.
"This increase helps veterans -- especially those living in rural areas -- offset some of the gasoline costs as they travel to VA's world-class health care," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "Increasing the mileage reimbursement is one more step by VA to help veterans access the health care they deserve."
The 2008 appropriations act provided funding for VA to increase the beneficiary travel mileage reimbursement rate from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per mile. The increase goes into effect on Feb. 1.
After little more then a month on the job, Secretary Peake used his authority to establish the first increase in the mileage reimbursement in 30 years, fulfilling a pledge he made during his Senate confirmation hearing last month.
While increasing the payment, VA, as mandated by law, also equally increased the deductible amounts applied to certain mileage reimbursements. The new deductibles are $7.77 for a one way trip, $15.54 for a round trip, with a maximum of $46.62 per calendar month. However, these deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran.
"WI Salutes Veterans" license plates are now available. Cost of the plates goes to the Veterans Trust Fund in direct support of veterans' assistance programs. For more info, contact your county CVSO or go to www.dva.state.wi.us/plates
HAYWARD/RICE LAKE CLINIC Update
VA to Reopen Clinic in Hayward, WI
The Minneapolis VA Medical Center (VAMC) will reopen an outpatient clinic for veterans in Hayward, Wi., on March 4.
The clinic will be located temporarily in the River’s Edge Professional Building, 15954 River’s Edge Drive. The VAMC has signed a six-month lease to use 1400-square feet of space while it looks for a permanent location.
The Hayward Clinic has been closed since Dec. 10 when Corporate Health and Wellness, a private management company, ceased operations without warning in Hayward and Rice Lake, Wi. The VA reopened the Rice Lake clinic on Dec. 26.
Both the new Hayward clinic and Rice Lake Clinic are staffed and managed by the Minneapolis VAMC.
The River’s Edge office building is located about a mile from where the previous clinic space, leased by CH&W, was located.
“We are excited to be able to offer clinic services to our veterans close to home,” said Michael Koopmeiners, M.D., medical director of the community-based outpatient program at Minneapolis VAMC. “We appreciate their patience during the past two months.”
The VA outpatient clinics provide primary and preventative care, as well as continuing care for chronic diseases such as diabetes. Mental health counseling is also available. The Hayward clinic will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Patients will be notified of their appointments at the Hayward Clinic. For questions, patients may call (715) 236-3355.
WI Dept of Veteran Affairs
U.S. Dept of Veteran Affairs
Burnett County Veteran Organizations
American Legion:
Brask-Fossum-Janke Post #185, Grantsburg
Lund-Brown Post #132, Siren
Otis-Taylor Post #96, Webster
Zach-Holmes Post #403, Webb LakeVFW
Post #1256, Siren
Disabled American Veterans
Chapter #66, Spooner