Idaho family's pumpkin stand out of its gourds

[October 29, 2010]  LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) -- An Idaho family is out of its gourds thanks to publicity about a tax agency threatening to close their pumpkin stand for lack of a state permit.

Kami Charais tells the Lewiston Tribune they made three times as much money as expected, bringing in $600 to pay for wrestling and dance lessons for their children, 6-year-old Jacob and 4-year-old Sami-Lou.

She figures they'll pay $36 in sales tax to the state.

The kids sold the squash from their porch, splitting the profits with the grower. Some people made donations and others drove from as far away as Spokane, Wash., to grab a gourd.

A representative of the Idaho State Tax Commission has said the stop was meant to inform the family that they needed permits and to pay the state's 6 percent sales tax.

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Information from: Lewiston Tribune, http://www.lmtribune.com/

[Associated Press]

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