SANFORD, N.C. (AP) — Authorities say the hunter who died after being shot in Lee County was a Fort Bragg soldier.

The Fayetteville Observer reports (http://bit.ly/WVuj8l ) that 26-year-old Staff Sgt. Robert Devitto joined the Army in 2005 after graduating from high school in Pennsylvania and served tours in Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Friends found Devitto on Dec. 18 with buckshot wounds to his face and chest after he didn't return home from duck hunting alone on state wildlife game lands. He died three days later. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Devitto is survived by his wife, Jaimi Devitto, and his parents and sister who live in Shippensburg, Pa.

A service will be 4 p.m. Friday in Greencastle, Pa. Burial with full military honors will be Jan. 9 at Arlington National Cemetery.

©2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Janet Novack, Forbes Staff

If Congress does nothing at all, more than $500 billion in tax hikes and $100 billion in defense and domestic budget cuts automatically kick in for 2013, sucking enough cash out of the economy to send the U.S. back into a recession, most economists believe. What’s more likely, says budget expert Stan Collender, is that a falling stock market will pressure the pols to reach a “fig leaf” deal in January that postpones most of the pain, but makes little progress on resolving fundamental disagreements or cutting the long term budget deficit. In February, Congress will face another deadline, when the debt ceiling needs to be raised. And at the end of March, a six-month budget resolution funding fiscal 2013 federal operations will run out, raising the possibility of a government shutdown. After that, any deadlines set in the January fig-leaf will kick in. And come October, there will be a new fiscal year budget for the pols to fight over.

Here are eight steps ordinary investors can take to protect their sanity and their finances while this all plays out.

1. Raise cash for short term needs. “Money people need in the next year shouldn’t be in equities,’’ says Davis. That’s always good advice, but is even more crucial now since, after a period of relative calm, stock market volatility is increasing. If you were planning on paying a spring tuition bill or replenishing a depleted emergency fund from stock sales, sell now— even if your income is modest and your tax rate on capital gains is unlikely to go up. (No matter what happens to the Bush tax cuts, in 2013 those with adjustable gross income exceeding $250,000 face a new 3.8% Medicare surtax on their investment income, adopted to help pay for ObamaCare.)

2. Adjust your budget for lower take home pay. Most recent news coverage has focused on the fight over whether to extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich and on the $3,500 in extra 2013 tax an average household will owe if all the tax cuts are allowed to expire. The $3,500 extra burden is unlikely ever to be felt—the Internal Revenue Service hasn’t yet published income tax withholding tables for 2013 and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has the legal authority to issue tables that reflect what he believes the law will eventually be, assuming a deal still looks likely. But take- home pay for average workers will drop anyway, since a 2% Social Security payroll tax cut in effect for 2011 and 2012 is unlikely to be extended. (Republicans oppose the $115 billion a year break and Democrats aren’t fighting hard to keep it.) For a worker earning $50,000 a year, that ‘s an extra $1,000 a year going to Uncle Sam–or about $20 less per week in take home pay. Those earning at or above the maximum wage subject to Social Security taxes ($110,100 in 2012 and $113,700 in 2013) will see their or Social Security tax bite jump $2425 in 2013.

3…And possibly a later (or smaller) 2012 tax refund. Most of the automatic tax increases would take effect on Jan. 1, 2013. But an alternative minimum tax “patch” that keeps 30 million additional families from owing AMT actually expired at the end of 2011, as did deductions for teachers’ out-of-pocket classroom expenses, higher education tuition and fees, and state and local sales taxes. Congress is likely to renew the AMT patch retroactively for all of 2012—and the IRS has programmed its computers assuming the patch will be adopted. But if the AMT patch issue isn’t resolved very soon, as many as two thirds of the 150 million households that file returns might be unable to do so until March, IRS Acting Commissioner Steven T. Miller warned Congress in a December 19th letter. (Last year, by mid-March, the IRS had sent out 65 million refunds averaging $2,899. ) “The impact of delayed refunds on the economy should be considered as Congress continues to dally,’’ says Claudia Hill, president of TaxMam in Cupertino, Cal. “The vast majority of those impacted are people who spend the refund as soon as it hits their account.”

To get a rough idea of how your tax liability might be affected by the missing 2012 AMT patch, try out Intuit’s free TaxCaster calculator available here and at Apple’ s iTunes APP store.

Information provided by TripAdvisor:

As New Year’s Eve is being celebrated Monday night and preparation is taking place across the country, TripAdvisor editors identified events throughout the country that offer revelers unique ways to usher in the New Year.  If you cannot make it to New York City for New Year’s Eve, the list of America’s most unique and quirky New Year’s Eve events includes a local event.

A large 5-foot Dove Promise Bar helps Elizabethtown residents and visitors ring in the New Year.  As part of the family-friendly Let E-Town Ring event, the oversized chocolate bar that is made of fabric and stuffing is lowered at 7 p.m. (which is midnight in Elizabethtown’s sister city Letterkenny, Ireland) on Market Street followed by fireworks and celebration. 

With Elizabethtown being the home of the M & M Mars factory that manufactures the Dove Promise Bars, the celebration originated in 2001 to support local businesses.  Let E-Town Ring begins at 4 p.m. with bands playing, arts and crafts programs, face painting, ticket raffles, and more.  Admission is $5.

In Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, the carp master, from The Droppin’ of the Carp, ceremoniously lowers Lucky, a frozen 25 - 30 lbs. carp recently caught in the Mississippi River, 110-feet into a wooden cradle during a countdown to midnight.  Attended by more than 2,500 people, residents are encouraged to kiss the carp for good luck.  The Droppin’ of the Carp also includes three hours of live family-friendly entertainment, a bon fire, music, and fire works.  After the carp drops, attendees recite the “Pledge of Allegiance” and a sing along to “God Bless America.”

Midnight Muskrat Dive – Princess Anne, Maryland

Attendees wait in anticipation of the New Year with four hours live music from local musicians and food and drinks provided by local vendors.  Prior to the big show, guests can meet and greet its star Marshall P. Muskrat, a stuffed muskrat, which represents the local history of muskrat hunting in Maryland.  As the evening approaches midnight, Marshall P. Muskrat is raised above Somerset Avenue in downtown Princess Anne and is lowered into the crowds as guests countdown to the New Year, and a local musician plays Auld Lang Syne on the Highland Bag Pipes. 

Pine Cone Drop – Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff will ring in the New Year at the Weatherford Hotel with its traditional Pine Cone Drop featuring an 8-foot tall by 4-feet wide pine cone made out of gold and silver aluminum and lit from top to bottom. The tradition first started in 1999 to celebrate hotel’s 100th anniversary and has grown to attract a crowd of more than 8,000.  Music, fireworks and family fun are all part of the night’s celebration that starts at 10 p.m. with the giant pine cone’s first drop of the night for families and again at midnight, which is followed by fireworks.

Meteor Drop – Wetumpka, Alabama

For more than 20 years, this southern river city has welcomed in the New Year with a blast from the past.  Wetumpka is home to a six mile crater that was created by a large asteroid that crashed 85 million years ago.  The event features a mock asteroid with a fiery trail blasting into the plaza in front of the courthouse.  The asteroid is dropped at 11 p.m. and is followed by a fireworks show at the stroke of midnight.

Duck Drop – Havre de Grace, Maryland

All but one duck migrates south for the winter in Maryland as Havre de Grace uses its traditional 15-feet long, brightly lit duck to countdown to the New Year.  This year in honor of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the city has decided to light the duck entirely in pink to mark an early kick off for cancer awareness.  With nearly 1,000 residents and tourists counting down to the New Year, the duck is dropped 100 feet at midnight with music, hot chocolate, duck noise makers, and much fanfare.

Olive Drop – Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Guests can celebrate in cheer as the spirits flow at the Price Tower Arts Center’s annual Olive Drop New Year’s Eve event.  Taking place at the Price Tower Arts Center, a skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the event provides entertainment throughout the evening with live music, dancing, a champagne toast, and more.  At midnight, a giant styrofoam olive descends 14 floors to the 10-feet tall Martini glass located on the second floor of the building.

Cherry Blossom Ball Drop – Macon, Georgia

Known for being the cherry blossom capital of the world, Macon Georgia righty celebrates the New Year with a gigantic 10-feet cherry blossom ball decorated with cherry blossom-colored lights. The family-friendly event hosts free activities for children including inflatable jumpers, face painting and glitter tattoos along with music and dancing for adults.  More than 2,000 attendees enjoy the event including a 20-minute firework show following the cherry blossom ball drop.

Last Night Fayetteville (Hog Drop) – Fayetteville, Arkansas

Taking place in Fayetteville’s Downtown Square, this New Year’s Eve celebration features a performing arts festival with musical performances, belly dancing, jugglers, comedians, a giant puppet parade, and more throughout the evening.  As the evening approaches the New Year, the downtown square will count down with the annual “Hog Drop” as a 10-foot long and 6-feet tall fiberglass sculpture of a pig is lowered to the ground.  After the ceremony, the Downtown Square’s Christmas lights are dimmed as a display of fireworks continue the celebration into the New Year.

Deuce of Clubs Drop – Show Low, Arizona

The Arizona mountain town named for a poker game celebrates the New Year by dropping a 6-foot tall electronic two of clubs card made out of reinforced sign cabinet(extruded aluminum) in the middle of Deuce of Clubs Road.  The event began in 2011 to celebrate the unique and historical naming of the city. The free event takes place at Festival Marketplace and begins at 10 p.m. with music, dancing, fireworks, food and hot chocolate for the whole family.  Additionally, in commemoration of the event, spectators of the drop have a chance to win a $2 bill by drawing the deuce of clubs in a card game.

• Monday-Thursday 4-10pm
• Friday 4-11pm
• Saturday 9am-11pm
• Sunday 10am-10pm

However, word came Monday afternoon that the U.S. House will not vote before midnight, meaning the country will go over the fiscal cliff.

“It’s not done yet,” Obama said. “They are close, but they’re not done yet.”

The emerging deal would raise tax rates on family income over $450,000 and individual income over $400,000 a year, increase the estate tax rate and extend unemployment benefits for one year.

Both parties still were at an impasse over whether to put off the automatic, across-the-board spending cuts set to take effect at the beginning of the year and if so, how to pay for that.

The president said that whatever last-minute fixes are necessary, they must come from a blend of tax revenue and constrained spending, not just budget cuts.

“One thing we can count on with respect to this Congress is that if there’s even one second left before you have to do what you’re supposed to do, they will use that last second,” he said.

Speaking shortly afterward on the Senate floor, Sen. John McCain said that “at a time of crisis, on New Year’s Eve—you had the president of the United States go over and have a cheerleading, ridiculing-of-Republicans exercise.”

Though the tax hikes and budget cuts would be felt gradually, economists warn that if allowed to fully take hold, their combined impact — the so-called “fiscal cliff” — would rekindle a recession.

The current proposal in the works would raise the tax rates on family income over $450,000 and individual income over $400,000 from 35 percent to 39.6 percent, the same level as under former President Bill Clinton. Also, estates would be taxed at 40 percent after the first $5 million for an individual and $10 million for a couple, up from 35 percent to 40 percent.

Unemployment benefits would be extended for one year. Without the extension, 2 million people would lose benefits beginning in early January.

A Republican official familiar with the plans confirmed the details described to The Associated Press. The officials requested anonymity in order to discuss the internal negotiations.

The president said his hopes for a larger, more sweeping deal have been dashed and said that such an accommodation was not possible “with this Congress at this time.”

But even with this fight not finished, Obama warned Republicans, specifically, about the battles still ahead. He said he would not accept any debt-reduction deals in the new year that rely on slashing spending without raising taxes, too. Cuts alone won’t happen anymore “at least as long as I’m president, and I’m going to be president for the next four years.”

Urgent talks were continuing Monday afternoon between the White House and congressional Republicans, with longtime negotiating partners Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell at the helm.

Underscoring the flurry of activity, another GOP aide said the two men had conversations at 12:45 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. Monday.

An agreement on the proposed deal would also shield Medicare doctors from a 27 percent cut in fees and extend tax credits for research and development, as well as renewable energy.

The deal would also extend for five years a series of tax credits meant to lessen the financial burden on poorer and middle-class families, including one credit that helps people pay for college.

The deal would achieve about $600 billion in new revenue, the officials said.

Despite the progress in negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warned that time was running out to finalize the deal.

“Americans are still threatened with a tax hike in just a few hours,” said Reid, D-Nev., as the Senate began an unusual New Year’s Eve session.

Liberal Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, took to the Senate floor after Reid to warn Democratic bargainers against lowering levies on large inherited estates and raising the income threshold at which higher tax rates would kick in.

“No deal is better than a bad deal. And this look like a very bad deal the way this is shaping up,” said Harkin.

Letting tax rates rise for couples with incomes of $450,000 a year is a concessions for Obama, who campaigned for re-election on a pledge to set the levels at $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples. It also marked a significant concession by Republican leaders who pledged to continue the George W. Bush-era tax cuts for all income earners. .

The hope of the White House and lawmakers was to seal an agreement, enact it and send it to Obama for his signature before taxpayers felt the impact of higher income taxes or federal agencies began issuing furloughs or taking other steps required by spending cuts.

Regardless of the fate of the negotiations, it appeared all workers would experience a cut in their take-home pay with the expiration of a two-year cut in payroll taxes.

In a move that was sure to irritate Republicans, Reid was planning — absent a deal — to force a Senate vote Monday on Obama’s campaign-season proposal to continue expiring tax cuts for all but those with income exceeding $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.

As the New Year’s Eve deadline rapidly approached, Democrats and Republicans found themselves at odds over a host of issues, including taxing large inherited estates. Republicans wanted the tax left at its current 35 percent, with the first $5.1 million excluded, while Democrats wanted the rate increased to 45 percent with a smaller exclusion.

The two sides were also apart on how to keep the alternative minimum tax from raising the tax bills of nearly 30 million middle-income families and how to extend tax breaks for research by business and other activities.

Republicans were insisting that budget cuts be found to pay for some of the spending proposals Democrats were pushing.

These included proposals to erase scheduled defense and domestic cuts exceeding $200 billion over the next two years and to extend unemployment benefits. Republicans complained that in effect, Democrats would pay for that spending with the tax boosts on the wealthy.

“We can’t use tax increases on anyone to pay for more spending,” said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.