Ellis Company issues $8\mathrm{.}5\%,$ five$-$year bonds dated January $1,2021,$ with a $$540,000$ par value. The bonds pay interest on June $30$ and December $31$ and are issued at a price of $$550,969.$ The annual market rate is $8\mathrm{.}0\%$ on the issue date.

Required:

Compute the total bond interest expense over the bonds' life.

Prepare an effective interest amortization table for the bonds' life.

Prepare the journal entries to record the first two interest payments.