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Homemakers Hear Program on Identity Theft
Members of the Ashley County Extension Homemakers Club met Thursday, October 9, in the conference room of the courthouse annex for its fall council program. Guest speaker Stephen Svetz III, instructor/investigator with the Arkansas Attorney General's office, spoke to the group on identity theft and offered preventive tips. According to the Arkansas Attorney General's website, identity theft occurs when key pieces of personal or credit information found on a credit card, driver's license, ATM card, or Social Security number are obtained and misused. Each year in the United States, an estimated nine million people fall victim to identity theft. One way identity thieves obtain an individual's personal information, Svetz said, is through junk mail including pre-approved credit card applications. The risk with junk mail is that it contains information on the recipient that can be used to steal a person's identity, he explained. When disposing of junk mail, Svetz said it is best to either burn or shred the items as opposed to throwing them out with the trash. "Get rid of old bills," he said. "When people break in your house they are not necessarily looking for TVs, items of value, etc... they may be looking for your personal information," he said. While properly disposing of junk mail and outdated bills will prevent a thief from obtaining some information, Svetz said there are ways to stop unwanted mail. Pre-approved applications, he said, contain a phone number that the recipient may call to have their name removed from the mailing list. "Call the number and tell them to stop sending them," he said. The less junk mail, according to Svetz, the less chance a person has of becoming a victim. In addition, he warned, while it is convenient to mail payments from home, it is also convenient for a thief to remove outgoing mail from a residential mailbox. "Never mail money from your mailbox," he warned. While mailing payments from the post office is preferred, Svetz said when possible make payments online. The idea, he said, is the secured connection that is not handled by a human being. In short, Svetz said, paying bills online is the "safest" bet. According to Svetz, bank statements and a box of new checks are the most dangerous items a person can have in their mailbox. Svetz said instead of having checks delivered to a residence have them redirected to the bank. "Don't talk to a telemarketer, if you want something go out and buy it," he said. According to Svetz, the telemarketer provides information that contributes to the amount of junk mail a person receives. Anyone with Internet assess, he said, may log on to http://www.boviously.com/junkmail// and select to opt out. "This will reduce 25 to 30 percent of junk mail," he said. He also provided the National Do Not Call phone number and web address to stop the telemarketer phone calls. To sign up on the list either visit www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222. Once added to the list, Svetz said, politicians and charities are the two organizations exempt from the list. However, according to Svetz, while the Arkansas State Police Association is a legitimate organization, there are five known individuals who have scammed citizens out of money while pretending to be affiliated with the organization. "If you want to donate money to a charity, but don't know where to give, call the General Attorney's office and someone with our charity division will direct you," Svetz said. The final way to reduce threats, Svetz said, is to send a short message containing a person's name and address along with a brief message requesting removal to Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference List, P. O. Box 9008, Carmel, New York 10512. However, according to Svetz, the organization changes its mailing address every six months. Other ways a person can reduce their risk is by removing and hiding all items containing their personal information from their wallet or purse, he said. This includes credit cards, insurance cards, social security cards, and ID cards, he said. "Take these items only when needed," he said. For additional information visit www.ag.arkansas.gov Ashley County Votes for McCain, Kersten, Hospital Tax and Amendments Ashley County's voters were in step with fellow voters in Arkansas in the general election on Tuesday, November 4, as they gave Republican John McCain a majority for U. S. President, but they were out of step with the nation as a whole. Democrat Barack Obama won the election handily.
Hamburg Board Sets Plans For Superintendent Search In a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, October 30, the Hamburg School Board approved the procedure to follow in the search for a new superintendent of schools. State Says Schools on Improvement List Increasing in Number The number of Arkansas schools categorized as being in school improvement under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation rose to 375 this year, for an increase of 50 from the year before, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Education on Friday. Crossett Among Winners of Volunteer Awards Twelve communities have been selected to receive the 2008 Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year Award. Chosen to receive recognition for their volunteer efforts are Bay, Bella Vista, Bryant, Clarkridge, Clarksville, Crossett, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Heber Springs, Marked Tree, Maumelle, and Van Buren. Class Seeks Nominations For HHS Hall of Fame The Leadership Class at Hamburg High School is in the process of creating a Hamburg Hall of Fame to recognize successful graduates of the school. Presidential, County Clerk Races; ACMC Tax, Constitutional Issues Head Ballot for General Election Ashley County voters, along with others across the state and nation, will be going to the polls next Tuesday, November 4, to elect a new president and vice president, to determine one county-wide race, to decide on five statewide issues and one local issue. Also, citizens of Wilmot will be selecting council members in two contested races. List of Unopposed Candidates on Tuesday’s General Election Ballot While all of the contested races have been spelled out in other stories, there are also a large number of uncontested races on the ballot this November. Those who will be elected or re-elected without opposition include: Election Commission Tells Ashley County Polling Sites The Ashley County Election Commission has announced the polling sites for the general election next Tuesday. The sites are as follows: Hamburg Chamber Asks Council for Support The Hamburg City Council in its regular meeting on Monday night, October 27, heard three requests for funding. Hamburg Board Finalizes Sale of Phase II Construction Bonds In a special meeting at noon on Tuesday, October 21, the Hamburg School Board finalized the sale of $2.79 million in construction bonds for the second phase of the projects approved by the voters in 2007. Crossett Council Takes Action on Launius Request With two items on the agenda, one of which was postponed, Crossett aldermen took a single action during the council's regular meeting held on Monday, October 20. Hamburg Board to Set Requirements, Desires for Superintendent In its regular meeting on Monday night, October 20, the Hamburg School Board set two special meetings, with one of the two to deal with construction projects and the second to formulate what the board wants in a permanent superintendent and the procedures for the search. Child's Death Due To Internal Injuries Ashley County Coroner Steve Hartshorn said this week that a report from the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory indicated that a Hamburg girl, Niesha Kry'stal Lewis, died from internal injuries as a result of an automobile accident in Hamburg on Friday, October 3. Rawls Presides Over Quorum Court Meeting The Ashley County Quorum Court held its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 14, in a session that lasted only about 20 minutes. Crossett Board Reorganizes; Hill Says Inflation Eating Up Savings from District Reconfiguration The election of officers and ex-officio financial secretary, financial report, the annual report to the public and the designation of disbursing officer centered Crossett's School Board of Education October meeting held on Monday, October 13. One of the two Crossett men accused in the April beating death of a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man was sentenced Monday, October 20, to 10 years in prison. Crossett School District Report to the Public The Crossett School District operates four school sites, all of which are accredited by the North Central Association. A very detailed improvement plan is in place at each campus to guide the schools by NCA Standards over a five-year period. Additionally, the schools are following plans to improve the academic success of students on the state-mandated assessment. UAM-CTC To Host Open House Thursday, October 23 The UAM College of Technology-Crossett will host an open house for its recently completed Industrial Technology Building on October 23 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Despite implement weather, Eagle Family Ministries, working with Feed the Children, held its first food distribution in Wilmot Thursday afternoon, October 16. As scattered rain fell over parts of Ashley County, a large crowd of Parkdale and Wilmot residents seeking food assistance waited their turn in line. Cases Reach Disposition in Circuit Courts Tenth Judicial District Circuit judges Sam Pope and Don Glover presided over a number of final dispositions in Ashley County Circuit court last week. County to Collect Outdated Pesticides At Portland Site on Tuesday, Oct. 28 Ashley County producers will have the opportunity to dispose of their outdated and unused pesticides during a collection event on Tuesday, October, 28, at Farm Equipment Company in Portland.
Members of the Ashley County Extension Homemakers Club met Thursday, October 9, in the conference room of the courthouse annex for its fall council program. Guest speaker Stephen Svetz III, instructor/investigator with the Arkansas Attorney General's office, spoke to the group on identity theft and offered preventive tips.
Hamburg's Inez Barnes was one of about 47,000 women who took part in the fifteenth annual Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure in Little Rock on Saturday, October 11, and she has the distinction of placing first among all of the cancer survivors. UA-Monticello to Honor Wisener, Chamberlin, Howlett and Mann during Homecoming Events A banker, a tax attorney, a retired military officer, and a former Boll Weevil football star will be honored by the University of Arkansas at Monticello during the university's homecoming celebration October 17. Seach for Wilmot Man Ends on Friday Afternoon Search teams recovered the body of a 59-year-old Wilmot native from Lake Enterprise in Wilmot Friday afternoon following a two-day search. Dermott Man Killed in Portland Industrial Accident A Dermott man was killed Tuesday night following an industrial accident at GPS Cotton Gin on Highway 165 in Portland. Judge Sets Unlawful Burning Case for November Tenth Judicial District Circuit Judge Sam Pope handed down rulings and imposed sentencing in a number of cases Monday, October 6, in the Ashley County Circuit Courtroom.
The Hamburg Volunteer Fire Department has a new chief leading the 21 man department. Chip LaCaze, 37, of Hamburg, officially took over the role on Wednesday, October 1. However, LaCaze said, he began serving as fire chief one week before his official start date. "It's going to be stressful, challenging, but I'm excited about it," LaCaze said. "I am going to do the best job I can, keep my guys safe and provide protection to everyone in the county that needs it."
Wilmot native Mamie Parker has been selected The Wilderness Society's national Faces of Conservation award for her lifetime commitment to fish and wildlife conservation. Her photo will hang on a specially-designated wall in the nonprofit's Washington headquarters.
According to an announcement from Miss Ashley County pageant coordinator Renee Stokes, Jahley Stahley has relinquished her the title of Miss Ashley County 2008 as well as the crown, all awards and scholarships.
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