2 April 2015
Police in Florence continue to get reports about suspicious calls from people… to local residents… demanding money. Lieutenant John Pitcher said a new one this week purports to be from the “Florence Water Company” requiring an immediate payment over the phone or water service will be cut off.
John Pitcher – “And that’s the way they do it. You have to do it right now. Whether it’s the relative that’s going to jail or whatever they’re saying, or like this one where they’re shutting off the water… they make it sound like you have to do it this second or you have no choice. No legitimate place is ever going to do that to you.”
Pitcher said that is one common factor amongst all the scams he has heard about… the demand for immediacy. He said if it’s a local utility; or a law enforcement matter… if they are threatening action right now, it’s likely a scam and you should hang up and notify police.
Feeding the need
The annual April Feed the Need food drive to benefit Florence Food Share kicked off yesterday. 56 different area businesses have collection barrels and are accepting donations. Food Share Director Norma Barton says the drive comes at a time when the need is high.
Norma Barton – “We need flour, sugar, peanut butter, hamburger helper. Any kind of canned meat or tomato products. Baby formula and baby food; mac and cheese and rice-a-roni. Those things we really need.”
The month-long food drive is actually a competition between similarly sized businesses… she said they hope to collect about 20-thousand pounds of food this month; just under what is a two-week supply.
Food share distributes an average of 50-thousand pounds to an estimated 1725 different people each month.
Community Health Fair set
Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? The annual Community Health Fair coming up in two weeks at the Florence Events Center will provide two free lunches; both of them quite healthy according to organizers.
The fair, April 17th through the 19th, will bring together a number of health care experts, dozens of fun exhibits and valuable information. That’s according to spokesman Scott Steward who says it all wraps up with a 5K fun walk and run on Sunday morning the 19th.
The fair is free, but there is a small entry fee for the 5K… the proceeds of that will go to the Friends of Florence cancer van.
Old tax refunds await filers
The Internal Revenue Service is sitting on an estimated $14.2-million for Oregon taxpayers who have not filed their 2011 tax returns. Money that will not be available if returns are not filed with the agency by April 15th.
Alan Twombly, with H&R Block in Florence says some of the people who may not have filed in 2011 were likely college students or part time workers who didn’t have much income.
But, according to IRS figures, they still may have refunds coming to them.
If no returns are filed within three years, the IRS returns the money to the U.S. Treasury.
Twombly says the three year deadline is coming up April 15th… returns must be delivered physically to the IRS by that date… postmarks don’t count. He said he or any other qualified tax professional can help.
Salmonella risk high in the spring
Fluffy newborn chicks may be adorable, but handling the traditional Easter holiday icon can also lead to infectious disease, according to State Veterinarian Dr. Brad LeaMaster of the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
Brad LeaMaster – “You know, there’s nothing cuter than a baby chick or a baby duckling. Young children like to hold them and cuddle them and put them close to their face. That’s a no-no.”
Outbreaks of salmonella have been reported in Oregon this time of the year over the past 20-years. The source is often traced back to handling poultry. Some of the baby chicks are just someone adding to their back yard flock. But, LeaMaster says others are given as Easter gifts to small children. He suggests sticking with a stuffed animal instead.