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NEWS:
Volume 3, Number 27
March 11, 2008
March 11, 2008
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Special weather information
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
| THE WEATHER BOX www.eddycountyskywarn.blogspot.com A FIRE WEATHER WATCH is in effect for the Guadalupe Mountains Wednesday afternoon. A FIRE WATCH is in effect for southeastern New Mexico and much of the Trans Pecos Thursday and all of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico for Friday due to dry and windy conditions along with VERY HIGH TO EXTREME FIRE DANGER. Today: Sunny, with a high near 73. South wind around 10 mph becoming northwest. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. West wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to between 15 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. West wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 70. |
| The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow. The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines. |
Tax season, tax scams!
As million of Americans prepare their tax returns, scamsters are also at
work posing as the IRS.
In late January, the IRS warned taxpayers to be wary of e-mailers or callers
claiming to be from the IRS and asking for personal and financial
information. Identity thieves can use such information to drain a victim’s
financial accounts and run up charges on credit cards in the victim’s name.
This year, in particular, the IRS cautioned taxpayers to be on guard against
scams using the proposed tax rebates, part of an economic stimulus plan,
as a lure. Even before the plan had approval, the agency said it is already
aware of one such scheme.
The come-on: A telephone caller tells prospective victims that they are
eligible for large rebates for filing their taxes early, they just need to share
their bank account numbers. If they refuse, the caller tells them they can’t
receive the rebates.
The real deal: The IRS does not gather information by phone. Taxpayers
who choose can have their refunds deposited directly into their bank
accounts – but only if they provide account numbers when filing their tax
returns.
If you suspect you are the target of an e-mail tax scam, you can forward the
e-mail to phishing@irs.gov. This will help the IRS track the origin of the
suspicious e-mail.
The IRS has also identified other types of scams -
Refund E-mail
Bogus e-mails falsely claiming to be from the IRS tell recipients they are
eligible for tax refunds in specific amounts, if they click on a link within the e-
mail to access a refund claim form. The form then asks for personal or
financial information.
However, the only way to apply for a tax refund is to file a tax return.
Audit e-Mail
The come-on: An e-mail tells recipients (who might even be addressed by
name) that their tax returns will be audited and instructs them to click on
links and enter personal information.
The real deal: The IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails to taxpayers.
Changes to tax law e-mail
The come-on: E-mails are sent to businesses and accountants instructing
them to download information on tax changes.
The real deal: Recipients could be unknowingly downloading malware onto
their computers, which could provide scamsters with access to those
computers and the ability to extract sensitive information for fraudulent
purposes. The only legitimate IRS web addresses begin with http://www.irs.
gov.
If you have questions about a specific scam or believe you have been
targeted, visit www.irs.gov for more information.
Artesia city council meets Tuesday
ARTESIA - The regular meeting of the Artesia City Council will be
conducted at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11th, at the council chambers of
City Hall, located at 511 W. Texas Avenue in Artesia.
This will be the first meeting with newly elected councilors Manuel Barragan
and J. B. Smith.
The agendas will be available for the public at City Hall on Monday
afternoon, or you can view the agenda and consent agenda here.
City council is a public, open meeting and all citizens are invited and
encouraged to attend.
Senator Submits Requests for FY2009 Authorization for CAFB
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici Friday submitted his requests
to fund military construction projects at Cannon Air Force Base that will
support the ongoing transition of the Air Force Special Operations
Command.
Domenici submitted his requests to the Senate Armed Services Committee,
which will begin crafting the FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill. This
defense policy legislation will help dictate funding for the FY2009 Military
Construction Bill later this year. Domenici’s requests go beyond the single
$18.1 million hangar project for Cannon that was included in the President’s
FY2009 budget request.
In all, Domenici has requested $85 million for five additional military
construction projects at Cannon—all of which are intended to accommodate
the AFSOC mission there.
“These Cannon projects are included on the U.S. Special Operation
Command’s FY2009 unfunded requirements list,” Domenici said. “We face
a difficult budget year, but I believe these projects have merit and are
needed. I will work to get them authorized.”
Domenici, who serves on the Senate Defense Appropriations
Subcommittee, has requested authorization for the following projects in
FY2009 for Cannon:
· $8.3 million for a CV-22 Simulator Facility to support the new CV-22
mission rehearsal and crew upgrade training;
· $39.1 million for C-130 Fuel Cell and Corrosion Control Hangars to
provide sufficient space for necessary corrosion control and composite
repairs on assigned aircraft and support equipment;
· $17.8 million for a UAV Squadron Operations and Ground Control
Station to support year-round operations for the MQ-1 (and future MQ-9)
Predator unmanned aerial vehicle;
· $12.4 million for a MC-130 Squadron Operations Facility to
accommodate flight operations, as well as planning, briefing and critiquing
for MC-130 combat crews; and
· $11.9 million for a MC-130 Parking Apron to provide space for
parking, loading, servicing and fueling C-130 aircraft.
Bingaman bill bans toy toxins
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman Thursday voted to approve
legislation to protect families from products made from hazardous materials
and help restore confidence in the marketplace. The bill includes a
provision Bingaman cosponsored that would ban a dangerous chemical
found in children's toys.
The Consumer Protection Safety Commission Reform Act would provide the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – the federal agency
responsible regulating the sale and manufacture of consumer products –
with the resources and authority necessary to protect Americans from
unsafe merchandise.
“The most recent string of high-profile recalls of toys has brought to light
the need to strengthen the federal government’s ability to protect its
citizens form dangerous manufactured products. This bill is an important
investment in the safety of the American consumer,” Bingaman said.
Bingaman said he was particularly pleased that the bill contains a provision
he cosponsored to ban children's products or child care articles that
contain phthalates, a synthetic chemical that recent studies have found
may contribute to developmental problems in infants.
The bill does the following:
Strengthen CPSC resources and effectiveness by increasing funding by 50
percent over the next seven years, restoring the Board of Commissioners
to a five member panel (from the current three member panel), increasing
CPSC staff to at least 500 employees by 2013, and streamlining product
safety rulemaking procedures;
Protect children from unsafe products by banning lead in children’s
products, requiring third-party testing and certification of children’s
products, and mandating label tracking for children’s products;
Prevent deadly imports by improving information sharing among relevant
federal, state, local, and foreign agencies, increasing the numbers of CPSC
employees at our nation’s ports, requiring safety certification of products,
and banning the importation of recalled products;
Provide greater penalties for violators and resources for law enforcement
by increasing civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation, creating criminal
penalties of up to five years in jail, authorizing State Attorneys General to
pursue injunctive relief, and extending whistleblower protections to
manufacturers’ employees; and
Enhance recall effectiveness by banning the sale of recalled products,
requiring manufactures and importers to ensure the funding of recalls,
creating an online product safety database, increase public access to recall
information, and enhance CPSC authority to order recalls and other
corrective actions.
As million of Americans prepare their tax returns, scamsters are also at
work posing as the IRS.
In late January, the IRS warned taxpayers to be wary of e-mailers or callers
claiming to be from the IRS and asking for personal and financial
information. Identity thieves can use such information to drain a victim’s
financial accounts and run up charges on credit cards in the victim’s name.
This year, in particular, the IRS cautioned taxpayers to be on guard against
scams using the proposed tax rebates, part of an economic stimulus plan,
as a lure. Even before the plan had approval, the agency said it is already
aware of one such scheme.
The come-on: A telephone caller tells prospective victims that they are
eligible for large rebates for filing their taxes early, they just need to share
their bank account numbers. If they refuse, the caller tells them they can’t
receive the rebates.
The real deal: The IRS does not gather information by phone. Taxpayers
who choose can have their refunds deposited directly into their bank
accounts – but only if they provide account numbers when filing their tax
returns.
If you suspect you are the target of an e-mail tax scam, you can forward the
e-mail to phishing@irs.gov. This will help the IRS track the origin of the
suspicious e-mail.
The IRS has also identified other types of scams -
Refund E-mail
Bogus e-mails falsely claiming to be from the IRS tell recipients they are
eligible for tax refunds in specific amounts, if they click on a link within the e-
mail to access a refund claim form. The form then asks for personal or
financial information.
However, the only way to apply for a tax refund is to file a tax return.
Audit e-Mail
The come-on: An e-mail tells recipients (who might even be addressed by
name) that their tax returns will be audited and instructs them to click on
links and enter personal information.
The real deal: The IRS does not send unsolicited e-mails to taxpayers.
Changes to tax law e-mail
The come-on: E-mails are sent to businesses and accountants instructing
them to download information on tax changes.
The real deal: Recipients could be unknowingly downloading malware onto
their computers, which could provide scamsters with access to those
computers and the ability to extract sensitive information for fraudulent
purposes. The only legitimate IRS web addresses begin with http://www.irs.
gov.
If you have questions about a specific scam or believe you have been
targeted, visit www.irs.gov for more information.
Artesia city council meets Tuesday
ARTESIA - The regular meeting of the Artesia City Council will be
conducted at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11th, at the council chambers of
City Hall, located at 511 W. Texas Avenue in Artesia.
This will be the first meeting with newly elected councilors Manuel Barragan
and J. B. Smith.
The agendas will be available for the public at City Hall on Monday
afternoon, or you can view the agenda and consent agenda here.
City council is a public, open meeting and all citizens are invited and
encouraged to attend.
Senator Submits Requests for FY2009 Authorization for CAFB
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici Friday submitted his requests
to fund military construction projects at Cannon Air Force Base that will
support the ongoing transition of the Air Force Special Operations
Command.
Domenici submitted his requests to the Senate Armed Services Committee,
which will begin crafting the FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill. This
defense policy legislation will help dictate funding for the FY2009 Military
Construction Bill later this year. Domenici’s requests go beyond the single
$18.1 million hangar project for Cannon that was included in the President’s
FY2009 budget request.
In all, Domenici has requested $85 million for five additional military
construction projects at Cannon—all of which are intended to accommodate
the AFSOC mission there.
“These Cannon projects are included on the U.S. Special Operation
Command’s FY2009 unfunded requirements list,” Domenici said. “We face
a difficult budget year, but I believe these projects have merit and are
needed. I will work to get them authorized.”
Domenici, who serves on the Senate Defense Appropriations
Subcommittee, has requested authorization for the following projects in
FY2009 for Cannon:
· $8.3 million for a CV-22 Simulator Facility to support the new CV-22
mission rehearsal and crew upgrade training;
· $39.1 million for C-130 Fuel Cell and Corrosion Control Hangars to
provide sufficient space for necessary corrosion control and composite
repairs on assigned aircraft and support equipment;
· $17.8 million for a UAV Squadron Operations and Ground Control
Station to support year-round operations for the MQ-1 (and future MQ-9)
Predator unmanned aerial vehicle;
· $12.4 million for a MC-130 Squadron Operations Facility to
accommodate flight operations, as well as planning, briefing and critiquing
for MC-130 combat crews; and
· $11.9 million for a MC-130 Parking Apron to provide space for
parking, loading, servicing and fueling C-130 aircraft.
Bingaman bill bans toy toxins
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman Thursday voted to approve
legislation to protect families from products made from hazardous materials
and help restore confidence in the marketplace. The bill includes a
provision Bingaman cosponsored that would ban a dangerous chemical
found in children's toys.
The Consumer Protection Safety Commission Reform Act would provide the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) – the federal agency
responsible regulating the sale and manufacture of consumer products –
with the resources and authority necessary to protect Americans from
unsafe merchandise.
“The most recent string of high-profile recalls of toys has brought to light
the need to strengthen the federal government’s ability to protect its
citizens form dangerous manufactured products. This bill is an important
investment in the safety of the American consumer,” Bingaman said.
Bingaman said he was particularly pleased that the bill contains a provision
he cosponsored to ban children's products or child care articles that
contain phthalates, a synthetic chemical that recent studies have found
may contribute to developmental problems in infants.
The bill does the following:
Strengthen CPSC resources and effectiveness by increasing funding by 50
percent over the next seven years, restoring the Board of Commissioners
to a five member panel (from the current three member panel), increasing
CPSC staff to at least 500 employees by 2013, and streamlining product
safety rulemaking procedures;
Protect children from unsafe products by banning lead in children’s
products, requiring third-party testing and certification of children’s
products, and mandating label tracking for children’s products;
Prevent deadly imports by improving information sharing among relevant
federal, state, local, and foreign agencies, increasing the numbers of CPSC
employees at our nation’s ports, requiring safety certification of products,
and banning the importation of recalled products;
Provide greater penalties for violators and resources for law enforcement
by increasing civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation, creating criminal
penalties of up to five years in jail, authorizing State Attorneys General to
pursue injunctive relief, and extending whistleblower protections to
manufacturers’ employees; and
Enhance recall effectiveness by banning the sale of recalled products,
requiring manufactures and importers to ensure the funding of recalls,
creating an online product safety database, increase public access to recall
information, and enhance CPSC authority to order recalls and other
corrective actions.
Jazz Fest this weekend
PORTALES—The music department at Eastern
New Mexico University in Portales is presenting
Jazz Fest at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday,
March13–14, on the main stage in the University
Theater Center.
The event will include performances by the
Gallup High School Band, ENMU Jazz Combo,
as well as guest vocalist Michael Herndon, who
is known for his style influenced by Jazz, rhythm
and blues and gospel. Herndon has opened for
many acclaimed artists including Coco Taylor,
the undisputed queen of blues, Kenny Neil Band
and the Kinsey Report.
Also performing will be guest percussionist
Michael Carney, who is the director of
percussion studies at California State University,
Long Beach. Carney has traveled the world
performing, teaching, and studying a large
variety of musical instruments and styles. His
classical and jazz has taken him around the
world, including Spain, Taiwan, Hong Kong and
Japan.
Admission is free and open to the public.
For more information, call Kathi Fraze at
575.562.2377.
Take Two and Call Me in the Morning
by Sharon Caldwell, Director-Artesia Literacy
Council
Recently my husband underwent surgery. This
has meant many visits to the doctor's office,
medical labs, hospitals, and forms, forms, forms.
There are so many forms; medical history,
medical release, insurance assignment and the
form that states you understand all of the other
forms. All these forms require a lot of reading.
The ability to read doesn't just start or end with
the forms. There is the need to be able to read
the road maps and signs for traveling to the
doctor and hospital. Once you get there you
have to be able to read the direction signs to
find your way around the hospital. This way to
the lab for tests, this way to admissions, this way
to records and billing and around and around
you go.
After surgery you have post-op care form and
you can't forget the prescriptions you will have
to take. Do you know to be able to read and
comprehend the instructions on an aspirin bottle
it requires a functional reading level of 10.0? A
10.0 is the reading level of 10th grade 0 month.
After all this, you have to work with the hospital
to file your insurance. The average insurance
policy tops the list at 12.0!
Do you also know?
* 20% of New Mexicans age 16 years and older
have literacy skills at Level 1, the lowest on a
scale of 1 to 5. These adults are illiterate – they
cannot sign a form, add the amounts on a bank
deposit slip, or locate simple information in a
news article.
* 46% of New Mexicans have literacy skills at
Level II. This means that almost half of New
Mexicans are functionally illiterate, in need of
assistance from Literacy Programs.
New Mexico Coalition for Literacy in part
sponsors 25 volunteer-based Adult Literacy
Programs in New Mexico – Artesia Literacy
Council is one of these 25 programs.
The goals of Artesia Literacy Council is to teach
reading, writing and speaking English to a
functional level; help students with US
citizenship and GED test information,
applications, workplace and everyday survival.
We offer no cost classes that are custom
designed to the needs of each adult student.
Our tutors are caring people, committed to
reducing illiteracy in Artesia and surrounding
towns and are dedicated to achieving this for
each of our students.
If you or you know someone who would benefit
from tutor assistance, please contact us at 748-
9740 or come by 2002 West Grand, Monday–
Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
PORTALES—The music department at Eastern
New Mexico University in Portales is presenting
Jazz Fest at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday,
March13–14, on the main stage in the University
Theater Center.
The event will include performances by the
Gallup High School Band, ENMU Jazz Combo,
as well as guest vocalist Michael Herndon, who
is known for his style influenced by Jazz, rhythm
and blues and gospel. Herndon has opened for
many acclaimed artists including Coco Taylor,
the undisputed queen of blues, Kenny Neil Band
and the Kinsey Report.
Also performing will be guest percussionist
Michael Carney, who is the director of
percussion studies at California State University,
Long Beach. Carney has traveled the world
performing, teaching, and studying a large
variety of musical instruments and styles. His
classical and jazz has taken him around the
world, including Spain, Taiwan, Hong Kong and
Japan.
Admission is free and open to the public.
For more information, call Kathi Fraze at
575.562.2377.
Take Two and Call Me in the Morning
by Sharon Caldwell, Director-Artesia Literacy
Council
Recently my husband underwent surgery. This
has meant many visits to the doctor's office,
medical labs, hospitals, and forms, forms, forms.
There are so many forms; medical history,
medical release, insurance assignment and the
form that states you understand all of the other
forms. All these forms require a lot of reading.
The ability to read doesn't just start or end with
the forms. There is the need to be able to read
the road maps and signs for traveling to the
doctor and hospital. Once you get there you
have to be able to read the direction signs to
find your way around the hospital. This way to
the lab for tests, this way to admissions, this way
to records and billing and around and around
you go.
After surgery you have post-op care form and
you can't forget the prescriptions you will have
to take. Do you know to be able to read and
comprehend the instructions on an aspirin bottle
it requires a functional reading level of 10.0? A
10.0 is the reading level of 10th grade 0 month.
After all this, you have to work with the hospital
to file your insurance. The average insurance
policy tops the list at 12.0!
Do you also know?
* 20% of New Mexicans age 16 years and older
have literacy skills at Level 1, the lowest on a
scale of 1 to 5. These adults are illiterate – they
cannot sign a form, add the amounts on a bank
deposit slip, or locate simple information in a
news article.
* 46% of New Mexicans have literacy skills at
Level II. This means that almost half of New
Mexicans are functionally illiterate, in need of
assistance from Literacy Programs.
New Mexico Coalition for Literacy in part
sponsors 25 volunteer-based Adult Literacy
Programs in New Mexico – Artesia Literacy
Council is one of these 25 programs.
The goals of Artesia Literacy Council is to teach
reading, writing and speaking English to a
functional level; help students with US
citizenship and GED test information,
applications, workplace and everyday survival.
We offer no cost classes that are custom
designed to the needs of each adult student.
Our tutors are caring people, committed to
reducing illiteracy in Artesia and surrounding
towns and are dedicated to achieving this for
each of our students.
If you or you know someone who would benefit
from tutor assistance, please contact us at 748-
9740 or come by 2002 West Grand, Monday–
Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.