Scam Artists Send Fake Invoices to Swipe Funds

BBB Says Beware of Business Supply Scams

Anchorage, Alaska – July 30, 2009 – Your Better Business Bureau sends warning of the following business supply schemes:

Fake Invoices: Scam artists send an invoice for a product commonly purchased by the business. For example, paper or other office supplies, in hopes that the busy staff will pay the funds without question.

BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington has been notified that Nationwide Services of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida has allegedly attempted this scam this summer. The business has BBB's lowest rating, an "F." http://www.seflorida.bbb.org/businessreport.aspx?companyid=26000748

Printing Supply Scams: Con artists call the front desk and ask for the serial number for a printer or copier. If the employee gives this information, the scammer will use the details to forge an assumed agreement and automatically send toner or other printing supplies to the business with an invoice for payment.

For other business supply scam examples visit: http://www.bbb.org/us/article/4610

BBB suggestions for avoiding business supply scams:
- Train your staff. Advise employees who are not authorized to order supplies and services to refer any such sales people to the purchasing department.
- Require sales pitches in writing. The purchasing department should be instructed to not respond verbally to unsolicited phone offers for office supplies.
- Institute strict purchasing and accounting controls. Every purchase should be documented by issuing a purchase order to the supplier with an authorized signature and a purchase order number. The handling of invoices should be centralized and authorization closely checked.
- Don't deal with unknown sellers. First check the business' BBB Reliability Report at www.bbb.org.
- Keep a list of regularly used vendors. This will help protect your business against schemers who claim your business previously used their services.
- Know your rights. If you receive supplies or bills for services you didn't order, don't pay. According to the Federal Trade Commission, by law, it is illegal for a seller to send bills or ask you to return unordered merchandise.

Report office supply scams to the Federal Trade Commission and your state Attorney General. If there is an unresolved issue with a particular business, file a complaint at www.bbb.org.

Photo of the day - July 30

I photographed this red fox in front of yarrow flowers while it hunted in a farm field.
Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

A request from the Library

Would the person who took with the brand new Cyber Acoustic headphones from the Delta Library Internet room please return them as soon as possible?

They are designed especially for children's computer use and we have a lot of sad little people who need them.

They were in use exactly one day and are not even paid for yet. You can use the outdoor book drop to return them, or bring them to the front desk during business hours.

Thank you.

New Statewide Vaccination Requirement

Due to the increase in the number of chickenpox cases nationwide, beginning July 1, 2009, the State of Alaska requires all students in grades K-6 to have two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. Those students who have not been vaccinated will not be permitted to attend school until adequately immunized.

Immunization records must be medically verified with signatures of a professional MD, DO, ANP, or PA, along with a date, in order to be accepted as proof. (click here for more information or contact your local school district).

10 Things to do before sending a foster or adopted child back-to-school

By Carrie Craft, About.com

Are you ready to send the kids back-to-school? What about any new child(ren) that have been placed in your home either because of adoption or foster care? Here is a handy checklist to help you send them back-to-school with less stress.

1. Health
Healthy kids perform better in school.

• Check your child's medical card, with foster care or a state adoption you should have received one, for the date of your child's last physical. You will also see dates for the child's last dental and eye appointments. Keep these appointments current.
• Make sure you have the child's immunization records and that they are up to date. You will need the immunization records in order to enroll any child in school in the United States.

2. Paperwork
Upon enrollment you will find several forms to fill out. Go prepared and make sure you have everything on this checklist for foster and adoptive children.

3. Know the Child's Education PlanDoes the child have an Individual Education Plan(IEP) for special education, behavior, and/or speech classes? Foster parents or pre-adoptive parents can not sign an IEP, only the child's birth parent or an Education Advocate can sign IEP's or make any changes to the plan. Questions to ask:

• Can you attend conferences?
• Sign permission slips for field trips?
• Can the child sign up to play sports? Each state is different - so ask and get a release allowing you to sign for such activities.
• Can the birth parents attend conferences with you? This would be a great way to mentor a birth family by modeling how to act at conferences, ask questions, and advocate for a child.

4. Practice Address and Phone Numbers
Children new to your home need to know this for safety and for school. Make sure they know your full name, how to spell it correctly, and where you work.

• Practice writing the address and phone number.
• Have an index card in the child's backpack with the needed information.

5. Practice the Route to School or to the Bus Stop
Show the child the route they are to take and make sure it is a safe route. Walk or bike it with them. Practice skills such as:

• Crossing the street
• Yielding to traffic
• Stopping at stop signs
• Locking up bikes
• Knowing the correct bus number

Do not assume that your child knows these things. Practice, even if the child says they know. We have discovered that most of the children that tell us that they know how to ride a bike safely, in reality do not. Always ask them to demonstrate their skills. Try making it a game instead of a test. Go on a family bike ride. See how they handle traffic. Don't forget helmets!

6. Attend Open House or Tour School Building
You and your child will be able to meet the teachers and tour the school buildings at open houses. If school is already in session ask for a tour and to visit the child's room when you enroll. I prefer to enroll a new child on one day, show the child his classroom, and have them begin the next day. I like to end the trip with a lunch date out. It gives the child a chance to digest everything before actually starting school.

7. Discuss Safe RidesMake sure the child knows who they can get into a car with and who they can not.

• Remember neighbors, social workers (for foster children or pre-adoptive children), and close relatives.
• Teach them to look for ID/name tags on people claiming to be social workers.
• Discuss who not to catch a ride from. Include strangers and anyone you'd rather not have your child be alone with - we all have these people in our neighborhoods.
• It may be difficult but you will also need to discuss getting into cars with birth parents. If the children have supervised visitation or no visitation, the children should not get into a car with birth family. Talk with the social workers about the plan and the best way to discuss this with the children.

8. Practice Opening Lockers
This is such an embarrassing thing for kids, being late to class or to gym because they can't open their lockers. Use the time you have at enrollment or at an open house to practice. Get a lock at home and practice.

9. Be involved with the Child's Education and with the School
This is great for foster parents too. Volunteer to be a room parent and help plan holiday parties for the child's class. If you don't have time to attend school parties, bake cookies or send a bag of candy. Go on field trips or volunteer to come in and read to the kids. Most kids love to see their parents or care givers being involved in their activities.

10. Create a Cover Story
A cover story is something that the kids can tell others about why they are now in your home. This may also be needed for kids who are newly adopted. Children adopted internationally may be teased for an ethnic name, different appearance, or an accent. Foster children adopted over a summer may have to deal with a new last name and answering questions about why they could not go back home to birth parents. For more information on cover stories read, Teaching Foster/Adoptive Children How to Answer Questions.

Photo of the day - July 29

Some sea lions hanging out on the ice in the Prince William Sound in Valdez, AK.
Photo Courtesy Heather Misquez

Steller sea lions are found from the northwestern California coast northward into the Bering Sea to Bering Straits, in the Okhotsk Sea and along the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, in the Kurile and Commander islands, and south as far as Hokkaido and northern Honshu in Japan. In the 1970s, the worldwide population of Steller sea lions was about 281,800, with the Alaska population estimated at 242,000, including pups. The number of sea lions in Alaska declined by 50 percent from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. More information can be read on the Wildlife Notebook Series - by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Fair Admission Prices

Adult 3-Day Pass(Keychain) - $12
prior to start of fair
$18 during the fair

One Day Pass
Adult - $6
Senior (60+) - $4
Student (13-18) - $4
Child (6-12) - $3
Child 5 and under - FREE!

Parking Pass
3-Day Pass - $12
Single Day Pass - $5

Schedule of events are on the home page of the Delta News Web, and will be updated as needed.

For complete information on the Deltana 2009 Fair see their website.

Come out and support your Delta Girls Softball League!

6-0 league play and Mid-season tournament Champions!

We are hosting a tournament on Saturday, August 1, at 2:30 PM at the Delta Softball Fields!

BBB Warns Against Twitter Money-Making Schemes

Read the fine print or risk getting burned with Twitter work-at-home offers

Anchorage, Alaska – July 28, 2009 - Through Tweets, e-mail and Web sites, job hunters are being told that they can make lots of money from the comfort of home using Twitter and Better Business Bureau warns that the large print for such offers may promise big returns but the fine print can cost them every month.

Currently 14.5 million Americans are out of work and looking for a way to bring home a paycheck according to the most recent jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Work-at-home schemes have often preyed on unsuspecting job hunters and now Twitter is being used as a way to convince cash-strapped individuals that they can make quick and easy money.

“Twitter is the newest bright shiny object online and a perfect hook for yet another work-at-home scheme,” said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “The pitch used to be about making money by sending e-mails or by placing ads on Google but now cash-strapped job hunters need to be wary of shelling out money for a dubious scheme that revolves around Twitter.”

Unfortunately, such “Make Money With Twitter” schemes may sound risk-free but bear many red flags prompting BBB to advise job hunters to be extremely cautious.

One e-mail picked up by BBB stated: “Twitter Workers Needed ASAP, You're Hired! Make Extra Cash with Twitter; As seen on USA Today, CNN, and ABC... Apply Now!”

The e-mail links to EasyTweetProfits.com, a company out of Surrey, England. EasyTweetProfits.com claims you can make $250-$873 a day working at home with Twitter. The Web site offers a seven-day free trial of their instructional CD-ROM for $1.95 to cover shipping. Buried in the lengthy terms and conditions are the details that the trial begins on the day the CD is ordered—not when it is received—and if the consumer doesn’t cancel within seven days of signing up, they’ll be charged $47 every month.

Similar to other work-from-home schemes, phony blogs by made-up individuals have been created as testimonials to the success of Twitter-money-making programs. Make-money-on-twitter.com is one such phony blog—supposedly by a Derrick Clark of Virginia—where the author brags about making up to $5,000 a month posting links to Twitter. The blog also includes an image of the supposed check Derrick received for posting links on Twitter, but the exact same photo of the check has been used countless times on other phony blogs for various suspect work-at-home jobs.

The blog links to TwitterProfitHouse.com which, similar to EasyTweetProfits.com, claims you can make $250-$873 a day working at home and offers a seven-day free trial of their instructional CD-ROM, for $1.99 shipping. Again, however, reading the fine print shows that the trial period starts once the CD has been ordered and the consumer will be billed $99.99 every month if they don’t call the company to cancel.

“These Web sites have not been up for very long so, if experience has taught us anything, we know that it’s only a matter of time before the complaints start coming in,” added Andrew. “Work-at-home schemes are like a game of whack-a-mole and new Web sites crop up practically every day.”

BBB wants job hunters to be aware of the following red flags when searching for a work-at-home job online:

Claims that you can make lots of money with little effort and no experience.
You have to pay money upfront in order to be considered for the job or receive more information.

The exact same tweet touting the program is posted by many different Twitterers. The links in such tweets could lead you to scam sites or install malware onto your computer.

1st Stryker Soldiers Return

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – About 150 soldiers from 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division party will return this week from their deployment to Iraq.

Officials expect the group to arrive at Eielson Air Force Base Thursday evening.

After inprocessing at Eielson, they will be bused to Fort Wainwright to be reunited with their families.

The unit left Fort Wainwright last September. The main body of the unit will return in August and September.

Photo of the day - July 28

This is the cloud formation on July 15, 2009 before the heavens unzipped and it just poured down and rained. Photo courtesy Barbara Tharp

Run of the Valkyries

Opera Fairbanks presents the second Annual RUN OF THE VALKYRIES this Saturday, August 1, at 10:00 a.m. at the Square Dance Hall in Pioneer Park (Fairbanks). The run features music from Die Valkurye by opera composer Richard Wagner.

Opera Fairbanks pokes fun at the genre with a costume contest: the best Valkryies-themed costume wins. Now is the time to bring out your helmets, horns & breastplates! A costumed soprano starts the race with a Viking Battle Cry; helmeted volunteers will be on hand to aid with registration beforehand and at the awards ceremony afterward. Registration fees are $25 for adults ($35 on race day) and $15 for youth. The first 200 runners to register will receive this year’s commemorative t-shirt designed by local cartoon artist Jamie Smith. Prizes will be awarded for the top 3 male, female, and youth finishers.

Runners can register online at www.active.com, or in person through July 29 at Woolly Rhino, Play it Again Sports, Beaver Sports, and New Horizons Gallery. Bib pickup (and continued registration) is Thursday & Friday from 4:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Woolly Rhino. This 8k Fun Run is open to adults and youth and is part of the Flint Hills Series of events.

School will Start August 27

School WILL start as planned for students on August 27th

Please watch the school news on the Delta News for all events and activities involving the school. Updates will be coming in quite regularly now with the new school year gearing up to start.

Delta High School is Closed to the General Public

Reminder: Delta High School remains closed to the general public. Please be aware of and respect the safety of the crews working at the facility by remaining off school property.

Registration details and locations will be coming soon. Thank you!

Varicella (Chickenpox) immunization change for Students

Dear Parent/Guardian:
Due to an increase in the number of chickenpox cases nationwide, The State of Alaska has
adopted new immunization requirements. Beginning July1, 2009, students entering Kindergarten through grade 6 will be required to have 2 doses of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. Varicella is NOT required for 7th -12th grades. Though chickenpox is a common childhood disease, it can be serious and can lead to severe skin infections, scars, pneumonia, brain damage and death. Therefore the State of Alaska is changing the requirements for Varicella immunizations with the goal of eliminating this vaccine-preventable disease. Most other state have already implemented similar requirements base on the recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control prevention.

Most people who get chickenpox vaccine will not get chickenpox. But if someone who has been
vaccinated does get chickenpox, it is usually very mild. They will have fewer blisters, are less likely to have a fever, and will recover faster.

Before starting school in August 2009, all students entering grades K through 6 will be required to have at least one immunization for Varicella. The second immunization must be completed with a minimum of one month after the 1st dose. Please check with the Public Health Nurse (895-4292) or your preferred provider for the specific due date for the second immunization.

If the parent /guardian reports that his/her child has already had chickenpox, Varicella vaccine is not needed. In order to become compliant with the Alaska State Regulations, students will need Medically-Verified History of the Disease or valid Medical exemption form filled out (Please ask our business office for our new required state form). Documentation must be signed by an Alaska-Licensed MD, DO, ANP, or PA, stating the child has had the disease or medically exempt (if the child develop moderate or severe reaction from the vaccine after dose # 1). Religious exemption is also acceptable.

If you have questions or concerns, please call me at 895-4696.
Sincerely,
Rose Marchuk RN
School Nurse

Danielle Palmer and Jimmy Terry Wedding

Photo Courtesy Dwight Phillips

Danielle Palmer and Jimmy Terry were married on Saturday, July 25 on the front lawn at Delta Christian Center.

The bride's sister, Brittany Palmer was the maid of honor, and the best man was Jimmy's younger brother, Raymond Dunklebarger from Pennsylvania.

The reception followed shortly after the ceremony under a big blue and white tent.

The day was absolutely gorgeous, very little wind, and lots of sunshine.

The couple has already gone back to Anchorage where they are both currently employed.

For more alumni photos, click here

Mystery Photo for Week July 21 - 28

The winner of last week's mystery photo is Abigail Ruse

We had 6 correct entries last week.

Abigail will receive a gift certificate from the Buffalo Center Diner courtesy of Ed and Ann Richards.

Thank you for each one that submitted their entry, along with your mailing address.

Please remember to include your mailing address with each entry. DNW will not accept entries without mailing addresses. We do not store your address from week to week.

The photo is part of the sign on the First Baptist Church sign driving into Delta.

Deltana Fair Membership

Membership in the Deltana Fair Association is open to anyone who is a resident of the State of Alaska and is interested in the Deltana Fair.

Dues are payable each September 1st, or thereafter, and expire August 31.

The annual general membership meeting is held in October or November.

There are three classes of membership: Individual, Business and Lifetime.
* Individual membership fee is $25 per year and includes one 3-day adult pass to the fair and one vote at the general membership meeting.
* Business membership fee is $50 per year and includes one 3-day adult pass to the fair, one 3-day parking pass during the fair and one vote at the general membership meeting.
* Lifetime membership is $250 one time per person (not transferable) and includes name on a plaque in theoffice cabin on the fairgrounds, one 3-day adult pass to the fair, free parking during the fair and one voteat the general membership meeting.

Contact the Fair Manager at the Deltana Fair Office at 895-FAIR [895-3247] or email .

Deltana Fair - Needlework and Quilting

Division 12 - Needlework

Superintendents Sandi Schultz & FMKQG

Entry day: Tuesday prior to Fair weekend,10am - 6pm

Judging system: American -- Exhibit pickup: Sundayof Fair weekend, 5 - 6pm

Special Requirements:

Only one entry per lot for each exhibitor

* All entries must be clean and odor-free. Articles may be entered in clear plastic bags for their protection if desired, but will be removed for judging and display if necessary.

* Exhibitors must indicate on exhibit tag if item was made from a kit. Kit instructions should be included to assist in judging.

* Articles for exhibit should not have been exhibited at Deltana Fair previously, but may have been made at any prior time.

* Items will be judged on appearance (clean, free of pulling, pressing, blocking, inside, outside and reverse workmanship, etc.), uniformity of stitch, difficulty of project and time spent.

* No signature cards, previous history, price tags, names, phone numbers, advertisements, etc., of any sort will be displayed on any amateur object in this division.

* Group projects should be marked as such on exhibit tag. [Write ‘Group’ near ID number.]

* Commercial/Professional entries are encouraged and will be judged separately from amateur entries. Please write ‘Commercial’ on exhibit tag near ID number. Commercial exhibitors may put a small tag [business card size 3-1/2” x 2”] on entry after judging is completed. See general rules.

Photo of the day - July 27

The Myrtle Warbler nests in spruce-fir forests, and is abundant especially during migrations. This one was photographed on its spring migration through the Delta area.
Photo Courtesy Art Lenon

DCSP will be at the Deltana Fair

The Deltana Community Services Partnership will have a presence at the Deltana Fair.

Please stop by and get informed about what the Partnership and its Workgroups are doing.

There will be many activities for children and youths, and more to enjoy.

See you there

Photo of the day - July 25

Arctic Ground Squirrels are the largest of North America's ground squirrels (up to 14"), and the only species that lives in Alaska. Arctic Ground Squirrels are abundant on alpine or arctic tundra throughout Alaska. They are a prey species for many other animals, including bears, wolves, owls and eagles. They eat mostly plant matter (seeds, fruits, flowers, roots, leaves, mushrooms, etc.) but will include insects and small animals in the diet too. They nearly double their weight during the summer to prepare for a long hibernation in the winter, which can last for up to seven months. This photo was taken on Fort Greely by Cortney Pylant.

Photo of the day - July 24

Not an unusual scene in Alaska for this time of the year. The last two years, we have been seeing moose with just one calf. Moose usually have twins. Cheyenne Corty took this picture while riding her bike on Clearwater Road.

Photo of the day - July 23

The pipeline twists and turns as it snakes its way over the Tenderfoot Hills area north of Delta. Photo Courtesy Art Lenon

Alarm Salesmen Make Big Promises and Problems

Beware of Door-To-Door Alarm Sales by APX Alarm Security Solutions, Inc.

Anchorage, Alaska – July 23, 2009 – Your Better Business Bureau has received inquiries and complaints from Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington concerning a business going door-to-door selling home alarm systems.

APX Alarm Security Solutions, Inc, headquartered in Utah, has a "D-" rating with BBB for having 1,541 complaints in the last 36 months and multiple government actions.

Your BBB offers these tips when choosing a burglar alarm system:
- Beware of "free" offers. While the equipment and installation may be free, there will be a monthly monitoring fee. Make sure you compare all the costs.
- Understand contracts. Make sure all of your agreements are in writing. Understand contract length, service details, installation and monthly prices. Find out if the company that will monitor your system is the same as the one installing the system. If not, also research the affiliated company.
- Check out the business. Visit www.bbb.org for a free BBB Reliability Report. Check with business licensing to make sure the business is properly licensed in your state.
- Understand the alarm system. Ask for details in writing on what steps to take if the alarm goes off.
- Don't be pressured. A reputable company will let you check out the offer and compare bids from several installers.
- Ask for proof. Most reputable sales representatives and installation technicians wear an identification badge with a name, photograph and unique identification number. Installation technicians also typically drive company-marked vehicles. If skeptical, contact the company to verify that the individual on-site is a valid employee.
- Know the laws. The Federal Trade Commission’s Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule gives the customer three days to cancel purchases over $25 that are made in their home or at a location that is not the seller’s permanent place of business. Visit www.ftc.gov for more information.

Consumers who believe they were a victim of dishonest sales practices can file a complaint with BBB at www.bbb.org.

Fort Wainright Bridge Closure

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - The Bailey Bridge adjacent to Chena Bend Golf Course will be closed for repairs Tuesday, July 28.

Employees of Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc. will be performing the repairs between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

All drivers who routinely use the Bailey Bridge should make other arrangements for Tuesday travel.

Jim Hickerson Named Alaska Superintendent of the Year

The Alaska Association of School Administrators (AASA) has announced that Jim Hickerson is Alaska’s Superintendent of the Year for 2010.

Jim Hickerson has been Superintendent of the Bering Strait School District since 2007 and has devoted his entire educational career to the district. Beginning as a teacher in 1981, he moved to central administration in 1984, assumed the Assistant Superintendent position in 1999, a position he held until tapped as Superintendent in 2007.

The Bering Strait School District, located in northwestern Alaska, serves primarily Alaska Native students in 15 isolated villages on the Seward Peninsula on the eastern end of Norton Sound and on two islands in the Bering Sea. Most of the district’s students are Inupiat, Yupik or Siberian Yupik Eskimos. The Bering Strait School District is huge in physical size, covering nearly 80,000 square miles, most of which is reachable only by air or water.

Mr. Hickerson was nominated by several staff members who characterized him as “…an advocate for children…an instructional leader committed to improving the educational opportunities for all of our children.” They noted his high visibility throughout the sprawling district, where he initiated and personally attended community meetings in the highest need villages to exchange ideas. Jim expects the same level of involvement of his administrative staff – he insures that district office administrators visit the schools often so that they can understand the situations classroom teachers face, in order to better support them. Mr. Hickerson likewise has established partnerships with other organizations; in particular he worked with the district attorney’s office and the court system to tackle the problem of truancy throughout the district. Through his efforts, many students are returning to school who have not attended for months, and in some cases years.

Jim served as President of the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) Board for four years and currently is on the board for the Northwestern Alaska Career and Technical Center (NACTEC). Alaskan administrators have nominated Mr. Hickerson for National Superintendent of the Year. His nomination will be advanced to the American Association of School Administrators for consideration next February at the association’s annual conference in Phoenix.

The selection committee was comprised of representatives from the PTA, NEA-Alaska, AASSP/AAESP (secondary/elementary principals’ associations), AASB (school boards), State Chamber of Commerce, a former Superintendent of the Year and the President of AASA. Dr. Donna Peterson, former Superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, chaired the committee on behalf of AASA.

For additional information contact:
Dr. Mary A. Francis, Executive Director, AASA
907.586.9702 or mary-acsa@gci.net

Photo of the day - July 22

I put a bird feeder in my window with sunflower seeds to keep the beautiful finches in their natural habitat. They unintentionally dropped seeds in our beautiful rock flower bed and I ended up with these gorgeous sunflowers in front of my window! Photo Courtesy Mary Barkley

Personal Thank You to Mark and Larry Semms

Hi,
We just returned from a trip to Delta Junction.

We just wanted to say Thank You to Mark Ahrens and Larry Semms (DOC) for their help and support.

We met some new friends and visited with a few old ones.

Unfortunately due to auto troubles in Canada, the trip was cut short.We were able to get some more work done on the property and we are still looking foreward to the move up there in two years.

We are already looking forward to our trip next summer.

Again Thank You to friends and Mark and Larry, see you next year.

Pat & Linda Faith

Photo of the day - July 21

Fireweed is blooming and the clock is ticking. Our summer is half over already and the blooms are slowly climbing the stalk, reaching for the top before the frosts of fall bring an end to the beauty of another summers display of color. Photo Courtesy Art Lenon

Don't Get Stuck in an Overpriced Snuggie

BBB Receives Complaints on Great Fun's Rebate Check

Anchorage, Alaska – July 21, 2009 – The Snuggie, a wearable blanket that conjures up coziness and relaxation for most, is now making some consumers uncomfortable with its new rebate program through a company called Great Fun. After purchasing a $20 Snuggie, consumers receive a rebate check for $8.95, which features the following inscription on the back:

"I authorize Great Fun to charge the annual membership fee after my free trial. I agree to a thirty-day trail offer in Great Fun. I understand that the $149.99 annual membership fee will be charged to my credit card on file with Snuggie unless I cancel my membership by calling 1-866-709-4170 before the end of the trial period. My membership will be automatically renewed and I will also be charged every year thereafter at the then-current fee unless I call to cancel for a refund of the unused portion of the current year's fee. By cashing this check I authorize Snuggie to securely transfer my credit card information to Great Fun for enrollment, billing and benefit processing."

By cashing this check, consumers are inadvertently agreeing to these trial membership terms—and if the consumer does not cancel—Great Fun will charge $150 on the credit card used to pay for the Snuggie.

In the last 36 months, Connecticut's BBB has received more than 3,000 complaints against Great Fun, also known as Affinion Group or Trilegiant:

Last year, BBB sent out the following warning about Affinion Group.

“Those who cash the rebate check, without reading the back, may find themselves paying hundreds of dollars for a product that's worth very little,” said Robert W.G. Andrew, President and CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington. Your BBB recommends the following tips when shopping for infomercial products:

Shop carefully. Before you buy, check out companies at www.bbb.org.

"Free" offers may cost you. When you purchase a product, beware that some companies share or sell your information to cover their costs. Get reassurance that your information will not be redistributed; look up the company's privacy policy or request a written contract before you pay. When buying from an infomercial, consider contacting your credit card company first to create a onetime use number with a limit for the exact cost of your purchase.

Cash checks with caution. Cashing checks from unknown parties could end up costing you more than it's worth. If you didn't work for the money, weren't expecting a check, or don't read the fine print, you could be at risk for inadvertently signing up for an unwanted service—or worse—check fraud or an advance fee scam. The bottom line: Never deposit unsolicited checks from unfamiliar sources.

Mystery Photo for Week July 14 - 21

The winner of last week's mystery photo is Austin Sparks

We had 25 correct entries last week.

Austin will receive a gift certificate from the Buffalo Center Drive-In courtesy of John and Linda Sloan

Thank you for each one that submitted their entry, along with your mailing address. Please remember to include your mailing address with each entry. DNW will not accept entries without mailing addresses. We do not store your address from week to week.

The photo is drive thru sign that is located on the front of the Delta Industrial Building.

Morning Tour of the Children's Garden

Click here for a photo enlargment

It was a perfect day for a garden tour! The previous nights rain left everything clean and smelling sweet. The morning sun rose in time to dry the dew off the plants. The wind was still. As the coffee brewed and the pitchers were filled with cool lemon water and tea, the homemade pastries and vegetable dishes were arranged out in the cold frame for the visitors to enjoy as they browsed through the beautifully groomed gardens. One could not dream of a more perfect day.

Strawberry Rhubarb Scones, accompanied with a FREE jar of the filling used in making these, Fresh Carrot Cake, Fresh Veggie Pizzas & Vegetable Wraps of julienne cucumbers, shredded carrots and diced fresh romaine lettuce with a spicy pepper and bean spread on a masa tortilla.. Oh.....it was good.

But, as you will see in the following photographs, one very important ingredient was missing.....

For information about the Children's Garden & Workshop Program, call 895-4269.Thank You.

Click on the photo for a photo enlargement.

Letter to the Editor

My Dad was stationed at Greely and I was a student at DHS for the ’74 & ’75 school years. You cannot imagine the smile the photographs of the alumni picnic brought to my face.

Seeing the picture of Billy, Kevin and Tim took me back to the old gym and a vision of shorts and tube socks, remember the Spirit Circle that would ring the gym and the many hours I spent as a cheerleader rooting for our Girls, JV and Varsity teams.

Having the opportunity to see my former classmates and one of the most memorable teachers I ever had, Lou Heinbockel, (he nicknamed me Klutz) made me “homesick” for Delta. -

Renee Middleton, feel free to email me, I would love to hear from my former classmates.

2009 30th Year Deltana Fair Anniversary Quilt

A Quilt to show off more than a dozen years of t-shirts from the Deltana Fair.This quilt was created for a back-drop for the Deltana Fair Office.T-shirts donated by Ann Geise and Judy Sowell.

Quilting done by Delta locals, Ruby Hollembaek, Lee Ann Turinsky,Marcia Ward and machine quilted by North Pole resident, Kim Wicklund.All are Forget Me Knot Quilting Guild members.

As Marcia said, "We made a silk purse out of a sow's ear." It turnedout pretty good afterall. Come to the fair office and take a gander.

See you at the FAIR! Remember it's the 30th Anniversary - "Stitch inTime 2009!"

Recall of Kiddes Smoke Alarm

Kidde Model PI2000 Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms

Manufacturer: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc., of Mebane, N.C.

Description: This recall involves Kidde dual sensor smoke alarms model PI2000. The alarms can be identified by two buttons, “HUSH” and “PUSH AND HOLD TO TEST WEEKLY,” which are located on the front/center of the alarm. The model number and date code are on the back of the smoke alarm. Only date codes 2008 Aug.01 through 2009 May 04 are included in this recall.

Sold at: Retail, department, and hardware stores and through electrical distributors nationwide from August 2008 through May 2009 for between $30 and $40.

Remedy: Consumers should contact Kidde immediately to receive a free replacement smoke alarm.

Customer Contact: For additional information, contact Kidde toll-free at (877) 524-2086 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.kidde.com/.

Signs Needed for Exhibit Hall

Are you a fabulous artist? Or - So you run an engineer firm?

Does your company make signs?

The Deltana Fair is looking for professional - tried and true - signs to put in various divisions at the Deltana Fair Exhibit Hall. We need 10 signs for this purpose. Size is varied. See www.deltanafair.com and click on link to see the divisions.

Also, do you have perennials that we could plant around the hall?

Please Contact Ruby at 895-4008 if you can help. Thanks in advance.

Flower and Plant Exhibit Information for the Deltana Fair

Division 5 - Flowers
Superintendents Eddy Dee Growden & Mary Leith-Dowling
Entry day: 6:30-8:30am and 10am-2pm, Thursday prior to Fair weekend
Judging system: American -- Exhibit pickup: 5pm, Sunday of Fair weekend
Special Requirements: Only one entry per lot for each exhibitor
* Plants must have been grown in the container exhibited in Classes B, D and E.
* Cut flowers [Class A - Lot 1, Class F - Lots 1,2,3] will be displayed in containers available at the Exhibit Hall.
* Commercial/Professional entries are encouraged to enter and will be judged separately from the amateurs. Please write ‘Commercial’ on exhibit tag near ID number. See general rules.

Class A - Cut Flowers
Lot 1 Misc. [1 to 6 of one kind]

Class B - Potted Plants
Lot 1 Indoor
Lot 2 Outdoor
Lot 3 Best Collection Indoor
Lot 4 Best Collection Outdoor

Class C - Arrangements
Lot 1 Cut
Lot 2 Garden Dish
Lot 3 Terrariums
Lot 4 Miniature
Lot 5 Dry Flowers
Lot 6 Other

Class D - Hanging Container
Lot 1 Indoor
Lot 2 Outdoor

Class E - Potted Herbs
Lot 1 Indoor
Lot 2 Outdoor
Lot 3 Best Collection - Indoor
Lot 4 Best Collection – Outdoor

Class F - General Garden
Lot 1 Largest Bloom
Lot 2 Best Collection
Lot 3 Largest Number of Different Varieties

Class G - Wild Flowers [Fresh Flowers]
Lot 1 Arrangements
Lot 2 Misc. [1 to 6 of one kind]

Class H - Potpourri [Dried]
Lot 1 Wild Flowers
Lot 2 Domestic Flowers
Lot 3 Combination of Wild & Domestic Flowers

Photo of the day - July 20

Surprise! A squirrel was having a feast inside my hand painted gourd bird feeder! I was wondering why my bird seed was going so fast! Photo Courtesy Mary Barkley

Engagement Announcement ~Former Resident Tawnee Nickay

Former Delta residents, Nick and Kay [of Nickays Country Garden] would like to announce the engagement of their daughter Tawnee to Alex Bushyhead.

Tawnee and Alex plan to get married in Nick and Kay's backyard Aug. 28th at 7:00 in the evening. E-mail can be sent to Kay at oknickays@gmail.com or Tawnee at magspal33@yahoo.com

Tawnee is working as a CNA at the Oklahoma Veteran's Center and Alex is in the National Guard, and is working as a mechanic right now.

Fundraiser is History

FUNDRAISER IS HISTORY now, and if you weren’t there, you missed good music, good food, and some auction bargains--

You also missed opportunity to give Judith strokes and hugs for a prodigious job well done--but just ‘cuz the event is over does not mean that you cannot contribute--the purpose of the fundraiser was raising $ to build a new pantry at Alpha Omega Life Care Inc, where they have outgrown the old one--

The most recent consignment of food for distribution to qualifying families weighed in at 3 1/2 tons--count ‘em, three and one half TONS--required firing up and filling 5--count ‘em, FIVE freezers--we’ll distribute on Monday, and then do it all over again in two weeks--

If you wanna contribute $, mail your contribution to Alpha Omega Life Care Inc at POB 1009--if you wanna help distribute, or wanna tell Judith in person what a stupendous job she does and did, stop by the office on the airstrip--at the very least, call her at 895 4104--

If you are among those who believe that there is no HUNGER in Delta Junction, think again, as you eat your fill, and then call the office--I’ll tell you about food insecurity here--

And to those of you who did attend, and did help--thank you!!

Photo of the day - July 18

Found only in North America, Bald Eagles are more abundant in Alaska than anywhere else in the United States. The Alaska population has been estimated to include 30,000 birds at the time of fledging. Bald Eagles are often found along Alaska’s coast, offshore islands, and Interior lakes and rivers. The highest nesting densities occur on the islands of Southeast Alaska. Most Bald Eagles winter in southern Alaska, but some leave the state during cold months. In the Chilkat Valley, over 3,000 birds may congregate in late fall and early winter to feed on spawned-out salmon. Photo Courtesy Kevin Flatley

Vacation Bible School Starts on Monday

Vacation Bible School will start on Monday, July 20 and go through Friday, July 24.

Time: 9AM - 12:00 Noon Monday through Thursday.
9AM - 2:00PM on Friday

Location: Delta Christian Center. For more information, call 895-4531.

Ages: 3 to 12 years old

Fair Parade NEEDS Certified Flaggers

The Fair Parade needs certified flaggers for traffic control during the parade on Saturday, August 1.

PLEASE call Sheryl Mills at 895-1948 if you are a certified flagger willing to volunteer a couple of hours for the 30th Annual Deltana Fair Parade.

Today is the Day! AOLC Fundraiser

TODAY IS THE DAY!! for the Alpha Omega Life Care Inc gala fundraiser event at the Moose Family Center on Jack Warren Road.

Judith, bless her heart, has worked like a Trojan for HUNDREDS of hours to prepare a wonderful and fruitful event for you and for anti-hunger efforts in Delta Junction--
and for her efforts she is not paid, receives not one penny in wages or salary--

Everyone LOVES Judith--what’s not to love?--now its up to you to show her that you love her and support the anti-hunger programs. Buy a ticket--come by at 2 PM to enjoy the music--bid on silent auction items--have dinner--bid on live auction items--make a donation--give her a hug--

Help Judith to build the new and larger storage facility for food. As the economy remains sluggish, or becomes worse; as ever more adults, seniors and children experience food insecurity, use some of your time and discretionary income to help--

And show Judith that you care!!

Alumni Reunion Picnic Photos from July 12

The Alumni Reunion Picnic took place on June 12 at the City Park.

Billy, Kevin, and Tim re-enacted the Varsity Drag, which they performed during a 1975 pep rally and was captured for the 1975 school album.

Please click on the photo displays for photo enlargements.

Interior residents likely to see increased flying activities

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – Interior Alaskan residents may see and hear increased military flying as the Air Force begins RED FLAG-Alaska 09-3 July 23 at Eielson Air Force Base. Flying for RF-A 09-3 begins July 23 and ends August 7. During this exercise there will be increased military air traffic in Alaska’s Pacific Area Range Complex and in Special Use Airspace across the state.

RED FLAG-Alaska provides U.S. and allied pilots, aircrews and operational support personnel the opportunity to train and improve their air combat skills in preparation for a myriad of worldwide contingencies.

U.S. aircraft will come from Alaska, Korea, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, South Carolina, and Florida. Aircraft types will include F-16s, F-22s, B-1s and KC-135s.

All civilian pilots should note that military flying activities are not limited to exercises. Military aircraft may be encountered at any time throughout the year.

Operators of small civilian aircraft transiting Military Operations Areas should be aware of the increased activity and are encouraged to use the Special Use Airspace Information Service by calling (800) 758-8723. In Fairbanks, call (907) 372-6913 or contact Eielson Range Control via VHF radio on 125.3 mHz. Pilots are also urged to obtain the most current status of the MOAs from any FAA Automated Flight Service Station, Anchorage Center, or Eielson Range Control and to always file a flight plan. Special Use Airspace Information Service can be found on the Elmendorf AFB homepage at www.elmendorf.af.mil

Although military planners make every effort to reduce the effect of increased flying activities on Alaska residents, people who feel they are being adversely affected can call (907) 377-2116 or (800) JET-NOISE.

Behind the scenes preparations for 2009 Deltana Fair

A paver from Paving Products, Inc from Fairbanks gets a load from a pony dump while paving the main walkways at the Deltana Fairgrounds on Saturday.

A roller goes over the new pavement after it was laid.

Hank Dube was preparing the grounds with his John Deere tractor and mowing machine.

Butch Goodno, shown in photo, and Barbara Tharp were busy building trusses this week for the new beer barn at the fairgrounds.

Barb, shown in photo, worked with Butch during the week when she had free time. Photo taken by Butch Goodno.

Photos are courtesy of Barb Tharp

AOLC Hunger Fundraiser

Just a reminder:
Have you gotten your dinner ticket to the Alpha Omega Life Care, Inc., Hunger fundraiser at the Moose Center on Saturday, July 18th? Oh, you did not know that we're trying to raise funds to build another pantry to help house the 5 tons of food we bring into Delta each month?
Well then, do not miss your chance for an afternoon of music followed by dinner and a live auction.

Tickets for the Alpha Omega fundraiser dinner will be available at the door. Sales of dinner tickets will be limited to 100. Cost for dinner is $15.00/person. Advance tickets can be purchased at Diehl's Delights and from the Alpha Omega office. So, don't wait until the last minute!

The menu will be Chicken Parmigian with spaghetti, roasted vegetables, salad, garlic bread and desserts.

The dinner and live auction will be held at the Delta Clearwater Moose Family Center. The live music brought to you by Dave Stancliff, www.alaskamusicartists.com, Susan Grace, www.ptialaska.net/~blackdog/grace.htm and Alaska Grown with a Nickel's Worth of Nostalgia begins at 2p.

Dinner and live auction at 5p. Randy Peterson has agreed to be the auctioneer.

Some contributions for the auction are coming from Walmart, Sam's Club. Safeway, Fred Meyers, Riverboat Discovery, Santa House, Cookie Jar Restaurant, Buffalo Diner, The Pit, Posh Salon, JB Hair Care, Hair Doctor Styling Salon, Calico Cow Quilters, Rika's Gift Shop, Tanana Sports Center and sooo many more.

Please join us and if you cannot make the dinner and auction, come and enjoy the hours of live music. For more info and to purchase dinner tickets call 895-4104. If we're not in to answer your call please leave us a message and we'll get right back to you as soon as we can. Thanks

Notice of Public Availability - The Right to Know

Annual Notice of Public Availability of Community Right-to-Know (CRTK) Data: Each Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is required by law (42 U.S.C.11044) to publish an annual notice in local newspapers that the emergency response plan, material safety data sheets and emergency and hazardous chemical inventory forms are available for public review. Follow up emergency notices may later be issued.

Please contact the Delta Junction City Hall at 907-895-4656 to make arrangements for review

Fort Greely Chapel presents Womens Conference

Women's Conference 2009
Hosted by Pastor Sylvia P. Laughlin

"Empowering Women to Serve"Theme: She Too Serves!

Come be renewed, refreshed, restored and empowered to serve God, your family and others.

Registration/Fellowship: Friday, August 21, 2009 at 5:30 to 7:00PM
Service: Friday, August 21 - 7:00PM
Saturday Sessions: August 22 - 8:30AM Till Brunch and Dinner Served

For more information call the Fort Greely Chapel at 873-2476 or Miki Adams at 873-4906.

First Annual Car Show and Shine

Julio Merced of North Pole, stands in front of his 77 Volare Roadrunner at the First Annual Car Show and Shine sponsored by Buffalo Center Service. What I liked about this car was the fact that Julio purchased it new in Anchorage and managed to hang onto all these years. It's not often you can find a car this old still owned by the original purchaser.
The First Annual Car Show and Shine was held last Friday, July 10, at the Buffalo Center Service. Susie Sandy, owner, said she thinks it was well attended and there were 19 entries, and some car owners came from Fairbanks and North Pole.

Buffalo Center Service served free ice cream floats, the evening was gorgeous. People's choice award went to Aaron Adams who received a $50 gift certificate from Buffalo Center Service. Aaron Adams won the choice award with his Blue and White Duster.

The soda for the floats was donated by Odom Distributing/Coke. The ice cream was purchased from Northern Lights Dairy.

Donations were collected for Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Plans are being made to continue this on an annual basis.

Fire Danger Remains High

Fire danger is high and with the winds coming up, it is expected to get worse. Red flag warnings have been issued.

Currently there are 75 active wildfires burning in Alaska. The largest is a series of three fires burning in the Interior.

There are more than 100 cabins in the Nenana area that are being threatened and 160,000 acres have burned so far. The Kenai Peninsula is burning about 14,000 acres.

Crews from the lower 48 are being brought up to help fight the fires.

Deltana Fair Needs Volunteers

The Deltana Fair needs volunteers willing to help with a variety of activities, call 895-3247 or email info@deltanafair.com to get involved -- it is a community afFAIR!

Soldiers Return from Iraq

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – About 250 soldiers from 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry are expected to return from their deployment to Iraq Thursday.

After inprocessing upon landing, they will be bused to Fort Wainwright to be reunited with their families.

The unit left Fort Wainwright last summer. They provided aerial surveillance and support while deployed.

An earlier main-body flight came in Monday. With the exception of the trail party of less than 50 soldiers, this completes the redeployment of the 6-17 Cav.'s 600 soldiers.

Auto Repair Businesses Dodge "Stranded Consumer" Swindle

BBB Shares Tip-offs to Prevent Rip-offs

Anchorage, AK – July 14, 2009 – Most companies are eager to help a stranded consumer in need, but a new scam targeting Alaska's automotive repair industry reminds businesses to dole out kindness with caution.

It starts with a phone call to the body shop from a desperate "consumer" who claims that their vehicle is wrecked out-of-state, but wants it repaired locally.

What follows is an elaborate plot to capture the business' money. Allegedly, the towing company will not accept credit cards. The caller asks the auto repair company to charge a provided credit card number—possibly stolen—for thousands of dollars. Then, the business is instructed to wire the funds or write a check back to the "consumer" or to the towing company. In some cases, the towing company is to be paid a deposit and then the balance is due upon arrival, but ultimately, the towing company never shows up and the money is gone.

Auto repair shops from Fairbanks, Wasilla and Anchorage have reported they’ve received similar phone calls.

To pull off this con, some frauds use Internet Protocol (IP) Relay or an alternate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), which is intended to assist the deaf and those with trouble hearing or speaking in communicating through a Web-ready computer, PDA, phone or other device.

Your BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington provides the following tip-offs for detecting rip-offs:
The caller is not willing to provide basic contact information or sounds like they are reading from a script.
They won't give specific details of how the vehicle was wrecked, provide a description of the damage or explain the exact whereabouts of the wreckage.
The request involves lengthy instructions to exchange or wire funds.

Write it down. Collect as much information as possible from the caller and the purported towing company, including the name, address, e-mail address, phone number they provide—and if applicable—the one that appears on the caller ID. Note other distinguishing features, such as an accent or other identifying information.

Detailed questions may catch a scammer off guard. Inquire about the make, model and year of the vehicle. Ask if they filed a police report in the city where the accident occurred. Find out if they filed a claim with their insurance company.

Speak up. If you suspect a call is fraudulent, report it to the state Attorney General's Office and BBB for investigation. If it is a suspicious repair request via e-mail, file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.

Photo of the day - July 14

This Sea Lion near Juneau put on quite a show beside our 18 foot boat. Average male weighs 1245 pounds and is 10 and 2/3 feet long! We hoped he wouldn't come aboard!
Photo Courtesy Nat Good

Mystery Photo for Week July 7 -13

The winner of last week's mystery photo is Cheryl Cooper

We had 21 correct entries last week.

Cheryl will receive a gift certificate from the Buffalo Center Diner courtesy of Ed and Ann Richards

Thank you for each one that submitted their entry, along with your mailing address. Please remember to include your mailing address with each entry. DNW will not accept entries without mailing addresses. We do not store your address from week to week.

The photo is part of the sign that is located on the front of the Buffalo Center Drive-In.

Photo of the day - July 11

Our recent trip to Dawson City. The first one is Victory Garden at the Dawson museum and the second photo is the Robert Service Cabin. Photos Courtesy Carol Dufendach

Cash for Clunkers

CASH FOR CLUNKERS: BBB SAYS KNOW THE FACTS FIRST
Avoid Scams and Learn the Facts Concerning the Car Allowance Rebate System

Anchorage, Alaska — July 10, 2009 — Consumers are curious about the new government program that allows some old gas guzzlers to be traded in for a credit on a new fuel-efficient vehicle. Beware some information circulating is from con artists.

The real program is called the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS). However, fraudsters are using catchy names and trying to lure consumers into identity theft schemes. Scams ask for personal information, like Social Security numbers to get a "voucher" or a name added to an application list—these don’t exist.

Get accurate information about CARS and find out if your vehicle qualifies from the U.S. Department of Transportation at www.cars.gov or 866-227-7891.

According to CARS.gov, the dealership applies for the program and must be registered to participate. The dealer is the one who gets reimbursed, not the consumer. If the gas guzzler meets the requirements, a credit amount of $3,500 or $4,500 is taken out of the purchase price of the new vehicle by the dealership. The credit amount generally depends on the type of vehicle purchased and the difference in fuel economy between the clunker and new vehicle.

Your Better Business Bureau suggests the following tips concerning CARS:
1) Avoid anyone who offers a money order, check or direct deposit for the rebate. Consumers can only benefit from CARS by getting the reimbursement amount reduced from the purchase price of the new vehicle.
2) Discover the current value of the clunker. If it exceeds $4,500, selling the clunker or a normal trade-in may be a more cost-effective route.
3) Know the scrap value of the clunker. When the dealership takes possession of the gas guzzler, it may be able to sell specified parts, but the majority of the vehicle must be destroyed. So consumers can negotiate the new vehicle price with the clunker but it will only be worth the scrap value to the dealership. Dealerships are required to give consumers a scrap value estimate.
4) According to CARS.gov, the program only works for purchasing or leasing new vehicles from a dealership; not used vehicles.
5) Transactions after July 1 are potentially eligible for credits, however CARS.gov suggests interested dealers and consumers wait until late July when the program will be fully implemented. The program runs until November 1 or when funds are exhausted.
6) Protect your personal information and understand contracts before signing. When purchasing a vehicle from a dealership get buying tips and a free BBB Reliability Report on the business at www.bbb.org.

Report related schemes at www.cars.gov and internet or e-mail based scams at www.ic3.gov.

Photo of the day - July 10

This nice Caribou bull is part of the Macomb Plateau herd, and was photographed on June 22 about 20 miles south of Delta. Photo Courtesy Art Lenon

Overpayment Scams Target Businesses

Local businesses invest time then discover business deal was a scam.

Anchorage, Alaska — July 9, 2009 — Businesses offered more money than they are asking for a product or service should be weary. Alaska, Oregon and Washington businesses are reporting overpayment scams.

“Businesses who think they are simply doing a favor for a good customer can get their money swiped in this scam.” said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington.

Identifying Overpayment Scams
Businesses are contacted, usually though an e-mail, by a buyer often from another country. Only after setting up the details of their purchase does the scam appear:

The buyer asks the business to help make their purchase easier. The buyer says they'll overpay for the product or service and asks the business to forward the extra money to another business or person to handle shipping or another service. In recent cases, it appears scam artists used stolen credit card numbers. However, fake or stolen checks are also used.

Businesses discover, usually after they’ve transferred funds to the scam artist, that the money never comes or the money arrives but is stolen from another person or business’ account. This can put a freeze on the business’ account and requires the business to pay back the money to the rightful owner, including the funds sent to the scam artist.

An Alaska bed and breakfast recently was asked to forward an overpayment of $10,000 to a “car hiring agent,” so the buyer wouldn’t have to share credit card information with a third party.

Scam artists do their best to sound legitimate. They may refer to themselves as a doctor or another distinguished title. Some also sound very interested in the product or service by asking questions and giving specific details. Those who don't fall for the scam, still lose valuable time to what they thought would be a good business deal.

Overpayment schemes also target consumers.

Reporting Scams
File complaints regarding suspicious e-mails at www.ic3.gov. Report scams to the Alaska Attorney General, 269-5200.

Get a BBB Reliability Report on businesses and organizations before working with them at www.bbb.org or 562-0704.

Photo of the day - July 9

The adult dark eyed junco pictured here, is feeding its clutch of newborns with some mouth watering larvae of some sorts. Juncos are very venerable to its many predators because it has its nest on the ground. Photo by Steve Thomas

1st Annual Classic Car Night

1st Annual Classic Car night and Show & Shine


Brought to you by Buffalo Center Service Gas Station

Friday, July 10
6:00 PM

Call ahead to enter 895-5077




Categories:
Classic Autos (30+ years)
Modified Cars
Convertibles
Motorcycles
Modified Tucks

People's Choice Award
Free Ice Cream Floats
50's Music

Louis Stockwell Memorial

Memorial service for Louis E. Stockwell will be held with military honors at Rest Haven Cemetery on Jack Warren Road, Sunday 12 July at 2PM.

Poluck to follow at the Stockwell farm, 6.8 mile Tanana Loop Ext.

Obituary to follow at a later date.

Preparing Veggies and Preserves for Fair Exhibits

Learn How to Prepare Veggies and Preserves for Exhibits at the Fair From the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service

Vegetables are an important part of Alaska’s fairs. Experience in selecting and exhibiting vegetables will help you to gain know-how and to achieve success with these products. Good exhibits attract attention and stimulate interest in Alaska grown vegetables. The exhibit is a demonstration of achievement.

For all food preservation products, it is important to follow recommended processing procedures for a top quality product that is safe and wholesome for your family. It is important that you have not only an attractive exhibit, but also one that is safe. In judging canned products, three factors should be considered: the product, the liquid, and the pack of the product.

On Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Roxie Rogers Dinstel – Home Economist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension Service (CES) will be in Delta at the Highway’s End Farmers Market to give a free presentation on “Attractive and Safe Food Preservation Exhibits” and “Vegetables: Selection and Preparation for Display”.

Both topics are also available – for a fee - as CES publications at the Delta District office located in room 114/115 in the Jarvis Office Center, Mile Post 1420.5 Alaska Highway. Open Monday – Friday 8:00-4:30. For more information call 895-4215.

Photo of the day - July 8

A robin made a nest on our cabin. The eggs hatched last week. I was able to get this photo while the mom was out getting food for her babies. As you can see, they look hungry!
Photo Courtesy Mary Barkley

SOG Hip Hop coming to Delta Christian Center

Delta Christian Center and Alaska Ablaze Presents the SOG Crew

July 12, 2009 at Delta Christian Center 7PM.Mile 4.5 Jack Warren Road

Followed by: July 13 through July 18 at Mentasta Village.

Free Admission

Photo of the day - July 7

Red fox pups stare intently at the photographer from the entrance to their den. There were a total of five pups, but only these two would pose for their photograph.

Photo Courtesy Art Lenon

Smoke Lingers in the Interior

Excerpts taken from the Daily News Miner regarding the smoke in the area. To read the complete article, please see the Daily News Miner article written by their staff on July 7.

The fires responsible for the smoke in Fairbanks are burning south and west of Fairbanks, namely the 29,713-acre Bear Creek Fire burning in Denali National Park and Preserve; the 75,000-acre Minto Flats South Fire about 25 miles west of Nenana; and the 19,270-acre Zitziana Fire, north of Wien Lake, about 40 miles south of Manley.

The Minto Flats South Fire is actually two fires merged into one. Both were started by lightning strikes more than two weeks ago. Fire managers on Monday combined the 5,030-acre Bear Lake Fire with the larger Minto Flats South Fire after both fires became active again as the result of the hot, dry weather.

As of Monday evening, there were 62 fires burning in Alaska, seven of which were being staffed with a total of about 230 firefighters.

The 10,017-acre Rock Slough Fire northeast of Fort Yukon was commanding the most attention with 132 personnel assigned to the fire Monday evening. A team of about 50 firefighters was assigned to the Minto Flats South fire earlier on Monday.

Mystery Photo for Week July 1 - 6

The winner of last week's mystery photo is Isaac Ruse

We had 3 correct entries last week.

This must have been a real tough one to guess this week. I had many folks ask me on Saturday at the July 4th celebration if this photo was taken in Delta. They mentioned they were driving all around Delta looking for it. Won't they be surprised to learn of the location.

Isaac will receive a gift certificate from the Buffalo Center Drive-In courtesy of John and Linda Sloan

Thank you for each one that submitted their entry, along with your mailing address. Please remember to include your mailing address with each entry. DNW will not accept entries without mailing addresses. We do not store your address from week to week.

The photo is part of the sign that is located on the Columbo building where Calico Cow, Busy Bee and Mt. McKinley Bank are open for business.

Deltana Fair Shirts and More

2009 Deltana Fair t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, gate pass key chains, and other items will be on sale near the IGA Food Cache on Saturday, July 11, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Premium Books / Exhibitor's Guides, Membership applications and Parade Entry Forms will also be available.

Photo of the day - July 6

This is how it looked this morning out my back yard at around 6:15, Monday, July 6, 2009. From what I've been told is that we have fires to the Northeast and Northwest of us. This leaves the Delta area with plenty of smoke. Photo Courtesy Barb Tharp

GVEA Prepay Electric Meters

Golden Valley Electric is attempting to bring prepay meters to Fairbanks. The details are on the Regulatory Commission website under docket# U-09-052. GVEA says these meters are for "volunteers". However in their filing they state "late payers and delinquents are a challenge".

I say that anyone who has been late or may be late could be asked to post a large deposit or "volunteer" for a prepay meter.

These meters are bad for our community for obvious reasons.

There will be a public hearing in Fairbanks at the Westmark Hotel 27 July 11am -5pm. I am a party to this suit along with the attorney general. Any assistance or influence would be greatly appreciated. I have put my own personal assets at risk here as an intervener.

Glenn Shaw mrdog@gci.net
1054 Meadowrue Ave.
North Pole, Ak. 99705
907-490-2100
750-0157 cell

Photo of the day - July 4

This American Bald Eagle which is our national bird, is seen soaring above the bluff at Shaw Creek on a very nice sunny day. Photo by Steve Thomas

Govenor Palin Resigns

Alaska is in shock of what has happened since Friday afternoon, July 3. Our govenor resigned her position. There are many headlines you can follow to see what Alaska is facing at this time. Many residents are angered, some are expressing their gratitude, others are shocked.

Alaskan Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who will succeed Gov. Sarah Palin after she leaves office this month, called Palin Alaska's greatest gift to the United States on Saturday. See CNN Politics

Please see the Fairbanks Daily News Miner

ABC News

Deltana Fair Membership

Membership in the Deltana Fair Association is open to anyone who is a resident of the State of Alaska and is interested in the Deltana Fair.

Dues are payable each September 1st, or thereafter, and expire August 31.

The annual general membership meeting is held in October or November.

There are three classes of membership:
Individual, Business and Lifetime.

Individual membership fee is $25 per year and includes one 3-day adult pass to the fairand one vote at the general membership meeting.

Business membership fee is $50 per year and includes one 3-day adult pass to the fair, one 3-day parking pass during the fair and one vote at the general membership meeting.

Lifetime membership is $250 one time per person (not transferable) and includes name on a plaque in theoffice cabin on the fairgrounds, one 3-day adult pass to the fair, free parking during the fair and one voteat the general membership meeting.

Contact the Fair Manager at the Deltana Fair Office at 895-FAIR [895-3247] or email .

Deltana Fair Division Food Reminder

Division 4 - Foods -- Unit 1 - Culinary
Superintendent - Ruth Abbott

Entry day: Thursday prior to Fair weekend, 6:30-8:30am and 10am-2pm
Judging system: American. Exhibit pickup: Sunday of Fair weekend, 5-6pm

Special Requirements:
Only one entry per lot for each exhibitor.
* Recipe must accompany entry.
* Winning entries may be included in a Deltana Fair Cook Book. Proceeds from cookbooks will be used to benefit the Deltana Fair.
* Miniature-sized entries will be accepted in lieu of large full-recipe entries. The recipe submitted should be for the regular-sized portion.
*Commercial/Professional entries will be judged separately. Please write ‘commercial’ on exhibit tag near ID number. See general rules.
*Please specify hot or cold dish on your exhibit tag so the entry can be presented to the judges correctly.

Deltana Fair staff WILL NOT prepare foods for judges by garnishing, stirring, adding ingredients, etc...Visit our website for more details.

Opera Fairbanks presents Tosca in Concert starring Cynthia Lawrence

On July 16 & 18, 2009 Opera Fairbanks will present a semi-staged concert of Giacomo Puccini's tragic love triangle Tosca. Performances will take place at UAF's Davis Concert Hall and will star Cynthia Lawrence and Jason Stearns of the Metropolitan Opera as Tosca and Scarpia, respectively; tenor Mathew Edwardsen appears as Cavaradossi. Alaskans Spencer McAuliffe, Thomas Gross, Morgan Reed, Scott Raneri, and Alan Holmberg, as well as adult and children's choruses, complete the cast.

Conducted by Opera Fairbanks Artistic Director, Maestro Gregory Buchalter of the Metropolitan Opera. Stage Direction by Gloria Marinacci Allen.

Photo of the day - July 3

This is a male harlequin duck photographed in Denali Park. Harlequin ducks are occasionally seen on the Delta Clearwater River. They are sea ducks that migrate to clear mountain streams to nest. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Deltana Fair tshirts and more!

2009 Deltana Fair t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, gate pass key chains, and other items will be on sale near the IGA Food Cache on Saturday, July 4, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Premium Books / Exhibitor's Guides, Membership applications and Parade Entry Forms will also be available.

Photo of the day - July 2

June is a great month to view wildflowers. These asters were found on June 22, growing along the pipeline near Donnelly Dome. Photo Courtesy Art Lenon

Fundraiser for Hunger Abatement Programs

Alpha Omega Life Care, Inc. is a community-based, non-profit, broad-spectrum social service agency, with, among their missions, a deep and abiding commitment to Hunger Abatement. To this end, the agency manages six community food programs:

1. Partnering with the Fairbanks Community Food Bank providing local administration and distribution for the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
2. Administers a small grant from FEMA/United Way providing for food vouchers to be used at the local market.
3. In season, manages locally for the state of Alaska, the Senior Nutrition and Farmer’s Market Coupon Program.
4. Serves on the advisory board for the local Farmer’s Market.
5. Maintains a community-based Food Pantry by means of donations to allow emergency issues of food when necessary.

Six plus years ago when the Board of Directors made a resolution regarding hunger abatement, the corporate mini-van sufficed to serve our fledgling efforts. Today, bringing to Delta Junction from Fairbanks nearly 5 tons of food per month, and serving 150+ families and seniors each month, the van no longer serves.

Since that time, we have added by means of grants and good stewardship, an insulated wired, heated, 16’ X 24’ building, industrial shelving, commercial refrigeration, and large chest freezer to house our hunger abatement programs.

However, we are (glad or sad, we’re not certain) to say, that our Hunger Abatement programs have outgrown the floor space available. When our CSFP and TEFAP consignments arrive on Saturdays, they must be off-loaded from the truck and stored until the following Monday, distribution day. Some boxes end up being temporarily stored, because of the 65 – 85 families and individuals we serve with each program, some of those recipients do not arrive to pick up their boxes during distribution. Storage consumes floor space and interferes with emergency issues and administrative functions.

Therefore, we are seeking funding through a major fundraiser to build an additional building to the present facility exclusively for storage of food boxes.

Service Area and Target Populations
Our hunger abatement programs presently serve low-income seniors and families, also those with urgent/emergency needs in the Greater Delta Junction area, and a few individuals and families in Dot Lake and Tok.

Goals, Objectives, Impact
1. Expanded storage capacity
2. Eminently suitable and task adapted single purpose building
3. Practical project for high school construction trades program

Monitoring Success Measurement
The programs as they exist are successful; this is an effort to reduce or alleviate a limited storage capacity state. Monitoring will be done by Alpha Omega staff, who now operate the programs and will continue to do so.

The fundraiser to be held July 18, 2009 at the Moose Lodge will be a social gathering and will include a live auction, live music and dinner. Dave Stancliff and Susan Grace have agreed to perform for our event. The fun begins at 2:00pm. Look for the flyers and listen for the announcements on local radio stations.

You can call 895-4104 for more information.

Some of the items up for auction will be: A quilt made by Mary Beth Miller and Jackie Becker, creations by Jane Oliver, Helga Wagenleiter, Ruby Hollembaek, Mark Bynum and others, photos by Carol Watkins and possibly Dwight Phillips, gift baskets, a gliding rocker and matching ottoman, leather jackets, a counter top wine rack, a yard hammock, Walmart gift certificate, Sam's Club and many more.

Photo of the day - July 1

Be careful when mowing your lawn in June. You may find a nesting Dark Eyed Junco, common in Delta this time of year. A Junco may be 5 inches long, about half of which is its tail. The Juncos are now busy feeding the little ones, who are sprouting pinfeathers. We may soon be able to mow our entire lawn!

Strategic Triangle Civic Leader Tour

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – Gen Howie Chandler, Pacific Air Forces Commander, poses with Alaska civic leaders in Guam during the 22-26 June Pacific Air Forces Civic Leader Trip. The 10,000 mile trip, with stops here, at Eielson AFB, AK and Andersen AFB, Guam, and Hickam AFB, Hawaii included 24 civic leaders from all locations. The trip was designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the U.S. Air Force and the professionalism of Airmen at our forward-most, "Strategic Triangle" bases in the Pacific. Alaska civic leaders returned Saturday on a 176 AW C-17.

Use Caution When Buying Michael Jackson Memorabilia

Value of Items Could Only Be Sentimental

Anchorage, Alaska – June 30, 2009 – Immediately following the announcement of Michael Jackson’s sudden death, enterprising individuals began selling memorabilia online to take advantage of the increased demand. Better Business Bureau warns that the value of most memorabilia and commemorative items being sold is sentimental and the currently inflated prices for many items will drop over time.

According to Smartmoney, before Jackson’s death, sellers listed an average 200 to 400 memorabilia items daily on eBay, but by the morning following his death almost 20,000 Michael Jackson-related items and memorabilia were for sale on the auction Web site. Items included autographs, gloves, posters, newspapers and even a Cheeto which supposedly predicted the death of the pop star.

In addition to memorabilia, commemorative items are already being mass produced and sold to fans—including t-shirts and special edition newspapers and magazines. Because the value of collectibles is largely dependent on how rare an item is, mass-produced commemorative items are not likely to appreciate in value.

“Collectibles associated with Michael Jackson are selling at a premium right now and most of these items will not increase in value in the future,” said Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “Following the death of Princess Diana, the market was flooded with mass-produced items commemorating her death including special edition Beanie Babies that at one time sold for more than $100 but are now on garage sale tables for a buck.”

For fans looking to purchase items to help them remember the King of Pop, BBB offers the following advice:

Get educated.
Collectors should research the value of Michael Jackson-related items before they begin purchasing memorabilia, especially if they are interested in purchasing pieces that have the potential for substantial appreciation in value.

Confirm authenticity.
Confirming the authenticity of memorabilia is rarely easy. Autographs can be verified by a third party, but for other items, the collector should feel free to ask the seller questions about the item, including how the seller came to own it. If the seller can’t answer simple questions, then the collector should walk away.

Make purchases with a credit card.
Consumers should always purchase items with a credit card if they are shopping online. If the seller turns out to be fraudulent, then the consumer can dispute the charge with the credit card company and may be eligible for reimbursement.

Purchase items from a reputable seller.
When shopping online stores, collectors should look for the BBB seal on Web sites and click on the seal to confirm its legitimacy. If there isn’t a BBB seal on the site, shoppers should always check a company out with their BBB before they buy at www.bbb.org.

When purchasing items from an individual on eBay, research the seller’s track record by reading buyer reviews. When shopping on Craigslist, go local and never wire money as payment.

Don’t be fooled by empty advertising claims.
Just because the seller claims that the item is of limited edition, it doesn’t mean that there weren’t millions made. If the item is being widely advertised, chances are, it’s too common to actually gain much value over the years.

Photo of the day - June 30

On our trip up the Dempster to Inuvik, NWT we spotted a Mammoth crossing a far off ridge. Drive is worth the time, but unless you want to spend $5-700 on a fly in guided tour of on of the outlying villages, don’t plan for much time in Inuvik as the biggest attraction is the community greenhouse.