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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015 FEATURES Why is suicide kept a secret? Dear Annie: Last week, our son came home from high school and told us that a boy at his school had killed himself. The boy had been a friend of his since the fifth grade. The school had a moment of si- lence over the public address sys- tem, but never mentioned the boy’s name. Most of the details about the suicide are nonexistent, although there are a few things mentioned on a website asking for help pay- ing for funeral costs. Students who didn’t know the suicide victim are guessing it was caused by bully- ing. Our son says that’s not true. Some students are even saying the fund requests are a scam. We haven’t heard anything about whether the school is offer- ing grief counseling. We’ve talked to our son about the tragedy and are trying our best to help him. Because the students have no in- formation, they are making wild guesses and placing uninformed posts on social media. My ques- tion is why is this tragedy so se- cret? Should the school do more? — Sad Mom Dear Sad: Sometimes, the school is ill-equipped to deal with such tragedies and does nothing, which tends to create a whirlwind of misinformation. Also, the ad- Annie’s Mailbox Creators Syndicate Inc. Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar ministration may fear that men- tioning the details would create copycat suicides. But the details do not need airing. The acknowl- edgement of mourning, however, is important. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org) of- fers a Toolkit for Schools, and you should mention this to the admin- istration. The foundation is also an excellent resource for anyone dealing with suicide, and you will find information there that will help you talk to your son about his friend. Dear Annie: I would like to thank “B” for bringing attention to the telephone scammers who have been plaguing America. I also would like to bring to your readers’ attention to a scam perpetrated by people claiming to be from the IRS. I have received three calls from these people. The “official” recorded message is to- tally bogus. The caller threatened me with arrest for ignoring the calls. They instructed me to call a 202 area code, but it’s a private Washington, D.C., number, not the IRS. I have worked for a fed- eral agency and know how things work. Please be aware of the fol- lowing: 1. The IRS does not initiate contact by telephone. They use certified mail. 2. Legitimate government agen- cies have an 800 number. 3. The IRS will not arrest any- one over the phone. If an arrest is required, it will be after lengthy legal processes have been exhaust- ed. You’ll know about it. Police agencies need a bona fide warrant to arrest people. 4. If you receive such a call, report it to the IRS at IRS@tigta. gov. Also notify your local police. — Knows Better Dear Knows: Thank you for your expert advice. Calls pre- tending to be from the IRS can be particularly frightening for people who are so eager to cooperate that they give out personal financial in- formation over the phone. Please, folks, be careful. FRANK AND ERNEST BLONDIE THATABABY SALLY FORTH STONE SOUP B.C. LOLA DILBERT SIX CHIX BIZARRO MUTTS NON SEQUITUR BABY BLUES WIZARD OF ID ZITS ROSE IS ROSE 5A Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). When you get together with friends, prompt them to bring friends, too, and prepare to benefit in unforeseen ways. In fact, the more new peo- ple you meet the luckier you’ll be. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). In enter- tainment, conflict is necessary for a good story. In life, not so much. In fact, the perfect amount of conflict for the story of this eve- ning would be “none.” See what you can do to minimize the drama! GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You are in the mood to discover, and your preferred learn- ing style lately is hands-on, with instruction. That’s one reason you’ll be attracted to peo- ple who know what you’d like to know. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Maybe you won’t be able to come up with the big idea, but don’t worry. Lots of small ideas are going to be more interesting to execute anyway. Plus you’ll get help. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Socializing is sup- posed to be fun, so don’t let it get too labored. Stick with the conversation for as long as it’s juicy. When you feel like you’re down to the pulp and the peel, move along. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Tearing down the old to make room for the new is a pro- cess that has helped you in your work, and now it’s about to help you in your personal life, too. You’re ready to embrace a new iden- tity and let go of who you were. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Using your body relaxes your mind. The reverse won’t be true (especially not with the intense men- tal activity this day will bring), and so the best thing you can do for your creativity and gen- eral mood is exercise. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Do you think it’s true that you have to stop wanting some- thing in order to get it? Unfortunately, it is dif- ficult to consciously decide to no longer want something. Substitutions may keep you from holding on too tight. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your favorite type of risk is a calculated one. You don’t mind slim odds; you just want to know exactly what they are. The most exciting journeys are the ones with no guarantee of success. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Self-pro- motion works best when the work itself is what’s needed. That’s why you’re wise to find out what your crowd really wants before you try to market something less interesting to them. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Everything you do with your friends costs money. Step back and make a plan, because the evening will get financially out of control unless you have one. Your social life doesn’t have to be at odds with your financial life. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ve trumped up a fear in your mind. A small act of courage is all that will be necessary to dispel it. This will be like flicking on the lights — the scary shadows will disappear in an instant. FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 24). Mes- sages from parent to child will have a mag- ical impact in May. June will bring dancing. New friends and possibly pets, too, will be featured in July. You’ll take a wild ride in Au- gust. Work gets better once you get educat- ed. You’ll make more money where people skills and technical skills meet. Aries and Gemini people adore you. Your lucky num- bers are: 14, 1, 49, 38 and 16.