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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 2018)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, November 28, 2018 Don’t be fooled by scammers f it looks too good to be true, it is not true. If an online contact warns you are in danger, but can pay to avoid the problem, it is not true. Beware. It sounds like simple advice, but even after law enforcement agencies and media have sounded the alarm, people are still falling for scams. Please don’t. We take no pleasure in writing news stories from local police logs about our neighbors who have been duped out of money they can ill afford to lose. As technology takes a central part of our daily lives, more and more criminal charlatans are finding creative ways to bilk people of their savings. Scammers will claim to be local law enforcement with a warrant for a person’s arrest, then an offer to accept money to avoid it happening. Scammers will claim to be grandchildren, asking for bail money from an international jail. Scammers will claim to be prospective employers eager to send a large signing bonus, then ask for a portion of it back. Scammers will pose as authority and familial figures of all kinds to build trust. They’re all scams, however plausible they sound. The mere mention of the Internal Revenue Service causes otherwise rational people to be duped by scammers. The federal agency in charge of collecting your taxes doesn’t initiate contact via social media or email. Its real agents don’t ask for payments to anyone other than the United States Treasury. Its website at irs.gov has a detailed page describing scams and how to avoid them. It makes for chilling reading. Some tips to recognize and defeat fraud: • Government agencies typically already know your basic personal information; • Agencies are unlikely to call to announce a coming arrest and never seek money through prepaid debit cards like Green Dot; • If you haven’t participated in I a contest, you probably don’t win anything — and you certainly don’t want to pay a fee (or “taxes”) to receive it. Frankly, it’s best to avoid sending money over the internet or phone when possible, unless you are sure you are dealing with a bona fide vendor. Phone and email scammers often access personal information through social media accounts to seem credible during conversations. They are skilled at building long-term rapport with potential targets. This often happens through online dating sites, where the scammers work patiently to create a plausible “relationship” with their targets, then ask for money to bail them out of a fictional predicament. Your social media accounts are ripe for sharing information that scammers and identity thieves can use. Those online posts where friends ask you to share the name of your first pet or where you met your spouse may appear harmless fun. But those are the same questions financial institutions ask you when they set up security questions to access your online accounts. Would you post these private secrets on the bathroom wall at a truck stop along Interstate 84? Sharing those details on Facebook is the online equivalent. The most sickening aspect is that elderly people — who grew up in a more trusting age — are so vulnerable to scams. Many don’t have the same familiarity with technology as younger people whose entire lives have been lived in the personal computer or smartphone age. These days, a scam caller can be anywhere in the world, because software exists to indicate that the number they are calling from is in your area code. Because of embarrassment, victims can be shy about reporting they’ve been scammed. Don’t. If you suspect you are being scammed, call your local law enforcement agency with your suspicions before handing over any money. W HERE TO W RITE GRANT COUNTY • Grant County Courthouse — 201 S. Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax: 541- 575-2248. • Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0509. Fax: 541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@centu- rylink.net. • Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville 97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541- 987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.net • John Day — 450 E. Main St, John Day, 97845. Phone: 541-575-0028. Fax: 541- 575-1721. Email: cityjd@centurytel.net. • Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax: 541-421-3075. Email: info@cityoflong- creek.com. • Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument 97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025. Email: cityofmonument@centurytel.net. • Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt. Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688. Fax: 541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@ortelco.net. • Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie City 97869. Phone: 541-820-3605. Fax: 820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net. Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY • Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca 97873. Phone and fax: 541-542-2161. Email: senecaoregon@gmail.com. SALEM • Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378- 3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website: www. governor.state.or.us/governor.html. • Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). • Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800-332-2313. • Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900 Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-1730. Website: www.oregonlegis- lature.gov/Bentz. Email: Sen.CliffBentz@ oregonlegislature.gov. • Rep. Lynn Findley, R-Vale – 900 Court St. NE, H-475, Salem 97301. Phone: 503- 986-1460. Website: www.oregonlegislature. gov/findley. Email: Rep.LynnFindley@ oregonlegislature.gov. S HOOTING THE B REEZE Contributed photo A revolver and a semi-automatic .22 pistol. The .22 handgun shooting, it’s only logical to do so when starting out with a handgun. Low recoil and cheap ammunition When I was but a wee lad, my make for more practice; more prac- family would gather each fall for the tice makes a better marksman. Am- annual sight-in of their various hunt- munition can be purchased nearly ing rifles. I would pick up their emp- anywhere and in a legion of dif- ty brass cartridge cases and dream ferent styles tailored to the various of the day I would have my own big needs and uses thereof. Secondly, from a purely utilitar- time thunderstick. Uncle Mick had a Ruger Single Six .22 handgun that ian point of view, one cannot beat a he seemed to always bring along just .22 handgun. With quality ammuni- tion, accuracy is superb and for me to plink around with. adequately powerful for use He never cut me loose with on small game. The handi- it alone, but with close per- ness of a small-bore pistol sonal supervision, I was al- lowed to shoot a few rounds lends to its ease of carry, and at a tin can to get some prac- a handgun on your hip in rat- tlesnake, badger and coyote tice in. I was hooked. country serves much more In the years since then, Dale good than a rifle back at the I have owned several hand- Valade guns in many different cali- truck. When grouse season bers. The most fun and possibly use- opens up, you could bring along a ful of those have all been in .22 LR .22 handgun for when you find your- caliber. Allow me to make my case. self in need of camp meat. And a .22 First of all, a funny fact about isn’t exactly bupkes in defense of handguns is that they will teach one’s self against two-legged var- you your mistakes as a rifleman, mints either. I am not suggesting that it is per- for every little mistake is amplified by the absence of several pounds fect for bears and the like, far from of long barrel and a stock. I know it. The .22 Long Rifle cartridge has several expert riflemen that couldn’t its limitations. As your skill with a hit the proverbial barn’s broadside handgun grows, it’s only logical to where it comes to handguns. It tru- upgrade as needed or desired. To ly is a discipline unto itself. Just as hunt big or dangerous game with most shooters start with a .22 rifle any handgun can be very ill-advised, to learn the fundamentals of rifle in my humble opinion. Yet, if I was By Dale Valade For the Blue Mountain Eagle forced to do so, a .22 handgun would likely be the last one I would choose. My .22 handguns see employ only within the confines of their proper bailiwick. I am partial to the models with 6-inch barrels. Even though they are a bit more awkward for conve- nient carry than the 4-inch barrel models, they tend to balance better for both offhand and field positions. Although the quality of certain dis- continued models such as the Colt Woodsman or High Standard Sport King is tough to beat, the Ruger Mark III and Browning Buckmark are fine products. Though a good revolver will suffice, I have come to prefer the feel, accuracy and, admit- tedly, the magazine capacity and fast follow-up shots of the autoloaders over the various “wheel guns,” al- though I have owned and used both extensively with great results. If you’re considering a handgun purchase for whatever reason, I strongly advise you look into a qual- ity .22-caliber handgun. Besides be- ing extremely useful, they’re a barrel of fun. Have a favorite .22 pistol you like to brag on? Write me at shootingth- ebreezebme@gmail.com and tell it how it is! Dale Valade is a local country gent with a deep love for handload- ing, hunting and shooting. L ETTER TO THE E DITOR Hate decals have no place To the Editor: The man who shot up the Jewish Synagogue had a van covered with hate decals. One of them being Hil- lary in the crosshairs. We live north of Mt. Vernon. I am so disgusted that every time we drive into John Day we have to look at this large hate sign about Hillary Clinton. I hope it doesn’t invite some “crazy” to do something stupid. I thought hate signs were illegal. Elberta Miller Mt. Vernon L etters policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for Blue Mountain Eagle readers to express themselves on local, state, national or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer letters will be asked to be contained to 350 words. No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person. No thank-you letters. Submissions to this page become property of the Eagle. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters for length and for content. Letters must be original and signed by the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include a telephone number so they can be reached for questions. We must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Send letters to editor@bmeagle.com, or Blue Mountain Eagle, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845; or fax to 541-575-1244. Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper P UBLISHER ............ ..................... C HRIS R USH , CRUSH @ EOMEDIAGROUP . COM E DITOR & G ENERAL M ANAGER ... S EAN H ART , EDITOR @ BMEAGLE . COM R EPORTER ............................... R ICHARD H ANNERS , RICK @ BMEAGLE . COM C OMMUNITY N EWS .................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM S PORTS ................................... A NGEL C ARPENTER , ANGEL @ BMEAGLE . COM M ARKETING R EP ....................... K IM K ELL , ADS @ BMEAGLE . COM A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT ........ M AKENNA A DAIR , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM O FFICE A SSISTANT .................... A LIXANDRA H AND , OFFICE @ BMEAGLE . COM 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .....................................$40 Everywhere else in U.S. .....................$51 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Email: www.MyEagleNews.com Phone: 541-575-0710 Periodicals Postage Paid at John Day and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 Copyright © 2018 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping or information storage and retrieval systems — without written permission of the publisher. www.facebook.com/MyEagleNews @MyEagleNews
