In Brief
Libby Fine Arts Inc. meeting
The Libby Fine Arts Inc. will hold its March meeting at the Treasure Manor activities room at 610 Treasure Ave on Thursday, March 10, from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Our meetings are short so bring your art supplies and join us in creating a masterpiece or whatever. It’s a fun afternoon and all are welcome. For more information call Marilyn Irwin at 293-7091 or Joey Barnes at 293-52ll.
Avid Gardeners’ meeting March 10
It’s spring, both the garden and the gardeners are coming to life again.
Avid Gardeners’ meeting is Thursday, March 10, at 2 p.m. at the home of Bobbie McCanse on Indian Pipe Roadd - off Bobtail.
Bring whatever questions you’d like to discuss. For more information call Laura at 293-2552.
Tennis courts fundraiser March 12
U Serve Libby will host its annual bingo fundraiser on Saturday, March 12, at 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. U Serve Libby, an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)3 organization, built the Libby Community Tennis Courts with the help of donations from local citizens and businesses, grants and in-kind donations. Through continued fundraising efforts and generous donations, U Serve Libby has been able to pay the construction debt down to $6,400. Proceeds from bingo will further pay it down. $20 per person covers all the cash prize games. Mystery prize games will be $1 per game. There will also be a silent auction. Free snacks are provided for all players.
The community is reminded that these six courts, located on East Spruce near the Montana Athletic Club, are open to the public free of charge. During the summer months, free group lessons are offered Tuesday evenings, from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. Everyone from about age eight through adult is welcome to come and learn this lifetime sport. Watch for further details as June approaches.
Montana gas prices rise slightly
Average retail gasoline prices in Montana have risen 4.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.76 per gallon yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 615 gas outlets in Montana. This compares with the national average that has increased 6.8 cents per gallon in the last week to $1.81 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Montana during the past week, prices yesterday were 41.6 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 2.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has increased 7.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 64.4 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.
Exchange program seeks host families
ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE), in cooperation with your community high school, is looking for local families to host boys and girls between the ages of 15 to 18 from a variety of countries: Norway, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Japan, to name a few.
ASSE students are enthusiastic and excited to experience American culture while they practice their English. They also love to share their own culture and language with their host families. Host families welcome these students into their family, not as a guest, but as a family member, giving everyone involved a rich cultural experience.
The exchange students have pocket money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance. ASSE students are selected based on academics and personality, and host families can choose their student from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries and personal interests.
To become an ASSE Host Family or to find out how to become involved with ASSE in your community, please call the ASSE Western Regional Office at 1-800-733-2773 or go to www.host.asse.com to begin your host family application.
Dam flows remain steady; water forecast higher than average
Libby Dam outflow remained on minimum flows of 4,000 cubic feet per second through Saturday, March 5. Starting at 11 p.m. March 6, releases from Libby increased to 6,000 cfs over one hour and then increased again to 10,000 cfs over two hours starting at 6 a.m. Monday, March 7. At 11 p.m. the releases increased to 11,000 cfs over one hour.
Flows will likely increase to approximately 20,000 cfs during the early part of the week of March 7.
The March Water Supply forecast for WY 2016 was released on March 4. The forecast of 6,472 KAF is 110 percent of average (based on 1981-2010).
AG offers tips to avoid scams
As National Consumer Protection Week begins, Attorney General Tim Fox urges Montanans to contact his Office of Consumer Protection if they think they are, or may be, victims of a scam.
In 2015, more than half of the callers who contacted the Office of Consumer Protection at the Montana Department of Justice were concerned about scams or potential scams.
Attorney General Fox offers Montanans these consumer protection tips:
1) Don’t agree to deposit a check and wire money back. By law, banks have to make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. You are responsible for the checks you deposit. If a check turns out to be a fake, you are responsible for paying back the bank. No matter how convincing the story, someone who overpays with a check is almost certainly a scam artist.
2) Don’t send money to someone you do not know. It is best to do business with someone you know and trust. If you buy items through an ontline auction, consider using a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card.
If you think you have found a good deal, but you are not familiar with the company, check it out. Type the company or product name into your favorite search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” See what comes up.
Never pay fees first for the promise of a big pay-off later --- whether it is for a loan, a job, a grant, or a so-called “prize.”
3) Don’t send money to a “government” agent who calls and threatens to arrest you. Thieves call taxpayers and claim to be IRS officials. They misrepresent that you owe taxes. They threaten to arrest you unless you immediately pay your “taxes” through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. They often alter telephone caller ID to make it look like the IRS or another agency is calling. The callers use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear legitimate. They may use your name, address, and other personal information to make the call sound official.
4) Know who you are dealing with. Try to find a seller’s physical address (not a P.O. Box) and phone number. With Internet phone services and other web-based technologies, it is tough to tell where someone is calling from. Do an online search for the company name and website and look for reviews. If people report negative experiences, you will have to decide if the offer is worth the risk. After all, a deal is good only if you get a product that actually works as promised.
5) Read your monthly statements. Scammers steal account information and then run up charges or commit crimes in your name. Dishonest merchants bill you for monthly “membership fees” and other goods or services without your authorization. If you see charges you do not recognize or you did not make, contact your bank, card issuer, or other creditor immediately.
6) Know that wiring money is like sending cash. Scammers often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it is nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Do not wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to anyone who claims to be a relative or friend in an emergency and wants to keep the request a secret.
7) Remember that there is no sure thing in investing. If someone contacts you with low-risk, high-return investment opportunities, just say no. When you hear pitches that insist you act now, that guarantee big profits, that promise little or no financial risk, or that demand that you send cash immediately, report them to the Office of Consumer Protection. Call 800-481-6896.
To report a scam or get more information, call the Montana Office of Consumer Protections at 1-800-481-6896. To register for free Scam Alerts, visit www.dojmt.gov/consumer/common-scams.