EAGLE GROVE
2011
EAGLE
www.theeaglegroveeagle.com
Your local news media source
Volume 129
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Issue Number 40
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Cost $1.25
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Thursday, October 3, 2013
It’s a scam
WHAT’S INSIDE Eagle Grove Homecoming Pages 2, 3, & 17
BY KIM DEMORY egeagle@goldfieldaccess.net
Has this ever happened to you? The phone rings and the caller on the other end identifies himself/herself as an employee of Windows, Facebook, or Microsoft Tech Department. They proceed to tell you that they have noticed problems with your computer, but they can help. All you have to do is give them your password so they can remotely connect to your computer. That means you have given them full access to your computer as if they were sitting in your home working right on your device. They will make it look like you have problems, showing error signs, etc., but will offer to correct the problem for a nominal fee. Once they have your financial information, you’ve been scammed and who knows how much money they will take from your bank account. “Microsoft or Windows will never call you without you first calling them,” said Joe McKinney, owner of Covenant Computer Solutions in Eagle Grove. He also reminds the public that when tech support companies do return calls, they are most likely of foreign decent and will speak with an accent. The scam callers usually speak very clear English. McKinney said he has spoken with several people over the course of the last six months to a year that have received these scam phone calls. Unfortunately, some of them have fallen for it and have had money taken from their accounts. One lady lost as much as $1,000 in three separate money orders that were transferred to another country. “They’re mostly targeting the elderly,” McKinney said. He stresses, however, that anyone can be the target of a scam. Another man McKinney spoke with said he received the scam phone call, listened to what they had to say, let them remotely enter his computer, and then declined the offer to fix the problem for a small fee. At that point, the scam artist placed a locked password on the man’s computer, leaving him completely unable to access his own home computer. Luckily, McKinney was able to correct the problem. “People unfortunately fall for it (when scammers call) because sooner or later everyone has a problem with their computer,” McKinney said. Instead, he suggests that if anyone calls you talking about problems with your computer, hang up. If you are concerned there is a problem, talk with someone local who has your best interest, not your bank account, at heart. One other scam McKinney warns to be on the watch for, pop up screens that say “Click Here and we’ll fix your computer problems.” Simply put, the big computer companies are too busy to monitor everyone’s computers and alert them when there are problems. It just won’t happen. If you feel like you are having computer issues, seek help locally.
A message from the Superintendent regarding Homecoming Page 3 Larry Hill, Ron Rasmussen, Larry Sadler, John Toillion, Charlie Walker, and Bill Wright (pictured in no particular order) are members of the EGHS Class of 1964 who are working to restore the “park lounge” across from the high school. Photo by Mitch Jones
FBLA State Leadership Conference Page 5
EGHS will have new park lounge, compliments of the Class of 1964
Oldson’s Plumbing and Heating to expand in Clarion Page 7
BY KIM DEMORY egeagle@goldfieldaccess.net The Eagle Grove High School Class of 1964 has been giving back to their Alma Mater since 1994. Every five years, the class has tackled a service project to improve the school/athletics program that has given so much to them. According to Bill Wright, the mission began as a way to recognize seven classmates that had passed. The very first project was repairing and painting the 40-year-old scoreboard
at the EGHS football field. They even put in all new lights. “We were also allowed to put our Class of ‘64 mark on the board,” Wright said proudly. In 1999, the class spent two very hot days putting fiberglass wraps on the home-side bleachers at the football field (the class mark of ‘64 is just below the announcer’s booth). In 2004, the improvements at the football field continued by Continued on Page 8
The first hunt Brady Beck gets first deer Page 8 Medicare and the Marketplace Page 8
New Royalty Victoria Tomke and Preston Jacobson were crowned the 2013 Eagle Grove High School Homecoming queen and king at ceremonies held Friday, Sept. 27. For full Homecoming coverage, see pages 2, 3, and 17. Photo by Kim Demory
Racing towards his dream
Brennan Myers competes in National Motocross Championship in Tenn.
BY KIM DEMORY egeagle@goldfieldaccess.net Most five year olds are just learning how to ride a two-wheel bike without training wheels. When Brennan Myers of Woolstock was five years old, however, he was learning to ride a two-wheeled bike of a different kind - a motocross bike. His passion for riding grew with him over the years. Today, he is already able to say he has accomplished one of his riding goals that many motocross racers only dream of. Not even a full year after graduating from Eagle Grove High School, Myers has competed in the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship Brennan Myers, a 2013 graduate of Eagle at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Grove High School, has been riding Tenn. motocross since he was five years old. The journey began when five-year-old Photo by Kim Demory
Myers and his sister received motocross bikes as a Christmas gift. He was thrilled to be a part of the family sport. “I immediately fell in love with it,” Myers said. “At only five, I already knew what I wanted to do…ride motocross.” At the age of six, Myers competed in his first race. “He was very good,” said his dad, Scott Myers. After his first season, he had a collection of 50 trophies, including one that stood three feet taller than he did. By the age of seven, he had two championships under his belt. As Myers entered middle school, he tried the other “typical” sports like football, baseball, and Continued on Page 8
Pinwheel Day for Peace
New Eagle Grove Elementary art teacher, Abby Butson (pictured front, far right) put the kids up to a challenge recently - making and decorating pinwheels. The students enjoyed creating works of art that were even more beautiful when they spun. The project was done in conjunction with Pinwheel Day for Peace, which was celebrated on September 21. Photo by Kim Demory
! T I B DE
Part 2 of Archie Willard’s dyslexia story Page 9 Bill Long - A long look back at 35 years as magistrate Page 9 Full sports coverage Pages 14, 15, & 16 Wright County Fair receives matching funds Page 18
BRIEFLY Small Business Owner Round Table Tuesday, Oct. 8 Clarion’s Heartland Museum. Dinner at 5:30 p.m.; round table discussions from 6 - 7 p.m. RSVP by October 1 Call 1-515-532-6422. _______________________ Chamber After Hours Friday, Oct. 11 5 - 6 p.m. Urban Images Photography Located in the Equimco bldg south of town _______________________ Archie Willard Book Signing Saturday, Oct. 12 10 a.m. - Noon Eagle Grove Memorial Library _______________________ Night Hike Saturday, Oct. 19 Begins at 6 p.m. LakeCornelia _______________________ Annual Veterans’ Day Edition coming Nov. 7 in the Eagle Grove Eagle Submission Deadline Friday, Oct. 25 5 p.m. Look for details on Page 5 of this week’s Eagle _______________________
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Debit cards are safe, reliable, and easy to use. Compared to using checks or cash, my debit card gets me on my way in no time, with all the benefits of debit cards, you’ll be saying DEBIT too. See the difference debit cards can make and use yours today!