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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015
‘Tis the season for scammers and thieves, beware of fake IRS calls Kenmore man cheated out of $11,000 BY ARRON KUNKLER akunkler@bothell-reproter.com
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Kenmore man fell victim to scammers last month after sending them $11,000. On Nov. 30, the man
received a call from someone claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service, King County Sheriff ’s Office spokeswoman Cindi West said. They said he owed $10,000 in back taxes which he had to pay im-
mediately, and instructed the victim to buy 22 $500 Green Dot Visa cards. The victim bought the cards, and read off the numbers, expiration dates and security codes over the phone, after which the scammers said he would receive a confirmation call the next day.
When the man did receive a call the next day, the scammers said the cards he supplied were expired and he needed to purchase another $11,000 worth. The victim became suspicious and found the number listed as a known scammer online, after
which he contacted police. Other scams have been circulating the area recently, the Sheriff ’s office said, including one where victims receive a call saying there is a warrant for their arrest for missing jury duty, and they must pay to cancel the warrant. West said the scam-
Police continue search for missing firefighter
mers are pushy, and will threaten immediate arrest, but said to hang up and that law enforcement never makes calls with threats of arrest or to force payment. West said if residents receive any calls asking for money, credit card or [ more SCAM page 14 ]
Snap into the holidays Katie Skurski, 19, wraps presents at Snapdoodle Toys in Kenmore. The store provides free gift wrapping, tea and lattes. Skurski is a Western Washington University student from Brier. She said business continues almost nonstop during the holidays at Snapdoodle Toys, which is one of the only independently owned toy stores in the area. Snapdoodle is located at 7330 NE Bothell Way in Kenmore and the store has extended hours for the holidays. AARON KUNKLER,
BY AARON KUNKLER akunkler@bothell-reporter.com
Investigators continue to search for missing Bothell man and Seattle firefighter Joshua Ryan Milton after he went missing last Thursday afternoon and his car was found near Deception Pass Saturday. The 36-year-old was last seen near Harborview Medical Center around 3:30
Bothell Reporter
[ more MISSING page 6 ]
Bothell star on Main Street once again dressed up for Christmas akunkler@bothell-reporter.com
There’s an old hometown superstar in Bothell, one that has been seen in the pages of the Seattle Times and in international headlines. It has been silently keeping a watchful eye on generations of
locals. Now, many are a seeing it in all new lights. The massive pine tree along Main Street and 102 Avenue Northeast has called the same spot home since at least 1911, and recently, Main Street Antique owner Linda Dorset decided to do her homework on their conif-
erous neighbor. “It’s a famous tree that’s brought a lot of happiness to the people of Bothell,” she said. According to her research, beginning in the mid 1930s the tree was strung up with Christmas lights in an annual tradition.
Local businesses would rally together and finance the decorations, and Nims Electric would wire it up. The lighting ceremony was stuffed with ceremony and tradition, with Santa and his wife making annual visits. The tree appeared in the Seattle Times in 1968, F
and was hailed as the tallest Christmas tree in the world by Time Magazine in 1962. It was such an icon that McMenamins commissioned a painting of it for their Anderson School campus. The tree sat on the same plot as the iconic
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Lytle House, which has since been moved to the Park at Bothell Landing. Dorsey thinks when the house was moved some branches were damaged, causing the tree to be topped in the the late 1970s to save it. [ more TREE page 3 ]
Now Enrolling for ½ Day Kindergarten Preparatory Program!
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BY AARON KUNKLER