IRS

IRS Issues Urgent Warning to Beware IRS/FBI-Themed Ransomware Scam

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WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today warned people to avoid a new phishing scheme that impersonates the IRS and the FBI as part of a ransomware scam to take computer data hostage.

The scam email uses the emblems of both the IRS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It tries to entice users to select a “here” link to download a fake FBI questionnaire. Instead, the link downloads a certain type of malware called ransomware that prevents users from accessing data stored on their device unless they pay money to the scammers.

“This is a new twist on an old scheme,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “People should stay vigilant against email scams that try to impersonate the IRS and other agencies that try to lure you into clicking a link or opening an attachment. People with a tax issue won’t get their first contact from the IRS with a threatening email or phone call.”

The IRS, state tax agencies and tax industries – working in partnership as the Security Summit – currently are conducting an awareness campaign called Don’t Take the Bait, that includes warning tax professionals about the various types of phishing scams, including ransomware. The IRS highlighted this issue in an Aug. 1 news release IR-2017-125 Don’t Take the Bait, Step 4: Defend against Ransomware.

Victims should not pay a ransom. Paying it further encourages the criminals, and frequently the scammers won’t provide the decryption key even after a ransom is paid.

Victims should immediately report any ransomware attempt or attack to the FBI at the Internet Crime Complaint Center, www.IC3.gov. Forward any IRS-themed scams to phishing@irs.gov.

The IRS does not use email, text messages or social media to discuss personal tax issues, such as those involving bills or refunds. For more information, visit the “Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts” page on IRS.gov. Additional information about tax scams is available on IRS social media sites, including YouTube videos.

If you are a tax professional and registered e-Services user who disclosed any credential information, contact the e-Services Help Desk to reset your e-Services password. If you disclosed information and taxpayer data was stolen, contact your local stakeholder liaison.

 

IRS YouTube Videos:
Tax Scams: English  | Spanish  | ASL

Private Collection of Overdue Taxes: English  | Spanish

Faulkner Family Statement of Campbell Guilty Verdict

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This day has been a long time coming.  We have waited over two and one half years for justice for Jerome and Dora Faulkner, whose lives were taken in such a brutal and horrifying way.  It is hard for us to find any joy in this situation.  We are ready to move forward with our lives, taking the memory of Jerome and Dora with us.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Granville County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Brindell B. Wilkins, Jr., the West Virginia State Police, the Lewisburg, West Virginia Police Department, the Greenbrier County, West Virginia Sheriff’s Office.  We would especially like to thank District Attorney Mike Waters, Assistant District Attorney Allison Capps, and the entire Granville County District Attorney’s Office for their countless hours spent in preparing this case for trial.  We would also like to thank the Oak Hill, Oxford, and surrounding communities for their support over the last two and one half years, and for the love and support of our families and friends.

Although there is no real closure for us, we continue to pray for peace.  Thank you.

 

The Faulkner Family

Orange County Speedway, Rougemont, Saturday, August 26

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Though Chris Denny started the night nine points behind division leader Terry Dease, after missing the rain-delayed next day conclusion of the previous Mike Bledsoe Mechanical Heating and Air Late Model Stock race at OCS only 49 days ago, he made up for it by winning both LMSC 35-lap twin races to on Saturday Night. Dease had his own measure of success, settling for second in both races after a fifth-place start in the first one and a fourth-place start in the second. Chuck Lawson followed that pattern by taking third in both events.

In race one Daniel Moss proved to be no lightweight, waging a strong battle with Dease for second until contact between the cars of those two, initiated by Dease, caused Moss to nearly spin his car on the backstretch twelve laps from the finish. Moss held on to finish fifth just behind the fourth-place car of Camden Gullie.

In race two, it was Lawson who got the action going when the nose of his car made contact with Gullie’s, spinning Gullie’s car into the fourth-turn wall, bringing out the caution before the first lap was complete. Gullie was able to continue, completing the night with a fifth-place finish. After the green flag fell on the next attempt to start the race, Moss decided on a little payback for Dease, bumping the rear of leader Dease’s car but almost spinning himself out in the process and dropping him to third, giving Dease a comfortable lead. From there, it was a battle between Moss and fourth-place Denny with Denny getting the best of that one. After a brief caution on lap 16, Dease lost the lead to Denny on the restart but kept his car on Denny’s bumper the remainder of the event.

An 11-car field for the Limited Sportsman race dwindled down to five lead-lap cars by the time the checkered flew on lap 35, giving 12-year-old Gage Painter of Statesville his first OCS win. Painter did it by outgunning cagey veteran Daryl Carver, winner of two races this season, but an owner of a second-place finish on Saturday, on his bumper the last five laps of the race. It was pole-sitter Carver and the other front-row starter Brent Evans, Jr showing their impatience that drew swift action from officials. After one or the other seemed to jump not only the start of the race, leading to a redo, but two more restarts, officials placed both cars at the back on a lap 10 restart. Evans worked his way back up to take third at the end of the race.

The night’s attrition first started when the cars of Austin and Corey Purnell got into each other in turn one on the second lap, putting the car of Austin out of the race and bringing out the night’s first caution flag. Corey Purnell did manage a fifth-place finish. After six more laps of action, the caution flag flew again for the spin and brief oil line fire from the car of Jacob Borst, putting that driver out of the race.
Two laps after the restart, the car of Tracey Chambers got into the one of Justin Newlin, which in turn brought the car of Jerry Hinesley crashing into those two between turns one and two. Hinesley got the worst of it, parking his car for the night with an eighth-place finish. Chambers was able to continue, salvaging a sixth-place finish, two laps in arrears. Newlin’s car sustained the least damage, allowing him to complete the night in fourth-place.

Pure Stock racers completed their 25-lap event with pole-sitter Chase Sandefur leading all laps except the last one, getting passed by division points leader and now four-time season winner Danny Winstead on the last lap, leaving Sandefur winless this year. A hard-charging Bobby Clayton, Jr used a fifth-place start to garner a third-place finish with Trevor Winstead finishing behind him. Lonnie Glosson took the checkered in fourth on the lead lap with Jamie Kerr the fifth-place car, five laps down. The most spectacular crash of the night happened when the cars of Thomas Penny and Taylor Tolar attempted to take the green but Tolar’s car plowed underneath the rear of Penny’s car, causing those two to crash into the inside wall of turn one, leaving Tolar’s car suspended on the wall and out of the race. Penny’s car made three more laps after the restart, retiring with smoke billowing from underneath the hood.

Hill’s Complete Carpet Care Super Mini-Trucks finished their 20-lap race under caution, giving points-leader John Comstock his third season win and leaving a seething three-time winner Jeffrey Martin in second. Breaking up the Martin clan was the third-place truck of Devin Parrott, followed by 13-year old Noah Martin, making his first OCS start, in fourth. Fifth-place went to the truck of Kiser Martin. Jeffrey’s disappointment was the result of Kiser’s truck spinning out on the last lap and ending the race under the yellow.

The 25-lap Smokey Dave’s BBQ Mod4s finished the night with first-time season winner Corey Purnell taking the checkered in front of the hard-charging car of pole-sitter Harold Summey, after stealing the lead from Summey at the start of the race. Summey had to recover from a lap one backstretch spin to finish second, a lap that included Randy Ayers spinning his car out at the start/finish line. Ayers finished the night in fifth, behind the car of Timmy Wilder. Dennis Capps, winner of the season’s last two races, started behind Purnell in third and finished the night in that position.

The 600-horsepower Grand American Modifieds, sponsored by Quality Collision Solutions of Graham, roared around OCS for 35-laps with the car of Gary Young, Jr starting on pole and finishing out front, giving him his third season win. Young, Jr qualified in second but inherited the top starting spot after the pole-sitting car of Josh Nichols had a problem with pre-race inspection, placing him at the back of the field for the start of the race. Nichols made quick work of the field, squeezing past the second-place car of John Barilka, six laps in. Nichols held on to finish there with Barilka behind him, followed by the fourth-place car of Richard Thomas. Connie Ray Wallace took fifth, the last car on the lead lap.

The Allison Legacy Series, the much smaller NASCAR look-alikes, ran their 35 laps with Kyle Campbell starting out front and finishing there for the win. Brett Suggs finished behind Campbell with the car of Matthew Davey coming home in third, followed by Jake Garcia in fourth, the last car on the lead lap. Ethan Elder appeared to have the car to beat after starting sixth in the nine-car field. After making a bold move past Suggs for second on lap 24, Elder’s car inexplicably spun in turn four, violently slamming the turn four wall. Though uninjured, his car was too damaged to continue.

Jacob Clayton, driving a 1956 Chevrolet, took home the trophy in the Carolina Collector Auto Fest Vintage Sportsman 10-lap race.

Orange County Speedway, Saturday, August 26

Mike Bledsole Mechanical Heating & Air Late Model Stock 35 laps, 1st rac

1) Chris Denny

2) Terry Dease

3) Chuck Lawson

4) Camden Gullie

5) Daniel Moss

Mike Bledsole Mechanical Heating & Air Late Model Stock 35 laps, 2nd race

1) Chris Denny

2) Terry Dease

3) Chuck Lawson

4) Daniel Moss

5) Camden Gullie

Limited Sportsman 35 laps

1) Gage Painter

2) Daryl Carver

3) Brent Evans, Jr

4) Justin Newlin

5) Corey Purnell

6) Tracey Chambers (-2)

7)  Jared Gillis (-17)

8) Jerry Hinesley (-22)

9) Jacob Borst (-23)

10)Richard Hayden (-26)

11)Austin Purnell (-29)

Pure Stock 25 laps

1) Danny Winstead

2) Chase Sandefur

3) Bobby Clayton

4) Trevor Winstead

5) Lonnie Glosson

6) Jamie Kerr (-5 )

7) Thomas Penny (-22)

8) Taylor Tolar (-25)

Hill’s Complete Carpet Care Super Mini-Trucks 20 laps

1) John Comstock

2) Jeffrey Martin

3) Devin Parrott

4) Noah Martin

5) Kiser Martin

6) Dalton Martin (-4)

Quality Collision Solutions of Graham Grand American Modifieds 35 laps

1) Gary Young, Jr

2) Josh Nichols

3) John Barilka

4) Richard Thomas

5) Connie Ray Wallace

6) Roy Cook (-1)

7) Jonathan Cook (-1)

Smokey Dave’s BBQ Mod4s 25 laps

1) Corey Purnell

2) Harold Summey

3) Dennis Capps

4) Timmy Wilder

5) Randy Ayers

6) Mike Dudley (-4)

7) Darrell Haynie (-6)

Allison Legacy Series 35 laps

1) Kyle Campbell

2) Brett Suggs

3) Matthew Davey

4) Jake Garcia

5) Ashely Pantoulas (-4)

6) Kayla Lyons (-9)

7) Ethan Elder (-11)

8) Tim Niesen (-13)

9) Justin Taylor (-30)

Carolina Collector Auto Fest Vintage Sportsman 10 laps

1) Jacob Clayton

2) Paul Blalock

3) Kenneth Smith (lapped)

Granville County to hold Business & Industry Appreciation Day

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The Granville County Economic Development department, in partnership with the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center and the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, is planning this year’s “Business & Industry Appreciation Day.” The annual event is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 4-6 p.m. at the Granville County Expo & Convention Center, located at 4185 Highway 15 South in Oxford.

For local businesses and industries, the event is not only a networking opportunity but also a chance to learn more about services and resources that are available to assist them. Organizations, agencies and businesses that provide services to a business (such as lending or education/training) are invited to set up a table to share information with those in attendance. For information on reserving a table, which is free of charge, contact Lynn Cooper at the Granville County Economic Development department at (919) 693-5911 or Lynn.Cooper@granvillecounty.org.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. A brief program, including remarks to recognize the important contributions made by local employers, will take place at 5 p.m.

–VGCC–

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 08/28/17

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News 08/28/17

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Vance County Friday Night Football Week 2 Preview

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by Jeff Jenkins

Southern Vance

The Red Devils of Red Springs traveled nearly 150 miles from their home south of Fayetteville to visit the Raiders tonight.  Southern Vance, of course, hopes this will be a long wasted trip for the Devils, but the Raiders will have to bring an A game that they might not know they have.  Like Southern, Red Springs is a 2A member of a pretty large mixed 1A/2A conference that includes many of the teams they have become accustomed to playing over the past few years.  But unlike the Raiders, the Red Devil have been quite successful against those accustomed opponents.  Last year, Red Springs finished 6-5 for the regular season, and only 3-4 in their conference; but the wins they had were big ones. The Diablos scored 49, 50 and 75 points in their three conference wins, and had much closer losses.  They ended up averaging 32 points per game and allowed 24.  Their conference was so large that their 5th place finish allowed them into the playoffs for the 2nd straight year.  2015 was even better, with an 8-4 overall finish and a 4-3 league record.

Red Springs, also like Southern Vance, has a new head coach this year; and like Southern, they seemed to be on the same page as their new coach for last week season opener.  The Raiders stumbled around for much of the game last week – Coach ___ told the dispatch that he kept seeing the light flicker while his team was on the field but he could not keep it burning – but eventually found their way and hung on for a 30-22 OT win.  The Red Devils had an easier time of it, judging from their 33-0 victory over 3A south Brunswick.  On the way to the lopsided win, QB, Soph. Denym McKeithan passed for 117 yards, with three TDs. Sr WR Wilkerson  Monte’ caught two of the TD passes, and accounted for 71 total yards.  Soph TE Corey Newton caught the other scoring strike, and Jr. RB L McLean ran for 115 yards on 18 carries and a score.  The Defense was devilish, too, adding a touchdown on Sr Safety Bobby McCrea’s 38-yard return of an interception – one of four total picks.

The Raiders will, of course want to play the way they did abut ½ the time during last week’s game against Bartlett-Yancey.  The 30-22 Overtime win to end Southern’s  16-game losing streak seemed miraculous, in light of the numerous dropped passes score-erasing penalties and other errors committed by the Raiders, but they player and their first year coach hung in an drew power from the memory of a deceased teammate to come out on top.  This is a clear improvement over last year, when the Raiders had a big problem coming back from behind.  If they can cut down on enough penalties to keep the touchdowns they score and hang a bit tougher on defense, Southern Vance may have a shot against the Devils – also a young team with a new head coach, but one that scored 75 points in one game last year and 33 points in their season opener last week.

Northern Vance

The Vikings travel to Durham tonight to take on a new opponent – the Pirates of Riverside, led by former Vikings coach Cory Lea.   Over the past four years, Northern Vance received some of their worst thrashings at the hands of Southern Durham, so the Vikings may not be anxious to go back to the Bull City, but Riverside is no Southern Durham, and tonight’s contest looks pretty even on paper.  The Pirates finished near the bottom of their 4A conference the past two years – 4-7 overall in 2016, with a 2-4 league record, and only 3-8 overall in 2015.  Records like these made it necessary for Riverside to seek out a new head coach, and Coach Lea, who started pulling Northern Vance out of their doldrums with back-to-back 5-6 seasons during 2015 and 2016, made an attractive candidate.  Coach Lea was an assistant at Riverside before taking his first few head coaching positions, and found it impossible to pass up a chance to go back to Durham, even though he would probably agree that his work with the Vikings was not finished.

Coach Lea has inherited a similar challenge at Riverside to the one he had here in Henderson:  his new team only scored 15 points a game last year, while allowing 18;  The Vikings wee a bit tougher last year, scoring an average of 18 points per game and allowing 18.   Last week’s opener was tough on the Vikings, ending in a 12-0 shut out to Franklinton, while the Pirates opener against Chapel Hill had to be finished on Monday for bad weather, but ended in a hard-fought 22-14 win for Riverside.  Riverside showed to dame kinds of first-game problem that Northern did :  fumbles, interceptions and penalties, and Chapel Hill scored once on a 95-yard fumble run-back.  But the Pirates won the game through the air:  Sr. QB Cole Infinito hit Sr. WR C.J. Bell, Jr. for 2 TDs of 30 and 57 yards.  Sr. DB Ryan Odom returned a punt to the Tiger O yd Line, but the Pirates could to cross the goal line on that possession.  The Pirate defense held when it counted, forcing the Chapel Hill into a 4th and 10 on its final drive and sacking the Tiger QB to ice the game.

With only one game to go by, its hard to tell, but it appears that Riverside relies on the pass for its offensive production, but can be rattled by a good pass rush.  Last year, with the same starting QB, the Pirates only passed for 45 yards per game and rushed for 125.  Last year’s leading receiver graduated; but last year’s leading rusher, Jr. Kaligah Murrell, with 80 yards per game,  does not appear on the roster this year.  The Pirate defense is capable of causing fumbles and interceptions, but so is Northern Vance, and if the Vikings can keep their heads and pressure the Pirate backfield, this could be a close game.

Franklin County Logo

Reports of Phone-Scam Targeting Local Seniors using Franklin County Home Heath Agency’s Phone-Number

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Franklin County, August 25, 2017: The Franklin County Health Department has learned that over the past few weeks several calls have been placed to area seniors which appear to be coming from the Franklin County Health Department’s Home Health Agency. For those with Caller-ID, the call will appear to be coming from our Home Health Agency’s phone number and will indicate “County of Franklin” as the name of the caller. Once answered the caller begins to discuss credit card offers that seem “too good to be true” and then asks for personal financial information.

Please note the Franklin County Health Department does NOT call regarding credit card or any other financial offers. Families and Caretakers are encouraged to speak with their seniors about any unusual calls they may be receiving and are strongly encouraged to call local law enforcement to report any suspicious calling activities.

The Franklin County Health Department and Information Technology Department will continue to work with local law enforcement and alert the community about this phone-scam activity targeting seniors.

For additional information, please contact Scott LaVigne, Franklin County Health Director, at (919) 496-2533.

Franklin County Government is committed to effective and innovative public services for all Franklin County citizens and businesses.

Vance County Schools host successful Open House Sessions

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Students and their parents crowded into schools during the late afternoon and early evening on August 24, as the schools hosted their annual Open House sessions prior to classes beginning for the new school year.

 

Classes begin for students at 15 of our 17 schools on Monday, August 28.

 

School already has been in session for several weeks at the STEAM Academy, at E.M. Rollins Elementary School and the Vance County Early College High School.

 

Principals, teachers and other staff members welcomed families into their schools during Open House, which was held from 3 to 7 p.m. Students and parents took advantage of the sessions to meet their teachers for the new year, receive important information, get those school supply lists and tour the buildings.

Health Concerns at Creedmoor Elementary

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Granville County Public Schools administrative staff are currently addressing concerns with the facilities on the Creedmoor Elementary School campus.  On Wednesday, August 16, we received reports from staff about some possible spore growths in two classrooms.  On Thursday morning, August 17, we investigated the reports and widened our inspection to other areas of the school.  On Friday, August 18, we arranged for a professional laboratory to collect both air and surface samples throughout the school to be tested.  We received the preliminary results of these tests on Tuesday, August 22, which indicated the presence of mold.  On this same day, we contracted with a professional cleaning company to clean the affected areas in the school building.  They began preparations and staging of equipment on Wednesday, August 23.  We estimate that their work will be completed by the afternoon of Saturday, August 26.  We will conduct additional testing after cleaning is complete to determine if we can safely open the school to staff and students.  The safety of our students and staff is an absolute priority to Granville County Public Schools.  Our rapid response and immediate action are precautionary measures to protect everyone.

As a result of this intervention, the location of Open House on Thursday, August 24 was moved to the First Baptist Church located in downtown Creedmoor.  Also, depending on the pace of the cleaning work, we may find it appropriate to delay the opening of school a day or two.  Unfortunately, we will not know for certain until we have the official report late Saturday evening, August 26.  We will communicate additional updates no later than Sunday, August 27.

Please direct all inquiries on this matter to Dr. Stan Winborne, Executive Director of Operations, Human Resources, Communications and Safety.  winbornes@gcs.k12.nc.us  (919) 693-4613