911 Funding on Line in Nov. 8 Election
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Complete coverage of the Cass City community and surrounding ureas since I899 911 funding on line in Nov. 8 election Cass City area residents only what is needed to fund the fairest means to fund 9 I 1 stands to lose over $34 per won’t be deciding any politi- the Tuscola County Central services because all landline year in funding.” cal races in the Tuesday, Nov. Dispatch Center,” he said. users of 91 1 pay equally. Klenk explained that a state 8 election, but they will help “As the expenses have var- The problem now, Klenk law in 1999 established a to decide the fate of a pro- ied, so has the surcharge. pointed out, is that funding cellular telephone surcharge posal to continue funding The surcharge was originally is becoming less predictable of 52 cents, which is col- emergency 9 1 l/Tuscola set at $2.66, increased to because of a continuing trend lected by the cellular phone County Central Dispatch ser- $3.35, then reduced to what of county residents abandon- vendor and deposited with vices. it is now at $3.10. ing land telephone line ser- the state treasury for dis- County voters will be asked “We’re fiscally responsible. vice in favor of cellular tele- bursement to counties based to renew the 91 1 operating I think we’ve proven that we phone service. on a complicated formula. surcharge of up to 16 percent collect only what we need.” “Currently, every landline After Dec. 3 1, that surcharge (not to exceed $3.20 per Klenk said telephone sur- phone generates $37.20 per is slated to be reduced to 29 month per telephone line) for charge assessments are the year for central dispatch op- cents. 5 years to continue funding sole funding source for cen- erations,” Klenk said. “Emergency cellular 9 1 1 emergency telephone an- tral dispatch operations and “When the homeowner calls received by central dis- swering and dispatch ser- capital improvements, and switches to cellular vices. that the surcharge remains service.. .central dispatch Please turn to back page. Approval would not mean an increase in the surcharge, according to Robert J. Klenk, Tuscola County Central Dis- Gagetown school sale patch director. “This is a renewal of the surcharge that has been in place since 1996,” he said. a ‘done deal’ Fridav “Since the bond for the ra- dio system and building will by Tom Montgomery uses discussed for the struc- Shortly after putting the be paid off in 2006, the sur- Editor ture have included using building up for sale, the charge will not increase and classrooms for office space board learned of a potential will mostly likely be re- Owen-Gage School offi- and utilizing the gymnasium, buyer who subsequently duced.” cials breathed a sigh of telief cafeteria and stage for hall agreed to meet the district’s Klenk explained that under Friday as they formally rentals. asking price of $95,000, but state law, county voters can closed on the sale of the The Owen-Gage Board of in the end was unable to ar- authorize a telephone line former Gagetown Elemen- Education first listed the range the financing. surcharge up to 16 percent tary School. 19,000-square-foot elemen- Then, in June, another per month. The county board After exchanging counter- tary school building in Sep- buyer came forth and the sale can enact an additional 4 per- offers, school officials tember 2004 after closing the looked promising only to fall cent, for a maximum of 20 agreed to sell the building for school in a consolidation ef- through again,*. percent, or $4 per line, per $80,000,$15,000 less than fort to stem a growing bud- month. the original asking price. get deficit caused by several The sale is very good news Tuscola County collects The purchaser on record is factors, including a shrinkmg for district officials, who re- $3.10 of that amount, ac- a Florida resident, but school enrollment. viewed the past year’s audit Police: beware of scam artists cording to Klenk, who em- officials said a family mem- The school, closed after the during a regular monthly phasized the county has ber, Detroit area resident 2003-04 school year, was meeting early last week. Mark Mance, will be mov- Duane Reyhl and Eric phone. You must go to your “Don’t give out personal never collected the full originally built in 1939. An Law enforcement authori- “Most of these Scams can ing to the area to eventually addition was later con- ties in Huron and Tuscola originate from any part of the bank in person and open an- information of any kind and amount authorized by law. “We continue to collect open the building. Possible structed in 1968. Please turn to back page. counties are continuing to world, but when a kind voice other account for your hang up the phone.” warn Thumb residents to be- talks to you and acts con- money.” ware of a myriad of scams cerned and they want to help designed to cheat the elderly you, we let our guard down, Tuscola County Sheriff and others out of their cash. and that’s when they get Tom Kern issued a similar Huron County Sheriff Kent you.” warning Thursday, saying he A new life Tibbits said Thursday that his Tibbits said residents must had been informed of the lat- department and other area be on guard at all times when est scam targeting senior citi- agencies have received sev- it comes to sharing their fi- zens. eral phone calls from resi- nancial information. Zdrojewski ready “In the past 24 hours, se- dents complaining about “Do not give any personal scams over the past several niors have been calling their information to anyone over b&ks in regards to the fol- for busy retirement days. the phone or to a stranger at . Tibbits said his lowing: the caller identifies your door. Be suspicious of department’s detectives have himher as a ‘National Secu- anyone that asks for your problems at the school, she been inundated with calls rity Provider’, saying that By John Haire bank account number, Social was laid off for about a year from citizens who have re- your personal identification Security number or anything before being called back. ceived calls from people ask- has been posted on the As I walked through the you may consider private,” In her school career she has ing for bank account num- Internet. The National Secu- door of the Campbell El- he said. worked in the high school, bers. rity Provider then offers to ementary School, Michelle middle school and the el- “Sadly enough, people have “If you feel that you have delete it for you to protect Zdrojewski leaned back in ementary school. been giving out their infor- been a victim and have given you,” Kern said. “But before her chair and greeted me with mation to these callers,” out your bank account num- they delete the information, the same wide, engaging She had a variety of respon- sibilities, including handling Tibbits added. “There’s not ber to a caller, don’t be em- they ask for pertinent infor- smile that hundreds of visi- the advertising of the now much we can do about it if barrassed,” Tibbits added. mation such as your Social tors to Cass City Schools defunct adult education pro- “Just go to your bank and ask Security number and your have grown to expect. you give out your personal gram. She also proudly re- that your account be closed. bank numbers off your per- I was there to report on her information other than take members that she helped a police report. You can’t do this over the sonal check. retirement after nearly 30 years at the school and it graduate 180 adults from the didn’t seem at all likely that program. she was at the end of one ca- What really makes it out- reer and ready, willing and standing and awesome for Veteran Ubly educator able to begin a new life start- me is when graduates come ing with her upcoming mar- back and express apprecia- riage in December to Fred tion, she says, and even more honored as top teacher Leeson, Cass City. touching is when their chil- I didn’t ask how old she dren and grandchildren come actually is, but the nattily in to say how great she was by Tom Montgomery awarded Elliott the 2005 Sec- earned this year’s NCTE to their mother or grand- Editor dressed school secretary has ondary Section Teacher of award. to be years older than she mother. It’s awesome when When Ubly High School Excellence Award for the “It sounds like a real easy appears. a daughter or son of one of teacher Nancy Elliott tells state of Michigan. She was problem, but it’s a creative She has been in Cass City the graduates report that she her senior English students to selected for the honor by the thinking, a critical thinking for 40 years, coming from was the nicest teacher they go fly a kite, she means it. Michigan affiliate of NCTE. project. I’ve seen valedicto- the Minden City area after ever had. Seniors wrap up the school Elliott is the only English rians struggle with this,” she graduating from Deckerville year in Elliott’s class by com- teacher to receive the award said. “Really, a lot of times I suppose, I queried, that High School. She and her your future plans are sort of pleting what seems to be a in Michigan this year.