Alva’s VAP celebrates 20 years January 22, 2020 Alva Review-Courier/Newsgram Page 2 Woods County Farm Bureau donated a clock to the Waynoka FFA to be hung in their ag classroom. Woods County Farm Bureau President Chad Budy presented the clock to the Waynoka FFA members and Advisor Chad Blocker during the trophy auction held on Monday, Jan. 13. From left, back row: Hunter Durkee, Wyatt Attwood, Garrison George, Kyler Shepard, Tabor Budy. Middle row: Rowdy Bouziden, Robert Perot, Tayen Redgate, Brooke Ferguson, Mattie Pitts, Austin Rankin. Front row: Sagelyn Budy, McKinzie Smith, Lainey Seaman, Novaly Medrano. Holding the clock is Waynoka FFA Advisor Chad Blocker and Woods County Farm Bureau President Chad Budy. Aline-Cleo December Student of the Month Megan Ryel, senior, was chosen The Alva Review-Courier / Newsgram as the Aline-Cleo December Student is published Wednesday by of the Month. Martin Broadcasting Corp. Her school philosophy is: “The 620 Choctaw St. best way to predict your future is to Alva, Oklahoma 73717 create it.” Lynn L. Martin, President She feels our school is unique Telephone Numbers: because the small community we Alva Review-Courier 580-327-2200 have always supports us. Megan is inspired by her family, Newsgram 580-327-1510 friends, and teachers. FAX 580-327-2454 Her favorite activities are: www.alvareviewcourier.com basketball, sleep and Netflix. E-Mail: manager @alvareviewcourier.net Her favorite quote is: “The darkest [email protected] day. The darkest hour. Chin up, Entire Contents Copyright 2018 shoulders back. Let’s see what we’re Members of: made of, you and I.” ~ Peter Capaldi Associated Press Megan is the daughter of Brian Oklahoma Press Association and Kathy Ryel, Aline. January 22, 2020 Alva Review-Courier/Newsgram Page 3 January 22, 2020 Alva Review-Courier/Newsgram Page 4 Rough week at the newspaper By Marione Martin we still use at the newspaper. Victims are told how to open an account and It was a rough time for our newspaper Daily I delete a large number of “junk” told to buy a fraction of a Bitcoin, perhaps family last week. On Tuesday night as emails. Last week I received one from an $10. Transactions take a few minutes and we were printing unfamiliar “Dan Black.” When I opened are person-to-person, without any bank or the Newsgram and it, and started reading I burst into laughter regulating body. When the crook gets your getting it ready at the outrageousness of the message. money, it’s gone. for distribution, According to Mr. Black, I had been caught It’s too bad scammers don’t use their we learned one of looking at adult content on my computer abilities to earn money in an honest way our Tuesday night and doing naughty things (it was a bit more instead of stealing from others. I hope you’ll employees was in an specific). This had been captured on video continue to be alert. Don’t share personal auto accident. which would be widely distributed if I did information such as Social Security Marvin Pshigoda not follow instructions to send a specified numbers and bank account information was on his way amount of money in the form of Bitcoin to with unknown callers. Continue to be to pick up Roma Mr. Black. suspicious of scare tactics and deals that Scott, a friend and I told a couple of people in the office are too good to be true. another Newsgram about the ridiculous demand, explained A Good Book employee, when he was in a collision what Bitcoin is, and hit the delete button. Several people have told me they are on Oklahoma Boulevard. When Roma About an hour later, I received a similar interested in hearing about good books couldn’t reach Marvin, she drove herself to message from another unknown person. I’ve read. Before buying a Kindle, I used to work but saw the emergency lights and was Again, I hit delete. That’s the last I’ve heard make trips to the local library to check out worried it involved him. it. four books every two weeks. To expand my Eventually we learned that Marvin Later I was scanning through the horizons, I’d choose at least one book by an didn’t survive. It was suspected he had AARP Bulletin and found an article on unfamiliar author. some sort of medical incident that led to how a crook gets paid. It says scammers This book was one of those “wild card” his striking the other vehicle. We were all are changing how they want you to send choices, but I liked the description. “The shocked at the suddenness of his death, but cash. The goal in a scam is to get the Things We Cannot Say” by Kelly Rimmel is we took comfort in each other’s presence money quickly before you have time to fiction based on historical events involving as we finished the Newsgram for delivery. think about the demand. Here are the most a family from the 1940s to present day. The Marvin worked not quite two years for popular methods: book begins in the present with a woman the paper, inserting flyers and preparing • Money transfers are done through juggling care of a non-verbal autistic son, Newsgram bundles. He wasn’t the speediest apps like Venmo, Zelle and Cash App. You a genius daughter and a husband with a at his work, but he was one of the most can easily move funds to a friend or relative demanding scientific career. reliable. Marvin was always cheerful and or others you trust. But caution is critical When her beloved grandmother has never complained except to get a reaction because these apps don’t offer consumer a stroke and loses her ability to speak, from someone. We sometimes groaned at protections. she helps her communicate through an his jokes but enjoyed his humorous take on • Wire transfers are good for sending iPad app. The grandmother demands her life as well as his positive attitude. He will funds to loved ones, but criminals love granddaughter make a trip to Poland to be missed by all of us. them, too. They are often requested as part search for something she can’t explain Then Wednesday evening we learned of sweepstakes and lottery scams, where in the area where she was born. The that sales representative Stacy Sanborn you are asked to send money to help process grandmother provides some names from lost her mother-in-law Bobbie Failes big winnings – which never materialize. long ago, a couple of addresses and some unexpectedly. She and her family are • Store gift cards are a favorite way for Polish phrases. struggling with their loss. The funeral is scammers to cheat you. Perhaps you’re told The book alternates between the present this Friday. by an “IRS official” that you owe back taxes day and World War II at the time the Nazis The suddenness of these losses is a or a “police officer” says you’re about to be invade the Polish town. The granddaughter reminder not to take the presence of our arrested for unpaid fines. You’re requested has a few days in Poland to uncover her loved ones and friends for granted. to make payment via gift cards from a family’s past and get back to her 92-year- Another Tuesday night Newsgram major retail chain. You’re told to buy the old grandmother before she succumbs to employee was hospitalized this week, and cards and then read the code numbers on her illness. Along the way, she uncovers one is out recovering from surgery. the back to the caller. Once you’ve done startling family secrets and reconnects with Outrageous Scams that, the scammer can use the codes to buy her husband through his support of her My email last week was also a merchandise or other gift cards. mission. reminder of the continuing nuisance and • Cryptocurrency is the Bitcoin type of I connect more with history when it’s damage of scammers. Several of us at the payoff. While not as common, their use is described from a personal experience angle office received emails from my deceased growing. The Federal Trade Commission even though it’s fictional. This book helped husband’s account. I immediately logged recently reported these virtual currencies me to see the dire plight of the Polish people into that email address and changed the were being requested in the Social Security including their Jewish friends during World password. I can’t disable that account scam, in which people are falsely told a War II. It also gives some insight into how because it’s tied to software and services payment is needed to unfreeze an account. a family copes with a special needs child. January 22, 2020 Alva Review-Courier/Newsgram Page 5 January 22, 2020 Alva Review-Courier/Newsgram Page 6 Burlington School Superintendent Croft reemployed for 2020-21 school year BEF Annual Meeting Feb. 11; Balko basketball game rescheduled for Feb. 1 at Woodward; Prayer service held for Dakota Smith By Yvonne Miller The board approved obtaining a quote Jan. 23-25 is the Cherokee Strip Monday morning board President for the purchase of gravel for street and Tournament at Enid and Jan. 27-29 is the Terry Graham called the meeting of the alley maintenance. Junior High Cherokee Strip at Medford. Burlington Board of Education to order Receiving board approval were the There is a Valentine’s Dance on Jan. with all members present, including T.J. encumbrances, change orders and warrants 31 for the high school.