The WInfield Public Library Protect yourself from internet scams this winter with guidance from your local library. Join us for Staying Safe Online from Senior Planet! This hands-on workshop reviews important tips for keeping your personal information safe while enjoying the benefits of the internet. Learn how to recognize suspicious emails, tips for safe browsing and best practices for shopping online. This program will be hosted at the Winfield Public Library on Monday evenings at 6:30pm, December 1st and 8th, as well as at the Arkansas City Public Library on Wednesday afternoons at 1pm, December 3rd and 10th. Registration is required, as space is limited; please call 620-221-4470. This hands-on workshop is part of AARP’s Senior Planet curriculum. WPL is a licensed partner of Senior Planet.

With Thanksgiving week here, many of us will be hitting the road to see friends and family. The Arkansas City Police Department wants everyone to arrive safely, so here are a few quick travel reminders:
• Slow down & stay alert – Traffic will be heavier than usual.
• Buckle up – Every passenger, every trip.
• Avoid distractions – Put the phone down and keep your eyes on the road.
• Plan ahead – Check your route, weather conditions, and give yourself extra time.
• Don’t drive impaired – If you’re celebrating, use a sober driver or alternate ride.
• Watch for wildlife – Dawn and dusk can bring increased animal activity on rural roads.
We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving week! Travel carefully and enjoy the time with your loved ones.

Roswell, N.M. — Many people will be enjoying Thanksgiving trips to see family and
friends in other areas of the state or country. Additional travels may come up again as
Christmas approaches soon after. Making plans to leave town should also include plans to
protect your home and belongings while you are gone.
Meanwhile, Thanksgiving weekend marks the first big shopping days of the season. That
unfortunately means there are also thieves out there doing their own shopping of sorts –
looking for the easiest targets from whom to steal items, information or identities.
But with the right precautions and awareness, people can protect themselves against
criminals who would threaten to rob local residents of more than their holiday cheer. The
Roswell Police Department reminds everyone:
When you go out of town for the holidays:
? Avoid telltale signs of an unoccupied house: Stop all regular deliveries, such as mail
that would collect in your mailbox and newspapers that would pile up outside, or have a
neighbor pick them up. If you have ordered a gift or other item online, do not have it
delivered to your house while you are gone. You don’t want it sitting on your doorstep for
an extended period. Leave some indoor lights on or put them on a timer. Wait until you
return home to post on social media any pictures from your out-of-town trip.
? Notify trusted neighbors that you will be gone and give them your contact
information. You can also contact the Roswell Police Department or your appropriate local
law-enforcement agency to request “close patrols” of your residence while you are gone.
? Protect your home against burglars anytime of the year by keeping your property
clean to eliminate hiding spots, installing an alarm system and lighting (motion-sensor
lights serve the purpose without having to be on constantly), keeping valuables (that
includes Christmas gifts) out of clear view so they cannot be seen from a window, and, of
course, locking your doors and windows.

–more–

When you head to and leave from stores:
? Park in an area with good lighting, and if possible, that is not too far from the store’s
entrance and exit you plan to use. Do not leave your purchased items or valuables in
plain sight in your vehicle. Remove them from the vehicle or lock them in the trunk. Do
not have personal, confidential documents or information in the car unnecessarily. Be
sure to lock your doors and ensure the windows are completely up and secure. Be sure
your vehicle’s interior lighting illuminates when you open the door.
? Go with another person or a group, especially if shopping at night. If you can, try to
schedule your shopping trips during daylight hours. Regardless of whether you are alone
or with others, always watch what is going on around you and remain constantly aware
of your surroundings. Report any suspicious activity.
? Carry your credit or debit cards on you directly instead of in a purse or separate bag.
Also, avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and keep any cash in your front pockets,
which are more difficult than back pockets for pickpockets to reach.
? Beware of strangers approaching you. Christmastime brings out con artists and
other criminals who have a wide variety of methods designed to distract you so they can
steal your money or other belongings. If you are threatened or assaulted by someone,
your keys can be used as a weapon. If you feel uneasy or threatened before heading back
to your vehicle, ask store security to escort you.
When in a store:
? Even though you may be concentrating on picking out the right gifts for family and
friends, pay attention to those around you. Always keep your children close to you. If
someone is acting suspiciously, report it to store personnel.
? During a credit-card or debit-card transaction, keep your eyes on your card if you
must hand it to the store clerk. Don’t forget to get it back. Make sure someone else isn’t
sneaking a peek at the keypad while you are entering your PIN during a transaction.
? Make sure anything you sign accurately reflects your purchase or anything you are
agreeing to.
When shopping or donating by phone or online:
? Do not give your account numbers or any other financial or personal information to
anyone on the phone unless you initiated the call and know the company/person you are
dealing with is reputable. When online, do not open emails from sources you do not
recognize. Even then, be aware that email scammers and identity thieves will often send
emails disguised as coming from well-recognized, reputable stores and companies, so
click with caution.

–more–

? When shopping online and creating online shopping accounts, make sure the site is
secure (secure sites will usually begin with “https”, with the “s” being the key). Also, create
strong passwords that use a good number of characters and include uppercase and
lowercase letters, as well as numbers and symbols.
? This time of year is a popular time for charities to make phone solicitations seeking
donations. Make sure you trust that the caller actually does represent the entity he or she
claims to represent. Consider taking an extra step of asking for a phone number to call the
headquarters of the charity or have them send you official printed donation information in
the mail. You can also look up the organization online and try contacting it through the
website information to confirm the group’s validity and the means it provides for making
donations.

The FBI offers additional advice regarding online shopping holiday scams: fbi.gov/scams-
and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/holiday-scams

First responders were called to the 3000 block of Barclay Road in Marydel shortly after 2 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, in Queen Anne’s County, where a passerby reported seeing flames coming from the 60-foot by 600-foot chicken house. The Daily Voice Lexington Park reports about 50 members of the Sudlersville Volunteer Fire Company worked for nearly an hour and a half to bring the fire under control. No one was hurt, and no chickens were inside at the time, investigators said. The fire started inside the structure. The cause remains under investigation. Damage estimated at about $300,000.

The Kent County Commissioners’ earlier decision to transition inmates out of the Kent County Detention Center will be revisited after county officials gather updated financial and operational data. MyEasternShoreMD.com reports on Aug. 19, the commissioners voted 2–1 to move toward housing all inmates in neighboring counties beginning next fiscal year. Commissioners John Price and Albert Nickerson supported the motion; Commission President Ron Fithian opposed it. As part of that transition plan, the sheriff’s office budgeted to house 10 to 12 inmates in another jurisdiction this fiscal year to evaluate how the model works. The sheriff’s office began transporting inmates in late July, and since then has housed nine to 12 inmates at the Queen Anne’s County Detention Center. An agreement with Talbot County is expected to be finalized, after which a small group of inmates will also be placed there.

A 30-day public comment period is in effect through December 29, 2025 for the Atlantic County Workforce Development Board’s strategic plan. The four-year plan must be reviewed every two years according to federal guidelines.
The Workforce Development Board works with a variety of community partners to develop and implement workforce strategies at the county level for the benefit of area businesses and job seekers. The Board provides funds to address the employment, training and social service needs of adults, dislocated workers and youth.
The strategic plan is available online for review at: https://www.atlanticcountynj.gov/residents/workforce-development.

Sperry’s annual Santa Parade lights up the streets this Friday evening. Road closures on Huron Street between Court and Glenwood begin at 3 PM, and the parade will stage along 4th and up Court from 3:15 to 6 PM. Residents and visitors can still access southside businesses. The parade kicks off at Court Street at 6 and ends at McMorran Blvd. for the tree lighting, then continues up Huron to Beers Street, turning north on Michigan and exiting through Glenwood.

The first-ever SC4 Thumbcoast Tip Off brought top-tier college basketball to St. Clair County this past weekend. Monroe Community College took the championship with a flawless 3-0 record, while Macomb Community College finished second and Parkland College third. Host SC4 battled to fourth place, with Bryant & Stratton College, Coastal Alabama, Mid Michigan, and Marian University–Plymouth rounding out the field. The tournament featured teams from six states, with players representing 18 states and seven countries, giving local fans a taste of national-level competition.

Port Huron Township man Ethan Morgan was resentenced Monday for sharing child sexual abuse material online. Judge Daniel Damman reduced Morgan’s minimum prison term from 18 to 16 months but kept the maximum at seven-and-a-half years. Damman noted Morgan had a troubled childhood, moving 19 times before age 18 with little supervision, but said that didn’t excuse his crimes. Morgan, arrested in September of ’24, has already served 14 months and must register as a sex offender for 25 years after release.

Port Huron residents are learning more about a dangerous late night chase that started on Lapeer Road and stretched through St. Clair and Sanilac counties. Deputies say a Port Huron woman sped off during a traffic stop, swerving into oncoming lanes and pushing through three townships before crashing into a tree behind Zimmer Auto Sales in Worth Township. She was treated at McLaren Port Huron and jailed. Officials say the car wasn’t registered or insured. The 39-year-old now faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, and a judge has denied bond.