A Colarusso & Son, Inc. is hiring

Suspect allegedly slashed motel resident

In Blotter - Columbia, The Columbia Paper
February 20, 2024
0
Share

By DIANE VALDEN

CLAVERACK—State Police from the Livingston barracks arrested Nicholas P. Beer, 48, of Claverack for second degree assault and third degree criminal possession of a weapon, both class D felonies, February 5.

At 7:50 p.m. that day, troopers responded to the Yorkshire Motel, 490 State Route 23, for a reported assault with a knife. An investigation determined Mr. Beer, in what is believed to be an unprovoked attack, allegedly slashed a fellow motel resident with a knife. The victim was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Mr. Beer was arraigned in Claverack Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to reappear before the court at a later date.

To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com

Taxpayers reminded to stay vigilant against scammers

ALBANY—The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) shares important tips to help New York taxpayers stop identity thieves and tax fraudsters from stealing their identity and hard-earned money. DCP urges New Yorkers to stay vigilant against scams targeting taxpayers not only during tax season, but also year-round.

“Fraudsters are always finding new ways to steal money and personal information from innocent people, and unfortunately, tax filings are full of personal information they want to get a hold of. I urge all New Yorkers to stay vigilant while preparing their taxes this year, and follow our Division of Consumer Protection’s tips so you can outsmart these bad actors year round,” New York State Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said in a press release.

While taxpayer scams can take on a variety of forms, the following tips include some examples of scams to look out for:

*File early! File promptly using e-file and direct deposit of your tax refund. Filing your tax returns as soon as possible can reduce the likelihood that an identity thief will be able to claim a fraudulent tax refund using your stolen information. Filing electronically is also safer, faster and more efficient than sending paper returns through the mail.

*Mail your tax returns from a secure location. If mailing, mail directly from the post office. Never leave mail in your home mailbox for pickup by your letter carrier. Do not allow the tax preparer to mail your return.

*Avoid phishing scams and government impersonators. Scammers use email, text messages or calls to trick you into giving your personal or financial information. Remember, the IRS and NYS will typically first initiate contact with a taxpayer concerning a tax issue via regular mail. Government agencies do not request personal or financial information through email and will not ask for credit card numbers over the phone. Government agencies also don’t send tax refunds by email or text.

Beware of scam artists posing as tax preparers. If you choose to file your tax return using a tax preparer, take precautions to protect your refund and prevent identity theft by keeping the following tips in mind:

*Work only with tax preparers whom you have researched thoroughly. Avoid preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers can, as well as those who base their fee on a percentage of your refund

*Make sure your tax preparer is willing to sign your return and provide their IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The preparer must also provide you with a copy of the return

*Look over your return carefully—you are legally responsible for what’s on it. Similarly, never sign a blank return.

For tips on choosing a tax preparer, check out these resources:

*Internal Revenue Service’s Tips to Help Choose a Reputable Tax Preparer and

*NYS Department of Taxation and Finance’s Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers.

To report fraudulent activity by a tax preparer, contact the NYS Tax Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility at (518) 530-HELP (option #2) or file a tax preparer complaint online.

The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

Related Posts

THROUGH THE WOODS: Those Darn Woodchucks

In Communities - Columbia, The Columbia Paper
August 2, 2024
0

By NANCY JANE KERN

IT WAS UNNERVING TO HOLD my great-great-grandmother’s rib. I looked at the hole the woodchuck dug into the family cemetery plot and suddenly knew how Hamlet felt when he held Yorick’s skull.

I never met this grandmother, but it was another reason to dislike woodchucks whose nature is to chew and dig burrows. The woodchuck is sometimes called the groundhog and is represented by Punxsutawney Phil who comes out of winter hibernation from his burrow in February to predict the rest of the winter weather. In our northern area, the woodchuck hibernates from October to March or April. The woodchuck, or Marmota monax, is a large rodent and is sometimes called the land beaver. It is an appropriate name because they are similar animals except for the beaver’s flat and hairless tail. Rodents have two top and two bottom front teeth which continuously grow to compensate for their constant chewing of vegetation and other materials. The growth also compels them to keep chewing. These sharp teeth and their substantial front digging claws can make them a formidable opponent if cornered and will attack a dog.

A woodchuck. Photo by Nancy Kern

They can also run fast, climb trees, and swim if necessary. Normally they are about 16-26 inches long with a six-inch tail, weigh about 4-15 lbs., and live 2-3 years. Their hair has two layers, a dense layer next to the skin, and the outside layer, which is coarser and ticked with white, so they have a frosted look. They can give a loud and startling whistle as a warning to other woodchucks that a stranger is in the area.

Growing up we hunted them and often killed over 100 in a summer. My grandfather’s favorite pastime was hunting woodchucks and I served as his faithful companion and retriever. We would find a woodchuck hole and quietly sit for an hour or more, usually in the cooler evening, until a woodchuck cautiously came out of his hole. Gramp was a good shot and said all the summer practice on the woodchucks got him ready for the fall hunting seasons. My job was bringing them back to the pickup truck so we could take them home to the dogs. He would throw the woodchuck on the back lawn, take out his jackknife, and cut it open. The dogs relished them, and the only problem was taking the remains back to a field to dispose of them. There they became food for animals like foxes and eventually the vultures. They were not wasted.

Woodchuck holes were a big problem for farms because cows and horses could injure or break a leg in them, and machinery like mowers, and rakes were often damaged if the piles of dirt and stones around them were run over. They also made paths, ate a lot of grass, and could devastate a garden.

One summer we had a young pre-vet student from Cornell working for us who was studying survival techniques and learning how to live off the land. He made his bow and arrows and eventually got a woodchuck. We regarded these animals as dog food, but after he made kabobs of it and roasted them over a campfire, we decided to try it. It was very good, but once was enough.

Maybe we should reconsider this. They are organic, plentiful, tasty and locally grown. Maybe we should see how the farmers’ markets would feel about this. It is bad enough that one dug holes along my basement stone walls and ate yard flowers, but gnawing the casing of the garage door was the last straw. It is time to dust off the .22 rifle. Gramp would be happy.

Ravena News-Herald

The Ravena News-Herald is a weekly newspaper reporting on the news in the Ravena, Coeymans and New Baltimore communities of beautiful upstate New York.

Greenville Pioneer

Greene County’s independent newspaper. Featuring local news, letters to the editor, upcoming events, police blotter, columns from local writers and more.

The Columbia Paper

The Columbia Paper is a weekly newspaper reporting news and events from the communities of Columbia County in beautiful upstate New York.

Copyright © 2025
Capital Region Independent Media.

A product of NYVT Media LLC
TheUpStater.com is powered by CityMediaInc.com