Today's Feature

Verizon to Refund Erroneous Taxes.

The Mornin’ Mail’s efforts to get an erroneous 1% tax charged to Verizon cell phone bills removed has produced results. Verizon is removing the Peachtree Community District Tax from all Carthage Verizon bills until the company can determine what locations should be charged the tax. Only addresses within the Peachtree development should be charged.

According to Cherryl Bini-Armbrecht of Verizon, the company is also in the process of refunding any erroneous tax collected from Carthage residents.

Verizon also says it will not recoup money paid to the City of Carthage as part of a statewide settlement for uncollected Business License Surcharge tax. As part of the settlement however, the company is required to collect the 5% Local Business License tax for the City on all Carthage located cell phones.

Other cell phone companies are still involved in a statewide law suit concerning the Business License tax. Verizon opted out of the suit and settled on its own.

I’m here to tell ya, those calls do matter. What matters even more is the calls ya don’t make. Most Council members take not hearin’ anything as an indication that you approve of what they are doin’. A no call is a vote for the measure.

What most folks don’t understand is that one call to a Council member can make a difference. And ten or twenty calls is almost unheard of. If you don’t know who your Council representative is, call City Hall. While you’re at it, call ‘em all.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

This Is A Hammer
By Samantha Mazzotta

Post-Halloween Cleanup

Q: Every year, it seems, the local kids pick out a house or two in the neighborhood to "paper," throw eggs at, or do other sorts of vandalism. It’s that time again and like every year, I worry that my house is on the target list. Should it happen, will things like eggs and shaving cream stain the exterior of the house? What’s the best way to clean them off? -- Karen S., Madison, Wis.

A: First, let me get my civic duty out of the way and say this: Kids, don’t go around vandalizing property -- though it seems like a minor offense, the consequences for both you and your targets can be quite serious.

Fortunately, the damage done by eggs and shaving cream can be washed away with a hose or soap and water. Don’t let these things sit around on the siding though; sunlight can bake proteins into the paint, leaving a stain that’s difficult to remove. So, check the house first thing in the morning and wash off any debris right away.

There are a few ways to discourage vandals from picking your house, without having to stay up all night worrying. Well-lighted front and back entryways -- not necessarily blinding spotlights, but light enough to read large print by -- signal that someone is home. A well-kept yard -- grass mowed, leaves raked and hedges and tree branches cut back -- prevents would-be egg throwers from hiding out of sight.

Inviting a couple of friends over and playing music just loud enough to be heard on the lawn, and keeping the downstairs lights on also help.

Basically, Halloween vandals will choose the best targets of opportunity -- unlighted houses and dark yards where few people will see them -- to play their pranks. The better the chance that they’ll be caught, the less likely they are to strike.

HOME TIP: Drill a few holes into the top step of a stepladder -- you can place small tools and screwdrivers into them and have them handy while working on the ladder.