Beware Of Some Foreign Telephone Calls

Be extra careful before dialing an unrecognized area code!

by Tom Sedgwick, Asst. City Admin/Telecommunications Director

Unscrupulous long distance telephone “companies” are tricking many consumers into dialing phone numbers, which are actually in foreign countries. A number of foreign countries have a “1” access number (just like regular long distance in the U.S. and Canada). So called “employment opportunities” or “want ads” have been published in newspapers with a phone number in a foreign country. Ads may promise information and entertainment services ranging from physic readings to chat lines. Many of these numbers are actually costly international “pay-per-call” numbers where a portion of your international long distance charge goes to pay for the information or entertainment you receive over the phone. Countries that have lax laws or corruption problems attract these unscrupulous con artists who are able to make profit sharing deals with foreign phone companies. Other reported methods of tricking consumers are to place calls to consumers answering machines with messages pretending to be in regards to a “family emergency” and giving a phone number in a foreign country. When the unwitting victims call, they are placed on hold to extend the length of the call and thus driving up the very expensive phone charge. Phone charges have been reported to be as high as $25.00 per minute.

Do you know where you are calling?
It’s not always easy to tell if you are calling an international telephone number. In most cases, you have to dial “011” to begin your call to a foreign country. However, many countries in the Caribbean region require just the “1” plus area code to place the call. Below is the latest list of foreign country area codes that use only the “1” access number similar to a domestic call:

New Phone Cards

Customers that have HITEC local service but do not have HITEC long distance service will also be able to obtain and use the new calling card. Those customers that want a calling card issued to them must contact customer service at the Hawarden City Office.

New Cable Channels

The Weather Channel, which is currently on channel 48, will be moved to channel 49. Channel guides can be picked up at the city office and will be free of charge. The guide will also be included in the monthly bill immediately following the launch of the two new channels.

It is very important that we get your correct meter readings every month. Please send or bring in your cards with the readings or make arrangements for our meter reader to get into your home or place of business to read the meters. If we have to estimate your readings, we will utilize those readings to produce your bill. We simply don’t have the manpower to refigure all of the readings submitted late, should you have a discrepancy. This can cause your bill to be higher or lower depending on the difference. Thank you.

Hawarden Ambulance Announces Their Annual Fundraiser

The Hawarden Ambulance members have announced they are holding their annual Chicken Dinner fundraiser on Saturday, March 17th, 2001 at the West Sioux High School Gym. Central Catering will be preparing the food and the ambulance members will be serving the broasted chicken dinners from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. Tickets are $7.00 per person with children 5 and under eating FREE with a paying adult. Invitations will be mailed out and they ask that you return them by March 10th, 2001 so that we can have an accurate amount of servings ordered. The proceeds of the benefit will be used for the purchase and upkeep of ambulance equipment. Thank you for your support in the past and we look forward to working with you in the future. If you do not receive your invitation please let Brad know at 551-2565 so that we can update our mailing list.

Hawarden City Wide Cleanup

April 23-27, 2001

This year’s city wide clean-up days have been set for April 23 through April 27. Please have your items set by the curb so the City crews can pick them up. Please have all items set out by Monday, April 23.

• All Trees must be 8 feet in length or less
• ALL items must be SEPERATED and placed at curb or alley by April 23
• Trees in one pile, metal in one pile etc.
• No garbage or items that could be picked up in the weekly garbage

The landfill is located 1.5 miles north of the Hawarden City limits on state highway 10, then one mile east on county road B-46, and south 0.25 mile on the gravel.

Upcoming Community Events

by Jami Dekkers

Swimming Trip - A swimming trip to the Sioux Center Indoor pool is planned for Friday, March 16th. The trip is open to all West Sioux students in grades 2nd - 8th. The cost will be $3.00 per student. This includes two hours of swimming and the bus ride. The bus will depart from the High School around 11:15 a.m. and arrive home around 2:15 p.m. Registration deadline is March 12th.

After School Bowling League - Sportsman’s Lanes is offering a four-week youth bowling league for student beginning March 5th & 6th. Grades 2nd & 3rd are scheduled for Tuesdays and grades 4th - 8th are scheduled for Mondays from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. The cost of the league is $10.00. At the end of the league there will a drawing for the kids who participated in the league.

Sportsman’s will be giving away two bowling balls.

Spring Soccer

Reminder: Without volunteer coaches/parents we can’t have a soccer league. Please volunteer and get involved with your kids.
Registration Deadline is April 2nd. Forms can be picked up at school or the Hawarden City Offices.

Youth Flag Football

Registration deadline is April 2nd.

This is the first year flag football is being offered in Hawarden and we need your help. As a parent, I hope you see this program as an opportunity for our future football program to improve. Please step up as a parent and/or community member and volunteer as a coach.

Quilting Classes

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