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Show T T UINTAH BASIN STANDARD. Ami 6. Scholars call Governors power grab unprecedented 'X4fRt Associated Press Utahs normally unflappable Leavitt was angry. At toraey General Jan Graham had just told him he wasn't welcome at a news conference to share credit for the lucrative tobacco settlement. "You never supported the lawsuit, she told him. Aa Graham recalls, a Gov. Mike red-face- d, finger-wavin- Leavitt g replied, Til get the Legislature to take away your authority." Ha was true to hie word. In a bracen move, LTtaha Republicans are stripping Graham, the only Democrat elected statewide.of much of her constitutional power. Leavitt sealed his hostile takeover last Tuesday by signing a measure MATH WHIZ KIDS-The- sc Roosevelt Junior High students were chosen to compete ft a statewide mathematics competition held in Logan earlier this month. Pictured back row left to right: Colby Duncan. Nicole Hales. Tambra Pure, Shelteen Weight, Tyler Hussey and Blake Duncan. Front row left to right: Lauren Whiting, Emi Sprouse, Annamarie Betts, Megen Roberts. Myles Thomas, Hyrum Gillespie, David Grigsby. Aaron Gumucio, and math coach Michael Merket. Not pictured is Chris Truman. scams starting to make the rounds Y2K Consumer Protection expcja know one thing about disasters... as soon as one happens, scama appear that piggyback off of it. After a disaster makes headlines, it is common to see scams that claim to be raising money for flood, tornado or famine victims. Well, according to sources around the county, scams are starting to appear relating to the threatened, and much publicized, Y2K disaster. Several telephone scams reportedly are making their way across the country, preyiig on furs that the Year 2000 computer problem will mess up bank accounts. So far, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection hasn't received any complaints from Utah residents ripped off by mw century acam, , Francine Giani, division dirsc- tor says it's probably only a matter of time before someone gets taken. The acams, which Giani has heard about from other states, apply a new year twist to an old theme. "All they are trying to do is get Another version goes something like this: A bank representative calls to confess that the bank is way behind fixing its computer systems for the millennium. Ttiough so-call- they hate to admit it, tha caller says, that means there ia sure to be s in customer acplenty of counts, possibly catastrophic onea auch as having balances wiped out, when Jan. 1 arrive. As a safeguard, the bank needs to transfer all customer accounts d bond into counts immune to any glitches until all systems are Y2K safe. The caller then asks for the customers account number for verifi- mix-up- ac-b-ut Giani says she is unsure if anyone has fallen for the swindles, but she said people who follow a few simple, common sense rules can avoid being duped. First never give account information, over the phone. And realise that a bank or credit card company isn't going to contact you asking for your account number, because they already have it Any suspicious calls should bo reported to the lTtah Department of Commerce's Division of Consumer at Leavitt says the confrontation over tobacco was juat his latest tiff with the stubbornly independent Graham. Tbs feuding between the baby-boom- politicians er TALENTED-Roosevc- lt Middle School students (pictured left to right) Chantdl Stevens, Rochell FUIingim. Melissa Johnson and Emilce Stevens performed a clogging routine at the school's annual talent show. Sandhill crane viewing scheduled for April 10 Sandhill Crane viewing is scheduled for April 10 by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWRk Division personnel will meet those interested in seeing these three-foot-tbirds at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of the State and County Building, 152 East 100 North, in Vernal and then caravan down toJensen to meet again at 8:30 a.m. at tha new visitor center at thejunction ofHigh-wa- y 40 and the Quarry Road. "Sandhill cranes are migrating through the Uintah Basin area, giving the Division an opportunity to show these birds to those interested, said Ron Stewart, UDWR. "These sandhill cranes have proba been staging in New Mexico and 4 My Southern Colorado for the last several weeks with the warmer weath-- .. all er.theyarereadytomovs north and 1. IS . no long- er practices Graham first ran for attorney general in 1992, the same year Leavitt became governor. Early on, Leavitt complained Graham was unwilling to vigorously defend Utah's restrictive abortion laws, so the governor hired a private lawyer tado the job. Most of the restrictions were later thrown out of court Mors recently, Graham refused Leavitt's request that she endorse Vermonts defense of a law against same-se-x marriages at the VS Supreme Court Their versions of tha dash over tha tobacco settlement, like much of their relationship, conflict Leavitt heatedly insists ha did support Graham's tobacco suit although news accounts show him hedging in 1996 when he waa supporting her Republican challenger in the election. He also maintains he didnY ask for a place at the November news conference where Graham announced her decision to include Utah in the settlement Furthermore, he learned less than two hours before she went before the TV cameras that he'd been shut out of settlement negotiations. Credit card fraud protection offers can be fraudulent tion." financial information from a consumer that can then be used to steal," she said. "They're just using Y2K fears as the tool to get information." One acam, reported in several east coast newspapers, including the Washington Post involves a caller posing as a representative from the recipients credit card company. The caller claims the company is sending out rsplssam sot Jtoipwto stick over, tha magnetic. stripe an. Protection ernor. Scholars call the move unprecedented, and the nations other attorneys general are vowing to back Graham in court. She has the "guaranteed" legal support of the National Association of Attorneys General. said the groups president, Mike Moore ofMimiaaippi.The Utah power struggle echoes an angry standoff in Alabama over new Senate operating rules that stripped the lieutenant governor of traditional goes back years. He's a conservative and a devout Mormon. She's a liberal and, while raised a member of tha the backs ofcredit cards to ward off Y2Kproblems. Customers whodont get one wont be able to use their cards cone Jan. 1, warns the caller. The card holder is then asked for his or her account number for "verifica- specially-designe- slates predominant church, to relieve the attorney general of her mandate to "taka charge" of civil lawsuits and settlements, giving the authority instead to the gov- popular 1999- - Pz begin the breeding season." "Sandhills are fairly easy birds to recognize because tlrey stand over three feet tall and have five-fowingpans,Stewart said. "They are n in color with a red a crown, grey black bill and long grey-blalegs. They can also be recognized by their distinctive call, kind of a gurgling flute. "Every year thousands of sandhill cranes migrate through Utah and one of their favor stopovers is the Green River from Ouray to ot grey-brow- -- ck Utah consumers art now being contacted by at least two different bininrssre claiming toprovidc credit card fraud protection. In one case the company asks for a payment of about $200 to protect all ofthe credit cards in your house for a period of 10 years. A second company ia asking for a payment of S26 dollars a month to provide imUr services. "Consumers should be wary of such offers," statea Russ Behnnann, president of the Better Business Bureau of Utah. "Same of these solicitors are doing nothing more than trying to get credit can! information so they can do to you what they claim they're protecting you against Even those that provide protection services in the case of loss may be using fear tactics to sell something consumers do not need. Though details of the solicitations hare not been provided to the BBB, by the companies in question, a BBB investigator was told that one offer was good for any loss for any amount no matter how large. When asked if that meant this was soma form of "insurance policy (which would subject ths business tostrict government regulation) the phone operator answered," no this they were an "approved service of tho Better Busineea Bureau." Behnnann atatea any auch claim ia a misrepresentation. W don't apor endorse any product or pro business." Though protection against credit card related fraud may be helpful for aome consumers, the BBB urges caution, including tho following etc pc before making a purchasing decision: 1) Check with the financial institution that issued their credit card to determine what protections against credit card loss, theft or fraud are already ia place. Ia mast cases there are already loss limits af 150 tot 100. 2) Check the company out with tha Better Business Bureau before making any commitment. (You will need to obtain tho company name and address). 3) Dont give out credit card information over tho phone unless (or until) you know who you are dealing with. 4) Ask how long the business has been operating. Long term agree menu may net be honored if the company isn around long enough. 5; Report any misrepresentation of tho BBB name immediately to the Better Business Bureau ofUtah Jensen. Our biologists have observed a many as 4,000 in one day. The cranes usually begin arriving duringthe end afMarchand through most of April. The birds could stay insurance, it's more like just and feed for a couple of days 4r just protection." move on the next morning." In one case a tailor to the BBS ef at Utah raid that thrrrlitit-Trlsiirr- ini 437-465- f - 4 Fair Saturday, May 8 9 HEflLTH SCREENINGS a.m. to i p.m. Roosevelt Jr. High School spomord by Uintah Basin Medical Center Utah Highway Patrol BROWING TOGETHER FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES Over 6o information booths on health and safety issues Teddy Bear Clinic Blood draws (Bring a favorite stuffed animal) wil begin at 9:00 a.rrv, come fasting! tt jii i. iii) mwimq liWMWMa , Slui"tyw wiil Utah Highway Patrol Helicopter CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES: Food Booth Child Restraint Check Bike Rodeo (Bring j Balloons Ambulance Cotton Candy Vince & Larry your bikes) Admission is FREE Drawings All Day Long GRAND Prize Drawing Mountain Bike i Kid Care ID Roll Cage Fish Pond Seat Belt Convincer Trooper Smith Fire Truck Face Painting Five A Day Puppet Show The Gear Up Games a RJ The Clown .W |