News Briefs

West Plains Christmas Trees raffled this Saturday

Tickets are still on sale for eight, fabulously festooned Christmas trees being raffled this Saturday to support local veterans causes. The beautiful trees are loaded with prizes, gift certificates, and coupons for services. Raffle tickets are $1 each.

The raffle benefits our Cheney Veterans of Foreign Wars and Time of Remembrance helping veterans and families. View the trees and purchase raffle tickets at Marketplace Bakery & Eatery, 1011 1st St., open Tuesdays–Sundays 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The drawing will take place at an event on Saturday, Dec. 23.

Tree sponsors are Copy Junction, LLC (Dasher), Village Centre Cinemas-Airway Heights (Dancer), Eastern Washington University Alumni Association (Prancer), Stars & Stripes C.C. (Vixen), Davis Communications (Comet), Sweet Pea Boutique (Cupid), Yokes Fresh Market (Donner) and AMG Auto Repair (Blitzen).

Annual tax filing deadline for businesses approaching

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Revenue offers plenty of information, links and resources to help annual business tax filers submit their returns and taxes by the Jan. 31, 2018 due date, and avoid penalties. In a Dec. 14 news release, department officials said if a business had no activity in 2017, it must file a “no business” tax return. 

January is always a busy time, with tax deadlines converging for monthly, quarterly and annual filers. Taxpayers needing help should contact Revenue as soon as possible. As the Jan. 31 deadline nears, wait times for help from Revenue’s tax specialists get longer. 

Revenue offers several options to help all business taxpayers file their returns on time:

Call early in the month and talk to Revenue’s tax specialists at 1-800-647-7706. Filers can also email questions to dor.wa.gov/forms/ask-quick-question, use the department’s online live chat service at their website or visit a regional office.

Callers can reach Revenue tax specialists between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Automated phone services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some tasks can be completed through the automated phone system, including filing a “no business” return, requesting forms and updating basic business information.

Start the new year off right with a First Day Hike 

OLYMPIA — Washington State Parks invites the public to start the new year off with a “First Day Hike” on Monday, Jan. 1, at more than three dozen state parks across Washington. 

Washington was among the first states in the nation to participate in First Day Hikes, a nationwide initiative organized by the National Association of State Parks Directors. Currently, all 50 state park systems participate in the effort.

In Eastern Washington, First Day Hikes take place at Riverside State Park, Mount Spokane State Park, Sun Lakes/Dry Falls State Park southwest of Coulee City on Highway 17, Columbia Plateau Trail State Park southwest of Washtucna off SR 261 and Palouse Falls State Park. 

Jan. 1 also is the first of 12 Washington State Parks “free days” taking place in 2018. Park visitors will not need to display the Discover Pass on vehicles to access state parks for the New Year’s Day activities or for other state park visits on that day. 

Most participating parks will offer refreshments following the outings, thanks to funding from the Seattle RV and Puyallup RV shows and the Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU).

State Attorney General warns of court clerk scam

OLYMPIA — Scammers are posing as the Washington State Supreme Court Clerk to call Washingtonians to demand money and threaten arrest. The fraudulent calls have so far targeted individuals with Hispanic last names.

In a Dec. 14 news release, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst urge consumers not to fall for the scammers’ ploy. The Supreme Court will never threaten people with arrest or demand payment.

The Court has received dozens of reports from Washingtonians of scammers using fake caller ID information to make a call appear to come from the Supreme Court clerk’s office. The caller typically states they are from the courts or law enforcement and threatens arrest if recipients do not send money.

If you or a family member receives one of these calls, hang up immediately.

Do not give in to high-pressure tactics. Do not trust callers who use threats to bully or frighten you. The Supreme Court, any other Washington court or law enforcement agency will never call to demand payment or threaten arrest.

Please help spread the word about this scam by sharing this information with your friends and family.

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and file a complaint with the state Attorney General’s Office at http://www.atg.wa.gov or report it to the Federal Trade Commission.