Tax Season can also be scam season

By now some of you have already started filing your tax returns. But you need to be aware that tax season can also be scam season.

Phishing is one of the most common scams used during this time of year.  It’s a scam where crooks send emails to your account requesting your personal information.

Don’t give it out. Let’s be clear about this, the IRS will never send you an email about your return. They still do things the old fashion way with a letter in the mail.

Be on alert if you receive an email claiming to be from the IRS that wants your personal information. According to IRS.Gov., it’s not a good idea to reply to the email or open any attachments it may have.

They want you to forward the email to Phishing@irs.gov. Then delete the original message.

The fake emails won’t just be from the IRS, but can be from any legitimate website or business. If you’re unsure, just don’t give out your personal information.

Hungry at Home program feeds hungry children

Lowndes County, Georgia -

Backpacks aren’t just for books and supplies at some Lowndes County Schools.

They’re being filled with food so students don’t go hungry when they’re away from school on weekends.

Two Lowndes County teachers started the program when they heard about students who sometimes don’t get enough to eat.

Each Thursday volunteers pack backpacks at Lake Park Elementary School for children who are hungry.  The program is called Hungry At Home. Angie Hendley and Teresa Parkerson started it in November.

“I had a little child last year specifically and after about two weeks of him going to the nurse and trying to figure out what was going on we realized it was just hunger pains,” said Hendley.

Parkerson recalls the first time they saw the kids going home with their backpacks.

“Ms. Hendley described it best, it was like Christmas,” said Parkerson. ”The tears were just streaming down the faces of the volunteers when they saw their reaction we think that it’s not a problem in our community but it is.”

Each Friday 200 backpacks are sent home with students who are hungry.

That number includes students at Lake Park Elementary, Pinegrove Elementary, Dewar Elementary and Lowndes Middle schools. The program relies on donations from the community even from the littlest ones.

Six-year-old Maggie Jo Hamilton gave money she earned through her church’s bible buck’s program to the cause.

“I spent them on the food,” said Hamilton.

“On average it costs about $7 a week to feed the children so for $250 dollar a year you could feed a child all year long for the weekends,” said Lake Park Elementary Assistant Principal Julie Klein.

They’re fighting hunger one back pack at a time. Each backpack contains six meals and four snacks to get the child through the weekend.

The volunteers often include extra food for siblings.

The Hungry at Home program needs backpacks, volunteers, and food. Contact Teresa Parkerson at tparkerson@lowndes.k12.ga.us or Angie Hendley atahendley@lowndes.k12.ga.us or call (229) 559-5153 ext. 16 to help out.

Tip leads to meth lab raid Man arrested after agents search apartment in Valdosta

VALDOSTA — A tip from a concerned citizen of suspicious behavior led to the arrest of a Valdosta man in connection with the manufacture of methamphetamine Thursday.

At approximately 5:30 p.m., in the 1800 block of North Ashley Street at the Studio Courtyard, members of the Valdosta Police Department  Narcotics Unit executed a warrant at apartment 110.

Stephen Smith, 43, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of tools for the commission of a crime, according to officers. All three charges are felonies.

According to Valdosta Police Department Commander Brian Childress, the meth lab was not operational at the time of the execution of the warrant.

C.A.R.E. Environmental Corp. responded to the scene to manage the hazardous nature of the materials. C.A.R.E. completed the cleanup Friday.

“We believe there was no significant danger to other residents; however, they did evacuate the surrounding apartments as a precaution,” said Childress. “We were able to shut down a potentially dangerous lab because of the actions of a concerned citizen and we appreciate them.”

The federal government cut funding for cleaning meth lab sites some months ago, but C.A.R.E. performs the service for free for area law enforcement agencies, Childress said. The cleaning usually costs from $2,000 to $10,000 per site, he said.

Studio Courtyard manager Sandy Matthews described bizarre behavior prior to the arrest.Smith, who moved into the apartment complex in November, was approached by Matthews when he flooded his room after he fell asleep with the shower running.

“He opened the door about three inches and had his goggles on, his hat backwards, he was soaked down with water and was wearing swimming trucks,” she said.

Matthews said he was a good tenant who paid his bills on time, but when his roommate left a few weeks ago, the suspicious behavior became apparent.

“I could just smell a bunch of chemicals and had a bad feeling about something,” she said. “I started smelling ammonia, ether and then that resin stuff and everything else.”

She said she did not make the call to police officers.

“I just don’t put up with any drug dealers or anything else at Studio Courtyard,” she said.

The suspect is currently being held in Lowndes County Jail. No other suspects were arrested at the scene