Phone scam targets Bonner County

A Bonner County woman reported Monday she received a call from a man who said she was one of 20,000 taxpayers who would receive $10,000 because of a federal tax surplus.

The woman was asked for her bank account number, Social Security number and date of birth so the funds could be transferred to her account, according to a press release from the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.

“This is fairly obviously a scam,” said Bob Cooper, spokesman for the Idaho attorney general’s office. “The federal government doesn’t have a tax surplus. The federal government has your Social Security number – they’re the ones that gave it to you.”

The woman told authorities the caller sounded convincing, but she refused to give him the information. She said the man hung up on her when she asked him for information so she could verify he was who he claimed to be.

Cooper said people should never give out personal information over the phone to someone they don’t know, especially if the caller is the one initiating the contact.

If someone believes they are the victim of a phone scam, Cooper said, they should contact local authorities or file a complaint with the attorney general’s office.

– Taryn Brodwater

Principal to head Kellogg district

Sandra Pommerening will lead the Kellogg School District next year, the board of trustees decided at its meeting Tuesday.

Pommerening, the principal at Kellogg Middle School, will replace retiring superintendent Greg Godwin.

After 30 years in education, including six in Kellogg, Pommerening said she’s looking forward to capping her career by guiding the district.

Her first priorities will be overseeing the installation of a biomass boiler system for the district, which would heat buildings by burning waste wood and other items, and using the energy bond voters passed in November. She also wants to work on improving student achievement by following the district-wide plan.

The district is advertising the middle school principal opening to its employees and may solicit outside candidates later. The position will be filled as soon as a replacement is found, Godwin said.

– Rasha Madkour

BOISE

Lawmaker wants cap on state cigar tax

Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, wants the state to slash taxes on premium handmade cigars. He contends lower rates in Oregon and Washington are taking business away from small in-state tobacco shops.

A bill sponsored by Clark would cap the state’s 35 percent excise tax on cigars at 50 cents per stogie.

For example, for a box of 25 vintage 1996 Cusano Corojo cigars from the Dominican Republic, which costs $75 wholesale, taxes are now about $30. That would drop to just $12.50 a box if Clark’s plan wins legislative support.

On Wednesday, he convinced the House Revenue and Taxation Committee to agree to debate his plan.

“The whole idea is to try to keep the mom-and-pop, small retail tobacco shops alive in Idaho,” Clark said.

“What’s happening now, people are buying one, trying it and then shopping around for a cheaper price – either on the Internet or in Washington and Oregon.”

– Associated Press