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Customer data compromised at First State Bank of Pinedale (posted 8/19/08)
Data tape containing customer account information lost
Pinedale Online!
First State Bank of Pinedale notified customers via letters and personal phone conversations that their personal and account information has been compromised.
A bag containing a data tape from the bank was lost while being transported between processing sites, according to the letter dated August 15, 2008 from bank President & COO William Kuhl, III. The data tape contained information about the customer’s business name, address, taxpayer identification number, account numbers, current accounts in Pinedale , and business accounts that have been closed since June 2005.
"As soon as we learned that the bag did not arrive at its destination, we immediately contacyted law enforcement and began our own thorough investigation. Because we believe the lost bag may have been discarded and because special equipment is needed to retrieve the tape’s contents, it is highly unlikely that your information will be misused. Nevertheless, we continue to work with the authorities to locate the bag and tape," the letter to customers stated.
"At this time there is no indication that your information has been misused," Kuhl wrote. The bank encouraged customers to consider placing a security alert on their credit bureau file. "We recommend that if you are enrolling in a credit monitoring service, such as Identity Guard, CreditProtectX3, you enroll in the monitoring service prior to placing the security alert. Please be advised that placing the security alert first may delay establishing monitoring services." The bank provided the contact information for TransUnion, Equifax and Experian credit monitoring services.
First State Bank of Pinedale recommended additional precautions with customers’ accounts:
- Review account activity often, for at least the next 12 months, and report any suspicious activity immediately to the appropriate financial institution. First State Bank of Pinedale customers may monitor their First State Bank of Pinedale account activity on line by visiting www.PinedaleBank.com
- Do not use any part of your Social Security number as passwords.
- Consider changing your First State Bank of Pinedale online banking password by calling First State Bank of Pinedale or visiting any first State Bank of Pinedale location.
- Information regarding steps you can take to protect against identity theft is available from the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. If you don’t have Internet access, you can call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). We encourage you to report any incidents of identity theft to the FTC.
The bank also suggests customers periodically check their credit report to ensure all their information is correct. Free credit reports can be obtained from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies every 12 months by calling 1-877-322-8228 or going online to www.annualcreditreport.com.
"If you have any questions, please call (866) 390-3921. Phone Bankers are available to assist you Monday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Mountain Time," Kuhl wrote. "We apologize that this situation has occurred and for any concern it may cause you."
Click here for a copy of the letter sent to customers by the bank: First State Bank of Pinedale customer letter (2-page PDF, August 15, 2008)
Pinedale approves 1st reading for new Business License ordinance (posted 8/19/08)
Don’t pay $15 and you could face a $750 per day penalty for every day you operate your business without the license in Pinedale
Pinedale Online!
The Pinedale Town Council approved the 1st reading for a new ordinance requiring anyone doing business in Pinedale to purchase a $15 annual business license.
Under the new ordinance, it will be unlawful for any person or his agent or any entity to engage in or carry on a business in Pinedale without obtaining a business license. The license applies to a "person, firm, partnership, corporation or any other entity whatsoever" that offers goods, chattels or services. Opening a place of business or making a single sale is construed as carrying on a business. If a business operates in more than one location, they must obtain a separate license for each place of business. Licenses must be prominently displayed in the place of business or available upon request.
The new ordinance does not apply to charitable, religious, non-profit, civic, governmental organizations or to out-of-home businesses.
This is an annual license which runs from January 1 through December 31 of each calendar year.
Failure to renew the license within 30 days will result in a $75 delinquency penalty.
Any business that violates any provision of this new ordinance is guilty of a misdemeanor and "upon conviction shall be punished in accordance with Section 1.16.010." This section of the Pinedale Municipal Code states:
- "…any person who violates any of the provisions of the ordinances of the town, shall be punished by a fine not more than seven hundred fifty dollars, to which may be added costs." ($750.00)
- In addition, the Code states that "Each such person is guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provisions of the ordinances of the town is committed, continued, permitted or omitted by any such person, and he shall be punished accordingly." ($750 per day for every day beyond delinquency, if convicted.)
- The Town can collect reasonable attorney’s fees and costs related to prosecution of the violation of the ordinance.
The new ordinance carries a specific liability for Partnerships, LLCs and Corporations: "Should there by (sic) a violation by a partnership, LLC or corporation of any provision of this Chapter each partner of such partnership, member of such LLC and each officer of such corporation shall be deemed guilty as an individual and punished as provided by this Chapter. Any officer, agent or employee of a firm or corporation who is individually convicted of such violation shall be punished as provided by this Chapter."
While on the surface the $15 license seems like a fairly inconsequential cost for a business to pay. Reading through the details of the ordinance however, there is a hefty penalty for not paying the $15 fee. Under the misdemeanor penalty of the Pinedale Municipal Code and this new ordinance, if an LLC with two business partners neglects to get the $15 business license and they do business in Pinedale for a month, and they are cited and found in violation of the ordinance, they could each be charged with up to $750 per day penalty. For 30 days delinquency that could add up to $22,500 each for that month they are in violation. Their combined LLC fine would be $45,000, plus attorney’s fees and court costs, if the Town Judge decided to hit them with the maximum penalty for the violation.
The new ordinance must pass three public readings to become effective. The Town Council approved the 1st reading of the ordinance on August 11th. The second reading will be held on Monday, August 25 at 5:30 PM in the Pinedale Town Hall. If finally approved, it would go into effect on January 1, 2009.
Click on this link to read Pinedale Town Ordinance 440: Pinedale Business License Ordinance (PDF, 5 pages)
Click on this link to read Section 1.16.010: Pinedale Municipal Code – Penalty for violations (PDF, 2 pages)
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Related Links:
Town Council approves business licensesBy Stephen Crane, Pinedale Roundup (August 14, 2008)
ELECTION DAY: Primary Election – August 19, 2008 (posted 8/19/08)
Polls open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM across the county
Bob Rule, KPIN 101.1 FM
Today is the Primary Election Day in Wyoming, and here in Sublette County, much of the ballot contains uncontested races, such as for the Health Care Board. But one race that is contested in both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party is the County Commissioner race.
On the Republican ballot, it’s a three way race between incumbent Commissioner John Linn, Sublette County GOP Chair Cat Urbigkit, and Town Councilman Dave Smith. The Democratic ballot contains a two-way race between Susan Kramer and Courtney Skinner. One person will be nominated by each party, and they will face off in the General Election in November.
Republicans voting in central and northern Sublette County, in House District 22, will see a two way race between Pinedale area resident Charles Stough, and Alpine area resident Donn Wooden. On the Democratic ballot for House District 22, Jim Roscoe, of both Wilson and Boulder, is running unopposed.
The South County will not see any contested races for the State Legislature, and the Democratic ballot in the South County will list "No candidate filed" for both the State Senate and State Representative positions. Should someone wish to be nominated for one of these positions, they will need at least 25 write-in votes to have their name placed on the General Election ballot in November, and of course receive the highest number of votes for that particular race.
Polls will be open from 7 AM until 7 PM, and those qualified to vote but not registered to vote may register and vote at their polling place.
County Clerk Mary Lankford, in an interview on KPIN Radio Monday morning, told listeners that one area where confusion on where to vote often occurs is the "Bargerville" area. Those living in or near Bargerville will be voting at the Community Center in Boulder, which is the old historic elementary school in Boulder. Pinedale area residents will be voting near Wranger Gym, between the Elementary School and Cafeteria in Pinedale, and the dividing line between the Pinedale voters and the Boulder voters is Pole Creek … not the road, but the creek itself.
Those not knowing where to vote, or seeking additional information, can call the County Clerk’s office at 307-367-4372.
KPIN Radio will be broadcasting live from the Sublette County Courthouse starting at 7 PM tonight to give election results as soon as they become available, and PinedaleOnline.com will also be posting election results on their web site tonight.
2008 Wyoming wolf kill tally: 35 (posted 8/17/08)
Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
2008 Wyoming wolf kills by county: 35 total
With 35 wolves killed statewide this year, Wyoming is about in line with last year's numbers. Park and Sublette County have had the most livestock depredations and thus, the most wolves killed due to those problems.
Of the wolves killed in Sublette County, at least seven were taken in control actions (either by contracted control officials or a rancher) in response to livestock depredations. Many of the others killed in Sublette County were taken in areas where chronic problems with depredations occurred, and FWS has reported many of these wolves would have been taken out in control actions at a later time, had hunters not taken the action while wolves were briefly under state management.
All 14 wolves killed in the last month in Park County were taken by federal wildlife officials in response to livestock depredations.
By month, and by county, here's the tally:
March: 5
5 Sublette
April: 10
2 Sublette/Fremont boundary
7 Sublette
1 Fremont
May: 1
1 Sublette
June: 4
4 Park
July:
1 Lincoln? (Upper Hoback boundary)
(On March 28 wolves were delisted. July 18 federal protection was restored.)
July 15 – August 14, 2008
14 Park
Related Links:
Wolf Watch - By Cat Urbigkit
Mid-year Wyoming wolf count (posted 8/17/08)
Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
Mike Jimenez of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is busy doing paperwork, tallying up the official mid-year wolf population count for Wyoming. He reported on August 15 that Wyoming has 14 breeding pairs of wolves in the state (outside of Yellowstone National Park), while Yellowstone National Park harbors an additional 11 breeding pairs. That's 25 breeding pairs for the Yellowstone/Wyoming count.
Incidentally, the Green River pack in Sublette County is not part of this count because it is slated for removal due to livestock depredations.
Related Links:
Wolf Watch - By Cat Urbigkit
Wolves killing livestock in Upper Green (posted 8/17/08)
Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
The Green River wolf pack is at it again. Mike Jimenez of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported today that at lease six cattle and two sheep have been confirmed as wolf kills in the Upper Green River region of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. This is an area where wolf predation problems persist each year.
The Green River wolf pack, which consists of four adult wolves and four pups, is suspected in all the depredations, but currently no member of the pack is wearing a radio collar, so locating the pack for control has proven difficult, Jimenez said. Efforts are underway to trap at least one of the wolves so that a collar can be placed on it and it will be set free to join back up with its pack members, assisting in the effort to locate the entire pack for control.
"We will start removing wolves once we get one collared," Jimenez said.
Related Links:
Wolf Watch - By Cat Urbigkit
Fourteen cattle-killing wolves killed (posted 8/17/08)
All incidents in Park County, Wyoming
Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
Fourteen cattle-killing wolves were killed in Park County, Wyoming since July 15, Mike Jimenez of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported today, August 15.
All of the wolves were killed by USDA Wildlife Services specialists at the request of FWS due to their status as chronic problem wolves. The wolves were killed in response to the deaths of nine cattle (confirmed as wolf kills) and two injured cows and one calf.
More wolves are slated to be removed from the Wyoming wolf population in response to other depredations as well, with the Green River pack targeted for recent killings of both sheep and cattle in Sublette County.
Related Links:
Wolf Watch - By Cat Urbigkit
Idaho wolves killing livestock (posted 8/16/08)
Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
The Idaho Fish and Game Department reports that wolves have been preying on livestock consistently through the month of July in that state. Here's the predation and control report for July:
Friday, July 11, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services confirmed that wolves killed a calf on private land near Bear.
July 16, a WS fixed-wing aircrew shot and killed a gray male wolf about a mile from the depredation site near Bear. Traps are being pulled and control efforts are concluded unless there is another depredation.
July 14, WS confirmed that wolf killed a lamb in Rainbow Creek in the Boise National Forest.
July 23, WS shot and killed an adult, black female wolf near the rainbow creek depredation site.
July 14, WS confirmed that a wolf killed a lamb on the Boise National Forest, east of Smith's Ferry. This is the same area where WS confirmed a depredation on July 2.
July 15, WS confirmed that wolves attacked a cow on private land on Smiley Creek near Stanley.
July 15, WS confirmed that wolves killed one calf and probably killed another on a Targhee National Forest grazing allotment on the west side of Bishop Mountain between Ashton and Kilgore.
July 16, WS caught and killed an adult, gray female wolf.
July 18, WS confirmed that at least two wolves killed three rams on private land near Leadore.
July 18, a Fish and Game employee found a ram carcass on private land NE of Idaho City while he was looking for wolf-killed deer and elk. After consulting with WS, the depredation is being considered a probable wolf kill.
July 20, WS confirmed that wolves killed a calf and probably killed another calf on private land near Stanley.
July 22, WS examined three calves that had bite wounds to their flanks and hindquarters. WS confirmed that injuries were caused by wolves. All three calves are expected to survive. The depredation took place on the same private ranch where WS confirmed another depredation on a calf last week and subsequently removed one male wolf. There are still three pairs of cows/calves missing on this ranch.
July 22, WS confirmed that wolves killed five Walker hounds and one blue tick hound near Bridge Creek in Unit 12 in the Clearwater National Forest. The dogs were owned by three brothers, and the wolves killed every dog in the chase.
July 24, WS confirmed that wolves killed a calf on a Salmon-Challis National Forest grazing allotment near Twin Bridges Creek.
July 24, WS confirmed that wolves killed two lambs on a Boise National Forest grazing allotment in Rainbow Creek. WS has confirmed two other depredations at this site in the past several weeks.
July 25, WS investigated a report that wolves had killed a cow on private land near Stanley. The WS investigator saw two wolves chasing cattle. The carcass was consumed to the point where only a determination of "probable" wolf depredation could be made.
July 25, WS confirmed that wolves killed a 400-pound calf on private land just south of the Pine turn-off from Highway 20.
July 26, WS confirmed that wolves killed two calves and probably another on private land near Mullen Basin by Carey. Six calves are missing at this site.
July 26, WS confirmed that wolves killed three yearling ewes on a Boise National Forest grazing allotment west of Pioneerville.
July 26, WS confirmed that wolves killed a calf on private land on Cottonwood Creek, southeast of Horseshoe Bend. WS noted "probable" wolf depredations on this same property – a calf injured on July 18 and a cow killed on July 23.
July 26, WS confirmed two calves killed near Carlson Lake on a Salmon-Challis National Forest grazing allotment.
July 26, WS confirmed that wolves killed a cow and a calf on private land near Salmon.
Related Links:
Wolf Watch - By Cat Urbigkit
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