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NEWS

JANUARY 2010       

FEBRUARY 2010

MARCH 2010

appliance rebates

03.19.10

TEXAS RESIDENTS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO SIGN UP for A REBATE ON AN ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCE. the state of texas plans to use about $23 million in federal stimulus funds for a mail-in rebate program for consumers who buy certain energy efficient household appliances during a 10-day period FROM APRIL 16 THROUGH APRIL 25. BEGINNING APRIL 5, A TOLL-FREE PHONE NUMBER AND AN ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR TEXANS TO claim AN APPLIANCE REBATE. WHEN ALL THE GUARANTEED REBATES ARE RESERVED, texans MAY CONTINUE TO SIGN UP FOR A WAITING LIST TO RECEIVE A REBATE ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS. CONSUMERS MUST GIVE THEIR NAME, ADDRESS, AND SPECIFY THE APPLIANCE TYPE THEY INTEND TO buy WHEN MAKING A RESERVATION. CUSTOMERS must be on the guaranteed rebate reservation list, or the waiting list, to be able to get the forms they will mail in to claim rebates. To be eligible for a rebate, a qualifying appliance must be purchased between April 16 and April 25.  Consumers will have 60 days from the reservation date to install their new appliance and submit their paperwork for the rebate. Appliances must be purchased by Texas residents at Texas stores. The U.S. Department of Energy LAST YEAR APPRoved the rebates for consumers who buy eligible Energy Star appliances and use it to replace the same type of old inefficient appliance that’s functional. This Texas program will also offer an incentive to recycle old appliances. comptroller combs said flat rebates will be given on Energy Star certified refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, central air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters, clothes washers and dishwashers. the rebates will range from a low of $45 for a room air conditioner to a high of $1,600 for certain heat pumps. then, An additional $75 recycling rebate will go to texas shoppers who buy an eligible new appliance and recycle the same type of still functional old appliance. according to susan combs, the program should stimulate retail. it also helps consumers save money and energy, plus it will conserve natural resources. REPEATING, BEGINNING APRIL 5, TEXANS CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE A REBATE ON THE PURCHASE OF A NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCE. THAT PURCHASE MUST BE MADE BETWEEN APRIL 16 AND 25. As further details on the reservation and mail-in rebate systems are finalized in the next few weeks, a new Web SITE -www.texaspowerfulsmart.org - will become the one-stop resource for information and reservations. kshn will provide a link to that site from our webpage once the rebate site is operational. currently, that web page REDIRECTS to the texas comptroller’s online site that provides information on this APPLIANCE rebate program. THE ENERGY STAR TOLL-FREE HELPLINE NUMBER IS 1.888.782.7937. AGAIN, THE FIRST DAY TO RESERVE A REBATE IS APRIL 5.

attempted theft

news story

03.18.10

THREE MEN WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED THEFT ON THURSDAY. LIBERTY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A BURGLARY IN PROGRESS CALL AROUND 10:40 THURSDAY MORNING AT 12114 STATE HIGHWAY 321. THAT IS THE OLD PLASTIC’S PLANT ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE SHERIFF’S PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, STEVE GREEN, SAID DEPUTIES DETERMINED THERE WAS NOT A BURGLARY OF A BUILDING. INSTEAD, STEVE GREEN SAID THE MEN WERE ATTEMPTING TO STEAL A FORKLIFT FROM THE PROPERTY. LIBERTY COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT CHIEF DEPUTY JIM COOPER SAID DEPUTIES CAUGHT TWO OF THE THREE MEN IN THE ACT, WHILE A THIRD ESCAPED INTO THE WOODS. CHIEF COOPER SAID WHILE HE WAS HEADED TO THE LOCATION, HE SAW A MAN COME OUT OF THE WOODS AT THE EDGE OF HIGHWAY 321 THAT FIT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE THIRD MAN. AS IT TURNED OUT, HE WAS. THE THREE MEN WERE IDENTIFIED AS CHARLES SOLLOCK, 42, CECIL GRAY, 43, AND STEVEN SOLLOCK, 38. CHIEF COOPER SAID THE FORKLIFT WAS NO LONGER IN WORKING CONDITION, AND WAS LIKELY TO BE SOLD FOR SCRAP. HE SAID THE THIEVES HAD A FLATBED TRAILER WITH THEM, AND IT LOOKED AS IF SOME PLANNING HAD GONE INTO THE ATTEMPTED THEFT. ALL THREE WERE CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED THEFT, A MISDEMEANOR.

HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATION

03/19/2010

NEXT WEEK, LIBERTY COUNTY CITIZENS WILL HAVE FOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS TO REHABILITATE OR REBUILD HOMES DAMAGED BY HURRICANE IKE IN 2008. THE MONEY FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IS INTENDED TO HELP LOW OR MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES WHO OWNED AND OCCUPIED THEIR STORM DAMAGED HOMES IN LIBERTY COUNTY ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 13^TH, 2008. THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK FROM 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. AT THE LIBERTY COUNTY COURTHOUSE ANNEX IN LIBERTY ON COS AT FANNIN AND NEXT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AT THE OFFICES OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED IN CLEVELAND. THE CLEVELAND HOURS ARE 9 A.M. TO NOON AND THEN FROM 1 TO 5 P.M. BOTH DAYS. TO QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE A LIBERTY COUNTY CITIZEN MUST OWN THE STORM DAMAGED HOME AND FALL BELOW THE HUD HOUSING FAMILY SIZE INCOME LIMITS. APPLICANTS MUST ALSO BE CURRENT ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES OR HAVE A DELINQUENT TAX PAYMENT PLAN IN PLACE. HOMEOWNERS SHOULD BRING WITH THEM PROOF OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, A PHOTO I.D., VERIFICATION OF THEIR INCOME AND A UTILITY BILL FOR THE DAMAGED RESIDENCE DATED ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 13^TH, 2008. PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE TO THE HOME ARE ALSO NEEDED. APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON LINE AT THE LIBERTY COUNTY WEB SITE. LINK THERE FROM KSHN.COM AND CLICK ON THE "CDBG HOUSING ASSISTANCE" TAB. AGAIN, THE FOUR PUBLIC IN PERSON SIGN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE IKE DAMAGE IS THIS COMING WEEK. THE FIRST TWO AT THE COURTHOUSE ANNEX ON COS AT FANNIN STREET IN LIBERTY WILL BE MONDAY AND TUESDAY MARCH 22^ND AND 23^RD 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. THERE WILL BE TWO MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO APPLY FOR THE DISASTER ASSISTANCE GRANT FUNDS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY MARCH 25^TH AND 26^TH AT THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INC., 207 SOUTH BONHAM STREET IN CLEVELAND THAT’S FROM 9 A.M. TO NOON, AND ALSO FROM 1 TO 5 P.M. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON APPLYING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS TO HELP REBUILD HOMES DAMAGED BY HURRICANE IKE, CONTACT RICK VALDEZ OR MARIA REYES AT 281-592-0439.

BBB COMPLAINTS ON THE RISE

LOCAL NEWS

03/19/2010

THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU HAS RELEASED THEIR ANNUAL REPORT OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND THE NUMBER OF THOSE COMPLAINTS ROSE BY ALMOST 10% NATIONWIDE IN 2009. ACCORDING TO DEBBIE BRIDGEMAN OF THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS CHAPTER OF THE BBB, THE REPORT SHOWS THE NON-PROFIT CONSUMER ORGANIZATION NOT ONLY RECEIVED ALMOST 1 MILLION COMPLAINTS FROM DISGRUNTLED CUSTOMERS BUT CONSUMERS ALSO CONSULTED THE BBB MORE THAN 65 MILLION TIMES FOR HELP RESEARCHING BUSINESSES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. INTERESTINGLY, THE CELL PHONE INDUSTRY GOT THE LARGEST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS LAST YEAR WITH 37, 477- AN INCREASE OF 2.1% OVER 2008. COMING IN SECOND IN NUMBER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS IS THE CABLE AND SATELLITE TELEVISION INDUSTRY WITH 32, 616 FOR VARIOUS COMPANIES. THAT’S UP 8.7% IN 2009. ROUNDING OUT THE TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES WHOSE DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS COMPLAINED TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IS THE BANKING INDUSTRY AT NUMBER THREE, NEW CAR DEALERS- NUMBER FOUR AND ROOFING CONTRACTORS AT NUMBER FIVE. THE BBB’S DEBBIE BRIDGEMAN REMINDS CONSUMERS THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU’S RELIABILITY REPORTS ON BUSINESSES’ ARE AVAILABLE ON LINE AT WWW.BBB.ORG. YOU CAN ALSO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF A PARTICULAR BUSINESS BY CALLING 409-835-5348.

DAYTON MOVIE GALLERY CLOSING

03/19/2010

AFTER FIVE YEARS OF OPERATION THE MOVIE GALLERY VIDEO RENTAL STORE ON HWY 90 IN DAYTON IS CLOSING. EMPLOYEES WE TALKED WITH AT THE DAYTON VIDEO STORE SAID THEY HAD NOT BEEN TOLD, BUT INFORMATION FROM THE MOVIE GALLERY WEB SITE INDICATES IT IS PART OF THE COMPANY’S RESTRUCTURING AFTER FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY EARLIER THIS MONTH. PART OF THAT REORGANIZATION IS THE CLOSURE OF 760 MOVIE GALLERY, HOLLYWOOD VIDEO AND CRAZY GAME STORES NATIONWIDE. CITING INCREASED COMPETITION BY THE ON LINE VIDEO RENTAL SERVICES SUCH AS NETFLIX PLUS ON-DEMAND SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE FROM CABLE AND SATELLITE COMPANIES, MOVIE GALLERY –BASED IN PORTLAND, OREGON, IS CLOSING THE DAYTON VIDEO STORE AS PART OF THEIR COST CUTTING MEASURE. WE ARE TOLD THAT BANKRUPTCY RESTRUCTURING IS NOT EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE LIBERTY STORE. THE LIBERTY MOVIE GALLERY IN THE JEFFERSON SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER WILL REMAIN OPEN. AGAIN, THE DAYTON MOVIE GALLERY MOVIE AND GAME VIDEO RENTAL STORE IS CLOSING. EMPLOYEES SAY THEY WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR REGULAR HOURS UNTIL THEIR CURRENT STOCK IS SOLD OFF, AT REDUCED STORE CLOSING PRICES.