The Cass County Sheriff’s Office Thursday, issued helpful tips from the Social Security Administration on what to do if you are contacted by someone (a scammer) posing as Social Security personnel. If there is a problem, the Social Security Dept. will mail you a letter. They will not call you unless you have requested a call, or have ongoing business with the department. Officials say the latest scam trick of using robocalls or live callers has increased. Fraudsters pretend to be government employees and claim there is identity theft or another problem with one’s Social Security number, account, or benefits.

Scammers may threaten arrest or other legal action, or may offer to increase benefits, protect assets, or resolve identity theft. They often demand payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or mailing cash.

Social Security employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. Social Security may call you in some situations, but will never:

1. Threaten you.
2. Suspend your Social Security number.
3. Demand immediate payment from you.
4. Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, internet currency, or wire transfer.
5. Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash.

Don’t be fooled! You should be on the look out for:

• A caller saying there is a problem with your Social Security number or account.
• Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash.
• Scammers pretending they’re from Social Security or another government agency. Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official but they are not.

How to protect yourself and your family:

• If you receive a questionable call, hang up, and report the call to the Soc. Sec. Office of the Inspector General.
• Don’t return unknown calls.
• Ask someone you trust for advice before making any large purchase or financial decision.
• Don’t be embarrassed to report if you shared personal financial information or suffered a financial loss.

Learn more at oig.ssa.gov/scam. Share this information with friends and family. Learn more about fraud prevention and reporting at https://www.ssa.gov/antifraudfacts/.

The Audubon County Community Foundation has announced grants totaling $104,350 were awarded to Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects as part of its spring grant cycle. The following organizations were awarded grants by the Audubon County Community Foundation Advisory Board:

All grantees met the criteria as Audubon County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Audubon County were eligible to apply. The Audubon County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, which meets National Standards for Community Foundations, and is one of nine county members of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa. It receives funds annually from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county. Made possible through the County Endowment Fund Program, this cycle of grants was funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license.

Beyond the County Endowment Fund Program, the Audubon County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. To inquire about donating to the Audubon County Community Foundation, please contact the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa staff or any board member (**listed below). Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Audubon County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org.

**Board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are Chair, Genelle Deist of Audubon; Vice Chair, Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton; Secretary/Treasurer, Megan Wagner of Audubon; Gina Benton of Exira, Bob Blomme of Audubon; Steven B. Hansen of Audubon; and Donna Olson of Kimballton.

The Cass County Community Foundation has announced grants totaling $104,325 were awarded to Cass County nonprofit organizations and community projects as part of its spring grant cycle. The following organizations were awarded grants by the Cass County Community Foundation Advisory Board:

All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible to apply. The Cass County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, which meets National Standards for Community Foundations, and is one of nine county members of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa. It receives funds annually from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county.

Made possible through the County Endowment Fund Program, this cycle of grants was funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license.

Beyond the County Endowment Fund Program, the Cass County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. To inquire about donating to the Cass County Community Foundation, please contact the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa staff or any board member (**listed below). Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Cass County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org.

** Board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Chair, Kristi Burg of Massena; Vice Chair, Gary Maas of Anita; Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness, Esq. of Atlantic; Sandy Bierbaum of Griswold; Sue Hunt of Atlantic; and Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic.

An official with the Council Bluffs Fire Department reports firefighters were dispatched at around 11:40-a.m. Wednesday to a residential fire at 3237 Ave F.  Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Alex Ford says crews arrived to find an enclosed porch on the backside of the house fully involved with the fire spreading to a detached garage. The fire was declared under control approximately 40 minutes later.

Ford says two occupants home at the time of the blaze were able to escape safely, and no other injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

The Creston Police Department says a woman residing in the 900 block of S. Lincoln Street reported Tuesday night, that sometime between January 1, 2021 and March 30, 2021. someone entered her home and went through her personal items. Missing property included a TV, jewelry box, coins and some other items. The loss was estimated at $500.