There have been several incidents of Clarksville businesses and individuals receiving counterfeit currency. The holiday season offers individuals trying to pass counterfeit money more opportunities due to the sheer volume of money changing hands. We offer the following hints to reduce your chances of being a victim of counterfeiters:
HOW TO DETECT COUNTERFEIT MONEY
(Extracts from “Know Your Money” published for the Department of Treasury and the United States Secret Service) You can help guard against the threat from counterfeiters by becoming more familiar with United States money. Look at the money you receive. Compare a suspect note with a genuine note of the same denomination and series, paying attention to the quality of printing and paper characteristics. Look for differences, not similarities.
PORTRAIT - The genuine portrait appears lifelike and stands out distinctly from the fine screen-like background. The counterfeit portrait is usually lifeless and flat. Details merge into the background which is often too dark or mottled.
FEDERAL RESERVE AND TREASURY SEALS - On a genuine bill, the sawtooth points of the Federal Reserve and Treasury seals are clear, distinct, and sharp. The counterfeit seals may have uneven, blunt, or broken sawtooth points.
SERIAL NUMBERS - Genuine serial numbers have a distinctive style and are evenly spaced. They are printed in the same ink color as the Treasury seal. On a counterfeit, the serial numbers may differ in color or shade of ink from the Treasury seal. The numbers may not be uniformly spaced or aligned.
BORDER - The fine lines in the border of a genuine bill are clear and unbroken. On the counterfeit, the lines in the outer margin and scrollwork may be blurred and indistinct.
PAPER - Genuine paper contains no watermarks. It has tiny red and blue fibers embedded throughout. Often counterfeiters try to simulate these fibers by printing tiny red and blue lines on their paper. Close inspection reveals, however, that on the counterfeit note the lines are printed on the surface, not embedded in the paper. It is illegal to reproduce the distinctive paper used in the manufacturing of United States currency. Some people believe that a bill must be counterfeit if the ink rubs off. This is not true. Genuine currency,when rubbed on paper, can leave ink smears.
RAISED NOTES - Genuine paper currency is sometimes altered in an attempt to increase its face value. One common method is to glue numerals from high denomination bills to the corners of a note of lower denomination.
These bills are also considered counterfeit. If you suspect you are in possession of a raised note:
Compare the denomination numerals on each corner with the denomination written out at bottom of the note (front and back) and through the Treasury seal.
Compare the suspect note to a genuine note of the same denomination and series year.
If you receive a counterfeit:
1. Do not return it to the passer.
2. Delay the passer, if possible.
3. Observe the passer''s description, as well as that of any companions, and the license numbers of any vehicle used.
4. Telephone your local police department or the United States Secret Service. These numbers can be found on the inside front page of your local telephone directory.
5. Write your initials and the date on a blank portion of the suspect note.
6. Do not handle the note. Carefully place it in a protective covering, such as an envelope.
Surrender the note to a properly identified police officer or U.S. Secret Service agent.
Posted on 14 Nov 2008
Thanksgiving Baskets
We are beginning to collect food and donations for
its Fourth Annual Thanksgiving Dinner
Collection. This year’s goal will be to collect food
for 45 families and in previous years, with your
assistance, the goal is always exceeded. Your
donation of $70 will help support a family of
6, the dinner will include a turkey, stuffing,
potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, macaroni and
cheese, rice, beans, rolls, milk,eggs, and a pumpkin
pie. We would appreciate your support in the form of
a gift card,non-perishable canned goods, turkeys,
etc. Please contact any of the numbers above and we
will pick-up at any location in Clarksville. Thank
you for all your support and for granting these
families a memorable Thanksgiving with your
generosity. The last day we may receive donations is
November 24th, so that we may deliver on November
25th and 26th.
Sincerely,
H.O.P.E.
Phone (931) 980-6316 Phone (931) 249-5330
Posted on 29 Oct 2008
Juana Villegas Update
Thank you for helping spread word throughout the community about what happened to Juana Villegas. Because you and many others made their voices heard, Sheriff Hall has agreed to revise his department's policy regarding pregnant inmates and those who go into labor. Here is the article from today's Tennessean. http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/NEWS03/808270472/-1/RSS05
This is a wonderful victory to celebrate. It addresses one of the four issues raised in our petition. But now we must step up our efforts to address the petition's three remaining items - (1) no more incarceration and separation of families for failure to have a driver's license; (2) greater accountability for magistrates who should release those, like Juana, who are unnecessarily arrested; and (3) public statements from community leaders that what happened to Juana will not happen again.
We have 400 on-line and print signatures on the petition, but we need twice as many to make a strong statement to the sheriff. If you haven't already done so, please forward the link to the petition to at least 3 or 4 friends, family, and co-workers and encourage them to sign. http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-for-juana-villegas.html When we gather enough signatures, we intend to join together in person to present the sheriff with our requests.
Warm regards,
David Esquivel
Posted on 31 Aug 2008
Juana Villegas Advocacy - Update
Thanks to everyone who was there to support Juana Villegas and her attorney, Elliott Ozment, last Friday at her court hearing in Berry Hill. According to one press account, 75 people were there to demonstrate their support. For those unable to attend, the judge dismissed the careless driving charge, which was the so-called crime that set into motion Juana's arrest, detention, shackled labor, and separation from her husband and newborn.
Also, thanks to those of you who have already sent me signed copies of our petition. Several have asked whether it can be made available on line, so we have done that. Follow the following link, http://www.gopetition.com/online/21303.html, and forward it on to your friends, to continue adding to the signatures. We will keep you updated on the number of signatures on the petition, as well as our plans to present the petition
Finally, please remember to e-mail Miranda Christy [miranda.christy@stites.com] if you have friends who would like to receive these updates about efforts on Juana's behalf.
Warm regards,
David Esquivel
Posted on 19 Aug 2008
The Killing of Juan and Thomas Vasquez
By: Pat Trevino
I’m angry! No, I’m not just angry, I’m furious!
Why is it that we aren’t seeing or hearing anything about what is going on with the murder trial of Juan and Thomas Vasquez?
Juan Vasquez was a civic rights activist and founder of H.O.P.E. (Hispanic Organization for Progress and Education).He was a leader for the Hispanic people and an advocate for civil rights.His organization, H.O.P.E. was in its infancy and still is, but it was his message of education that resonated optimism for the Hispanic people.It was his message of Hispanic unity that reinforced the harmony of our Spanish heritage.This message allowed us to overcome the differences that we as a Hispanic people have with other Hispanic groups.He brought us all together: Puerto Ricans, Columbians, Mexicans, Cubans, Panamanians, Guatemalans, Dominicans and all who share a Spanish heritage
For the first time ever, the Hispanic people of Tennessee had someone that was rousing the “Sleeping Giant”.The “Sleeping Giant” who for decades now had been talked about with caution because of our potential voting power. Juan’s work with the Hispanic community allowed us the opportunity to show our strength and move toward a plan for a better future for our people who for the most part were being ignored.We were ignored not because we weren’t around but because we lacked leadership.Juan was a leader and he understood our differences and he managed to unite us so that we could bring about progress and education for our people.
So I ask you why? Why is it that we haven’t heard much about the murder trial and about the individual they have in custody?Has the City of Clarksville forgotten that Juan was someone who was very important to us?As a leader to the Hispanic people the media should be digging up answers and providing us with information.
The Clarksville District Attorney and the Clarksville Police department should create a website with information about these murders.This is how they treat one of our respected leaders!I believe that more could be done to appease our need for justice.A small paragraph here and there just isn’t cutting it!I want to know more!
Juan Julian Vasquez and his son Thomas deserve justice and we deserve answers.We have remained silent for far too long and our complacency has gotten us nowhere.
Provide us with answers we want to know that Juan and Thomas are not forgotten.We want to know everything about this case.We want to know about the person they have in custody.Why no one else was ever considered as a suspect? I want to know about the suspect.Who are his parents? Where is he from? Where did he work?Where did he go to school? Was he associated with organized crime?Did he act alone? I want to know who goes to visit him in jail. Did he sign a full confession? I want to know why police didn’t follow any other leads. I want to see coverage in The Leaf Chronicle; I want to see it in our local and area news.
The worst thing that could be done to Juan and Thomas Vasquez has already been done, but being ignored is like being forgotten. Don't allow this to happen. It is time that we demand answers!
Posted on 24 Jul 2008
English Classes
Who: HOPE sponsored
What: English Classes for the Spanish speaker (beginning level)
