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- FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2006 6A Gift cards require research to get most for your money fly SHARON OMAHEN University of Georgia Gift cards have become popular options for the holiday season and other gift-giving times. But a University of Georgia finan cial expert warns gift card givers to read the fine print before buying and giving gift cards. “Different cards come with different terms and conditions related to fees, expiration dates, where you can use the cards and what happens if cards are lost or stolen,” said Michael Rupured, a UGA Cooperative Extension financial specialist. “Gift cards are definitely not all created equally. There can be some big differences from one card to another.” Less than your mon ey’s worth Some gift cards actually cost more money than what they’re worth, he said. For example, a SSO gift card can cost $55. “So you’ve lost $5 from the purchase fee right off the bat with this type of gift card,” he said. “Typically, these are the gift cards that can be used at multiple locations.” Gift cards purchased directly from a retailer are usually offered at face value, he said. But they may have SEPTAGE From page iA matter of time before they shut down again.” Stalnaker noted some of the local companies that pump out septic tanks are going out of business because they have nowhere to dump the septage. Perry Mayor Jim Worrall said he has heard of some fly-by-night septage haulers dumping their loads in fields in south Houston County or in city sewer lines by open ing manhole covers. The cities providing more sewerage and sewer service is not a solution, as people don’t want to be annexed or to get rid of their septic tank, Walker said. He cited as an example HOME From page lA have to learn flexibility and be prepared to do things that need to be done. I have brothers and sisters, I am not better than they are. I just accepted a life style that works for me.” Stephanie McClesky joined the service right out of high school. Now a technical sergeant - both work law enforcement and are assigned to Robins Air Force Base - she said it PLASTIC From page lA $799.99, $19.45 for those between SBOO and $899.99 and is $21.60 for those between S9OO and $999.99. The city council also approved another SIO,OOO for the demolition of the Stokes building at 1100 Watson Blvd., at the corner of Commercial Circle as lay ers of floor tiles and con crete were found beneath the asphalt. “The layer of asbestos tile had to be abat ed,” Mayor Donald Walker explained. The council also amended an annual contract with the Silvex Company for sewer solvent from SB6 to S9B a pail because of the increase in raw materials to make the product. Councilman John Havrilla questioned the amendment to an annual contract. “Can’t we enforce the contract?” Kim Demoonie, city pur- JAIL From page lA each time. Before being picked up different charges associated with them. The card recipient can be charged for not using their gift card, too. Fees, fees, fees “Some companies deduct a nonusage fee starting about six months after the date the gift card was purchased,” Rupured said. “This is a concern, because many people set gift cards aside and forget about them. And this fee will continue to be subtracted from the card until its value is depleted.” Per-use transaction fees are another possible draw back to using gift cards, he said. This fee is deducted from the gift card if the entire amount isn’t used in one transaction. Rupured said the face value of some gift cards can even be reduced by a fee that’s charged when you call to check the card’s balance. “All of these fees and terms should be disclosed, perhaps on the card itself,” he said. “But more often, the fees are explained in a separate document, on a Web site or from a toll-free number.” Just like cash in many ways Gift cards work just like cash. When you make a transaction, that amount is deducted from the amount a Moody Road homeowner having septic problems. “I told him we could run sewer out there but he’d have to be annexed into the city. He said no he didn’t want to be annexed.” “The tanks we have in the county,” Stalnaker added, “are most likely not coming out of the ground. It is very difficult to get rid of them.” The county is not in the sewage business, Sanders said. “A county-wide sew age system is economically astronomical,” he said. “It’s not economically feasible.” State Representative Larry O’Neal said a “pos sible fix is a DCA grant.” Mayor Walker said the city has done some of that with the grants from the Department of Community is about giving your all. “Running (a) family, home (and) careers is not about what you get to do when you want to. It is about giv ing 100 percent all the time, not just the wife but the husband too. If I get sick his portion is kicked up to 267 percent. We have an attitude that is different than most. We just believe in each other and being there. “ As far as being apart over Christmas, Christopher, a staff sergeant, said the time has come for the family to find traditions of its own. chasing analyst coordinator said the increased cost “is cheaper than what we could get from any other vender. He’s selling it to us at a loss now.” The product is also the only one that been working for the city, Demoonie said. Also among the 13 bids council approved was a bid from Critter Fixer of Bonaire to perform spay/ neuter procedures on cats and dogs adopted at the city animal shelter at SSB/$35 for cats and S6B/$55 for dogs plus $9 for rabies vac cinations. Critter Fixer will also do all Warner Robins Animal Control exams for free including housing of animals and writing up cru elty cases, consulting with officers on cases and serving as witness in court for the cruelty cases. The council also appointed Gary Lee to the Planning and Zoning Commission to fill the unexpired term of Leon Grigsby. Lee, owner this time, Jackson was con sidered an absconder from probation and the state sex offender registry, as well as the sheriff’s office. His last known address on on the card. And, just like cash, if you lose a gift card, the person who finds it can pick it up and use it. For safety sake, Rupured says, write the gift card’s unique number on your receipt. Then attach the receipt to the gift card. “They already know how much you’ve paid, and now they’ll have the information they need to replace it if it’s lost,” he said. “And they have the detailed informa tion on any possible fees, too.” As long as you pay atten tion to the terms, he said, gift cards can be useful. “A lot of retailers don’t charge any fees for using their gift cards,” he said. “And if you have family or friends in different cities, you can buy a gift card from a major retailer. Just check with them to make sure they have the same retailer near by.” Gift card tips To make sure the $25 you spend on a gift card is actu ally a $25 gift, then, (1) be sure you understand the terms, (2) keep the receipt and write down the card number in case it’s lost or stolen, and (3) give the receipt with the gift card so the recipient will know how to use it to get its full value. Affairs “to offset some in Bonaire to install sewerage,” on property owners request ed for annexation. O’Neal also proposed increased costs. “Maybe double the cost of a load to amortize bonds to offset the costs,” O’Neal said, for addi tional treatment. “The cities need an incentive to handle septage.” In a related matter, Stalnaker also raised con cerned about a movement in the EPD to shift addi tional responsibility to local authorities for permitting. The county has agree ments with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission as local issu ing authority to issue land disturbance permits for sites over an acre, which requires the developer to comply with “I come from a large fam ily,” he said. “My father’s family was even larger. My wife Stephanie, Calloway, Madsion and I make the complete family.” Teamwork is the key to success they both add. “It is not hard to figure out,” Christopher said. “If she cooks I do the dishes. Children’s bath time or read ing time is a group effort. Saturday is our traditional family time. The children are young but they have no doubt that we are all here as a family.” of Lifetime Developers, is a former football standout at Warner Robins High and Georgia Tech who played for the Detroit Lions. He has moved his busi ness from Atlanta to Warner Robins to return home. “My family has been her since it was York,” Lee said. City Council also approved a SIOO Christmas bonus for city employees. Havrilla voted against the bonus, explaining he had no notice of the proposal and said “in my view it would be bet ter to appropriate salary. A bonus is a private sector, not a public sector reward.” He said the bonus “con veys a level of capriciousness not appropriate to the public sector. I vote against it.” He was the only one. The other council members pres ent - Dean Cowart, Clifford Holmes, Terry Horton and Doug McDowell - and the mayor approved the bonus. Councilman Steve Smith was not at the meeting. Angela Avefiue in Warner Robins was last verified on Oct. 12. He is currently being held without bond at the Houston County Detention Center. LOCAL jKji 1 f 11 jf ip / '-v . - ' 1 11 * ■ • • ' •9 ' ■ Mid South places third in annual Christmas parade Special to the Journal Mid South Federal Credit Union joined its fellow Georgians in celebrat ing Christmas in Macon Dec. 11. As a participant in this year’s 44th Annual Macon Jaycee’s sponsored Christmas parade, Mid South Federal Credit Union took to the streets of downtown atop a festive Christmas float, which received third place in the Commercial Float cat egory. Approximately 40 par ticipants from Mid South’s Macon locations took part to the county regulations. He said the EPD wants the local issuing authorities to adopt the state’s general permit as the local regula tions. Stalnaker had several questions, including: Would the county also have addi tional responsibility and liability and what is the state doing with the S4O per land disturbance permit the county sends now? “If all the state is doing is filling the paperwork and the county is handling administration and enforces, why should the state get any money at all?” Stlanaker asked. He also noted that local participation is voluntary. What happens if all the counties decide to turn in their local issuing authority? The McClesky family comes from a long line of mil itary members. It has been important to Christopher while growing up to have events together with family. Stephanie recognizes that and plans to carry on that tradition. “Christopher’s family has the great tradition of all,” she said. “... the little kids having the same pajamas ... then they take photographs. It wouldn’t be for everyone, but it is just a special memo ry. When you are little these are important.” United Mrtfwdid &uach 11 Service Times, 4 P.M. and 6 P.M. 11 Communion, Open To All I Message by Rev. Jenny Jackson-Adams I _ Child Care Provided I i ru nf-Yrn-n r-i /~\rQ-J 11 ■ I t_iiil “ ■ * ii I j m| “ i i 1 ■ ii LJ I y ... ■ ii In* I ■ 1002 Carroll Street • Perry, GA 987-1 852 bring the float to life. “It’s a treat to see our members’ faces light up and say, ‘That’s my credit union!’ as we pass by on the float,” stated Mid South FCU Branch Manager Connie Ogletree, fashion ing a holiday red sweatshirt emblazoned with the mes sage Happy Holidays from Mid South Federal Credit Union. “Seeing our staff get in the spirit of giving dur ing this season makes par ticipating mean that much more.” Mid South Federal Credit “It would bring it to a halt, “he said. Stalnaker and Walker both raised concerns about more and more unfunded man dates being pushed on them. “To do this additional work we need additional resourc es,” Stalnaker said. “If there wasn’t so many Clearly, The Lighting Store is where to go for Christmas Lights. Clearly. ■KV* t * m -O ■Fft " r* m J /C 37/e Jlijfitinj St ere 3 926 Carroll St. • Perry, GA 31069 478-224-8888 T-F 9ani-spm SAT 10am-2pm HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL Union is the oldest locally owned financial institution in Macon, celebratingits 70th anniversary in 2006. With offices in Macon, Warner Robins and Milledgeville, Mid South FCU is a full ser vice financial institution whose services are available to anyone who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in 13 Middle Georgia com munities. Mid South Federal Credit Union also partici pated in the Warner Robins and Milledgeville Christmas parades held earlier this month. unfunded mandates,” Walker told the legisla tors, “my council wouldn’t be asking you for so much money.” State Senator Ross Tolleson assured the city and county officials he would “push dialogue with the EPD on this.” Head Taller Sarah Hill, from the Hartley Bridge Branch, holds up the third place trophy while riding on the float dur ing the parade. Contributed 40118 |41(»24