Great Sites to Check Out

Sites of the Month

Great Sites to Check Out

(from Partner Communication's monthly newsletter

Restaurant Copycat Recipes
food.com–Craving some of your usual restaurant picks but don't want to go out to get them? This site features user-submitted recipes for many classic favorites. Brew up some Dunkin' Donuts Iced Coffee, prepare Red Lobster Shrimp Scampi, or create Denny's-style French Toast. Complete with directions, reviews, and nutrition information.

Clever Ideas For Repurposed Storage
bobvila.com–From lunchbox-turned-electronics-organizer to dish rack-turned-file-holder, this slideshow gives you 25 great suggestions for using old storage items in new ways. Looking for a way to round up art supplies? Look no further than an unused cake tray. Want a unique wall shelf? Try an old suitcase.

Simply Recipes
simplyrecipes.com–This friendly site offers recipes from blogger Elise Bauer and her family. While each post tells a story, you can also search for information — as you would on other food sites — by the types of food you want to make. Featured sections include chicken, fish, gluten-free, vegetarian, and budget.
Mental Floss
mentalfloss.com–Many fun facts on a wide variety of topics can be found at the Mental Floss magazine site. Learn about science, economics, and show business, just to name a few. Check out the Job Secrets section to learn everything you ever wanted to know about bartenders, TSA agents, and more.

Scrumptious Sweets
bakerella.com–Get ready to wow your friends and family with the bakery-quality recipes on this site. Start with Cinnamon Rolls or Double Chocolate Pancakes for breakfast and work your way up to scrumptious brownies, cheesecakes, and cookies. Oh, and how about some tarts, pies, or ice cream creations for dessert?

Tons of Fun Facts
zidbits.com–Finally, the answers to all of life's pesky questions, like, "Can your hair turn white from fright?" Learn fun facts in the areas of science, health, history, entertainment, and others. Check out the Top Ten section to learn about the Top 10 Biggest Things in the Universe and much more.

Make These Resolutions About Your Computer
Partner Communications encourages you to remember Internet security when you set goals for 2016. Add these important resolutions to your list:

• I will not respond to any email from anyone asking for my username and password no matter how important they make it sound.
• I will change the username and password for my wireless router to something different than the defaults it came with to keep the guy parked out in the street off my Internet connection.
• I will not use the same username and password for every Internet account I have.
• I will create strong passwords and change them regularly.
• I will keep my antivirus software updated and keep current with critical Windows Updates through my computer's automatic updates or by visiting update.microsoft.com.

Scam Alert – Mystery Shopper Scams

Believe it or not, getting paid to shop is a legitimate way to make money. "Mystery shopping" involves going under cover as a typical consumer to help stores learn more about their customers' experiences. Mystery shoppers are usually reimbursed for their purchases, and often given a small payment. There is even a company called Secret Shopper that facilitates this service for businesses.
The problem comes in when scammers pretend to be a legitimate provider of secret shoppers to take advantage of people who want to pursue this line of work. They use email and newspaper ads to lure victims, then give them an initial "assignment" of checking out a money wiring service. They send a check, which the "shopper" is instructed to deposit into a bank account, then wire part of it back. Of course, the check is bad so the victim is left in the position of having to pay the bank for the missing funds.
If you're interested in becoming a mystery shopper, follow these suggestions to avoid this scam:

• Legitimate mystery shopper requests appear online for free so don't respond to newspaper want ads or emails promoting these positions.
• Never pay a fee or wire money to an unknown source.
• Mystery shopping doesn't require certification so don't be fooled into paying for it.

There are resources available if you do become a victim: Contact your local police department, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state's Attorney General.

Water/Sewer bills are due by the 15th of the month. A 10% penalty is added after that date. Did you know you can sign up to have your Melbourne utility payment deducted from your checking or savings account at MidWestOne Bank automatically each month? It is a great way to simplify your life and to avoid late payments and late charges.

The City of Melbourne does not accept Debit or Credit cards, but please consider using your banks’ bill pay option. Most banks offer this service at no charge to the customer. You will need to check with your personal bank to get their policy.

One word of caution if you use this option - you will want payment to come out of your account no later than the 10th of the month. Even though most of us bank “locally”, the payments generally come from out of state such as California, North Carolina, Texas, etc. You will need to allow extra time for the payment to arrive through the mail. Unfortunately, if it comes in late, there will be a “late fee” already assessed. By having it sent BY the 10th, you should avoid it arriving after the due date.

Dogs must be on a leash if they are off your property and be sure you clean up after your pet.As you walk around town, please be respectful of the private property you are near. Don’t litter or trespass, and be sure to pick up any mess your pet makes.

Remember to keep your grass/weeds mowed. The City adopted a mowing ordinance in 2010 which sets height limits and mowing time frames as well as fines. (Copies of ordinances can be seen at City Hall or the library.)As you mow, be sure NOT to blow your grass in the street, it can clog the storm sewers.

If you have a digging project, be sure to call Iowa One Call at 1-800-292-8989 before you dig. They will notify the utilities to mark all lines. Stay safe when you dig. Or you can call 811.

Contact the city clerk’s office to find out about building permit requirements. Building permits are not required for roofing and siding projects. If you have a building project, check with the city clerk’s office to see if a building permit is required and if there are any regulations you have to be sure to follow. Projects needing a permit that are started before a permit is issued may have the fees doubled

If you will be moving, contact the city clerk’s office before your final date. We need to know your forwarding address and when you will be moving.

Any golf cart driven on a city street, must be registered with the City of Melbourne. Stop at the city clerk’s office for registration information or to fill out a registration application.

Motorized vehicles may not be driven on the grounds at city parks. This includes go-carts, snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, cars, etc. Please call the Marshall County non-emergency number 641-754-5725 to report a violation.

If you notice a street light not working properly, let the City or the utility company know. You may call Alliant Energy at 1-800-255-4268 or the city clerk’s office at 641-482-3338.

The City of Melbourne has a place at the lagoon where you are allowed to take yard waste for disposal. However, leaves, grass trimmings, branches from trees and bushes are all that is allowed. Do not take stumps and large tree limbs. No lumber or wooden furniture, no garbage and no garbage bags full of leaves. You must dump the leaves out and take the bags home to dispose of.

You must come to City Hall to sign for the key to the lagoon. Lagoon is not left unlocked.

“So remember, if you didn’t grow it, don’t throw it!”

It’s That Time of Year

All around the state, homeowners and professionals have begun routine projects and new endeavors that will necessarily entail digging, planting, landscaping, driveway/sidewalk repairs, fence installations, stump removal and even simple things like pounding posts and stakes into the ground. All of those things – and more – require prior notification to the Iowa One Call system.

State law requires that Iowa One Call be notified at least 48-hours prior to beginning any projects that will entail digging, excavation work (or disturbing the soil) – this excludes Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Thatdoesn’tjust affect contractors and professional excavators; the same law applies to homeowners, farmers and…well, anyone who is planning to engage in excavation work. Check this out; here’s what Iowa law defines as an excavation:

“Excavation” means an operation in which a structure or earth, rock, or other material in or on the ground is moved, removed, or compressed, or otherwise displaced by means of any tools, equipment, or explosives and includes, but is not limited to, grading, trenching, tiling, digging, ditching, drilling, auguring, tunneling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing, driving, and demolition of structures. “Excavation” does not include normal farming operations, residential, commercial, or similar gardening, the opening of a grave site in a cemetery, normal activities involved in land surveying pursuant to chapter 542B, operations in a solid waste disposal site which has planned for underground facilities, the replacement of an existing traffic sign at its current location and at no more than its current depth, and normal road or highway maintenance which does not change the original grade of the roadway or the ditch.

Wow! That’s a mouthful. You get the idea though. Everyone needs to notify Iowa One Call prior to doing any activities that might impact our essential underground facilities infrastructure. There are a few exemptions, such as “normal” residential gardening. You can find out more by visiting or by calling 1-800-292-8989 or 811. Call before you dig!

The whole point – the absolute main thing here – is to protect and safeguard all Iowans – your communities, your families…your children. We all need to do our part and you can help by spreading the word.

Thanks…And dig safe

The state of Iowa officially recognizes the month of April as National Safe Digging Month. On April 11, Governor Terry Branstad will sign a proclamation officially recognizing the month of April as National Safe Digging Month and Safe Digging Month in Iowa. Safe digging needs to happen year-round, not just in April. Please help us spread the word about safety awareness and underground facility damage prevention. Oh, and Happy Safety Digging Month!

Outdoor Warning System

When it comes to severe weather, outdoor waning systems (sometimes known as sirens) have one purpose and one purpose only - to alert people who are outdoors that something dangerous is happening and they should go inside. Depending on local policy, sirens may be sounded for a variety of life-threatening hazards, but always with the intent that people outdoors should seek shelter. Outdoor sirens have never been, nor ever will be, designed to be heard indoors. Thus, it is crucial that you do not rely on sirens as your primary means of receiving severe weather warnings.

Across Iowa, local siren activation policies vary widely with city or county governments usually in charge of sounding the sirens. The National Weather Service does not have the authority or ability to activate siren systems, but the NWS works closely with communities with severe weather warning systems, including storm sirens.

For severe weather, most communities sound sirens any time a tornado warning is in effect for their area. Other communities have stricter policies and only activate the outdoor warning system for actual tornado sightings, while a few communities activate sirens for both severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. The NWS encourages communities to activate outdoor warning sirens for high-end severe thunderstorms (wind speeds above 75mph and/or hail with a diameter of two inches or greater). To find out your community's siren policy, check with the local emergency management agency.

Cellular Phone and Mobile DevicesPeople can receive cell phone notifications for NWS warnings via either text messaging services or smartphone applications (apps). Services vary depending on the carrier and phone models. Providers typically charge a small fee to send emergency alert notifications, including severe weather warnings, via text message. Smartphone warning apps are either free or cost a few dollars, and can be configured to only alert for certain locations. Since most people carry a cell phone or other mobile device, receiving severe weather warnings via this method is an excellent way to keep informed. However, remember that it may take a few minutes to receive the warning depending on network coverage and which app is used.

A new service called Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) allows the National Weather Service and other government agencies to send alerts of current life-threatening situations to cell phones in an affected region. A WEA will appear like a text message on your phone and only convey the most basic information, such as: the threat, how long the threat should last, and who issued the alert. WEAs are meant to alert you that there is a threat in your area and you should take shelter and seek more information. The only NWS warnings that will be sent via WEA are: tornado, flash flood, extreme wind, dust storm, hurricane, ice storm, and blizzard warnings. Other messages such as amber alerts and presidential alerts are also sent out as a WEA. All smartphones manufactured after June of 2012 will be able to receive WEAs, and many older smartphones will be updated to receive these messages. Many new non-smartphone cell phones are also capable of receiving WEAs. Please check with your cellular provider to see if your phone is compatible. If you live, work, travel through or want information on Marshall County please use the link below to sign up. There are other counties in Iowa that have sign ups also. You will need to sign up for each county you want individually. To find those other counties go to Iowa Homeland Security's website and click on the Alert Iowa icon, it will take you to the map of Iowa and then you can click on the county you want to sign up with.

NOAA Weather Radio

Known as the "Voice of the National Weather Service," NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio (NWR) is provided as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Nationwide, NWR includes more than 1,000 transmitters in all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the public service band at these seven frequencies:

162.400 MHz (Ch. 1) / 162.425 MHz (Ch. 2) / 162.450 MHz (Ch. 3)
162.475 MHz (Ch. 4) / 162.500 MHz (Ch. 5) / 162.525 MHz (Ch. 6)
162.550 MHz (Ch. 7)

Modern NWR receivers are often SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) capable, meaning they can be configured to only alert for specific areas (usually counties in the Midwest) and specific threats by programming them via a small keypad on the receiver. In this manner, you won't be awakened at 3 a.m. for a warning which is not of interest to you.

All Iowans should benefit from NWR since an NWR transmitter is likely within range. It is a great way to get a warning in remote locations or the middle of the night when you may be asleep.

NOAA Weather Radio is one of the best indoor warning systems available. Unfortunately, studies have shown that only 5-10 percent of the population owns a weather radio (Wolf, 2009).

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE DES MOINES, IA

You can survive a tornado! Even in the heart of tornado alley, chances are you will never experience a direct hit by a tornado. However, being prepared is critical. By following these simple guidelines, you can protect yourself and your family from nature's most violent storm.

The most important things to remember are:

Get in, Get Down, and Cover Up!

• GET IN - If you are outside, get inside. If you are already inside, get as far into the middle of the building as possible.
• GET DOWN - Get underground. If there is no basement or cellar available, go to the lowest floor possible.
• COVER UP - Flying and falling debris are a storm's number one killer. Use pillows, blankets, coats, helmets, etc. to cover up and protect your head and body from flying debris.

The three groups of people most at risk during a tornado are those who are outdoors, in mobile/manufactured homes, and on the road in vehicles.