Before You Dig, Know How Public and Private Utilities Differ We often remind you to call 811 before you dig to have underground utilities located, such as electric, water, gas, communications, and sewer lines. These are all public utilities and are responsible for maintaining their underground facilities. Part of that responsibility includes registering with 811 so their lines may be located for free. A private utility, however, is owned and maintained by the property owner and is not registered with 811. It’s the responsibility of the homeowner to have their private utilities located at their own expense. Common examples of private utilities include: • Sprinkler or irrigation systems • Electric running to a detached garage or shop • Lines connected to a propane tank or septic system • Gas lines underground for grills and outdoor fire pits • Electric dog fence If you have private utilities on your property, you must contact a private utility locating company to have those lines marked. This is in addition to calling 811 to have public utilities located. Cornerstone Group © 2025 Venture Commun i cat ions • 605-852-2224 • www. venturecomm.net According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), telemarketing scams bilk thousands of people each year. Some lose just a few dollars; others lose their entire life savings. While everyone’s a potential target, scammers often target older people because they may live alone, have a nest egg, or tend to be more polite and trusting. Scammers will say virtually anything to cheat people out of their money. They may sound very friendly—calling you by your first name, making small talk, and asking about your family. They may say you’ve won money or a fantastic prize. They may even claim to work for a company you trust, or send you mailings to convince you to call them about an offer. Here are a few examples of common telemarketing scams used to “hook” people: • Travel packages. “Free” or “low cost” vacations can end up costing a bundle in hidden costs. Some of these vacations never take place, even after you’ve paid. • Sham or exaggerated business and investment opportunities. Scammers rely on the fact that business and investing can be complicated and that most people don’t research the investment. • Charitable causes. Urgent requests for recent disaster relief efforts are especially common on the phone. • Extended car warranties. Scammers find out what kind of car you drive and when you bought it so they can urge you to buy overpriced—or worthless—plans. Remember, if you get a call from someone you don’t know who is trying to sell you something you hadn’t planned to buy, say "No, thanks." If they pressure you about giving up personal information—like your credit card or Social Security number—you can be certain it’s a scam. Hang up immediately and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission. Call 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit ftc.gov/complaint. You can reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive by being on the National Do Not Call Registry. Visit www.donotcall.gov for details. How to Protect Yourself From Common Telemarketing Scams
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