Credit Card

Let Freedom ring Let the white dove sing Let the whole world know that today Is a Day of reckoning ?Gretchen Peters CNBC superstar Maria Bartiromo, Fox Business News host Dave Ramsey and myself have one thing in common. None of us have credit cards. When three people who know about money go to the extreme of not owning any credit cards, others might want to take note. Credit cards play the ultimate sucker game with consumers. They know everything about you. No matter how strong you are, they are going to keep trying to tempt you. Federal Reserve Study of Consumer Finances says that 60.3 percent of credit card holders have a card balance, it means that many people are living in fantasy land.

The following cases were resolved in Clark District Court Sept. 12 with Judge Brandy Oliver Brown presiding. - Pamela S. Canter, public intoxication, pleaded guilty, one day; possession of marijuana, pleaded guilty, fined; tampering with physical evidence, amended to attempt, dismissed. - Isaac Cornett, theft by failure to make required disposition of property, amended to misdemeanor, pleaded guilty, 180 days, restitution; contempt of court, dismissed. - Christy Cramer, theft by failure to make required disposition of property, amended to attempt, pleaded guilty, 180 days, 179 days conditionally discharged, restitution.

Identity theft can happen to anyone. Really. It even happened to Danville Assistant Police Chief Jay Newell. His wife's credit card number was randomly generated by foreign con artists, who then used the number to make online purchases. The con artists convinced someone in Ashland to accept the package. The Newells caught it quick and contacted their credit card company. Newell says that the best way to fight identity theft is to be vigilant. He said that everyone should check their credit report and keep a close watch on all their statements from the bank and other financial institutions.

The former Chamber of Commerce director is facing theft charges concerning more than $25,000 in questionable expenses on her chamber credit card. Charmagne Castle, 46, of 722 Terry Drive, was charged with theft by unlawful taking over $10,000 in a warrant obtained earlier this summer by Karen Bushart, chairwoman of the Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce. The warrant alleges that Castle accumulated $25,063.81 in personal expenses between January 2004 and August 2007. Documents filed in the case, including credit card statements, ran through August 2008.

If you are foregoing the malls this year and ordering holiday gifts online, be sure to do so safely. Each year, the Better Business Bureau receives complaints from consumers who ordered items from unfamiliar Web sites, paid for the merchandise and never received the products. Worse, some of them can't even tell us where the company is located as to assist with a complaint. When shopping on the Internet: Check the company behind the Web site with the BBB for its customer record.

STANFORD - A state inmate who escaped Saturday night from work detail in Lincoln County was recaptured Monday in Indiana. Danny Morrison, 26, of Tennessee, was recaptured Monday after jail officials say he walked away from refinishing floors in the courthouse. Morrison was serving time in Lincoln County Regional Jail for fraudulently using a credit card. Chief Deputy Jailer Carl Leach said Morrison pilfered money from courthouse offices before disappearing. Morrison is expected to be returned to Lincoln County this week to face escape charges.

WINCHESTER POLICE Charged — Christopher B. Johnson, 34, of 816 Stratton Lane, was charged Friday with possession of marijuana, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, reckless driving and failure to maintain insurance. Reports — A person at 1859 Bypass Road reported at 9:07 a.m. Friday that someone falsely charged purchases on a credit card. — At 12:41 p.m. Friday, a resident of 546 Kiwi Drive reported that a catalytic converter, flat screen television and dvd player had been stolen.

Reports — On Friday, city police received a call from 316 W. Hickman St. that some appliances were missing after a resident moved out of an apartment owned by Carl Gravett. — A woman came to the police station and said a known male had stolen her credit card and used it without her permission. — On Friday afternoon at 2:41, a woman reported the possible theft of a truck. She said someone borrowed the vehicle, and had not yet returned it.

CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF Report -  At 3:45 p.m. Friday, Victoria Talbott of 580 Russell Road reported that her credit card was used fraudulently for purchases in Florida. Accident - At 4:35 p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to an injury accident on Becknerville Road in which Gary J. Auxier of 19 Harris Road was traveling north. Witnesses said a Cadillac crossed the center line and Auxier swerved to avoid it. His vehicle struck an embankment and overturned. Auxier was ejected through a rear window.