Desert Messenger July 15, 2015 Jul. 2015 | Page 16

16 www.DesertMessenger.com In Memoriam Sharon Louise Morris In Loving Memory Sharon Louise Morris April 5th 1950-May16th 2015. Sharon was a long time resident of Quartzsite; she came to town in the 1970’s when she lived with her mother and step-dad Doreen and Gene Poling to help run his newspaper business. She raised her two daughters April and Juli here in this small quiet desert town. Sharon was a well known person who everyone knew and loved. All the kids that grew up in Quartzsite that knew her always called her Mom. She has watched this small town grow and change over the years, seeing people come and go. Sharon was a long time bartender; she even managed the Quartzsite Yacht Club for Al and Helen Maddenin the 1980’s. She leaves behind 3 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, and 1 great grandson. Sharon Morris will be miss dearly; we all love you MOM always. Rodney Dean O’Dell Rodney Dean O’Dell passed away September 9,2014. Rod married his true love Kathleen Rowe on September 18, 1965. Rod and Kathy had two children, Deanne and Jason, and 3 grandchildren, Brandon, Caleb and Katie Ann. Rod worked for Marion Public Schools for 30 years before retiring and moving to Arizona. Rod had many friends and family who loved him dearly and he will be forever missed. Bruce McDonald Hull, Sr. HULL, Sr., Bruce McDonald of Quartzsite, AZ, died on July 2nd. Beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather. A Memorial Service will be held at the Embassy Suites in Springfield, Virginia on August 8th (8100 Loisdale Rd, Springfield, VA 22150). Interment will be in West Alexander, Pennsylvania in the West Alexander Cemetery on August 9th. An additional memorial service will be held in Quartzsite, AZ in the fall. Complete notice will be in Wednesday, August 12th edition of Desert Messenger. Poems from the road By Jane Finley (Gypsy Jane) writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) SEASIDE II I stop by the wetlands to fix breakfast and do a few chores. The water, almost motionless, makes an “S” curve around the bend. Tall reeds line the bank on one side: tan at the base becoming light green, then dark green at the top. Gradually bird visitors appear: an occasional seagull dives for a fish, a heron sits like a statue on a rock during my entire visit, five ducks swim by the heron on either side, further upstream ducks in a row: a mother and four babies, crows peck their way along the muddy shore, a pigeon meanders through the grass, and just as I leave, Canadian geese appear. It is this I seek: the solitude of bird company far, far away from the city crowds. Seaside, Oregon Jane’s book is WANDERINGS: Living the Ordinary Extraordinarily (Stories from the Road). This column consists of poems from the book. (email: janefi[email protected], website: janefinley.com) July 15, 2015 Ransomware alert From Better Business Bureau The ransomware scam is back and more vicious than ever, according to a new FBI report. Ransomware is a virus that freezes your computer, holding it ransom until you pay to unlock it. Victims are reporting losing up to $10,000 in a new version of this scam that encrypts your files. How the Scam Works: You click on an infected advertisement, link or email attachment. Suddenly, a pop up appears. The screen tells you that all the files on your computer have been encrypted, making them useless unless you have a key to decode them. This new version of ransomware is appropriately named CryptoWall. Of course, decoding your files doesn’t come free. Different versions charge anywhere from $200 to $10,000. CryptoWall virus demands payment for decoding files Most versions of this scam demand payment in Bitcoin. The online currency is decentralized and anonymous, making it a new favorite method of payment for scammers. Like pre-paid debit cards and wire transfers, if you pay with Bitcoin, it’s like paying in cash. To remove the virus without paying the scammers, try running a scan on your computer to identify and delete the malicious files. If you are unable to remove the malware, you may need to wipe your machine’s hard drive and reinstall files and software. Protect Yourself from a Ransomware Scam Avoid ransomware scams by not downloading one. Here are some suggestions: • Always use antivirus software and a firewall. Protect your computer (and your cell phone) by using antivirus software and a firewall from a reputable company.