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Internet Safety: Excerpts from an article
by
Dave Ambers, Chisago County Press
When
asked what parents can do to protect their children, all agreed that
the most important thing is to educate kids about the dangers. Parents
should be open with their kids about the dangers and make the
youngsters feel it's okay to tell them when they come across
questionable material when accessing the internet.
According to the officers, when youth are asked why they didn't tell
their parents about objectionable, inappropriate or illegal
information on the net, they usually say something like, "I was afraid
I'd get banned from the internet or get grounded."
Other steps parents can take include the following:
1) Keep the computer in a common area - NEVER let your child have
access in their bedrooms.
2) Browse the internet history frequently - find out what sites
they've been using.
3) Limit the times of the day that kids can be on the internet.
4) Install some kind of filtering software - filters can be set up to
limit hours of use, limit access to age appropriate websites or record
everything your child views or hears on the web.
5) Use internet safety websites like
NetSmartz.org,
SafeKids.com,
SafetyEd.org and
GetNetWise.org
6) Keep your eyes and ears open to find out when the next internet
safety forum will be scheduled - look for a meeting in the fall.
You'll be glad you went!
Detective Martin made a statement that summarized the group's feelings
at the conclusion of the meeting. He said, "Parents are often way too
naive about what their kids are doing and seeing on the internet.
Home owner safety tip: During summer vacations set light on a
light timer, but set the lights in different rooms to come on and go
off at different times not all at the same time. Have a trusted
neighbor collect the mail.
Trick-or-Treater
Pedestrian Safety Tips for
Halloween:
-
Attach
retro-reflective tape, fabric, or decorative patches to costumes and
trick-or-treat bags.
-
Review basic
pedestrian safety rules, including where and how to cross streets.
-
Teach kids
never to dart into the street — one of the most common causes of
pedestrian deaths among children.
-
Drivers should
be particularly alert on Halloween and watch for children crossing
streets, alleys and driveways.
-
Use face paint or
cosmetics instead of a mask.
-
Make costumes short
enough to prevent tripping.
-
Provide
flashlights.
-
Advise children not
to cut across yards where tripping hazards may be obscured by
darkness.
Preventing Bicycle Theft:
Every year dozens of bikes are stolen in Chisago City and Lindstrom.
Most of them are recovered, yet because of a lack of proper
identification, only a small percentage are ever returned to their
owners. Here are some things that you can do to help prevent
bike theft and recover your bike if it is stolen.
- Always lock a bike that's left unattended, even
for just a minute, even if it's in a fenced yard and especially on a
car bike carrier rack.
- Be sure to lock the bike to something stationary,
preferably where it can be seen by you and others (in Minneapolis
it is illegal to lock bikes to any city sign or parking meter).
- A quality U-lock is the best locking device you
can buy. Avoid locks, chains or cables that can easily be cut,
broken or picked.
- Make sure both wheels are locked, either by
removing on and U-locking it with the other and the frame or by
using an auxiliary lock on one. You can also purchase devices
that replace the cam and the lever on quick-release wheels and seats
with a keyed system.
- Remove any components and accessories, including
tire pump, seat or bags that can easily be taken.
- If you keep your bike in a garage, make sure that
the garage is properly secured. You can call the Lakes Area
Police Department to get more information on garage security.
Lock your bike inside the garage by the same techniques as listed
above.
- If someone attempts to rob you of your bike,
don't resist. Your life is more valuable than your bike.
- Register/license your bike. It costs only
$10.00 for three years and can be done at any Minnesota motor
vehicle deputy registrar's office.
- Filling out an application will require the
following information: bicycle brand name, serial number, wheel size
(it's in your manual or on the side of the wheel), frame type
(men's, women's, tandem), number of speeds, purchase date,
owner's full name, address and date of birth. Sales receipt or
proof purchase is not required, however, it will be noted on the
record that no proof of ownership was available at the time of the
registration. If you have any questions about
registering/licensing your bike, call Bicycle Registration at
651-296-7051 (Downtown St. Paul) or the Chisago City License
Bureau at 651-257-6578.
Additional ways of identifying you bike
include:
- Operation Identification (OPID), a 13 digit
number assigned to you to mark you valuables and make it easier
for police to trace stolen merchandise. You can obtain an
OPID number free from the Lakes Area Police or by calling
652-257-0622. Put the number on an inconspicuous part of the
frame and on accessories with an engraving device.
- Keep a copy of your bicycle's receipt of
purchase.
- Record it's make, mode, serial number and any
distinguishing features.
- Take a color photo of the bike.
- List the bike on your homeowner's or renter's
insurance policy.
- Write your OPID number or name, address and
phone number on a piece of paper and put the paper inside the seat
post, seat tube or handlebar stem in case all other ID is removed
from the bike by a thief.
SPECIAL PARKING NOTICE
2010 KARL OSKAR DAYS
The Lakes Area Police Department would like to
notify you that the following streets will be closed to parking due
to Karl Oskar Days events:
Linden Avenue (Between Hwy. 8 and Newell) 7-10-10 &
7-11-10 Anytime
295th Street (Between Olinda and Neal
Avenue) 7-10-10 6:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
295th Court 7-10-10 6:00 A.M. to
11:00A.M.
Neal Avenue (Between 295th and Sylvan
Ave.) 7-10-10 6:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
Beach Parking lot 7-09-10 6:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.
(Fireworks)
St. Croix Ave at the Cemetery 7-9-10 at 6 PM to 8
PM. (Kiddie Parade)
Hwy. 8 (Between Akerson and the Lakeview Motel)
7-10-10 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Newell Ave.(Between Park and Olinda Trail) 7-10-10
4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Akerson Street between Highway 8 and Neal Ave.
7-10-10 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.(for parade staging)
Newlander Ave. (Between Akerson and Pleasant Ave.)
7-10-10 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Olinda Trail (Between Newlander Ave. and Hwy. 8)
7-10-10 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Broadway Street (Between Highway 8 south to Dead
End.) 7-10-10 4:00 PM to 8:00 P.M.
Park Street (Between Highway 8 and Newell Ave.)
7-10-10 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Maple Street (Between Newell Ave and Pleasant Ave)
7-10-10 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Pleasant Ave. (Between Maple St. and Newlander Ave)
7-10-10 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Akerson Street (Between Hwy.
8 and Sylvan Ave.) 7-9-10 6 PM to 8 PM (Kiddie Parade)
Sylvan Ave. (Between Akerson St. and Lions Park)
7-9-10 6PM to 12 AM Kiddie Parade & Events)
Sylvan Ave (Between Akerson and Broadway) 7-10-10 4
PM to 8 PM for Parade lineup
**
There will be a slight change in the parade route this year. It will
turn south off of Newell Ave. at Maple St. and then to Pleasant Ave.
then to Newlander Ave then crossing Olinda Trail.**
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