Sue Nordquist, Spanish and speech communications instructor at Rainy River Community College, was awarded the 2014 STAR award from the Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures.
A Rainy River Community College instructor has an award to add to her trophy case.
The college announced this week Sue Nordquist, Spanish and speech communications instructor, was awarded the 2014 STAR award from the Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures.
“Sue’s dedication to students and the teaching of languages and diversity has affected many lives,” said RRCC Provost Carol Helland. “RRCC is proud to count Sue as one of our many outstanding educators.”
The STAR Award, which stands for study, travel, achievement and recognition, is given to educators who demonstrate professional development in learning outside the classroom and show leadership in professional organizations.
Award recipients have continued their university studies, organized student travel, and have held various leadership positions in their schools and state and national organizations, according to a news release.
It’s a new twist on an old scam involving a call from what sounds like may be a grandchild in trouble.
Earlier scams have involved a young person claiming to be a grandchild who needs money from their grandparent because they have been arrested on vacation in another state for driving and drinking. It often comes with a request for the grandparent not to tell “mom and dad.”
In reality, it’s a scam exploiting someone’s family ties for money.
The new twist in the scam is reported by a local woman who asked that we not identify her to avoid being targeted for further scams.
The woman said last week she received a call at her International Falls home that so startled her she called the police and The Journal to spread the word.
The woman said she received a call from someone claiming to be a grandson whose very best friend has been killed while in Mexico.
Among the most frightening part of the call, she said, was that the “grandson” caller referred to his dead friend by a name familiar to the woman as the true friend of one of her real grandsons.
She said the caller said he needed money to help with the funeral of his friend.
“I was starting to feel sorry for him,” she said, adding that the caller sounded as though he was crying and said he had a cold affecting the sound of his voice.
“But then he said, ‘Don’t tell anyone,’ and I started questioning him,” she said. “And a light suddenly went on.”
When she asked the caller when grandma’s birthday was, he responded 1986 — clearly an inaccurate answer, she said.
The woman reported the incident to the International Falls Police Department, but said she wanted to let others know about the scam.
“People should give nothing over the phone,” she encouraged.
She was supported in her advice by a warning issued last week by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office about several reports of a scam referencing the communications company AT&T.
The report said the scam begins with a telephone call stating the resident’s AT&T bill has discrepancies and their phone will be blocked by AT&T unless the resident provides their name and address to the caller.
“Residents are urged not to give out any personal information and to contact law enforcement if needed,” the warning from the sheriff’s office said. “It is always best to ask for the company’s published telephone number to confirm that the person you are speaking to is an actual employee.”
