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Showing posts from November, 2012
Scottsdale mortgage broker gets 30 months in prison for fraud A Scottsdale mortgage broker and construction company owner has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and has to pay $110,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to fraud charges. Michele Marie Mitchell , 45, was president of Arizona Cooling Control Plus Inc., according to federal prosecutors. She and an associate, Jeremy West Pratt , used straw buyers and false loan documents to obtain $17 million in loans for 17 different properties across the Valley. The straw buyers received $15,000 in kickbacks per house. The two defendants pocketed other loan money and the properties went into foreclosure. Mitchell was sentenced in federal court in Phoenix this week, according to the FBI and IRS . Pratt was sentenced to six months in jail earlier this year. Both Mitchell and Pratt will also have to serve three years of federal probation, respectively. Phoenix Business Journal
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Hope it was your ticket!! Winning tickets for the giant Powerball jackpot were purchased in Arizona and Missouri. The winning numbers for the $587.5 million jackpot are: 5-16-22-23-29 and 6 for the Powerball. The winning ticket sold in Arizona was purchased at a 4 Sons Food Store in Fountain Hills, Ariz., state lottery officials said. If you are either the Arizona Powerball winner, or the Missouri Powerball winner, you can expect to fork over 25 percent in federal lottery taxes to Uncle Sam. Arizona lottery winners also have to pay 5 percent in state taxes, while Missouri lottery winners need to hand over 4 percent in state taxes. Even with all that taken out of your huge jackpot, you'll still have a bank account full of money just in time for Christmas! If you have the winning ticket & you need help spending some of that cash, just let me know!
Arizona will not create a state-based health exchange Gov. Jan Brewer notified the Obama administration Wednesday that Arizona will not pursue the creation of a state-based health insurance exchange. Instead, Arizona will participate in a federally-operated exchange. “This has been one of the more difficult decisions of my career in public service,” Brewer said in a prepared statement. “My opposition to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unwavering, as is my belief that it should be repealed and replaced with legislation that achieves its stated goals: to improve access to quality, affordable health care in this country. But I am also aware that the ACA remains the law of the land. Likewise, though I am a steady advocate of local control, I have come to the conclusion that the State of Arizona would wield little actual authority over its ‘state’ exchange. The federal government would maintain oversight and control over virtually every aspect of our exchange, limiting our abi
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HAPPY PINS AND NEEDLES DAY! When : Always November 27th The real purpose of Pins and Needles Day is to commemorate the opening of the pro-Labor play Pins and Needles on Broadway on this day in 1937. Over decades of time, people lost track of the original meaning of this day. Today, most people look upon Pins and Needles Day , as a nervous and anxious day. Its a day of eager anticipation, as we await an event or for something to happen. One could argue that kids are on pins and needles from now until Christmas, as they nervously wonder if they have been good enough to receive a visit from Santa in a few weeks. Of all the special days on the calendar, this is a nerve racking day. You are on pins and needles until that special future event successfully unfolds. And, if it doesn't.......... well we will just think positively. We hope you have a happy, and calm, and relaxing Pins and Needles Day!    
HAPPY CYBER-MONDAY! Don't forget to spend your money where it really counts! A membership in CFMA! Why join? So glad you asked:   If you are involved in any aspect of construction finance –                                                      C F M A is for YOU ! ! ! ·         Interact with your peer group. ·         Develop new and rewarding alliances. ·         Receive the best and latest industry –              related technical and management information. ·         Enhance your efficiency. ·         Improve your job performance. ·         Maximize your company’s profitability. ·         Remain competitive.                                                     THE BOTTOM LINE: YOU CAN’T AFFORD NOT TO JOIN CFMA TODAY ! http://www.cfma.org/membership/    
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Happy "Oh, I forgot........" day! don't forget to stop on your way home tonight so you have all your goodies for tomorrow!
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This time of year, our thoughts turn to being thankful & how we can express our gratitude for all gifts in our lives. One of the best expressions of thankfulness is volunteering. It can be as little as two hours or as big as a lifetime commitment. There are numerous organizations in the Valley that would be grateful for any help and it is easy to connect with them - as simple as a mouse click! Check out "Phoenix Volunteers" (no endorsement is implied, this is simply a suggestion): Phoenix Volunteers supports various non-profit organizations in the Valley by organizing local volunteer opportunities, making it easy for busy people in the community to volunteer their time. By coordinating local volunteer opportunities at convenient times and for minimal amounts of time, only 2 to 4 hours, Phoenix Volunteers makes it easy to fit volunteering into your hectic schedule. Events are usually held on weekends or evenings and are posted well in advance.           
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What will I do without my Twinkies? Twinkies maker Hostess going out of business Hostess Brands , the bankrupt maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread, said it has sought court permission to go out of business after failing to get wage and benefit cuts from thousands of its striking bakery workers. Hostess said a national strike by members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union that began last week had crippled its ability to produce and deliver products at several facilities. The liquidation of the company will mean that most of its 18,500 employees will lose their jobs, Hostess said on Friday. The 82-year-old company said it took the decision to shut down after determining that not enough employees had returned to work by a deadline on Thursday. The company, which filed for bankruptcy in January for the second time since 2004, said it had filed a motion with U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain in White Plains, New York, for permission to
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  Don't Forget.... In addition to the spiff from National, your VoS CFMA is making you an offer you can't refuse! For every guest you bring to this weeks lunch, you are entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card for either Total Wine or Starbucks ! In addition, if any of those guests become members of CFMA, you are entered into another drawing to be held in January for a really super, fantastic prize (to be announced)! Bring lots of guests! Get lots of chances to win!
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and the winner of the $25 Gift Card for bringing a guest to lunch last month....... Connie Ketzel (sorry - your picture is not on LinkedIn!) Congratulations! You may pick up your Gift Card at the lunch this week!
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The winner of the $25 Gift Card for bringing a guest to the Fall Mixer is.......  Jim Bracy - CFO Wholesale Floors Congratulations Jim! You can collect your gift card at Thursday's lunch! Stay tuned to see who won the gift card for bringing a guest to last months' lunch!
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Don't Forget.... In addition to the spiff from National, your VoS CFMA is making you an offer you can't refuse! For every guest you bring to next weeks lunch, you are entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card for either Total Wine or Starbucks ! In addition, if any of those guests become members of CFMA, you are entered into another drawing to be held in January for a really super, fantastic prize (to be announced)! Bring lots of guests! Get lots of chances to win!
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