VALDOSTA — The above line, minus the “not,” was uttered in numerous Bugs Bunny cartoons by Daffy Duck usually after finding a hoard of gold or treasure.  Unfortunately for Daffy, something always happened and he never really got the treasure.

That’s the closest analogy I could think of to the ever-growing, never-ending sweepstakes, foreign lottery, and contest prize offers. These offers are always too good to be true, and I figure there is no way I can win anything from a contest I’ve never entered. So I delete these messages in my email, and tear them up and put them in the trash when they’re mailed to me.

Unfortunately, everyone isn’t quite so ready to dismiss these. And I admit they are very tempting. “You’ve been chosen at random to receive thousands/ millions, for free” is usually how they draw you in, before they get you with the “all you have to do is” part, which generally involves you sending money to claim your prize or money.

Although I aspire to go on “Jeopardy” one day and hopefully win big, I don’t play games of chance. I don’t have the money to lose and the odds never seem fair. I will confess to the occasional lottery ticket, but that’s pretty much the extent of my gambling ways. And there are people who are far stricter about “gambling” than I am. So why do these same people always seem to be the ones who get caught up in these various “money for nothing” schemes? It’s gambling.

You are gambling that, when you send in whatever it is they ask you to, you will actually receive something in return.

Hardly a week goes by at the newspaper without someone calling in to tell us we need to warn others about the latest schemes, but the question always comes up as to why anyone would believe that people really do just give money away for free to random strangers over the Internet or in the mail?

The warning is this: don’t play, ignore it, trash it, delete it, and don’t ever believe it. Unless it’s a contest you entered, a lottery ticket you actually  bought and not one from another country, or a business that checks out after you google it, chances are pretty much 100 percent that it’s not real. If you don’t gamble, you can’t lose.

Business Roundup

It looks like Gander Mountain will be opening this week, but don’t have the exact date. The parking lot has been full of cars all week as employees are training, and I understand the store is pretty incredible on the inside. The new outdoors store is on Norman Drive behind Cheddars.

Down the street from there, the new Academy Sports is really making headway, and that new sports store is set to open before Thanksgiving this year. They will also be hiring quite a few employees, too, and in this economy, every job counts.

There is a sign where the former wings place was on North Ashley Street saying that Blazin’ Wingz is opening soon.

Workers were inside the restaurant, next to Passage to India, making renovations, etc., so it should only be a week or two before they’re open.

I understand the Holiday Market on Highway 41 is closed but has a sign saying it’s reopening soon. Just not sure as what.

The gas pumps were removed some time ago, so it may just be a convenience store only.

The Studstill law firm from Nashville is opening an office in Valdosta, with a ribbon cutting planned for Thursday.

The new Dollar General store just built on Highway 41 South had its grand opening yesterday.

I was asked again about the restaurant which may be locating on the corner property right off Exit 5 in Lake Park, and the answer is, I still don’t have confirmation from the property owner, but hopefully will be able to make an announcement soon.

I was also asked this week about the possibility of a Golden Corral coming back to town, and for months I had been told it was a done deal, but now I understand it’s not set in stone anymore. I’ll let you know as soon as something definitive happens one way or the other.

I know the rain has put a damper on a number of projects around town, including the Publix on Inner Perimeter, but hopefully folks will be able to really ramp that project up soon.

That’s it for this week, but if there’s something I missed, please let me know.