New Medicare Drug Plan

January 16, 2014 Leave a comment


Personal Column

Mary L

Mary Loftis

Mary Loftis

oftis

UNL Extension Assistant

January 3, 2014

 

Your New Medicare Drug Plan – Now What?

 

You’ve got your new Medicare prescription drug plan card for 2014. You need to have a prescription filled…now what?

 

Changing Pharmacies:

If you decided when comparing plans it would be worth your time and money to change pharmacies you may need to plan ahead a little.

  • You may call or go to your doctor and say you are changing pharmacies and ask for new prescriptions. They may offer to call the new pharmacy with your prescriptions rather than giving you a paper copy.
  • Or bring your current prescription bottle or container to your new pharmacy. Tell them you would like to switch your prescription to their pharmacy and they will call your old pharmacy and transfer the prescription(s).
  • If you forget and go to your former pharmacy when you meant to go to a different one, don’t worry about it. You signed up for a drug plan, not a particular pharmacy. You may have a larger co-pay at your old pharmacy, but you can change pharmacies next month to get the savings the rest of the year.

 

Going to the Pharmacy:

When you go to the pharmacy have your new Medicare prescription drug plan card with you and give it to the pharmacist. That way you can make sure the pharmacy has the correct information for your new plan. The pharmacist will check your information on the computer and there should be no problem filling your prescription. It’s a good idea to write on your new card 2014 so you remember it’s the new card since the plans rarely put the year on their cards. Also, you can clean out your billfold and get rid of any old prescription drug plan cards.

 

Picking Up Your Prescriptions:

When you pick up your prescription you may or may not have a co-pay to get your prescription depending on your drugs and your plan. If you have a deductible you may need to pay up to $310 of the full cost of your prescriptions before you start getting the good out of your drug plan.

 

 

Paying the Premium:

Paying the premium raises other questions:

  • You may have decided to pay your premiums by check, but the drug plan has not sent a coupon book or a bill. Don’t worry about it too much. The drug plans are more concerned about getting everyone their plan cards and information so they can get their prescriptions when they need them. After the rush is over they will get to the billing portion of their job and then you’ll need to pay the bill.

 

  • If you want to pay the bill using an Electronic Funds Transfer through your bank you will need to set that up with the prescription drug plan. This will include filling out the plan’s form and providing a voided check. You may need to contact your plan to initiate this type of payment if they didn’t send you the form with your initial information.

 

  • You may have had the premium held out of your Social Security.  If you already received a Social Security Summary stating the wrong company and premium amount for your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, don’t worry. This information was sent out before all the details were finished on Open Enrollment. They will correct it and send the right amount to the right company probably by March. Keep an eye on it, but don’t let it upset you if you still have too much being deducted and going to the wrong company. Social Security should correct it before too long.

 

It’s a new year with your Medicare prescription drug plan. If you have questions don’t be afraid to ask your pharmacist, or you may call the Senior Health Insurance Information Program at 1-800-234-7119 or SHIIP Volunteer, Mary Loftis at 402-374-2929.

 

 

Mary Loftis,

Extension Assistant
UNL Extension – Burt County
111 North 13th Street, Suite 6
Tekamah, NE 68061
Phone: (402) 374-2929

Fax: (402) 374-2930

Internet: mloftis2@unl.edu

Filed under Community Tagged with

Neva Jeanette Peterson, 93 formerly of Uehling, NE

January 16, 2014 Leave a comment


NEVA JEANETTE PETERSON, 93 years, formerly of Uehling, Nebraska, passed away at Hooper Care Center in Hooper, Nebraska.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services Oakland

 

Filed under Obituaries

George Lee Brieger, 63 of Tekamah, NE

January 16, 2014 Leave a comment


GEORGE LEE BRIEGER, 63 years of Tekamah, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at his home in Tekamah.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services

 

Filed under Obituaries

High Wind Warning

January 15, 2014 Leave a comment


A high wind warning is in effect for Northeast Nebraska from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday). Strong winds will begin in the morning and increase late morning through the afternoon. Northwest winds of 30-40 mph with gusts of 55-60 are likely. Driving on Thursday will be difficult for all vehicles, especially high profile or light ones. Be careful of blowing debris. Secure or shelter outdoor objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture. Tree damage and local power outages are possible. Be careful everyone.

Filed under Community

Cougars win one, lose one

January 15, 2014 Leave a comment


By Clare Wiltse

Sports Contributor

The Cougar boys had one win and one loss  during the second week’s action in January.  Northeast took a win over EHC foe Tekamah-Herman, but lost on the road to Mead.  For the year they have a 4-5 record.   They are 2-3 in the EHC.

 

Northeast got a 46-30 win over (3-8) Tekamah-Herman.  The’ teams started the game off by trading points.  Dakota Riecken, Chevy Henneman, and Bobby Simpson each scored while the Tigers used their 6′ 4″ posts to pull off a high low play to get three scores for Dustin Schmidt.

 

The Cougar defense adapted to their foe and shut them down after that.  LDNE had a 15-8 first quarter lead.

 

5′ 11″guard Alex Brehmer moved inside to take on one of the 6′ 4″posts while Dakota Riecken took on the other.  “These two guys have to be the best defenders in the conference,” said Coach Lahm.  “They have all the fundamentals down and stay low.  It’s a pleasure to see them play defense.”

 

Northeast tacked on four more points to their lead halftime.  The score was 25-14 at intermission.

 

In the second half  Northeast had as many as a 17 point lead.  They score the last 5 points after the Tigers had closed to within 11 points.

 

Dakota Riecken led the team with 16 points.  He was 6 for 7 from the field and 4 for 4 at the line.  He made it a double-double with 12 rebounds.  Alex Brehmer added 10 points.

 

 

T-H      8          6          2          14        -30

L-D      15        10        4          17        -46

 

2pt       3pt       FT        Rb        F          TP

Chevy H           1          1          3/4       3          1          8

Alex B              5          0          0/2       2          3          10

Bobby S           1          1          4/4       3          2          9

Taylor F           0          0          0/0       1          1          0

Dakota R         6          0          4/4       12        4          16

Marcus H         0          0          1/4       1          5          1

David B            0          0          0/0       1          2          0

Dylan H            1          0          0/0       0          0          2

Alec A             0          0          0/0       1          0          0

Team                14        2          12/18   24        19        46

T-H                  7          2          10/23   15        15        30

 

“We played one of our best games,” commented Coach Lahm about the loss to Mead.  “They were just the better team on Saturday night.  We were down by twelve in the second half and got back to within one point.  We just could not finish it off.”

Bobby Simpson was instrumental in the come back.  He led the team with nineteen points.  The senior guard had 5 three-pointers.

 

Alex Brehmer had a second straight game with double digit scoring.  He put in 10 points.
The Cougars also got 12 points from Riecken and 10 points from Hegy

 

L-D      8          9          20        16        -53

Mead   13        12        19        13        -57

 

 

2pt       3pt       FT        RB       F          TP

Chevy H           1          0          0/0       0          1          2

Alex B              5          0          0/1       3          4          10

Bobby S           2          5          0/0       4          2          19

Taylor F           0          0          0/0       0          3          0

Dakota R         4          0          4/5       5          3          12

Marcus H         4          0          2/2       7          3          10

Team                16/32   5/19     6/8       20        17        53

Filed under Sports

Oakland is Home to Omaha Fireman

January 15, 2014 Leave a comment


“Firefighting was the only job I’ve ever really wanted to do,” says Donnie Dodge of Oakland.

He has been a fireman on the Omaha Fire Department for ten years. “I started as a volunteer in North Bend in 1992. I have also been a volunteer on Elkhorn and Oakland’s fire departments,” Donnie stated.

Donnie grew up in North Ben and graduated from North Bend Central High School in 1991.

Donnie’s family has a history of firefighters. “My grandfather, Leonard Dodge and my father Tim “Cups” Dodge both spent time as the North Bend Fire Chief so I grew up at the fire station,” Donnie said.

In June of 2002, Donnie applied to be a firefighter with the City of Omaha. He took a written test, a physical test and went through several interviews. His name then was placed on a hiring list. In January of 2004, he was hired in a class of 40 candidate firefighters. “More than 2,500 people applied for the job. I became an Emergency Medical Technician in 1993 as well as receiving my Fire Fighter I Certification from the State of Nebraska in 1994,” Donnie stated.

His shifts for the Omaha Fire Department are 24 hours at a time. “I start at 7:00 a.m. and end at 7:00 a.m. the following day. I work every other day,” Donnie said. “A 24 hour shift seems like a lot of time to get things done. You’d be surprised.”

The day begins with Donnie putting his gear on the truck, checking all of the equipment to make sure it’s all there and working. Cleaning the truck is next, along with morning paperwork and breakfast. Training classes, more cleaning and lunch close out the morning. The afternoon begins with inspections, building walk throughs and school visits. Dinner is from 4:00-5:00 p.m. “Some evenings we stand-by at junior varsity and varsity football games in Omaha,” Donnie stated.

After 7:00 p.m. there is “free-time.” “We must remain in uniform and ready to make a run (or a call) at a moments notice,” Donnie said. “We make eight to nine runs per day. We make all types of calls, medical, fire or hazardous materials.” Donnie’s station is Station 41 at 61st and Ames in North Omaha.

There is one recent call in particular that stands out in his memory. “Last summer, we had a three-story apartment collapse on two crews (all good friends of mine.) Through some kind of miracle, the all escaped,” Donnie stated. “That is a fireman’s good day, when you and your buddies all go home safe.”

The hardest part by far for Donnie is being away from home for 24 hours at a time. “You miss out on a lot,” Donnie said.

As far as future plans, “I’ve got another 10 or 15 years left on the fire department,” Donnie stated.

Donnie original moved to Oakland in 2006. He moved away for a few years and then moved back in May of 2013. “Growing up in North Bend, I really enjoy small town living. My wife (Jessica: and I enjoy how nice and friendly the people of Oakland are,” Donnie said. “I like quit living, but still being within an hour drive of Omaha is a plus.”

The other members of Donnie’s family include Lily age 17, a senior at Millard South in Omaha, DJ age 16, a junior at Millard South and Garrison age 12, a 7th grader at Oakland-Craig Schools.

“Jessica and I really want to thank the people of Oakland that welcomed me back into town,” Donnie stated. “The welcome mat has been out since day one and we love it here.”

Donnie and his daughter Lily at a fire safety talk. Photo courtesy of Donnie Dodge.

Donnie and his daughter Lily at a fire safety talk. Photo courtesy of Donnie Dodge.
Station 41. Photo Courtesy of Donnie Dodge.

Station 41. Photo Courtesy of Donnie Dodge.

Training how to access a basement through a tiny window wearing all your bunker gear. Photo Courtesy of Donnie Dodge.

Training how to access a basement through a tiny window wearing all your bunker gear. Photo Courtesy of Donnie Dodge.

Filed under Community Tagged with ,

Current Filings for Public Office

January 15, 2014 1 Comment


2014 ELECTION – FILINGS

Below is the list of election filings as of today, Jan. 15th 2014. There will be more information coming as it comes in. Incumbents have until Feb. 18th, 2014 to file for re-election. Others have until March 3rd, 2014. Stay tuned!

DATE                                           NAME                                                                                               OFFICE

12-02-13                                 Sarah J. Freidel                                                                                County Clerk

12-02-13                                 Francis W. Barron III                                                                        County Attorney

12-02-13                                 Michele R. Quick                                                                             Clerk of the District Court

12-03-13                                 Karen S. Grass                                                                                County Treasurer

12-04-13                                 Joni L. Renshaw                                                                             County Assessor

12-18-13                                 Laurie Elliott                                                                                    T-H School Bd, Ward 2

12-23-13                                 Ronald D. Grass                                                                             Tekamah Mayor

12-23-13                                 Gregory L. Mockenhaupt                                                               Oakland City Council

12-26-13                                 Robert D. Pickell                                                                           County Sheriff

12-30-13                                 Gene Rollins                                                                                Supervisor District 3

12-30-13                                 Greg Brummond                                                                          Supervisor District 7

12-30-13                                 Lyle C. Pille                                                                                  Oakland School Board

12-30-13                                 Cliff Morrow                                                                                  Supervisor District 1

01-03-14                                 Gene H. Hansen                                                                          Summit Township Chairman

01-03-14                                 Dwain A. Jordan                                                                           Summit Township Clerk

01-07-14                                 Victor L. Jensen                                                                            Silvercreek Township Treas

01-08-14                                 Ted R. Beckner                                                                             Oakland Mayor

01-14-14                                 Kyle B Brink                                                                                  Lyons City Council

 

 

 

Filed under News Tagged with ,

Social Speaks: Women’s salaries Compared to Men’s

January 15, 2014 Leave a comment


In 2012 the median annual earnings for women who worked full-time all year was $37,791 compared to men’s salary of $49,398. What are your thoughts on this? (No sarcasm please as this is also for my paper, thank you.)

Filed under Opinion

Burt County Board of Supervisors Meeting

January 15, 2014 Leave a comment


The Burt County Board of Supervisors met January 14, 2014, pursuant to adjournment of their last meeting with the following members present:  Clifford Morrow, David Schold, Perry Rogers, Matt Connealy, Greg Brummond and Gene Rollins.  Absent:  Gerald Newill.

 

The meeting opened at 9:00 A.M. upon motion by Rollins, seconded by Schold, all voting aye.  County Clerk Marjorie Shumake informed the public that the Nebraska Open Meeting Act is posted on the wall.

 

The first order of business was reorganization.  County Clerk Shumake asked for nominations for Chairman of the Board.  Rogers nominated Clifford Morrow, and Brummondseconded the motion.  Schold moved that the nominations cease and that Morrow be elected Chairman of the Board for 2014.  The motion was seconded by Brummond, all voting aye.

 

Upon motion by Schold, seconded by Rollins, the agenda was approved, all voting aye.

 

Visiting the Board were Peggy Smith, Mike Braniff and Mark Jackson.

 

The County Clerk Report of Fees, the County Court Report of fines, the District Court Fee Report and the Zoning Report for December, as well as the Sheriff’s Quarterly Reports and the Treasurer’s 6 Month Report, were approved upon motion by Rogers, seconded by Rollins, all voting aye.

 

The minutes of the last meeting were approved upon motion by Connealy, seconded by Schold, all voting aye.

 

The Miscellaneous Receipts in the amount of $220,826.23, along with the Fund Balance Report, were approved upon motion by Rogers, seconded by Rollins, all voting aye.

 

Patty Plugge presented a review of the 2013 Highlights and Achievements of the Burt County Economic Development Corporation.

 

Board Member Connealy offered the following resolution and moved for its adoption:

 

RESOLUTION #2014-01

 

     BE IT RESOLVED that the County Treasurer be authorized to deposit funds in excess of the capital and surplus in any depository designated for county funds, provided such depository furnish the proper securities as provided by law, and that the Treasurer be and she hereby is, authorized to invest surplus funds, if there be any, in United States Treasury bills or certificates of deposit in the following financial institutions:  First Nebraska Bank, Decatur, First National Bank Northeast, Tekamah, and Washington County Bank, Tekamah.

 

DATED this 14th day of January, 2014, at Tekamah, Nebraska.

 

ATTEST: MARJORIE R. SHUMAKE            CLIFF MORROW, CHAIRMAN

BURT COUNTY CLERK                BURT COUNTY BOARD OF

SUPERVISORS

 

Board Member Brummond seconded the motion, and the Chairman declared it adopted, all voting aye.

 

Upon motion by Connealy, seconded by Schold, the Board appointed Peggy Smith as Burt County Highway Superintendent for 2014, all voting aye.

 

Upon motion by Connealy, seconded by Schold, the Board approved the following board appointments for 2014, all voting aye.

 

Clifford Morrow                               Elkhorn- Logan Valley Public Health Dept

Gerald Newill                                     Region IV

Heartland of Nebraska Board

Gene Rollins                                       Goldenrod Hills Board

Greg Brummond                              Northeast Nebraska Juvenile Services – alternate

Burt County Economic Development Board

Matt Connealy                                  North Star & Region IV Services

Region 5/6 Homeland Security

Northeast Nebraska Waste Coalition-alternate

Perry Rogers                                      Resource Conservation & Development Council

Northeast Nebraska Juvenile Services

Burt County Economic Development Board

David Schold                                      N.E. Nebraska Area Agency on Aging

N.E. Nebraska Waste Coalition, Advisory & Governing Board

All of the Burt County Supervisors are on the Burt County Weed Board.

Upon motion by Schold, seconded by Rollins, the Board designated the Burt County web site as an additional method of providing notice of Board meetings for 2014, all voting aye.

 

Upon motion by Brummond, seconded by Schold, the Board approved the following 2014 Burt County Extension Board nominees, all voting aye.

Kyle Brink     Rosa Schmidt      Dan Kahlandt         Ryann Pagels

 

Upon motion by Brummond, seconded by Connealy, the Board approved an annual cost of living raise based on the Midwest Economic Consumer Prices available January 16, not to exceed 2%, all voting aye.

 

Highway Superintendent Smith brought the following bids before the Board for a box for the tool truck:

Omaha Standard                     $39,946.10 and $44,508.63

LCL Trucking Equipment        $29,697.00

 

Board Member Connealy moved that the County accept the bid of $29,697.00 from LCL Trucking Equipment, which includes installation.  Board Member Rogers seconded the motion, all voting aye.

 

Smith then brought bids for financing the new excavator as follows: NMC-2.7% for 5 years; First National Bank Northeast-2.7% for 3 years and 3.75% for 5 years; Washington County Bank-2.2% for 3 years and 2.6% for 5 years.

 

Upon motion by Connealy, seconded by Schold, the Board approved financing through Washington County Bank for 3 years at 2.2%, all voting aye.

 

Highway Superintendent Smith discussed the 1 and 6 Year Road Plan with the Board.

 

Upon motion by Schold, seconded by Brummond, the Board authorized Chairman Morrow to sign the Burt County Weed Control Authority Activities and Information Report, all voting aye.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, the Board adjourned at 10:45 A.M. until 9:00 A.M. January 30, 2014.

 

ATTEST: MARJORIE R. SHUMAKE    CLIFFORD L. MORROW, CHAIRMAN

BURT COUNTY CLERK         BURT COUNTY BOARD OF

SUPERVISORS

 

 

 

These minutes are not part of the official record and are not yet approved and may be corrected.  A copy of the approved official minutes is available to the public at the Clerk’s Office.

 

 

 

 

Filed under Community

Lady Cougars Lose in Overtime

January 15, 2014 Leave a comment


By Clare Wiltse

Sports Contributor

“We played eight and a half quarters of hard all out basketball this weekend” was how Coach Cronin evaluated his girls play this past weekend.  The Lady Cougars came away with a heart breaking overtime loss to Tekamah-Herman and a well earned road win at Mead.

 

Northeast got the jump on (7-5) Tekamah-Herman as they opened with a 9-0 run.  With Vanessa Peterson leading the way with two baskets the Cougars had a comfortable lead until the Tiger offense kicked in.  T-H scored the next ten points and took a 10-9 lead into the second quarter.

 

The Tigers would score six from the line and six from the field as they took a 22-15 lead at half time.  The Cougars struggled through the quarter with 3 for 13 shooting and missed all three of the free shots.

 

After being out scored by two in the third quarter, the Cougars were down by 13 early in the fourth quarter when  T-H knocked down their first two shots of the period.  With T-H leading 34-21 Haley Bacon got the ball rolling with a trey with 6:20 to play.  With two minutes to play the score stood at 34-30 after Bacon added two free throws and Darcey Simonsen and Vanessa Peterson made baskets.

 

With  Tekamah Herman missing their last nine shots of the quarter, the Cougars were poised to take the game.  Haley Bacon got the lead down to two, 34-32, on a score with 1:29 to play.  Brianne Haskell knotted the game up with a drive of the lane at the 52 second mark.

 

Both teams failed to score in the fading seconds of the game.  The Cougars had the best shot a win when Darcey  Simonsen  was fouled hard while driving the lane.  Simonsen had to leave the game as she came  up gimpy.  Coach Cronin inserted Haley Bacon to take her free shots on a one and one situation.  Bacon’s first shot rimmed off and T-H rebounded.

 

In over time the Cougars put up six shots , but none of them found the mark.  The Tigers got a free shot early in the overtime and later added a basket for as three point lead.  The game was not decided until Hannah Tobin’s free shot made it a two possession game with 7 seconds to play.

 

Haley Bacon was the Max Prep player of the game.  She scored 11 points while dishing 3 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds.

 

T-H      10        12        8          4          4          -38

L-D      9          6          6          13        0          -34

 

\                       2pt       3pt       FT        Rb        F          TP

Madie R           1          0          0/0       2          5          2

Darcey S          1          0          1/2       5          0          3

Kelly W           0          0          0/0       0          0          0

Brianne H         2          0          1/5       8          3          5

Haley   B          3          1          2/5       5          3          11

Tessie C           0          0          2/2       1          1          2

Lexie B            0          1          0/0       0          0          3

Vanessa P        3          0          0/1       12        3          6

Abby P            1          0          0/1       3          3          2

Team                11/33   2/10     6/16     36        20        34

T-H                  13-/39  1/1       9/17     30        18        38

 

The Saturday night game at Mead took some of the sour taste from the teams’ mouth as defeat the (5-5) Mead Raiders.  A solid team effort game them a 41-38 victory.

 

The Cougars shot 42% on two points shots to overcome a 7 for 17 night at the free throw line.  They had two three pointers.

 

Senior Vanessa Peterson took player of the game honors with double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.  Brianne Haskell led the team with 16 points.

 

Coach Cronin was elated to claim a 2-1 mark against D-2 schools.  “When we play against schools our size we are very competitive.  It’s tough to go against larger school with a bigger player pool.  I wouldn’t trade these girls, though.  They are a pleasure to work with and are giving it their all.”

 

For the year the girls have a 3-8 record.  They are 0-5 against EHC opponents.

 

 

2pt       3pt       FT        Rb        F          TP

Madie R           0          0          3-6       3          4          3

Darcey S          0          1          0/0       1          0          3

Kelly W           0          0          0/0       0          0          0

Brianne H         6          1          1/3       5          4          16

Haley B            0          0          0/o       3          3          0

Tessie C           1          0          1/2       1          0          3

Lexie B            0          0          0/0       1          1          0

Vanessa P        6          0          1/2       13        2          13

Abby P            1          0          1/2       1          0          3

Team                14/32   2/10     7/17     30        14        41

Filed under Sports

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