Child Safety Seat Clinics A Success

Troopers checked 547 children and car seats - but only 20 car seats were installed or used correctly - and most of those were booster seats that need little or no installation.

"This year we assisted nearly 100 more children than last year," said Beth Warren, DPS coordinator of occupant safety programs. "We distributed 377 new car seats and 201 unsafe seats were destroyed. At most of the clinics we work, the misuse rate of safety seats is around 96 to 100 percent. Therefore, it is important that parents learn how to properly use safety seats so our children ride as safe as possible every time they are in a vehicle."

DPS troopers from Safety Education, Highway Patrol and Driver License Services, who are trained and certified in child passenger safety, inspected car seats for safety and educated parents and caregivers on the proper use of the seats. Seats that were deemed in poor condition, on a recall list or not suitable for other reasons were replaced at no cost to the participants during the clinics.

Clinics were held in Fort Stockton, Aransas Pass, Rockdale, Hempstead, Navasota, Copperas Cove, Jefferson, Carthage, Childress, Snyder, Levelland and Pleasanton.

For more information on a specific clinic, please contact Beth Warren, at (512) 424-5639 or beth.warren@txdps.state.tx.us.

Baylor, Botswana Partner On New Pediatric AIDS

HOUSTON - The first comprehensive treatment and training center in Africa for children with AIDS opened today as a partnership of Baylor College of Medicine and the government of Botswana.

Fifty years ago, the Texas Legislature took an impor­tant step to ensure the landmarks and artifacts that represent our state’s history will be enjoyed by future generations. With the creation of the Texas State Historical Survey Committee, our lawmakers handed the responsibility of identifying and preserving important historic sites to an 18-member commission. Today, a half-century later, that dedication lives on and much of Texas’ rich legacy has been safeguarded by their work.

In 1973, the Texas Legislature, of which I was a mem­ber, changed the agency’s name to the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The Commission protects the state’s historic resources, not just for the sake of preservation, but for the education, enjoyment and economic benefit of all Texans. Heritage tourism is important to our state’s economy, bringing people from across the country and around the world to explore our journey from a Republic to a state, Civil War history and cowboy culture.

How does the Commission Preserve our Past? There is the Texas Heritage Trails Program, which helps increase economic development in an area while preserving and promoting its historic and cultural resources. The Texas Main Street Program aims to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts throughout the state. An­other, the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, provides matching grants to counties for the restoration of historic county courthouses, which are some of the most treasured sites in our state. For many counties, they serve as both a governmental and cultural seat, and a focus of community life. Many courthouses provide a glimpse into history while continuing to function as part of the modern day judicial system.

Our state has one of the most robust historical marker programs in the country. Currently, 12,328 markers across the state commemorate events, institutions, sites, communities, cemeteries and churches that hold historical signifi­cance for Texans. Markers serve to educate the public on our state’s history and provide a guided retrospective into the past for residents and visitors alike. Markers designate sites ranging from the historically significant Alamo, to archeological locations like the burial place of the "Lean­derthal Lady" in Williamson County.

The Durst-Taylor house in Nacogdoches is a wonder­ful example of a site worthy of a historical marker. The home, built in the early 1800s, was designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1995. Two of the owners who left their mark on Texas’ history include Joseph Durst, founder of the town of Angelina, and Thomas J. Rusk, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and one of Texas’ first two U.S. Senators.

I toured the home this spring, which brings to life the rich history of Texas and the brave frontier men and women who settled our state. It also reminded me of our responsibility to safeguard the symbols of our enduring pioneer spirit that are so much a part of our culture today. The Texas Historical Commission coupled with the thou­sands of Texans who are dedicated to protecting our past are the vehicles driving that preservation.

Redistricting Needed To Correct A Travesty Of Democracy

By Susan Weddington

Republican Party of Texas Chairman

Houston OB/GYN Chosen For Panel Examining ART

HOUSTON - Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, has been named to a national panel to assess the health risks of assisted reproductive technologies.

Simpson is also academic chief of obstetrics and gynecology service at The Methodist Hospital and chief of obstetrics and gynecology service at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and Ben Taub General Hospital.

The ART Children’s Health Panel will evaluate scientific and medical studies on the health of children born through in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo cryopreservation, and those born after having preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

The panel’s report will identify where current data are conflicting or inconclusive and make recommendations for future research.

One million children have been born worldwide as a result of assisted reproductive technologies, yet to date the effects of these procedures on the health and development of the resulting children have been unclear. While some medical studies suggest that ART children are as healthy as their naturally conceived peers, others associate ART with a higher incidence of cancer, birth defects and genetic diseases.

Simpson joins four other panelists from U.S. institutions recognized as leaders in pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, epidemiology and genetics.

NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY PARTNERS WITH WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY TO OFFER DOCTORAL TRANSFER PROGRAM

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - Northcentral University Online (NCU), an accredited distance-learning institution, announced today it has signed an articulation agreement with Western Governors University (WGU) in Salt Lake City, Utah, to enable WGU’s master’s level graduates to transfer to NCU’s doctoral degree programs.

Per the agreement, WGU graduates will be guaranteed admission to NCU with a maximum of 30 semester units in transfer. The agreement also awards scholarships to those transferring in the amount of 10 percent of NCU’s tuition, up to $2,000.

"NCU recognizes that in today’s complex and competitive world, there is a growing need for professionals with doctoral degrees," said Dr. Donald Hecht, president of NCU. "Therefore, we are pleased to partner with Western Governors University to offer its master’s-level graduates the opportunity to prepare for and achieve the competence and breadth that is needed to reach that level."

Chip Johnstone, WGU’s provost and academic vice president, also expressed satisfaction in joining with NCU in this partnership.

"This is the first articulation agreement at the doctoral level that we have established," said Johnstone. "Our master’s degree graduates are all working professionals who do not have the time to earn doctoral degrees at campus-based programs, and this agreement serves them well."

The doctoral degree program at NCU is truly exceptional; whereas other universities require some campus residency or on-site visits, NCU is 100 percent online education. Learners complete all coursework on the Internet, through e-mail, and by telephone, in the comfort of their own surroundings and at their convenience.

In fact, NCU is the first university in the country to be both regionally accredited and to make this type of learning environment available, "especially to those seeking doctoral degrees," said Dr. Hecht. "Learners and graduates in this program have identified NCU’s learning methodology as ‘very attractive’ and ‘a nice fit’ because many would otherwise not be able to obtain a degree with other obligations in their lives."

About Northcentral University

Northcentral University (NCU) provides 100 percent online learning without any classroom attendance. NCU offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in Psychology and Business Administration. NCU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Founded in 1996, NCU’s mission is to provide adult students, known as Learners, throughout the world with the opportunity to acquire and apply the knowledge and skills needed to participate and function effectively in their discipline.

About Western Governor’s University

WGU offers the only online competency-based degrees in the country. WGU was founded and is supported by 19 states and governors, as well as 25 leading corporations and foundations, and is accredited both nationally and by four regional commissions. WGU offers associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in three areas: IT, business, and education.

Summary Of House Bill 4, Part One

(AUSTIN) - During the recently completed 78th legislative session, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 4, the most comprehensive lawsuit reform package in Texas history. This article covers the first eight articles of HB 4. Next week’s article will cover the remaining articles, which include the landmark medical malpractice reforms.

• Extends jurisdiction to the Texas Supreme Court to hear an appeal from a trial court order certifying or refusing to certify a class

• Stays all proceedings in the trial court pending that appeal

• Requires the Texas Supreme Court to promulgate rules to be used by trial courts in calculating the fees to be awarded to class counsel, including rules requiring that:

o the fee be calculated using the lodestar method, which requires a reasonable fee based on the hours actually worked by class counsel

o if part of the recovery by the class is non-cash, the fee paid to class counsel must be in cash and non-cash in the same percentage as the recovery by the class

• Requires that before a class is certified, the trial court must rule on any plea to the jurisdiction in which it is asserted that the plaintiff’ s claims are within the jurisdiction of a state agency

• Provides incentives for parties to make and accept reasonable settlement offers early in lawsuits by shifting litigation-related costs when a party refuses a pre-trial settlement offer that turns out to be as good as or better than what that party ultimately wins

o This cost-shifting mechanism is available in most civil cases, and comes into play upon the defendant filing an election to have the mechanism in play in that case

o The defendant’s litigation costs are shifted to the plaintiff if the plaintiff’s judgment is less than 80% of the defendant’s settlement offer

o The plaintiff’s litigation costs are shifted to the defendant if the plaintiff’s judgment is more than 120% of the plaintiff’s settlement offer

o Even if costs are shifted against the plaintiff, the plaintiff still recovers at least 50% of his or her economic damages plus the amount of any statutory liens against the plaintiff’s recovery

• Creates the five-member Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, that is empowered to transfer factually related cases pending in multiple counties to a single court for consolidated or coordinated pretrial proceedings

• The cases must be returned to the county in which the case was filed for trial

• This procedure, which is modeled on federal law, provides for more consistent outcomes and reduces the overall cost of large-scale litigation by creating a procedure for consolidating cases with common fact questions

• Allows an immediate appeal of a trial court’s decision that a plaintiff in a multi-plaintiff case has independently established venue in the county of suit

• Creates a single standard based on federal law-for determining whether a case should be dismissed so that it may be pursued in a more appropriate state or country

• The court will be able to dismiss a case that has no connection to Texas and should have been brought in another state or country if dismissal is in the interest of justice and for the convenience of the parties

• Ensures that named defendants will be responsible only for the portion of fault attributable to them by allowing the jury or fact finder to consider the conduct of all potentially responsible persons when allocating fault for a plaintiff’s injury

o The jury may allocate fault to any responsible person, including a bankrupt, criminal, person beyond the court’s jurisdiction, or employer with workman’s compensation immunity

o Does not impose additional liability or cost on businesses that carry workers’ compensation insurance or others who are not parties to the case or are immune from liability

• Provides that the credit for the pre-trial settlement by another defendant in cases other than healthcare liability claims is based on the percentage of responsibility allocated to the settling defendant rather than being based on the amount of the settlement

• Provides that the credit for the pre-trial settlement by another defendant with respect to healthcare liability claims is based on the total dollar amount of the settlements unless all no settling defendants agree to a credit based on the percentage of responsibility allocated to the settling defendant

•Establishes a 15 -year statute-of repose for product liability claims, except in "latent disease" cases, in which the disease does not manifest for many years after use of the product

• Creates an "innocent retailer defense" under which a retailer cannot be held liable for a product defect unless the retailer has some actual responsibility for the defect

o Numerous exceptions to the defense are provided, including an exception that prevents use of the defense if the responsible manufacturer is outside the court’s jurisdiction or insolvent

• Provides protection from liability, through the use of a rebuttable presumption, to manufacturers, distributors, or prescribers of pharmaceutical products in cases in which it is alleged that the defendant failed to provide an adequate warning about the product’s risk

o Defense is available if the defendant provided government approved warnings.

o Several exceptions are provided, including one making the defense inapplicable if the manufacturer misrepresented or withheld required information from the government

• Provides additional protection from liability, through the use of a rebuttable presumption, for manufacturers who comply with federal standards or regulatory requirements applicable to a product

o Protection is available only if the standard was (1) mandatory, (2) applicable to the aspect of the product that allegedly caused harm, and (3) adequate to protect the public from the risk

• Requires the Texas Supreme Court to revise the Texas Rules of Evidence to conform them to the Federal Rules of Evidence in regard to the admissibility of "subsequent remedial measures" in a products liability action

• Prohibits the assessment of pre-judgment interest on an award of future damages

• Establishes a post judgment interest rate that is based on the prime rate

• Adjusts the current floor and ceiling of the post judgment interest rate from 10%-20% to 5%­-15%

• Modifies the rules relating to appeal bonds so that the cost of the bond alone will not make the appeal of a trial court judgment prohibitive

• Limits the bond requirement to compensatory damages awarded to the plaintiff and places reasonable limits on the total amount of a bond

• Allows the jury or fact-finder to know if a plaintiff was wearing a seat belt at the time of an accident for the purpose of allocating fault and determining the cause of damages.

To contact Sen. Deuell about the legislative process, contact the Capitol Office at (512) 463-0556 or mail to Sen. Bob Deuell, Texas Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711. The website for the Texas Senate is www.Senate.state.tx.us.

Auditions For The Miracle Worker

Cheryl Youree, Director for the Red River Theatre Company’s October production of William Gibson’s stage play, "The Miracle Worker", has set audition dates for the character roles for the play. "The Miracle Worker" is the inspirational true story of the legendary Helen Keller at the moment of her awakening to the world in which she had lived since infancy without sight or hearing. The period and location of the play is the 1880s in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

Beginning Monday and Tuesday, August 11 and 12 from 7:00-9:OO PM at the VA auditorium theatre, Ms. Youree will audition girls between the ages of 10 to 15 for the role of Helen Keller, and children ages 10 and up for two African-American children’s speaking roles. In addition, the script calls for a cast of 12 adults, 6 children with group lines, and the off-stage voices of a young boy and a man.

The adult roles include an elderly doctor, Helen’s mother, Kate, and her father, Captain Keller, her Aunt Ev, the Kellers’ African-American housekeeper, Helen’s half-brother in his early 20s, an English-speaking Greek headmaster, Helen’s tutor, Annie Sullivan, and a non-speaking female servant.

Audition for Annie Sullivan, Helen’s Irish born tutor, requires a song to present at audition. The script calls for Annie to sing "Hush, Little Baby". The ability to act in an Irish dialect for the role of Annie Sullivan will be helpful. Desirable but not required is knowledge of one-handed manual alphabet sign language for Annie Sullivan, for Helen’s mother, Kate, and for Helen.

Immediately following auditions and casting, rehearsals are expected to be held with Ms. Youree approximately 4 evenings a week from 7:00-9:30 PM. Performances will be the first and second weekends of October on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. The audition schedule is posted at the Bonham Chamber of Commerce and is available on the RRTC website at www.RedRiverTheatre.com.

The V.A. auditorium theatre is in Building 3 on the last entryway into the V.A. off East 9^th Street in Bonham.

Red River Theatre Company

Red River Theatre Company is presently developing innovative programs to benefit other nonprofit organizations and worthwhile civic and community projects and causes throughout the Fannin County community. One of those programs, if we determine that we can afford it, will offer a portion of the proceeds of our ticket sales for specific performances of our future productions to selected nonprofit or civic organizations.

Because we have made every effort to avoid joining other donation-dependent organizations in constantly soliciting funding from local government, businesses and individuals, our continuation as a performing arts entity by and for the people of Fannin County is 100% dependent upon patronage of our performances.

Some of the incentives we offer to theatre patrons that are unique to most community theatres include complimentary intermission refreshments tailored to the theme of the play, and discounted advance purchase tickets and reserved seats for groups of 25 or more for a single performance. Additionally, for our first drama this October, The Miracle Worker, we will offer reserved seating for patrons dressed in apparel appropriate to the 1890’s.

We are also looking into the feasibility of presenting a selected theatrical production as an annual tourist event. Other small communities such as Tahlequah, OK (Trail of Tears), Eureka Springs, AR (The Passion Play), and Palo Duro Canyon, TX (Texas Legacies) reap mega-financial annual benefits through the thousands of visitors to their communities for their annual productions. We are currently launching an evaluation of whether our community is willing to offer us the necessary capital to undertake such an ambitious endeavor.

RRTC needs and values your insight and suggestions for the continuation of our effort to provide live stage theatre for Fannin County. Please contact us through our website, www.RedRiverTheatre.com or by mail (P.O. Box 343, Bonham, TX 75418) to express your thoughts, offer your advice, and to help us locate the resources available to us in our community.

New Hours For Local Family History Center

FHC Director Julia Gatchell

Following the move into their new, larger space, The Family History Center (FHC), a genealogy research facility housed within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announces new hours of operation. The FHC will be open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no charge for use of the center.

"We are very lucky to have several librarians and consultants who are extremely knowledgeable in all areas of genealogy research, but also specialists in specific areas like Germany, American Indian, and New England," stated center director Julia Gatchel. "If you haven’t started your genealogy, we can help you. If you’re a seasoned veteran, but stuck or ‘hit a wall,’ we can often get you through the block."

"Often in helping others locate their ancestors, we find some of our own," stated Vida Pittman of Bailey, a FHC consultant. "I just love the excitement of the patrons when they finally find that ancestor they’ve been searching for-sometimes for years!."

The Center is located two miles south of the Bonham Square on Highway 78. For more information you may phone 903-583-4949 during regular Center hours.

Vets To Be Recognized At Dallas Purple Heart Stamp Ceremony

Dallas, TX - The sacrifices of the men and women in the military will be the focus of attention on Wednesday, July 2, when the U.S. Postal Service unveils the Purple Heart definitive postage stamp during a 10:00 a.m. ceremony at the North Texas VA Medical Center, 4500 S. Lancaster Rd., Dallas, TX. The public and all Purple Heart recipients are invited to attend the ceremony free of charge.

Dallas District Manager Carl T. January will unveil the stamp to recognize and pay tribute to the men and women whose sacrifices have allowed Americans to live in freedom. Joining January at the ceremony will be Purple Heart recipient and Viet Nam veteran Congressman Sam Johnson, Congressmen Martin Frost, Pete Sessions, and Michael Burgess, M.D., along with Dallas Postmaster David Martin, Art Frazier, Commander, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 542, and Alan Harper, Director, VA North Texas Health Care System.

"As a veteran, the issuance of this stamp is especially meaningful to me," said January. "We have over 100 Postal employees who are recipients of the Purple Heart military decoration working in the Dallas District. I’m pleased to be able to present this stamp in their honor, and the honor of all those who have made sacrifices so that we may live free in this country."

With the issuance of the Purple Heart stamp, the Postal Service honors the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in the U.S. military. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in action.

According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization for combat-­wounded veterans, the medal is "the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made available to a common soldier."

The 37-cent Purple Heart stamp is now available at Post Offices nationwide. Go to www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/welcome.htm to see the Purple Heart stamp.

Gov. Perry Announces Local Grants For Homeland Security

Funding Will Help Communities Purchase Equipment, Support Training Efforts

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today announced that more than 700 local governments will be receiving $84.2 million for anti-terrorism equipment and homeland security planning.

The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), based in College Station at Texas A&M University, has sent notices to 733 cities and counties announcing their share of the federal homeland security funding allocated to Texas.

"Local leaders and state officials in Texas have developed a regional approach to homeland security that allows us to maximize coordination and resources," Perry said. "These grants will help our communities purchase decontamination equipment, hazmat suits and other equipment to support their regional response plans."

The governor noted that the state’s comprehensive and regional approach to homeland security planning resulted in this federal funding being more widely distributed than previous funding for emergency and first responder services.

"The local governments receiving these grants represent more than 90 percent of the population of Texas," Perry said. "Our communities have done an excellent job working together to develop comprehensive plans to protect both rural and metropolitan areas."

In order to qualify for the funding, local jurisdictions had to complete an assessment of risks and needs. The assessments were used by TEEX and the regional councils of government to help determine the distribution of grant funds.

Local governments also will be receiving instructions on allowable purchases under the grant program. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Domestic Preparedness sets guidelines for the program and must approve all equipment purchases made with the grants.

For a list of grant recipients, visit www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/initiatives/hsgrants.

Melissa Moriah Heller Nominated As Poet Of The Year

I would like to share with your readers about my daughter Melissa Moriah Heller and ask for your help. My daughter wrote a little song when she had just turned eleven. I had recently been given a computer and found the website Poetry.Com.

I entered her little song into this contest; I was astonished to find out that the International Library of Poetry had made her a semi-finalist. They published her little song DON’T BE ASHAMED in Nature’s Echoes.

Melissa Moriah wanted to go and live with her father back in Anchorage, AK. Against my better judgment, I allowed her to go. We did not realize how absolutely awful it would be. Her father was in recovery for drug abuse when I sent her. Well I guess he relapsed. She was given permission to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol at the age of 12, smoke marijuana, and stay out until 11:00 p.m. She started to run the streets of Anchorage at night. Her grades were horrendous. Her father decided that instead of sending her home for Christmas with her dividend money, it would be better used to get him high. She ran away and went to a shelter. I had no money to bring her home and was heart broken. She went to stay with her father’s ex-girlfriend and she told me she would take care of her until I had saved the money to bring her home. The next time I heard from Melissa Moriah she was in Protective custody. Child protective services told me of a wonderful facility where she could be rehabilitated. Right now Melissa Moriah is in Idaho Falls, ID. She is at Teaton Peaks Rehabilitation Center. She has been there since February of this year. She will be done with her rehabilitation in September.

She is working very hard to learn that she is worth something and very much loved. She wrote her little sister a letter and a beautiful poem that gave me shivers when I read it to Anastasia. Well, I decided to enter her poem in the International Open Poetry Contest. Once again, I was informed that they will publish her poem THE MAGIC OF FALL in Eternal Portraits scheduled for publication in Summer of 2003. One week later I received a letter that is almost too good to be true. Melissa Moriah Heller has been nominated as Poet of the Year for 2003. The International Society of Poets has invited her to read her poetry at the single largest gathering of poets in history. She has the opportunity to be formally inducted as an International Poet of Merit and Honored Member of the Poet Society. Her induction is to take place Friday, August 15, in the United States Capital, Washington, D.C., during the 2003 International Society of Poets Summer Convention and Symposium. During this Convention, she will be awarded her Silver Award Cup for "Outstanding Achievement in Poetry" by Hollywood living legend Mickey Rooney, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet W. D. Snodgrass, National Book Award Winner Lucille Clifton, and Poetry Hero Mattie Stepanek. She will also participate in a fantastic international poetry competition featuring 36 prizes totaling $74,000.00. A Grand Prize of $20,000.00-the largest cash prize ever awarded in an amateur poetry competition. There’s also a Second Prize of $5,000.00, two Third Prizes of all-expenses paid vacations for two, including a Caribbean cruise and a trip to Cancun, Mexico, a Fourth Prize of $1,000.00, and six other cash prizes of $500.00 each. Ten poetry-recording contracts and ten book publishing contracts will also be awarded. They will be awarding five $1,000.00 cash scholarships to talented young poets attending the symposium. Her presence is required in order for her to experience these rare and wonderful opportunities.

This is where I have to ask for my neighbors of Fannin County to help. I believe this is exactly the catalyst she needs to show her a better way to live and keep her on the right track. The cost for Melissa and I to attend is $2,682.00. That is the price for the Registration, Convention, Airfare, and Hotel stay. This does not include any frills. I am praying that God will open the doors so that my baby girl of fourteen will have a wonderful, wholesome life she can be proud of. Please help me to give her this rare and wonderful life changing experience. The deadline for registration is August 8, 2003. The registration alone is $150.00. Please send your donations to 203 West Boyd, Bonham, TX 75418. Whatever you send will be greatly appreciated and will help me to help her.

Here is the poem she wrote leading to her nomination: Magic of fall. Songs in the wind Slight change in nature. Beautiful falls mist. The smell of dew. The hints of pine. Cold winds brushing against your face. Watching the water in the breeze. Seeing the clouds pass. Heavy rainfall. Flowers swaying and leaning to the light. Seeing the cubs wrestle on hills. Listening to all the sounds. Only one thing attracts your attention. The beautiful waterfalls.

Researching A Workout Device To Help Keep The Balance System In Shape

Astronauts on extended missions go into space with a spring in their step but rarely return from the International Space Station (ISS) walking steady.

"We want to develop a training device to counter the effects while in space and help astronauts recover more quickly upon return to Earth," said Dr. Jacob Bloomberg, a researcher on the National Space Biomedical Research Institute’s (NSBRI) neurovestibular adaptation team.

Returning astronauts walk with an unstable gait and wide stance and can take almost two weeks to fully recover their footing after a long-duration flight on the ISS. A new treadmill training system being researched could help shorten or remove post-flight balance problems and eventually help elderly patients and others with similar problems.

Bloomberg and his team are using a new, integrated research protocol to discover and test ways to counter the ill effects of space flight on the balance and walking systems. The goal of the research is to develop an in-flight treadmill training system that will improve the brain’s ability to readapt to gravity environments whether it is a return to Earth or a landing on Mars. In addition to developing training programs, Bloomberg is working on better ways to evaluate balance and walking function in returning astronauts.

"Rather than study individual systems in isolation, we’re looking at how multiple systems interact and adapt during space flight to cause balance problems," said Bloomberg, senior research scientist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. "We are working to understand how multiple, interdependent full-body sensory-motor systems are integrated to produce a complex behavior like walking."

A person’s performance on a unique series of integrated tests - an obstacle course, a treadmill and visual acuity test - will help the researchers develop solutions to not only balance

and mobility, but also eye coordination. These tests will serve to evaluate the effectiveness of in­ flight interventions designed to reduce the negative effects of space flight on post-flight balance and walking function.

During testing, subjects walk on a treadmill while head, eye and body movements are recorded with a video-based motion capture system. At the same time, other sensors record body accelerations and the vertical forces that occur during each foot-fall; all this while subjects identify symbols on a computer screen to measure visual acuity. With this unique set-up, Bloomberg and his group can determine how the nervous system responds and adapts to different alterations in sensory input during walking. To complement the treadmill test, the obstacle course serves to help understand the practical implications of sensory-motor changes that lead to post-flight walking disturbances.

"This work will motivate the next generation of treadmill devices used on the International Space Station. While astronauts are training to maintain aerobic capacity and

muscle strength, they will also be training their brains to readapt to a gravity environment," Bloomberg said. "Everyone is told they need to exercise to maintain their heart and muscles, but

rarely do people train to keep their balance system in shape."

Further development of these testing protocols will not only help develop better tools to diagnose problems for elderly patients and others with balance problems, but may also help train them to overcome these problems.

The NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health risks related to long-duration space flight. The Institute’s research and education projects take place at more than 70 institutions across the United States.

School’s out for the summer, but Texas educators are hard at work bringing our schools into the 21^st century. In June, Rod Paige, our nation’s Secretary of Education, gave Texas the stamp of approval for its efforts to comply with the landmark education reform legislation, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Designed to change the culture of Americas schools, it encourages creativity and flexibility, teaches students based on what works, and perhaps more importantly, makes schools accountable for achievement.

The reform required each state to formulate how it will close the achievement gap and make sure all students achieve academic proficiency. This month, for the first time in history every state submitted an accountability plan. The Texas plan is a blueprint to ensure each of our children receives a quality education. In addition to infusing accountability into our schools and requiring students to meet minimum testing requirements, the legislation also provided schools with other options to creatively address the challenges they face.

One element, the "Transitions to Teaching" provi­sion, I fought hard to include in the legislation. Transitions to Teaching is based on the successful military program, "Troops to Teachers" that placed former military personnel in the classroom. The prototype has successfully placed more than 4,300 teachers around the country in every state.

The Transitions to Teaching program recruits and re­trains highly qualified mid-career professionals, retirees and recent college graduates as teachers in high-need schools. It supports the development and expansion of alternatives to initial teacher certification. With many states, including

Texas, facing a shortage of teachers, filling those positions with qualified professionals will meet the immediate needs of students and can provide a more in depth educational experience. Equally important as recruiting these profes­sionals is retaining them as educators, which is why the legislation calls for training, guidance, and support to encourage those who enter the program to make teaching a long-term career.

Single sex schools and classrooms are another cre­ative attempt to provide greater educational options for public school children. Studies have shown that single-sex programs can reduce barriers to learning by providing a less intimidating and more productive classroom. This has been shown particularly in urban areas and middle to high school grades. Girls educated in an all-girls environment often have more confidence and tend to pursue more science and math courses. Boys in same-sex classes gain leader­ship qualities and are often more successful in language and writing courses when the distractions of the opposite sex are removed.

Last August I attended orientation at the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity Preparatory Academy for Boys, or WALIPPPrep Academy, in Houston. WALIPP was one of the first public single-sex schools in the nation to open its doors since the Act passed. Its mission aims to enable its students to, "achieve academically, develop vocationally and become productive citizens." This spring, WALIPP completed its first year serving middle school boys in inner city Houston and moved into a permanent facility to continue to expand on that mission.

While single-sex schools and classrooms are not right for every child - maybe not even for most children - they should at least be an option, and that’s what is now established. The Department of Education will soon set forth guidelines for school districts interested in establishing single-sex schools or classrooms. When they are formulated, more of our schools will be encouraged to utilize single-sex offerings as a way to meet the requests of parents.

Texas is encouraging its schools to innovate and reach out to our children. Across the board, the education reforms will continue to expand public school opportunities and try to prepare the next generation to lead our nation in the future.

Golden Gospel Jubilee

This show will be hosted by Joan Kelton, and The Bluegrass Gospeleers. Featuring: Randy Keister, Don Sharp, Glen Clark, Mike Stroud, George Kirby, Jim Clark and Gary Monroe. Several drop-in guests are expected along with our scheduled special guest singer, the talented and beautiful Renee Kelton Witcher from Allens Chapel. Our special guest groups and always by special request will be Grandpa’s Neighbors from Bennington, OK. We know them here as "The Voices of Angels." Featuring a mother and her four young daughters.

Everyone is invited and welcome to an evening of fun and inspiration. Come out and celebrate our anniversary and July 4th with us. Admission is free. Donations are most appreciated. Thanks to all for your support and God Bless you all.

For more information call: 903-583-4731 or 903-583-5710

USDA Reminds Producers That Livestock Compensation Program-II Sign-up Ends July 3

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audio/tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (Voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

By Tina Jones

Bonham City Mayor, Carl McEachern, was notified by the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA), that the City of Bonham has been awarded a grant from the Texas Community Development Program (TCPD) in the amount of $250,000 for water system improvements.

This award will be made available from the State of Texas 2004 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) allocation. The earliest that these funds will be available is March of 2004. This grant award may be rescinded if the State of Texas 2004 CDBG allocation is significantly lower than the 2003 CDBG allocation of $85,267,000.

In addition, a grant award of $300,000 or higher is reviewed by the ORCA Executive Committee and must receive Executive Committee approval before the grant award is official. Assuming that the State’s 2004 CDBG allocation is not decreased, then a representative from the Office of Rural Community Affairs will contact the City of Bonham early next year concerning the contract agreement.

By Tina Jones

Bonham City Manager, Blaine Hinds, has received notice that the application for the 2002-2003 HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) for Owner-Occupied under the General Set-Aside, has been approved by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Governing Board. The project amount of $330,000 will be used to construct 6 housing units.

For those who qualify, they will be able to relocate to one of these units.

It’s nice to know that Mr. Hinds and other City Officials take the time to apply for grants and applications that benefit the citizens of our community.

By Tina Jones

The Fannin County Commissioners meeting was held Monday, June 23, 2003 at the Fannin County Courthouse.

No action was taken concerning an application for a grant to fund a full-time emergency manager’s position. The grant would be for up to $50,000 a year for the next 3 years. The board had several unanswered questions and felt this matter needed further discussion.

The board approved:

• Minutes of the previous meeting; • plat subdivision for Sand Creek Addition Phase 2 - Joe Stephens;

• Gober MUD to replace, upgrade, and improvements to existing water lines within the county road right-of-way in the Gober Community;

• Permission for Precinct 1 to borrow from right-of-way fund temporarily;

• Treasurer’s monthly report, Auditor’s monthly report and to pay bills.

This concluded the meeting.

Texans Favor School Choice, Believe Public Schools Waste Money

School Finance Session Should Use Choice As Way To Curb Wasteful Spending

AUSTIN, Texas - In a poll commissioned by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, 58 percent of Texans say they favor a school choice program. A similar percentage of the population believes public schools waste money. The scientific poll, conducted by Baselice & Associates, took place from June 11 to June 15, and involved more than 1000 Texans.

The poll asked, "Do you favor or oppose a proposal that would create a school choice program whereby education scholarships would be given by the state to pay for a child’s education at any public, private or parochial school?"

Almost 40 percent of those polled "strongly" favor a voucher program, with another 18 percent in support. Only 31 percent of the state’s population opposes such a program.

The Foundation’s director of research, Chris Patterson, said polling results continue to demonstrate strong support for school choice throughout the state.

"What we see is that the people of Texas persist in demanding school choice," she said. "They see public schools wasting their money and they want change."

The poll also found 56 percent of Texans believe public schools "spend money in a wasteful fashion."

Patterson said the problem of waste should be of great importance as the legislature faces a special session on school finance later this year or in the spring of 2004.

"Too often politicians tell us the answer is more money," she said. "What research shows is that more money is not the solution. We should ask tough, fundamental questions about school operations, and the manner in which we educate our children in the first place."

Patterson said school choice "should be high on the list of priorities" in a special session dealing with education finance.

"School choice would force a higher level of accountability, and help combat the wasteful spending that Texans recognize in their public schools."

Advocates Try New Methods To Boost Organ Donations, Texas Medicine Magazine Reports

A person in need of a life-saving organ transplant might be facing a death sentence.

That’s the brutal truth, because each day an average of 17 people run out of time waiting for a gift of life. They die waiting.

In mid-May there were 81,489 Americans on the national transplant waiting list. Nearly 5,600 of those people were Texans. Yet according to Texas Medicine, the official magazine of the Texas Medical Association, the methods used for years to get donation permission from loved ones of deceased potential donors, are failing,

"The overriding thing that we have to understand is we continue to lose the battle," said former Texas Medical Association President Phil H. Berry Jr., MD, a liver transplant recipient and the key figure in TMA’s Live & Then Give organ donor awareness campaign in the late 1990s.

Only about half of the potential donor families agree to allow their deceased loved one to donate.

In its July edition, the publication reports national statistics showing that between 1998 and 2002 the number of people waiting for transplants grew at more than 5 times the rate of the number of donations permitted on behalf of deceased donors.

"Organs are dropping through the cracks in the hospitals," Dr. Berry told the magazine. "If we got all the organs that were available, we’d have more organs than needed to eliminate the waiting list."

So new strategies are being employed to fight the losing battle.

One is to put key people in the trenches. People representing organ procurement organizations (OPOs) are setting up shop inside trauma hospitals in Texas, according to the magazine. One group, LifeGift, placed representatives in Ben Taub Hospital, a Houston Level 1 trauma center, and later across the street in Memorial Hermann Hospital. These people establish comfortable "insider" relationships with hospital staff, and in some cases, with family members of patients who might become potential organ donors. The OPO staff attempt to help the families understand the situation they face, and then if the patient dies, they might ultimately bring up the subject of donation.

In the period they’ve tried this approach, donations at the two hospitals have risen to the 68 percent to 73 percent range, easily besting the 50 percent standard they’re trying to exceed. Organ donation advocates are service to the deceased person’s family, and they find it helpful to be accepted as peers by the hospital staff.

Janine Mazabob, director of neuroscience services at Memorial Herman Hospital, told Texas Medicine that hospital staffs embrace LifeGift coordinators as a part of the hospital team - and that they are buoyed by any small positive the coordinators can kindle during a time of loss.

"It’s very important for us to do the best we can for the patients," Ms. Mazabob said. "But when we know we’re not going to be able to save a patient, you have to have a win. You can’t do the type of intensity that we do and not get something good out of it. Donation does that."

The early success of placing OPO people in trauma center hospitals is leading to expansion of similar programs to other hospitals across Texas. Another new approach to improve donation rates is more of a top-down strategy. Texas Medicine reports U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson launched the Gift of Life campaign in 2001. This multifaceted program includes enlisting the aid of the legal community to create and distribute uniform donor cards nationwide, and developing curriculum to be taught in high schools. They implemented a program called Workplace Partnerships for Life, in which thousands of employees of 7,000 businesses were encouraged to participate. Employees encourage one another to commit to donating.

The results of these programs have been mixed. Secretary Thompson pointed out that public awareness is greater, which is good, "But the problem is we haven’t really increased the number of organs. We’ve got to do more." A final measure being considered is to involve the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) to work with hospitals to find ways to improve reaching potential donors in hopes of increasing donation rates.

TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing 38,000 physician and medical student members. Founded 150 years ago in Austin, it is still located there and has 119 component county medical societies around the state. TMA has been named America’s best medical society for its effective activities related to provision of quality medical care. TMA’s key objective is to improve the health of all Texans.

Susan Turner Was Sworn In As President Of The Texas Court Reporters Association

Susan Flanary Turner, local court reporter, was sworn in as President of the Texas Court Reporters Association at their annual convention last week. The objective of the Texas Court Reporters Association is to promote the profession of shorthand reporting and educate members and the public in the advancement, improvement and uses of certified shorthand reporters. Ms. Turner will preside at all meetings of the Association, serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.

Ms. Turner attended Paris Junior College, East Texas State University and Dallas Court Reporting College. She obtained her Certified Shorthand Reporter license in 1977. In addition to her membership in TCRA, she is a Professional Member of the National Court Reporters Association, the Dallas Court Reporters Association and the Court Reporters Association of East Texas. Ms. Turner has chaired the Ethics Advisory Committee and the Membership Committee of TCRA. She has been a member of the Board of Directors, Vice-­President of Public Relations, Vice-President of Finance and President-Elect.

Ms. Turner is a native of Paris and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.V. Flanary. She is a Registered Professional Reporter and a partner with her mother, Magalene Flanary, in the freelance court reporting firm Flanary, Turner & Associates in Paris and Bonham. She is married to Bonham attorney, David Turner.

Attending the convention with Ms. Turner were her husband, David Turner, her daughter, Jana Turner, her mother, Magalene Flanary, her aunt and uncle, Linda and Bill Flanary, and her office manager, Kim Hines.

After her presidency is concluded in June of 2004, Ms. Turner will continue to serve on the Board of Directors of TCRA for one year as Immediate Past President.

Leonard’s First Saturday Trades Day Haven For Bargain Shoppers

What started out as a trickle has become a steady stream of customers and vendors since that chilly March morning when First Saturday Trades Day began on the historic Leonard Square.

While the cold kept some away in earlier months, the warming temperatures have been bringing people out in droves, well, actually minivans and family sedans. The sea of craft tables, bargain bins and sidewalk sales that organizers originally hoped for has become a reality. In addition, many residents plan their garage sales for Trades Day, truly making Leonard a mecca for bargain lovers.

This month, Trades Day will be held Saturday, July 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or later on the Leonard Square. Local merchants like Cypress Creek Candle Co. will be having Trades Day specials, and a quick glance at the Leonard Graphic or brochures available on the Square Saturday will tell you where the best bargains in garage sales can be found.

Booth spaces for the monthly event are available for rent by contacting the Leonard City Hall at 903-587-3334. For more information on First Saturday Trades Day in Leonard, contact Larry Thompson at 903-587-2733.

American Bank Captures Inaugural Critter Classic

Finn Blevins won the Putting Contest and scored big with the Big Bertha III Driver.

Capturing the inaugural Friends of Fannin County Critters (FFCC) Charity Golf Classic was the team from American Bank of Texas. The team of Garret Amlin, Corey Foreman, and John Sisk shot a super 10 under par 62 in the 3-man scramble. Carter-Wood Motors’ team of Larry Wood, Jeff Arie, and Bob Griffin also shot 10 under, but lost the tournament in a score card playoff. There was a 3-way tie at 9 under, with the Woodmoore Assisted Living team of Russell Armstrong, Steve Jones and Wayne Cooper taking the 3rd place trophies after the score card play-off.

The winner of the Putting Contest was Finn Blevins. His 20 foot putt secured his title and he received the Big Bertha Steelhead III Driver. The winner of the Longest Drive Contest was Jeff Arie who drilled one straight down the middle of the fairway on the 9th hole. His drive was paced out to 310 yards. Heath Weissert knocked his drive on the 16th hole 3 feet 6 inches from the hole to win the Closest to the Pin Contest and a generous Legacy Ridge Pro-shop Gift Certificate.

The Inaugural Critter Golf Tournament was organized with two objectives in mind; to provide a great day of golf for the participants and to raise funds for Critter Corner. Thanks to the generous sponsors and many players, the Classic brought in over $4000. Critter Corner at 200 Winkler provides a haven for unwanted/abandoned dogs & cats until they can find a home. The FFCC is happy to announce that both objectives have been met with a resounding success. (Please note that we have a waiting list to take in adoptable animals and that we always have wonderful dogs and cats that need homes. So please think of us, when you are ready to bring a pet into your family).

The Inaugural Critter Classic golf tournament, held at Legacy Ridge on June 20th was an event to remember. The weather was perfect. And the all you could eat Bar-B-Que, provided by Buddy’s Bar-B-Que, was met with many compliments. No one left hungry.

Tournament Director Dave Wacker said " This year we had a great tournament and each player received a nice "goody bag" with golf shirts, Legacy Ridge golf glove and a sleeve of the new Maxfli Noodle golf balls. Next year we expect to turn out an even bigger and better event as we continue to make this a tournament that everyone will want to schedule into their calendar".

Somerville, NJ - Ethicon, INC., announced June 26, 2003 that it plans to phase out production and marketing of selected general wound care product lines in the United States.

The affected product lines include eye pads, sponges, gauze pads, tapes, cleaners, as well as other general wound care products.

As a result, our manufacturing facility in Sherman, Texas will stop production on or before December 31, 2003.

"We are focused on building our global leadership in advanced wound care by pioneering products and technologies that facilitate the healing process," said Daniel Wildman, Worldwide President, Johnson & Johnson Wound Management, a division of ETHICON. "The general wound care product lines no longer match our long-term strategy."

This phase-out will impact about 510 associates at the Sherman plant. Approximately 180 of these associates were already advised their positions were eliminated in prior communications. Similarly, eight members of the sales and marketing team will also be affected.

"We deeply regret that this strategic business decision will impact our associates in Sherman as well as some members of our sales and marketing teams," Wildman said. "Our company intends to do everything reasonably possible to assist those whose jobs will be eliminated - and address their concerns in a timely, caring manner."

Texas Department of Health Reissues Heat Precautions

• Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle during hot weather.

• Drink plenty of fluids but avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine or large amounts of sugar.

• Plan strenuous outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day; then gradually build up tolerance for warmer conditions.

• Stay indoors in  air-conditioned environments as much as possible.

• If air conditioning is not available, open windows on opposite sides of rooms for cross ventilation, and use fans to cool rooms. If temperature and humidity are extremely high, point fans out windows.

•Take frequent breaks when working outdoors.

• Eat more frequently but make sure meals are well balanced and light.

• At first signs of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), move to a cooler location, rest for a few minutes and slowly drink a cool liquid. Seek medical attention immediately if conditions do not improve.

• Ask a physician or pharmacist about the effects of sun and heat exposure if taking prescription medications such as diuretics, antihistamines or mood-altering or antispasmodic drugs.

• Check frequently on ill or elderly friends, relatives and neighbors who may need help.

• Avoid bundling babies in heavy blankets or dressing them in heavy clothing.

Bonham Snap Menu

Spaghetti/Meat Sauce,

English Peas, Tossed Salad/Dressing, Garlic Toast, Cantaloupe, Milk

Oven Fried Fish, Macaroni and Tomatoes, Seasoned Cabbage/Carrots, Bread, Peach Cobbler, Milk

WHITEWRIGHT TRUCK AND

TRACTOR PULL

All three nights there will be Monster Hummer rides for the children, 2 bicycles each night will be given away, and a total of 400 children meals at the Cotton Patch in Denison.

For the past nine years, Whitewright has won "Pull Of The Year" out of all locations in the United States.

The Whitewright Tractor Pull are expecting 105 pulls and would like for everyone to come and enjoy the show.

Special Sessions Of The Legislature

June 30th marked the opening day of the first called special session of the 78th Legislature. On June 21st, the governor signed the proclamation calling members of the legislature back to Austin for the purpose of considering legislation relating to congressional redistricting.

This special session will be the first of at least two for the 78th Legislature. Another will be called late this fall or early next spring to address public school finance in an effort to develop a new funding mechanism for our schools and to bring relief to local property taxpayers. The Select Committee on Public School Finance has already begun meeting and taking input from citizens and experts in order to formulate recommendations.

Although prior to 1992, special sessions were fairly common, this will be the first called special session since the 4th called special session of the 72nd Legislature, which convened November 10, 1992. Due to the rarity of the occasion in recent years, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss some of the history and parameters of these sessions.

The first special session ever called in Texas occurred following the 3rd regular session and lasted 26 days, beginning August 12, 1850 and ending September 6 of the same year. It was followed 73 days later by a second called special session. The Texas Constitution does not limit the number of special sessions the governor may call. In fact, following the 71 st Legislature in 1989, there were six special sessions.

The Texas Constitution places no limitation on the number of topics the governor can designate in a special session proclamation. Although legislation considered during the special session is limited to the topics listed in the proclamation, the governor may expand the call to include additional topics at any time. Legislation was allowed on 153 topics during the 1st called special session of the 43rd Legislature and 72 topics during the 2nd Called Session of the 72nd Legislature.

The Constitution limits special sessions to a maximum of thirty days but does not limit the minimum amount of time the legislature must be in session. The 1st called session of the 38th Legislature met for only one hour and no legislation was enacted.

I encourage you to contact me during the special session with your comments and suggestions or if I may be of assistance with any issues dealing with state agencies. You can reach me by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by e-mailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us.

Hall Sends Cautionary Message As House Narrowly Passes

Prescription Drug Bill

WASHINGTON, DC ... Rep. Ralph Hall (D-TX) expressed caution tonight as the House of Representatives debated and approved after midnight the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act by a narrow margin of 216 - 215. Hall supported the measure to keep the process going but noted that this is "just a first step" in an ongoing effort to ensure that seniors get the care they deserve.

"Like many people, I am not completely satisfied with this bill, but I am also not satisfied to see Medicare collapse," Hall said. "The close vote in the House illustrates the complexity of this issue - and the work that still needs to be done. However, we are closer than we have ever been to making some meaningful reforms and providing a prescription drug benefit to seniors."

Hall, a longtime supporter of a voluntary prescription drug benefit and efforts to strengthen Medicare, spoke on the Floor of the House during the debate. Earlier in the week he attended a bipartisan meeting on the issue with President Bush at the White House.

"Medicare needs to be modernized to include a meaningful provision for drug coverage," Hall said. "In my lifetime, we have seen how prescription drugs have greatly improved and extended the lives of Americans. We have also seen how the costs of those life-providing drugs can trouble families every day."

The House-passed bill extends Medicare coverage to include prescription drugs, using private insurers to provide coverage to all Medicare patients who choose to enroll. Patients would pay the first $250, 20 percent of drug costs between $251 and $2,000, and all the costs until their expenses reach $3,500, at which time the private insurer would pay the remaining drug costs for the year. The monthly premium for most seniors is estimated to be about 35 dollars. Low-income seniors would pay a lower premium or none at all.

The bill provides for private insurers, beginning in 2010, to compete with Medicare in offering coverage for hospital and doctor services. Supporters believe that competition will hold down costs and help ensure the financial viability of Medicare. "We desperately need to do something to save a great program for people in their golden years," Hall said. The bill also includes support for rural health providers and importation of drugs from Canada.

Hall cautioned, however, that seniors and the disabled "have paid for and have come to expect the traditional Medicare system and the safety net it provides them - and they should be able to retain their current plans if they continue to be pleased with them."

Hall called for lower drug prices for seniors and noted that, for ten key drugs for seniors, Americans pay on average 150 percent more than Canadians. "This is unacceptable. I don’t like price controls - the marketplace provides the competition necessary to deliver the best price for people in need. We must lower the cost of prescription drugs, and my hope is that we can all work together, including drug companies, to come up with new, better, and more creative ways to achieve affordable prescription drugs."

Hall also supported the Blue Dog Democrats’ alternative plan that is based on the bipartisan Senate Medicare bill. This plan included low monthly premiums and deductible, 50 percent co-insurance through $4,500, catastrophic coverage, Medicare fall back plans in areas without two competitive plan options, and additional relief for rural providers. The measure was defeated by a vote of 208 - 223.

The Senate is scheduled to approve its Medicare/prescription drug bill this week, and a House-Senate Conference will resolve the differences between the two versions. "My thrust for the Conference will be to contain prescription drug costs, provide a safety net for seniors who want to remain in Medicare and ensure that rural health care providers receive the support they need," Hall said.

The House also approved the Health Savings and Affordability Act, a bill that will permit personal savings accounts to be used for out-of-pocket medical expenses. The accounts would be available to taxpayers who are either uninsured or covered through a high-deductible health insurance policy. Individuals could make tax-deductible contributions of up to $2,000 or $4,000 for families.

Austin College Professors Dr. Peggy Redshaw and Dr. Jerry Lincecum presented the program at the last meeting of the Bonham Rotary Club on a project that is called "Telling Our Stories". Started in 1990, this popular project involves people from the Texoma area who get together and write their experiences which involves local history as well as family stories. Some have even written books on their personal experiences. "Telling Our Stories" is sponsored by Austin College and co-sponsored by The Herald Democrat.

Mica Tucker, Bonham High School student and one of Bonham Rotary Club’s R.Y.L.A. Camp recipients was a guest. The Bonham Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at noon at the Family Life Center.