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Fair-lycreativeJune Anderson andMickie Luke use their talents toenhance theMeeker County Fair

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ZEST / August 2010 3

Contents

Bring on food on a stick:Fair season set to kick off

The twinkle of lights, the clatterof carnival rides, the smell of farmanimals and the sweetness of cottoncandy are sure signs a county fair isin full swing. I can almost sensethem all now as fair seasonapproaches.

The Meeker County Fair is Aug.5-8 in Litchfield. The McLeodCounty Fair is Aug. 18-22 inHutchinson.

Each August for the past fiveyears I have attended a county fairin a work capacity. While walkingaround the grounds snapping photosof volunteers dishing out ice creamor 4-H’ers bathing their prize showcows, one thing became abundantlyclear: Fairs take work, dedicationand commitment. From the young

people exhibiting livestock to fairboard members seeing that eventsrun smoothly, a county fair is onlyas good as the effort put into it.

In this August edition of Zest, wecelebrate those people responsiblefor the success of the area’s countyfairs during the past century.

Meeker County residents JuneAnderson and Mickie Luke aredoing their part to ensure that thetables inside the exhibitor buildingshave plenty to display. Andersonsupplies an assortment of cakes,breads and embroidery for judging;while Luke enters hostas, lilies andsewing projects. Both ladies said thefair is fun and engages them in thecommunity.

In McLeod County, fair animalsreceive top-notch care thanks to theservices of the fair veterinarian. Formost of the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, Dr.

Virgil Voigt held that position.Today, it belongs to Dr. JohnFroning. The job of fair vet is morethan tending to animal illnesses andinjuries. It is abouthelping to promoterural living and edu-cating the public inanimal health.

If you an idea for astory, a favorite recipeor just comments,please send them tome. You can reach me [email protected] orsend a letter C/O Katie Winter toHutchinson Leader 36 WashingtonAve. W., Hutchinson, MN 55350 orIndependent Review 217 Sibley Ave.N., Litchfield, MN 55355.

See you at the fair!

Katie Winter

5 Calendar: County fairs are here

6 COVER STORY: Fair-ly creative

10 Days gone by: Memories of fairs past

12 FEATURE STORY: Making the fair a healthy affair

16 Recipes: Jumbo seafood shells

17 Travel and Leisure: Tips to get the best tee times

18 Puzzles

20 Money Matters: A financial review

21 Ask Marci: What is “the doughnut hole?”

22 Last Word: Declare your wishes by Merline Duering, executive director at Prince of Peace

6

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August 2010Vol. 1 No. 6

zestforlife.mnesTZ

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Opinion

PUBLISHED BY

Litchfield Independent ReviewPO Box 921

Litchfield, MN 55355(320) 693-3266

Hutchinson Leader36 Washington Ave. W.Hutchinson, MN 55350

(320) 587-5000

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Katie Winter, [email protected] or [email protected](320) 693-3266 or (320) 234-4172

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By David UffingtonThe government’s Making Home Affordable mortgage

bailout programs haven’t been as successful as wasexpected. The programs were designed to lower mortgagepayments, allowing homeowners to keep their homes andavoid foreclosure. As it’s turning out, the vast majority ofhomeowners who get a lowered mortgage end up default-ing on their mortgages anyway. There are quite a few rea-sons for the failure of the programs:

• Banks weren’t initially asking for proof of income,automatically putting homeowners into a trial program.Once paperwork was completed during the trial period, itwas discovered that many homeowners had too muchincome to qualify and were taken out of the program.

• Paperwork was lost or homeowners failed to send inrequired documents.

• Homeowners are giving up and selling their homes.Those who agree to a short sale or just give the houseback to the bank qualify for $3,000 in moving expenses.

• Homeowners haven’t been able to get through thetrial program successfully before the new modificationdeal is final.

• Even with mortgage modification, homeowners stillhave other debts to juggle. Not only did they have latemortgage payments, but other bills had stacked up before

they applied for help. Those bills must still be paid.The number of people applying to the programs has

plunged, but a new one, starting in August, could encour-age thousands to seek help: the Unemployment Program.

Some of the eligibility requirements include:• Mortgage must have originated prior to Jan. 1, 2009.• Home must be the principal residence.• The mortgage wasn’t already modified by one of the

programs.• Mortgage payments are late, but not more than three

months.• The payment is more than 31 percent of the home-

owner’s income.• The homeowner can prove unemployment by receiving

unemployment benefits.At this point there are a number of programs available:

Home Affordable Refinance Program, Home AffordableModification Program, Second Lien Modification Program,Home Affordable Unemployment Program and HomeAffordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program.

For more information, go to www.makinghomeafford-able.gov or call (888) 995-4673.

David Uffington writes the Dollars and Sense column forKing Features Syndicate., Inc.

Bailing on bailout program

The McLeod County Fair is Aug. 18-22 in Hutchinson.Wednesday, Aug. 18:5 p.m. midway opens. Grandstand: 7 p.m. Auto Cross.

North Corporate Stage: 8 p.m. Shaw Brothers Thursday, Aug. 19:1 p.m. midway opens. Pavilion Stage: 11:30 a.m. Chuck

Thiel. North Corporate Stage: 8 p.m. Hat Stand Jack. SouthCorporate Stage: 4 p.m. Prairie Rose. Grandstand: 7 p.m.Moto Cross. Promise Stage: 9:30 a.m. Big Fun FamilyCircus; 10:30 a.m. Zoo Mobile.

Friday, Aug. 21:1 p.m. midway opens. Pavilion Stage: 11:30 a.m. Lyndon

Peterson. C&L Stage: 8 p.m. to midnight Hairball.Northeast fairgrounds: 1 p.m. Good Old Days ThreshingBee. Grandstand: motocross at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 22:11 a.m. midway opens. C&L Stage: 10:30 a.m. Cogley

Sisters. Pavilion Stage: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Dueling Bands –Lester Schuft & Willy Pikal. Promise Stage: 7 p.m. VeggieRaces. Grandstand: 7 p.m. autocross. South CorporateStage: 8 p.m. Ladies of the 80s.

Sunday, Aug. 23:1 p.m. midway opens. Show Arena: 1 p.m. McLeod

County Talent Contest. Grandstand: 12:30 p.m. AntiqueTractor Pulling; 6 p.m. demo derby. Corporate Stage: 4 p.m.White Sidewalls; 8 p.m. Clover.

The Meeker County Fair is Aug. 5-8 in Litchfield.Bandshell and beer garden scheduleThursday, Aug. 5:3:30 p.m. 4-H Arts-In Performance; 6:30 -10:30 p.m.

Wagon Wheelers.Friday, Aug. 6:12:30-1:30 p.m. Kingery Family; 1:30 p.m. Senior Citizen

Program Century Farm Awards; 2-3:30 p.m. AugustanaVariety Show; 5-6 p.m. 4-H Share The Fun/Arts-In; 7:30-10:30 p.m. Pure Country; 8:30-10:30 p.m. Wally Pikal in theBeer Garden.

Saturday, Aug. 7:11 a.m.-6 p.m. Underwater World Adventure Aquarium;

2:30 p.m. Ocean Educational Program; 7:30-9:30 p.m. GregMichaels in the Bandshell; 9:00 p.m.-midnight Back RoadsBand in the Beer Garden.

Sunday Aug. 8:10:30 a.m. Ecumenical Church Service with First Baptist

Church, Grove City; 1-1:45 p.m. Sherwin Linton Show; 2p.m. Talent Show; 6 p.m. 4-H Arts-In; 7-8:30 p.m.

Grandstand line up:Thursday, Aug. 5 7 p.m. Demo DerbyFriday, Aug. 6 7 p.m. Donkey RacesSaturday, Aug. 7 6 p.m. Demo DerbySunday, Aug. 8 1 p.m. Fun Demo Derby

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Cover Story

Fair-lycreative

Open class exhibitors use theirtalents to enhance county fairs

Mickie Luke and dog Maggie stand in oneof Luke’s flower gardens in rural Darwin.Luke enters many of her flowers andplants in the Meeker County Fair.

STAFF PHOTOS BY KATIE WINTER

June Anderson is at home in her Litchfield kitchen where shebakes numerous cakes, breads and muffins for the MeekerCounty Fair.


Cover Story

By Katie Winter

Tucked away from the mid-way and grandstand on theMeeker County

Fairgrounds are the exhibitionbuildings, where some of thearea’s most creative residentsshowcase their talents, earnprizes and participate in the fair.

The open-class competitionincludes categories for the arts,such as photography, paintingand woodwork, as well as thepopular categories of horticulture,canning and baked goods.

Each year, the Meeker CountyFair receives hundreds of entriesin the open-class competition forfood, including homegrown pro-duce, canned goods and bakedtreats.

June Anderson, 86, does herpart to contribute to that totalwith the assortment of cakes,breads and rolls she has bakedand entered in the MeekerCounty Fair for nearly 25 years.The Litchfield baker loves spend-ing mornings in her kitchen, mix-ing batter and putting pan afterpan into the oven.

“It was relaxing to do all thesethings,” Anderson said. “I havenothing against boxed cakes, butI like to make them homemademyself. That’s been really fun.”

Relaxing, though, does nottranslate to lax for Anderson, whotakes her baking seriously. Sherelies on recipes from a BettyCrocker cookbook and only usesGold Medal flour. From the quali-ty of ingredients to the appear-ance of each baked good,Anderson is a self-professed per-fectionist.

“I want everything to be per-fect,” Anderson said. “I reallyhave to read the recipes. It isn’talways perfect. They go in thegarbage sometimes.”

Her insistence on entering onlyhigh-quality baked goods in theMeeker County Fair has earnedAnderson a grand champion rib-bon for her chiffon cake and achampion ribbon for her sweetrolls. She also is proud of hermore unconventional creations,

like dill bread and seven-grainbread.

“I keep trying,” Anderson said.“I’ve made as many as 27 thingsfor the fair and as few as one orthree, depending on the year. Ifinally got grand champion on mychiffon. I was just so happy tohave finally made it.”

Cake has featured heavily inAnderson’s life, spanning back tothe days of her childhood peeringover the countertop as her moth-er mixed ingredients.

Later, Anderson spent 40-oddyears at Litchfield’s New Bakery,decorating and inscribing cakes.Now, baking and exhibiting at thefair serves as a way for her tostay active in the community.

“I’ve had a good life making allthese things,” Anderson said. “Ijust can’t stand it that I’m goingto sit down, then that’s the end ofyou. I either embroider or I’m inthe kitchen or going someplace.That’s what I do.”

Besides an array of bakedgoods, Anderson also entersembroidered wall hangings anddish towels in the fair. She saidbringing projects to the fair helpsin a small way to keep the fairthriving.

“What makes the fair is whatpeople bring and make,”Anderson said. “A lot of peoplebring things to the fair and yousee a lot of people. It’s just kind ofa fun thing.”

From kitchen to gardenThe kitchen is not the only stu-

dio where fair projects come tolife. The garden also blooms withpossibility for many exhibitors.

The Meeker County Fairreceives hundreds of entries inthe open-class competition forhorticulture, including flowerspecimens, flower arrangementsand fresh produce.

Mickie Luke takes her soil justas seriously as Anderson takesher oven. Luke, 73, from Darwin,began taking her flowers to theMeeker County Fair in the early1990s. Today, she is up to nearly20 project entries, including sewnitems.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICKIE LUKE

Mickie Luke has been taking hosta leavesand quilted wall hangings, like these to theMeeker County Fair for about 20 years.


Cover Story“If you want the fair to go on, somebody has to partici-

pate,” Luke said. “I like to take part as much as I can.” As a member of the Meeker County Horticultural

Society, Luke has gained a fair bit of knowledge about theday lilies, petunias and hostas she takes to the fair. Shesaid understanding the needs and behavior of her flowersmakes it more likely to have a quality product to bring tothe fair.

During the warm days of spring and summer, Luke isbusy acquainting herself with the season’s newest blos-soms.

“You never quit learning,” Luke said. “I just thoroughlyenjoy working with the plants.”

For Luke, the county fair is a tradition that began as achild when she was allowed to take her penmanship bookto fair for judging. She then transitioned into her firstpassion, horses. During her teenage years, Luke partici-pated in the fair’s western horse show. Her two daughterseventually carried on the horse riding and fair traditionbefore Luke began entering projects of her own again.

“The fair is a fun thing,” Luke said. “It’s a get-together. I

like being around people and it’s something I would missif I didn’t do it.”

For Luke the key to an enjoyable fair experience is notonly creating project entries, but also admiring the workof participants of all ages. She particularly likes walkingthrough the 4-H building, taking note of the changes sinceher youthful days at the fair.

“I still got 4-H in my blood,” Luke said. “I still alwaysspend time looking at what the kids are making and howit’s changed. They’re getting into quilting and that’s fun tosee.”

Luke’s fair contributions stretch beyond that of anexhibitor. She also has volunteered in the horticulturebuilding, assisting the judges with paperwork and water-ing the plants. It is just one more way to keep active,Luke said.

“I can go out early in the morning and forget all aboutbreakfast,” Luke said, “and in the evening too. I’ll go outand it’s dark before I know it. It’s what keeps my strengthup.”

The Meeker County Fair is Aug. 5-8 in Litchfield.

STAFF PHOTO BY KATIE WINTER

June Anderson’s skills also extend outside the kitchen. She is a gifted knitter and crocheter, creating everythingfrom pillows to wall hangings.

“What makes the fair is what people bring and make.A lot of people bring things to the fair ... It’s just kind

of a fun thing.” – June Anderson


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Days Gone By

The demolition derby has long been a favorite eventat the McLeod County Fair with thousands of specta-tors watching the destruction of the cars throughclouds of dust and exhaust.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MCLEOD COUNTY FAIR

Well-groomed horses hitched to decorated wagonsoften were paraded across the McLeod CountyFairgrounds.

Generationsof childrenhave fondmemories ofthe thuds andgiggles thatcame withriding thebumper carsat theMcLeodCounty Fair.

Memoriesof fair daysgone by


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The midway at theMeeker County Fair isawash with lights andactivity as the midnighthour strikes.The arrayof carnival rides,games and food keepfair-goers entertainedfor hours.

Bright lights, big fair

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEEKER COUNTY


Feature Story

Making the faira healthy affairThroughout the years, veterinarians at the McLeodCounty Fair have cared for hundreds of fair animals

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MCLEOD COUNTY FAIR

Veterinarians, Dr. John Froning and Dr.Virgil Voigt spent much of fair week making the rounds throughout thelivestock barns at the McLeod County Fair, checking for signs of illness or injury among the hundreds of cows,horses, chickens, pigs, sheep and rabbits.


Feature Story

By Katie Winter

One week a year for nearly 20years, Dr. Virgil Voigt rose early fromhis bed, dressed and headed out thedoor. He had a special set of rounds tomake and hundreds of potentialpatients waiting for him. Some werefour-legged, some were feathered andothers had udders.

Such is the life of the McLeodCounty Fair veterinarian.

“I used to go there early all thetime,” Voigt said, “because if I got tothe fair, say like at about 6 in themorning, the barns were all quiet andI could just walk around in there andI could see a lot of stuff I couldn’t oth-erwise see.”

The lineageFrom 1975 until 1993, Voigt cared

for the health needs of a diverse col-lection of fair animals. From lambsand llamas to calvesand cats, Voigt treat-ed them all. Voigtwas born inArlington, Minn.,conducted his under-grad studies atMinnesota StateUniversity-Mankatobefore attending theUniversity ofMinnesota’s veteri-nary school. Hebegan his Hutchinsonpractice in 1974.During his time asfair vet he accumu-lated enough storiesand memories to fill acattle manger.

“I always lookedforward to the fairbecause it was anoth-er way of renewingacquaintances witheverybody. That’swhat the fair did fora lot of people,” Voigtsaid.

He retired fromthe duties of fair vetafter the 1993 fair.Two years later, cur-rent fair vet Dr. JohnFroning took thereigns.

Since 1996, Froning has been theone making the rounds through thebarns and pens at the fairgrounds.Originally from Miller, S. D., Froningmoved to Hutchinson in 1994. Heobtained his in veterinary degreefrom Kansas State University. Hesaid the fair vet experience is asmuch about the people as it is theanimals.

“I get asked a ton of questions andget into some interesting conversa-tions,” Froning said. “I love the fair.It’s a lot of fun.”

The long careers of Voigt andFroning have made them familiarfaces at the fairgrounds. While mak-ing their rounds they were inevitablybound to bump into a client or thegrandchild of a client.

Over the years, Voigt said, puttingthe names to the faces has becomeincreasingly challenging.

One name Voigt is likely to never

forget is Dr. A.J. Thompson, the long-time Hutchinson veterinarian whohanded down the fair vet title toVoigt.

“He was 83 and had been fair vet-erinarian forever,” Voigt said. “Hewas one of Hutchinson’s original vet-erinarians. He basically said that assoon as a new veterinarian moved totown, they’re getting the job. So whenhe comes and tells you that, you don’tsay no.”

Healthy fair, happy fairBoth Voigt and Froning have

brought their passion for animals tothe McLeod County Fair summerafter summer. Their stints as fair vetsmay have started 20 years apart, buttheir duties differed very little.

The No. 1 priority of a fair veteri-narian is preventing the spread ofcontagious disease by conducting arigorous health inspection and testing

STAFF PHOTO BY KATIE WINTER

Left, Dr. John Froning and right, Dr.Virgil Voigt combine for more than 30 years of serviceas fair veterinarians for the McLeod County Fair in Hutchinson.Voigt first looked afterthe fair livestock in 1974, while Froning took on the same duty in 1996.


Feature Story

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MCLEOD COUNTY FAIR

Horses at the county fair are especially susceptible to the heat and humidity that often accompanies fair days,a fact Dr.Virgil Voigt learned first hand during one McLeod County Fair.

for illnesses like bovine tuberculosisand pseudorabies during the weeksbefore the fair. During the big week,the doctors checked the animals forsigns of ailments and treated anyinjuries that may arise.

Froning said a fair with a variety ofhealthy animals goes a long waytoward creating positive perceptionsof agriculture and rural living.

“From the public perception, wewant healthy animals there,” Froningsaid. “(The county fair) is just a greatopportunity to get information outabout livestock and pets.”

Voigt saw firsthand how the conse-quences of a disease outbreak at thefair were devastating to not only theevent but animal owners, as well.

“(One year) it was really humid andthe horses started getting reallyuncomfortable,” Voigt recalled. “Andlo and behold the worst possible sce-nario happens. A horse gets in therewith a respiratory problem. It wascontagious. I got there that morningand caught that horse was coughing.By the time I made my rounds about

six horses were already doing thesame thing. I got a hold of the super-intendent and I said ‘we’ve got to getthese horses out of here.’

“That was probably my darkestmoment as fair veterinarian becauseI had just wiped out the harness rac-ing and some other type of show, too.There were a lot of mad people, butthey understood.”

Team effortThe livestock superintendents and

owners deserve much of the credit forkeeping the animals comfortable andsafe during fair week, the two veteri-narians said. Everyone from the 4-Hand FFA youth and the owners of reg-istered purebreds to fair staff deservekudos for the significant time andeffort invested in preparation.

“Pretty much anybody that wins atthe McLeod County Fair has a reallygood chance of doing well at the stateshow,” Froning said. “There are a lotof well-bred animals and a lot of workthat goes into it, too. They take a lot

of pride in showing their animals.”Voigt echoed that sentiment.“The programs for the youngsters,

4-H and FFA, were a tremendous wayto teach these youngsters responsibil-ity,” Voigt said. “A lot of the picturesthey have of themselves being takenwith their purple ribbon and theirsteer that becomes one of their treas-ured things later in life.”

The fair vibeEven though Froning and Voigt

have spent fair week on call, ready tospring to action the moment an ani-mal needs care, they have not missedthe chance to soak up the fair atmos-phere.

“The fair is great,” Froning said. “Itreally draws people from across theboard. It’s a lot of fun. I plan on (con-tinuing) as long as they keep havingme back.”

“I enjoyed those years as fair veteri-narian and the years after that. Ienjoy that kind of public service,”Voigt said.


Feature Story

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MCLEOD COUNTY FAIR

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3. In small bowl, combine oil, garlic,oregano, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.Let stand while you cut onions, pep-pers and sausages into 1-inch chunks.

4. Thread peppers, two at a timeand alternating with onion andsausage, onto skewers. Brush skew-ers with oil mixture.

5. Place on hot grill grate; coverand cook 10 to 12 minutes or untilbrowned, turning occasionally.

6. Place on platter to serve. Serves12.


Travel and Leisure

The Senior Community of Hutchinson

The Oaks & The Pines

• 1 or 2 BR Apartments• Social Activities• Medication Administration• Meal Plan• 24-hr Staffing• All Utilities• Housekeeping and

Laundry Services

For information or to arrange a tour, call Berit Spors at 320-234-0865

Independence. Community. Security.

N021

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Now Featuring Memory Care

No matter if you are new to the sport or an old pro,most golfers have the same complaint: finding time to hitthe golf course. That’s why for many of us, getting in around of golf is relegated to weekends or vacations.

Unfortunately, the weekends are the busiest times formost courses, and securing a good tee time can be tough.

By arming yourself with some tricks of the trade, how-ever, there are several ways to land the best tee times,even on the busiest weekends.

“It’s all about knowing how to stay a step ahead whencompeting with other golfers for tee times. This way youcan book the best times before others get to them, or canchoose to play during lighter periods,” said Ron Ward, gen-eral manager of ActiveGolf.com, a website that allowsusers to book tee times at hundreds of golf courses acrossNorth America.

Here are some tips from Ward on how to get thoseprized tee times:

• Beat them to it: Most golfers book tee times 2.4 daysin advance for most courses, according to statistics fromActiveGolf.com. So book your spot on Monday or Tuesdayfor the coming weekend, instead of procrastinating untillater in the week. You’ll have more choices of courses and

tee times and lower prices available. • Heat it up: Golfers tend to book tee times more in

advance during months when there is more sunshine. Bewilling to play in the heat and sun, when others are retir-ing to the clubhouse.

• Book lighter times: According to Ward, most golferscrowd onto the course at the same times -- typicallybetween 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on most courses. So, the earlybird or late risers usually can get a tee time, even whenbooking later in the week.

• Tap the web: By going online to book your time, youcan move quickly and avoid hassles. Booking online alsoenables you to secure tee times even in the middle of thenight, when other golfers are sleeping.

• Take a drive: Go off the beaten path. Drive a bit out ofyour way to find less-crowded courses. You’ll broaden yourhorizons and vary your game. And you might evenimprove your game by tackling new challenges.

• Pony up: When all else fails, shell out a little moregreen to get on the green. The best times at top courseswill cost more than other tee times.

So dig deeper if you really want that certain spot on abusy weekend.

Tips to get the best tee times


Puzzles

KING CROSSWORDACROSS1 Grounded flock5 Castle protection9 Jazzy style12 Spiraling motion13 Part of a foot?14 Carnival city15 Small embellishment17 New England cape18 Deli purchase19 Role for Desi21 "Forget it!"22 Motif24 Everything else27 Street address?28 Charitable donation31 Matterhorn, for one32 Cartesian conclusion33 - de cologne34 Dieter's target36 Expert37 Dance lesson

38 Hex40 Greeting41 "- Foolish Things"43 Soda shoppe order47 Massage48 Gridiron tactic using a tee51 - Khan52 Latvia's capital53 Canal zone54 Apiece55 Microwave56 Ohio team

DOWN 1 Early birds?2 "- Breckinridge"3 Orsk's river4 Trig measure5 Revealing fashion6 Lennon's lady7 Performance8 "Ta-da!"9 It has its charms10 Sty cry

11 Shetland, for one16 Comic Philips20 "- Little Teapot"22 Vestige23 Base runner's goal24 U.K. fliers25 Right angle26 Neighbor of alt27 Prejudice29 West of Hollywood30 Dine35 Kramden's transport37 Donut, slangily39 Copy, for short40 Shade41 Snare42 Ginormous43 Read quickly44 Catastrophic45 Litmus reddener46 Supplements, with "out"49 Actress Ullmann50 Epoch

All answers on page 20


Puzzles

02259

All answers on page 20


Puzzle Answers

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Address __________________________________________

City ____________________State ______Zip____________

Mail this form and your $18 or $10 check to

ZESTP.O. Box 921Litchfield, MN 55355

Themail’shere!”

“

The happiest day of the month is when delivery of the fresh, new issue ofZEST arrives in mailboxes and on newsstands. Home delivery subscrip-tions are available for $18 per year.Subscribers to the Independent Review or Leadercan receive ZEST for only $10 per year.

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ZEST36 Washington Ave. W.Hutchinson, MN 55350

ORTO

Money Matters

The way you spend andsave money needs to reflectthe changes in your lifeand be adjusted according-ly to keep your retirementplanning on track.

Savings, investmentsCheck the rate of return

on interest-bearingaccounts like savings andCDs. Don’t assume thatthese interest rates willremain unchanged withoutyour knowledge. Reviewyour statements and watchcarefully for notices aboutchanges in your accounts.

Empty nestWith the kids grown and

gone, you may be payingfor phone or cable servicesyou no longer need. Check

for reduced-rate plans thatbetter reflect your currentusage. Smaller cars andthe savings that go alongwith them add up.

Credit card feesThe best way to manage

credit cards is to avoidusing them.If you must usecredit cards, watch out forinterest rates that quietlycreep up. Lookout for feesfor late payments or penal-ties for exceeding yourcredit limit.

Some banks count on theprofits generated fromchecking accounts withhigh overdraft and otherfees, so it pays to watchyour accounts closely anddispute unwarrantedpenalties.

A financial review


Ask Marci

N021

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Scott NokesReg. Paralegal

Lenore FlinnAttorney at Law

B.S. Nursing

Melissa GoldsteinParalegal

FreeConsultation.

• Estates • Wills • Personal Injury • Probate • Trusts

• Elder Law • Accidents • Wrongful Death

• Criminal Law

Let our medical

expertise,competent

case resolution,

and our concern for

clients

work for

you.

Old Hutchinson Hotel, 16 Washington Ave W.,

Suite 100, Hutchinson � 320-587-4177

We accept

Wellness

Water is involved in allbody processes. You needthe proper amount for allthose processes to work cor-rectly. If you lose enoughwater, your body can’t com-pensate. You become dehy-drated. Basically, you’redrying out.

An average person on anaverage day needs aboutthree quarts of water a day.

Signs of dehydration inadults are being thirsty,urinating less often thanusual, having dark-coloredurine, dry skin, feelingtired or dizzy, and fainting.

If you suspect dehydra-tion, drink small amountsof water over a period oftime. Taking too much allat once can overload yourstomach and make youthrow up.

If you suspect someone isdehydrated:

• Get the person into a

cool place. • Offer fluids like water,

fruit and vegetable juices. • Urge the person to lie

down and rest. • Encourage the person

to shower, bathe or spongeoff with cool water.

• Watch for heat stroke.It is dangerous andrequires emergency med-ical attention. Symptomsare a body temperatureabove 104 degrees, confu-sion, combativeness, faint-ness, bizarre behavior,staggering, strong rapidpulse, dry flushed skin,lack of sweating or uncon-sciousness.

For more information, con-tact Gail Gilman-Waldner,Program Development andCoordination – MinnesotaRiver Area Agency onAging, Inc. at (507) 389-8869.

Don’t dry out

Dear Marci,I pay a lot for my medicines and I reach the

doughnut hole each year. I have heard that thedoughnut hole will be closing. What does thatmean?

— ElanaDear Elana,The doughnut hole or coverage gap is when you are

responsible for the full cost of your prescription drugs inthe Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D).

The gap begins when the total cost of your prescriptionsreaches a specific amount. This total includes what bothyou and your plan have paid for covered drugs. Plans candetermine when the coverage gap begins, but in mostplans in 2010 the coverage gap will begin when you andyour plan together have paid $2,830. In all plans the cov-erage gap ends when your total out-of-pocket costs for cov-ered drugs reaches $4,550.

After the gap ends, you will have something that iscalled catastrophic coverage. With this coverage you willonly pay 5 percent of the cost of each drug, or $2.50 for

generics and $6.30 for brand-name drugs, whichever isgreater.

The new health care reform law will close the coveragegap by 2020. This year, people who enter the coverage gapwill receive a $250 rebate. Starting next year, the lawgives discounts on both brand-name and generic drugs topeople who are in the doughnut hole. In 2011 you will beresponsible for 50 percent of the cost of brand-name drugsand 93 percent of the cost for generic drugs while you arein the coverage gap. The amount you are responsible forwill continue to decrease until 2020, when you will beresponsible for 25 percent of the cost for both brand-nameand generic drugs, closing the gap completely.

The discounts will be applied automatically when a con-sumer in the coverage gap fills a prescription. Consumerswill not need to fill out forms to receive discounts.

—Marci

Do you help people with Medicare? Call the ProfessionalHotline, a national service offered by the Medicare RightsCenter to support people serving the Medicare population.Dial (877) 794-3570 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST for info.

What is ‘the doughnut hole?’


Last Word

By Merline Duering

As the waiter approached, thedaughter reached over to her mother,patted her on the arm and said, “It’smy treat today… I’ll order for us.”Then she turned to the waiter andordered two steaks done well. Whenthe waiter walked away the mothersaid to her daughter, “I really don’tlike my steak well done, I would pre-fer it medium-rare.” The daughterpondered this because she liked hersteak well done, she assumed hermother would also.

Your children might very well knowhow you prefer your steak and thatyou don’t eat lima beans, but do theyknow the really important things? Dothey know your desires and health-related concerns? Having a sense ofwhat is important to you can helpyour decision-makers make healthcare decisions under difficult circum-stances. It is your responsibility tomake them aware of your choices.

One simple way to do this is to pre-pare a health care directive. A health

care directive is a written documentthat informs others of your healthcare wishes. It allows you to name aperson to decide for you if you areunable to because of physical or men-tal incapacity, illness, or injury.

As of Aug. 1, 1998, Minnesota lawwas changed to make it easier andless confusing to complete a healthcare directive. Prior to the lawchange, the advance directives mighthave been called durable power ofattorney for health care or a livingwill. With that change, it combinedthe general purpose of the two direc-tives and simplified the process.

You have many choices of what toput in your health care directive. Youcan be as specific or as general as youwish. You can choose which issues ortreatments to deal with in yourhealth care directive. However, thereare some limits about what you canput in, and certain requirementsmust be followed in order for it to belegal.

If you want more information abouthealth care directives:

• Contact your health care provideror attorney

• Call the Minnesota Board onAging’s Senior LinkAge Line at (800)333-2433

• A suggested health care directiveform is available atwww.mnaging.org/pdf/MSS103-F.pdf

• Attend my free workshop at 6:30p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at theBrownton Congregational Church inBrownton. I will go over the forms,discuss many common questions andhave forms available for you to takehome.

You don’t have to have a healthcare directive. You still will receivemedical treatment if you don’t have awritten directive, but writing onehelps to make sure your desires arefollowed. After all, it’s your comfort,your wishes, and your dignity atstake.Merline Duering is the executive direc-tor at Prince of Peace RetirementLiving, an independent senior livingfacility in Hutchinson. For more infor-mation, visit www.poprl.org.

Declare your wishesHealth care directives ensure better end-of-life planning


1455 Montreal St. SE (Next to Menards)

320-587-6308 • 800-955-6336Open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Saturdays Labor Day through Memorial Day: 8:30 a.m.–12 Noon

Regional Eye CenterA WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF CARE IN HUTCHINSON

Michael P.Merck, M.D.

Christopher R. Wallyn, D.O.

Amy J.Nyquist, O.D.

Steve Queenan ABO/NCLE

Allan D.Wortz, O.D. N02351 Z

AUGUST IS CATARACTAWARENESS MONTHA cataract is a clouding of the eye’s clear lens. Whenyou begin to develop cataracts, you will experience agradual painless blurring of vision, fading oryellowing of colors, sensitivity to glare and or brightlights, and trouble driving at night.Approximately 20.5 million Americans age 40 andolder have cataracts. New advances and techniqueshave made cataract surgery one of the mostsuccessful and life-improving surgical procedures.Call us for an appointment today to determine if your vision changes are due to cataracts.

� Regional Eye SpecialistsOPHTHALMOLOGY/OPTOMETRY

A new level of eye examination and patient education.

State-of-the art equipment for examination of the

retina, macula and optic nerve.

� Regional Eye OpticalQUALITY EYEWEAR/PERSONAL EYECARE

Twice the optical selection, including new frame styles,

Transitions® and polarized prescription sunglasses.

� Regional Eye Surgery CenterON-SITE SURGERY CENTER

On-site cataract, glaucoma and Wavescan® LASIK surgery, performed with the latest surgical equipment.

Tell uswhere it

hurts.The Orthopaedic &

Fracture Clinic of Hutchinsonis here for you, no matterwhat’s your game. From minor injuries to totaljoint replacement, this

state-of-the-art facility is your first step to getting

your body back.

Call us today.Stop hurting.

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zest Aug 2010