The Voice of Miami Valley Guest Columns

Alumni in Miamisburg...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:42:00 +0000

Written By: Christy Trent

I can barely believe it, but I have been graduated from Miamisburg High School for 31 years! I was part of the class of 1979. Nothing made that more clear to me then the Miamisburg Alumni Dinner we attended last week. Since my husband graduated the year ahead of me we both knew a lot of people at the dinner. His class was also celebrating a milestone in their lives, most were turning 50 sometime within the year of 2010. During the alumni weekend we also attended a “Happy 50th Birthday” party for the class.

It was a lot of fun catching up with people I knew from high school. Many of these people I hadn’t seen since graduation, and it was interesting to see how everyone had changed and what they were doing in life. The scariest part was realizing all of us, (not I since I never had the privilege of having kids,) were grandparents! The last time I saw many of these same “kids” they were talking about who they were going to prom with and what college they were planning to attend. Now we were talking about hot flashes, and grand babies, and retirement!

For myself, and it’s hard for people to believe now, but I was painfully shy in high school, a wallflower, and I enjoyed the look of surprise on faces when I told them my maiden name. I heard, “Wow, you’ve changed”, a dozen times. Reminiscing about the past was the bulk of the conversations at the parties we attended. During our era computers were the size of a room, gigantic 8 track tapes were all the rage, boom boxes were carried on shoulders with the dimensions of a small suitcase, and we tottered around on platform shoes while wearing jeans with such wide legs they were called elephant bottoms!

All the talk about the 1970s got me interested in reading up on the history of that time in my life. The book, “The 1970s: A Cultural History of the United States”, by Gail B. Stewart, helped jog my memory. One of the greatest things about the 70s was the music. During the 50s and 60s, Rock and Roll was introduced and flourished, but when the 70s came along the Roll was dropped and it was just called Rock. All different genres were developed; Heavy metal, Punk rock, and disco. I only have to hear, “How Deep is Your Love”, by the Bee Gees, and I am transported back to my teenage bedroom listening to 45 records on my humongous stereo.

Television saw great strides in controversial shows. All in the Family, with Archie Bunker, broke all kinds of boundaries. There were shows on racial issues, atheists, and women’s rights. Another ground breaker was, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She was a single woman living on her own and managing without a man!
The 70s were filled with the tragedy at Kent State, resignation of President Nixon, Iran hostage crisis, women’s rights, and much more. Head over to your local library and check out a book with the historical happenings from your past. You might be surprised at how important your own era was.

Birthdays Are Inevitable...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:37:00 +0000

Birthdays Are Inevitable
Written By: Christy Trent

They come around every year whether you want them to or not. Those pesky things called birthdays. I just celebrated mine. Next year I¹ll be reaching a milestone birthday, and I can tell you I'm not very happy about it! I plan on hiding out on the beach where no one knows me, that way I¹ll not have to endure any "Over the Hill" parties.
It's nice though to have people treat you special on that one day a year. At the library where I work, our staff enjoys celebrating heavily. The whole day is made special for the birthday person. Each year the party planners, two special ladies who love to throw parties, think of a different theme for each birthday person. The decorations, cake and food are all centered around the theme. Because of my recent foot surgery the theme for me was feet. It was hilarious. The food was all foot word related; foot long hot dogs, potatoes, Doritoes, Fritoes, and tomatoes. The decorations were mock ups of modified old movie posters. There was “Attack of the 50 foot Woman and her Feet!” The horror movie, “The Crawling Foot”, and my favorite, “Bravefeet”.
This year I received dozens of birthday greetings from all my Facebook Friends, and text messages from family and friends. Technology can sure make it easy to send greetings!
Over the years I have had many birthdays and birthday parties, but the best ones were when I was a kid. Back then each birthday was new and exciting, and you were actually eager to become a year older. One of the best things about our birthday was choosing what kind of cake mom would bake; with 4 siblings it was rare to every get something that was specifically for me. With all the choices I had, I always chose chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Matter of fact, that is still my cake of choice today. Sometimes mom would decorate the cake with our name, or candy rosettes, and then she would top it off with birthday candles. One for each year, and we would make a wish and blow them out.
There are many different ways to make a birthday special whether you are a child or an adult. The public library has countless books with hundreds of ideas from how to decorate a cake to how to make party invitations. The book, Big Birthdays: The party planner celebrates life¹s big milestones, by David Tutera, is full of imaginative and unique party ideas. This book shows ideas for those big birth dates; sweet sixteen, 25th, 30th , 50th , and so on.
Another good book is by Better Homes and Gardens with the title, Handmade Birthdays; 101 Gift, Cake & Card Ideas For Ages 1 to 101. Ideas, templates and recipes fill this handy book.
And to make the perfect cake for any birthday occasion, check out, The Ultimate Cake Book of Birthday Cakes. Learn how to make adorable cakes almost too cute to be eaten!
Birthdays are special and should be celebrated. Head over to your local library and check out these books and make your next birthday bash one the birthday boy or girl of any age will remember for the rest of their lives.

Your Vote will Help....

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:12:00 +0000

June, 18, 2010

Your Vote Will Help Determine Who Represents Ohio In Statuary Hall at The U.S. Capitol

In 1864, Congress created the National Statuary Hall, which is located in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and features two statues from each state that commemorate deceased historical figures who have lived in the state and distinguished themselves through their civic or military service. Ohio is currently represented in the Hall by President James Garfield and former Governor William Allen.

Following a change in the law that allows states to replace a statue if they so desire, the Ohio General Assembly created the National Statuary Collection Study Committee – a bipartisan panel of lawmakers from both the Ohio House and Senate – to find a replacement for the statue of former Governor Allen that better represents the values and traditions of Ohio.

Last year, the Committee traveled throughout Ohio in search of the next great Ohioan to be featured in the National Statuary Hall. More than 90 individuals were nominated for this honor, and the Committee has narrowed the field down to 10 finalists. Now they are asking for your help in deciding who Ohio should pick.

From now until June 12, Ohioans of all ages are invited to vote on which of 10 famous Ohioans they feel should represent the state in Statuary Hall. Roughly 10,000 votes have already been cast, and the results of this public input will be reported back to the Committee and will be the single greatest factor in determining the final selection later this summer.

The nominees to replace Governor Allen include: abolitionist and former member of Congress James Ashley; inventor Thomas Edison; 18^th President of the United States and Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant; former congressman who led the fight to enact historic civil rights legislation William McCulloch; Olympic athlete Jesse Owens; astronaut Judith Resnik, who was killed while serving on the Challenger mission; Dr. Albert Sabin, who developed the oral polio vaccine; Harriet Beecher Stowe, who authored “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”; suffragist Harriet Taylor Upton, and the Wright Brothers, who are credited with inventing, building and successfully flying the first airplane.

Together with the Ohio Historical Society, the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Western Reserve Historical Society, 36 polling stations have been set up throughout the state for Ohioans to cast their vote. Polling locations in southwestern Ohio also include Fort Ancient, the Stowe House and the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant. Information about the finalists and a map of all voting sites can be found at www.legacyforohio.org.

If you can’t make it in person to one of the polling locations, you can also go to the Legacy for Ohio Web site and download a ballot, which you can fill out and turn in by mail to: Ohio Statuary Vote, C/O the Ohio Historical Society, 1982 Velma Ave., Columbus, OH 43211. You can also e-mail it to ohiostatue@ohiohistory.org. All ballots must be postmarked or e-mailed by June 12.

Many famous and influential people have called Ohio home, and now it is time to decide who will be our next representative in Statuary Hall. I hope everyone takes advantage of this unique opportunity to be a part of Ohio history by learning about the 10 finalists and voting for their favorite.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or concerns about any state-related matter. You can reach my office by phone at (614) 466-9737, by e-mail at SD07@senate.state.oh.us or by writing State Senator Shannon Jones, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. I look forward to hearing from you.

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The Memories that come from music...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:52:00 +0000

June 11, 2010

Written By: Christy Trent

My family has always been a musical bunch. As a small child I learned to sing from my mother and began singing in the children’s choir at my church. Many times my brothers, sister and I would sing together. Like most families our voices harmonized well together. I went on to take voice lessons and choir directing lessons to help further my love and use of music.

Taking the musical inheritance from my mom, I have a very loud singing voice, just like she does. When singing in a choir or a group, not thinking about anything except the love of singing, I would tend to drown others out. Microphones had to be turned down low when I came up to sing, and I had to learn to tone my voice down a few notches or I could easily put a short into someone’s hearing aide.

Recently, on Memorial Day weekend, I joined my brothers and sister, and we sang together for the first time in years. My parent’s church, the same church I was raised in, graciously invited us to sing a few songs. It was a lot of fun getting together and practicing, and then singing. Again, after all these years, I had to take the softest microphone and try not to drown everyone else out. We chose several old hymns from the past and the singing of those old hymns brought back many wonderful memories.

One of the songs, Shall we Gather at the River, brought back to mind a hot summer day when I was baptized in the murky water of Bear Creek. This was before churches had fancy baptismals inside and we would all go to the creek and take the plunge. I remember the congregation singing and then being leaned over backwards to be baptized in the muddy water.

As we sang the old hymn, In the Sweet by and By, I looked out into the congregation and remembered many of the older church members who have passed on. My grandma and grandpa were fixtures for years sitting just a few pews back from the pulpit, but have both been gone for quite awhile now. Singing at the church was a bit like walking down memory lane.

Music has a way of triggering memories. Some good, some bad. Certain songs can remind me of a broken heart, or the joy of my youth. Other songs remind me of milestones I have crossed while maturing into the woman I am today. One popular song played at the funeral of a young man who died much too early, still makes me start crying when I hear it playing over the speakers in the grocery store.

If your family is like mine, then there are times you need a good songbook. The local libraries carry a huge selection of music books. There are books with the most popular Christmas songs, famous country songs, Broadway musical selections, top 40s hits, and many more.

Grab a song book and a brother or sister or two, and recapture some joy by singing with them. It doesn’t matter if you can carry a tune or not, just the pleasure of being together and walking through the memories is priceless.

Ohio working to keep road's safe...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:14:00 +0000

June 10, 2010

June is National Safety Month, and organizations across the country will be participating in events to bring attention to critical safety issues that affect us all. Because the summer months are a time of increased travel on our roads and highways as families head out on vacation and other excursions, special attention is being paid this year to safety issues such as using cell phones while driving and watching out for motorcycles.

Here in the Senate, my colleagues and I are also concerned about the safety of those traveling on Ohio’s roads, and we recently passed a bill that will help keep them safe for both motorists and public safety personnel. Senate Bill 166 would give firefighters, EMS responders and other emergency workers the ability to report traffic law violations under certain circumstances.

The idea for SB 166 came about after one of my colleagues, Senator Jim Hughes (R- Columbus), learned from some of his local first responders about the increasing number of traffic violations they encounter while they are responding to the scene of an accident or other emergency. This costs police and fire personnel precious time that could be used to provide care to accident victims or get control of a fire. Drivers that do not yield the right-of-way can even cause accidents between cars and fire or EMS vehicles.

Under SB 166, emergency personnel who witness traffic violations during the course of their duties would report the violator’s license plate number and a general description of the person and vehicle to the local law enforcement agency. If law enforcement can establish the identity of the vehicle operator, then the license plate number shall establish probable cause for the agency to issue a citation. In cases where the operator of the vehicle cannot be determined, a warning would be issued.

Ohio law currently permits school bus drivers to report cars that refuse to stop when the bus is stationary and has its lights and stop sign activated. SB 166 would extend this authority to safety personnel, helping to raise awareness of the importance of yielding to emergency vehicles when they are responding to an accident or other emergency and encourage drivers to take appropriate steps to keep our roads safe. SB 166 was passed by the Senate last month and is currently under consideration in the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or concerns about any state-related matter. You can reach my office by phone at (614) 466-9737, by e-mail at SD07@senate.state.oh.us or by writing State Senator Shannon Jones, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. I look forward to hearing from you.

HOUSE GOP VETERANS ISSUE LETTER TO GOVERNOR....

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:45:00 +0000

June 8, 2010

HOUSE GOP VETERANS ISSUE LETTER TO GOVERNOR

COLUMBUS—Members of the House Republican caucus who have served in the military today issued a letter to Governor Strickland regarding their deep concern of the preventable loss of more than $525,000 of federal funding to the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program.

In the letter, the members outlined their concern with the loss of such funding after numerous warnings had been issued. Also, they noted that the case has become public only three short months after a ceremonial signing of the Junior ROTC program.

“How do you plan to replace these lost funds so our veterans can have the opportunities to find employment that they rightly deserve? What steps are you planning to take so that you can look our soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors in the eyes and ensure them that you haven’t forgotten them?” the members wrote.

Here is the letter...

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The Necessary evil called Grocery Shopping!

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:41:00 +0000

June 1, 2010

The Necessary evil called Grocery Shopping!

Written by: Christy Trent

Grocery shopping is the necessary evil in most women’s existence. My girlfriends and I lament constantly about how much we hate doing it. We have to shop so we have food in our homes, but we hate forking out all the money groceries cost. By the time we recover from the hassle of one week’s financially expensive shopping experience, our cupboards are bare again, and it’s time for another trip.

I try so hard to find cost cutting ways to save money. One drawer in my kitchen is specifically for clipped coupons. The only problem is, I walk off to the grocery and forget to take them with me. Another thing that gets me in trouble is I usually shop right after I get off work, and by that time I am famished. Even boxes of mushy oatmeal look good and I catch myself loading the stuff into my cart.

Don’t give up though. There are many ways to save money when you go to the grocery store, you just have to learn to work a little harder and be more vigilant. Many have discovered how to cut their grocery bills almost in half by just doing a few easy things.

The book, Shop Smart, Save More, by Teri Gault, teaches you to be a better shopper and save money. Terri says the first thing you need to do is find the right grocery store for you. Don’t grocery hop, which is a huge waste of gas money. Even if there is a good sale at another store the trend is all the stores put the same stuff on sale in cycles, and a great sale on toilet tissue at one place will eventually make it round to your store.

Stockpiling is a great way to save money. It’s buying something at a great bargain or with a coupon that you don’t need now, but you will need later. Stockpiling doesn’t mean buying bulk, rather taking advantage of a great bargain.

Clipping coupons can save a lot of cash, as long as the coupons you use are actually for items you need. The Sunday paper is the best resource for coupons. You can also find coupons on the product itself that you peel off, or in a blinking light type dispenser, next to the product to use with the coupon . When you go through the register, the clerk usually hands you coupons that come out of the register with the receipt. These are usually savings for items you normally buy.

Plan your weekly meals ahead of time and draw up a list for your grocery visit. This not only makes the week easier since you know ahead of time what your dinner will be, but it keeps you on track and you will find your grocery bill will shrink.

Just these simple ideas can help make shopping a whole lot easier for everyone involved. Head over to your local library and pick up this book or one of many others teaching you how to save money while shopping.

Celebrating our Nation...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:54:00 +0000

May 31, 2010: Memorial Day

Guest Column From State Representative Peter Beck

Celebrating our nation on Flag Day

As the most enduring symbol of our nation, the American flag is a reflection of the liberty, equality and unity we enjoy as citizens. On June 14^th we will celebrate Flag Day, a holiday that calls us to not only remember the history of the Star Spangled Banner, but also the steadfast principles that guide our nation.

During the American Revolutionary War, the colonists waved a simple flag that, although similar to the banner we know today, paid homage to Great Britain’s flag. However, on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved a design for a new flag that would represent our young nation—an assemblage of 13 stars and 13 stripes to signify the unified colonies. The Congress chose colors that would represent valor (red), purity (white), and perseverance and justice (blue)—values that we can still find both in our flag and nation today.

Nearly 140 years after the Continental Congress made this monumental decision, President Woodrow Wilson commemorated June 14^th as Flag Day. Throughout the years, our red, white and blue banner has been modified numerous times, both in shape and arrangement.

Throughout these changes, Old Glory has remained a beacon of our nation’s honorable legacy throughout the world. The illustrious flag adorns military uniforms, is saluted by world-class athletes during the Olympics and was even firmly planted on the moon. As we cross into new frontiers, the flag will continue to serve as a mark of our past and future.

As we celebrate Flag Day this year, we should take time to remember the servicemen and women who have made sacrifices to protect the Stars and Stripes. Without them, our flag would not represent the valor, purity, perseverance and justice that the founding fathers intended. The sacrifice of our fellow Americans allows the flag to continue flying over the land of the free and home of the brave. So please fly your flag with pride and patriotism on June 14^th and join me in saluting the individuals who make our nation great.

As your state representative and a Marine Corps veteran, I will continue to do my part to make sure that the sacred colors of America remain as bright and steadfast as they did centuries ago.

Sloan in Columbus...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:27:00 +0000

May 27, 2010

It was a great weekend again! However, it was a disappointment that Kil-Kare was rained out Friday night. It was to be the bus races at Kil-Kare which are rescheduled for this weekend and we really wanted to try the new gas from Estes Oil in Franklin.

            Saturday we went to Pisanello’s for pizza and headed to the shop around 1 p.m.   We got to Motorcar Auto Body just in time to help get the car loaded. Gary and some of the guys had already been working on the car since 9 a.m. We are trying different racing fuels from Estes Oil. We are also trying different staggers to try to get the Koehlke GreenPro Landscaping #4 faster.   We got a new 12 volt battery this week with 1300 cranking amps. Ok I’m not sure what that means either but it more then the diesel truck we use to pull the trailer so starting the car should be easier.

            At Columbus, we unloaded the Rebel 105.9 car and went out for the first practice. It had been raining and the track was still green. They also have a weep hold in the track in turn four where ground water can seep onto the track. They were trying to get it dried up. Our second practice, we found that we needed to make some chassis adjustments because our tire temp was off. By the third practice, we were right in line with most of the other cars. Just my luck, we drew 4 and was to be the first to qualify. I qualified at a 13.44 which was third fastest. In the dash race on was on the outside pole and as I described earlier there was a wet spot on the track on the outside of turn four. I was unable to get on the gas as hard as I like to come to the green flag. I ended up finishing the dash race in third.

            It was privilege to go over to the fan section to sign autographs before the intermission. It was exciting to meet all my supports and answer questions. I had a great time greeting each one of them. The look on the girl face as she skipped off says it all.

            In the feature, I started in the outside of row four in eighth In the Green Pro landscaping Koehlke components NASCAR Whelen LM . Just like playing checkers, you need to know what the other players could do. The guy leading my row was not great on the outside and was having problems with his car earlier. As I quested it I got pushed back to the tenth position it should have been ninth but a guy came in to my line and I choose to let him in because it was early in the race, I did leave the door open a little so it was somewhat my faulty. Unfortunately he hit me and we going to have to do some bodywork and paint. ( no Mirrors or radios in these cars) I had to wait for the right time to start passing. The opportunity to start passing came late in the race.   I quickly moved up to the fifth position in just a few laps to go.

            We have been doing a poll on Facebook with our new t-shirt designs. We hope to have a few of them available soon for purchase. We hope also have some exciting things to announce next week so be sure to tune in!

            We are still hoping to get a tire sponsor so we can do some more testing. Dad is meeting with some people at Sport clips and we still waiting to hear from some others. I still need an anchor sponsor to finish out the year. Have a great week! Sloan and crew!! Follow me at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/Sloan-Henderson-Motorsports/122508936584?ref=ts   and sloan-henderson on twitter for race day updates

Creation & Retention of E-Beam Jobs...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Wed, 26 May 2010 13:25:00 +0000

May 25, 2010

Beck Announces Creation and Retention of E-BEAM Jobs

COLUMBUS – State Representative Peter Beck (R-Mason) today announced that E-BEAM Services in Lebanon has been awarded a 45 percent job creation tax credit estimated at $15,074 for a five-year term, where the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for eight years.

“With Ohio’s unemployment at 10.9 percent, we must do everything possible to create a business climate that will bring jobs and businesses back to our state,” said Beck. “I am proud of the work being done at E-BEAM to establish lasting careers and success for the citizens of Warren County.”

E-BEAM Services is a major supplier of contract electron beam processing in North America, operating three electron beam processing centers and providing cross-linking and sterilization services to more than 100 companies. This project includes the expansion of a 26,000-square-foot facility and the installation of machinery and equipment to house the company’s electronic beam manufacturing and distribution operation. The $7.6 million project is expected to create 22 jobs and retain 21 positions.

Sloan's Exciting Weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:54:00 +0000

May 24, 2010

What an exciting weekend again! This week we spent time in shop going over the front end. We set the camber and caster. We made sure all the settings were perfect. What a difference it made! The Green Pro Landscaping/Rebel 105.9 #4 was good as before I got wrecked. I hate to qualify first (just a thing). Friday at Kil-Kare it would have been good if I did. I would have had the track record 13.44. However, unfortunately, the Oakley Asphalt sponsored car broke the record just before me.

In the feature, the inversion was a five. I was hoping the outside pole car could beat the Bond Machine car. I could hopefully get around him. The Oakley car made it three wide on the inside coming out of turn four so I had to back down. I moved down to the fifth position. I quickly passed for third. Late in the race there was a caution. I just didn’t have enough to make it the front.

It was an awesome night because there were a lot of people in the stands. This Friday at Kil-Kare it is going to be a school bus race. The bus race is after our feature. The school buses are raced on the quarter mile (the small track) and they do a figure eight in order to try to flip the school buses. It is very fun and a fan favorite.

Saturday at Columbus Motor Speedway, we bought a new Hoosier racing tire but the stagger was off. Stagger is the difference in the circumference of the tire. We used the nitrogen gas in our tires that we get from Weiler Welding. It is possible to put extra air in them and stretch the tire. I guess this worked I qualified second. This was three spots faster than last week. The gas we use help control tired growth on the race track. Regular air has moisture and as the tire heats up the moister expands this causes the tire to grow too rapidly and this changes how the car handles.

In the feature, there were three wrecks and two spin-outs right in front of me. The fourteen car spun on lap one and I were getting ready to pass him. Unfortunately, I took the air off his spoiler and he spun. The track called it on me so I had to go to the tail. The driver of the fourteen car was nice enough after the race to come to me and tell me he spun on his own. He told me it was not my fault that he spun. GreenPro Landscaping/Koehlke #4 was fast but I couldn’t drive it back through the field so I had to settle for 8^th. I felt terrible. The crew gave me a great car. I just didn’t get it done.

I crew all looked very handsome in their new crew shirts! They are a very talented, hard working, handsome group of guys!

I want to say “thanks” to Dan from Rules’ Excavating for volunteering this weekend.

I hope to see you at Kil-Kare on Friday! Just a reminder to my sponsors and partner the Kil-Kare tickets are not good this weekend because the bus race is a special event.

Thanks Sloan and the Crew

Reform efforts lead to savings...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:42:00 +0000

BWC rate reform efforts lead to savings for most Ohio employers

A column by State Senator Shannon Jones suggested Ohio’s workers’ compensation system is stifling small business growth in the state. I assure you this is not the case.

Over the past three years, BWC and its Board of Directors have been diligent in bringing stability, fairness and equity to the rates Ohio employers pay for workers’ compensation insurance coverage. The results are phenomenal. Effective July 1, 2010, Ohio’s base rates will be 35 percent lower than they were for the 2007 policy year–their lowest point in at least two decades. Our efforts have made Ohio’s rates among the most competitive for future economic development in the Midwest.

We have taken strategic and successful steps to not only lower the base rates that are used to compute workers’ compensation insurance premiums, but to significantly lower premium costs for more than half of Ohio’s private employers. For the July 1, 2009 policy year, this group of employers experienced a more than 25-percent rate drop, resulting in a collective $139 million in savings in just one year.

Utilizing the expertise of professional actuaries and the recommendations of the comprehensive study, over the past three years, BWC and its Board of Directors have made gradual reductions to the group discount to bring fairness and to guarantee employers are paying the right rate for the risk they pose to the system. On July 1, 2010, that discount will be set at 51 percent, giving group-rated employers a more than half-off discount to their workers’ compensation costs. This is a significant discount for those who qualify, and it is a figure that is in a range of actuarial soundness.

Sen. Jones also made reference to a BWC surplus. This notion of a surplus is a common misconception. Like any insurance company, BWC is required to have reserve funds set aside to manage the system’s 1.3 million open claims. Unlike private insurance companies, BWC is able to discount those reserves, meaning that our “surplus” is actually less than a private company would be required to maintain. Many claims require a one-time payment for medical fees, but a large number require medical and indemnity payments for many years, and in our most severe cases, over the lifetime of the injured worker. Our oldest open claim was filed in 1940 – 70 years ago! Last year we received about 120,000 new claims.

Finally, the issue of opening Ohio to a competitive system was addressed in the column. While lawmakers debate the value of a competitive system over a monopolistic system, BWC continues to focus on providing outstanding service to employers and injured workers. These services come with little overhead and a great return-on-investment for Ohio employers. Of the nearly $2 billion Ohio employers pay in premium each year, 96 percent of their investment goes directly to the care and well-being of injured workers and their families. Private insurers average about 69 cents of every dollar on customer care and service. BWC is able to operate with such efficiency because as a state entity, the Bureau is not subject to federal and state taxes, does not operate for a profit and charges in arrears, allowing the employer to only pay for coverage they used in the previous payroll cycle. Additionally, BWC’s cost savings are passed on directly to the employer through lower premiums.
While reform may be a difficult process, BWC and our professional board of directors have refused to allow the system to continue to function at a less than optimal level. Today’s BWC is much different, delivering fair, stable and equitable premium costs for Ohio employers. Our benefits for injured workers are competitive, and promote a safe, swift return to work. And new, safety-based cost saving programs are helping to further lower costs for employers, while enhancing safety efforts for Ohio’s workforce. BWC is undergoing a positive transformation that has its roots in cost savings, safety and outstanding services.

Contributed by:
Marsha P. Ryan, Administrator
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

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I Confess, I'm a Hoarder....

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:33:00 +0000

I CONFESS, I’M A HOARDER!

Written by: Christy Trent

I have a confession to make, although it is painful for me to admit. Here goes; I am a hoarder. The television show, “Hoarders: Buried alive”, has scared me to death. Watching the show I see a bit of me in some of the subjects. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not one of those people with piles of garbage in their rooms, or the ones who can’t even throw away rotted food. Instead, I have cupboards and closets that are jammed packed with stuff. Ridiculous things I have kept hold of for years because I couldn’t bear to throw them away.

After watching several episodes I told my husband we had to clean. He was thrilled since he has complained about my hoarding for years. We spent one whole Sunday and cleared out four closets and countless drawers. Full garbage bags were piled at the end of our driveway when we were done, but my closets are now neat and tidy.

From the show I learned there are three types of hoarders.

1. People who hold on to things with sentimental value.

2. People who keep things because they don’t want to be wasteful.

3. People who are afraid if they throw something away they will need it the next day.

I am a bit of all of these types of hoarders. While cleaning the drawers I came upon at least four different piles of birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and anniversary cards. There had to be over 100 of them. Obviously I have trouble getting rid of the cards for sentimental reasons. I keep them because for some reason I feel if I throw them away, the people who gave them to will think I don’t care about them. In my kitchen cupboards I had several dozen coffee mugs. There are only two of us, and I am the only one who uses a mug for my tea, but I couldn’t throw the mugs away because I felt wasteful. In the bedroom I found dozens of safety pins and we threw away over 200 hundred wire hangers. It felt wasteful to throw the hangers away although I refuse to hang up my clothes with them, and in my lifetime I will never use all those safety pins.

While cleaning I found several truly sentimental things I was storing; a cuckoo clock from my Grandmother, framed family photos, and beautiful knick knacks from loved ones who have passed away. What is the use of hiding something sentimental away? I pulled those items out, dusted them off and am now using the pieces.

The book, Saving Stuff; How to care for and preserve your collectibles, heirlooms and other prized possessions, by Don Williams, helped me. I guess one of the reasons I had stored away some of my sentimental items is fear of them being ruined. This book teaches you how to properly display your items to have the least amount of wear and tear due to light, humidity, temperature, bugs and human contamination.

Chapters, such as, “ Deciding what stuff to save, give away or toss,” and, “ Saving the stuff only a parent could love,” teach you how to decide what is important to keep. I could have definitely used this book years ago before my closets got so stuffed.

You can find this book and others at your local library. They are ready to help turn your hoarding habits into something useful, practical and fun to have.

Cover via Amazon

Sloan featured on NASCAR blog...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:28:00 +0000

May 14, 2010

What an exciting weekend of racing at both tracks, Friday we unloaded the Rebel 105.9 late model at Kil-Kare Speedway to find out that they were going to shorten the race program to just a feature race.   The incoming rain was a real threat.   We had a good first practice and at that time we were the fastest car there thanks to the Estes racing fuel.    We also had a great set up the by the crew.    We chose not to practice and save our tires for the feature so we watched the second practice. Oakley Asphalt car was able to take me off the fast time spot. We went back out to try to pick up a half tenth then without warning the power steering line broke. I killed the engine and tried to roll off the track.   We made quick work on fixing the line thanks to a competitor, Oakley Asphalt. Yes, the very team that we competing against.   I was a little concerned in qualifying, because the left front tire got soaked with oil. However, the GreenPro Landscaping Koehlke Component NASCAR Whelen Late Model #4 got hooked up and we pulled out a second place qualifying time.

            In the feature they inverted to 5th position so I started 4^th, I missed my mark on the start and dropped to 6^th. In a few laps, I was starting to get into some real tough racing with the #17 car.   Every time I started to pass on the straight away, I would run out of room. I would have to back off or risk hitting the wall. After my second attempt to pass him, I decided to pass him on the outside in turn one or two and finish in the turn three, I was able to make that pass and quickly catch up to the next group of race cars. It was a three way race with Gary Estes and Oakley Asphalt car. Gary was in front by just a few feet and I was side by side and wheel to wheel for around six laps with the other car, what was awesome.

            Finally, I was able to dive on the inside as the other two cars competed. Someone got Gary loose and I was able to get the second place spot.   I set sail for the leader and realize my water tempeture was hotter than it should have been, probably because I was so close to the car in front not enough air was getting into the radiator, so I finished the race for a second place finish.

            Saturday, we headed to Spring Valley to the Motorcar Auto Body Shop. We hooked up to the trailer and picked up the crew. We were then off to Columbus. It was a big temperature change from Saturday!

            In our first practice, we were in the mid fourteen forties.   The second practice, Gary made some good adjustments to the car. I was able to run low teens.   A few spectators said they clocked me close to the track record. Unfortunately in qualifying, the best I could get was a 14.33. This time put me in the 6^th fastest. This put me on the inside for the start of the feature which was not the preferred line that night. I had to drop back in the field four positions before I could get an opening to get to the outside. I finally was able to start racing towards the front.   The 28 car spun out in turn one. I finished 5^th. I was not the finish I wanted put it was a good day at the track.

            Last week, we were rained out at Columbus on Saturday but as it turns out, it was a blessing as Tom and all the crew at Pisanello’s is now a new sponsor. I love the bread sticks there! Yum!
Thanks Sloan and the Crew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctqn25xDWe0

http://blog.jimmiejohnsonchevrolet.com/2010/04/sloan-henderson-has-her-eye-on-nascar.html

Qualifying Queen, Sloan set fast time again...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:04:00 +0000

Qualifying Queen Sloan set fast time again

The weather was perfect Friday night. I was so excited about getting out on the track after so many rain cancelations. It was demolition trailer race night at Kil-Kare so there would be no heat race. We would only be qualifying and then the feature race. I was really happy with the Rebel 105.9 NASCAR Whelen Koehlke GreenPro #4. I went out and got fast time again! Kil-Kare inversion was a 7 so I started on the inside of the 4th row just behind Gary Estes in the Bond Machine Weiler Welding car. I was going to have to try to get to the outside row as soon as possible hopefully between the Oakley asphalt car and the Estes oil car if I had a chance to get to the front. This was going to be tough with no mirror or radios.

We did our two warm-up laps in the Rebel 105.9 Late Model and I thought something was wrong with my car. The green flag dropped and my rear end was hopping. My rear axle cap broke. In order to explain that in a little more in detail, the engine spins on a drive shaft through a Bert clutchless transmission. It then goes to the rear end where the spinning action is split between the two axles by a ring and pinion gears. Next, the 600 plus hp is delivered to the hubs by the axle. The point where the power is transferred to the hubs is where the axle caps is located. The axle caps are a small piece on aluminum that would fit in to your hand and weight around one pound. We check these regularly but stuff happens. I was done for the night. I was not a happy but those things happen in racing. My crew does a great job each week and it’s very frustrating for them and me when equipment fails. We were also grateful it was not as more expensive problem.

I would like to thank Classic Style Barber Service and Chips and Clips Lawn Services for becoming one of my new sponsors this week. Hunter Water Conditioning and Cox’s Service Station and Repair are considering being a local supporter. We are also still working with some local Chevy dealers and hope to fill our short fall in the co- anchor partnerships for this season. We are truly blessed by Green Pro Landscaping, Koehlke Components, The Rebel 105.9, Dempster Tire in Middletown, Estes Oil, First Command Financial, Line-X on Conover Drive, Miracle Welding, Shannon McGuire at Salon 122 in Hunter, Springboro Hardware, Larry and the crew at National Coating Systems Inc on Shotwell Drive, and Dayton Christian Schools. I have to also thank Miller printing and all of you for buying the paper. Dad gets so stressed out about the other sponsor we need but I know God will provide just like in the past.

Saturday, I got up and checked the weather. It looked like it was going to stop raining at Columbus long enough to sign in. We talked to Gary and headed to the Motorcar Shop in Spring Valley. We then got the call that Columbus was cancelled due to the pending rain. If I could make money on betting on the weather, I would be betting on rain on Friday and Saturday! Nothing can take away the bummed out mood like a pizza so I called Mom and Chase. We met at Pisenello’s for a great pizza. We got to meet some fans that were eating there. I would rather be racing but it ended up being a great. Sloan and Crew

Thanks, Steve
Sloan Henderson Motorsports, LLC
"Today Is Tomorrow's History"
www.sloanhenderson.com
Phil 4:13
937-533-6271

Curious Folks at the Library...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:21:00 +0000

Written by: Christy Trent

One of the many hats I wear at my job working for the library is manning the reference desk. Daily I am asked questions about every conceivable thing out there. Mostly, the questions are typical. "Do you have books on training Dogs?"

"I'm doing a book report and I need a book that has more than 150 pages. Can you find one for me?" "I’m traveling to Florida; do you have any books about that state?"

But then we get the really odd ball questions, and some that are down right scary. "How do I make an atomic bomb?" "I have bed bugs. Can you give me a book on how to get rid of them?" "I've been arrested for a felony and I need to find out how to get off. Do you have a book that will tell me?"

I have to admit there have been times I’ve had to step away from someone asking a question because either the subject is worrisome, or they have frightened me with the topic. It's always great to be able to grab an informative book and hand it to them, freeing me from my concern.

The book, "Curious Folks Ask: 162 real answers on amazing inventions, fascinating products, and medical mysteries," by Sherry Seethaler, answers many interesting questions. Sherry Seethaler is a science writer and columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper and records in this book the best of curious questions she has been asked over the years.

Here are a few of them and their answers:

• What is the most widely accepted method by which the Egyptians formed the

pyramids? The great pyramids were probably a natural evolution of the earliest pyramids, all of them burial sites. The pyramid may have started as a pit and as more levels were added on, it grew into the pyramids we still see today.

• Why do we ache when we get a cold or the flu? It’s not the virus that makes us

ache, but rather the warfare fighting the virus. White blood cells release chemicals in response to the infection and activate body defense mechanisms, which make our body ache.

• Why do we hiccup? They are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. When the

intake of air is interrupted abruptly for whatever reason, the result is a hiccup. Most hiccups occur after eating when our stomachs are stretched.

• What purpose do toenails and fingernails serve? They serve as mini body armor

to protect the tips of your fingers and toes. They also come in handy to scratch an itchy spot and to pick up tiny objects.

Life has many unanswered and intriguing questions. Those answers can usually be found bound between the pages of a book, and the best place to find a book with all the answers is at the local library.

Honoring our Men and Women in Uniform...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:01:00 +0000

Guest Column From State Representative Peter Beck

Honoring our Men and Women in Uniform

With Armed Forces Day on May 15^th and Memorial Day on May 31^st, we have an opportunity to thank those in our community who answered the call to duty and protected us from threats both domestic and abroad. Here in the Ohio Legislature, we take special pride in honoring the service members and veterans in Ohio by enacting legislation to make life easier for them and their families.

Our nation’s military veterans are paradigms of the American spirit and everything our country stands for. While we can never fully repay our service members for their sacrifices, we can honor them by never taking our freedoms for granted. Every time we fly the Stars and Stripes or cast a vote in an election, we uphold the values that have been built for us by the sweat and blood of men and women in uniform.

Elmer Davis of the United States Office of War Information during World War II said, “This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” Because hundreds of thousands of brave Americans throughout history have risked their lives for our nation, we have the benefit of living every day in freedom. We sleep soundly at night with the knowledge that we and our children are in good hands.

Today, approximately 25 million veterans live in America. These heroes are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters who answered the call to defend their country. Whether they were fighting in the trenches or marching through the deserts, crossing jungles or storming beaches, they risked everything to protect the American dream and the future of our children. It is essential not just on special holidays, but every day we live in freedom, that we show our appreciation for those who believed that this country is worth risking their lives for.

As a former Marine Corps sergeant during the Vietnam War, I am especially honored to work toward enacting legislation that benefits Ohio’s 6,000 Army, Navy and Air Force recruits, as well as all the veterans living in our great state. This May, I encourage you to take a moment to commemorate all those who have served in our military, as well as those who gave their lives for our nation.

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Rep. Beck may be reached by phone at (614) 644-6027 or in writing to State Representative Peter Beck, 77 South High Street, 10^thfloor, Columbus, OH 43215. He is also available via e-mail at district67@ohr.state.oh.us.

Ohio to help protect teenagers...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:25:00 +0000

Ohio Legislature Acts to Help Protect Teenagers in Abusive Relationships

In 1992, Tina Croucher, a part-time student at Miami University Middletown, was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend after he broke into her family’s home. Fifteen years later, Johanna Orozco, a Cleveland-area high school student, was shot in the face by a former boyfriend who had been recently released from prison for raping her. Both Tina and Johanna had been abused by their attackers during their relationships.

Johanna luckily survived her attack, but these incidents offer just a glimpse into what has become a disturbing reality for many teenagers and young adults. Last year, a series of stories in the Columbus Dispatch found that Ohio teens ages 15 to 19 are twice as likely to experience dating violence as they are to be injured in a car crash. And while adults who find themselves in an abusive relationship can obtain a protection order or take other measures to help keep their attackers away, no such option has been available to teenagers.

To help better protect teenagers who are victims of dating violence, the General Assembly recently passed House Bill 10, which gives juvenile courts the same authority to issue protection orders as common pleas courts. While this bill will not put an end to dating violence among young adults, it will provide victims with an additional layer of defense – an individual who defies a protection order and goes to a victim’s home or work, calls them on the phone or damages their property can be arrested immediately. House Bill 10 has been signed by the governor and will take effect in June.

Legislators are also working to help educate young people about the risks associated with dating violence and unhealthy relationships. Last year we passed House Bill 19, which requires schools to include dating violence prevention in their health curriculum for students in grades 7 through 12. Fittingly, House Bill 19 has been named “Tina’s Law” in recognition of Tina Croucher and her parents, who have spoken to thousands of southwest Ohio students about dating violence and how teenagers and young adults can stay safe.

The heartbreaking stories of Tina Croucher and Johanna Orozco and others who have experienced violence and abuse at the hands of their boyfriend or girlfriend are a stark reminder of the need to protect all victims of domestic violence and ensure that their abusers are held accountable. Although House Bill 10 and House Bill 19 will not prevent all abusive relationships, they will help increase awareness of this issue and save lives.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or concerns about any state-related matter. You can reach my office by phone at (614) 466-9737, by e-mail at SD07@senate.state.oh.us or by writing State Senator Shannon Jones, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. I look forward to hearing from you.

Efficiency is a Vital Part of Government Accountability...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:51:00 +0000

Guest Column From State Representative Peter Beck

Efficiency is a Vital Part of Government Accountability

As a small business owner of nearly 20 years, I understand the importance of condensing spending during a recession and saving in a prosperous economy. Businesses routinely tighten their expenditures to fit a tough budget, and likewise, our state government should make the same sacrifices and maintain a high standard of fiscal responsibility.

However, rather than examining spending and reducing waste, many lawmakers in the Statehouse continue to channel tax dollars into unnecessary, inefficient or ineffective programs while handing the taxpayers the bill. Consequently, families and businesses felt the sting of our state’s high-tax, anti-growth policies this past Tax Day when they were forced to surrender additional funds as a result of House Bill 318’s tax increase.

I believe that rather than relying on the citizens and small businesses of Ohio to sustain our government bloat, we have a responsibility to ensure that the dollars we do spend are successful and streamlined. In an effort to reduce the burden on our already overwhelmed taxpayers, House Republicans proposed the “Future of Ohio” government reform package to make Ohio’s government more cost-effective and accountable. This package of 10 bills would trim waste from the budget while focusing state spending on the programs and services that Ohioans have come to rely on.

One of our caucus’s cost-containment measures is a bill to streamline Ohio’s more than 300 boards and commissions, while eliminating waste within state agencies. House Bill 25 was introduced in February 2009 by Representative John Adams (R-Sidney) to ensure that the taxpayers are not paying the government more than they should. It would consolidate the number of executive cabinet departments from 24 to 11 (compared with the federal government’s 15 departments) based on similar functions and missions. Had this legislation been enacted, it could have saved $1 billion annually and could have filled Ohio’s budget deficit without raising taxes or accruing more debt.

Continuing our caucus’s commitment to a cost-efficient, accountable state government, Representative Barbara Sears (R-Maumee) introduced House Bill 240 to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from Ohio’s Medicaid system. This legislation takes into account the more than $400 million in suggested savings that were found by the Ohio auditor of state in 2006 and would have helped to save $122 million each year. Unfortunately, this vital efficiency measure has remained stalled in committee for months.

These bills would have required state lawmakers to look at internal waste before asking you, the taxpayer, to relinquish more of your hard-earned income. Although the House majority has refused to allow committee votes on these proposals, my Republican colleagues and I continue to fight for solutions that will not only render immediate savings but also fundamentally improve the structure of state government.

Ohio’s continuous growth of spending is unsustainable without also squeezing the taxpayers for every penny they have. With an impending $8 billion budget deficit, lawmakers need to start working today to prepare for what we already know will be an excruciatingly painful budget next year. As state representative of the 67^th Ohio House District, I will continue to work on your behalf toward a more efficient, effective state government.

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State Working to Protect Small Businesses...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:47:00 +0000

Senate Working to Protect Small Businesses From Increases to Their BWC Premiums So They Can Keep and Create Jobs

As someone who comes from a family of small business owners, I understand the importance of making sure Ohio creates an atmosphere that is conducive to business development. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but issues such as increased taxes and government regulation are making it more and more difficult for them to support a robust workforce.

The decision to “freeze” the income tax cut all Ohioans were promised in 2005 means that come tax time, refunds will be smaller or in some cases, people will have to write bigger checks than they anticipated. With many small business owners paying their taxes via the income tax, this move could not come at a worse time. Additionally, the recently-passed health care legislation places new mandates and costs on businesses. Now many of these companies are about to be hit again with increased premiums from the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation – a move that will further drive up the cost of doing business here in Ohio.

Currently, the BWC is working to ensure long-term financial stability of the state’s injured workers’ fund, in part by addressing the disparity in premium rates paid by different Ohio businesses. For many years, certain group-rated companies have enjoyed substantial discounts on their premiums. The BWC is planning to reduce these discounts beginning July 1 – in addition to previously-approved discount reductions and added surcharges since 2005 – meaning many employers will see their premiums increase. Given the current economic challenges facing businesses throughout Ohio, increasing workers’ compensation premiums now would only place an additional burden on already-struggling employers.

To help reduce the financial strain this move would place on Ohio’s small businesses, the Senate passed Senate Bill 213 earlier this year. The bill would freeze maximum premium discounts at the level they will be on July 1 for two years and require the BWC to conduct a thorough study of the premium rating system. This would give the BWC time to develop a plan for determining workers’ compensation rates that are fair to all Ohio companies, regardless of size.

It is estimated that the BWC currently has surplus of roughly $4 billion. SB 213 could save small businesses approximately $130 million over two years – money these companies could use during these difficult times to reinvest in their business and create new jobs. Senate Bill 213 is currently in the House Insurance Committee, and I am hopeful that members of the House will join us in addressing rising workers’ compensation premiums and their effects on small businesses.

In addition, the Senate is also examining possible changes to how Ohio’s workers’ compensation system is administered. Ohio is one of only a few states to have an entirely state-run workers’ compensation system, and now is the time to see if there are alternatives to our current approach that would benefit employers and businesses while still protecting injured workers. That is why we passed Senate Resolution 118, which established the Competitive Workers’ Compensation Task Force. The group is tasked with studying alternatives, including market place competition, with respect to the worker’s compensation system in Ohio.

Members of the task force represent employees, employers, insurance companies, managed care organizations, third-party administrators, local governments, business owners, lawyers and legislators. The group will evaluate the workers’ compensation insurance options currently offered by the BWC to determine if they are competitive with those available in other states. They will also look at the efforts made by other states to open their workers’ compensation markets to private competition. The group must submit a report detailing their findings to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 15.

One of the top complaints legislators hear from business owners is how rising BWC rates are impacting their ability to compete and create new jobs. A rise in premium rates also makes it more difficult to attract new businesses and jobs to our state, as the workers’ compensation system is one of many factors companies use in deciding where to locate and expand. By studying options to our current workers’ compensation system, we can determine if any changes are needed in order to ensure businesses continue to see Ohio as an excellent place for relocation and expansion.

The BWC has taken numerous steps in recent years to change its operations and the way it determines premiums; however, there remains much work to do to ensure the system is working with small businesses and not against them. SB 213 and SR 118 will help determine the best course of action to keep employers’ premiums affordable while continuing to protect injured workers.

Sloan weathering the elements...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:13:00 +0000

I realize we are short on rainfall for our area but does it have to always rain on Friday? Once again, scattered showers came to town on Friday night! Kil-Kare officials decided to brave the weather and try to get a race in. It looked promising when we first arrived. It looked like the rain was going to hold off. We were able to get our practice in. We then had our driver’s meeting-more on that later in the article. We finally lined up to qualify. A few cars qualified and then came the rain. It was just enough rain to cause the track to be slick. It finally stopped and they dried out the track. At last, I got to qualify. The track was very green. However, the NASCAR Whelen GreenPro #4 was just fantastic! I got fast time 14.51!! And you guessed it! The rain came, again!! Kil-Kare officials called it a night.

At the driver’s meeting at Kil-Kare, the track officials announced that Impact Racing Appareal had been declared below standards for SSA. SSA tests all the racing suits etc. to meet safety standards. Every piece of my equipment is Impact-my helmet, race suit, gloves-everything! They told us that they highly suggested we replace all that equipment. We have decided to just wait a little while to see if more information comes out concerning the safety of my equipment. If there someone that would want to help pay for it or part of it, the cost is around $1400.

Saturday I got up and went to check the weather. If it was 100% chance of rain, I was planning on going to the JS (prom at Dayton Christian) then have some friends over for a bonfire and cookout. But it looked like I was going to get to race, I was excited because we were so fast Friday night at Kil- Kare. We unloaded the GreenPro Landscaping late and it was good right out of the box. To help clear up some confusion from last week, the first practice is about learning the track. Just like the NASCAR teams, you can bring your best to the track just to find out the track conditions changed. It is no different for us. This process is called getting “dialed in” and that is what Gary is great at.

Practice went well at Columbus. We fueled the car up with racing fuel from Estes Oil in Franklin. We set out to qualify. I was hoping to get the fast time again but could do it. We did qualify in the top 4. The top 4 put me on the pole. I would like to thank Link Burgess, he calculated that I would start on the outside of row two after the seven car inversion. Link is a World War II veteran and is 87 years old and so smart. He has been on several championship teams over his 45 plus year in racing! I went to Dad who writes down the lap times of my competitors so I can figure out how the start of the feature MAY be. Tonight it was perfect. The outside pole car most likely would get around the pole car. It would give me the opportunity to go for the lead early in the race. I could then save my tires. The rain came and it got called.

We do not talk much about business but I still need an anchor partner. I need two more co-sponsors if I’m going to have the resources to make NATIONAL NASCAR Whelen history this year. We know with God all things are possible but even David had three stones in his pouch when he went to do the impossible.

Thanks Sloan and Crew

VideoSloan 2nd place NASCAR Whelen History...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:07:00 +0000

Sloan takes the GreenPro Landscaping/ Koehkle componets NASCAR Whelen late model to a 2nd place finish... Still got to get better there is a lot of good fast car up there....

Sloan out and running...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:59:00 +0000

The NASCAR Whelen Koehlke/GreenPro Landscaping crew and I had a lot of work to do this week after the accident last week. I was at the almost everyday and parts was coming in Bond Machine Shop is such wonderful supporter. They allow most of my parts to be delivered to their shop which is a big help, so Gary call get them to the shop. We work hard and had the car ready for Friday race but Kil-Kare race was rained out. I was so disappointed! This was the second cancellation in a row. We had arranged for several potential sponsors to come and watch the race. The one potential sponsor is considering the truck series and is only in town every few months. It was a much needed opportunity to get him to the track but rain stopped it. We will regroup and have him to the track sometime this summer.

We had a few safety parts for my seat that had not come in yet and they arrived Saturday morning so we left early for the shop. Gary and Dick had already been working on the changes to the car. They had already been working since 900 a.m. We got the car ready. Dad put in the shoulder pads on my seat as required by track rules at Columbus so we could race. We finish scaling the car and set the sway bar then we headed for Columbus.

We had a rough start in the first practice( track conditions). By the third practice, Gary got the car rolling through the corner well. We qualified 6^th out of 17. Columbus inverts the field. Therefore, Columbus has the pole sitter pick the number to invert the field. I started in the 7^th position. All we had to do was top the Rebel 105.9 Green Pro Landscaping with racing fuel from Estes Oil in Franklin. Estes Oil is also wonderful by supplying all my racing fuel. They sell it by the gallon or by the drum so tell them I sent you.

The 14 car chose to go to the tail so I started in 6^th in turn one just like last week. There was another big spin out but I was ready. I slowed down hard then went on the high side to drive around it. The second restart, I started in 5^th. Thank God, because it was the line that moved. I was able to move up to the 3^rd position in just a few laps. I decided to just sit back and wait because I knew my opportunity would come later in the race. About lap 25 I was able to pass the second place car and set sail for the win. Unfortunately, the 1^st place car was almost a lap ahead of me. I started to try and catch him but I realized I would most likely run out of time. I chose to not push it and save my tires for next week. You can just get one new tire a week. The tire management is big in NASCAR Whelen Late models. I finished a strong second pulling away from the third place car by a margin of about half a track. With our second place finish, the crew had helped me make Ohio NASCAR history because a female has never made it in to the top five at Columbus much less a second place. This make 2 podium finishes in three races What a Crew!!!!

As always this week, I did my radio interview with the Rebel 105.9 on Tuesday after school around 2:45 so tune in. You can also hear the Sprint cup race on the Rebel now…. I am still doing the community service/play “why wait”. I worked on my car two nights. Hopefully, I will be doing an autograph session on Wednesday nights Kil-Kare and Sonic drive in soon if we can get it worked out.

Thanks Sloan and the Crew.

Thanks, Steve
Sloan Henderson Motorsports, LLC
"Today Is Tomorrow's History"
www.sloanhenderson.com
Phil 4:13
937-533-6271

Pain in the...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:02:00 +0000

Pain in the…
By Jan Beedle

My crucial appointment with a pain management specialist was at 11 a.m. on a Friday in April. I decided to arrive at 10:30 a.m. to deal with the usual paperwork for a new patient. Due to one delay after another, I don’t think it mattered that much. I wasn’t called into the inner sanctum until 12:30 p.m. Meantime, the receptionist called for Cindy and two Cindys collided in the doorway. They could have left in worse shape than before.

Noticing on the paperwork that the office charges if a patient is 15 minutes late, I wondered, what about if the reverse was true?

After turning in an hour’s worth of paperwork, the receptionist called me to fill out more of the white stuff. Mind you, I was there for leg and hip pain. By the time I left, I suffered from leg, hip, back and neck pain. The chairs in the stuffy waiting room were not built for longevity. My body was molding into the chair.
The door from the inner offices burst open. A well-dressed, but rumpled street clothes exclaimed to the outer staff, “Off to lunch; outa here.” Guess this is what is referred to as pain management.

In these tight quarters, I noticed waiting patients hacking and sneezing. I realized I could leave with Asiatic Flu, hives, along with the back and neck pain, but my leg and hip pain might be gone.
A dapper dandy entered the picture. He carried an expanded matching briefcase. After a wink and a few coos, the aggressive young sales representative sailed into the offices. This led me to question which was more important – medicare, Medicaid payments or drug freebies?

Ah, a patient with crutches hobbled out to set up a follow-up appointment or preferably, knee surgery. Receptionist informed him he might have to wait and call back to enlist the services of his favorite surgeon, while he recovered from heart surgery. Whaa-aa-a?

A pleasant smiling face ushered me into a small room at 12:30 p.m. where I waited another 20 minutes, after answering the same questions I submitted previously on the lengthy paperwork. At last, a comfortable chair and another upon which to rest my swollen feet.

At this office, I didn’t have to disrobe, wrap myself in a piece of stiff cotton, exposing my body, as I jumped onto a cold examining table four feet higher than I could step. I usually devised a way to climb the obstacle, exposing more skin than I hoped. The door would swing open at that moment, with an, “Are you decent? At least, I didn’t have to face that question on this day.

The assistant stated, “I need to go over a few items with you. Remember, you can’t take narcotics from any other doctor while coming to our facility or you’ll be promptly dismissed.” Really, didn’t know I had been seen by a doctor or accepted.

I spoke, “If I had gotten the first narcotic from you, I wasn’t aware of it.”
My mind raced to the rest of the day and the weekend. My sister and niece to be picked up at the Dayton Airport at 3 p.m. and are staying with us through the weekend; granddaughter’s wedding is Saturday; our sixteen-year-old cat with kidney failure and diarrhea; our twelve-year-old dog upchucking this morning…could I deal with much more? Hoping to be pain-free by now, I pictured myself struggling to walk down the aisle or shoeless.

I made it through the doctor’s visit without a hitch. He set me up with a painkiller to last until after the injection, which was to be the following Thursday. The PT set me up for my first PT session the next morning.
Thursday morn, Hubby and I showed up at the appropriate time at the Dayton Mall office. Doors were locked tightly and no lights. A nurse saw us trying to get in and said that no one was there on Thursdays. We went to use the phone at Urgent Care and the receptionist offered to call to rectify the situation. Apparently, someone or someones goofed, because Dr. only gave injections on Fridays at this office. I called when home to reset. Personal obligations took priority until April 23 at 9:15 a.m. I’ll reschedule PT after the pain subsides. Watching great-grandson tomorrow and a once-a-year writers seminar the next Friday. Hope I have enough painkillers to make the date. By now, I’m prepared for a nervous breakdown…trauma, trauma.

After reading the AARP magazine from a year ago (only one of two) in the waiting room, I realized the need to reform health care was surprisingly accurate.

Through my personal experience, sounds like some infrastructure is needed in the business of turning out healthier bodies. Due to lack of health care professionals, patient overload, a ton of paperwork and time limitations, Urgent Care becomes any old time care.

Finding out the basic doctor took a much-needed week’s vacation, I fear catch-up took its toll. Could a physician ever catch up? He needs a rest occasionally to keep alert and geared to patient needs.
The AARP article claims that Americans spend more time and dollars on health care than on food, clothing and housing; they spend five times what they spend on gasoline and oil.

Can patients afford to take time off work for Physical Therapy, doctor appointments and other treatments? With lay-offs and job loss looming, this is not a good idea. These people are twice as likely to suffer bouts of depression, heart attacks and strokes. Pain can cause people to “feel guilty, ashamed and demoralized.”
Meanwhile, I’ll deal with the waits like everyone else and accept the fact that I am fortunate for the health care I do receive. Thanks to all the physicians, nurses, technicians and other health care workers for the effort to continue to provide the best available health care in the world. It all boils down to the fact that coordinating and communicating these efforts in our overpopulated country is becoming more of a chore.

Area Veterans travel to DC...

noreply@blogger.com (The Voice of Miami Valley, Ohio) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:02:00 +0000

Area Veterans Receive “Wish of a Lifetime,” Travel to Washington, DC and the National WWII Memorial

Last month, I had the privilege of participating in a send-off ceremony for a group of local World War II and Korea veterans from the Mount Pleasant Retirement Village who were travelling to Washington, D.C. to see the National World War II Memorial. I was joined by family members, friends, local officials, staff and other residents as we thanked them for their service and wished them a safe journey to our nation’s capital.

These brave individuals served in many capacities during the war – some stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day or flew bombing raids over

Germany

, while others served on Navy ships patrolling the Pacific. Women also answered the call to duty, serving in the Army and Navy as nurses treating the wounded or as pilot trainers.

We owe our veterans a tremendous debt of gratitude for their courage and service, and now is the time to give back to those who gave so much of themselves in defense of our country. Many WWII veterans have never seen the national memorial dedicated to the 16 million men and women who served in the armed forces of the

U.S.

during the war, the more than 400,000 who died, and all those who supported the war effort from home. As our WWII veteran population ages, it is more important than ever to get as many as possible of these incredible men and women the opportunity to see the Memorial, and see it with those who served alongside them.

That is what I found so compelling about this trip for the group from Mount Pleasant – that the group would not only get to tour Washington, D.C. and visit the memorial, but would get to do so surrounded by other veterans, allowing them share stories of their experiences and sacrifices with others who have done the same.

The group’s trip was made possible thanks to Jeremy Bloom’s Wish of a Lifetime Foundation, which grants wishes to lower-income seniors across the

United States

. Jeremy Bloom is 28 years old and retired from professional skiing and football to establish his foundation to “inspire an entire generation and to create a cultural shift on how we view aging.” He started the foundation in honor of his grandmother as a way to ensure that senior citizens – who have given so much to our communities and our families – are respected, honored and aided in today’s society.

I found Jeremy’s story to be very uplifting – too often today we focus on the latest celebrity gossip and forget about those older adults in our communities who have spent a lifetime serving and helping others. By showing our appreciation to those seniors who are still accomplishing great things and paving the way for others, Jeremy and those like him hope to inspire all generations to give back to the elderly citizens in our society.

Sending these veterans to Washington, D.C. was the first group wish granted by the foundation, and I can’t think of a better way to thank these men and women for all they have done for our country and our community. For more information about Jeremy Bloom’s Wish of a Lifetime, visit www.wishofalifetime.org. Information about the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. can be found by going to www.nps.gov/nwwm or www.wwiimemorial.com.

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