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Friday, July 15, 2016 www.kernrivercourier.com
WellBeing K ERN
RIVER
Demolition fee waived Glen E. Stephens East Kern Air Pollution Control District Courier Release In accordance with the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) 40 CFR 61 Subpart M (Asbestos), all persons engaged in renovation or demolition activities are required to notify the District in writing 10-days prior to starting work. Generally notification requires an asbestos survey and $175 fee. However, to minimize the impact to those affected by the Erskine Fire, the District (with the support of District Board of Directors) has made a decision to waive the $175 demolition fee. Additionally, in accordance with the State's Emergency Declaration, the 10-
day wait-period has been waived; therefore, renovations and demolitions can commence once District has been notified. Please note, these special requirements are in effect for persons affected by the Erskine Fire only (in the Kern River Valley area). These special requirements shall be in effect until December 31, 2016. Asbestos renovation and demolition information can be found on the Air District's website at kernair.org/Main_Pages/Subpages/Inf o_Sub/Asbestos.html. Also, care should be taken to minimize fugitive dust emissions. Please contact District Office at 661-862-5250 if you have any questions.
Foundation fire fund set up Deborah Hess, KVHF Courier Release Kern Valley Hospital Foundation in partnership with Alta One Federal Credit Union has set up the Erskine Fire Relief Fund. Donations can be made at any Alta One branch to account number 228409. You can also mail donations to Kern Valley Hospital Foundation/Erskine Fire Relief Fund at PO Box 1628, Lake Isabella, CA 93240. Please make checks payable to KVHF/Erskine Fire Relief Fund. This fund has been set up for homeowners and renters who have lost everything. There have been 250+ homes destroyed in our community. Many of those did not have the means to afford insurance or were underinsured. They will need assistance to begin rebuilding their lives. Kern Valley
Hospital Foundation is a non-profit 501c3. Your donation is 100 percent tax deductible. All monies will be distributed, they are an all -volunteer board and therefore, 100 percent of funds collected will be distributed. All donations are welcome no matter the amount. For those needing assistance through the Erskine Fire Relief Fund, please contact Darlene or Clarence Semonious at 760-379-1828 between the hours of 8:30 am to 7:30 pm. Please be prepared to provide your name, physical address, contact phone number, whether you had insurance and the loss you sustained. We will require proof of residency. For any additional questions regarding donating to the fund please contact Deborah Hess at 760-379-5257, extension 24 or any Alta One branch.
Erskine Fire fund formed Richard Rowe, KRV Rotary Courier Release By Thursday, July 7, four local organizations set up the all-volunteer Erskine Fire Fund to help survivors who lost homes in the Erskine Fire who wish to remain in the Kern Valley who aren't fully covered by homeowners insurance. By Monday, July 11, over $67,000 had been raised for the Erskine Fire Fund, most from outside the Kern River Valley. This fund was started on June 25 by the Rotary Club of KRV and Kern River Valley Revitalization. They invited the Kern Valley Exchange Club and the Family Resource Center to come in as equal partners. In this joint effort of four organizations, the Family Resource Center will be vetting grant seekers, the Exchange Club will promote donations from nationwide Exchange clubs, KRVR will provide its nonprofit status, PayPal and check handling and the Rotary will issue the checks to the grantees, send out donation letters, provide supplies, and promote donations from 23,000 world-wide Rotary clubs. The purpose of the fund is to raise money to assist Kern River Valley individuals and families with unfunded expenses due to Kern County's most devastating fire, the Erskine Fire, which started June 23. 100 percent of the funds will be spent for un- or underinsured local individuals, and families who lost homes and businesses (if funding allows). Donations are tax deductible via KRVR's 501(c)3 nonprofit status. Possible donees will be vetted to the highest degree possible to make
sure the fund best serves those who need it most. The participation of the Family Resource Center is key to this effort. Actions of the fund will be fair and handled with the highest of ethics. The fund will be highly transparent, publishing its minutes, bylaws, list of donors and grants on its website, erskinecreekfund.org. Jeanette Rogers Erickson is the honorary chair and Mike Dake is the chair, co-chaired with Neal Preston, representing the faith based community. Two board members from each organization and an alternate will round out the committee. The Kern Community Foundation will act as an advisor to the committee. For more information, contact Richard Rowe, volunteer administrator at 760-333-4561 or email him at eworkinkrv@gmail.com. Or contact Mike Dake, volunteer chair at 951-7641613 or email him at mdake3084@gmail.com. Checks payable to KRVR Erskine Fire Fund can be sent to Erskine Fire Fund, PO Box 2884, Lake Isabella, CA 93240. A cash or funds transfer can be made at any of the 5,000+ Bank of America branches, using KRVR Erskine Fire Fund #121000358. Cash can be deposited in jars at Cheryl's Diner in Kernville, Nelda's CafĂŠ in Lake Isabella. Donations can be made online by charge card or PayPal at http://bit.ly/28UtYBb. Note: PayPal takes a 2.2% fee from donations to KRVR, a non-profit. For large wire transfers, contact Rotary KRV Treasurer Mike Dake at 951-764-1613 or mdake3084@gmail.com.
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Dave Says
Medical bill settlement Dave Ramsey Courier Columnist Dear Dave, Will hospitals take a settlement on past due medical bills, or is this a rare occurrence? - Kristin Ramsey Dear Kristin, It's not all that rare for hospitals to accept a settlement on past due bills. Most businesses will accept a settlement on past due accounts, and many hospitals will accept a deeply discounted settlement because they've usually gotten a big chunk of their money up front from the insurance company. Let's say you had a $1,000 bill with a hospital you honestly haven't been able to pay for several months, or even two or three years. If you go to them and offer $300 or $400 as a settlement, there's a good chance you'll have a deal. Just make sure you get the agreement in writing before you hand anyone a check. Remember, you have a moral and legal obligation to pay your debts in full if at all possible. But if you truly can't afford to pay, an agreed upon settlement between two parties can be an honorable and acceptable compromise. -Dave Dear Dave, My husband and I are about to
relocate to another part of the country. We'd like to sell our house, but we're thinking about taking out a small loan to have some work done first. We could get in the $180,000 range selling it "as-is" but closer to $200,000 if we installed new roof, carpeting, exterior paint and concrete work. I know how you feel about debt, but what are your thoughts in this scenario? - Kim Dear Dear Kim, From what you just described, and assuming the concrete work wouldn't be too extensive, you looking at going into debt probably $12,000 to $15,000 in order to get $20,000 more out of the deal. I'd just sell it. I wouldn't go to all that trouble for $5,000. Every piece of debt you take on compromises your financial security and robs you of your largest wealthbuilding tool-your income. Even if you guys are in good shape, you've got a lot of uncertainty and the potential for unexpected expenses in the months ahead. Just sell the house and get on with your lives. It's not worth the hassle. -Dave Dave Ramsey is America's trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times bestselling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 8.5 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations. Dave's latest project, EveryDollar, provides a free online budget tool. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.