dicting. It’s where the blessing is for me, that I get to provide entertainment for families where now, especially in modern America, it’s hard to find true entertainment that everyone enjoys.” McFarland is scheduled to perform at Montgomery’s Garrett Coliseum during its SLE Rodeo March 16-18. Of his appearance in his home state, he notes the show is a dream come true. “Getting a hometown show is a feat that most entertainers will probably never obtain. Now that I’ve become a success in the rodeo world, they’ve asked me to be in Montgomery where I can perform in front of my family and friends, and they can see us perform. We’re very excited,” McFarland says. For more information, visit www.trentmcfarland.com or find him on Facebook (search for Trent McFarland – Professional Rodeo Entertainer and Barrel Man).
Wendy and Trent McFarland love pursuing their rodeo lifestyle together, along with their two sons, Ryder, 1, and Cody, 2 and ½.
The annual SLE Rodeo, set for March 16-18 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, will feature some of the country’s best cowboys and cowgirls and stock provided by Frontier Rodeo Company, the 2016 PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year.
The championship events begin at 7 p.m. March 16, 17 and 18, with SLE team roping beginning at 8 a.m. March 19.
The rodeo is a family-friendly event, with several events just for children, including a stick horse rodeo for young ones under 8.
Tickets are available by calling 888-2RODEO2; by visiting the Alabama Cattlemen’s building or Garrett Coliseum; online at Ticketmaster; or at local Publix stores.
For the full lineup of activities, visit www.slerodeo.com
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Healthy Living Continued from Page 10
permanently by about 26 percent. On the other hand, if you wait to start receiving your benefits until after your full retirement age, then your monthly benefit will be higher. The amount of this increase is two-thirds of one percent for each month –– or eight percent for each year –– that you delay receiving them until you reach age 70. The choices you make may affect any benefit your spouse or children can receive on your record, too. If you receive benefits early, it may reduce their potential benefit, as well as yours. You need to be as informed as possible when making any decision about receiving Social Security benefits. Read the publication When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits at www.socialsecurity. gov/pubs/EN-05-10147.pdf. If you decide to receive benefits before you reach full retirement age, you should also understand how continuing to work can affect your benefits. Social Security may withhold or reduce your benefits if your annual earnings exceed a certain amount. However, for every month benefits are withheld, it increases your future benefits. That’s because at your full retirement age Social Security will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for the months in which benefits were reduced or withheld due to your excess earnings. In effect, it’s as if you hadn’t filed for those months. You can learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html. Social Security’s mission is to secure your today and tomorrow. Helping you make the right retirement decisions is vital. You can learn more by visiting our Retirement Planner at www.socialsecurity. gov/planners/retire.
of each county. led to the creation of the Coalition for The Coalition for a Healthier Esa Healthier Escambia County in 1995. cambia County meets monthly to hear This coalition is as strong today as presentations and share information ever. Similar coalitions can and should on various health-related subjects, be developed in all of Alabama’s rural discuss health-related concerns and counties. conduct business. While considerable Local health coalitions bring together members who work with difgrant funding has been received and ferent components of the county to successes are numerous, one success study local health status, concerns, involved providing leadership to secure funding for a new transport sysand needs as a group. Issues or contem for women and children (Wheels cerns that need improvement are idenof Wellness) tified and the when funding coalition goes to work seeking forced Kid One improvement. Transport to Most coalitions cease serving include repthe county. resentatives Perhaps the from hospitals, single greatest primary care Chad Hartley drives the Wheels of Wellness success is that van in Escambia County. PHOTO BY LESLIE JACKSON clinics, specialthis coalition ty care clinics, dental clinics, nursing, makes a loud statement that is heard mental health care, public health, drug within and outside of Escambia Counabuse treatment, emergency medical ty that they love their home and want services, dialysis services, local govit to be a place where current and future residents can have a bright and ernment, the clergy, education, law healthy future. enforcement, nursing homes, the local Department of Human Resources, the For additional information on the local Children’s Policy Council, family Coalition for a Healthier Escambia resource centers, counseling services, County or assistance in establishing and others. The Poarch Band of Creek such a coalition, please contact the Indians health center are also repreAlabama Rural Health Association sented in the Coalition. Representaat arha@arhaonline.org or (334) 546tion may vary due to the uniqueness 3502.
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