The Brown County Press - Sunday, February 28, 2010 - Page 9
• Prohibits unfair rate increases: In general, credit card providers can no longer increase interest rates within the first year after a consumer opens a new account. They also cannot increase the rate on an existing credit card balance. Since August 2009, credit card providers have been required to give consumers a 45-day notice before increasing interest rates. • Bans universal default: Using a practice called universal default, credit card providers could increase a consumer's credit card interest rate if the consumer was delinquent on other payments, such as a cell phone or utility bill. The new rules prohibit this practice. • Restricts over-the-limit fees: Credit card companies
Governor calls for elimination of PASSPORT waiting list by reallocating existing funds Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today called for the elimination of the waiting list for the PASSPORT program for this fiscal year, as well as the Assisted Living and PACE programs at the Ohio Department of Aging, by the end of March. Currently, 592 people who need and are eligible for home and community-based services are on a waiting list for these three services. “We should do our best to support older Ohioans who prefer to live independently in their own homes, but need assistance along the way,” Strickland said. “We have identified existing funds that will allow us to assist all seniors eligible for home and community-based care without a wait.” The Department of Aging implemented waiting lists for these services in order to balance their budget for fiscal years 2010-2011. Waiting lists generally cause the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to incur increased costs from nursing home use and Home First placements. Strickland has called for the transfer of resources from ODJFS to the Department of
Aging to pay for the elimination of the PASSPORT, Assisted Living and PACE program waiting lists. $490,924 in funds can be transferred immediately to pay for Home First placements. A transfer of $4,809,076 to eliminate the waiting list is subject to Controlling Board approval on March 1. These transfers will eliminate the waiting lists through the end of the current fiscal year (June 30). The Administration plans to seek additional transfers in fiscal year 2011 to ensure no waiting lists for the remainder of the biennium. “These resources are from existing funds that otherwise would have been spent on more expensive care for a smaller group of people,” Strickland said. “This change shifts and maximizes limited resources in a way that benefits the most Ohioans.” “I’d like to thank Sen. John Carey, Sen. Dale Miller, Rep. Peggy Lehner, and Rep. Debbie Newcomb for their commitment to this matter and their advocacy for home and community-based care for older Ohioans,” Strickland said.
Donations needed for Food Bank in Decatur Donations are needed for the We Can Help Food Bank in Decatur. Since July, the program has aimed to help families and individuals in Brown and Adams community who do not receive government food assistance and need a little help until those individuals are back on their feet. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Food Bank or wanting information about the service should contact Annie Staggs, the Food Bank coordinator, at (937) 373-1006. “We have been very blessed to have so many generous donations, however, the need is still great as unemployment continues to grow and families cannot make ends meet. This has been a rough winter,” stated Staggs. Items needed for the Food
Pantry include: canned vegetables, canned fruits, canned meat. flour, sugar, salt, potatoes, pancake mix, corn bread, cooking oil, cake mix, icing, rice, pasta, dried beans. peanut butter, popcorn, salad dressing, raisins, bread, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, meat, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, and much more. The Food Bank is located on Decatur Eckmansville Rd. in Decatur and is open every Friday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Donations should be made when the Food Bank is not open. The Food Bank is sponsored by private donations and the Decatur United Methodist Church. All donations are appreciated.
must obtain approval from the consumer before allowing the consumer to charge more than the card's limit and subsequently issuing an over-thelimit fee. • Requires a co-signer for most consumers under 21 years old: Credit card providers cannot issue credit cards to consumers under 21 years old unless the consumer demonstrates the ability to pay or has a co-signer, such as a parent, guardian or spouse. • Requires fair payment Credit card allocation: providers can impose interest charges only on balances in the current billing cycle, eliminating a practice known as "double billing," which generally affects individuals who pay off their balance every month. They also cannot allocate payments in order to maximize the interest a consumer must pay. In 2008 as State Treasurer, Cordray launched a statewide effort to collect signatures from Ohioans in support of tougher credit card regulations. As a result, more than 5,000 Ohioans signed a petition that was sent to the Federal Reserve. In December 2009, the Federal Reserve issued new reform rules to eliminate many of the unfair acts or practices by credit card companies. The rules that go into effect Feb. 22 are a first step in an overall federal reform movement. Additional rules will go into effect this summer. For more information on the new credit card protections, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.g ov/CreditCardChanges.
John P. Parker Historical Society sets meeting date
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Chess Club meets each Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Withamsville Church of Christ, located at 846 Ohio Pike. New members and visitors are always welcome. For more information
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MOE kindergarten students celebrated Valentine's Day On Friday, Feb. 12, the students in Miss Allyson Cockrell’s kindergarten class got quite a surprise! The class read a book entitled “Twas the Night Before Valentine’s Day” earlier in the week. On Friday, the events that took place in the book started to come to life in their classroom! For example, the students got the opportunity to make valentines just like the ones in the book. They ate cupcakes, grapes, and cherries and drank punch with heartshaped ice cubes . They played some fun games like “pin the heart on the donkey” and passed out valentines to one another. Then the assistant principal, Mrs. Debra Maham, walked into the classroom dressed just like Cupid! She didn’t say a word, but dropped off a present to the class. When they opened it, they found two African dwarf frogs! The two frogs are now class pets in Miss Cockrell’s room. It was a very fun afternoon for everyone involved. A big thank you goes to Mrs. Maham for being such a good sport and to the parents who came in to help out with the party.
Rumpke expands full-service garbage collection service Rumpke is expanding its full-service garbage collection service, Haul-it-Away, to residential and commercial customers in Adams, Brown and Highland counties in Ohio and Mason County, Ky. Haul-it-Away is unique compared to Rumpke’s traditional garbage collection services because customers don’t have to bring materials to a curb or dumpster. Rumpke’s Haul-it-Away team will remove unwanted items, such as furniture, appliances and construction debris, directly from any location at a home or business. “We are very excited to extend our services beyond the curb to help our customers with their indoor clean-up
projects,” said Todd Rumpke, regional vice president. “Whether you have a fridge you can’t get to the curb or a basement full of clutter, Rumpke Haul-it-Away can help.” Haul-it-Away accepts a greater variety of materials than Rumpke typically picksup at the curb, including tires, electronics, carpet and appliances with or without Freon.
The Haul-it-Away team then sorts through items and properly disposes of them through recycling, charitable donations or disposal at the landfill. Service rates range from $75 to $525 based on location and amount of materials to be collected. Call 1-8774RUMPKE or visit www.rumpke.com for more information.
The John P. Parker Historical Society annual meeting is scheduled on Sunday, Mar. 21 at 1:30 p.m. at the John Parker House, Ripley. After the meeting at 2 p.m., the speaker will be Brian Shellum and he will discuss and sign his new book: “Black Officer in A Buffalo Soldier Regiment: The Military Career of Charles Young.” Mr Shellum spoke with us previously after the publication of his first book on the life of Charles Young. Charles Young grew up in Ripley and was only the third African-American to graduate from West Point and for many years the only African-American officer. All friends and members of the John P. Parker Historical Society are invited to attend.
Health dept. offers cholesterol screenings The Brown County Health Department offers cholesterol screenings every second Thursday of the month from 8 to 10:30 a.m. or any other day by appointment. If you have any questions, please call (937) 378-6892 or toll free (866) 867-6892 and ask for one of the nurses.
Simultaneous exhibition to be held, Chess Master to play 16 opponents The Clermont County Chess Club will be hosting a simultaneous exhibition match at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 9. Hans Multhopp, who has earned the title of "Life Master" from the United States Chess Federation, will be playing up to 16 opponents simultaneously. Multhopp has been a part of the Tri-State and national chess scenes for many years. In addition to numerous first place victories achieved in tournaments around the country, Multhopp has won the Cincinnati Chess Championship three times and has competed in Moscow, Russia. The tournament is open to anyone interested in playing, but will be limited to 16 players. There will be a $5 entry fee. Spectators are also welcome to view this event. The Clermont County
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Many unfair credit card practices once commonplace are now illegal. Key provisions of a federal credit card law passed last year are now in effect. Attorney General Richard Cordray urged Ohioans to be aware of their new rights. "The new law is a pretty big step forward for consumers in leveling the playing field against credit card companies," said Cordray. "The provisions offer new protections that will eliminate many of the sneaky, one-sided practices that made credit card transactions so confusing and unfair to consumers." Cordray highlighted the following key elements of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009:
about the Clermont County Chess Club or participating in the upcoming simultaneous exhibition, visit www.clermontchess.com or call Richard Schmidt at (513) 752-3847.
The Village of Higginsport has, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 715.26 and Higginsport Village Ordinance 2008-01 proclaimed that the buildings located at 508 Washington Street, Higginsport tax parcel 220422920000 have been declared to be unsafe, insecure, structurally defective and a public health hazard. The owners of record of said property are John Embry who’s last known address is 4296 Terrace Dr. Cin. Oh. 45245 and Reva Embry who’s last known address is 4727 Shephard Rd. Batavia, Oh. 45103. The owners of record are ordered to immediately perform the removal or repair of said buildings. It is the intent of the Village of Higginsport to have such structures removed if the owners thereof do not remove or repair said buildings immediately.
B R O A D S H E E T O D D
$
2
SNAC K
.99 PLUS TAX
$
5
N DIN ER
.99
Includes 2 Sides & Biscuits PLUS TAX
Wednesday 10 Piece Box Special $ Includes: 10 Piece Mixed Chicken
3 Piece Breast, Thigh, Wing, 2 Sides and Biscuits
$
3.69 plus tax
10.00
Make It A Meal for $5.99 Additional Includes: 2 Large Sides, 5 Biscuits Starts 3-1-10
Limited Time
plus tax
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Cordray to consumers: know your new credit card rights
5
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.99 plus tax
MT. ORAB
FOOD COURT 103 Glover Dr. • 937-444-2601 • Mt. Orab