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Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Don’t count snowflakes until they fall By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — If Tuesday’s snowfall can be trusted, Bureau County residents could be facing an early winter. However, WQAD News Channel 8 meteorologist James Zahara isn’t counting any snowflakes until they fall. On Wednesday, Zahara said Tuesday’s early snowfall is no sure sign as to the extent, or timing, of this year’s winter season. It’s just too soon to tell, he said. “Any long-range outlook needs to be taken with a couple grains of cautionary salt,” the meteorologist said. Looking at temperatures and the likelihood of more snow in coming weeks, Zahara said there are a few key forecast models that keep temperatures fairly cool through early November before things gets pretty mild around midNovember. Afterwards, a sharp decline in temperatures takes place going into December, he said. Also, the current northwest flow may be a common occurrence going into December, Zahara said. A number of clippers will get caught in this flow bringing several rounds of light snow accumulations across the area as well, he said. “I would not be surprised if a developing system out of the Rockies, otherwise known to us as a Colorado Low, brings our first healthy batch of snow just before Christmas,” Zahara said. “Time will tell.” Looking back to Tuesday’s first measurable snowfall of the season, Zahara said the
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One-on-one with the Affordable Care Act By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
SPRING VALLEY — Dan Eiten, an inperson counselor with the Bureau and Putnam Counties Health Department, knows the ins and outs of the Affordable Care Act. He is one of several who are hitting the streets and visiting public places to help educate citizens on what the new healthcare system offers and to bring assistance to people who once weren’t eligible for benefits now get enrolled for health coverage.
A huge change the ACA brings is the expanded coverage eligibility and income threshold, which will allow more people the opportunity to have health insurance. Open enrollment began Oct. 1 and goes until March 31. Citizens who enroll between now and Dec. 15 are expected to have benefits and Medicaid by Jan 1. People who enroll later than Dec. 15 will still receive coverage, but could face a waiting period after Jan 1 for it to kick-in. While there has been a lot of negative speculation about how the ACA will affect the healthcare system, Eiten believes
people forget the ACA was brought along to address issues that were in dire need of fixing. “It’s unfortunate that people seem to be more misinformed,” he said. “There’s too much bad information out there. In the hesitation, it seems like it has opened the door for all this misinformation speculation to kind of run wild.” Eiten explained the reason the new system seems tough to understand and take in is because Americans are coming from a “horribly complex healthcare system.”
See Healthcare Page 3A
PHS looks at improvement project By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
BCR photo/Becky Kramer
Got milk? Concentration is the key as Ashleigh Tapanes learns how to carve a milk jug to create a Halloween skeleton during Thursday evening’s community program at the Princeton Public Library. Teacher Ron McCutchan supervised the carving of the milk jugs, which the library was recycling from its summer reading program igloo craft. Princeton Public Library is one of several area libraries hosting special Halloween parties and programs for their communities.
PRINCETON — Parking lot work, winter coaches and school visitors were among the topics discussed this week by the Princeton High School Board of Education. At Wednesday’s meeting, the board authorized Superintendent Kirk Haring to apply for school maintenance grant for the paving of the back parking lot between the school building and the football field. Haring said the state is again looking at awarding $50,000 school maintenance matching grants, which he would like to use for the parking lot paving work. The total cost of the project would be about $100,000-$120,000, with PHS paying its portion of the project through Life Safety funds. The work is expected to be done next summer. There is also a competitive $250,000 matching grant for which he would also like to apply, Haring said. He is working with architects on the science building roof project, as well as looking into other possible projects which could be funded with the help of the grant. Hopefully, he will have more definite information for the board at its November meeting, the superintendent said. In other business, the board made several personnel announcements for winter coaching positions. Appointed were Jesse Brandt, head boys’ basketball coach; Michael Fredericks and Eric Tinley, assistant boys’ basketball coaches, paid; Kevin Hieronymus, head girls’ basketball coach; Josie Gustafson and Heath Terando, assistant girls’ basketball coaches, paid; Ken Musselman and Ken Wilson, assistant girls’ basketball coaches, volunteers; Steve Amy, head wrestling coach; Jesse Snyder, assistant wrestling coach, paid; and Kevin Amy and Brian Taylor, assistant wrestling coaches, volunteers.
See PHS Page 4A
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