Friday, November 10, 2017
Volume 143 No. 49
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HEALTH CARE
A chance for savings on Medicare
Putnam County Community Center can help residents compare and choose plans during open enrollment BY DAVE COOK news@tonicanews.com STANDARD — Anyone who’s had any exposure to Medicare knows how convoluted and confusing it can be to make sense of the various plans and supplemental coverage options. There is, however, help available which could end up providing you signifi-
cant savings. Medicare’s open enrollment period will continue until Dec. 7 and the Putnam County Community Center (PCCC) can both enroll new members and provide a review of your current plans to see if there are better options available. Through the Senior Health Insurance Pro-
gram (SHIP), Janice Holst, PCCC’s community outreach worker, has received initial training, continuing educational opportunities and the required support to ensure she’s providing the most up-to-date information regarding the health insurance needs of seniors. “Last year we counseled 68 people and helped them
save a total of $13,229.82 in Medicare costs, so we always recommend to review your plan on a yearly basis,” Holst said. SHIP was created in 1988 by the Illinois Department of Insurance and the Illinois Department of Aging provides the state’s outreach workers with their training. SHIP is not affiliated
with any insurance company nor do their counselors sell or solicit any type of insurance. Counselors are trained to educate and assist with questions and comparisons regarding Medicare; Medicare supplements; Medicare Advantage plans; Part D plans; Extra Help for Part D plans; long-term care insurance; and other
Mutual aid, mutual honor
insurance plans. Counselors can also assist in filing appeals regarding Medicare claims. Those new enrollees considering Plans C and F in particular will want to review their options as both will be eliminated in 2020.
See MEDICARE, Page 2
LOSTANT
Lostant’s White Table Fourth-grade students learn symbolic way to honor the sacrifices of fallen veterans BY DAVE COOK news@tonicanews.com
Book World will be using the holiday shopping season to help liquidate its inventory through discounted sales which were scheduled to begin on Nov. 2 and will continue until all inventory is sold.
LOSTANT — Knowing how and why to honor the sacrifices of the millions of American veterans who have taken to history’s battlefields across the globe is an important lesson for all students to learn. On Nov. 9, the Lostant fourthgrade students of Jill Newbold’s class showed they’ve learned their lesson well by hosting local veterans as they gave a performance based on the book “America’s White Table” by Margot Theis Raven. A White Table, also often referred to as a Missing Man Table or the Fallen Comrade Table, is a symbolic representation in many mess halls or at ceremonial functions, of the fallen, missing or captive members of the military. The table is set with items emblematic of the solemn sacrifices those in the military face — the small, round table with one empty chair represents the fragility and dangers faced by one lone prisoner (it can also be seated with six chairs representing the five service branches in addition to civilians); the white table cloth is
See BOOK WORLD, Page 2
See VETERANS, Page 2
Tonica News photo/Dave Cook
Tonica firefighter Dan Francisco represented the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department during Utica’s Veterans Day parade, held on Nov. 5, as he helped provide the best kind of mutual aid — honoring our local veterans. Francisco said the parade is held regardless of the weather. Sunday’s damp, cool weather didn’t keep people from lining Utica’s streets in honor of their veterans.
BUSINESS
Book World’s final chapter: Peru Mall to lose another store BY DAVE COOK news@tonicanews.com PERU — In yet another blow to the Peru Mall, it was recently announced that Book World will soon be closing. In a press release, Mark Dupont, Book World’s senior
Vol. 143 No. 49 One Section - 8 Pages
vice president, stated all 45 Book World stores, which are located across seven states, are expected to be closed by January. This follows the Peru Mall’s recent losses of both Sears and JC Penney as anchor stores and leaves only Bergner’s as a major tenant.
Dupont said consumers are now choosing to shop online and this change in commerce is what fueled the company’s decision. All 325 Book World employees, including those in Peru, will soon be losing their jobs.
KETTMAN
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