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This Week
Government will monitor your fatness
Uncle Sam wants to know how fat you are, and he’s going to make your doctor report your tonnage.
Reports are now circulating that new federal guidelines have been issued that will make it mandatory for health care providers to include your Body Mass Index in electronic records that all Americans will have to have by 2014.
And while one would think that such a rule would be part of the health care reform bill, the records requirement is actually part of last year’s stimulus law.
Doctors and hospitals that refuse to comply with the new rules will risk penalties such as reduced Medicare and Medicaid payments, according to CNSNews.com and FoxNews.
Nutrition expert Mitzi Dulan told FoxNews: “The fact we’re now tracking BMIs’, I think knowledge is power for us. There are a lot of people that don’t know their BMI and it’s denial.”
Dulan unwittingly hit the nail on the head with her analysis – knowledge is power. And in this case, it is power for the federal government to further meddle and control our lives.
There is no good reason for the federal government to have this information. There is no constitutional activity that requires it. But this is what the American government does now instead of doing important things like – oh, I don’t know – say securing its international borders.
The FoxNews report also cites Dulan as noting that that $147 billion is spent annually on obesity-related costs.
Now why is this significant? Just as this column has warned before, the Food Nazis are taking pages from the War on Big Tobacco years ago. Remember how much tobacco-related illnesses cost the nation? Remember how tobacco manufacturers were accused of marketed their products to kids? All of this and more was used as fodder for lawsuits against tobacco companies and as a means to control and suppress tobacco consumption.
Now, we learn that billions are spent on obesity related costs; health nuts are targeting McDonald’s and others for marketing to – altogether now – the children; and the feds believe they have a vested interest in what you eat.
This is just the beginning. The government is here to help us, and the powers that be are determined that you will be healthy whether you want to be or not.
Meanwhile…
I swear I don’t know what the world is coming to. The end, perhaps. Things just get stranger and stranger, and sometimes seem to go from bad to worse.
Case in point, I’m perusing the Internet Monday morning and learn that, in honor of its 65th anniversary, Baskin-Robbins is pulling the plug on one of its longest running flavors, French Vanilla. Sort of like, Coca-Cola celebrated its centennial back in the mid-1980s by changing its 100-year-old soda formula. A simply brilliant example of public relations stupidity. Why this has been done this is beyond me. Obama probably has something to do with it, I’m sure.
I grew up with Baskin-Robbins; it was part of the excitement of going to Amarillo back in the day. As I recall, there were at one time three locations to chose from, and my family ate at all of them depending on which was closest. We would eat at the Zuider Zee, Myer’s Drumstick, or Shakey’s Pizza; and then have dessert at
Baskin-Robbins. And there, I always, always got French Vanilla. Sometimes I’d put something else with it – Mint Chocolate Chip or Strawberry Cheesecake or something – but there was always a scoop of French Vanilla in my cup.
B-R sent my brother and me birthday cards every year, provided him with some sweet treats during some rather unpleasant dental procedures, and also was the source of the dry ice that he used to burn a wart off my hand very unexpectedly when I was about 13… but I digress.
I guess it has something with my approaching 40th birthday, but the things of my youth now seem further and further away and some of the things I loved the most have almost disappeared entirely. Baskin-Robbins wounded me deeply about 10 or 12 years ago when they suddenly pulled all their franchises out of Amarillo and Lubbock, but one did finally re-open in Lubbock just a couple of years ago.
But now comes this news, the end of B-R’s French Vanilla. I don’t know how much more I can take really. I’ve joined the Facebook page that is trying to save this beloved flavor and coerced my employees into doing the same. The page started last Thursday and by Monday morning it had more than 900 followers and that grew to more than 1300 by Monday evening, and they are all as outraged as I am.
For example, Glenn Causer of Ruckersville, Virginia wrote: “Keep French vanilla, fire the idiot that decided to get rid of it.
But it was Gary Brefini of Dedham, Mass., who summed it up best: “You ba*****s! <shaking my fist>…French Vanilla? Have you no conscience? No humanity?”
No, Gary. They apparently don’t.
John Mark Allen
John Mark Allen, 93, died Saturday, July 17, 2010, at his home in Clarendon following a lengthy illness.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2010, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Don Stone and Chris Moore, officiating. Interment followed at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Mark was born on May 21, 1917, in Throckmorton, to Hill and Johnnie Tennessee Yates Allen. He married Vivian Reeves on December 26, 1937, in Munday, Texas. He had been a resident of Donley County since 1936. He had been a rancher and a cowboy before his retirement. He loved and was loved dearly by all of his family. He was a member of the Clarendon Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Pat Allen in 1949; a brother, Rex Allen; two sisters, Jo Emma Moore and Florine Price.
Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Vivian Allen of Clarendon; a son, Steve Allen and wife Pat of Clarendon; a daughter, Ann Allen of Mead, Oklahoma; two grandchildren, Brad Allen of Austin and Andree Barefield and husband Brandon of Canyon; two great grandchildren, Brittany Hargrove and Shalee Hargrove both of Canyon.
The family will be at 801 South Koogle.
The family requests that memorials be to the Donley County 4-H and/or the Donley County 4-H Building Fund.
Kathy Charlene Wellborn
Kathy Charlene Wellborn, 57, died Saturday, July 17, 2010, in Canyon.
Services will be held at 11 p.m., Thursday, July 22, 2010, in Robertson Funeral Directors Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Rev. Larry Capranica, Pastor of the Community Fellowship Church of Clarendon, officiating. Interment followed at Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.
Services were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Kathy was born May 22, 1953, in Tulia to Charles M. and Barbara Faye McGlaun Wellborn. She had been a resident of Amarillo before moving to Canyon 3 years ago. She had been employed in various places prior to her illness. She was a Baptist.
She was preceded in death by her father, Charles M. Wellborn, Jr. in 1991.
Survivors include her parents, Allen and Barbara Richter of Clarendon; one sister, Debra McNair and husband Lee of Dennison; one brother, McGlaun Wellborn and wife Vicky of Dalhart; nieces and nephews, Regina Sutton and husband Byron of Plano, Lisa Jones and husband Brandon of Van Alsytne, Justin McNair and wife Lydia of Frisco, Laurie Watts and husband Russ of Hereford, Jason Wellborn of Dalhart; an aunt, Marian Thompson of Amarillo; cousins, Hal and Carol Thompson and Jeff Thompson and wife Elizabeth; four great nieces; and three great nephews.
The family request memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society
The family will be at 108 Collados Drive.
City, county okay sheriff’s contract
Donley County Commissioners’ Court approved a new contract between the Sheriff’s Office and the City of Clarendon last Tuesday, and city officials followed suit this week.
Sheriff Butch Blackburn said the new five-year agreement for law enforcement services in the city will provide his office with annual two percent increases.
The current contract amount is for $130,000.
“This way each entity knows every year what’s going on, and we don’t have to worry about it,” Blackburn said. “It’s good for everybody.”
Details of the new agreement were ironed out during a meeting last month which included the sheriff, County Judge Jack Hall, Mayor Chris Ford, and Interim City Administrator Phyllis Jeffers.
Also under the new contract, fines collected in the city will go to the city, and the sheriff’s office will enforce city ordinances, Jeffers said.
“We had a good meeting with a spirit of cooperativeness,” Jeffers said. “(The contract) is fiscally responsible and maintains a high level of law enforcement. I was pleased with the outcome.”
Jeffers said the city and county will still meet annually to review the agreement and make sure it is working well.
The Clarendon Board of Aldermen approved the contract at their regular meeting last night.
In other count business last week, commissioners approved employees’ health insurance for the coming year through, which includes an eight percent increase in premiums. The court also approved a bid on tax delinquent property and approved a request for a deed to clear up title to an acre of land in Section 14 that was once part of the Watkins School.
The commissioners also met in regular session July 12 and took the following actions:
Approved the 2010 Summer Celebration activities on July 22 on the Courthouse Square; Voted to sponsor the 2010 Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff with $500; Voted to approve the schedule of County Road & Bridge Fees for 2011, leaving those fees at the current levels; Approved the purchase of a storage building for use by the Justice of the Peace in Precincts 3&4; and Renewed guidelines governing tax abatements in the county for another two years.
Hedley Aldermen will meet to hire new staff
The Hedley Board of Aldermen will hold two called meetings this week in the hopes of replacing the three city staff members who resigned July 1.
According to agendas posted at City Hall, the board will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 15, to review résumés, and then the board will meet again on Friday, July 16, at 7 p.m. to hire employees.
The called meetings come after all three city employees – City Secretary Randy Shaw, City Clerk Rhonda Shaw, and city maintenance worker Roger Hagar – announced July 1 their resignations effective at the end of this month.
A call to Mayor Dusty Wilkinson was not returned by press time Tuesday. City Clerk Rhonda Shaw said the city has received applications for all three positions.
Several citizens have called on Randy Shaw to reconsider his resignation, noting the many functions he performs.
“City Secretary sounds like someone who sits in a chair all day,” Metcalf told the Enterprise last week. “Randy does not sit in a chair.”
Metcalf said Shaw writes grants for the city, picks up the trash, holds two state licenses to operate the water and sewer system, maintains the roads, and cares for the fire station and the cemetery.
During a called city meeting last Monday, Wilkinson asked Mr. Shaw what it would take to get him to continue in his position, but Shaw told the Enterprise that his mind was made up.
Shaw said he would help train his replacement and has offered to stay on part time beyond August 1 to ease the transition.
Plans set for summer celebration
The Clarendon Tourism Committee is inviting everyone to the Donley County Courthouse Square next Thursday, July 22, for the 2010 Summer Celebration.
NewsChannel 10 will be broadcasting live at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 p.m. Activities scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. KEFH and KLSR radio stations are also going to be broadcasting from the celebration.
This fun-filled event will showcase Clarendon as a progressive community with a rich heritage of Agriculture, Education, Religion, and the Arts. The Celebration promises to have something for everyone including local musicians, an antique car show, a Farmers’ Market, demonstrations, and raffles.
One of the highlights of the celebration will be the Amarillo Star contest, which is reaching out this year and opening auditions to soloists, duets, trios and quartets.
“We thought it would be fun to add more competition to the event this year by opening the contest up to more than soloists,” said Maryann Hueston, Amarillo Star Chairman. “We look at this as an event to showcase our areas talent and since we encompass the Tri-State area we wanted to open the competition up to groups.”
For more information about the Amarillo Star contest, call (806) 376-7767.
Summer Celebration organizers have also planned games for kids of all ages, such as a dunking booth, water games, a bounce house, a Busy Town Mystery, a greased pig catch, a stick horse rodeo, horseshoes, washers, marbles, sack races, limbo, and more.
Food vendors are scheduled to offer a wide variety of tasty morsels, including candy, sausage wraps, chopped beef sandwiches, stuffed jalapenos, burritos, pizza, cotton candy, nachos, and brownies.
The evening will conclude with a special movie showing of The Karate Kid at the Sandell Drive-In from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
The tourism committee is working to make this a fun event for all ages, so please contact Terry Askew at 874-5001 or Denise Bertrand at 874-2846 to schedule activities or reserve booth space.
Experts: Post-Alex rains may ignite mosquito population
COLLEGE STATION – Rains and flooding from Hurricane Alex likely will lead to significantly increased mosquito activity in many parts of the state, said Texas AgriLife Extension Service experts.
“Excessive moisture and flooding help create optimal conditions in which mosquitoes can breed,” said Dr. Mark Johnsen, a medical entomologist with the AgriLife Extension agricultural and environmental safety unit in College Station.
“And having good information on mosquito behavior and control can help reduce both their nuisance factor and the threat of disease transmission.”
The best way to combat mosquitoes after flooding is by applying the “four Ds” of personal protection – DEET, dusk/dawn, dress and drain, according to Johnsen.
The first D refers to using a mosquito repellent with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535, he said. The second D means restricting activity at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. The third refers to dressing in loose-fitting, light-colored, long-sleeve shirts or blouses, and long pants. And the fourth D is in reference to draining standing water from bottles, cups, unused plant pots, tires and other receptacles that might provide a mosquito breeding site.
Johnsen added that materials covering the four Ds and other information on mosquitoes and mosquito control are available in English and Spanish and can be downloaded free from two AgriLife Extension websites.
The AgriLife Extension publication, “Potential Mosquito Problems after a Hurricane,” is available for free download at the Agricultural and Environmental Safety website, http://www-aes.tamu.edu/, as are the other free publications “Mosquito Life Cycle” and “The Best Way to Control Mosquitoes.”
Further information can be found in the AgriLife Extension publication, “Mosquito Problems after a Storm,” available though the AgriLife Extension Bookstore at https://agrilifebookstore.org/. The publication number for the English-language version is ER-042, and the number for the Spanish-language version is ER-042S.
Additionally, the Texas Department of State Health Services has health-related precautions, including precautions about mosquitoes, for people in areas where heavy rains may occur as a result of Hurricane Alex. These can be found at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20100701.shtm/.
Another resource, the “Mosquito Safari” website, http://mosquitosafari.tamu.edu/, sponsored by AgriLife Extension, the Dallas County Health Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 6 Pesticides Division, is a free interactive site containing scientifically based information on mosquitoes and their control.
“Mosquito Safari was created as an alternative to other Internet sites on the pests that are bogged down by heavily text-oriented pages,” said Dr. Mike
Merchant, an AgriLife Extension urban entomologist in Dallas who helped create the site. “It’s a visually appealing and interactive site that helps the user search out and eliminate places where disease-carrying mosquitoes might breed.”
Container-breeding mosquitoes breed in anything that can catch and hold water, including soft drink cans, open grills, watering cans, clogged gutters, wheelbarrows and used tires, Merchant said.
“The core of the Mosquito Safari site is a virtual backyard that you can explore with your computer mouse,” he said. “As you hit hot spots in the backyard, a window pops up and a narrator discusses what appears on the screen and how it relates to mosquito control.”
“While the site provides useful information and technical assistance to the public, it may still be necessary for people to contact a pest control professional or employ additional do-it-yourself methods,” he said.
Lois Catherine Warrenburg
Lois Catherine Warrenburg, 97, died Thursday, July 8, 2010, in Clarendon.
Services Will be held at a later date in Paris, Texas.Inurnment will be held at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery in Paris, Texas where she will join Harold, Sr. and his family members.
Cremation and arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.
Lois Catherine Williams was born in Dalhart, Texas on November 18, 1912, the second of four children by John Henry Williams and Ethel Denman Williams. She graduated from Dalhart High School and was employed by the Dalhart Texan news. In 1933, she married Dr. Harold Earl Grupe from Paris, Texas, a recent graduate of Baylor College of Dentistry, and during the ensuing years raised two children and began a lifelong pursuit in art. She studied oil painting for several years in Germany, where her husband served as periodontal consultant to the US Army, Europe (USAREUR) from 1955-59, and continued her studies at the Portland Museum School of Art when they returned to the states and Dr. Grupe became chairman of aerodonetics at the University of Oregon. In 1967 he was killed in a boating accident in Sitka, Alaska, where he had gone to present a clinic to some of his former students serving duty there. In 1989 Lois married Alton “Rusty”
Warrenburg who had been a friend from high school days, and they lived in Houston, Texas until she moved to Clarendon in the late 90’s, when Rusty passed on.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Irma Ballenger of Hereford; and a brother, Thomas Jack Williams of Fort Myers who was a decorated Air Force pilot in WWII.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Harold Grupe, Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama; a daughter, Carole Steber of Aachen, Germany; a sister, Nell Barnhill of Amarillo; and also leaves behind eight loving grandchildren, Susanne, Markus, Marlen, Harald, Gisela, and Melanie, Lisa, and Lois Elaine.
The family requests that memorials be to a favorite charity.
Mary “Polly” Hermesmeyer Kline
Mary “Polly” Hermesmeyer Kline, 86, died Thursday, July 1, 2010.
Rosary was said at 7:15 p.m. Friday, July 2, in St. Theresa Catholic Church. Mass was celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 3, in the church with the Rev. Mieczyslaw Przepiora, Pastor, as celebrant. Burial was held in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Groom by Minton/Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle.
Polly was born and raised in Jericho, north of Clarendon. She married and moved to Amarillo and followed her military husband on many assignments until he retired in San Antonio in 1967. They lived there until the death of her husband in August 2005, and she then moved to St. Ann’s Nursing Home in Panhandle in October 2005.
She was a homemaker and sales clerk for J.C. Penney Co., Sears and the Base Exchange.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Nell Hermesmeyer; her husband, Steve J. Kline; two brother and 2 sisters.
Survivors include a son, Bill Hermesmeyer and wife Carolyn of Panhandle; two daughters, Pat Peterson and husband John of Nineville, Fla., and Janis Hodge of San Antonio; a brother, Philip Hermesmeyer of Clarendon, a sister, Joan Gulde of Amarillo; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Casket bearers were Stephen Hermesmeyer, Scott Hermesmeyer, Sam Hermesmeyer, Clint McPhail and Jeff Gulde.
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