Page 4 - Reedley Exponent 5-24-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent A4 Thursday, May 24, 2018 Editorial & Opinions
Serving “The World’s Fruit Basket” since 1891
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
Fred Hall — Publisher
In my OPINION
Back on May 16, I received the great honor of being asked to serve as moderator of a po- litical forum for the Government Affairs Com- mittee of the Dinuba Chamber of Commerce. On the agenda for the evening were four candi- dates for the California Assembly 26th District seat and two candidates for Tulare County Su- pervisor District 14.
Jon Earnest — Editor
Chris Aguirre — Sports Editor Felicia Cousart Matlosz — Panorama Editor Budd Brockett — Editor Emeritus
QUOTE
“Everyone is a genius at least once a year. The real geniuses simply have their bright ideas closer together.”
— Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742-1799)
Seat belt enforcement a high priority for CHP during Memorial Day holiday
The candidates who were able to attend
were greeted by a delightful Central Valley
spring evening, well-prepared and tasty hors
d’oeuvres and an interested and involved turn-
out of local citizens. Since the forum was out-
doors at The Alta Historical Society, it would be redundant to say the venue was absolutely beautiful. The questions — provided by those local citizens — often were open and pointed as they probed for candidate positions on items considered crucial to the local area.
This event is cited in particular because it, once again, points out how critical it has become to the Central Valley to become active, aware and involved in all local politics. The truth is, our area of the state has become “the red-headed stepchild” of statewide politics. We are, with increasing frequency, being given short shrift with gov- ernmental financing and other issues which dramatically impact the quality of life in our small cities. It’s now more important than ever that we must thoroughly study and research the candidates we select to oversee and protect our interests. There can be little doubt that all candidates are completely dedicated while running, but often are seduced and subverted by the halls of power once elected. Dig deep with each and every one of them!
It’s never been more important than it is right now to send people with strong values to represent our Central Valley. Burgeoning bud- gets, governmental pensions, rising taxes and a tendency to com- pletely ignore the needs of agriculture make it imperative that we make our votes count to return California to its era as the “Golden State.” All the rosy projections being flouted from Sacramento will mean absolutely nothing if we have mortgaged the futures of our children and grandchildren.
This time the stakes are high! The time spent in examining the candidates’ actions and past proclamations — as well as the ethical behavior — will provide insight into how they might act as opposed to their spouting political opinion which has been group tested.
With the California primaries facing all of us on Tuesday, June 6, it’s time to either fish or cut bait. Are we going to allow the status quo of growing state budgets, increasing government and their pensions which are so out of control, or are we going to elect people who will attempt to bring it under control? Are we going to continue to sup- port a government that rewards itself by putting common criminals back on the street to rob, steal and plunder? That’s Sacramento’s job!
Will we stand idly by while utility and fuel costs go through the roof? Will we allow politicians to plow another $1 billion into Medi- Cal to provide health care for noncitizens. Lies have been told about increasing water storage here in the Valley and yet nothing happens. There is a housing shortage, and the housing which is available is beyond the price range of most Californians, both of which one can lay right at the feet of the political overlords.
The governor can talk about his “rainy day” funds all he wants, but this state is on the verge of financial ruin. The check for all those unfunded liabilities will come due, and rainy day funds won’t make a dent in that number. Read, question and investigate the candidates this year. Your vote may be considered critical to the very future of this beautiful state.
But, as always, that’s only one man’s opinion.
As a separate afterthought please consider this: Much has been said over recent weeks about taxpayer funding for Planned Parent- hood, the nation’s publicly funded “abortion mill.” When they cry “poverty” if denied taxpayer support, claiming that it will deny basic services, consider that they plan to spend $30 million on the upcoming mid-term elections. If they have that kind of money to throw around to influence elections, why the hell do they need any taxpayer money at all? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want any of my money being spent on either abortions or liberal Democrat politicians!
Letters from readers
When you’re out driving this Me- morial Day weekend, don’t get caught with your belt loosened. Your seatbelt, that is.
The California Highway Patrol’s maximum enforcement period empha- sis this week will be on a nationwide “Click It or Ticket” campaign that be- gan on May 21 and runs through Sun- day, June 3. The CHP also is making seatbelt use the focus during the Friday, May 25, through Sunday, May 28, holi- day period. Officers will enforce traf- fic safety laws – including wearing your seatbelt — while also cracking down on distracted driving (smartphones, etc.) and those driving who may be impaired from alcohol or drugs.
A CHP news release said that 70 percent of vehicle occupants who died in CHP jurisdiction during the 2016 and 2017 Memorial Day holidays were not wearing seatbelts and shoul- der restraints. Nationally, nearly half of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2016 crashes were not wearing seat- belts, according to the National High- way Traffic Safety Administration.
Sadly, that trend continued this weekasamankilledMay21ina crash near Farmersville was not wearing a seatbelt. Law enforcement officials say that more often than not drivers and passengers not properly restrained are either ejected alto- gether from the vehicle or are fatally injured inside the vehicle.
Warren Stanley, CHP commis- sioner, said that wearing a seatbelt is a simple task to keep drivers and pas-
sengers safe. “It only takes two sec- onds to buckle up. Remember, it also is the law,” he said.
It also goes without saying — don’t
drink and drive.
•••
Susan Lusk reminds the public that signups still are being accepted for the 11th annual CPT Joe F. Lusk II Memorial Golf Tournament on Sat- urday, June 2, at Valley Oaks Golf Course in Visalia. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 9 o’clock.
Lusk said the tournament is the foundation’s major fundraiser of they year, and in addition to golfers there is a call out for sponsors. There are four levels of sponsorship — hole sponsor, driving range sponsor, putting green sponsor and tournament sponsor. Lusk said persons or businesses wishing to donate can offer drawing prizes and “goody” bags as well as general dona- tions. Players can sign up as individu- als or as a team. Each individual reg- istration cost includes green fees and golf cart and a banquet-style dinner in Selma following the tournament.
Lusk said the tournament is one of two held to benefit the foundation during the year. Another tournament is held in the summer in Boston.
If you’re interested in playing or making a donation to the foundation, contact Lusk at (559) 859-2865 or send an email to susan.frances.lusk@gmail. com.
•••
Friday morning, May 25, is the
official opening
for the summer
of Reedley Beach
along the Kings
River. Russ Rob-
ertson, the city’s
public works direc-
tor, said the park
will be open for
visitors between 7
and 8 a.m. and be
a popular cooling-off spot for water enthusiasts visiting the Kings River. The National Weather Service fore- cast calls for surprisingly pleasant spring temperatures to continue into the weekend. By Monday, May 28, high temperatures are expected to top 90 degrees.
As long as the water releases re- main steady from Pine Flat Reservoir, it should be a good summer of swim- ming and river activities. That will be a welcome change from last year’s recreation season that was postponed for nearly half the summer because of a record snowpack and subsequent flooding.
•••
If you’re in Reedley on the holiday,
make the effort and go to the Memo- rial Day ceremony at Reedley Cem- etery. It’s always important to remem- ber the sacrifices the military made in battle — and in peacetime — to make this country the world leader it is.
See you at the cemetery. Remem- ber, this year’s ceremony starts an hour earlier at 9 a.m.
Fred Hall
Jon Earnest
Using Medicare to prevent or detect osteoporosis
State should fund medical school at UC Merced
In the last decade, there has
been a shortage of doctors in the Central Valley. California has some of the top medical schools in the nation. However, the state’s medical schools are unable to supply enough doctors for its growing population.
With more than 12 allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in California and plans for open- ing two osteopathic medical schools in Fresno in 2019-2020, experts fear a shortage of almost 5000 doctors by 2025 (Universi- ty of Calfornia, San Francisco, 2017). The only way to decrease this shortage is to open medical schools in the Central Valley and train students who are likely stay in the region.
For the last six years, there
have been tentative plans circu- lating to add an allopathic medical school to the University of Cali- fornia, Merced. The campus is ready for it but lacks initial fund- ing. Medical schools in California have more than 100 medical stu- dents in their classes. UCSF had 145 matriculated students in 2017.
If there were medical schools in the Central Valley and they graduated as many doctors as other schools do, the physi- cian shortage could subside. The state should allocate specific funding to UC Merced for their medical school. Bringing new doctors to Central California will improve the quality of life for its residents. Who knows the problems better than the future doctors who were raised here?
Lindsey Condra Sanger
By Greg Dill
Guest columnist
Brittle bones could shat- ter your life.
Every year, more Amer- icans are diagnosed with osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to weaken and become more likely to break. You may not know that you have this “silent” disease until your bones are so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes your wrist to break or your hip to fracture.
Medicare can help you prevent or detect osteoporo- sis at an early stage, when treatment works best.
Talk to your doctor about getting a bone mass measurement. If you’re at risk, Medicare Part B cov- ers this test once every 24 months (more often if medically necessary) when your doctor or other quali- fied provider orders it.
A bone mass measure- ment test helps to see whether you have osteo- porosis or should be con- cerned about your bones. Some people call this test a bone mineral density (BMD) test.
A BMD test uses a spe- cial machine to measure the amount of bone min-
eral you have in a certain area of bone. Bone density testing can be done on dif- ferent bones of your body, including your hip, spine, forearm (between the wrist and elbow), wrist, finger or heel.
A BMD test is safe and painless, and it provides important information about your bone health. Your healthcare provider uses this information to make recommendations to help you protect your bones.
If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, your healthcare provider may order laboratory and other tests. These tests can help your healthcare provider find out if you have another medical condition causing bone loss.
Who’s eligible for the bone test? All qualified people with Part B who are at risk for osteoporosis and meet one or more of these conditions:
• A woman whose doc- tor determines that she is both estrogen deficient and at risk for osteoporosis;
• A person whose X- rays show possible osteopo- rosis, osteopenia, or verte- bral fractures;
• A person taking pred-
nisone or steroid-type drugs or is planning to begin this treatment;
• A person who has been diagnosed with primary hy- perparathyroidism;
• A person who is being monitored to see if their os- teoporosis drug therapy is working.
You pay nothing for a bone density test if your doctor or other qualified health care provider ac- cepts Medicare payment rates for his or her services and agrees not to bill you for anything other than the Medicare deductible or co- insurance.
Osteoporosis and the broken bones it can cause are not part of normal ag- ing. And there’s a lot you can do to protect your bones throughout your life.
You’re never too young or too old to improve the health of your bones. Osteo- porosis prevention should begin in childhood. But it shouldn’t stop there. What- ever your age, the habits you adopt now can affect your bone health for the rest of your life. Now is the time to take action.
What can you do to pro- tect your bones?
Get enough calcium and vitamin D and eat a well-
balanced diet.
Engage in regular exer-
cise.
Eat foods that are good
for bone health, such as fruits and vegetables.
Avoid smoking and lim- it alcohol to 2-3 drinks per day.
Medicare defines medi- cally necessary services and supplies as those needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease, or its symptoms and that meet accepted standards of medi- cal care.
Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend you get servic- es more often than Medi- care covers. Or they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs.
Ask questions so you un- derstand why your doctor is recommending certain ser- vices and whether Medicare will pay for them.
Greg Dill is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Ha- waii, Nevada, and the Pa- cific Territories. You can get answers to your Medi- care questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800- 633-4227).
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