Congressman Bart Gordon announced that beginning this month, seniors who fall into the Medicare Part D coverage gap, or donut hole, will receive a $250 rebate to help cover the cost of prescription drugs.
“The Medicare Part D donut hole has left many seniors scraping by to keep up with life-saving prescriptions they depend on. The donut hole forces many seniors on fixed incomes to choose between food and medicine, cut their recommended dosages, or simply do without prescribed medication,” Gordon said. “These rebates will provide immediate help, and reforms recently signed into law will provide a permanent fix to this error.”
Under current Medicare policy, seniors’ prescription drugs are covered until their costs exceed $2,830 for the year. After that point, seniors must pay out of pocket for their medications, some of which are too costly at full price for those on a fixed budget. Coverage does not resume until their costs hit $6,440 and can be covered by catastrophic care.
The rebate checks will offer relief to the 85,000 seniors in Tennessee who will be affected by the donut hole this year. The checks are the first step in the phase-out of the donut hole initiated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law earlier this year. Beginning in January 2011, seniors that fall into the donut hole will receive a 50 percent discount on prescription drugs. The donut hole will be closed entirely in the next 10 years, saving Tennessee seniors a total of $1.7 billion.
Gordon noted the elimination of the donut hole is just one of several health insurance reform measures that will directly benefit Tennessee seniors. Beginning in January, Medicare recipients will no longer be charged co-payments for preventive services such as screenings. Local care options for seniors in rural counties will improve as primary care doctors and general surgeons are offered incentive bonuses for practicing in rural areas. Medicare Advantage recipients’ premiums will decrease over the next 10 years.
“These reforms take commonsense steps to ensure seniors get the benefits they depend on, and the reforms do this in a fiscally responsible way,” Gordon said. “I’ve had seniors stop me on the streets, call on the telephone and write letters telling me how hard it is to buy medicine while trying to pay their other bills. Some have even told me they simply cannot afford to buy medicine and eat, too. That is an unacceptable choice, and it’s one reason why health insurance reform is vital.”
Gordon encourages Middle Tennessee seniors to learn more about what the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act means for them by visiting www.house.gov/bart for more information.

The “Hot Rod Power Tour” made it’s way through Smithville today (Wednesday). Participants in the tour left this week in Newton, Iowa enroute to Mobile, Alabama. Many of the drivers stopped in at Bumper’s Drive-In as part of the tour and made their way toward Chattanooga after they left.
The “Hot Rod Power Tour”, sponsored by Hot Rod magazine, is an organized tour where hot rodders drive a pre-planned route throughout the United States. It began in 1995 when Hot Rod staff members decided to take some of their project cars on a cross-country drive from Los Angeles, California to Norwalk, Ohio.
Thousands of people participated along the way but only seven participants (other than staff members) made the entire journey and were inducted into the original “Long Hauler Gang”. Since its inception, this event has continued to gain in popularity and is now one of the most anticipated automotive events each year. It is typically six to eight days in length and held in late May or early June. In recent years, the tour has evolved to become what is essentially a continuous trek around the United States in that it begins in or near the location that it ended in the previous year. Each stop is combined with events or activities that vary as much as the participants themselves.
Hot Rod is the oldest magazine devoted to hot rodding having been published since 1948.

Water and sewer rates for Smithville customers will increase with the passage of the 2010-11 city budget if the spending plan is adopted in it’s current form.
The proposed budget, totaling $5-million 642-thousand 574, has been prepared by Secretary-Treasurer Hunter Hendrixson and the city’s financial consultant, Janice Plemmons-Jackson. The document was presented by Mayor Taft Hendrixson to each of the five aldermen Monday.
Members of the council have not yet met to discuss the budget and could make revisions before any final action is taken. The new fiscal year begins July first and normally the budget is approved by that date. The aldermen could adopt a continuing budget resolution if they don’t meet the deadline. The city’s budget ordinance has to be adopted on two separate readings before it can take effect.
City officials say the water and sewer fund is currently running in the red and if that continues two years in a row, the state will adjust the rates if the city doesn’t act. The state requires municipal water and sewer systems to be financially self supporting. City leaders say Smithville has not raised water rates since 1998.
According to the proposed new budget, the city’s water and sewer fund is projected to finish the year on June 30th, 2010 in the red by $306,464. A major reason for that is apparently because the city is required to take into account depreciation which amounts to $100,000 for the water and $260,000 for the sewer operation. City officials say metered water sales are also projected to be down by $17,000 by the end of the fiscal year, June 30th. Under the proposed 2010-11 budget, the city is still projected to be in the red by $154,993 on June 30th, 2011, even with the proposed rate increases, unless cost savings are implemented during the year.
Under the proposed new budget, the rate for city water customers would increase from the current level of $3.50 to $5.00 for the first one thousand gallons of water usage plus a $1.50 increase from the current rate of $3.50 to $5.00 for each additional one thousand gallons of usage. Outside city rates would increase to $7.50 for the first one thousand gallons of water usage plus $7.50 for each additional one thousand gallons of usage
The rate for city sewer customers, under the new budget, would increase from the current level of $3.62 for a flat usage rate to $5.00 for the first one thousand gallons of usage plus a $1.75 cent increase from the current rate of $3.25 to $5.00 per thousand gallons thereafter.
For example, city water customers who use 4,000 gallons per month would pay $40.00 per month plus tax, including $20.00 for water and $20.00 for sewer. The simplest calculation is to add $5.00 per thousand gallons of usage per month for water and sewer:
(4,000 gallons per month @ $5.00 per thousand= $20.00 for water bill)
( 4,000 gallons per month @ $5.00 per thousand =$20.00 for sewer bill)
The rate the city charges the DeKalb Utility District for water is $1.90 per thousand gallons but would increase to $1.95 beginning with January 1st, 2011 sales.
Water tap fees for customers inside the city limits would jump from $400 to $600 for a three quarter inch water line and the sewer tap fee would go from $400 to $600 for a four inch sewer line. If the lines are larger, the fees will continue to be cost plus 10%.
For customers outside the city limits, water tap fees would increase from $525 to $800 for a three quarter inch line. Fees would go from $525 to $800 for a four inch sewer line. If the lines are larger, then the fees will continue to be cost plus 10%.
The new budget calls for the property tax rate to remain the same at almost 62 cents ($.6194 cents) per $100 of assessed value.
The proposed budget calls for city employees with up to four years of service to get their automatic step pay increases as defined in the wage scale and a cost of living increase of 3.4% based on the consumer price index. City employees with more than four years of service, who have topped out on the wage scale would only get the cost of living increase.
Proposed capital outlay expenditures in the general fund for the new year come to $330,000. Specific projects are as follows: Financial Administration- $20,000 unspecified; Parks and Recreation-$5,000 to pave a basketball court, $15,000 for a 1.5 mile walking trail, and $5,000 for a fence; Public Works/Buildings and Grounds- $15,000 for a trailer; City Hall Building – $25,000; Fire Protection- $15,000 unspecified; Street Department- $20,000 including $10,000 for downtown beautification and $10,000 unspecified; Police Department- $15,000 unspecified; Swimming Pool- $10,000 unspecified; Airport- $200,000 including $190,000 for grant projects completion and $10,000 unspecified; Animal Shelter- $5,000 unspecified; Sanitation Fund- $5,000 and Drug Fund- $5,000 unspecified.
Proposed water and sewer fund Fixed Asset Additions: Automatic meter readers project- $360,000; update of water plant and engineering fees- $2,700,000; sewer rehabilitation camera $125,000; Debt repayment-principal: bonds- $233,560.
Although these capital outlay projects are budgeted, they all may not be funded during the year.
The proposed budget breaks down as follows:
REVENUES:
General Fund: $3,022,500
Special Revenue Fund-Sanitation: $277,350
Water & Sewer Fund: $2,141,808
Drug Fund: $5,250
Appropriation of Surplus-Drug Fund: $34,000
Appropriation of Surplus-Water & Sewer Fund: $154,993
Appropriation of Surplus- Sanitation Fund: $6,673
Total Revenues: $5,642,574
EXPENDITURES:
General Fund: $3,014,570
Special Revenue Funds Sanitation: $284,023
Water & Sewer Fund: $2,296,801
Drug Fund: $39,250
Surplus in General Fund: $7,930
Total expenditures: $5,642,574

A 60 year old Liberty man was injured around 3:00 p.m. Monday afternoon after he wrecked his truck on Highway 53 at Liberty.
Trooper Mike Phillips of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says Roy Myatt was driving a 1996 Chevy pickup truck south on Highway 53 when he went off the right side of the road, up an embankment, and struck a rock.
Myatt was airlifted from the scene by a helicopter ambulance and flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.
Members of DeKalb EMS and the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were also on the scene.
(Photo by Callie Matthews)

Four people were injured in a one car crash at around 10:45 p.m. Sunday night on South College Street.
Smithville Police Officer David Phillips says 39 year old Jenna Sue Murphy of Smithville was driving a Mercury Topaz north on South College Street when she went off the road and struck a utility pole.
Murphy and three other passengers of the car, 51 year old Ricky Reece, 51 year old Dorene Pedigo, and 51 year old Raymond Serrano all of Smithville, were injured.
All were taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital. Reece was later airlifted by a Life Force helicopter ambulance and flown to another hospital.

The phrase, “I just got nailed by the cops,” is taking on a whole new meaning thanks to the Governor’s Highway Safety Office and the “Drive Drunk, Get Nailed” message.
GHSO has already spread the message to many in Middle Tennessee in a unique and surprising way. Vehicles with 10 foot nails driven through the hoods and trunks are appearing in high visibility locations across Middle Tennessee in an effort to spread the word.
One of those vehicles is now in Smithville, currently located at City Hall.
“There is never a good reason for getting behind the wheel after you’ve been drinking,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “Unfortunately, many people are still not getting the message, so we hope this new campaign will help draw attention to the problem of drunk driving in Tennessee.”
The nailed vehicles are part of a campaign to make drivers aware that Tennessee’s law enforcement agencies will be stepping up enforcement on the roads this summer and watching for anyone speeding, riding without a safety belt, or driving while under the influence.
“Impaired driving will not be tolerated on the roadways of Smithville this summer, or at any other time throughout the year,” said Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger. “If you are driving aggressively, impaired, or without a safety belt, you will get ‘nailed.'”
“Our goal is to generate buzz in Tennessee communities with this campaign, and continue to save lives on Tennessee’s roadways at an unprecedented rate,” said GHSO Director Kendell Poole. “Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for every age group in the United States, and it is particularly disturbing that most of these crashes are preventable.”