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Medicare Open Enrollment Period: Oct 15-Dec 7 2024

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Guest Columnist
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KSU horticulture

The Medicare Open Enrollment period (OEP) is just around the corner! Each year from October 15 to December 7, Medicare beneficiaries may compare plans and make changes in their drug plan (Part D) or Medicare Advantage plan during this OEP. Elected changes will take effect on January 1, 2025.

 

Medicare drug plans are allowed to change their cost and coverage rules annually so it is important to read the Annual Notice of Change or Evidence of Coverage received each year to see if the plan still meets your needs. You should be receiving this in the mail by Sep 30th of each year.

 

Plan changes may affect your monthly premium, deductible, drug co-pays, and your pharmacy, doctor or hospital choices. It is important that you review your plan options each year during open enrollment to make sure you are receiving the most affordable price and minimize out-of-pocket costs.

 

Upcoming changes for the 2025 year that apply to all beneficiaries regardless of plan type include the elimination of the coverage gap, leading to an annual out of pocket limit of $2000 for Part D prescription drugs. Additionally, the option of a voluntary payment plan to help manage medication costs is new. This program does not lower or reduce medication prices. By answering a few questions, you can find out if this would be a good option for you here: https://www.medicare.gov/prescription-payment-plan/will-this-help-me or by consulting with a counselor.

 

There are several trained senior health insurance counselors at the K-State Research & Extension Office in Newton and around Harvey County who are ready to help you free of charge and provide unbiased information. Please contact one of the offices below to schedule an appointment to review your Medicare Part D drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan. (some locations may not be ready to take appointments yet, but should be able to let you know when they will be able to). K-State Research and Extension – Harvey County Office

316-284-6930

Harvey Co Dept on Aging

316-284-6880

Grand Central Senior Center (Newton)

316-283-2222

Sedgwick Senior Center

316-772-0393

Hesston Senior Center

620-327-5099

Kidron Bethel

316-284-2900

Newton Presbyterian Manor

316-217-9119

Halstead Senior Center

316-835-2283

Trinity Heights UMC

316-283-6410

A Great Muffin

By
Debbie Dance Uhrig
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I usually pen my column on the weekends, but this week I’ve risen early in the morning to share a great muffin with you. I’m sitting in the family ‘coffee’ nook, in absolute quiet, with my first cup of coffee for the day. Yep, it’s a good way to start a day. I think morning routines or rituals are interesting to observe. As you can tell from my comments, I enjoy the serene moments of early morning when I’m the only one up, and the darkness of early day is still present. Those of you who know me well, are probably chuckling right now, because I am typically not an early riser. But when I am I like to start the day in the ‘coffee’ nook. In fact, in my perfect world we would drink coffee til’ about 10am and then have a big breakfast! On line four I said it’s fun to watch the different morning routines, all my other family members seem to be the opposite of me! I’m also a quiet morning person, I know, hard to picture that too!

This past week I journeyed back to my hometown of Lewistown, Missouri, to follow up on my dad’s estate work. I took a good friend of mine, originally from southern Louisiana, with me. Tara had never experienced the Northeast Missouri flat lands, and the warm community that makes ‘Lewistown’ my hometown. I was a happy camper when Tara told me she had baked fresh muffins for snacking and breakfast. For 3 mornings I was greeted with a hot pot of coffee and her delicious muffins. (Yes, she beat me up, every day!) The muffins were excellent. Usually I will warm a muffin, and after sampling, dress them with a dollop of butter. Notice I said ‘usually’, not this muffin, no butter needed. This is only the 2nd muffin I have eaten in my life where I never reached for the butter dish! What’s the other one? My mother’s bran muffins.

Tara, has filled the muffins with bananas, mini chocolate chips and walnuts. You will note her nutmeats are not ground extremely fine. She enjoys the bite with larger walnuts when she bakes. I have to agree in this application, I definitely concur. I’ve decided to split the batter when I bake and do half with the walnuts and the other with pecans. Tara notes that she has tried the pecan but really thinks the walnuts flatter the muffin more. Great for the freezer, lunch boxes, snacks you name it.

While I was back home for 3 days we also journeyed up to Edina, Missouri, which is a mere 20 minutes from Lewistown. We met up with friends Friday night, at the Eagle’s Nest Café. We enjoyed a great meal and a couple hours of phenomenal conversation. The special that night was a 2-inch high smoked porkchop! I am not stretching this readers, the chop was at least 2 inches tall. My friend and I were going to split the dinner, but were hesitant to order the chop thinking the smoke flavoring could be too much. Wrong! Instead; we had their infamous pork tenderloin and onion rings, which were also excellent. They didn’t have pie that night for dessert, but it’s my understanding it too has a strong reputation. If you don’t have dessert at the Eagle’s Nest journey on north about 8 miles, like you are headed to Baring, Missouri, (another great restaurant here) and enjoy the homemade ice cream at the Meadowlark Creamery, located on highway 15.

If you’ve gone that far you might as well drive a little further, on highway 15 into Iowa, to the Cantrell Mennonite store, called ‘Dutchmen’s’. It has recently moved into a new building, and the shopping is ‘fun’ to say the least. You will find lots of surprises lurking here. Prepare to stay at least a couple of hours shopping. Our friends purchased 14 rib eyes, cut very thick, for around 6.99 lb. Edina also has a ‘family grocery’ called: ‘Family’ foods, which is right on Highway 6.

You can pick up fresh produce, and lots of discounted groceries, just watch the dates. Fresh baking supplies and baked goods are usually in ample supply. My favorite, the angel food cakes. When we head home from Lewistown, we stop and get homemade sandwiches for the road.

Northeast Missouri is a plethora of Mennonite and Amish stores. I’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg with the information above. Also; north of Edina you will find, Rutledge, Missouri. They have their own locker and fabric store along with the food store. Most of the Mennonite stores also have beautiful flowers for sale.

Wait, there are no hotels/motels in this remote area? Wrong, in my hometown of Lewistown, you will find the ‘Country Cabin Paradise’ located at 402 North Pine. This is owned by our family friends, ‘Sharpe Properties’. They average 89. – 119. per night and pets are accepted with a small fee.

I’m beginning to think I should be doing marketing for my hometown communities! The hidden spots make weekend trips and adventures a great deal

of fun. The only thing I haven’t found back home is a great breakfast location. I am searching, right now it’s at dad’s house when I’m in town!

Enjoy Tara’s moist muffins, and be sure to make plenty. I sure wish I had grabbed the extra ones and brought them to my house! Next weekend I’m off to Kansas City to watch my smaller family members play a little football. The sun’s up, time to close the column for publishing. Enjoy the season, I hope you give Northeast Missouri a fall road-trip. Simply yours, The Covered Dish.

Banana Chocolate Chip Walnut Muffins

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter softened

1 1/2 cups (3 large bananas) mashed

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla,

2 eggs

2 cups all purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 salt

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Gather a large mixing bowl. Mix softened butter and brown sugar until fluffy, then add the bananas, milk, vanilla and eggs. Stirring to blend all together. In a separate small bowl blend the dry ingredients together with a whisk or other implement.

Bring the two mixtures together, mixing, but not over stirring. Lastly; stir in the walnuts and chocolate chips. Pour into greased and/or lined muffin tins about 2/3 full. Debbie suggests you use a 3-tablespoon scoop. Bake for 16-20 minutes, Cool for at least 3-5 and release from the pan.

Ms. Tara, didn’t note how many this makes, but I would say at least a dozen muffins, if not 2 or 3 more. Tara made hers this weekend with the whole wheat

pastry flour, and I thought they were terrific. When baking muffins use a 3- tablespoon scoop. This keeps each muffin equal and when one is done, they are all done. Also; one reason they are so moist is because these are stirred by hand. If you don’t need the mixer, don’t get it out! Besides the bananas and chocolate chips this is one reason why the muffins are not dry. Over mixing causes dry baked goods.

Water Consumption Is Key To Horse Health

By
Frank Buchman
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Weather changes in the fall and winter can affect a horse’s water intake.
Most dehydration colic cases occur in the summer and winter, and especially when temperatures change quickly.
Horses can get behind on water intake when temperatures rise quickly, and they are likely to drink 6-14 percent less water during a cold snap.
Veterinarian Dr. Erik Moore discussed how different factors play into a horse’s hydration status, what can be done to prevent dehydration, and how to properly use electrolytes.
Horses will take one long drink with many sips several times each day. On average, a horse at maintenance will drink two to eight times per day for 10 to 60 seconds, for a total of six to ten gallons consumed each day.
Water intake levels can change with a variety of factors, including when horses are participating in heavy exercise, when temperatures rise, when humidity is high, and what type of feed a horse is consuming.
“Under heavy exercise and really hot weather, some horses can need up to 30 gallons a day, so about six large buckets,” Moore said.
A horse that is being hauled, and therefore eating grain and hay, will need to consume more water than one that is turned out on pasture.
Pasture contains 70-80 percent water while dry feed and hay contain only about 10-15 percent water.
Moore said supplementing one ounce of table salt on top of grain twice each day is a simple, easy, and safe way to encourage a horse to drink more water.
Offering a free-choice salt block, both at home and when traveling, is also an excellent way to allow horses to self-regulate their electrolyte and water consumption.
Horses lose water primarily through urine, feces, sweat, and respiration. Dehydration is scientifically defined as an 8-10 percent deficit in water throughout a horse’s body.
Knowing the signs of dehydration begins with knowing what is normal for your horse.
This includes doing simple hydration tests when you know a horse is well hydrated, paying close attention to the horse’s physical appearance, and taking note of things like a horse’s feed consumption and urine color.
A quick way to tell if a horse is beginning to be dehydrated is with a skin test. Lift your horse’s skin by gently pinching a small piece, usually on their neck. The skin should snap back into place withing one to two seconds. If it takes longer than two seconds, this is a sign the horse is dehydrated.
Another way to check a horse’s hydration status is through the capillary refill time in their gums. Press your thumb against your horse’s top gum and then release. The color should come back to the area within one to two seconds.
Another simple way to look for dehydration is by noticing the soft area just above a horse’s eye.
“There’s a little soft spot you can feel. As a horse gets dehydrated, they will sink in there a little bit. A lot of older horses look that way anyway, but if you are familiar with your horse and you notice he’s sunken in more than normal, especially if you are paying attention, that’s a really easy one to see just visually,” Moore said.
Regular urine is a light color, almost close to clear. The darker or more yellow urine is, the more dehydrated the horse.
Electrolytes are essentially specific minerals that help a horse stay hydrated. These minerals include table salt, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
When temperatures rise, humidity rises, and exercise levels are high, it might be a good idea to supplement some electrolytes.
When hauling, Moore said offering constant water to a horse in the trailer is great if the water is fresh and the horse is willing to drink it. Otherwise, it is best to offer the horse good, clean water at least every six hours while traveling.
If an owner wants to use electrolytes as a preventative from dehydration when traveling, Moore said it is a good idea to make electrolytes part of a routine when traveling, rather than a one-time-use.
The most appealing water to horses will be fresh, clean, and cool. About half a bucket or approximately 10 quarts at a time about every 45 minutes is best until the horse becomes rehydrated.
Mild dehydration can be treated at home with clean water and an electrolyte supplement. Extreme cases of dehydration, where a horse loses access to water for hours at a time, can be treated with intravenous IV fluids.
“The biggest conversation I have about hydration is usually on a horse associated with a colic episode. So, I would say it is very common for us to assess the horse’s systemic hydration status and then use IV fluids,” Moore said.

Whose AI?

By
Milo Yield
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Thayne Cozart
Milo Yield

All the regular news and business news these days is filled with information about the bright future that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to bring mankind. I have my doubts. As with most of the supposed societal advances brought to us by “the electronic age,” I suspect that AI will bring with it as many disadvantages as advantages.

The internet has proven to have pros and cons. Global Positioning has proven to have pros and cons. Drones have proven to have pros and cons. Will AI be any different?

I’m most likely exposing my “electronic age” ignorance about AI, but I have an overriding question about AI. It’s this: Whose Artificial Intelligence will be used? I want real intelligence.

My definition of intelligence is “the truth.” However, “the truth” has had infinite changes down through time. At one time in history, “the truth” wuz that the Earth wuz flat. That “truth” clearly changed. I can’t think of many “truths” that haven’t changed over time.

So, I’m asking if Artificial Intelligence will be based upon Democrat Intelligence, Republican Intelligence, Scientific Intelligence, Religious Intelligence, Historical Intelligence, or some Unknown Intelligence?

It surely makes a difference what the root source of AI is and whether it’s really is based upon truth. I guess all we peons can do is wait and see what the pros and cons of AI are.

As for me, I kinda wish the only kind of AI we had to deal with wuz the old aggie kind — Artificial Insemination,

***

Our daughter and son-in-law recently took a motorcycling vacation to Yellowstone Park along with two close friends. They returned with a humorous story about the resident ravens that hang out around Old Faithful geyser.

The vacationing foursome had to wait more than a half-hour for Old Faithful to blow its gasket. And, while they were waiting, a semi-tame raven worked the crowd for handouts. And, it got some. My son-in-law Harley Ryder wuz one of the raven’s benefactors.

Well, after the Old Faithful show, when they returned to their motorcycles in the parking lot, they discovered that the raven crowd wuz more than just beggars. It wuz also thieving.

Here’s what happened: The ravens managed to unzip one of the storage bags on their bikes and they helped themselves to the edible contents. They even pecked holes in zip lock plastic bags and ate the contents.

I know a bunch of crows is called a “murder” of crows. I wonder if a bunch of ravens is called a “Loot” of raven?

***

Speaking of birds, last week we had an unusual happening at the bird bath we have in our back yard. We’ve had a pair of bluebirds around all summer. But one morning a whole flock of 20 or more bluebirds descended on our bird bath and helped themselves to our generosity for at least 15 minutes. They splashed about all the water out of the bath. They haven’t been back since, so I’m guessing they were migrants.

Another local bird oddity to mention is that in the past few days a pair of scissor-tailed flycatchers — the state bird of Oklahoma — have moved in and been working our backyard for insects. It wuz the first I’d seen them all summer. Normally, the northern Flint Hills is out of the flycatcher’s range.

***

It’s well known that my favorite kind of music is country music — the old kind, not the semi-rappy kind that is now popular. Other reasons I like old time country music is that I can understand the lyrics, the lyrics tell a story with a message that’s easy to visualize, and it makes you feel like dancing.

One of my favorite C/W artists is rebel Jamey Johnson. Some of the songs he writes and sings have clever lyrics. Here are some of my favorite Jamey Johnson song lyrics:

***

“My life is just an old routine. Every day the same damn thing. Hell I can’t even tell if I’m alive. I tell you. The high cost of livin’, ain’t nothing like the cost of livin’ high.”

***

“Down in Mississippi, it’s getting perfectly clear. That anything you used to love. Just ain’t gonna grow round here. So, I’m mowing down the roses. That you planted in our yard.”

***

“Women! Can’t understand ’em. But tryin’ to is what makes the world go ’round. I’ve made a sad one laugh. And I’ve made a good one cry. I’ve made on scream my name to the good lord by and by. I’ve made ’em go insane and I’ve made ’em go away. Just can’t ever seem to make one stay.”

***

“I said would you like a drink. He said ‘thanks, I’ll have a double. I’ve worked up a powerful thirst, just listening to all your troubles. And while he makes that drink, I’ll smoke one if you got ’em. It might be lonely for you at the top, But its a bitch for me at the bottom.”

***

“And nowadays I dream of an old cane pole. My baby’s sweet tea and my favorite fishin’ hole. I sit down on that bank underneath the shade tree. And I thank God the Good Times, Lord Ain’t What They Used to Be.”

***

It’s that time of the year for the huge Ozark Fall Farmfest in Springfield, Mo. Anyone who likes to vacation while on “aggie bizness,” will enjoy attending. You’ll see everything from A to Z for your farm, ranch, homestead or home among the more 1,000 exhibits.

The dates are Oct. 4-5-6 on the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. The show and parking are free.

***

Well, it’s time for the weekly words of wisdom. These are from bumper snickers: “Why do professional athletes think I should care about what they think. If I wanted advice from someone who chases a ball, I’d ask a dog.”

And, “If you believe a 3.5 trillion dollar spending bill will cost us ‘$0,’ then you are as dumb as the politicians think you are.”

Have a good ‘un.

Fishing Proverbs

By
Steve Gilliland
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This week’s column is short on outdoor learnin’, but it seems to me we could all use some chuckles about now. So, if you can identify with any of the below, you probably should NOT be a fisherman.

When someone hollers “Quick, get the net,” and you dive for your smart phone to quickly pull up the internet, you probably shouldn’t be a fisherman.

If you worry more about whether your life jacket makes you look fat than whether it would save your life, you probably shouldn’t be a fisherman.

If you insist on scrubbing your hands like a surgeon each time you dip into your snack bag, you probably shouldn’t be a fisherman.

If you feel the need to read a eulogy for each night crawler you thread onto a hook, you probably shouldn’t be a fisherman.

If you think “trolling” has something to do with ugly, wart-covered creatures that live under bridges you probably shouldn’t be a fisherman.

If a deep-seated concern for “night crawler rights” leads you to make midnight covert raids on fishermen’s cabins, emptying worm boxes and pillaging bait buckets you probably shouldn’t be a fisherman.

And finally, if bending or stretching the truth even slightly makes you break into a cold sweat, stutter or lose control of your bodily functions, you DEFINEATLY should not be a fisherman!

And along those same lines, if you can relate to any of the conditions stated below, you probably should consider yourself AN OLD fisherman.

You’re probably an old fisherman if you still smell like Ben Gay even after you’ve cleaned your fish.

If, after reaching quickly under the boat seat for the dip net, you’ve found yourself holding your cane instead, you’re probably an old fisherman.

If you have ever started to hold the line between your teeth only to discover you’ve left your teeth at home at home, you’re probably an old fisherman.

If removing that occasional fishbone from your teeth can now be accomplished by removing your teeth and tapping them on the table, you just might be an old fisherman.

If you’re shore lunch during a fishing trip now includes a tall, cool thermos of Metamucil and a box of prunes, you’re probably an old fisherman.

If your fishing buddies are now more than happy to take you along to their secret “honey holes” because they are confident you’ll never remember where you were anyway, you’re probably an old fisherman.

You’re probably an old fisherman if your wife now begs to go fishing with you because she’s afraid you’ll forget your way back home (you should feel lucky she wants you back home).

You’re probably an old fisherman if you recently removed a seat from your boat to make room for your walker.

You just might be an old fisherman, if to you, the letters GPS mean Gotta’ Pee Soon

And finally, it’s easy for anyone to drive off with their coffee cup sitting on the roof or the bumper of the pickup, but if you have gotten to the lake and turned around to back your boat down the boat ramp only to discover the boat was still parked in the driveway at home, you’re an old fisherman.

Steve can be contacted by email at [email protected].

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