L-- F 4A THE-JASPER.NEWS, Jaspr-.,FRU 2


Florida to help seniors with medicine belatedly


 Submitted
 Florida Gov. Jeb Bush an-
nounced on Thursday, Jan.
27, that the state will pay
for drugs for dual eligible
seniors who were missed in
the transition from Medic-
aid to Medicare drug plans
that occurred on Jan. 1. His
decision follows wide-
spread complaints by pan-
icked Floridians, furious
pharmacists and others.
Approximately 20 other
states have already acted
because of the problems
caused by the transition.
 The payment, which will
be reimbursed by the feder-
al government, affects
those elderly and disabled
Floridians who are eligible
for both Medicare and
Medicaid. The coverage
will last until Feb. 15, with
plans to extend it if the cur-
rent problems are not fixed.
 In Hafnilton County, this
is welcome news. The
Hamilton County Pharma-
cy Assistance Program has
seen many people who
were unable to get their
medicines. Most have re-


lied on doctor's offices for
samples or spent money
needed for food or necessi-
ties to get a limited supply
of their drugs. Local social
service offices have noticed
a marked increase in re-
quests for assistance due to
people having to spend
their limited funds for med-
icine at full price.
 The Hamilton County
Pharmacy Program
(HCRXPAP) is funded by a
grant from The Blue Foun-
dation for a Healthy Flori-
da, Inc. The program pro-
vides free assistance with
the application process for
reduced-price or free pre-
scription medications.
 Some pharmaceutical
companies will supply their
drugs that are not on the
approved list to low-in-
come consumers and Med-
icaid recipients. Discount
cards and low-cost pricing
on generic medicines
through mail order are also
available.
 To apply for assistance,
take prescriptions,
Medicare cards, other in-


surance cards, identifica-
tion and verification of in-
come to the office. The ap-
plication process usually
takes four to six weeks be-
fore the medication is re-
ceived. Those applying
should be prepared to buy
the medicine or ask their
doctor for samples until
they begin receiving it in
the mail.
 The program, in coordi-
nation with the SHINE pro-
gram, has the latest infor-
mation on the Medicare
drug program. Both pro-
grams are located in the
Sandlin Building at 204 NE
1st St in Jasper. They are
open Monday, Wednesday
and Friday from 8 a.m. until
5 p.m., and Thursday from
1 p.m until 4 p.m. A repre-
sentative is in the White
Springs Library on the first
and third Thursday each
month from 9:30 a.m. until
11:30 a.m.
 Appointments are not
need. For more information
call 792-2143.


Chamber of Commerce

 meeting tonight
 The Chamber of Commerce will hold
a meeting at the Shamrock Restaurant in
Jasper tonight, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m.


 Crime Stoppers
 meeting today
 The Crime Stoppers will hold a
meeting at 5 p.m. in the Conference
Room at the Hamilton County Sher-
iff's Office in the Courthouse in
Jasper.


BEC business start-up workshop


 The Business Enterprise
Center (BEC) will conduct a
Business Start-Up Work-
shop for Hamilton,
Lafayette, Madison and
Suwannee counties at the


Spirit of the Suwannee Mu-
sic Park. Sign in will be at
10:45 a.m., Wednesday, Feb.
7. This service is provided
at no charge to the commu-
nity. All interested parties


are welcome to attend.
 To reserve a spot call 386-
638-9939 for Hamilton and
Madison counties or 386-
362-6600 for Suwannee and
Lafayette counties.


Master Tree Farmer II course

being offered at Extension Office


 The Master Tree Farmer II
Course will be offered as a
seven-day three-hour week-
ly night class at the Hamil-
ton County Extension Of-
fice located at the former
Superintendent's Building
by the Old High School
Building (1143 US HWY 41
NW) beginning Tuesday,
Feb. 21 through Tuesday,
April 4.


 Master Tree Farmer II is
designed for people who
have completed Master
Tree Farmer I, or who have
had experience with forest
management activities,
landowners, persons con-
sidering land ownership
and anyone with forest cov-
er on part of their property.
This course introduces the
best management practices


for protecting the environ-
ment and discusses differ-
ent prescriptions for forest
and wildlife management.
 The registration fee for
the course is $105 (for hand-
book, handouts, videotape,
and refreshments). To regis-
ter call 792-1276 be Feb. 21.
 For additional informa-
tion, visit www.mastertree-
farmer.org.


Published weekly every Thursday. USPS #755-980
 Office located at 105 NE 2nd Avenue,
 Bank of America, Jasper, FL 32052
Phone (386) 792-2487 FAX (386) 792-3009
 E-mail address: jaspernewsl@alltel.net
Myra Regan ..........................Publisher
Melody Lee ......... ................. Manager
Kathy Sasser ....... ............Advertising
Candice Pike ............. Administrative Assistant
 Periodicals postage paid at Jasper, FL.
 Annual subscription rate is $16 in county,
 $23 out of county and out of state.
 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
 The Jasper News, 105 NE 2nd Ave., Jasper, FL 32052

 Letter to the Editor and Article Policy
 Lettrs tf the Editor and new-s articles can be mailed, FAXed
 or dropped ott at ihe new. ciftice located in the Bank of Amer-
 ica Building, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. till 5 p.m.
 Letters to the Editor should be typed, double-spaced if pos-
 sible, brief and to the point, approximately 150 to 200 words or
 less. Not all letters are published. To be considered for publi-
 cation Letters to the Editor must.:be signed, include the
 writer's address and phone number, and in the Jasper News'
 office on Friday before 5 p.m.
 News Releases, 400 or less words, should be typed, double-
 spaced if possible, brief and to the point. Not all articles are
published.
 Letters and articles may be edited to fit available space. Well
written letters / articles require less editing.
 To mail your letter/article, send it to: The Jasper News, 105
NE 2nd Ave., Jasper, FL 32052 or FAX it to: 792-3009.


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"Copyrighted Material


 Syndicated Content


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Diogenes F Duarte, M.D. P.A.


 Board Certified in:
 Pulmonary
 (Breathing Problems)
 Sleep Medicine
 Accepting Medicare, Medicaid and
 most private insurance

334 SW Commerce Drive, Suite 1 Lake City, FL
 386-754-1711 233225-F



 Fiscal Assistant
 Hamilton County Council on Aging, Inc. is
 seeking applicants to serve as part-time assistant to
 the Fiscal Officer. Applicants must have full charge
 bookkeeping experience in the development of all
 financial and accounting records and in the
 development of budgets and grants. Knowledge of
 computer usage for fund accounting is essential;
 knowledge of the following programs is preferred;
 Quattro, Quicken, Word Perfect, GPS (Great Plains
 Systems Accounting). Knowledge of preparations
 and assembly of State and Federal grants is
 essential.
 Interested persons may apply at Hamilton County
 Council on Aging, Inc., Senior Citizens Center, 1509
 S.W. 1st Street (M.L.K. Jr. Drive) Jasper, Florida.
 HCCOA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and
 encourages applications from older persons and
 from qualified persons with disabilities. 236222-F


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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2006


THE JASPER NEWS, Jasper, FL


PAGEF 4A


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