Page 8
The INDEPENDENT, November 1, 2007
Begin choosing a Medicare plan before open enrollment starts
By Debbie Smith, Regional Presi-
dent, Senior Products, Humana’s
Western Region
When selecting a Medicare
plan, you have a wide variety of
choices, so you’ll want to select
the plan that best suits your
needs.
Use this time before the en-
rollment period begins, on No-
vember 15, to get answers. Be-
fore choosing a plan, think
about your healthcare needs
and what’s important to you.
Here are four simple steps to
help you select a Medicare
plan.
Step One: Review your med-
ical spending from 2006 and
2007. Give yourself a “health-
care audit.” In other words, re-
view your records and receipts
to determine your recent
healthcare costs. Be sure to in-
clude charges from physicians,
hospitals and pharmacy ex-
penses for your prescription
drugs or supplies. If you don’t
have good records, talk to your
doctor’s office or pharmacy.
Step Two: Identify future
healthcare needs. Although
none of us has a crystal ball
that can predict what next year
will bring, make an estimate on
what healthcare services you
may need. Do you have a con-
dition that requires on-going,
regular care? Will you need to
continue on your current pre-
Body Mind Spirit Retreat scheduled
Body Mind Spirit Retreat’s
2nd annual weekend retreat in
Vernonia will feature exception-
al guest speakers: Dr. Tooba
Durrani, Heather Lewis, L.M.T.,
L.M.P., C.L.T., N.T., Dr.
Stephen Scheer, and Deborah
Steffen, R.Y.T., H.H.P., C.H.T.,
a Certified Chopra Center In-
structor.
Open your mind as you read
these questions and then ask
yourself “could this weekend
be a breakthrough for me?”
• Have you ever wondered
why your relationships with
friends and family have not im-
proved despite all you have
tried?
• Have you ever wondered
why you aren’t as healthy as
you’d like to be despite all the
different techniques you have
A GALIS
N ETWORK
S ERVICES
tried?
• Have you ever wondered
how to find peace, serenity and
a sense of wellbeing even with
chaotic circumstances and
multiple responsibilities?
This retreat is for you! Ex-
plore yourself and ways to
support your mind, body, and
spirit.
All workshops, yoga, qigong,
food and lodging for only $250,
register by November 5. The
retreat starts November 9, 5:00
p.m. through November 11,
2:00 p.m. at Cedar Ridge Re-
treat in Vernonia.
To enroll in the retreat or for
more information call 503-429-
2103 or 503-429-4677 today.
For more information please
visit www.aletheia-hti.com.
High Speed Wireless Internet.
As fast as DSL for less cost.
Domain Services
Low cost registration and hosting.
Unlimited Dialup
Surf up to 5x faster with dialup accelerator included FREE.
Local Areas Wireless Internet
Heather Ln. to Cherry St., Downtown Vernonia
Timber Rd./Hwy 47 Jct. to the Golf Course
Check your email
from anywhere using Agalis' Webmail.
All Agalis Internet accounts include:
Email accounts, Email Virus & SPAM filtering,
FREE Internet related support.
Website: www.agalis.net
Phone: 503-201-1846
Owned and Operated in Vernonia since 1998
scriptions?
What
annual
screenings should you expect?
Talk with your doctors, espe-
cially if they have indicated you
may need a specific procedure
or service in the months ahead.
Step Three: Explore your op-
tions. There are many re-
sources to help you better un-
derstand your options in select-
ing a Medicare plan:
•State Health Insurance As-
sistance Program – The Ore-
gon Senior Health Insurance
Benefits Assistance Program
(SHIBA) gives free local health
insurance counseling. Visit
www.shipusa.org or call (1-800-
722-4134).
•www.medicare.gov enables
Please see page 10
Vernonian to walk 60 miles for cancer
Jeana Gump of Vernonia,
Oregon, will join thousands of
other dedicated women and
men at the Arizona Breast Can-
cer 3-Day benefiting Susan G.
Komen for the Cure and the
National Philanthropic Trust
Breast Cancer Fund. After
months of training and fund-
raising, participants will walk 60
miles during three days to raise
awareness and funds for criti-
cal research and community
outreach programs.
“This will be my third 3-day
walk,” Gump said, “I originally
got involved with the 3-day be-
cause a friend lost her Aunt to
Breast Cancer. I had such an
amazing wonderful time partici-
pating in that first walk, that I
decided to do it again in 2006,
and I did it. This year, I am do-
ing it again and my ultimate
goal is to walk in every city that
has a Breast Cancer 3-day
event. I can only hope that by
the time I finish my goal, a cure
will be found.
“As a Breast Cancer 3-Day
participant, I have an opportu-
nity to celebrate breast cancer
survivorship, honor those who
lost their lives to the disease,
and ultimately, have an enor-
mous impact on awareness
and funding for breast cancer
research and community out-
reach programs. The Breast
Cancer 3-Day is challenging,
and fun, and the memory of my
personal accomplishment will
last a lifetime,” Gump conclud-
ed.
The Arizona Breast Cancer
3-Day will start on Friday morn-
ing, November 2, and end with
closing ceremonies on Sunday
afternoon, November 4. The
walkers will cover about 20
miles a day, traveling at their
own pace. The walkers will be
supported by hundreds of vol-
unteer crew members who will
provide meals, liquid and snack
stops, gear transport, hot
showers, portable restrooms,
safety on the streets and 24-
hour medical services.
The actual journey starts
months in advance when walk-
ers start training and raising the
$2,200 required fundraising
minimum. To help prepare for
the Breast Cancer 3-Day, each
walker is supported by coaches
and online assistance that aid
in all aspects of training and
fundraising, while clinics, meet-
ings, and training walks provide
ongoing support.
To help Gump reach her
goal, make a donation directly
to her online donation page or
join her team at https://www.
kintera.org/faf/search/searchTe
amPart.asp?ievent=202306&li
s=0&kntae202306=B9441ED6
B67C47CAB47A3A8F49B05C
6A&supId=0&team=1683556&
cj=Y. To learn how to participate
or volunteer with the Breast
Cancer 3-Day, visit www.The3
Day.org or call 800-996-3DAY.
Fultz has great bodybuilding season
Although he took the 2006
competitive season off, Ver-
nonia’s Terry Fultz started train-
ing for the 2007 bodybuilding
season in mid-summer of 2006.
The first competition of 2007
was the Oregon Champi-
onships, at Parkrose High
School, in June. Fultz had a re-
spectable come-back by taking
second place. In addition, he
was presented with a special
award for Most Inspirational
Bodybuilder in Oregon. The
award was presented by André
Scott, of Blue Sky Productions,
the promoter of the competi-
tion.
Next up was the Northern
Classic, September 1 in Taco-
ma, Washington. Fultz cap-
tured the Over 60 title, and won
the Best Poser at Show Trophy.
Once again, to his surprise,
Fultz received the Most Inspira-
tional award.
September 22 found Fultz
on stage again, in Wenatchee,
Wash., competing for the Ever-
green State title. Fultz again
took home the Over 60 champi-
onship and nearly won the
Masters Men’s Overall (for win-
ners of the over 40 and over 50
classes, missing by a split deci-
sion to the Over 40 winner. For
the third show in a row, Fultz
was given the Most Inspira-
tional and for the second time
in the season, was awarded the
Best Poser at Show. No other
bodybuilder has been awarded
Please see page 24
State Farm ®
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710
Bunny Girt, Agent
1229 N. Adair
PO Box 543
Cornelius, OR 97113-0543
Bus 503-357-3131 Fax 503-357-9667
bunny.girt.b71g@statefarm.com