OCR Text |
Show June 4, 2009 Page 3 The Garfield County Insider USDA CELEBRATES NATIONAL HOMEOWNERSHIP MONTH USDA Housing Programs Help Weatherize Rural Homes, Increase Energy Efficiency Agriculture Secretary ever. USDA provided ho- have utilized $4.3 billion Tom Vilsack today kicked meownership loans to more of the $10 billion for homoff National Homeowner- than 72,000 rural Ameri- eownership. ship Month with events cans last year – a record USDA Rural Development’s highlighting USDA’s suc- number – and is on track mission is to increase ecocess in increasing rural ho- to help more than 130,000 nomic opportunity and improve the quality of life for meownership. this year. “Rural Develop- rural residents. Rural De“Even in tough econom- ment’s housing profession- velopment fosters growth ic times, homeownership als understand the impor- in homeownership, financremains the foundation by tance of homeownership es business development, which families and com- to rural families and local and supports the creation munities lay claim to the economies,” said Agricul- of critical community and American dream,” Vilsack ture Under Secretary Dallas technology infrastructure. said. “President Obama has Tonsager. “We are commit- Further information on rumade homeownership a ted to bringing the neces- ral programs is available at cornerstone of his economic sary financial and technical a local USDA Rural Develrecovery plan by taking de- resources to rural America opment office. cisive action to protect the to afford rural families the homes of existing owners opportunity to purchase and and to provide opportunities preserve a place they can for all Americans seeking to call home.” Marriage is expensive. buy their first home.” Vilsack highlighted It can be impoverishing; In dozens of communities several families that have particularly when a spouse, across the nation, “Preserv- realized their dream of ho- at age 61, enters a nursing ing Homeownership” will meownership through these home for life. be the theme for events and programs. In Kansas, JenThe financial drain can activities throughout the nifer Neal, who works two lead to divorce, “Medicaid month of June as communi- part-time jobs and is rais- Style.” ties and USDA highlight the ing a 7-month old child, A call to the senior lebenefits of homeownership has become a proud hom- gal helpline probed the diand share information on eowner in her community vorce option. “I still love ways families can remain of 3,000 citizens. In CA, her,” said the husband, also successful homeowners Jorge and Elva Perez joined 61. “At nearly $6,000 per during difficult economic their daughters to also be- month, her care will leave conditions. Activities will come homeowners in the me virtually bankrupt withalso feature weatheriza- same sub-division. Having in a couple of years. We still tion and energy efficiency worked hard all their lives owe $120,000 on the house. programs available to rural as farm labors, they never I’m making $440- a- month homeowners; to increase were able to realize their car payments, and we have energy efficiency in their dream due to high hous- two kids in college. She home, reduce health and ing cost and lower income. says we should divorce, put safety risk and improve ac- But today, after learning her on Medicaid.” cessibility for individuals about the USDA housing “Should I? What hapwith disabilities. In 2008, program, they were able to pens if I do?” he asked. for example, Rural Devel- realize their dream. Vilsack He earns about $95,000 opment financed more than also pointed out the prior- a year. His wife hasn’t $67 million in repairs for ity being placed on get- worked since 1995 after 11,000 rural homeowners. ting American Recovery suffering a stroke. If she USDA Rural Develop- and Reinvestment funding applied for Medicaid they ment housing programs are to rural families. To date, would first have to spend helping more people than more than 32,000 families down their assets to qualify PLANE CRASH CAUSES POWER OUTAGE IN ESCALANTE AND BOULDER TOWN Garkane Energy members in Escalante and Boulder experienced a power outage Friday morning, May 29, 2009, due to an airplane crash, near the Calf Creek Recreation Area between the Boulder and Escalante townships. Power was off in the Escalante area for approximately one hour. The Boulder area was off for much longer as crews repaired lines and worked to isolate and “black-start” the hydro plant near Boulder to carry Boulder Town and are still working on this at the time of this release at 2:30 p.m. Power to Escalante was restored at approximately 10:00 a.m. from Glen Canyon. The outage occurred when a small plane crashed in the area at approximately, 8:45 a.m. “We appreciate our crews efforts to restore power and our thoughts and prayers are with the family involved.” Stated Carl Albrecht, Garkane’s General Manager. Garkane reminds its member/consumers in an event such as this to be very careful around downed power lines. Garkane further suggests for members to be prepared for power outages by choosing an easily accessible closet or cupboard for an emergency supply of flashlights, batteries, and other needed items. COLOR COUNTRY NURSERY 378 W. Center, Panguitch Closed on occassion. Call Ahead 676-8301 or cell 616-8301 Contemplating Divorce: “Medicaid Style” THE ELDERLAW FORUM ~ Professor Michael Myers for long-term care assis- $2,000 asset spend-down dren,” he said. The 2009 divorce rate, tance. Exempt assets in- for her share. Any transclude the home, $2,000 in fer of her share of assets to comparing the number of assets, a reasonable burial him would be a “transfer of marriages to the number of fund, a car, jewelry and property for less than fair divorces, is 60%, yielding clothing. market value” and subject hundreds of thousands of dissolved marital contracts. State law requires spous- to a penalty period. Baby boomers find less dises to pay for each other’s The caller is four years “necessaries”—e.g., hous- from retirement and Medi- grace in divorce. Divorce, “Medicaid Style,” is exing, food, clothing, medical care eligibility. He had pected to increase. costs, and, as in this case, planned to withdraw a (Pro bono legal infornursing home expenses. If lump sum from his retire- mation and advice is availthey remain married he will ment fund to pay off the able to persons 55 and older be entitled to use communi- mortgage. “This has ruined through the USD Senior ty spouse anti-impoverish- our plan to leave the house, Legal Helpline, 1-800-747ment protections. He can or at least its value, to our 1895; mmyers@usd.edu. retain his earned income daughter, a single mother Opinions solely those of the and, for 2009, non-exempt who will need a home to author and not the Univerassets totaling as much as raise our two grandchil- sity of South Dakota) $109,560 (or as little as $21,912), depending upon the state. Their home will remain exempt as long as he lives Get a jump on those there; however, their home will be subject to Medicaid’s recovery provisions upon his death or in the event he Chris and Becca Chappell - Loa leaves their home. Their Home 435-836-2253 jointly-owned investments Call or text cell 435-691-5162 would be subject to the Email request to becca@color-country.net summer bugs |