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Show 8 HILLTOP TIMES AFAS comes through for Hill airmen TIMES April 24, 2008 Staff Sgt. Jill Ristau also did not consider that the Air Force Aid SociHilltop Times staff ety could help her with her emergency situation until her supervisor, Masany airmen have donated ter Sgt. Donald Cumins, suggested it. to the Air Force AssisRistau's grandfather, a World War II tance Fund Campaign veteran, passed away in late March, without knowing that one day they and she was having difficulty finding would one day be the recipients of affordable airline tickets to New York such funds for their own emergenCity to attend the funeral. Ristau was cy situation. Recently, Staff Sgt. Scott Heim and skeptical at first AFAS could help her. "I didn't think I would qualify," his wife, Wendy, unexpectedly applied she admitted. Although she was very for a grant through the Air Force Aid Society to pay for life-sustaining close to her grandfather (she carries formula for their 2-year-old daughter, his WWII dog tag in her pocket every day), she thought the aid would only Brianna. She was born with glutaric be available for those with deaths in acidemia, a disorder that requires their more immediate family. her to drink a special formula that provides her with basic nutrition her Not only was she able to obtain growing body can accept. This formu- steeply discounted airline tickets la had been provided by TRICARE, through AFAS's affiliate organization, until the supplier ceased delivery to Carlson Wagonlit Travel, but they orthe Hill AFB pharmacy. This prevent- ganized her travel in record time. ed TRICARE from further providing "I was out (to New York City) the the formula, and the Heims found next morning," Ristau said. themselves paying out of pocket for She was required to complete minithe $500 per case formula while TRI- mal paperwork and was told she could CARE worked out the supply issue. qualify for a loan as well, but all she required were the tickets. "It's like a $1,000 (monthly bill) "It was a sigh of relief," she redropped in our lap," said Heim. called. "I was coming home." The event was compounded by Heim's father's upcoming heartTech. Sgt. Jonathan Brown recently valve operation, and the final case of experienced similar assistance from formula the pharmacy had on hand the Air Force Aid Society. On Easter happened to be expired. The manuSunday, he received the unexpected facturer could not guarantee that the and devastating news that his youngexpired formula would have the ader brother had died Brown planned to equate nutrition to sustain Brianna's fly out to Maryland where the funeral life. would be held but his wife and children insisted on coming along to sup"We were about to lose it," Heim port him and his grieving family. said. "I could have (flown) myself Then Beth Freitas of the Airhome," Brown said, "but not everymen and Family Readiness Center body." referred them to the Air Force Aid Society. Brown had a friend who had gone through a similar experience, and his "We never thought about it until friend's wife mentioned how AFAS Beth hooked us up," recalled Heim. had helped them. She gave Brown The AFAS gave the Heim family a the contact information for Rick Leon $1,031 grant to cover the formula at the Family Support Center, and in expenses until TRICARE could once a few short hours the Brown family again provide the formula. BY LEE ANNE HENSLEY M Paramount Pictures Hudson Platt (Michael Stahl-David) and Beth Mclntyre (Odette Yustman) experience the unbelievable in "Cloverfield." 'Cloverf ield' grabs viewer BY STEVE SALLES Standard-Examiner movie critic I remember sitting down to a Sundance screening in 1999 of a little movie none of us had heard about. The film was "The Blair Witch Project" and it completely freaked me out — that, and I had to move to the back of the theater to keep from losing my bagel and cream cheese. "Cloverfield" has the same hand-held, jittery camera style that can make some people nauseated and others simply flee in fear. At the screening, I saw examples of both. I'm just saying, you may want to reverse that dinner-and-amovie plan for this particular evening. My concern was that "Cloverfield" couldn't possibly live up to the hype created by one of the best marketing campaigns I've seen in years. "Cloverfield" definitely lives up to the hype. Shown from the perspective of a small group of friends gathered for a going-away party in a New York high-rise, the evening plays out as most parties do, the awkward introductions, the blatant flirting, the testimonials of goodbye and "we'll miss you." Then, boom! It feels like an earthquake. A quick turn to the TV news suggests a tanker has capsized in the harbor and some kind of explosion has rocked downtown New York City. A curious run up a flight of stairs to the roof shows buildings ablaze in the distance, and suddenly fireballs are screaming in their direction. In panic, everyone heads down to the street. They come out of the building just in time to see a head come careening past them. One stunned lady covered in ash mutters, "It was eating everyone." This movie got my attention and didn't let go. was on the road to Maryland with a loan to cover car travel costs. Upon reflection, Brown was grateful that his wife was able to accompany him. "It was better for her to be there for my brother's wife," he said Rick Leon processes about 10 emergency situations such as this each week and determines what type of aid is appropriate for each situation. Just in the past fiscal year quarter AFAS has given 48 loans (19 of which were the new Falcon Loans) and 7 grants. The type of aid granted is determined by the nature of the emergency. Airmen with medical or dental emergencies are eligible for a potential grant. Other emergencies could qualify for the new interest free loans. Falcon Loans were implemented in early March to help airmen receive up to $500 for any emergency situation quickly and with minimal paperwork. The main purpose of the Falcon Loan is to "keep Air Force personnel out of payday loan places," noted Leon. He said some airmen have been forced to pay loans with more than 500 percent interest charges in such instances. With only a valid military ID and a copy of a Leave and Earnings Statement, airmen can receive an interest free Falcon loan twice in their military career to remedy short-term emergency situations. Sgt. Ristau teaches at the Airman Leadership School and she encourages her students to become familiar with resources that the Air Force Assistance Fund Campaign provides. "Part of their responsibility as NCOs is to council their airmen," Ristau said, "They should refer their airmen to agencies who can point them in the right direction." Additionally, Ristau encourages everyone to use the Air Force Aid Society if they need help. "It just doesn't hurt to ask." Biomat USA A 375 S. State • Clearfield • 825-1999 •. New donors by appointment. 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