Medicare Rate Won’t Increase in 2012.

Medicare average prescription drug premiums will not increase in 2012. The announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) comes as more people with Medicare are receiving discounts on prescription drug costs and no-cost preventive services. New data indicates that 17 million people with Medicare have received free preventive services this year while 900,000 Medicare beneficiaries who hit the prescription drug donut hole have received a 50 percent discount on their prescription drugs.

Under the Affordable Care Act, people with Original Medicare can receive recommended preventive benefits and a new annual wellness visit without paying an additional penny out of pocket. In addition, the Affordable Care Act is closing the prescription drug donut hole by providing increasing discounts on covered drugs in the donut hole. In 2011, the number of people with Medicare benefiting from these improvements is growing.

HHS also announced that the cost of the average Medicare prescription drug plan premium in 2012 will be about $30.

Jasper County Jail Count

1177 August 5, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

I think ever’one has an idea for a bumper sticker ever’ now and then. Although they don’t always express any particular personal belief, I always appreciate quick bits of humor.

Among my favorites for expressin’ a particular point of view is the explosive "Nuke the Whales" that puts a lot of emotion into only three words. Durin’ the energy crisis when midwestern natural gas was bein’ rerouted to the east coast, the classic "Let ‘em freeze in the Dark" drew some attention.

A friend a mine came up with the potential classic "Help stamp out and abolish repetitive redundancy." I still think it’s message is applicable today.

‘Course we won’t get into the "Honk if. . ." variations.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Weekly Column

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Fixing a Slamming Door

Q: My front door swings open and shut way too quickly. This means when my son pushes the door open, it bangs against the doorstop on the wall so hard I’m afraid it will crack the drywall behind it. And when he swings it shut, it slams. How can I fix this (besides teaching my son to be more conscientious about how he enters the house)? -- Ellen D., Philadelphia

A: There are a couple of things you can try. To slow down the swinging, remove the pin from the top hinge of the door. Your son can be your helper by holding the door in place while you stand on a safe stepladder to take out the pin.

Wrap the pin in clear tape -- just one thin layer. Reinsert into the top hinge, and test the door. If this doesn’t slow down the swing, wrap one more layer around the pin. This should create enough friction to stop the super-fast, free swing. You may need to reapply tape after several months, however.

If the door banging shut is too loud, try using foam weather stripping to cushion the frame. Adhesive-backed foam stripping is available at home improvement stores in different widths. Try the thinnest width available.

Pre-test the stripping before gluing it down. With the paper backing still on, unroll the strip along the inside of the door frame where the door closes against it. Put a little clear tape at the top and bottom to hold it, and test the door. Does it shut easily, or do you have difficulty getting it to latch with the strip in place?

If it’s difficult, and you have the thinnest weather stripping available, try placing a small half-inch long piece at the top and bottom of the door frame and test the door again. This small amount of stripping should muffle the noise somewhat.

HOME TIP: Does your door stick or lightly scrape the floor when you open it? Tape a piece of sandpaper to the area and push the door back and forth over it to try and sand down the bottom of the door a bit.

When in doubt as to whether you can safely or effectively complete a project, consult a professional contractor.