Baxter Bulletin from Mountain Home, Arkansas • 1

INSIDE cporrrs WEATHER INCREASING CLOUDINESS and cool. A 40 percent chance of showers or thundershowers. High near 50. East wind around 10 mph. Weather 2A Sunrise: 6.37 Sunset: 6:05 'Troubled Waters' Report blasts U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers projects as 'wasteful 3A Stato tomboy actio: Find out the winners and iosers in state tournament play OA Cloudy ESTABLISHED IN 1901 35 THURSDAY, March 2, 2000 Two Sections 20 Pages MOUNTAIN HOME, ARKANSAS BRMC phasing out Personal Care Program Medicare cuts felt in Mountain Home cies in the area. He said phasing out the program will bring "significant savings." BRMC has offered the service since 1994 and will be working with other agencies to ensure a smooth transition for the 69 clients involved. The transition should last about 45 days. The four public school students who See HOSPITALPage 12A continue to be met." Erixon said Medicare was not covering the cost to the hospital for Personal Care services, and it was a program being provided by other agen "Fortunately, Baxter and Marion counties are well Berved by other homecare agencies, such as Area Connection and Public Health," said Baxter Regional Home Care Director Tammy Hodges, RN. "We feel confident that the personal care needs of our community will Medical Center Administrator Steve Erixon.

BRMC is no exception, and the hospital has decided to phase out its Personal Care Program, a service that provides unskilled and custodial support for people who need assistance with daily activities. By SHARON MILLER Bulletin Staff Writer In light of the Balanced Budget Act that cut Medicare reimbursements, hospitals around the country are having to look at their communities' needs and adjust their programs accordingly, said Baxter Regional Erixon Priest in town to pistil census Claim filing period starts in tax case 11 I 1 itap-- fa Biviii 1 1 I. Mil Council to meet today The Mountain Home City Council has only two items on its agenda for 6 p.m. today in the council chambers of the municipal building. Under new business is a proposed ordinance amendment addressing itinerant sales, presented by Alderman Ed House.

The amendment would require trailers or temporary structures to be 30 feet or more away from any exit, entrance, city street or highway. In addition, any person, firm or corporation operating a trailer, temporary structure, truck, automobile or stand for concession or business operations, must obtain an itinerants license from the city clerk prior to opening for business. The amendment would exempt produce farmers selling foodstuff at Hickory Park or on the city square at the Farmers Market. The only other item of business is an ordinance rezoning 33 Western Hills Loop from R-1 (residential) to C-2 (commercial), requested by Paul and Patricia Clinkingbeard. The property was annexed into the city as R-l.

Local BPW plans omelet brunch Mountain Home Business and Professional Women will hold the group's Omelet Brunch and Bake Sale March 18 at the Mountain Home High School Cafeteria. This marks the 21st anniversary of the Omelet Brunch and Bake Sale which will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The "all you can eat" tickets are $4 and may be purchased from any BPW member or at the door. Members prepare the omelets with the ingredients you choose and are famous for their flaming dessert omelet, said BPWAR State President Cari White.

Also served are biscuits, juice and coffee. This year the line will move faster thanks to the Rotary Club which has agreed to loan its gas griddle to MHBPW. "If you experienced the 'power failure' of the past, not to worry, we're cooking with gas," a spokeswoman said. Money raised from the brunch supports the scholarship program. Mountain Home BPW gives three scholarships each year: one to a high school graduate beginning college, one to a person entering a technical training program and one to a student returning to school after an absence.

Scholarship applications may be picked up at the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce or at any local school counselor's office. I I si fx I The city of Mountain Home is accepting claims for refunds of city sales taxes through the end of the month. The period began Wednesday and by early afternoon, only one person had filed a claim. The refunds are a result of a lawsuit filed by Charles Maas on behalf of city residents against the city of Mountain Home. Anyone who paid any part of sales and use tax during the refund time period of Jan.

1 through Dec. 31, 1996, can apply for a refund. The refund claims may be filed through March 31 at the Mountain Home treasurer's office during business hours. The office is at Mountain Home City Hall, 720 S. Hickory St.

Residents filing claims must complete a claim form with their name, Social Security number Federal Tax Identification Number, mailing address and daytime telephone numtxr. Written proof of a claim is required, and the items should be sorted as neatly as possible. The resident should know the amount of refund he or she will be claiming. The items of proof may be any or more than one of the following: original cash register receipt, invoice or credit card receipt showing a transaction during the refund time period, original canceled checks showing endorsement by a vendor located in Mountain Home for transactions subject to tax made during the refund time period, original credit card summary showing transactions subject to tax. Taxable purchase amount is the total purchases less non-taxable items.

The tax refund is 1 percent of the taxable purchases amount, subject to a maximum of $25 on a single transaction, less and except proportionate shares of attorney's fees and costs. Claims for tax paid on vehicles subject to county assessment must be supported by original sales tax receipt showing payment to the county. If using canceled checks or credit card summaries, the administrator of the refund may request additional information to establish that the tax was paid during the refund time period, such as receipts or a verified statement from the taxpayer subject to perjury penalties. The refund claims will be paid by check after approval by the chancery court. Checks should be received within 60 days after the close of the refund claim period.

-ARMANDO RIOS Bulletin Photo by Kevin Pieper Secretary of State Sharon Priest speaks about the importance of the 2000 census to a group of local officials Wednesday at the Baxter County Courthouse. According to Priest, Baxter County lost an estimated $1,986,930 in revenues due to undercounting in the 1 990 census. Secretary of State touts its importance By ARMANDO RIOS Bulletin Staff Writer the census is important, enough to spend $6.8 billion to count us, Priest said. The information gathered is confidential, so that not even the Internal Revenue Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Department of Human Services, or the Arkansas equivalent of the IRS the Department of Finance and Administration or law enforcement agencies can get access to that information, she said. Even presidents have been turned back in getting census information by the U.S.

Supreme Court, she said. The information will eventually be made available though, in 2073. Census information is more than just counting heads. Priest said. It is used to study economic trends, forecast transportation and housing needs, plan for hospitals and other health care facilities, and in estimating the number of people who have been displaced because of a natural disaster.

It is also helpful in assessing the potential for the spread of communicable diseases, she added. "If there is a major flu outbreak then See SECRETARYPage 12A Stand up and be counted, otherwise it will be like throwing money away, Arkansas Secretary of State Sharon Priest said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Priest was in the midst of a tour of all 75 counties in the state touting the importance of this year's census. Attending the press conference at the Baxter County Courthouse were mayors of Baxter County, county officials and state officials. The federal government also thinks National Education Association conveys message: House OKs repeal of earnings limit for Social Security By NANCY COLE Bulletin Staff Writer You're never too old, TOO wacky, Uhi wild, To pick up a booh And read with a child.

In churches and chtimbtrs. Let's gather around. Ijtt's pick up a btxk. Let's pass it around So join us March 2nd In vur onn special wa. nd make this America to kids Aiiv.

Jt "VS by the NEA. Last year the group released a comparable list, the "Teachers' 100 Favorite Books for Children." The association offers parents the following five tips for "raising a 1. Start early. Read books with your child every day even babies. And remember, kids love rhyme and repetition.

2. Talk with your child a lot. There's no better way to teach new words and ideas. 3. Teach about the printed word when you are reading.

Move your finger from word to word. Point out that sentences start on the left and go to the right. Show children the period at the end of sentences. 4. Teach comprehension skills.

When you read, talk about what's happening (the plot). As children get older, See READINGPage 12A HOME DELIVERY 425-3134 NEWS 42S-313Q MAIN 425-3133 ANN LANDERS 8A CLASSIFIEDS 4-88 COMICS A OBITUARIES OPINIONS A SPORTS 11A A Gannett Newapaparf Vol. No. C2OO0 Baxter County Nawapapara, Inc. Reading is important, and fun.

That's the message the National Education Association (NEA) hopes to convey today, on Read Across America Day. For the third year in a row, the NEA and a number of partner organizations are calling for every child in every school in every community to celebrate reading on what would have been the 96th birthday of the late Theodor Geisel, better known as the children's author Dr. Seuss. Most of Dr. Seuss's books are written in simple verse and are illustrated by him.

Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat feature prominently on the "Children's Top 100 Book List," which was recently released shortage and Congress is searching for modest accomplishments to offer senior voters particularly because agreement is less likely on broader Medicare and Social Security reforms. "Why in the world would we want to discourage any American, whether they're 17 or 67, from working?" said Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. "Americans are living longer now, and older Americans can work, they want to work, and they shouldn't be punished by an outdated law." Senate supporters promised prompt action. Clinton, in a letter to congressional leaders, said he would sign the bill into law as long as it remains unencumbered by tax cuts or See HOUSEPage 12A By The Associated Press WASHINGTON In uncommon election-year bipartisanship, House Republicans and Democrats united Wednesday behind legislation allowing 800,000 senior citizens between ages 65 and 69 to work without fear of losing Social Security benefits.

President Clinton pledged his support. The House voted 422-0 to send the Senate a bill repealing the Social Security earnings limit, which amounts to a penalty of $1 in benefits for every $3 a recipient earns over $17,000 this year. Sponsors said the time has arrived to scrap the Depression-era law, originally enacted to make more jobs available for younger workers. Retailers, restaurants and other businesses are battling a labor Favorite books See the list of favorite books of children 12 401 1l 13606 3.