Salem marks Older Americans Month

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 07 May 2013 14:33

Matilda Foth, second from left, enjoyed spending Saturday with her son, Clifford, and daughter-in-law Ramona (left), during Older Americans Month at Salem Home in Hillsboro. Seated far right is Jenae Koontz, recently employed at Salem Home, and her son, Bentley. The Foths were visiting from Rogers, Ark. More than 100 people were treated to lunch and entertainment as part of Older Ameri­cans Month at Salem Home Saturday.

Tina Novak, director of activities and life enhancement, said it was the first time the Hillsboro facility did a special event to recognize the contributions and achievements made by older Americans.

“We plan on making this an annual event,” she said, “and continuing to build on what was started this year.”

Kris Erickson, chief executive officer, said he enjoyed serving others, even if he was grilling hot dogs in the rain.

The celebration was going to be outside, he said, but the cold, damp weather prompted the staff to rethink their original idea.

“We look at doing these kinds of projects,” he said...

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Soft drinks have no place in our diet

Written by John Schlageck Tuesday, 02 April 2013 12:13

One alarming trend in our society today is the prevalence of junk food in our diets—and more importantly in those of our children. While the selection of junk foods continues to grow and the enormity is mind boggling, let’s focus on just one: soft drinks.

They have wiggled their way into nearly every venue in our society. About the only public place I haven’t seen them is in the back vestibules of our nation’s churches.

Soft drinks have no place is this nation’s schools. Soft drinks have little, if any nutritional value. Look at the ingredients in a soft drink the next time you pick one up. Most people wouldn’t have a clue what these ingredients are, myself included.

To be part of a balanced diet, a food product must have...

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SENIOR LIVING/HEALTH & FITNESS FOCUS Eating disorders come in a variety of forms and causes

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 19 February 2013 13:56

The term “eating disorder” elicits drastically different ideas about what the term means.

Some individuals think first about people who are extremely skinny and starve themselves to maintain a low weight. Others think of individuals who eat excessive amounts of food and are overweight or obese. Still others think about people who engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, to maintain a certain weight.

“We currently live in a nation where there is great alarm about the increasing rates of obesity and associated health problems,” said Kristin Goodheart, psychotherapist with Prairie View. “Yet, there is also great concern about those who lose too much weight and become so thin that they risk starving...

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Tips for avoiding costly errors on your tax return

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 05 February 2013 14:03

Making mistakes is one of Americans’ biggest fears at tax time. A single error can delay the processing of your return or even cause it to be rejected by the IRS. If that happens and you’re entitled to a refund, get ready to wait.

Today’s sophisticated tax preparation products make doing your own taxes perfect the first time at an affordable price—or even free—a reality for millions of Americans each year.

“Online and downloadable solutions have everything the vast majority of taxpayers need to file their taxes with complete confidence,” said Jessi Dolmage, TaxACT Spokesperson. “Using do-it-yourself tax preparation software solutions drastically reduces the chance of errors, especially if you import last year’s return...

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