Marshall County Post

Marshall County Post, Thursday April 18, 2024— 5A Recommended Vaccines for Medicare Recipients Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I recently turned 65 and would like to fi nd out which vaccines are recom- mended and covered by Medicare? NewBene fi ciaries Dear New, All recommended vac- cines for adults, age 65 and older, should be covered by eitherMedicare Part B or Part D, but there are some coverage challenges you should be aware of. Here’s a rundown of which vaccines are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and howMedicare covers them. Covid-19: Even though Covid-19 is no lon- ger a public health emer- gency, it can still cause severe illness, particularly in older adults. Because the Covid virus continues to mutate, new vaccines are being developed to keep pace, so the CDC recom- mends that all seniors stay up to date with the latest Covid vaccines, including booster shots. All Covid-19 shots are covered 100 per- cent byMedicare Part B. Flu: Considered an annual vaccination, most people of all ages receive fl u shots in the fall when fl u season begins. The CDC recommends seniors, 65 and older get a high-dose fl u shot for extra protection beyondwhat a standard fl u shot o ff ers. The Fluzone HighDose Quadrivalent, FLUADQuadrivalent and FluBlok Quadrivalent are your three options. Annual fl u shots are covered under Medicare Part B. Pneumonia: These vaccines help protect against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other infections. The CDC recommends ev- eryone 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccine. There are several di ff erent vaccine options available, so talk to your doctor or pharmacists to fi nd out which is best for you or visit the CDC’s Pneumo- coccal Vaccinationweb- page at CDC.gov/vaccines/ vpd/pneumo/public/in- dex.html . Medicare Part B covers both single dose and two-dose pneumococcal shots once in your lifetime. Shingles: Caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that a ff ectsmore than 1 million Americans every year. All people over age 50 are recommended to get the two-dose Shingrix vaccine, which is given two to sixmonths apart, even if you previously received Zostavax. In 2020, Shin- grix replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the U.S. All Medicare Part Dprescription drug plans cover shingles vac- cinations, but coverage amounts, and reimburse- ment rules vary depending onwhere the shot is given. Check your plan. Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertus- sis (whooping cough) are diseases caused by bacteria that can lead to serious illness and death. Therefore, a one-time dose of the Tdap vaccine is recommended to all adults. If you’ve already had a Tdap shot, you should get a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster shot every 10 years. All Medicare Part Dplans cover these vaccinations. RSV: Respiratory syn- cytial virus (RSV) can lead to pneumonia or bronchi- olitis and canworsen other chronic conditions com- mon among older adults, such as asthma and chron- ic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The CDC recommends all adults, age 60 and older, talk to their doctor about getting one of the RSV vaccines (either Arexvy or Abrysvo), usu- ally in the fall andwinter months when the virus ismost prevalent. Most Medicare Part Dplans cover the RSV vaccine, but not all. If your plan doesn’t cover it, you can ask for a coverage exception. You can also pay for the shot out of pocket and then follow-upwith your plan to get reimbursed. If you pay for the shot upfront, your planmust pay you back. Send your senior ques- tions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit Sav- vySenior.org . JimMiller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. TN Senate passes penalties for abortion traf fi cking Legislative Update from Senator Joey Hensley, MD 2024 Legislative Update T N Senate this week rea ffi rmed their commitment to protect- ing the unborn and passed legisla- tion to make abortion tra ffi cking of a minor a Class Amisdemeanor. Senate Bill 1971, seeks to protect parental rights and stop adults who attempt to circumvent the state’s current abortion law by helping to facilitate an abortion for a minor without parental con- sent. The General Assembly in 2019 laid the groundwork to ensure life is protected at conception in Ten- nessee should the U.S. Supreme Court ever reverse its decision to legalize abortion. The General As- sembly that year passed the Hu- man Life Protection Act, a con- ditional trigger law written to go into e ff ect 30 days following the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade. When the high court over- turned its 1973 decision on June 24, 2022, the Human Life Protec- tion Act became law and automat- ically prohibited all elective abor- tions in Tennessee. Legislation provides addition- al protections for parental rights in medical decisions Legislation to prioritize paren- tal rights and further protect Ten- nessee children from prohibited medical procedures passed the Senate fl oor this week. Senate Bill 2782, seeks to stop anyone from knowingly taking a minor across state lines without parental consent in order for the minor to receive a medical proce- dure prohibited in Tennessee. Un- der the legislation, any adult who recruits, harbors or transports a minor for a restricted medical procedure could be charged with a Class C felony and held civilly li- able by the child’s parent or legal guardian under the proposed leg- islation. Tennessee Senate passes bill allowing death penalty for child rapists The Senate advanced legisla- tion to increase the penalty for child rapists in Tennessee. Senate Bill 1834, would expand the death penalty to defendants convicted of child rape. The legislation will strengthen existing state law by increasing the penalty for rape or aggra- vated rape of a child to death, life in prison without the possibility of parole, or life in prison. Cur- rent law classi fi es the o ff ense as a Class A felony punishable as either a Range III o ff ense, which carries a sentence of 40-60 years in prison or a Range II o ff ense of 25-40 years in prison. The proposal builds on the General Assembly’s e ff orts in recent years to improve public safety, reduce recidivism rates, and hold criminals accountable through smart-on-crime justice reforms. The General Assembly in 2022 passed truth in sentenc- ing laws that increased penalties for the most violent of crimes and now requires o ff enders to serve 85-100 percent of their sentences. Senate Bill 1834 passed the Senate fl oor this week and is still moving through committee in the House of Representatives. Protecting Children from Social Media Act passes Senate It is vital to ensure the safe- ty and well-being of Tennessee youth in the digital age. With the exponential growth of social me- dia platforms, the Protecting Chil- dren from Social Media Act, aims to safeguard children from harm- ful content found on social media platforms. The bill would require social media companies to verify the age of any individual creating an ac- count on their platform. If the ac- count holder is a minor, the com- pany must obtain express consent from the parent or guardian for the account creation. Additionally, the bill would require social media companies to provide parents and guardians with account restriction options for their children. These restric- tions include privacy settings, daily time restrictions, and imple- mented breaks from the platform. Senate Bill 2097 passed the Senate and House fl oor and now moves to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Bill to protect children from accessing pornography online passes Senate As part of ongoing e ff orts to protect children from inap- propriate materials, the Senate passed legislation this week that aims to shield kids from the harm- ful e ff ects of pornography. Senate Bill 1972, seeks to re- strict children from accessing sexually explicit adult content by requiring online media compa- nies and operators to verify that users attempting to access por- nographic websites are at least 18 years old. Known as the Protect Ten- nessee Minors Act, the bill would require companies to match a photograph of an active user to a photograph on a valid form of identi fi cation issued in the United States. The legislation creates a Class C felony for website owners and operators who violate the pro- posed law. The Tennessee Depart- ment of Homeland Security would be responsible for enforcing com- pliance with the law, which goes into e ff ect January 1, 2025. A national survey by Common Sense Media cited 73 percent of teen respondents aged 13-17 had watched pornography online. Fifty-four percent reported fi rst watching pornography online be- fore age 13. The bill passed the Senate fl oor on Tuesday and now awaits passage in the House. You may contanct Senator Hensley at 425 Rep. John Lewis Way N., Suite 742, Nashville, TN 37243 615-741-3100 Toll Free 1-800- 449-8366 ext. 13100 A s the days grow longer and the sun begins to warm the earth, it’s time to turn our attention to our lawns. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a complete beginner, spring is the perfect time to give your lawn some TLC. This article will cover essential spring- time lawn care tips to help you achieve a lush, healthy, and envy-wor- thy lawn. 1. Rake Away Win- ter Debris Before diving into any other tasks, grab your trusty rake. Re- move any dead leaves, twigs, and debris that have accumulated over the winter. This step al- lows sunlight and air to reach the soil, promoting healthy grass growth. 2. Aerate Your Lawn Aeration is like a spa day for your lawn. It in- volves perforating the soil with small holes, al- lowing nutrients, water, and oxygen to penetrate deeply. You can rent an aerator or hire a profes- sional to do this for you. A well-aerated lawn en- courages strong root development and better water absorption. 3. Fertilize Wisely Choose a high-quali- ty, slow-release fertilizer speci fi cally formulated for lawns. Follow the instructions carefully, as over-fertilization can harm your grass. Spring is the ideal time to fer- tilize, as it kick-starts growth and helps your lawn recover from win- ter stress. 4. Weed Control Springtime is when weeds start popping up. Tackle them early to prevent them from tak- ing over your lawn. Use a pre-emergent herbi- cide to stop weed seeds from germinating. For existing weeds, con- sider spot-treating with a post-emergent herbi- cide. Remember to fol- low safety precautions and use herbicides spar- ingly. 5. Mow at the Right Height Set your mower blades to the correct height. For most grass types, aim for a height of around 2.5 to 3 inch- es. Mowing too short weakens the grass and invites weeds. Regular mowing encourages lat- eral growth and a denser lawn. 6. Water Wisely Proper watering is crucial for a healthy lawn. Water deeply but infrequently. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall. Water early in the morn- ing to minimize evapo- ration. Invest in a rain gauge to track natural precipitation. 7. Repair Bare Spots Inspect your lawn for bare patches. These areas are susceptible to weeds and erosion. Re- seed or lay down sod to fi ll in the gaps. Keep the newly seeded areas con- sistently moist until the grass establishes itself. 8. Edge Your Lawn Neatly-edged lawns look polished and well- maintained. Use an edg- ing tool or a half-moon edger to create clean lines along sidewalks, driveways, and fl ower beds. It’s a small step that makes a big di ff er- ence. 9. Consider Over Seeding If your lawn has thin areas or lacks density, consider over seeding. Choose a quality grass seed blend suitable for your region. Spread it evenly across the lawn and lightly rake it in. Water consistently until the new grass sprouts. 10. Enjoy the Results With consistent care and attention, your lawn will thrive throughout the spring and beyond. Take pride in your green oasis, and don’t forget to kick back and enjoy the fruits of your labor! If you are curious to learn more about how to care for your lawn or what works best in your home’s landscaping then you should think about attending the Turf Grass Awareness meeting on May 2nd. This class will run from 5 pm-7:30 pm and be held at the UT Extension Marshall County o ffi ce on 230 College Street in Lewis- burg. This class will also touch on some common turf grass diseases and weeds. To register you can scan the QR code or contact Jonathan Johns at the Extension o ffi ce. You can also register at this link: https://tiny. utk.edu/marshallcoturf- grass. Remember, spring- time lawn care is about setting the stage for a vibrant, healthy lawn. Follow these beginner- friendly tips, and soon your neighbors will be asking for your secret to a picture-perfect lawn. Happy gardening! Springtime Lawn Care for Beginners: A Green Start to the Season TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE RESOLUTION NO 2024-013 INITIAL RESOLUTION AUTHORIZNG THE INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS BY THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED $17,000,000 B Y THE EXECUTION WITH THE PUBLIC BUILDING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE, OF A LOAN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE FUNDING FORWATER AND SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS WHEREAS, it is necessary and in the public interest of the Town of Chapel Hill, Tennessee (the “Town”), to incur indebtedness, through the execution with The Public Building Authority of the City of Clarksville, Tennessee (the “Authority”), of a loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”), for the purpose of financing water and sewer projects, as hereinafter more fully described. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of theTown of Chapel Hill,Tennessee, as follows: SECTION 1. For the purpose of financing all or a portion of the costs of certain public works projects, consisting of the costs of the extension, construction, improvement, and equipping of the water and sewer systems of the Town, including but not necessarily limited to, the construction of a new sewer plant and a new raw water storage tank, the acquisition of all other property real and personal appurtenant thereto and connected with such work, to pay all legal, fiscal, administrative, planning, and engineering costs incident thereto, and to pay costs incident to incurring the indebtedness (collectively, the “Project”), the Town is hereby authorized to incur indebtedness in the amount of not to exceed $17,000,000, for the financing of the Project through the execution of a Loan Agreement with the Authority. The rate of interest payable pursuant to the provisions of a Loan Agreement shall be a fixed rate, which rate shall not exceed the maximum rate of interest permitted under the laws of the State of Tennessee. SECTION 2. The indebtedness evidenced by the Loan Agreement shall be payable from funds of the Town legally available therefor and to the extent necessary from ad valorem taxes to be levied for such purpose on all taxable property within the corporate limits of the Town, without limitation as to time, rate, and amount and for the punctual payment of said principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Loan Agreement, the full faith and credit of the Town will be irrevocably pledged. The indebtedness evidenced by the Loan Agreement shall be payable from, but not secured by, the revenues of the water and sewer systems, subject only to the payment of reasonable and necessary costs of operating, maintaining, repairing, and insuring such water and sewer systems and to a prior pledge of such revenues in favor of other obligations of the City payable from revenues of the water and sewer systems. SECTION 3. The indebtedness evidenced by the Loan Agreement shall be incurred pursuant to the provisions of Title 9, Chapter 21, Tennessee Code Annotated as amended (the “Act”), and Title 12, Chapter 10, Tennessee Code Annotated, as amended. SECTION 4. After the adoption of this Resolution, the Town Recorder is directed to cause this Resolution, with the following notice prescribed by the Act, to be published in full once in a newspaper published and having general circulation in the Town. NOTICE The foregoing Resolution has been adopted. Unless within twenty (20) days from the date of publication hereof a petition, signed by at least ten percent (10%) of the registered voters of the Town of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, shall have been filed with the Town Recorder of the Town of Chapel Hill, Tennessee, protesting the incurrence of the Indebtedness by the execution of the Loan Agreement, the Loan Agreement will be executed, as proposed. SECTION 5.This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Town requiring it. Adopted and approved this 8th day of April, 2024. ATTEST: Michael Faulkenberry, MAYOR Phillip Dye TOWN RECORDER