The Emporia Gazette

A Rush of irony

I should add that my friend says if you don't receive general assistance (welfare) you can't get Kansas Medicaid. Just fyi.

March 16, 2010 at 4:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

A Rush of irony

The example of a family qualifying for Medicaid may need some reality mixed in. I don't believe poverty automatically qualifies a person for Medicaid. I know people who are poor who are trying to get Medicaid but it takes years going through the disability route. I know a 50-year-old Emporia man who has tried to get Kansas Medicaid health insurance and he hasn't received it even though he lives in a homeless shelter and has no income to speak for. The surgeries he needs to get well enough to hold a job are out of his reach here in Emporia. And I think even if he had Kansas Medicaid, which is called Kansas Medical Assistance Program (www.khpa.ks.gov) his surgeries still might not be covered. He needs a knee replacement and gall bladder surgery. His only hope probably is applying through the Newman indigent care program. Or falling into serious debt if the doctors would even do the surgery knowing they weren't going to get paid anytime soon.

We need some kind of health care reform. Maybe not what Rush envisions but he's not an elected official. Right now I only care about the opinions of those we elected to Congress.

March 16, 2010 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Removing Islands?

I agree that there are more important issues than taking out these islands in the near future. Use that $100K to help businesses in other ways like with handicapped entrances as was mentioned recently on these blogs. Or with marketing help. I know the funds for transportation can't be used for other things, though. I wish more businesses would speak up about what they need right now. I just saw an ad in the Gazette tonight announcing that CD Tradepost is moving to Industrial Road and is having a sale. I'm sure they're looking for more traffic to stop by the store. Another loss for central Emporia.

March 5, 2010 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Emporia’s loss

Well, the "white elephant" in the room for this Walnut school neighbor is whether they're going to close the school. Is that why Coltrane is quitting?

February 25, 2010 at 6:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

A Life Saved

I'm all for saving a life. But it's not right and it's not fair that no cardiologists practice in Emporia. Sure there are a couple of traveling heart doctors but all the work has to be done in Topeka anyway. They can't even read a pacemaker without a trip to Topeka. So if you go into acute heart problems in Emporia, I guess you better have a helicopter nearby. Can you imagine what that costs?!

February 19, 2010 at 4:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Excess funds go to owner

I'm guessing Madelynn's owner owed others too not just the government. All that stock that was sold for pennies on the dollar had to cost a lot of bucks.

February 17, 2010 at 7:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Community support

It certainly is a Catch-22 these days with the recession and the Internet changing the way companies do business. I'm sure the Gazette is no exception with a crumbling subscriber and advertising base thanks to the Internet and the aging of folks who relied more on actual not virtual newspapers. It's hard to say but the most timely news now comes from the radio station or the Gazette's website -- not the actual newspaper. Last month I missed a guy's funeral in Wichita because the Gazette didn't get the word out in time. He died on a Friday and the obit didn't get published until Monday afternoon. Funeral was Monday morning. It doesn't help either that the biggest retailer in town -- Wal-Mart -- doesn't even advertise in the local media. I definitely think this town is heading for an employment structure with a focus on shrinking public education dollars and government payrolls. I used to think Emporia had an attractive future in the field of healthcare but most of the people I know with longterm health problems go to other cities for treatment because that care is not available here to the standard required. Take cardiology. We have none here;some doctors visit from Stormont-Vail in Topeka. But I know someone whose first appointment this month turned into a disaster thanks to a discourteous employee on the visiting doctor's staff. She decided to go to a Lawrence doctor instead. I really think the powers-that-be have to pull out all the stops to help local businesses. I don't get the sense that that's happening now.

February 17, 2010 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Emporia's Movie Gallery to close

Yes goodoleboy you are correct but it still means a store manager and a few store clerks will be out of jobs. And there's inconveniece involved if you were physically closer to that store than say Blockbuster or Family Video. I just wonder if there are other new businesses which can come into Emporia and make a profit, or if there will be more going out of business? Seems like one or two are closing nearly every month, and how many more are barely making it?

February 17, 2010 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

None

I hope the city can find another city planner since the Springfield MO candidate withdrew. The housing stock here really needs attention. I live next door to a rental property that is just a shame. The owners didn't even know the kitchen sink water had been left on by the last tenant for weeks before the cold snap at Christmas. Have they cleaned up the mess of broken pipes and bad flooring? No way. They're trying to rent it "as is".

February 4, 2010 at 4:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

A lost Emporia-Plus

If someone wants to hire me cheap, I'd gladly pump gas, check oil-tires, etc., at a full-service pump. I've got too much time on my hands! :)

February 4, 2010 at 3:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )