Category Archives: Opinions
Mistakes made in PACT Act claims
It seems that when there are new rules and regulations to be followed, the Department of Veterans Affairs often needs time to get caught up and understand new procedures. The Office of Inspector General for the VA investigated whether veterans 
were given the correct benefits after the PACT Act expanded eligibility for toxin exposure. The news isn’t good. What the OIG found was that service-connected claims were improperly handled before they were
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Cure for the ailing soul
When we are truly in love with someone, nothing can keep us from them or at least thinking about them.
It sounds like the beginning of a beautiful romantic love story, doesn’t it? Actually, it is. It’s between a divine creator who 
sent His Son Jesus to save those who were lost. Christ gave His life so that all who place their faith in God can spend time with Him, listen to His voice, and fall deeply in love with Him. His words are life-changing as they convict the
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‘Tis cookie time!
It’s time to roll out the rolling pin, dust your hands with flour and make all the cookie monsters happy.
Dec. 4 was National Cookie Day and officially kicked off the holiday cookie season. Cookies appeal to more than our tastebuds — they hold a sentimental place in our hearts and trigger feelings of sweet nostalgia and aromatic pleasure. People have had a love affair with cookies for more than 10,000
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Courier Letters to the Editor
Be your own Santa this Christmas
Dear Editor,
Santa Claus as most believe is a myth. Although he’s believed by most to not exist, do we truly know that he doesn’t? What if he is real, and although he can’t give toys to all of the children of the world, he gives to those truly deserving? You don’t know it could be that this may possibly be true.
Christmas is said to be about giving. Whether he exists or not, why not be your own Santa Claus this Christmas? Find some family you know who are truly in need and buy for them. Especially toys for the children. Imagine being a child and knowing that when you awake on Christmas morning that there will be no presents awaiting you, while other children are
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The OIG always comes through
Things are going to be different in 2025. If there’s one thing I hope, it’s that the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General isn’t hit with any budget or staffing reductions. As time goes on we need them more than ever to dig out, investigate and expose all the problems in the VA.
The PACT Act of 2022, for example, required screenings for toxic exposures — as well as training for the VA medical staff to do those screenings. Within a short time, screenings had been done on 4 million veterans out of the 9
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Our challenge for 2025
‘‘Your mission, should you choose to accept it …” Remember that quote, from the “Mission: Impossible” TV show? The show (1966-1973) tasked members of the team with stopping enemy forces, a job that seemed to be impossible but really 
wasn’t. That’s our challenge for the New Year, to stop the “enemy forces” who are the scammers that want to steal our money, our identification and our
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Tale of a Thanksgiving caper
Rose had been bringing the same green bean casserole for Thanksgiving dinner ever since her daughter, Susan, insisted on having Thanksgiving at her house.
After Rose retired from teaching, she felt her life had become as bland as her green bean casserole. Maybe it was time to throw in some Jalapeno peppers, or something, to spice up those green beans.
Rose would stop at Tony’s ”Vino & Spirits” Shop every Friday. Tony was a tall,
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How to plan for emergencies
The government has a comprehensive website full of information on how to prepare for emergencies, power outages, hurricanes, floods — nearly everything you can imagine. Should a disaster occur, we’ll be better off if we plan in advance.
On www.ready.gov, the section on supplies to keep on hand is a good place to start.
Click on “Build A Kit” for a list of suggested emergency items to keep on hand. The list of items they suggest you keep is extensive, so pick and
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Making the decision to live God’s way
Many are convinced that this life has been given to them to do whatever they want, and technically it’s true that God has given every human a free will to choose.
Most will agree this is one of the greatest gifts mankind has been given, but the problem is that our carnal human nature does not want what God wants. You see, the Lord desires to use us exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or imagine but the only way we can truly please Him is to do what He says. This sounds simple, but it’s no secret that humans are experts in the areas of
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Get easier access to military installations
The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense have made some changes that will make it easier for veterans and their caregivers to get into various installations.
Whether it’s for medical appointments, shopping or any other reason, the changes will allow both veteran and caregiver to be electronically verified.
Ideally you’ll have a VA health card (the VHIC). If not, you can enroll for access by using a REAL ID driver’s license or an identification card if you don’t drive. Beginning November 2024, those without a VHIC
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