| Thursday, November 13, 2008 | Opelika, Alabama |
Vol. 1, No. 3 |
Silver-Haired legislature defines issues for seniors
By W. JAYSON HILL
Editor
Maggie Cobb and Selena Daniel of Opelika were among the 105 members of the Alabama Silver-Haired Legislature that recently held a three-day session in Montgom ery to discuss and define the top issues of concern to seniors in the state.
Leading the list is increased funding for “Meals on Wheels” and other similar programs that provide meals for homebound elderly people. Second on the list was the creation of a “Silver Alert” system which would alert the community to missing senior citizens, similar to the current “Amber Alert” system for missing children.
Other issues identified as important to seniors in Alabama included increasing monthly allowances for personal needs of Medicaid nursing home residents, increasing the state appropriation to Medicaid and expanding an existing program allowing eligible senior citizens to remain in their communities rath er than being confined in nursing homes.
Turning to issues affecting all Alabamians, the Silver-Haired Legislature identified limiting the frequency of property appraisals to no more than every four years, eliminating the sales tax on food while increasing the tax on beer, wine and tobacco to compensate, and a constitutional amendment that would allow citizens to participate directly in the legislative process through initiative and referendum as their top issues.
The Silver-Haired Legislature, modeled after the Alabama State Leg islature, elects members every two years to represent each of the legislative districts. They meet in the Alabama State House twice each term to consider resolutions that affect Alabama's senior
citizens. Those resolutions are then relayed to the governor, lieutenant governor and members of the legislature for consideration. More than 30 states have comparable
Silver-Haired Legislatures.
The 66 resolutions considered in the session included health issues, security and care in nursing homes, transportation, senior safety and security and the need to increase geriatric medical training.
This is the first time in several years that all 105 legislative seats have been filled.
The official top-five list of issues will be passed along to the State legislature during the regular session.
The Silver-Haired legislature meets once every year to discuss issues.Opelika firefighter receives 2008 award for service
The Opelika Exchange Club recognized Lt. Todd Angel as their Fireman of the Year for 2008. Angel was selected from three nominations submitted by Opelika Fire Department officers and peers. While all of the nominees were well qualified, Angel’s meritorious service was highly praised, and in addition was also highly regarded for his efforts in saving at least two lives in the face of personal danger to himself. Pictured (l-r): Wayne Swindall, Alabama Exchange Clubs President; John Nichols, President-Elect of Opelika Exchange; Jody Brown, OFD; Lt. Todd Angel, OFD; Joe Higgins, President of Opelika Exchange; Travis Allen, OFD.
Literacy Coalition impacts community
The Opelika Observer will be running a series by Elizabeth Roberts about the impact of Lee County Literacy Coalition on the community. Please look for articles in future issues.
By ELIZABETH ROBERTS
Opelika Observer
Reading has been an important part of Debby Jahera's life. Her father was in the military so they traveled all over the world. Reading was a way for Jahera to occupy her time when she was the new kid at school and trying to make friends.
These days her love of literacy has become the focus of her career. Jahera started working at the Lee County Literacy Coalition Jan. 7. She is the only paid employee on staff.
Philanthropy became a part of her life in raising her three children.
Working with the PTA and Habitat For Humanity helped Jahera get into volunteering in the community.
The Lee County Literacy Coalition's mission is to provide people who want to read with volunteer tutors.
There are about 65 active tutors volunteering with the coalition now. Learners can work on anything from reading skills to math and GED programs.
“The magic we do is in two people sitting down together,” Jahera said.
“The tutor wants to help and listens to the reader. The learner wants the help and is willing to work.”
That magic and Jahera's love of reading inspired her to apply at the Lee County Literacy Coalition.
“When I found out that there was a job opening here, I thought it was something I would like to do,” Jahera said. “It combined a lot of things I thought were good. I like to call us friends of literacy.”
Educated at Augusta College with a degree in psychology, she went on to get a master's in school psychometrics from the University of Georgia.
School psychometry is educational testing within the school system. It involves testing children who have been referred on an individual basis. She would test how the children learned.
Her early career was working in the school system, but not teaching. She would test children for special education programs and certain learning disorders.
Today she isn't teaching, but pairing tutors with learners. One of the newest additions to the Coalition was a collection of computers with accompanying software to help the learners.
Boxes littered Jahera's office. The Coalition had just received a grant to buy new computers to help the readers. The new software will provide phonics and grammar exercises to help the readers learn easier.
“The worst part of my job are the computers,” Jahera said. “I had no clue what kind of computers we needed. Luckily some of our volunteers knew what we needed and helped pick the best ones. It's amazing to see people that want to learn, and the people who are out there that want to help,” Jahera said.
There are no worries for the future of the Coalition. It is primarily funded by the United Way.
“The public school system does a good job for 99 percent of the population,” Jahera said. “There are still people who fall through the cracks and the Coalition, so there will
always be a need for the Coalition.”
“It would be great to think one day we could be put out of business and there wouldn't be a need for us,” Jahera said. “People will always need literacy.”
