One-Minute Editorial tirs MIM-VTIV, i»> V>u pas sage ot the Republican sponsored Medicare plan and n: point out trow it was timed just tor die upcoming elections. Arrv rejoicing will riot come from seniors who. at best, come out with only a modest benefit, if they live until IDWft. Thar's when die bills's provisions kicks in. If seniors are being short changed. what the drug compa nies and health care providers are zettina has been descnbed as a "bonanza" The Simplified" tnil. with its thousands or pages. is about three feet tall. Even lawmakers do not understand all of it bur here's how seniors rate in its provisions. 1 -Drue companies are on top ot the list. 2-Health insurers. 5^ Doctors. 4— Hospitals. 5- Other health providers. ft-Senior Citizens. The first five big: winners will receive huge federal subsidies and tax breaks. Nkho is number seventh on the list'.’ You guessed in John Q Taxpayer who will be pavimt the esomaied cost of 54t)t) billion over the next 10 years and a whopping 52.4- trillion in the next decade!’ ACHS Madrigal Choir Plans Musical Program and Meal Limited seating remains tor the Alexander Central High School Chamber Choir's- program at the Hiddemre Center Educational Complex Friduv and Saturday evenings-. Dec. tZ-f 5 beginning at ~ p.m. I ader the direction of Ron Vannoy. the AOfS' VLuingui Choir weaves music drama and a meal into an evening to rake the audience to another time and piace. that of the manor of a Lord and Lady. ~We ate excited about the talented vouth of Alexander County, said Dwarne C. Coley, executive direc Dor trf the Efiddemte Center. “The Hhur m a. laflatic OJkiL tor training our youth, unit 0 sin cerely hope that the public will support tins effort. (Our youth deserve our support. This program is always a sell-out. so interested persons should call today to reserve seating' Tickets- tor the evening; are $15 and can be purchased from the tfeddemte Center offices or by phone ur tKZJMro-I-bdbb. Persons making reservations should be aware that they are responsible tor paving: for each reservation made. Cancellations will be taken only d there are persons on the waiting list to fill any cancellations. This makes- some experts- wonder df VSedicare can even survive under such a staggering debt. Of vou re a semor citizen tins- rs what you may save: With an annual drug: bill of SbM) yoa save—zero. A S3. L4t) drug: bill yoa couiii save SZ.0Z4-. On a vear s- drug: bill of Sll).(WH) vou mav save S5.T35. However, everyone expects drug companies will raise prices. IE or maybe we should say when, they do it will wipe out most ot the savings provided m the new bill leaving seniors paymg just about the some tor their medicine. But. then it will be I(H)b and all the people who supported the bill will have been elected again and not subject to the wrath ot emors or care about the dismay ot the poor taxpayers. Viw. oil the seniors we ve talked with, just wanted a little extra cash to help pay drug costs bur politicians, with the endorsement ot the AAftP. have come up with a way to >pend SZ.-& trillion and soil not grant >uch a simple request. It voahe a senior citizen where does oil this leave you ’ Soil sixth, right down on the bottom ot the list. What can you do ’ VOft and make sure your family and friends do. too ' Cuter higfr serartty-President George Bdsh ffew mtt) Baghdad Do >pend a couple flours- enjoying a Thanksgiving meal with soldiers m frag. John Hinckley If., will be allowed to leave a psychiatric hospital lor unsupervised visits with his- parents. The WuMmm** Sehn**i System —has given layoff notices to more than TTH) employees. Officials warned of more cuts Do come as the system tries on stay out of bankruptcy Roller ciHbUer empl»yeev-ii Disneyland were not told what to do if the ride started making unusu al noises. One ruier was killed because of improper maintenance. Ik IJV—will out guarantee 528^.5 rmllion irr loans for [Israel because of illegal construction »-n vines in the'Wesr Bank. A Cwwitt Pkymi f 1 rep» >rt saw the economic picture is get ting better bur 14- states remain in recession. 'v’wiifife ink jnuK'ab. .upports the theory that the map of the medieval New World was made 50 vears before Columbus sailed. A‘Niipeirilmsr’-the mighty microbe called ‘Conan the Bacterium ' combines genes of two bacteria The two genes, workmg together, mav be able to clean up thousands of nuclear sites around the world, scientist believe. A I JV resolution-^:ensured [fan for I 8 vears of secrecy about their nuclear program. Ik up the Neuse Kt*«r ofBciaLs have required strict coir troLs on sewage plant operamrs. made tarmers control the fertiliser runoff tfom fields and required buffers along creeks and streams. loacocWe supersonic jrt-now our of service, will be housed in the Intrepid Sea- \ir-bpucc VTuseum in New York. The 88-ton aircraft made its last tup. at snail-speed down the ri ver on tup of a huge barge. QirtM tratfc Kentucky Fneti Chicken will stop uds that ciaira their finger-lickin' feed is healthy. A consumer group complained to federal regulators-. Two hundred titty thousand- copes of the five 'Hurry Potter' books have been sold. The books- have been translated into bf) languages. Over the hiI sn. yearv-the L.S-. expects to spend S375 billion to relieve traffic congestion. has blocked a bill which would ban the making of plastic firearms. A recent Eftiuse hilfi-wouid regime doctors to give contact eye-lens prescriptions to their patients who could then shop for the best price. il^ardr Band-Aid—To cure our unemployment problem, the Bush udimmstration has cut down imports of bras, gowns and kmt febne. A 111# miiliim Ids. hnw>y has been on Crzat Dbruinm ul-Dduun. hi. the highest-ranking member of Saddam > regime who is soil or large. Same-sex marrimses-have been approved by the Supreme ludieiai Court of ^Eassachusetts Tfct l Js.-will try again for a LX resolunon bucking the war in frag. A free-trade amus-from Canada to Chile will be proposed by the L S-. us soon us agreements can be reached with Bolivia. Peru. Ecuador and Columbia. Btiiistftii Bush—uid uLondon audience the L mted States would not retreat from 'u bund of thugs ' in frag. f«r Chrwinius'*—Asking price tor u L03- JS carat diamond is S»S.4C million. Ct felled to bnng enough money when auctioned recently in Geneva If* a setunrti-but Congress is believed to have authorized $41) billion to expand tfte government's power to demand business records on its fight against terrarrsnr. Critics soy the bill could undermine civil liberties. Clam is sfc**dke*-ur the 1T.& tex tile limits saying it violated trade roles. riaiis. has been approved Dt lasts- 3^ hours and is not affected: by food! question the FBHTs bullet-matching methods. Hundreds of convictions have relied on such evidence. and injured -fcrt). killed TT TTniislaft OfeE.« TTi® Tawrr afr Wmresnlte mi ancB aqpm lave Live VlainOTUifT Clmslmffi Scenes rr iffiwntowrr smre wnMS cffine!» cor ctnkner franr 3-7131 anrr. SauidBft Sic. St t vau the ta gwe towse* sw^s as gfeaittcJarf Tave'imeracDBe’tnsrra)ia» ik!atiiJi. 3: Jams uttreraiT OmiCT t® ttw sauBrar toyfliL TT»e rru/ars amua aaome mi t® TOO rrnirr £31 n:3I ±rn. attwcnuicrT. 7361* darter St -forrrefnaag imwes. canoes, seat canes, arcrai «inasafrgDar!tnnqsfaaffl miasrorsie. Zcsomes arct carries mi t® >. us 55 a anuntr ant areans ana a7H p*r vear in North Carolina 01 mr vear outside North Carolina PGMTNfcVrTER. lOl EG. Box 1221 Statesville. MC ZShR" 1221 Pemahcals Postatpr Pa*d at Statesville. NC UHn