Retirees

Now that the Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees has decided to shift Medicare-covered public retirees from the state's self-funded supplemental insurance into a Medicare Advantage plan run by Humana, pensioners will have to watch to see whether the putative savings last - and wonder whether more ominous changes to benefits might be in the works. The trustees voted 5-3 to accept the idea supported earlier on a 3-2 vote of the KRS Retiree Health Plan Committee. Its biggest selling point is that Medicare Advantage will save both retirees and the state some cash.  That's critical to KRS, which faces a $19 billion unfunded liability in its combined pension systems.

Chapter 1828 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association met at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, at the Taste of China. Susan Horn with Blue Cross and Blue Shield was the guest speaker. She discussed upcoming issues in health insurance and answered questions of concern from members. Present for the meeting were Frank Terrizzi, Bonnie Terrizzi, Elizabeth Bunch, Steve Lech Jr., Steve Lech, Ruth Lech, Herschel Turner, Charlene Taulbee Turner, Donald S. Henry, Kay Scrivner, Jean Brandenburg, Billie Scrivner, Gayle H. Rees, Charlotte Rees, Floyd Gibbs, Pat Gibbs, Audrey King, Betty Hollon, Philip Jackson, Stoner Parsons, Helen Parsons, R.B. Omohundro, Lila Omohundro, Ann Cole, Otella Witt, Ann C. Hall, Will Bentley, Cindy Bentley, Jim Fehr, Terry Omohundro, Fred Dulin, Teresa Dulin, Larry Bosco and Susan Horn.

By Michael Broihier Before their regular business commenced Thursday evening, the Lincoln County School Board took time to recognize 19 classified and certified employees who retired from the district this year, as well as the countless number of volunteers who help in the district's many classrooms and offices. A reception was held in their honor before the scheduled board meeting, and during the meeting Superintendent Larry Woods presented those who retired with an inscribed clock to commemorate their time serving the district.

The GTE/Sylvania/Osram retirees met March 13 for lunch at Taste of China Buffet on the Bypass. Attending were McKenley Miller, Mary Lou Dinsmore, Jon Vickery, Virginia Combs, Garnetta Parker, Betty King, Barbara Elkin, Betty Brooks, Faye Hulette, Salley Moberly, Mae Epperson, Fay Hubbard and Lovern Rogers.

Winchester Sylvania's UAW retirees met at the Union Hall Tuesday, April 10, for their monthly meeting. Following the meeting, the group traveled to the Taste of China for lunch. Attending the lunch were members Lenora Adams, Virginia Combs, Mae Epperson, Faye Hubbard, Faye Hulette, Rose Keller, Sally McVey, Sallie Moberly, Garnetta Parker, Lovern Rogers, Brenda Woods, and guests McKinley Miller, Hermel Pitts, and Jon Vickery. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, May 8, at the Union Hall on Bloomfield Road with lunch afterward at Rafferty's on Man-o-War.

Dear Editor: One very important fact that has not been mentioned in regard to the high cost of health insurance for Kentucky teachers is that employees of the state's public universities as well as employees of many Kentucky cities have their own low-cost health insurance plans, but these employees are only insured by those plans while they are actively working. Once they retire, they are pushed out of those plans and into the state health insurance program that serves both active and retired teachers.

UAW retirees to meet Winchester Sylvania/Osram UAW Local 1708 retirees will conduct their September meeting Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Union Hall on Bloomfield Road. Following the meeting, members will travel to Ryan's Steakhouse in Richmond for lunch.

GRC SBDM to meet The George Rogers Clark High School-based Decision-making Council will meet Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the school library. GTE retirees invited to lunch Thursday The Winchester GTE/Osram/Sylvania retirees will meet for lunch Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Jade Garden. All retirees and former employees are invited. Quilt exhibit opens at Bluegrass Heritage Museum The Bean family quilt exhibit will open at the Bluegrass Heritage Museum Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

At midnight last Tuesday, the 2013 General Assembly came to an end. All the negotiations, all the hand-wringing over what bills would or would not clear the 2013 Kentucky General Assembly ended. After at least 25 hours of talks over two days and earlier discussions over the past few weeks, Senate Bill 2 - the session's public-pension-reform bill - received final passage by a 32-6 vote in the Senate and a 70-28 vote in the House. Also approved was its funding source, House Bill 440, which was given final approval by a vote of 82-17 in the House and 35-3 in the Senate.

TODAY - Winchester GTE/Sylvania/Osram retirees lunch, 11:30 a.m., Jade Garden in the Winchester Kroger Plaza. All Sylvania retirees and former employees are welcome for lunch. - The George Rogers Clark High School School-based Decision-making Council will hold its regular meeting at 4 p.m. in the library of the new high school building. FRIDAY, FEB. 8 - Pilot View Elementary School-based Decision-making Council meeting, 3 p.m. at the school. - The Winchester Rotary Club will hold its weekly meeting at noon on Friday at the Winchester Country Club.

Kiwanis meeting time set The Winchester Kiwanis Club will meet at noon Wednesday at Taste of China. Michael Collins of the Thessenkrupp Elevator Co., will speak. Dr. Steve Dotson will be program chair. Open house date changed The open house at Winter Cottage at 208 Old Garden Court has been moved to Feb. 17. The event runs from 2 to 4 p.m. Homemade bread and hot chocolate will be served. Sylvania retirees to meet Winchester GTE/Sylvania/Osram/UAW retirees will meet at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Union Hall.