Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 128, No. 28, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 2, 2014 Page: 1 of 12
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PRICE 500
EMORY, TEXAS - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014
Vol. 128, Issue 28 - 1 section, 12 pages plus inserts
HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES
RAINS COUNTY
Local veterans
receive limited
benefits from
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healthcare act
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page 12
Where has all the water gone?
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THIS
WEEK
Christmas Around the Square:
a holiday tradition
By CAROLYN HILL
Rains County Leader staff
Get in the holiday mood this weekend with fes-
tivities in downtown Emory.
Beginning Friday, December 5, with an open
house at the historic Rains County Courthouse
hosted by County Judge Wayne Wolfe, county
commissioners and staff from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Refreshments will be served, leading up to the
official Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony with
Miss Rains County at 6:00 p.m.
Joining the county with open houses are several
local businesses, including the newly remodeled
Emory City Hall and City of Emory Development
Corp. (EDC) office, which features fantastic vin-
tage photographs of Rains County, previously a
part of the Brookshire’s Grocery Store decor.
Look for the bright red bows signifying an open
house around the square at The ComputerMan,
Rains County Leader, Copperhead Sports, E-Tex
Wireless, 1st National Bank, Thrifty Chicks, Rains
County Abstract and Rumors Salon & Boutique.
Just off the square, drop in at Potts Feed Store,
Edward Jones, A Sweet Affair and Potts’ Puppy
Love.
Refreshments will be served at several locations.
By LAUREN WITHROW
Rains County Leader staff
Lake
Country
Neighbors
successful
year
Open Houses hosted at historic courthouse,
businesses around the square
With the enactment of the Veterans Access,
Choice and Accountability Act, comes options
to access healthcare for veterans, with the dis-
bursement of Veterans Choice Cards.
Gary Thomas, Rains County Veteran Service
Officer, emphasizes that not all the new provi-
sions of the Act will apply to Rains County
veterans, “The two major parts of the new Act
are that veterans over 40 miles from a VA medi-
cal facility, which is measured as the crow flies
rather than mileage, will be able to get access to
closer healthcare and that if veterans are told by
their primary care or specialty clinics that they
cannot be seen within 30 days, veterans will be
able to contact the VA for pre-authorization to
see another provider, which will be determined
by the VA.”
The nearest VA medical facility is Sandknop
Family Practice, located at 4006 Wellington Rd.
in Greenville. So, stresses Thomas, “There is no
veteran in Rains County outside of the 40-mile
radius required by the VA, so no Rains County
veterans are eligible to receive care closer to
home based on mileage.”
The only part of the Act that will affect
Rains County veterans is the provision to see
a different provider if there will be a longer-
than-30-day waiting period. The VA has already
started sending out Veteran Choice Cards to
veterans and an explanation of the use of the
card is included. Thomas wants veterans living
in Rains County to realize “the Veterans Choice
Card IS NOT an insurance card and cannot be
used at just any doctor’s office. The veteran
must get pre-authorization by calling the VA
EVERY TIME the veteran believes [he or she]
is eligible to use the card.” If a veteran uses the
card without pre-authorization, the VA will not
pay any fees, leaving the veteran responsible for
all costs relating to the care given at the unau-
thorized visit.
If the veteran gets pre-authorization from
the VA to see a different provider, the veteran
must bring the Veterans Choice Card to the
provider who will handle all billing with the
VA. If a veteran currently pays a co-pay, most
likely, Thomas states, they will be required to
pay the same fee, but the VA will bill them at
a later time and the co-pay will not need to be
provided to the doctor before the visit.
As with many VA programs, Thomas explains,
“There are exceptions and complications to the
[Veterans Choice Card] program” and advises
veterans to call him at 903-473-5055, schedule
an appointment or walk into his office located
at 110 E. North St. in Emory, with any ques-
tions or concerns involving the Veterans Choice
Cards or any other VA inquiries. Thomas’ office
hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Additional information can be provided by
the VA as well, by calling 866-606-8198 or by
visiting http://www. va. gov/opa/choiceact.
Leader photo by TREY HILL
The water level continues to fall at Lake Tawakoni as the drought over North Texas shows no signs of relief. Monday afternoon Lake Tawakoni reported lake elevation of 425.56
feet, 11.94 feet below full pool. Above, a pair of “No Wake” bouys mark what is left of the shallow channel from Buffalo Creek. Lake Fork is also reporting low water levels. On
Monday afternoon, the water level for Lake Fork was reported as 7.16 feet below full pool.
Leader photos by TREY HILL
Businesses around the square are getting into the Christmas spirit in preparation of the Christmas Around the Square
and open house on Friday, December 5, in Emory.
beauty queen cars, Scouts, floats, wagons, horses
and fire trucks will add to the excitement of this
year’s parade.
The parade will wind its way around the square
where kiddos can have their photo taken with Santa
from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Complimentary Polaroid
photos will be available from FEC; however, par-
ents are encouraged to bring their cameras for last-
ing photos of their kids with Santa.
Santa’s Workshop, hosted by St. John the Evan-
gelist Catholic Church, will be open following the
parade with crafts to be made by the kids. Add a
distinct decoration to your Christmas tree or holi-
day decor made by your child.
Vendors will be open on the square - or in case
of bad weather - indoors from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m. for your personal or holiday shopping. Find
unique gifts for many members of the family from
among the many treasures displayed.
Fish Fry
Conclude your holiday morning with lunch at
the Rains High School Fishing Team’s Fish Fry &
Silent Auction Fundraiser at the high school cafe-
torium from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
An $8.00 suggested donation will get you a plate
full of the best tastin’ fish, fries, slaw, hush puppies,
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Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1887 Web: www.RainsCountyLeader.com
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Open house hours will vary depending upon each dessert and tea. To-go boxes will be available,
business. These young anglers represented RHS in many
Saturday Dec 6 fishing tournaments throughout the year. Funds
’ " from the fish fry will assist and support them as
Santa Claus comes to town! they compete
Jolly old St. Nicholas will be the center of activi- Christmas Around the Square is sponsored by
ties on Saturday as he drives his sleigh in the off- the City of Emory, the EDC and the Rains County
cial Christmas Parade at 10:00 a.m. Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call
The Rains High School Wildcat Band, several 903-473-2465, ext 112
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Hill, Trey. Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 128, No. 28, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 2, 2014, newspaper, December 2, 2014; Emory, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1470988/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rains County Library.