Dealing with FEMA and SBA
To the Editor:

Recovery from the flood of August 18 and 19 2007 has proven much more difficult for many homeowners than we had anticipated.

While many homeowners were helped quickly and with significant assistance by FEMA and the Small Business Administration, nearly half of the homeowners in the seven counties of southeastern Minnesota have not received as much FEMA money as they may be entitled to. Only 54% of homeowners who have applied for SBA loans have been approved for those loans. According to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, nearly 800 homeowners are not being helped by SBA.

We are fortunate to have case workers from Lutheran Social Services and the Salvation Army helping homeowners access SBA and FEMA funding. So far they are working primarily in Rushford. They are doing a great job.

But many more people may need help. Many homeowners, especially senior citizens, have become so frustrated with all the paperwork that they have given up. Others have gotten confusing and misleading information from SBA.

I am working with these case workers to develop some approaches that can assist many more homeowners to successfully qualify for financial help from FEMA, SBA, and the Minnesota Quick Start Housing program.

We may be able to help if; you are a homeowner that had more than $30,000 damage to your home and have not gotten the full $28,200 from FEMA; if you have been turned down by SBA for a loan, or do not want to take out the full amount of SBA loan that was offered to you; or if you have a good reason to request a smaller monthly payment on an SBA loan; or if you need loan consolidation for an existing loan or mortgage.

If you feel that you might qualify for more money from FEMA, or if you need help dealing with SBA, or if you know other homeowners, especially senior citizens, who might need help, please contact us. My numbers is 507-894-4248, or call the Lutheran Social Services case worker at 507-990-5307, or the Salvation Army case worker at 507-864-4212.

Our goal is to leave no homeowner behind in recovering from the flood.

Rep. Ken Tschumper
Minnesota House 31B

What happened to Minnesota nice?
To the Editor:

To start out here's a little background on why I'm asking what happened to Minnesota nice.

My wife Lisa Myhre was driving northbound on Highway 44 around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday December 18 near Caledonia and was hit by a sheet of ice that flew off a pick-up truck traveling in front of her.

This sheet of ice was about three feet by three feet and came directly through the passenger side windshield of our 2006 Red SUV. If the flying ice would've hit the driver's side of the windshield there's a very good chance she would have been hurt. This accident happened at Highway 44 and Green Acres RD.

Everyone understands that accidents happen; they're part of our everyday life. But what shouldn't happen is the accident that is mentioned in this story. The driver of this truck was irresponsible and didn't have their vehicle ready for the road.

The ice that flew off this vehicle is the responsibility of that owner. Another problem here is that the owner of that vehicle didn't stop, but kept on driving. Maybe the owner didn't notice that a piece of ice that was three feet by three feet broke off of some part of their vehicle and flew straight backwards into my wife's vehicle. But I find it hard to believe that all the other vehicles that were on Highway 44 at approximately 11:30 a.m. on December 18 that drove past my wife on the side of the road with a piece of ice three feet by three sticking out of the passenger side of her car's windshield, didn't see her or the accident that had just happened.

So, my question is; why didn't anyone stop? From the irresponsible owner of the pickup truck down to the tenth vehicle that passed my wife on the side of the highway with a piece of ice coming out of her windshield, not one person stopped or even slowed down.

What happened to Minnesota nice? Oh, and yes my wife is fine but our wallets are a little lighter after paying for the repairs caused by the irresponsible driver.

Thanks to St. Mary's Auto Body Shop, they're true Minnesotans!

Joseph Kessler
Minneapolis, MN

Say no until you know
To the Editor:

I just returned from speaking at the 26th Hysterectomy Conference. I again witnessed horrifying stories from women who fell victims of this life altering surgery. The only medically valid reason for a hysterectomy (medical term for removal of the ovaries) is cancerÖ.but the risk of a healthy woman developing ovarian cancer and dying is relatively small-1%.ÝÝA victim myself, I became an advocate against this barbaric surgery. I am a spokesperson with the Hers Foundation-Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services. The law requires that before surgery of any kind patients be given significant information regarding risks and benefits of the surgery and alternative forms of treatment. But, 99.7% of women reported that doctors neglected to inform them or lied to them about the well-documented adverse effects of the surgery. Women are being told that in order to remove fibroids (cysts) you have to have a hysterectomy/castration. DEMAND a myomectomy (removal ofÝfibroids or cysts). Fibroid tumors almost always shrink and heavy bleeding problems will most likely end when you approach menopause. We are made to feel these are all deadly and must be treated immediately.

Hers is focused on legislation that will comply doctors to provide Hers Video "Female Anatomy:The Functions of The Female Organs." to every woman who is told she needs surgery. Go online to www.hersfoundation.com, watch the video, sign the petition and go into the blog sight and read what women and men have written about this surgery and what it has done to their lives. There WILL be a law passed and no woman will ever again be hysterectomized without first understanding basic information that is their right to know.

Hysterectomy's damage is life-long and no drugs or other treatments can replace ovarian or uterine hormones that are essential to a woman's health and well-being throughout her life.

Before you say this is the best thing that ever happened to you, or you feel better than ever, remember; things are taking place inside and outside of your body that are changing daily such as; heart disease (7 times greater when both the ovaries and uterus are removed), osteoporosis, bone and joint pain, loss of sexual desire, displacement of bladder, bowel and other pelvic organs, urinary tract infections, loss of short-term memory, personality changes, suicidal thinking, blunting of emotions and probably losing your job because you are not able to keep up plus many more. Did your doctor inform you of these consequences when you signed the consent form?

Please get informed because women are agreeing to have surgery based on the little information their gynecologist tell them.

Grace Gordon Wellendorf
Onalaska, Wis.

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Caledonia Argus
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P.O. Box 227
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507/724-3475

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