Beacon Aug 2023

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Page 6A THE BEACON August 2023 Master Sergeant Timothy Lynn “Griz” Martin MSGT Griz Martin was born on July 9, 1955. His father was a career Air Force sergeant who traveled all around the country during his service. Griz traveled with the family until he was sixteen when he moved in with his grandmother in Aurora. He graduated from Aurora High School in 1974 and had already decided to pursue a military career. Griz completed Airborne Ranger School, Jumpmaster training, Special Forces qualified, a Combat Engineer, Special Forces Underwater training, and Jungle Warfare training. He proudly wore the National Defense Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), Ranger tab, Bronze Star with “V” for valor, and the Purple Heart. He was also awarded the Silver Star, our nation’s third-highest award for Valor, and just under the Medal of S ALUTE Honor and Distinguished Service Cross. He was 38 years old when he died doing the job he loved. On Oct. 3, 1993, Griz was killed in Somalia on what would have been his last deployment before his retirement. MSGT Tim “Griz” Martin was serving with the HHC, 2nd Ranger Battalion when he was mortally wounded as part of a convoy that became lost on a mission in Somalia. His actions are depicted in the movie BLACK HAWK DOWN which tells the story of the eighteen men who died that day serving our nation. Griz is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Griz is remembered as a True American Hero who volunteered to serve our great nation. He left behind a family he had so much love for, his wife, Linda, and three daughters, Diana Lynn, Katherine Rose, and Jessica Faye. He died during Operation Gothic Serpent (Battle of Mogadishu). Retirement Checklist TO THE MILITARY Master Sergeant Timothy His Silver Star Citation reads: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (posthumously) to Timothy Lynn Martin, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against hostile enemy forces while serving with the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, Task Force Ranger, Special Operations Command, during combat operations in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 3 and 4 October 1993. Sergeant First Class Martin was mortally wounded as a part of a convoy that became lost and was taken under fire. His gallantry in action was in keeping with the finest tradition of the military forces of the United States and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States By Alan Thorup, CRMP Good credit is important in many aspects of adult life these days. As most of us know, if you are applying for a loan or line of credit at a lender, having good credit, including a good credit score, is an essential factor in determining whether or not your application is approved. However, your credit and score impact more than that! In today’s world, beyond a decision to approve a loan or not, your credit and score may impact the pricing/cost Army. Gary “Bo Diddley” Walston lives in Rising Sun, IN, and graduated with Griz from Aurora High School in 1974. He said Griz was the quiet type but always talked about going into the service after graduation. Bo recalls the love Griz had for cars and that he built an engine for his “pride and joy,” a green 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger. The car had a 340-cubic-inch engine and was his “baby.” Bo said he had no doubt that when the time came to help in any situation, Griz would be right there doing the best he could to take care of the men with whom he was serving Griz Martin is a True American HERO and we must never forget him or those who have served to protect our freedoms. Our children need to be taught about of the loan being applied for as a lower credit score is indicative of a higher risk of default than a higher score, and therefore, the lender prices in that greater risk with a higher interest rate, fees, additional conditions, or a combination of them. Additionally, credit and credit scores are being utilized by insurance companies, employers, and landlords in making business decisions for their customers. Consumers’ ability to be able to review their credit was The BEACON - Great News for Great People. Lynn “Griz” Martin MSGT these two types of heroes so that they know why they can enjoy the many freedoms we have today. May Griz rest in eternal peace. The Importance of Good Credit / Credit Score After spending decades in the working world, the last thing you want is for small details to trip you up in the home stretch toward retirement. Doing each of the things on the checklist below can help ensure that once you leave your job behind and enter retirement, you’re financially prepared to stay there. Track Monthly Expenses Knowing exactly how much you’ll spend each month goes a long way toward ensuring you don’t run out of money earlier than anticipated. Analyze Health Care Costs As many expenses often decline in retirement, health care typically becomes more costly with age, as a majority of seniors eventually need some form of long-term care. Update Beneficiaries To prevent avoidable disputes among your loved ones, be as clear as possible when explaining how you want your finances divided among your spouse, children, relatives or charities of your choice. Research Social Security All of those monthly contributions toward Social Security are about to pay off. Choosing when and how you start receiving benefits determines the size of your payouts from this point forward. Attack Debt Once you stop receiving regular paychecks, every dollar spent will come from your hard-earned savings. You’ll likely want to pay off as much debt as possible while you’re still working and making an income. Evaluate Investment Portfolio Your investment allocations may have worked well thus far, but it’s common for retirees to change their approach to avoid volatility once they have saved enough for retirement. If you’re uncertain or need help with any of the areas above, a dedicated financial professional from Conservative Financial Solutions would be happy to help. Contact our team today to set up a no obligation appointment! CONTACT US Phone: 513.367.1113 Email: info@conservativefinancialsolutions.com Securities offered through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Advisor. MAS and Conservative Financial Solutions are not affiliated companies. AEWM and Conservative Financial Solutions are not affiliated companies. 835296 - 3/21 enhanced years ago by the development of the website annualcreditreport.com by the three major repositories of credit; Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This site allows consumers to access their credit report with each repository for free once every twelve months. This report can be printed out, and for a fee, consumers can obtain a credit score. However, the credit score that is on there will not be the same one used by lenders or others for two reasons: 1) Credit scores are ‘dynamic’ and are subject to change every day, and, 2) Credit scores vary based on the reason the credit report is being used as there are different scoring models for; mortgages, consumer loans, employment, insurance, etc. Credit scores, developed in the late 1950s by Fair, Isaac, and Company (FICO), were introduced into the consumer market in 1989 and gained wide acceptance. The five major components are payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix/types of credit (10%), and new credit/ applications (10%). What is not considered in the score is the consumer’s age, income, race, or occupation. These models are periodically updated with new information and evaluations of their performance. Also, credit inquiries include what are called ‘hard pulls’ such as for loans and lines of credit, and ‘soft pulls’ such as consumers checking on their credit as well as general promotional offers such as for credit cards. In the case of hard pulls, multiple credit inquiries for different purposes (i.e. a mortgage, credit card, auto loan), will bring down a credit score, whereas soft pulls will not. However, multiple credit inquiries for the same type of loan within thirty days will be treated as one as the models take into consideration that a consumer may be shopping for the best deal/rate. Finally, if there are errors in the report, consumers have the opportunity to challenge them and have them removed, and, resources for this are available on the annualcreditreport.com website with links to the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This is especially critical these days given that identity thefts and the number of ‘hacks’ in organizations’ systems across the country continue to grow.
August 2023 THE BEACON Page 7A FROM H ere By Ollie Roehm Did you know there is a new community theater group serving our area? I didn’t think so. Here’s the scoop. The group had their first meeting on Aug. 4, 2022. Since then they have established a board of directors, incorporated a set of bylaws, acquired nonprofit status, and have chosen a great name, Harrison Center for the Arts (HCA). These are experienced, highly committed people and they aren’t messing around. They have secured a place to rehearse, chosen a cast, and are currently in rehearsal for their first production. It amazes me that they were able to put all of this together so quickly and so professionally. Their first play will take place exactly one year from their initial meeting. HCA will offer us their version of “Tuck Everlasting” on Aug. 4-5 at the Ross High School auditorium. Visit harrisoncenterforthearts.org for more information and to purchase tickets. HCA is led by Harrison native Mary Klopfstein Lenning, president and artistic director. She has had a lengthy, successful, and storied career in professional theater and as a theater educator. Mary taught at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati for a number of years. But she always had the desire to start a “home for the arts” in her hometown of Harrison. Mary is receiving invaluable assistance from actor, singer, and dancer Benjamin Watts. Ben is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He was a working actor, dancer, and producer in New York City where he appeared in a slew of productions over the years. Full disclosure: Ben is our next-door neighbor and a heck of a good man. Nina Quinlivan was the first person Mary called when she began the project, and she now serves as the secretary and musical director for HCA. Nina is an accomplished pianist, singer, and songwriter who earned a Bachelor’s degree from Miami University in music education. She majored in piano and minored in voice. Nina is also the assistant director and accompanist for Harrison VOCE, a choral group celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Mary and all of the folks involved in HCA hope their organization develops into more than just a community theater group. According to the HCA website, they would like to expand the area’s cultural horizons. “It is our goal that in the future we have a center that not only supports theater but includes art, dance, music, and all things creative.” The group prides itself on inclusiveness. HCA heartily welcomes folks from southeastern Indiana and western Hamilton County to participate in their worthy endeavor. My friends, we are very lucky this group of wonderful people are giving us this beautiful gift. Most communities in America don’t have much in the way of the theatrical arts. We do. To participate, donate, or just find out more about the HCA vision, go to harrison centerforthearts.org. Another full disclosure: My wife is a proud member of the HCA board of directors. Lights! Camera! Action! By Jake Moore, Lawrenceburg Public Library District Director and Denise Freitag-Burdette, Communications Manager The Lawrenceburg Public Library District offers a variety of fun, free programs every month. As the 2023-24 school year begins, we are going to let some of the library’s teen patrons take center stage. Lights! Camera! Action! is a teen-led program held from 4-5 P.M. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Lawrenceburg Main Library. The program encompasses all aspects of theater including acting, singing, writing, and building sets. Lights! Camera! Action! began with an idea presented by Lawrenceburg High School sophomore Storm Lowe. “I wanted a safe place in town to share my love of theater,” said Mr. Lowe. “Sometimes other theater programs need to charge fees, but not everyone can afford to participate,” he said. The program at the Lawrenceburg Library is free. About five core members have been participating thus far, and the group would love more teens to join them this fall. “We plan to do a play each year and make people feel more comfortable with the experience,” said Mr. Lowe. Lights! Camera! Action! hopes to record the productions and eventually post them online shared Lee Atkins-Alford, LPLD Youth Services Teen Specialist. “I think this program is an awesome idea and is going to give teens opportunities to express themselves through a creative outlet that not all schools can offer due to a lack of funding. I am so proud of Storm and the rest of the group for the work they have put into the program. I hope more teens will see how cool this is and join us.” Mr. Lowe added, “I want people to feel more comfortable, to see what is truly exciting about acting.” He wants people to get out of their comfort zones, but not to the point that they never want to try theater again. Teens also can expect free snacks, teamwork, and a lot of fun at Lights! Camera! Action! For anyone interested in participating or learning more, the next two programs will start at 4 P.M. Wednesday, Aug. 2, and Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Lawrenceburg Main Library. No registration is needed. Just show up! B Beacon USINESS NEWS ABOUT OUR ADVERTISERS Small Business and Insurance is Changing in 2023 By Matthew Hatoway, Mansfield Insurance As we begin to move out of COVID and start to normalize, many things have changed. We have lingering effects of what our lives were like in 2020 and 2021. Inflation continues to average about 7%. Gas, Groceries, and those things we buy everyday continue to fluctuate in price depending on supply. Many of us don’t think about how our favorite small business has been changed. Our favorite restaurant or hobby shop has had to make significant changes in the last two years to be able to stay in business. For example, many restaurants are still offering delivery services and/or more efficient carry out operations with call ahead, order ahead from your phone, in-store pickups. Some are doing all of them at once to offer their customers the most opportunities to interact with their food and service. The National Restaurant Association report showed that 66% of adults are more likely to order takeout than they were before the pandemic. In some restaurants you can now order alcohol with your carryout order. Those restaurants that were willing to innovate through tough times are the ones who fared the best. But what does that mean for their insurance? Restaurants expanded their risks greatly. These new operations have created holes in their coverage. Cyber insurance has become something very important now that businesses are doing so much interaction online. Delivery services create large amounts of risk for the employees. The auto insurance exposure changes. The liability coverage can change due to employees leaving the premises in order to service a customer. As costs continue to rise, small businesses’ revenue has begun to rise as well. They have had to continue to increase their pricing to keep up with the labor and materials increases. An ice cream cone at the Drive-In across from one of my agencies has increased almost a dollar this year over what it cost last year. Is the insurance policy covering these increasing costs? Unfortunately, probably not. Costs for construction and property have increased 40% since 2020. Although they are beginning to level off, they are not decreasing to prior levels. Those businesses that own their own building are having to deal with increasing repair and remodel costs along with increasing insurance premiums. Businesses need to work with their Agents. It’s important for business owners and insurance agents alike to work together. Both parties need to keep pace with the changing business models. Like the example above, rising revenues create a need for increased business income coverage. Businesses should do their best to review what increased costs and revenues look like. The insurance agent needs to endorse the policy in accordance with this new data. The business income limit can be the difference in keeping a business afloat during a claim or the business owner having to close completely. Business owners should seek out insurance representatives that keep them up to date on what is occurring in the market. We have gone through unprecedented times. Insurance companies are doing their best to catch up to the same rising costs we are dealing with. No one likes increasing insurance premiums, but you want your insurance company to be operating at a correct level. If they are paying out more in claims than they are making eventually your policy will be at risk. A good agent will let you know what is happening and why it’s happening. An independent agent might also be able to provide you with other quotes from different insurance carriers. As times change and operations change the relationship between the business owner and the insurance agent continues to be most important. Matthew Hatoway is a second-generation insurance agency owner. His company Get it All at www.goBEACONnews.com Hatoway Insurance Partners, Inc owns Mansfield Insurance Agency in Bright, IN. Matt and his family have been working with top-tier insurance carriers for over thirty years. His agency specializes in small businesses, personal insurance products, and Medicare.
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Page 9 and 10: By Jack Zoller beaconsports @live.c
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