AARP hosts Sheriff Martin

Curt Sylvester, newly chosen AARP resident for the State of Indiana, and LaGrange County Sheriff Terry Martin presented interesting and informative programs at January meeting of LaGrange AARP Chapter #3829 at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in LaGrange. Lulu May Carney provided refreshments for the meeting.

Sheriff Martin updated memberson the county’s 2012 Crime Analysis: traffic arrests were down from 1,121 to 802; drunken driving arrests fell from 72 to 68; total criminal arrests were 613, up from 2011 totals of 432; felony arrests were down from 240 to 229; and there were 700 cases of methamphetamine-related crimes, many of those were recurring.

Sheriff Martin also stated the total number of prisoners booked during 2012 was 1,195, up from 1,066 the previous year. The jail received $273,530 in state housing funds from the Indiana Department of Corrections, but that was down from nearly $400,000 the previous year. Work release fees were $121,000, up from $70,000 in 2011.

AARP State President Curt Sylvester presented the 2013 AARP State Priority issues: Protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security; Support Hoosier caregivers; Help Hoosiers get “Ready For Retirement”; implementing “Life Reimagined” which consists of several new programs such as AARP’s Tax Aide (provided free by volunteers) and safe driving courses to renew driving skills and information for seniors; and strengthen AARP’s volunteer teams across the state.

Sylvester closed by telling members that AARP in Indiana has a group of volunteers who meet every other week with state senators and representatives at the Capitol Building in Indianapolis.

The group’s many 2013 AARP Advocacy Priorities include: long-term care; protecting Indiana’s AARP’S “CHOICE” program which helps seniors to stay in their homes for as long as possible; livable communitiesthat provide transportation for seniors and have safe sidewalks and housing that is handicapped accessible; promoting better opportunities for retirement security to help today’s boomers and older seniors to meet basic needs; AARP’s commitment to watch all changes happening in health care reform to protect health care for seniors; consumer protection for seniors becoming victims of scams and fraud; working to keep Indiana utility bills from being increased, especially for those on fixed incomes; and securing tax credits for individuals providing in-home care.

All seniors are welcome to attend AARP meetings, both members and guests. The LaGrange County Chapter #3829 meets at 1:30 p.m. on the first Friday of every month (except July, which has no meeting) at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, 797 N. Detroit St. in LaGrange. Anyone who is a member of the national AARP is eligible to join the LaGrange chapter for a small yearly membership fee.