FYI...anyone living in this area - Arcadia, Desoto County Florida - might want to go...
He's a hard man to get ahold of sometimes...we should welcome a chance to "speak our minds" when we can!


http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive4/ ... tp1de1.htm

05/14/06
Congressmen welcome public input

Federal government officials hold public meetings in Arcadia Monday


DESOTO COUNTY -- Local residents will have a chance to speak their minds to federal government officials visiting Arcadia on Monday for two separate meetings.

Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson will hold a town hall meeting with DeSoto residents at noon in the DeSoto County Administration building's County Commission meeting room, 201 E. Oak St. Arcadia. He will follow that with a trip to Highlands County to speak with residents there at 3 p.m. in Sebring.

Nelson will address immigration, offshore oil drilling, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Medicare and local issues, a press release from Nelson's office states.

Nelson is not the only congressman who will visit Arcadia on Monday.

U.S. Rep. Marion Berry will meet with senior citizens at the DeSoto County Health Department's conference room, 34 S. Baldwin Ave., at 1 p.m. to discuss Medicare Plan Part D.

Christine Jennings, a Sarasota banker running for the House of Representatives' 13th District, will attend the meeting also. Berry is campaigning for Jennings in the area, she said, meeting with Venice residents earlier Monday.

"This is such an opportunity," Jennings said of Berry's visit to Arcadia. "He's the only pharmacist in the Senate, so this man knows what he's talking about. I'm excited we're coming to Arcadia."

Senior citizens are urged to bring their personal stories, questions and concerns to Berry.

Sue Leversee Grossman of DeSoto Health Resources said Berry is particularly interested in learning how the revised Medicare plan is affecting them and any problems those who are indigent, uninsured or underinsured are facing in buying medicines they need.

DeSoto Health Resources, 1901 S.E. Baker St., assists residents with enrolling for Medicare Plan Part D as well as those who are uninsured and seeking prescription-medication financial assistance.

You can e-mail Laura A. Schmid at lschmid@sun-herald.com.


By LAURA A. SCHMID

INTERIM DESOTO EDITOR