Clinic to teach the business of hunting turkeys

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is teaming up with Cabelas, The National Wild Turkey Federation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) to hold a clinic on “How To Hunt Wild Turkeys.” This free clinic will be held at Cabelas in Lehi on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. The clinic is for anyone wanting to learn how to hunt turkeys or to improve their hunting techniques. Cabelas will have a large assortment of turkey hunting gear and equipment on hand.

Mike Pritchett will be the featured presenter. Pritchett is not only an expert turkey hunter but actively represents conservation organizations to partner with the DWR in turkey management and conservation. Pritchett will discuss all aspects of turkey hunting and will be answering questions to help hunters increase their chance at success.

Social Security helping people with kidney disease

Every March, the Social Security Administration pays special attention to the kidney, an organ vital to a healthy life. Social Security wants to help spread the word about the importance of kidney health and about what to do if someone or a loved one has a kidney-related disability.

Kidney disease prevents your kidneys from cleansing your blood to their full potential. One out of three Americans is currently at high risk for developing kidney disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 million Americans have chronic kidney disease, and most of them aren't aware.

If a kidney disease such as end-stage renal disease (known as ESRD) requires chronic dialysis and prevents one from working, Social Security may be able to help. Those undergoing dialysis, have had a kidney transplant, have persistent low creatinine clearance levels, or have persistent high serum creatinine levels, may qualify for disability and/or Medicare benefits.

You can find more information about eligibility based on kidney disease and the benefits available to you by reading Disability Benefits and Medicare, both available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Listed as one of Social Security’s Compassionate Allowance conditions, kidney cancer is another condition that may qualify one for disability and Medicare benefits. The Compassionate Allowances program assists in cases where a person’s medical condition is so severe it obviously meets Social Security’s disability standards — allowing quick processing of the disability application and payment of benefits. Find more information about Compassionate Allowances by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

Drink plenty of water, go for checkups, and if you think you may have a kidney disease, take action right away! As Ebie says, “quality of life is everything.”

— Mickie Douglas

University Federal Credit Union makes financial literacy program free for local classrooms

Local students are getting a free education in how to manage their money. University Federal Credit Union is working with Banzai, a national award-winning financial literacy program, to make curriculum available to Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah county schools completely free.

"Banzai is a web-based financial literacy program. Kids get their own accounts, and they work through assignments that are based on real life," Morgan Vandagriff, co-founder of Banzai, said. "But because University Federal Credit Union is sponsoring it, local schools get it for free. More than ever it's important that kids develop sound financial skills to prepare them for the real world, and University Federal Credit Union realizes that and they're doing something about it."

Banzai is an interactive, online program supplemented by printed workbooks which aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. It has become the largest program of its kind, servicing more than 14,000 teachers in all 50 states.

University Federal Credit Union has offered time, money, industry experience and a variety of credit union resources to help Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah county schools teach personal finance in the classroom. Students using the program are exposed to real-life scenarios where they learn to pay bills and balance a budget -- but it’s not always easy. Students must learn to manage unexpected expenses such as parking tickets, interest charges and overdraft fees. The educational program also introduces students to auto loans, bank statements, entertainment costs, savings and more.

“Too often students get out of school and they just aren't ready for the financial roller coasters life can give us,” Vandagriff said. “Banzai teaches students to navigate those twists and turns and come out on top. We're excited to work with University Federal Credit Union to improve financial literacy in Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah counties.”

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