In Our Community

The Damon Runyon Theater was a good series, syndicated by Alan Ladd’s Mayfair Productions, premiering on the west coast in January 1949, and later in the east. It brought to life the people of Damon Runyon’s New York. 

The stories were told through the eyes of a hood with a heart of gold. His name; Broadway his accent: Brooklyn, and you could cut it with a knife. Unlike some dialect humor, Broadway’s stories had warmth and appeal. John Brown did a fine job as lead, using a present-tense narration that moved the action well. 

Brown, a solid radio actor with a diverse background in comedy, had previously done Thorny Thornberry on Ozzie and Harriet, Al in My Friend Irma, and Digger O’Dell on The Life of Riley. Assisting Brown were Alan Reed, Frank Lovejoy, Eddie Marr, Luis van Rooten, Joe Du Val, Gerald Mohr, and William Conrad. Runyon’s hoods weren’t real, but they were interesting and funny. The shows were directed by Richard Sanville and written by Russell Hughes. The characters of Damon Runyon were eventually brought to Broadway and the screen in an award winning story entitled Guys and Dolls. 

​In 1964, the Dubuque Civic Theater produced Guys and Dolls at Dubuque Senior High School for the first time in Dubuque. I was fortunate to play the part of Sky Masterson. If you listen to AM 1370 KDTH’s Big Broadcast Sunday nights from to 6 to midnight, you might just hear Broadway coming to life.

Pharmacist Convicted
​in Huge Fraud Scam

A federal jury in Texas spent a week finding a pharmacist guilty of all manner of charges.

The 75-year-old Houston pharmacist, dubbed the “Compound King,” had owned Piney Point Pharmacy. He was convicted on all charges: conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, as well as 11 counts of health care fraud and three counts of wire fraud, beginning in September 2009. 

Sounds like this pharmacist had been a busy boy. For his efforts, he’d nabbed $21.8 million ... although maybe he’d had to split some of that with his partner in crime, Anoop Kumar Chaturvedi, age 48, a legal permanent resident from India. 

The pharmacist and his buddy cooked up a scheme to bill the government and health care programs for compounded gels and creams that they sent to injured state and federal employees through fake prescriptions. They did this through a front, Wellington Advisors, and got the cash from billing the Department of Labor Workers Comp and Federal Employees Compensation Act programs. The pharmacist claimed that the illegal kickbacks were actually “marketing” expenses. Chaturvedi allegedly wrote out hundreds of prescriptions at a time, which the pharmacy filled.

The investigation, started in early 2018, was conducted by a large group of Offices of Inspectors General of various departments, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS, the Department of Labor and the U.S. Post Office.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 27 for the pharmacist. He could get 20 years, plus 10 years, plus five years for all the charges. His wife, a real estate agent, hasn’t been sentenced yet.

Meanwhile, Chaturvedi is still on the run. The government wants to find him. If you know of his whereabouts, call the OIG of the U.S. Post Office at 1-888-877-7644. He’s presumed innocent ... for now.

© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

The Unknown Future

My wife Diann gave me the idea for the following reflection concerning the pandemic of the coronavirus and how it’s changed how we view the future. I want to give her credit because I’m “staying home” with her, “sheltering-in-place” with her or however you want to put it, and so I DO NOT WANT her to be angry with me!

She was sharing with me how we’ve always known we can’t predict the future and that our plans are always subject to change, but that we’ve never known that to be as true as we do now! So many of our plans, most of our plans, have been dramatically changed because of the pandemic in a way that’s never happened before.

Before the pandemic we gave mental assent and lip service to the fact that the future is unpredictable, but we hadn’t grasped that truth in a heartfelt way as we have in this pandemic of the coronavirus. We planned graduations, weddings, vacations, sports events, and other major life events not giving much thought that we might not be carrying through on those plans.

My mother would often conclude a reference to what she was planning with the phrase “the Lord willing.” Being my mother’s son I have often done the same. From here on out, when I use the phrase, I’m going to be putting more meaning into it!

This new respect for the future’s unpredictable nature puts us in a better position to relate to God in a more appropriate way! God is the one who is ultimately in charge of the future, not us. God is the one who knows the future before it happens, not us. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

When we insist that we can manage our future from the present, that we’re in control, we deny God’s sovereign rule. One of the keys to having a healthy, maturing, and deepening relationship with God is to recognize His right to have ultimate control over our life. That not only means yielding to His will and leadership in the present but yielding the future to Him as well! We shouldn’t look for God to bless our plans for the future but look to being blessed by God’s plans for us in the future!

Does this means we give up making plans? Of course not. God’s designed us to be able to think ahead, to plan. It’s just that it’s all subject to His approval! 

As we reflect on all the plans that have not turned out the way we planned, we can turn it into a positive. It can deepen our resolve to be ever ready to yield to God’s ways when they are not the same as our ways, to be open to His will always. I don’t know about you, but that wasn’t something I planned on learning at this particular time!

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” James 4:13-15

Planning in the Midst of a Pandemic
by Thad Murphy, 
​ Attorney with Pearson Bollman Law

Thad Murphy of Pearson Bollman Law

America is becoming the global epicenter of COVID-19.

We never envisioned a world in which we’re confined to our homes, distanced from our friends, dependent on disinfectant, and terrified of potential outcomes for our
loved ones. 

Focusing on productive estate planning can provide a sense of control in these uncertain times:

Review your Last Will and Testament. If you have a will, ensure it disposes of your property at death as you wish. If you have minor children, ensure you’ve named guardian(s) you trust to care for them.

Review your Revocable Living Trust. If you have a trust, ensure it’s in accordance with your wishes. Also, consider whether there are assets in your name(s) that need to be re-titled in your trust’s name.

Review your Financial Power of Attorney. If you have one, review your Financial Power of Attorney to ensure the agent(s) named are those you trust to manage your assets for you if you become incapacitated. 

Review (or execute) documents governing how medical decisions are made if you are unable to communicate your wishes. If you lose the capacity to make healthcare decisions for yourself, three documents work to ensure (a) your wishes are known; (b) loved ones can act on your behalf; and (c) these decisionmakers can obtain your medical information. 

A Living Will states whether you want life-prolonging treatment if you have a terminal condition. A Healthcare Power of Attorney names the individual(s) authorized to make medical decisions. A HIPAA Authorization permits medical personnel to share your medical information with those individuals.

Having these documents means better access to medical care in accordance with your wishes.

Other questions. Where are my estate planning documents? Do the appropriate people have access to essential information? 

Pearson Bollman Law is fully committed and ready to serve our clients and community in the most responsible manner. In-person meetings are not required. All attorneys can meet with clients remotely. 

Thad J. Murphy is an attorney in the Dubuque office of Pearson Bollman Law, located at 1635 Associates Drive, Suite 103, Dubuque. The attorneys at Pearson Bollman Law practice in the areas of estate planning, probate/trust administration, special needs trusts, and elder law, which includes Medicaid and VA Pension Planning. If you have any questions or would like to register for one of our free workshops on estate planning, asset protection and elder law, please feel free to contact Thad Murphy at (563) 265-6971 or visit pearsonbollmanlaw.com and select “Events.”

Iowans’ know that Iowa is a farming community. We love the farmers. They give us wholesome home-grown foods. Therefore, I am sharing a wonderful picnic experience I had with family and friends.

The picnic was held at the family owned and family farmed Cinnamon Ridge Farms, located in Donahue, Iowa. This event was hosted by John and Joan Maxwell. They are fifth generation members of this terrific family run business.

This farm is a robotic dairy farm. They give tours whereby you can watch robots milking prize winning Jersey cows. And since they also make cheese, you can watch this being done by an expert family cheese maker. Actually, you can visit their store located at the end of their driveway and purchase some of their products that are made in their own kitchens. They also have other outlets in the area that sell their products like, beef, pork and eggs, all of high quality. And their baked goods are out of this world!

The highlight of my day was taking the hayrack ride through the cow barn. There were cows of all ages, from the very young to the adult Jersey. The stalls were clean and odor-free.

As we continued on our hayrack ride, I saw the tall stalks of Iowa corn reaching for the sky. And I saw the soybean plants. I think that’s what they were, but then I’m a city girl.

Since this was a family picnic atmosphere, there was an inflatable Bounce House activity for young children to enjoy. But, I noticed that children of all ages were fascinated by the robotic milking of the Jersey cows. Actually, some of the children had already visited the farm via a student tour activity.

Well, it wouldn’t be much of a picnic if I didn’t describe the food offered to the crowd. The foods were served buffet style. It started out with the paper service items, then a relish tray with several vegetables placed around a bowl of creamy dip. Next was a bin of fresh sweet corn with butter available. Following was a huge container of potato salad. Yes, then the hamburger meat, and a selection of hotdogs were offered with a choice of buns. Naturally, condiments were available. And last, but not least, was a big box of assorted cookies. There were several coolers with beverages floating in ice, ready to be plucked out and consumed.

​The best part of the day was seeing so many people enjoying a day on a farm run by the family members of Cinnamon Ridge Farms. Families are the heartbeat of the community. God bless the farmers of America.

Expressing Sympathy
​During This New Normal

When you can‚ be there to support those in mourning, 
a thoughtful food basket, plant or flowers can help.

(NAPS) — While experiencing the loss of a loved one is always difficult, these days in the environment of social distancing due to COVID-19, it can be particularly so. If someone you care about is mourning, it’s still the time to connect to family, friends and co-workers.

While many people are adapting to new everyday routines, the etiquette of expressing sympathy by and large has not changed.

What You Can Do

Here are a few helpful tips from the experts at 1-800-Flowers.com:

• Even if you don’t know the person well, saying “I’m sorry for your loss” is always appropriate and meaningful. It’s acknowledging what has happened in an honest and direct way. And it lets the person know they have permission to experience any uncomfortable emotions. You can find more tips on how to comfort someone who is grieving.

• Regarding social media etiquette, follow the lead of the person who is grieving. If they haven’t said anything on Facebook, neither should you. But if they have posted about it, it is appropriate to comment. For more about the dos and don’ts on expressing condolences on social media.

• Due to the regulations on large gatherings in many places due to COVID-19, many funeral services are being postponed or livestreamed over the Internet, making it an extraordinarily stressful time for the immediate family. If you aren’t able to express your condolences in person at this time, a delivery of a gourmet food basket, houseplant or sympathy flowers to their home is an appropriate way to let them know you are thinking of them. You can find many sympathy gifts and more for home delivery.

• Remember to also support those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, perhaps not so recently, and may be feeling a bit more aware right now, be it due to social distancing or an upcoming important date or anniversary. To help, Rebecca Soffer, co-founder of Modern Loss, provides some additional thoughts. You can also explore complimentary sentiment ecards for Thinking and Sympathy to let them know you are thinking about them.

Learn More

​For additional resources on sympathy and remembrance, visit www.1800flowers.com/sympathy-articles. If you are in need of expressing your condolences and not sure what to send, 1800Flowers.com sympathy specialists can help. To reach them, call 1-866-538-2259.

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