The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1468034
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, May 18, 2022 C-5 explained options: intrauterine insemi- nation, medication and lastly, in vitro fer- tilization with no guarantee of success. I felt like a sprocket on a factory belt, a line on a spreadsheet. I asked for time to think, and he looked a bit befuddled. "By the time most people get to this point," he said, "they've made up their minds." Ah, but I am excellent at avoidance, an A-plus student of compartmentalizing. Since that day last year, I've acted like none of it exists. I saw the road ahead, the injections, the egg retrieval, the em- bryo transfer, the tens of thousands of dollars, the cycles of devastation and I just... didn't want to. I didn't want to do any of it. I didn't want to. "I just don't feel like going back," I told friends. "I understand why people do, but I don't." It seemed an inadequate excuse for such a big thing, but there it was. I felt a little guilty about ghosting the clin- ic and didn't know why. Then, Politico published a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that revealed the likely demise of Roe v. Wade, on the heels of states al- ready chipping away at abortion rights. Maybe it wasn't a surprise, but the shock hung over me all night. Whatever my discomfort with fertili- ty treatments, I realized, I had been able to opt in to — and out of — that invasion of my body. The reasons were mine. I re- tained the power to make the choice. It's just dumb luck that I'm on the side that can't seem to get pregnant, a cruel iro- ny that I'm someone with options, who could travel to another state, who can af- ford child care and mental health care, whose job guarantees the paid parental leave our country doesn't. Babies are a happy thing to talk about, and none of this is happy. I would rath- er be writing jokes and making people laugh. I come from a large Catholic fam- ily with a diverse array of opinions, and we tend toward getting along. I wager a lot of people recognize themselves in that fresco. I believe most people come to this issue sincerely, and the quietest ones might be working things out, might prioritize peace. But we're not doing any favors by avoiding hard conversations. Many pregnancies and abortions are uncom- plicated. Conception also results in un- fathomable diagnoses — ectopic preg- nancies, missed miscarriages, blighted ova — leaving parents to confront im- possible choices. It's unconscionable to think a family could not make such a de- cision within the private care of a doc- tor because the government has usurped control. Pregnancy isn't just glitter cannons and baby showers. The process can be incredibly isolating, often endured in si- lence. Don't tell anyone before 12 weeks. Go to work sick and say it's something you ate. Don't discuss the miscarriage. Don't apply for a job if you're showing. Don't reveal your postpartum depres- sion or psychosis because you're sup- posed to feel joy. Now imagine those tribulations without resources, at 15, af- ter an accident, an uneducated moment, a rape or case of incest. As Mother's Day comes and goes and this decision looms, reminders abound that this country doesn't support moth- ers like it claims. Childbirth kills America's women ev- ery year at a rate higher than any other developed country. The maternal mor- tality rate for 2020 was 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black women died of maternal complications at a rate three times higher than white women. In her 2018 book "Like A Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Sci- ence and Culture of Pregnancy," Ange- la Garbes detailed the stunning lack of therapy and pelvic floor recovery offered as postpartum protocol. Most mothers, she pointed out, received a single check- up six weeks after birth — though lead- ing doctors have since recommended more visits. Patients undergoing mini- mally invasive knee surgery (statistical- ly, men) got far more attention. The National Institutes of Health list perineal tears, infection and excessive bleeding as common labor and delivery complications. Childbirth raises risk for pelvic prolapse. C-sections are major ab- dominal surgeries that involve moving organs. Maternal care and even some miscarriages cost thousands before, and sometimes after, insurance. Never mind the time, money and support needed to raise children. Talks of abortion and reproduction must be met with nuance and sensitivi- ty, not framed in villainy. It's not fair to ask people to reveal personal matters in a desperate effort to preserve and cre- ate rights; but it's striking that more sto- ries will come out in the light of a draft opinion that seems to question the very right to privacy. I don't know if I'll ever be pregnant. I don't know if I'll ever go back to that swanky waiting room, or look into adop- tion, or observe my full life as a step- mother and wife and writer and know it's enough. But I'm thankful the choice is in my hands. Stephanie Hayes is a columnist at the Tampa Bay Times in Florida. Fol- low her at @ stephhayes on Twitter or @ stephrhayes on Instagram. Absolutely, yes. We live about 25 years longer than Americans did 100 years ago. Even compared to 10 or 20 years ago, we live longer. The National Academy of Sciences calls GMOs safe. So do the World Health Organi- zation, the American Medical Association, the American As- sociation for the Advancement of Science, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the USDA. But no amount of science will convince people like Baden-Mayer. "The GMO is- sue just has not been investi- gated enough," she says. Organic promoters are wrong on the costs and wrong on the science. Sadly, they've won the bat- tle of public opinion. John Stossel is creator of Stos- sel TV and author of "Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Huck- sters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media." 'MANURE' Continued from page 4 FERTILITY Continued from page 4 More Black Americans, and all Americans, are seeing that rooted in the American ideal of freedom is sanctity of life and family. Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show "Cure America with Star Parker." FREEDOM Continued from page 4 Court Report TRAFFIC AND MISDEMEANOR Pike Circuit Court Jimmie Knight charged with domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor. Jase E. L. Tryon charged with operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least 0.08 per- cent, but less than 0.15 per- cent, a class C misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class C misde- meanor. Stephen Cory Whitehead charged with operating a vehi- cle with an alcohol concentra- tion equivalent to at least 0.08 percent, but less than 0.15 per- cent, a class C misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class C misde- meanor. Shayna M. Eck charged with possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor. Joshua Allen Brames charged with resisting law enforcement (forcibly resist- ing or obstructing), a class A misdemeanor; disorderly con- duct, a class B misdemeanor. Marty Alan Wade charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a class C misde- meanor. SMALL CLAIMS Pike Circuit Court Autumn Apartments sue Justin Martin on complaint. Autumn Apartments sue Aaron Hall on complaint. INFRACTIONS Pike Circuit Court Cody D. Moore charged with speeding in a school zone. Kimberly S. McCammon charged with speeding in 30 zone. Maurey J. Werner charged with speeding in a 55 zone. Dianne J. Elmore charged with distracted driving. Andrew B. Thompson charged with distracted driv- ing. Aldo A. Novoa charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Ashton A. Catt charged with distracted driving. Jeffrey A. Haas charged with speeding; and with ex- pired license plates. Kathy A. Bass charged with speeding in a 70 zone. David A. Alexander charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Emma K. Williams charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Angela S. Hensley charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Phillip C. Raspberry charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Donna S. Sholtis charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Jeremiah J. Raney charged with speeding in a 55 zone. Evan R. Kaminski charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Wilson E. Parks charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Ryan J. Schiff charged with speeding in a 55 zone. Maria Danielle Mandabach charged with driving while suspended. Angela D. Hutson-Stone charged with speeding in a 70 zone. Deborah A. Pullins charged with speeding in a 55 zone. CIVIL DOCKET Pike Circuit Court Discover Bank C/O Dis- cover Products Inc. sues Law- rence Long for civil collection. Professional and Busi- ness Collections sues Kristal Mitchell for civil collection. Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC sues Daniel Jones for civ- il collection. Portfolio Recovery Associ- ates LLC sues Sherri Black- burn for civil collection. Dear Rusty: I waited to sign up for Social Security until I turned 70 last month so I would qualify for the max- imum benefit. I have been the pastor of a small church for the last 15 years and they didn't take out deductions, so I paid in quarterly at the advice of my accoun- tant so I would have an amount built up when the time came for me to sign up for Social Security. I received my first SS payment in March for $1,757, after Medicare was deducted. I have been told that once you turned 70 you get the maximum SS benefit, but my accountant thought that I can still pay in quarterly to boost that $1,757. I don't want to pay in anymore if it's not going to increase my amount (other than cost of living in- creases), so what do I tell my accoun- tant? He's waiting to hear from me be- fore he completes my income tax return. Signed: Inquisitive Pastor. Dear Inquisitive: By "pay in quarter- ly" I assume you mean that your earn- ings from the church are reported on IRS form 1099 and that you pay quar- terly estimated income taxes to the IRS to avoid a penalty when you file your an- nual taxes. The primary reason to pay quarterly estimated taxes is to avoid an IRS penalty—paying your taxes quar- terly doesn't matter to Social Security because they will use your annual in- come (regardless of when you pay the IRS) to see if your benefit should be increased. And whether your current in- come from the church will increase your Social Security benefit depends on your lifetime earnings history of paying into the Social Security program. The Social Security benefit you're now receiv- ing is based on your life- time earnings history, specifically the 35 years over your life- time in which you had the highest earn- ings (adjusted for inflation). Social Se- curity always uses a 35 year window to compute your benefit amount, choosing the highest earning years from among all your earning years. If you have few- er than a full 35 years of earnings, they will add enough "zero" years to make it 35 to compute your benefit. What that means is that if you have fewer than 35 years of SS -covered earnings, your earn- ings now from the church will eliminate one of those "zero" earning years, which would result in a small increase to your Social Security benefit. However, if you already have at least 35 years of SS -cov- ered earnings, then your current earn- ings will only increase your SS bene- fit if your recent earnings are more than any of those in the 35 inflation-adjusted years used to compute your age 70 benefit. Social Securi- ty will make that determina- tion whether you pay quar- terly estimated income tax- es to the IRS or not, and they will automatically increase your monthly benefit if your current annual earnings from the church call for it. How you pay the IRS won't factor into Social Security's determination, but not paying estimated taxes quarterly may affect your total income tax obligation for the tax year, which is what your ac- countant should be able to tell you. And if your tax return is filed as a self-em- ployed taxpayer, you'll need to pay in- to Social Security via self-employment taxes, whether you pay the IRS quarter- ly or not. To submit a question, visit website (amacfoundation.org/programs/so- cial-security-advisory) or email ssadvi- sor@amacfoundation.org. Will paying quarterly increase my benifit? Social Security Matters By Rusty Gloor Calorita celebrates Petersburg storefront location Calorita's storefront location is run by co-owner Olivia Howald. Left to right, Jill Hyneman, Kacey Wilson, Olivia Howald, Matt Robinett and Krista Robinette celebrate the Calorita storefront opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Satur- day. "They had a wonderful event that started off with Zumba, Calorita food and drinks, and a Vendor Fair that included Soul Sisters, She Shed Boutique, Raleigh's Bow Club, Color Street and Oh Deer Designs," said Hyneman, Pike County Cham- ber of Commerce President. Ribbon cutting for Myers Tire and Service, LLC Myers Tire and Service, LLC celebrated their grand opening Saturday, with a bounce house and free oil change drawing during the event. The Pike County Chamber of Commerce welcomed the business to the Chamber. Pictured are, from left: front row: Connor Hook, Liam Hook, Emma Hook, Kaid- en Myers and Kamren Myers; back row: Jill Hyneman, Leann Myers, Blake Myers (Owner), Kelley Hook and Krista Robinette. German American Bancorp reports first quarter earnings German American Ban- corp, Inc. (Nasdaq: GABC) reported first quarter earn- ings of $ 9.1 million, or $ 0.31 per share. The current quar- terly earnings include the re- sults of Citizens Union Ban- corp of Shelbyville, Inc. ("CUB"), which, as previous- ly reported, was acquired by German American on Janu- ary 1, 2022. The first quar- ter of 2022 included one-time merger and acquisition costs of approximately $11.7 million and "Day 1" provision under the current expected cred- it loss ("CECL") model for CUB of $ 6.3 million (total im- pact of $13.6 million, or $ 0.46 per share, on an after-tax ba- sis). As a result, quarterly earnings declined by approx- imately $10.5 million, or 58 percent on a per share basis, from 2021 first quarter earn- ings of $19.6 million, or $ 0.74 per share. Total assets overall in- creased during the past year by $1.5 billion, or approxi- mately 28 percent from March 31, 2021. Our 2022 first quar- ter financial position and per- formance, relative to the same quarter last year, was positive- ly impacted by the inclusion of the CUB acquisition and on- going organic loan and depos- it growth, which were partial- ly mitigated by the reduction of loans made under the Pay- check Protection Program ("PPP"). End of period de- posits over the first quarter of 2022 grew $1.1 billion most- ly as a result of the CUB ac- quisition. However, excluding the CUB acquisition, we con- tinued to generate solid de- posit growth into 2022 with an increase of $191 million, or 16 % annualized, in organ- ic deposits. First quarter 2022 net in- terest income increased $ 8.0 million, or approximately 21 percent, compared to the same period of 2021 driven by the Company's higher lev- el of average earning assets. Operating income increased $1.2 million or 8 percent quar- ter over prior year same quar- ter. Deposit service charge fees and interchange income improved 40 percent result- ing from the higher utiliza- tion by existing customers as well as the expanded custom- er base from the acquisition. Other positive drivers include an increase of 12 percent in wealth-management fees and a 13 percent increase in insurance services revenue. Net gains on sales of loans de- clined 35 percent as volume declined due to the overall slowing of the home mort- gage refinance sector. The 2022 first quarter re- sults also included a $ 6.7 mil- lion increase to the Compa- ny's provision for credit losses as compared to the first quar- ter 2021. During the quarter ended March 31, 2022, the Company recorded a provi- sion for credit losses of $5.2 million compared with a neg- ative provision for credit loss- es of $1.5 million during the first quarter of 2021. The Company also an- nounced its Board of Direc- tors declared a regular quar- terly cash dividend of $ 0.23 per share, which will be pay- able on May 20, 2022 to share- holders of record as of May 10, 2022.