Local Briefs December 8, 2011

Mayors to square off in battle of the bells

COEUR d'ALENE - It's Mayor vs Mayor.

Bloem against Verner.

Coeur d'Alene taking on Spokane.

May the best bell ringer win.

Coeur d'Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem and Spokane Mayor Mary Verner will both be ringing bells Saturday to raise money for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign.

Bloem will be at the Fred Meyer store on Kathleen Avenue from 9-11 a.m.

Verner will be at a Fred Meyer store in Spokane from 9-10.

Both mayors will visit the kettle site throughout the day, and both sites will also be manned with volunteers and paid workers.

There will be a mid-day count to check for a leader. The contest will end at 8 p.m.

Cash, coins and check will be accepted.

Fundraiser for heart transplant is Saturday

POST FALLS - An adult-only fundraiser for Masin Hawkins, a Post Falls High freshman awaiting a heart transplant, will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Moon's Mongolian Grill.

There will be both silent and live auctions, raffle items, hot dogs and hamburgers, and music.

T-shirts and wrist bands will be for sale in support of Masin.

A benefit account under Masin Hawkins has been set up at Inland Northwest Bank in Post Falls.

Medicare benefit enrollment deadline passes

The deadline for Medicare benefit plan enrollment was Wednesday.

However, the Idaho Department of Insurance wants senior citizens to know that enrollment requests submitted during the annual election period will still be processed through Saturday.

"Some people had difficulty accessing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services online enrollment center," said Department Director Bill Deal. "Others have not had calls returned due to high call volumes."

Senior citizens who need assistance in completing enrollment in Medicare benefit plans should call CMS, (800) 633-4227.