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Speaking event at FBC Oxford next Thurs.
by TheresaShadrix
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Jul 08, 2011 | 840 views |  0 comments | 7 7 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

I will be speaking at FBC Oxford on Thursday, July 14 from 6-8 p.m. There is no cost but I do ask that you bring a canned good for the Baptist Service Center food banks.

Please register on the FBC Oxford Facebook page here. If you are not on Facebook, you may email me and I'll forward it to the church. Feel free to email me questions as well.  tshadrix@annistonstar.com.

Thanks so much!

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Walgreen's Trip
by TheresaShadrix
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Jul 07, 2011 | 224 views |  0 comments | 9 9 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

I've been asked by readers about shopping at drugstores and reader Stephanie asked about Walgreens. First, before you even step foot in the store, you need to read the coupon policy.

One of the main points in shopping Walgreens is that you can't have more coupons than items purchased. That number includes store coupons, manufacturer coupons and Register Rewards. If you need another item, you have to get a "filler" item, which is normally the cheapest thing you can find in the store.

While some folks call couponing the grocery game or drugstore game, to me it is simply the math game. So, always take your calculator so you can sort out your out of pocket expense and how many transactions you will need in order to purchase your items.

Drugstores are good to find deals but I'll have to be honest in telling you that often by the time you get to the store, the item is out of stock. And, at Walgreens you can't get a raincheck on an item that has Register Rewards. You really have to take stock in the expense you have in running from store to store and the cost of gas. 

I made a quick run yesterday to see what items they had that my family members would actually use. They still have items on clearance and so I focused on matching coupons with the clearance items. Here is what I bought:

Transaction 1:

Gillette Fusion Power Razor, $9.99

Used $4 off Gillette Fusion Razor (June P&G)

Received $5 Register Reward

Total out of pocket: $5.99 plus tax=$6.89

 

Transaction 2:

Gillette Fusion Power Razor, $9.99

Used $4 off Gillette Fusion Razor (June P&G)

Received $5 Register Reward

Total out of pocket: $5.99 plus tax=$6.89

 

Transaction 3:

Plackers Orthodontist Floss, Regular $2.99, clearance $1

1 Soft Soap Refill 56 oz, Regular $7.99, clearance $3

1 U Kotex, Regular $7.99, clearance $4

Hawaiian Tropics Sun Tanning Lotion, Regular $9.99, clearance $4

John Freida shampoo, Regular $6.49, clearance $3

Right Guard deodorant, Regular $4.49, clearance $2

Tom’s of Maine toothpaste, Regular $4.99, clearance $2

Reese candy, $.69

-          $1 U Kotex printable from here

-          $2 Hawaiian Tropic Lotion or Creme SPF 15 , (Walgreens Summer Beauty Guide

-           $1 Hawaiian Tropic Suncare Product, 4 Oz. , Any (06-26-11 SS)

-          $2 John Frieda Product, any (06-05-11 SS)

-          $1 Right Guard product, received in mail

-          $1 Tom's of Maine Toothpaste or Mouthwash, any (06-19-11 SS)

-          $10 Register Rewards

Total before coupons: $19.69

Total Coupons: & Register Rewards: $18.00

Total out of pocket: $1.69 plus tax = $3.28

 

Total trip out of pocket: 15.84

That’s almost $64 in savings!

 

P.S. I bought the Reese's because the cashier at Walgreens is amazing and it helps her quota for the items sold at the register.                                                

 

 

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Food Outlet 7/6-7/9 ad
by TheresaShadrix
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Jul 05, 2011 | 244 views |  0 comments | 8 8 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

Pick 5 for $19.99 for selected meats

Lean Ground Beef family pack, $1.89 lb

USDA fresh Boneless Chicken Breast tenders family pack, $1.39 lb

Star Ranch Angus Beef, Boneless NY Strip Steaks, $5.87 lb

Star Ranch Angus Beef Boneless Bottom Round Roast, $2.24 lb

2 lb Bag Top Chick Chicken tenders, $4.99

Gwaltney meat weiners, $.69

20 pack cans Coke, flavors and Classic Coke, $4.99

Gain liquid detergent, $3.99

Mr. P's pizza's, $.59

Ore-Ida French Fries, 2 lb bag, $1.99

12 oz pack 2% Borden American Cheese singles, $1.67

Kool Aid Kool Burst, $.88

Ripe Banana's, $.38 lb

Large Iceburg California Lettuce, $.89

Store Coupon: Large Grade A Eggs FREE with coupon and additional $20 purchase. (Coupon found in The Jacksonville News today)

 

 

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Winn Dixie BOGO's 7/6-7/12
by TheresaShadrix
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Jul 05, 2011 | 453 views |  0 comments | 9 9 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

Winn Dixie Buy One Get One Free deals. Courtesy of The Jacksonville News. Prices in parenthesis are "save up to price" listed in the ad.

Meat/Poultry/Fish

WD Brand Beef boneless top round London broil ($5.39 on 2lbs)

WD All Natural boneless center cut prokchops ($5.69 on 2 lbs)

WD All Natural assorted boneless pork chops ($4.99)

WD All Natural boneless pork loin country style ribs ($5.69)

WD boneless chicken breats or tenderloins

Sanderson Farms split chicken breasts ($2.99 on 2 lbs)

Hormel Natural Choice ham or turney ($3.99)

Hormel pork shoulder roast with BBQ seasoning ($9.99)

Fisherman's Wharf flounder, perch, grouper, cod, whiting fillets ($7.99)

Fisherman's Wharf easy peel 51-60 ct medium white shrimp ($9.99)

Sea Best breaded butterfly or popcorn shrimp, breaded clams, scallops, calamari ($6.99)

Ocean Cafe crab cakes ($8.99)

Grocery

Nature's Own sandwich ournds ($3.29)

Thomas bagel thins ($3.69)

WD long grain rice ($2.99)

Balsamic vinegar or classic or extra light Pompeian olive oil ($5.99)

Peter Pan peanute butter ($2.69)

WD BBQ Sauce ($2.39)

WD seasonings, sauces or gravies ($10.99)

Taco Bell dinner kits or salsa ($3.29)

Reisen, Werther's (5.5 oz) or (1.6-2 oz) of Dove, Twix, 3 Muskateers, Milky Way, m&ms or Snickers candy bars  ($1.99)

Blue Bird sugar donuts ($2.99)

Welch's 100% grape juice ($4.99)

Van Camp's beans ($2.29)

Del Monte vegetables ($1.99)

Household

6 foot beach umbrella with tilt or steel quad chairs (no price listed)

open gazebo (no price listed)

Bamboo torches, selected varieties (no price listed)

Melamine tumblers, selected varieties (no price listed)

Toys, selected varieties (no price listed)

Hefty foam plates ($4.99)

Cleaners

Lysol toilet bowl cleaners, Scrubbing Bubbles aerosol ($3.49)

Health & Beauty

Nature's Bounty or Disney vitamins ($40.99)

Wet 'n Wild cosmetics ($6.99)

Arm & Hammer or Close-Up toothpaste ($3.79)

Double Play

Get (1) FREE 12 ct fresh bakes dinner rolls when you pruchase (1) rotisserie chicken in a single transaction.

Get (1) FREE 18.25 oz Pillsbury cake mix when you purchase (1) 15.6-16 oz Pillsbury frosting in a single transaction.

Get (1) FREE 16 oz Blue Bell pint ice cream when you pruchase (1) 10-11 oz Michael Angelo's dinners in a single transaction.

(Get (1) FREE 16 oz WD mayonnaise or sandwich spread when you purchase (1) 12.5 oz Valley fresh white chicken in a single transaction.

Make-A-Meal

Buy 3 particpating General Mills cereals (Lucky Charms, Cookie Crisp, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Trix, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cheerios and get

  • Seneca 100% apple juice, 48 oz
  • 12 oz Simply buttermilk biscuits or 8 ct Pillsbury Grands
  • gallon WD milk (excludes chocolate)
  • Smucker's grapy jelly, 20 oz

What-A-Deal

Buy any (2) participating Pantene shampoo or conditioner 2/$11 and get

  • 4 bar Ivory Soap
  • 3.5 oz Crest toothpaste
  • 2.6 oz Secret deodorant
  • 200 ct TopCare cotton balls

Other Deals

WD pharmacy Store Coupon: Save $1 Take Away Environmental Return System package

Purchase $20 in participating P&G items and recieve $5 off instantly on your fresh meat purchase

  • Gain detergent 48-64 load, $9.99
  • Downy fabric softener, Febreeze fabric spray, $4.99
  • Puffs facial tissue 3-4 pack, $4.99
  • Cascade dishwasher detergent, 2/$9
  • Dawn or Ivory dish detergent, 2/$5
  • Swiffer Duster kit, $6.99
  • any Pampers bag diapers, $8.88
  • Bounty napkins 160 or 200 ct, 2/$6
  • Iams dry dog food, $16.99
  • Prilosec OTC, $9.99
  • Alway feminine pads, Tampax tampons, 2/$5.49
  • Crest toothpaste, 2/$6

 

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SavingStar July ecoupons
by TheresaShadrix
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Jul 02, 2011 | 244 views |  0 comments | 10 10 recommendations | email to a friend | print | permalink

SavingStar's July eCoupons have arrived! LEAN CUISINE, NESTLÉ, DiGiorno Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen, Skinny Cow, Dannon Greek Yogurt, Perrier and more! Click to sign up at SavingStar.

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Today's Events
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Tuesday, 18, 2013
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Pond Spring- The Gener... 3:50 PM
Oxford Farmers market 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Join us for the kick-off of Oxford's first...
Oxford Farmers market 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Join us for the kick-off of Oxford's first...
White Plains golfer wins playoff at Cedar Ridge
by Al Muskewitz
Jun 17, 2013 | 329 views |  0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
OXFORD — If the overriding focus of the oldest age division in the Future Champions Junior Golf Tour is learning to compete for the steeper road ahead, it was mission accomplished Monday. There is no keener taskmaster for that than a sudden-death playoff, and it taught both Pediatrics Plus Invitational combatants a thing or two about competing. Dustin Travis, who won the playoff over Caleb McKinney with a bogey on the second extra hole, learned the importance of sticking to a plan even if things don’t go so well initially. McKinney learned the value of emotional balance in the heat of competition. Both players shot 4-over-par 76 in regulation at Cider Ridge and were sent out to the par-5 18th to settle the score. Travis, a rising junior at White Plains, played his back nine in even par, and McKinney chipped in off the flagstick from 30 yards for birdie on his 18th hole to force the playoff. They parred it the first time, then Travis won for the second week in a row with a five-foot bogey putt. That came after Travis hit his second shot into the right woods, took a drop and then hit it long and left. “I’ve played in a playoff before, but only one in my entire life,” Travis said. “I lost that playoff, so coming into this one it was like I wanted to get back what I lost. It gave me a lot of experience. My nerves were reckless when I got up to that first tee. Hitting it right, hitting it left … I just had to stick with it and keep my composure. I just held it together better.” For McKinney, a rising senior at Faith Christian, the nerves of his first playoff were evident. After driving it consistently all day, he drove it way right on the deciding hole, took a drop and then hit next shot into the right hazard. He tried to hit out of the ground cover but advanced the ball only a few feet, then lost his next shot into the left water hazard. He took another drop and then bladed that shot over the green, from which he conceded. “Dustin’s a great competitor. He’s very consistent,” McKinney said. “When you go into a playoff you just have to be ready. I wasn’t ready.” The Future Champions Tour is the county’s newest incarnation into junior golf development, joining the likes of the Jerry Pate and ERA/King Realty tours that developed those generations of future county standouts. It has 51 boys and girls registered from all reaches of the county, and each of its first two events has drawn 38 players. The top three finishers in each age division receive an award. If you don’t think that’s a big deal, you don’t know how competitive these kids are. “You want to be able to play in the top three and get a plaque,” said 15-year-old Madilyn Turner, a rising sophomore on Pleasant Valley’s girls team. “You’re trying to win. You’re trying to beat the other competitors. You want to be friends and everything, but you really want to win and try your best, like it was the sectionals or sub-state. To have competition like this and play different courses, it really helps so you’re not nervous when your (high school) season gets back.” While the older division is geared toward future levels of competition, the focus for the 10-and-unders is developing an interest in the game. For the 11-14s, it’s the fundamentals and rules of golf. “We’re trying to teach these kids to have fun and the rules of golf and golf etiquette. We’re definitely accomplishing that,” tour director Marcus Harrell said. “There’s no doubt they’re learning to compete. And not only are they learning, they’re having a blast at the same time. We haven’t had one person really complain about anything that’s going on. Everybody’s calling and saying it’s one of the most fun things they’ve ever done.” Added 13-year-old Jacob Lecroy: “It is real fun, definitely.” Lewis Lecroy never picked up the game until he was 41, but he’s appreciative Jacob has such a program to develop his game. Jacob, who has been playing since he was 6, won his age division Monday by more than 20 shots after posting an 81 and is considering asking to play with the older boys. He shot the lowest 18-hole score in last week’s inaugural event at The Lion Golf Club in Bremen, Ga. “This is super,” the elder Lecroy said. “I think Marcus has a good thing going, and all it’s going to do is get better. It’s big because they’re out here playing. If they werent out here playing there not going to get any better. Golf is something you have to play three to seven days a week to get any better at all. If you come out here one time a week, you’re not going to get any better. They didn’t have these opportunities (when he was younger). Now they’ve got the opportunity to be out here playing.” Al Muskewitz covers golf for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3577.
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All-Calhoun County boys soccer: McDonald’s demand yielded results for Oxford soccer
by Brandon Miller
Jun 17, 2013 | 217 views |  0 comments | 12 12 recommendations | email to a friend | print
OXFORD — Heading into his second year as Oxford’s boys soccer coach, Dwight McDonald wanted a commitment from within the program. After the Yellow Jackets finished the 2012 season with an 11-12 record, McDonald started conditioning workouts in November, rather than the standard protocol of beginning in January. The plan was for the Yellow Jackets to build a better bond. “We had the skill, but we didn’t have the endurance,” said McDonald, The Anniston Star's Calhoun County boys soccer coach of the year. “Plus, we were more individuals last year than we were this year.” As Oxford found out months later, this made for a successful plan. Not only did Oxford make the state playoffs for the first time in 13 years, the Yellow Jackets won the Class 6A, Area 12 title and posted a 13-5-2 record. They did it behind the play of Filiberto Ruedas, Luis Gomex, Andrew Sheltzer, Matthew Lin and Bryant Luis. “The highlight of the season was our area game against Gadsden City. It was the game that put us in first place in the area,” McDonald said. “Our goalkeeper, Andrew Seltzer, stopped a penalty kick with four minutes left that could have tied the game. It came down to us winning the area and coming in second.” Although McDonald lost six starters to graduation, he is confident his system will help the program continue to succeed. “The great thing about this season was I was able to play a lot of young players. I have some eighth-graders that had game-time experience that was really good,” McDonald said. “I look at it like Alabama football in that you never start over, you just reload. I think that’s what we’ll do next year.” Brandon Miller covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3575 or follow him on Twitter @bmiller_star
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All-Calhoun County boys soccer team
by Brandon Miller
Jun 17, 2013 | 274 views |  0 comments | 12 12 recommendations | email to a friend | print
FIRST TEAM Filiberto Ruedas 5-5, Sr., MF • Oxford Noteworthy: Ruedas led the team with 19 goals and eight assists, earning the Yellow Jackets’ co-Offensive MVP award for the second straight season. Mason Tompkins 5-10, Jr, D • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Tompkins was the glue of the Golden Eagles this past season, serving as the team captain and starting every game. The junior scored 14 goals and contributed eight assists, while also playing excellent defense. Mitchell Baker 5-6, 8th, F • Donoho Notewothy: Baker was the leader of the team despite being only an eighth-grader. He led the Falcons with 24 goals for the season. Baker started the year scoring Donoho’s first 18 goals. Schuylar Bucker 5-6, So., MF • Donoho Noteworthy: Buckner was the workhouse for the Falcons last season while playing center midfielder. The sophomore scored one goal for the season. Adan Escareno 5-8, Sr., F • Anniston Noteworthy: Escareno led Anniston’s offense in every way this past season. The senior led the team with 13 goals and six assists to finish his high school career. Josiah McDaniel 5-11, So., MF • Faith Christian Noteworthy: McDaniel played a large role for the Lions as a sophomore, scoring 14 goals and recording seven assists. Bryan Manuel 6-0, Sr., GK • Jacksonville Noteworthy: Manuel kept the Golden Eagles in numerous games this past season. The senior recorded eight shutouts and also scored two goals as an offensive player. Stephen Emerson 5-11, Sr., F • Faith Christian Noteworthy: Emerson led the Lions with 16 goals and also recorded five assists during his senior season at Faith Christian. Luis Gomez 4-8, Jr., F • Oxford Noteworthy: Gomez played a large role for the Yellow Jackets, finishing second on the team with 16 goals and five assists. He was awarded the co-MVP award for Oxford. Andrew Seltzer 6-1, Jr., D • Oxford Noteworthy: Seltzer earned the Yellow Jackets’ Defensive MVP award after helping Oxford reach the playoffs. The junior started one game as the goalkeeper, a 1-0 win against Gadsden City. Bryant Lewis 5-11, Sr., D • Oxford Noteworthy: Lewis played offense and defense for the Yellow Jackets and scored five goals and had three assists on the season. The senior also earned Oxford’s Leadership Award. Second TEAM Oxford — Matthew Lin, Gustavo Rios, Johnathan Becerra; Faith Christian — Tyler Johnson, Sydney Nordan, Parker Moore; Jacksonville — Brian Pryor, Andrew Staples, Austin Martin, Tyler Pass; Donoho — Wilson Landers.
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Hobson City Town Council plans for the future
by Eddie Burkhalter
eburkhalter@annistonstar.com
Jun 17, 2013 | 181 views |  0 comments | 17 17 recommendations | email to a friend | print
HOBSON CITY – Among the individual goals Town Council members discussed in a Monday workshop, infrastructure improvements remained at the top of nearly everyone’s list. The combined list is varied, and it will take many sources of money – from grants to local funds – to pay for it all, the council and Mayor explained as they discussed each item during a workshop. Susie Jones, chair of the town’s Parks and Recreation Committee, asked for installation of Plexiglas windows and exterior doors at the field house at the youth sports football field, and for repair of the restrooms there. Chair of the Water and Sewer Committee, Joe Cunningham plans to change numerous leaking water meters throughout town. About 60 water meters were replaced in previous years, and there may be a grant available to pay for replacement of more, Hobson City Mayor Alberta McCrory said. The town’s water tower needs to be refurbished, McCrory said, and an old estimate on that work will have to be redone. Additionally, regular maintenance needs to be done on the water pump next to the tower, she said. An arch welcoming people to Hobson City is something Councilwoman Deneva Barnes, chair of the Streets Committee, said she’d like to see built in the coming months. A beatification board could help in that effort, Barnes said. She’d like to start such a board, and said it could help raise money to build the arch. O’Mildred Ball, chair of the Sanitation and License Committee, would like the town to consider buying a new, or slightly used, garbage truck to replace its aging one. Ball also asked about the possibility of increasing the town’s business license fees, and McCrory said that’s something she is currently considering. “We have a lot of people come into town doing odds and ends jobs,” Ball said, referring to contractors who work without paying for a business license through Town Hall. Freddie Striplin, chair of the Police and Public Safety Committee, remains worried about crime in recent weeks. “I’d like to restore a sense of safety on MLK,” Striplin said. Traffic is slowing after Calhoun County deputies began regular patrols last month, Striplin said, but there remains a criminal element that needs to be addressed, he explained. A dormant neighborhood crime watch program needs to be restarted, Striplin said, explaining it could help curb crimes that may be going unreported. “I think you’re going to have some help with that. The Housing Authority has already said they’d like to start their own watch,” McCrory told Striplin. Stray dogs — some of them seemingly aggressive — have become another problem Striplin said he’d like to address. McCrory said there is the possibility of contracting with Calhoun County Animal Control to pick up those animals. McCrory said more work is needed on Town Hall, housed in the town’s former elementary school. Painting is needed, as are repairs to the leaking roof, she said. “These are the things we’re going to get working on,” McCrory said. “And they’re the things we needed to hear.” The next council meeting will take place June 24 at 6:30 p.m. Staff writer Eddie Burkhalter: 256-235-3563. On Twitter @Burkhalter_Star.
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Regional Medical Center to break even with 2014 budget
by Patrick McCreless
pmccreless@annistonstar.com
Jun 17, 2013 | 216 views |  0 comments | 17 17 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Regional Medical Center in downtown Anniston is shown in this file photo. The institution is expecting an accreditation survey in the near future. Photo: Trent Penny/The Anniston Star
Regional Medical Center in downtown Anniston is shown in this file photo. The institution is expecting an accreditation survey in the near future. Photo: Trent Penny/The Anniston Star
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Regional Medical Center will reduce worker overtime and other general costs to remain in the black next year, offsetting a loss of $4 million in Medicare money due to federal health reform. During its regular meeting Monday, the RMC board approved an approximately $139.8 million operating budget for its 2013-2014 fiscal year. Despite a projected $4 million cut to its Medicare revenue due to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, RMC administrators project the Anniston hospital will break even and maintain its health services through a combination of general expenditure cuts and improved efficiency. "We're playing it flat," said Greg Kernion, chairman of the RMC board, referring to the hospital's budget. "We're expecting a huge reduction in reimbursements, so we're tightening our belts." The Affordable Care Act in 2014 will reduce Medicare spending and expand it for Medicaid. Medicare is a social insurance program mainly for residents 65 years old and older as well as the disabled. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that covers health care costs for low-income residents and children. Alabama has so far chosen not to expand its Medicaid program. Low-income residents ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare will be able to purchase affordable insurance through insurance marketplaces, which will be set up in every state starting next year. David McCormack, CEO of RMC, said the insurance marketplaces and the estimated cost-savings they could provide were not factored into RMC's latest budget. "Those won't really kick in until the year after next," McCormack said. To offset its Medicare losses, RMC will maintain all its health care services but will reduce its general operating expenses by between 6.5 percent and 7 percent for its 2014 fiscal year. For instance, the budget projects the hospital will spend $67.42 million on salaries and benefits through 2014 — a slight decrease from the $67.9 million the hospital projected it would spend on workers in the previous budget. "We're trying to manage overtime," McCormack said. "We're finding people are coming in early and clocking in and staying late." McCormack was adamant that there will be no layoffs for this new fiscal year. "We'll fight until the bloody end before that," McCormack said. McCormack said the hospital is making up the loss in Medicare revenue by becoming more efficient and reining in unnecessary spending on indigent care. The budget projects RMC will spend approximately $53 million on charity care — care provided to residents without insurance or any ability to pay. RMC spent almost $60 million on charity care last year. "We've done a better job of managing those patients," McCormack said. "We're getting them treated quicker and out of the hospital faster." The budget did not include expenses from RMC Jacksonville. RMC purchased the Jacksonville hospital for $6 million in December. McCormack said RMC Jacksonville's budget will be ready next month. He added that the Jacksonville hospital's budget will be wrapped into RMC's next year. Staff writer Patrick McCreless: 256-235-3561. On Twitter @PMcCreless_Star.
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