Readers ask about trees, closed store, restrooms

Q: I notice the city is cutting down trees in the park. Why can't they be tagged and cut down in the fall when there are no baby birds and wildlife in them?
A: According to the city’s administration, there are no trees being cut down in any of the municipal parks at this time. They say some trimming has taken place, regarding dead limbs and such, but there have been no trees cut down in recent weeks and there are no plans to cut any down in the near future.

Q: What are they planning on doing with the old Gas N’ Shop building?
A: Wonderline was unable to find anyone with the Casey’s corporation who was in a position to speak about their  plans for the future of the property on North Lincoln Ave.

Q: On multiple occasions I’ve waited to use the “Family Restroom” at Wal-Mart, only to see a single female employee exit it. Who should I contact to complain about this? They are five feet from the women’s restroom, why should I have to wait with my kids?
A: Possibly the reader would like to contact the manager of the York Wal-Mart, Mike Weskamp. He may be able to answer their question, or address the issue with employees — whichever is appropriate in this situation.
It’s likely that because both are public restrooms, everyone (including employees) has the discretion of using whichever facility they choose.

Q: Will Leadership York be holding a graduation banquet this year?
A: It was held last Wednesday, June 11, over the lunch hour.

Q: If I want to purchase a luminary for the Relay for Life, how do I go about it? And when is the Relay?
A: The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of York County will be held June 21-22, starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. It will be held at the York High School Track.
There are a number of ways people can participate financially. First, they can form a team or make a donation. They may also purchase luminaries in honor of or in memory of someone, at a cost of $10 apiece. An order form will be published in Tuesday’s (June 17) edition of the Trade and Transaction Advantage. Individuals just need to fill out that form, then mail it with their payment to Karrie Otoupal, York General Hospital, 2222 Lincoln Avenue, York, NE 68467.
If anyone has questions about the Relay, they may call Otoupal at 362-0446.

Q: Is it true that Americans’ life expectancy is lower than people in other countries? You’d think that would be the opposite, considering we have better medical care. And what is the average life expectancy for people living in the United States?
A: For the first time, U.S. life expectancy has surpassed 78 years, the government reported last week, although the United States continues to lag behind about 30 other countries in estimated life span.
The increase is due mainly to falling mortality rates in almost all the leading causes of death, federal health officials said. The average life expectancy for babies born in 2006 was about four months greater than for children born in 2005.
Japan has the longest life expectancy — 83 years for children born in 2006, according to World Health Organization data. Switzerland and Australia were also near the top of the list.
“The international comparisons are not that appealing, but we may be in the process of catching up,” said Samuel Preston, a University of Pennsylvania demographer. He is co-chairman of a National Research Council panel looking at why America’s life expectancy is lower than other nations.’
The new U.S. data, released Wednesday, come from the National Center for Health Statistics. It’s a preliminary report of 2006 numbers, based on data from more than 95 percent of the death certificates collected that year.
Life expectancy is the period a child born in 2006 is expected to live, assuming mortality trends stay constant.
The 2006 increase is due mainly to falling mortality rates for nine of the 15 leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, accidents and diabetes.
“I think the most surprising thing is that we had declines in just about every major cause of death,” said Robert Anderson, who oversaw work on the report for the health statistics center.
Health statisticians noted declines of more than 6 percent in stroke and chronic lower respiratory disease (including bronchitis and emphysema), and a drop of more than 5 percent in heart disease and diabetes deaths. Indeed, the drop in diabetes deaths was steep enough to allow Alzheimer’s disease — which held about steady — to pass diabetes to become the nation’s sixth leading cause of death.
U.S. life expectancy has been steadily rising, usually by about two to three months from year to year. This year’s jump of fourth months is “an unusually rapid improvement,” Preston said.
Life expectancy was up for both men and women, and whites and blacks. Although the gaps are closing, women continue to live longer, almost to 81, compared to about 75 for men. Among racial categories, white women have the highest life expectancy (81 years), followed by black women (about 77 years), white men (76) and black men (70). Health statisticians said they don’t have reliable data to calculate Hispanic life expectancy, but they hope to by next year.

Q: In the “For the Record” portion of the newspaper, it seems like if there’s an out-of-state person with a speeding ticket, for example, it is dismissed. But locals have to pay their tickets. Why is that?
A: Actually, that’s not true. Out-of-state drivers are consistently found guilty of speeding and other traffic violations, they pay their fines and move on . . . just like Nebraskans.
However, the reader may be referring to a number of cases that were recently dismissed in county court. That happens on an annual/semi-annual basis, regarding old cases in which the person cannot be located. After a number of years, these types of cases are dismissed — the person may be deceased, deported, maybe incarcerated, etc. If it becomes clear the individual cannot be prosecuted for one of those reasons, or something else, the case can be dismissed.

Q: What is the purpose of the colored markings and flags that are along some of the curbs in York?
A: The reader’s reference to markings is likely part of the preliminary work that is being done before construction on a number of York streets begins. Multiple streets will be resurfaced in the next few months, including much of Lincoln Avenue, Grant Avenue, Fourth Street, the underpass, and numerous side streets.
Incidentally, a public meeting has been scheduled regarding that street work, as far as timeframes, detours, etc. It will be held Tuesday, June 17, at 5:30 p.m., in the city council chambers.