Check out our latest edition!
AUGUST 2023 THE
COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE
Teacher of the Month: One of Montana’s Finest: Ms. Stevenson
like Alaska with more cowboys.” In 2020, she graduated from MSU with a bachelor’s in education K-8 and a minor in Hispanic studies and K-12 reading teaching. Amanda’s student-teaching experience was a bit different than many, as it was at the height of COVID-19, and the world of education was in turmoil. Ms. Stevenson’s passion for teaching traces back to eighth grade. “My eighth-grade social studies teacher inspired me to become a teacher,” she says. “This was the first teacher who helped me to realize that school could be fun. She did a lot of activities and hands-on lessons with us. We even did mock trials and put Christopher Columbus on trial — it was a blast!” For Ms. Stevenson, learning truly is her passion in life. She loves learning new things, reading, and studying new languages. “My favorite part of teaching is that ‘aha!’ moment in my student’s eyes,” Amanda tells us. “Seeing the children get it is the best feeling. At the beginning of each school year, I hang on to some of each student’s work, and it’s amazing to show it to them at the end of the year to prove how much they’ve accomplished in just one year.” Outside of work, Ms. Stevenson is a huge Taylor Swift fan and has a dog named Goose. And here’s a fun fact that not even her students know about her: In middle school, she learned the patterns and algorithms to solve a Rubik’s Cube!
Public schools are the backbone of our communities in Montana. Despite ranking 31st in per pupil funding, Montana public schools rank first in the graduation rate at 94%. I would not be able to serve the people of this community without having benefited from the support my community placed in our public school in Columbia Falls, Montana. The people who make this significant difference in our public schools are the teachers — and are often taken for granted. At Foust Law Office, we want to recognize these hardworking professionals. Although our teachers rank 34th in average pay, Montana students regularly achieve well above the national average. We are excited to begin by acknowledging the hard work of educators in Belgrade’s elementary schools. Saddle Peak Elementary School in Belgrade is blessed to have Amanda Stevenson teaching third grade. She has an incredible passion for teaching and forms true bonds with her
students. When Ms. Stevenson talks about her students, you can hear in her voice how much she loves the career! Ms. Stevenson was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska, and didn’t move to Montana until freshman move-in day at Montana State University. “I fell in love with it and never left,” she tells us. “I always joke that it’s just
Amanda, your passion and love for teaching is infectious! Thanks for devoting each day to making the lives of our youth richer and happier. You are a fabulous teacher, and Montana is lucky to have you!
– Lucas Foust
406-587-3720 • 1
Healthy Financing or Financial Strain?
Is a Medical Credit Card Right for You? Medical expenses have steadily risen over the years, and individuals who have undergone extensive and invasive procedures have felt the cost increase. Even with insurance and payment plans, these expenses can drain your bank account in a few short months. To combat these charge accounts is relatively apparent, and the benefits coordinator or salesperson who tries to get you to sign up will focus heavily on these positives. If approved, you can put some or all of the medical expenses on the card and pay it off over time. Most
of these financing companies will offer 6–18 months of zero interest, so it can be an excellent option for people who can manage their credit and have the funds to pay it off in the allotted time. The problem with that interest-free period is if you miss or, in some cases, are late on a payment, the interest begins to accrue immediately. That interest is no joke, either! It’s often upward of 25%, and once that tacks on, it will feel like you’ll never be able to pay off the account.
this, many health care providers have started offering medical credit card accounts to help spread the cost over time. If a doctor, dentist, or medical specialist has recommended a pricey but necessary treatment, they may have offered to open a CareCredit or Synchrony account in your name. As tempting as it might be, you need to educate yourself about the fine print before signing up. Like everything in life, there are good and bad sides to opening a medical credit card to pay for treatment. The good side of
professionals who push them only have their own interests in mind. They don’t care if you’re already in extreme debt or live off a fixed income. Once you sign that agreement and treatment has been provided, there’s no backing out. Take some time to think about the terms of the credit contract and your other options before enrolling in a medical credit card. If you’re not in the best financial situation, it may cause more harm than good.
Another thing to remember is that these credit card companies and some medical
Lawsuits Every Cancer Patient Should Know About
If You’re Sick, You Could Be Compensated!
• Cancer-Causing Baby Powder — Johnson & Johnson’s talc- based baby powder is allegedly linked to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. In April 2023, the company agreed to pay over $8.9 billion to 60,000 people sickened by its products. • Potentially Deadly Hair Straighteners — A 2022 National Institutes of Health study found a correlation between women’s use of chemical hair-straightening products and their frequency of uterine cancer. Law firms nationwide are actively taking clients for these cases, and we’ll likely see court battles soon. • Dangerous Weed Killer — According to Forbes, the agrochemical company Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) has settled over 100,000 lawsuits worth $11 billion related to its Roundup weed killer. Victims claim the weed killer causes blood cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. If you or someone you know is struggling with one of these cancers or one you think can be traced back to its manufacturer, reach out to a lawyer for help. Depending on your situation, attorneys can fight these cases as a class action, mass tort, workers’ compensation, or personal injury claim like Deanne’s. The sooner you seek legal help, the faster you’ll get justice.
In May 2022, a California woman named Deanne Warren won a $43 million lawsuit. Her argument was simple: She was sick, and the company her husband worked for was to blame. That might seem like thin reasoning, but there’s a long history of patients successfully suing over their illnesses. Deanne won her
case because her legal team proved her pleural mesothelioma (a type of lung
cancer) could be traced back to her carpenter husband’s work. He installed asbestos-filled doors over 40 years ago for Algoma Hardwoods in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Illnesses like cancer often strike at random — but when scientists can tie them back to a
cause (like asbestos), there are legal ways to hold the at-fault company or product accountable. Nationwide, millions
of Americans have made legal arguments like Deanne’s, blaming the people they worked for, the products they used, and even the U.S. government for their cancers. Here are just a few of them.
2 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
TAKE A BREAK
If you remember the name Francis Scott Key at all, you probably remember him as the poet whose piece “The Defense of Fort M’Henry” became “The Star-Spangled Banner.” As kids, most Americans learn about Key’s iconic moment writing the poem while standing on the deck of a ship during the War of 1812. There, with rockets exploding overhead, inspiration struck, and he scribbled a poem we still sing today. However, that vignette isn’t the whole story — far from it! THE LITTLE-KNOWN STORY BEHIND OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM Its Author Was a Lawyer on the Job
Backpack Books Daffodil Festival Friends Harvest Learning Meteor Produce Smores Sunscreen Yardwork
Key wasn’t a patriotic poet by trade. In fact, he only got the chance to write “The Defense of Fort M’Henry” because of his
career as a lawyer. He was onboard a British
ship that day not to write or fight but to negotiate the release of a prisoner of war named Dr. William Beanes.
TOMATO GNOCCHI KEBABS
According to Smithsonian Magazine, British soldiers captured Beanes when he
tried to protect his Maryland home. The War of 1812 was well underway, and the British had already burned down the White House in Washington, D.C., and set their sights on Baltimore. When they swept Beanes off to a ship named the Tonnant floating in the Chesapeake Bay, Key attempted a legal rescue. Armed with a letter revealing Beanes had once treated British soldiers, Key successfully boarded the Tonnant and negotiated the doctor’s release on Sept. 13 — but it was too late for escape. The British troops were heading for Baltimore, so they kept Key and Beanes on deck in temporary captivity until the battle was over. The Tonnant was moored 8 miles from Maryland’s Fort McHenry, and its deck gave Key the perfect vantage point for poetic inspiration. According to Smithsonian, he said, “It seemed as though Mother Earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone.” The clash continued until dawn. Then, as Key watched, the sky lit up to reveal the American flag still flying over the fort. The lawyer quickly pulled a letter from his pocket and scribbled the words that would later become “The Star- Spangled Banner.” The British let Key and Beanes walk, and his poem became a national sensation — not bad for 24 hours of writing and lawyering!
Inspired by Delish.com
Ingredients
• Kosher salt • 1 12-oz package fresh gnocchi • 2 pints cherry tomatoes • 2 small red onions, cut into 2-inch pieces • Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley • 1/4 cup fresh basil • 1/4 cup and 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided • 2 tsp capers • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice • 1 clove garlic
Directions 1. In a food processor, combine parsley, basil, 1/4 cup oil, capers, lemon juice, and garlic to make salsa verde. Blend until smooth, season to taste with salt, and chill until ready to serve. 2. If using bamboo skewers, soak in water to prevent scorching. 3. In a large bowl, toss gnocchi, tomatoes, onions, and remaining oil until coated. Season with salt and pepper, then thread gnocchi, tomatoes, and onions onto the skewers. 4. On a grill preheated to medium-high, cook the kebabs, flipping halfway through, until the tomatoes are blistered and the gnocchi is browned (7–8 minutes). 5. Transfer kebabs to a platter, drizzle with salsa verde, and serve.
406-587-3720 • 3
Foust Law Office
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.lucasfoustlaw.com 406-587-3720 Fax: 406-879-4400
3390 South 30th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Teacher of the Month
1 2
Discover the Truth Behind Medical Credit Cards
‘I’m Sick, and I’m Suing!’
3
Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs
Wait ... A Lawyer Wrote Our National Anthem?
Find a Trustworthy Pet Sitter
4
Your Family May Not Be Up to the Task! CHOOSE THE RIGHT SITTER FOR YOUR PET
Friends and Family vs. Professionals You may be tempted to ask your sibling, friend, or child to watch your pet. This can be a great solution because you trust them, and they’ve bonded with your furry friend already. But have you considered a professional? Some situations may call for a little more. Use these questions to help you decide: • Will your friend or family member be able to visit your home regularly or stay there temporarily while you’re gone to avoid disrupting your pet’s routine? • Does your pet have a disability or need to take medication that would be better handled by a professional? • Does your friend or family member know how to stay cool and react calmly in case of a veterinary emergency? If your loved one is pressed for time or easily stressed, or your pet has medical needs, you may be better off working with a professional.
How to Find the Right Pro When choosing a professional pet sitter, don’t start with the flier on the stop sign pole down the street (it was probably put up by a 10-year-old). Instead, call your pet’s vet, groomer, and/or trainer and ask if they can recommend a nearby pet sitter. You can also ask friends and family who are conscientious pet owners. Then, thoroughly check the sitter’s credentials and experience. Look for signs that they’re serious about their work, like certifications, insurance, and background check information, and set up an interview and meet-and-greet with your pet. If you can’t find a sitter through your network, consider online groups like the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, Care.com, Pet Sitters International, Rover, or TrustedHousesitters, and use the same vetting strategy. For more help choosing a great sitter, visit HumaneSociety.org/resources.
When your children were young, you wouldn’t trust their care to any old babysitter, would you? Of course not! Now, your pets are no different. When you head out for a summer vacation, they deserve to be cared for by someone who will pamper and protect them the same way you would. The only problem is, who?
4 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator