Risk & Associates County Civil - November 2021

Risk & Associates County Civil - November 2021

COUNTYCIVIL.COM

NOVEMBER 2021

Finding Peace on Thanksgiving

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH FAMILY AND BUSINESS

Reader, this will come as no surprise to you, as you’ve probably noticed how often I talk about family — I’m a huge family guy. Thanksgiving is a very special time of year for me, as it is for most people, but I know it isn’t the easiest time of year for others. It’s not hard to imagine why 2021 might be a particularly tumultuous time for families. Maybe there’s family conflict, drama, or disagreements over events in the past year, such as how to handle the pandemic. I think almost any family can agree that those disagreements are extremely common. Now, I’m no expert, but as someone who goes against conventional wisdom like “never do business with family,” I can tell you what I do when issues arise with my family members, specifically in the workplace. Then, maybe I can explain how these attitudes can help in a more personal way. Currently, my son’s wife works in my office, but so did all my sons! Some of them, including my youngest and middle son, still do. Even my wife worked at our office for decades. My philosophy for offering work to my family is simple: As I always told my boys, “Because you’re my son, you can’t work just as well as everyone else. You have to work even better.” Our office is fairly laid-back; it’s typical for us to get lunch delivered and enjoy each other’s company for 30 minutes while telling each other truths and lies for fun. At the same time, I can acknowledge that people will always have different expectations for employees who are

related to the business owner. It’s never going to change that people will assume a business owner is more biased toward their own family over other workers. It was like that 100 years ago and will be like that 100 years from now.

However, getting caught up in high expectations is not good, either. You can’t forget your family is human, too.

Ultimately, I can understand why some business owners don’t bother involving family in their business — maybe they already know they’ll be too soft or too hard on them. But ultimately, the approach that has always worked for me is simply acknowledging every individual for who they are. Assuming you can treat everyone equally under the same brush stroke just doesn’t work. You have to talk to individuals and directly adjust your expectations, approach, and communication accordingly. It’s important to have an open conversation and get on their level to find similar footing — otherwise, it’s hard to find solutions that feel right for both parties. Even if you’re not handling family issues in a work environment, it can be effective to slow down and put all ego aside to find similar ground with your family again. If there’s conflict, don’t resist it — it’s better to address it than push people away for years. Even if your differences can be painful to accept sometimes, that acceptance can also be what makes a connection stronger. -Rick E. Risk

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CAN YOU LEGALLY MOVE A STATE’S BORDER?

Earlier this year, several counties in Eastern Oregon voted to break away from the Beaver State and join their next-door neighbor, Idaho. THESE OREGON COUNTIES HOPE SO

however, both state legislatures and the United States Congress will have to approve the move. Idaho’s state border is enshrined in its constitution, which means that in order for the borders to change, so would the state’s founding document. It’s a tall bar to clear, but state borders have moved before. In 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that much of Ellis Island actually belonged to New Jersey rather than New York. The mere legal possibility, plus the affirmation of some representatives in the Idaho state government, including Governor Brad Little, is enough for Greater Idaho to continue hoping that they’ll have a say in the kind of government they want to have.

Led by a grassroots organization called Citizens for Greater Idaho (or Greater Idaho, for short), this push to move the Oregon- Idaho border further west was fueled by an urban/rural and liberal/conservative divide within the state. In short, rural Oregonians, who are mostly conservative, don’t feel like their state government, which leans liberal, represents their interests. However, rather than leave their homes and livelihoods behind for a government that better represents their values, they’ve decided they want to bring Idaho’s values and government to them.

While the social and political dimensions of this movement are fascinating, the more pragmatic question of whether moving a state border is possible at all is an essential element to explore. What do legal experts say about the possibility of moving Oregon’s state border? Well, proponents of the move shouldn’t hold their breath. While some counties have “voted” to leave Oregon, those votes don’t hold any legal power. They’re more like a poll, gauging interest in an idea before further action is taken. To make Greater Idaho a reality,

GIVE YOUR FAMILY A MAJOR ANTIOXIDANT BOOST It’s Fresh Cranberry Season!

Finding the Best Cranberries The best way to find fresh cranberries is to harvest them yourself, of course. However, you can also find them in bags at the supermarket or in bushels at the farmers market. You’ll know if a cranberry is ripe if it’s firm to the touch with a red to dark crimson color. You can even do a “bounce” test against a flat surface to ensure your cranberries are springy. Ways to Use Cranberries (That Aren’t Cranberry Sauce) Use cranberries on your charcuterie board with some brie — it’s an amazing combination! Also, consider using cranberries to do festive twists on your favorite savory balsamic recipes, like cranberry balsamic baked chicken and cranberry balsamic pulled pork. Cranberries are a wonderful topping for baked goods, whether it’s a Danish or a fruit tart. Cranberries are also a great tart addition to your favorite lemonade recipe or even cocktails (although it’s not the healthiest option). Add crushed cranberries to a seltzer water for a tart infusion!

It’s finally the holiday season, which means cranberries are also in season! You might be used to only seeing cranberry sauce on the Thanksgiving table, but the truth is that cranberries can be used for so much more. Here’s why you should make fresh cranberries your November best friend.

The Health Benefits of Fresh Cranberries Cranberries are a powerful source of vitamins and antioxidants. In fact, the high level of antioxidant proanthocyanidins (PACs) helps prevent certain bacteria from staying and growing in your body. Taking cranberry extract pills remains a popular treatment for urinary tract infections.

Further research also suggests that PACs benefit your oral health (preventing bacteria from sticking to teeth) and slow down the growth of cancer cells, trigger the death of cancer cells, and reduce inflammation. Yes, cranberries are even our shining knights in red armor against cancer!

We hope these tips help encourage you and your family to go cranberry picking at a local farm! Enjoy!

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The Best Ways to Ensure Family Safety QUICK THANKSGIVING SAFETY TIPS

Thanksgiving is a huge, important tradition for many families — and in a way, it also becomes routine. Sometimes, care and caution can be put second, which is not good news for a holiday that usually involves children and elderly members of the family. Here’s how you can ensure your get-together is as safe as possible! No. 1: If you’re cooking, don’t stray too far from the kitchen. It’s easy to get caught up in an amazing conversation with a friend or family member you haven’t seen in years, especially in 2021 when we’re past lockdowns! However, if you also have something going on the stove, you shouldn’t lose track of it. Make sure you host your fascinating conversations near the stovetop, and keep your attention well-distributed between any operating cooking equipment. No. 2: Make sure kids are a safe distance away. Generally speaking, you should keep kids 3 feet away from the hot stove, especially hot foods and liquids while they’re cooking. Steam or splashes can cause severe burns. No. 3: Keep floors clear. Make sure your floors are clear of any toys, bags, or obstacles before any visitors arrive, and help kids understand how important it is to

keep your floors clear for their elderly friends and relatives. A single fall can be devastating for a senior’s health.

No. 4: Keep dangerous items out of reach. Double-check that your knives and electric cords from a coffee maker, electric knife, plate warmer, or mixer aren’t dangling off a counter within easy reach of a child. With adults being busy, kids can get ideas and decide to play with things they shouldn’t. Similarly, don’t leave children alone in rooms with lit candles and ensure your matches and utility lighters are in a locked cabinet out of reach of children. No. 5: Make sure your fire alarms are working. Press the test button to be sure! Nobody wants to accidentally call the fire department when the Brussels sprouts get a little burnt, but you’ll definitely want those alarms in case something begins burning that you didn’t expect. We know it’s easy to overlook a few things on this list, so we thought it’d be helpful to put it together for busy families. Stay safe out there!

CIDER CORNUCOPIA FEAST GALES GATHERING PIES

PILGRIMS STUFFING SCORPIO THANKFUL TRADITION VETERANS

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2383 Tamarack St., Lake Odessa, MI 48849 616-374-7170 | COUNTYCIVIL.COM R isk & A ssociates

Rick Risk is Founder and President of Risk & Associates, a legal support service provider in Michigan, and has assisted hundreds of attorneys, municipalities, courts, Sheriff Offices, businesses, and others with their strategic process needs.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Be a Peacekeeper This Thanksgiving

Can You Legally Move a State’s Border?

Tips for Fresh Cranberry Season

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Quick Thanksgiving Safety Tips

The Big Debate Surrounding Alexander the Great’s Death

Was Alexander the Great Buried…Alive?! HISTORIANS DEBATE THE FATE OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREAT CONQUERORS

For centuries, the ancient Greeks ruled most of Europe and the world, and one man is credited with unifying this historically powerful mass of people under one rule for 13 years: Alexander the Great. Alexander is most known for his hard-fought capture of land all across the globe after succeeding his father on the throne at just 20 years old. But Alexander’s rise came crashing down when he died just 12 years later. Today, the facts of his death are starting to piece together a curious puzzle for historians, because some now believe Alexander was buried alive. Surprisingly (and terrifyingly), this wasn’t uncommon. For centuries, doctors struggled to definitively prove someone was dead because many of the classic signs of death are similar to those of someone in a comatose state. This became such a common problem

into the 20th century that people were buried in specialty coffins or with a bell tied around their hand to alert grave watchers. (As bodies decomposed, you can imagine how this created eerie occurrences.) Experts believe Alexander the Great may be one of history’s first recorded instances of such a death. After 12 days of abdominal pain that led to a fever and paralysis, ancient Greek doctors couldn’t detect a breath from their great ruler, and he was declared dead. As the massive empire mourned, Alexander’s body was prepared for the afterlife, but he didn’t show signs of decomposition for six days. This only fed the belief that Alexander — like other rulers of his time — was part god. Dr. Katherine Hall of the University of Otago, New Zealand, believes this suggests that Alexander wasn’t yet dead. In fact, he may have been suffering from a rare bacterial infection that attacks the nervous system

and leads to paralysis, which could result in the lack of breath. As such, Dr. Hall believes he was entombed alive, making him one of the first to suffer a “false death.”

However, other historians are quick to say Dr. Hall’s theory is too speculative to be taken as fact. Among the common counter arguments, Dr. Hall’s reliance on >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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