Per Mar & Midwest Alarm Services Expand in Nebraska

DES MOINES, Iowa – Per Mar Security Service, a leading provider of total security solutions for residential and commercial clients and the parent company to Midwest Alarm Services, is pleased to announce it has acquired GT Fire & Security based in Grand Island, NE. GT Fire & Security was founded by Gary and Tracy Hesman in 2008.

Brian Duffy, COO of Per Mar, said, “GT Fire & Security is a great company founded by wonderful people.  We are happy to have found such a perfect mutual fit.”

Gary and Tracy Hesman and the technicians from GT Fire & Security will be joining the Midwest Alarm Services team, and will continue to provide service from the Grand Island, Nebraska office.

“This is a merger of two companies who prize their employees and customers above all else,” said Doug Richard, President of Midwest Alarm Services. “By combining operations, both Midwest Alarm Services and GT will be able to improve their delivery of products and services.”

About Per Mar Security Services

Established in 1953, Per Mar Security Services is the largest, family-owned, full-service security company in the Midwest with more than 2,300 team members, operating in 23 branch locations. The company provides full-service security solutions for homes and businesses including security officer services, smart home automation, burglar and fire alarms, access control, security cameras, alarm monitoring, investigative services and background checks. For more information about Per Mar Security Services, please visit permarsecurity.com.

About Midwest Alarm Services

Established in 1950, Midwest Alarm Services is a family-owned company specializing in life safety systems across four states. The company is a leading NOTIFER dealer, and provides life safety systems and services including card access systems, fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers/hoods, fire inspections, master clock systems, monitoring, nurse call systems, fire alarm system design/layout and video surveillance. For more information about Midwest Alarm Services, please visit midwestalarmservices.com

SWAVE: Dane County Curbside Challenge

The Dane County Curbside Challenge is in full swing!

How it works:

1. Buy curbside, carry out, or delivery from a participating restaurant or retailer
2. Post to social media with the hashtag #DaneCountyCurbsideChallenge and tag the business
3. Be put in a drawing for a $25 gift card from the local place you supported through your purchase

To view participating restaurants and retailers, visit: www.swavecoupons.com/danecounty-curbside-challenge

Good luck and have fun!

Music App LÜM Featured as Apple’s App of the Day

For Immediate Release
April 3rd, 2020

Music App LÜM Featured as Apple’s App of the Day

Music streaming app highlighted as Apple’s App of the Day following the launch of first-ever artist focused virtual gifting system.

MADISON, WI – April 3, 2020 – Today, the social music streaming app LÜM is being highlighted by Apple as “App of the Day.” This follows the company’s announcement of becoming the first music streaming platform in the US to allow for direct-to-artist virtual gifting. The company’s virtual gifting system launched in January 2020, via a new in-app virtual currency called the “Note.”

The Madison-based tech startup recently closed a second round of financing after launching its social media and music streaming app in July 2019. The platform has quickly grown to over 70,000 users, including 45,000 musicians and a catalog of over 125,000 tracks. In January, LÜM launched the “Note,” becoming the first in-app virtual currency to be used for artist financial support in a music streaming platform in the US.

“We live in a world where people are quick to congratulate, but slow to support,” said Max Fergus, CEO of LÜM. “We want young independent musicians to know that we, along with millions of others, want to support them, because we know that they will succeed in their endeavors. Technology, and even more importantly, human connection, will continue to shape many industries, including music. We are excited to bring that future to artists and fans.”

Within the first two months since the launch of LÜM’s virtual currency, over 8,000 artists have received direct support from fans. Over 12,000,0000 Notes have been gifted to artists. Each Note has direct financial value equal to the average royalty payout per stream on alternative streaming platforms. The average payout to supported artists on LÜM is approximately 8 times higher than the per stream income generated by artists on other major music streaming services. In the future, LÜM looks to apply its virtual currency to new areas of the music industry and continue to pursue the company’s ultimate goal of creating a path for independent artists to make a career out of their passion for music. LÜM has also recently launched a COVID-19 response to subsidize additional income for creators during the crisis.

Please follow this link to the “Today” tab on the Apple App store to find LÜM’s featured story under App of the Day.

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Website: https://lum.fm/ 

iOS App Download: Click Here

For Press Inquiries: max.fergus@lum.fm (P:608-576-6682)

Press: https://lum.fm/press

About LÜM 

LÜM is a music streaming and discovery application built on a stand-alone social network that enables emerging artists to circulate their music and grow their fan base. The LÜM platform focuses exclusively on emerging artists and increases artist-to-fan and fan-to-fan engagement through the gamification of social music discovery. 

Artists upload their content and connect with fans on LÜM’s platform. Users discover, support and circulate music by sharing and engaging with their friends and peer communities. Founded in 2018, LÜM is headquartered in Madison, WI, with offices in Austin and New York City. For more information, visit https://lum.fm/. 

Safe Communities 24-7 Recovery Coach Helpline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cheryl Wittke, Executive Director, Safe Communities
(608) 256-6713

New Helpline aims to reduces stress-related alcohol and drug use

Safe Communities 24-7 Recovery Coach Helpline
(608) 228-1278
if incarcerated, call 888-811-3689 x 1
email: referral@safercommunity.net

A new 24/7 helpline is available for Dane County residents thinking about using alcohol and/or other substances or struggling with substance use issues during the coronavirus epidemic. For help, call (608) 228-1278. Calls are free.  No insurance is needed.

This service, sponsored by the nonprofit Safe Communities, is for previous alcohol and/or other substance users, those now in treatment or those tempted to start, and those concerned about a loved one. Callers talk confidentially with Recovery Coaches who are not professional therapists but in long-term recovery from their own alcohol or other substance use and have training in how to help others as advocates, peers and confidantes.

“This is a very stressful time for everyone. People are worried about social isolation, getting sick themselves or losing their jobs and income.’ said Tanya Kraege, Manager, Safe Communities Recovery Coaching Program. “They can become vulnerable to alcohol or other substance use to feel better.”

“This is especially true for those who are working to be in recovery or are already in long-term recovery. Relapse rates increase with stress brought on by loss of income, social isolation and anxiety. They may face additional treatment barriers due to coronavirus-related closures of treatment programs and an overwhelmed health care system.”

People living with substance use disorder are overrepresented in the hospitality business, including restaurants. “Hospitality, travel and leisure employees make up 11% of the entire American work force with over 20,000 working in Dane County alone,” said Jason Illstrup, president of Downtown Madison, Inc. “The lives of many hospitality employees turned upside down with the onset of COVID-19. Many are furloughed, working on reduced hours or, worse yet, terminated. Programs like Safe Communities Recovery Coaching Program will provide instant help to those most in need during a time when any helping hand could save a life.”

Although talking to a recovery coach won’t change the circumstances, coaching is a proven strategy to prevent return to use of substances. 

Coaches represent all ages and include African Americans, Latinos and LGBTQ. Coaches answer calls themselves and may refer callers to a different coach if someone better fits their experience and concerns.

Safe Communities Executive Director Cheryl Wittke encourages families and friends of persons in recovery to be especially attentive to warning signs that the person might be at risk of return to use. Some of the signs are listed at https://www.unityrehab.com/blog/10-relapse-signs/

The Recovery Coach 24-7 Helpline is an expansion of other highly impactful recovery coaching programs operating in Dane County. These include: 

Funding from Dane County and UW Health/UPH-Meriter/Quartz are making this helpline possible. 

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi stated: “Dane County is proud to be the first county in the state to support recovery coaching – a proven strategy to help people with addiction find recovery. Now as we work together to contain the coronavirus, we can’t lose sight of how our opioid overdose epidemic continues to threaten lives, particularly as these two epidemics converge.  Through our sponsorship of Safe Communities’ 24-7 Recovery Coaching Helpline, Dane County is extending our commitment to support people through this crisis.”

“UW Health Is pleased to support Safe Communities 24-7 Recovery Coaching Helpline. This critical resource will help our patients and any community member struggling with addiction find help during these stressful times”, said Beth Lonergan, Director of Behavioral Health for UW Health.

Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin and SSM Health are also sponsoring the launch.

Safe Communities is a nonprofit coalition of over 350 organizations working together to save lives, prevent injury and make Dane County safer. Funding is provided by federal, local and foundation grants, project sponsors, memberships and individual donors.  For more information and a listing of Sustaining Members, visit SaferCommunity.net.

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WPS Health Solutions employees fulfilling essential role while working remotely, keeping claims and payments flowing during COVID-19 crisis

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli, Director of Communications
608-977-7343
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

MADISON, Wis.—April 2, 2020—WPS Health Solutions has 93% of its more than 4,000 employees and contractors working from home to meet the demands of the health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

WPS is an essential business under the various state stay-at-home orders. The company provides critical infrastructure support to the nation’s health care system. WPS has reduced risk by aggressively transitioning employees to remote work at their homes and instituting enhanced cleaning protocols. The number of employees working from home has increased significantly since March 11 when the company escalated proactive steps to protect the safety and health of its workforce; at that time 38% of the workforce was remote. All WPS lines of business remain open and continue with normal operations. 

WPS has major facilities in four states and remote workers in 18 states. The company administers Medicare benefits for millions of seniors, and processes payments for millions of active military service members and their families and veterans. This in addition to providing health insurance for thousands of families and individuals in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Florida.

“I’m proud to say our recently mobilized workforce is meeting productivity and quality metrics in this new remote environment,” said WPS President and CEO Mike Hamerlik. “We haven’t missed a beat.”

Fewer than 270 workers remain at WPS facilities in four states—including mail sorting and scanning, call center, and printing operations. These employees are following physical-distancing guidelines and monitoring their own health before reporting to work as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anyone with common COVID-19 symptoms—or other illnesses—must stay home. WPS is using aggressive cleaning protocols and providing disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer to employees. The company has a centralized method for supervisors to report any illnesses. So far, no WPS employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

“WPS has an essential role in keeping claims and payments flowing to the health care networks. We need our employees to stay healthy to help the U.S. respond to this pandemic,” Hamerlik said. “The health and safety of our employees, customers, agents, and vendors, and the continuity of customer service remain our top priorities.”

For WPS health insurance customers:

WPS Health Insurance has a special page—wpshealth.com/covid19—with updates regarding coverage related to COVID-19.

In most cases, telehealth services are available to WPS customers and their dependents to answer questions about the virus, evaluate their risk, and provide support by phone or video call if they develop symptoms. Cost-sharing for office visits to determine if COVID-19 testing is needed and the testing itself are waived, which means customers pay no copays, deductibles, or coinsurance.

WPS will allow early refills for both 30-day supplies and 90-day supplies of retail and home delivery prescriptions. Note that not all medications are approved for extended supplies and the amount of the refill will vary depending on the number of refills remaining on the prescription.

About WPS Health Solutions
WPS Health Solutions is a nationally regarded government contractor and a leading Wisconsin not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers affordable health plans and benefits administration. The WPS Government Health Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans, and their families. Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions) has been based in Madison, Wis., for more than 70 years. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.