Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 23

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013 DECATUR, ILLINOIS MONEY C3 www.herald-review.com Oklahoma OKs below-cost shopping -h jmpm" ws 11111 Old law prevented selling items for less than purchased OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) For the first time in 70 years, Oklahoma residents can legally enjoy Black Friday mega-deals after legislators repealed parts of a law that prohibited retailers from selling items for less than they paid. Low-price retail events like Black Fri Do they have to go through any training? Every single person who works on the Turkey Talk Line goes through Butterball University. They are trained from A-to-Z on turkey and turkey-related items. I think it lasts for one week each year. Do you do the cooking on Thanksgiving, and if so, have any tips? Getting the turkey prepared and in the oven is usually my job, and then carving it.

If anyone has any questions at all, I'd say call 1-800-Butterball. I've actually used it myself. For example, last year I was up in the mountain and I called to see if I needed to cook it differently at that altitude. Believe or not, the lady knew the answer right off the top of her head. Since I was below a certain altitude, I didn't need to change anything about it.

Did you tell her you were the CEO? I did not. TURKEY Continued from C1 So the turkey I buy could've been frozen a long time ago? They're frozen throughout the year. It could've been a month ago. It could've been three or four months ago. Either way, once they're frozen, they maintain their quality and shelf life.

What are some of the most common questions you get on the Turkey Talk line? "How long does it take to thaw a turkey?" What are some of the more unusual questions you've had? We had a time when the people had left their turkey outside all night. I guess it was really cold and it had snowed. They called and they wanted to know how to locate their turkey in the snow. Why did you decide to have men field calls? One in four calls we get at the Turkey Talk Line are men, believe it or not. We stepped back and looked at the changing Thanksgiving table, and men are becoming more and more a part of, not only the carving of the turkey, but the cooking of the turkey.

81 fyEiM53! Associated Press Toy department manager Gayla Harris stocks shelves for Black Friday sales at a Walmart in Oklahoma City. day, in which retailers deeply discount items to attract 'I think some (retailers) are willing shoppers, were technically illegal because of a 1941 law that to sell items for over-the-counter medicines, lumber and other building materials. "It had lots of twists and turns and had to be heavily compromised," Holt said of the law. "But rather than drop the idea in the face of opposition, I wanted to compromise so we can at least be sitting here having this with competitors, often over bread or other products that were advertised to lure in customers. Stacy Jones, 46, a longtime Black Friday shopper, said she thinks some of the state's retailers sold items below cost anyway.

"I think some (retailers) are willing to sell items for below cost just to get people in there," said Jones, of Edmond. She shops on Black Friday and says she enjoys both good deals and the tradition of shopping with her daughter. "We'd go out and stand out in the cold at 4 a.m., but we'd end up with a lot of good stuff, and we spent the morning together," Jones said. "I usually find the best deals on gaming systems, flat-screen TVs, jewelry. Electronics are pretty much the main thing we go after." Walmart is taking advantage of the change.

A 32-inch LED television that sold for $148 last Black Friday is $98 this year, and the company said it expects to stock 65 percent more televisions and twice as many electronic tablets this year. "We are very excited to provide our customers in Oklahoma the same great Black Friday deals that we do in stores around the country," the Bentonville, retailer said in a statement. Holt said his intent wasn't just to help out Walmart. "I don't care necessarily about Walmart. I care about the free market.

I ran on free-market principles, and I care about my consumers paying higher prices simply because the government tells them to," he said. Jeff Shelman, a spokesman for electronics giant Best Buy, said the repeal of pricing minimums "is a win for consumers." And while Oklahoma shoppers will be able to get below-cost deals on electronics and other general merchandise on Black Friday, the state's 1941 Unfair Sales Act and its 6 percent markup still apply to more than a dozen items including prescription drugs, fuel, groceries, baby supplies, HeraldReview Online bel0W COSt retired retailers to www.heratd-review.com just to get people in Stacy Jones, shopper sell products for at least 6 percent more than invoice cost Often ignored by HSHS Medical Group is pleased to welcome Scott Bilyeu, MD to our North Main location. Dr. Bilyeu is board-certified in family and sports medicine. He is welcoming new patients.

Call today to schedule an appointment. Scott Bilyeu, MD 2965 North Main, Suite Decatur, IL 62526 217-875-7847 retailers and rarely enforced, the law led to some anti-trust lawsuits and a 2011 opinion from the state's attorney general that Black Friday and other low-price sales events are, even if temporary, illegal in Oklahoma. Sen. David Holt, who pushed for the change this year, acknowledges most Oklahoma shoppers were probably never aware it existed either because retailers didn't follow it or they still felt they were getting a good deal. "I didn't know about the whole controversy until late 2012, when I started to hear about it from Walmart," said Holt, R-Oklahoma City.

"They didn't like that they had to operate differently here than they did in every other state." The law, which predates the holiday shopping frenzy, was spurred by grocers who'd grown weary of price wars VACUUM TUNE-UPS ft Simplicity Oreck Kirby Hoover Eureka FREE ESTIMATES oxner HSHS Medical Group AN AFFILIATE OF HOSPITAL SISTERS HEALTH SYSTEM I i fS- i til 0 I fi Li r3 Ll i 1 ll Li Preschool Enrichment New curriculum to prepare children for kindergarten, swim lessons included, DCFS licensed, content rich activities, monthly field trips, intergenerational activities, two pools, and gymnasium Before After School Care -Professional tutoring available, healthy snacks, care when schools' out, serving DPS 61 Warrensburg Latham Maroa Forsyth Gift certificates available Special in December, purchase a $60 certificate for just $50 YMCA Youth Winter Basketball Registration going on now! Leagues available for ages 4-13 YMCA's 2 Miles to Miles New Year's Eve Race. A 5k race 2k fun run on December 31st at 2:00 pm Sign up now and get that last race of the year in. Lifeguarding Classes begin in January Sign up now! Visit Our Healthy Living Center workout in a semi-private wellness center with a personal trainer Personal Training Specials in December Purchase sessions now Register NOW for the new winter session beginning in January Special Holiday Classes in December For a complete listing visit www.decaturymca.org.