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Monroe County Health Department

Monroe County Home Health Agency today announced that it has been named to the 2008 HomeCare Elite, a
   compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 25 percent of agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.
   Monroe County Home Health Agency Administrator Barbara Landrum credits her staff with the department’s ability to rank as one of the HomeCare Elite.
   “Our organization is committed to living out the motto “Home town people serving you,” said Landrum. “In home care we have the opportunity to provide experienced, professional, caring people to improve the quality of life for elderly Americans.”
   “The 2008 HomeCare Elite winners exemplify a commitment to providing their patients with optimum care while performing at the highest level,” said Nancy Buller, Senior Director of Marketing Communications at OCS, Inc. “We congratulate Monroe County Home Health Agency on being one of the Top home care agencies in the country.”
   “DecisionHealth would like to congratulate the top HomeCare Elite agencies that achieved excellent clinical and financial outcomes by providing quality care to their patients,” added Marci Heydt, Executive Editor of DecisionHealth’s Home Health Line. The 2008 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry.
   The entire list of the 2008 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS web site at www.ocsys.com/HCE.
   The Monroe County Home Health Agency provides intermittent or part time services in the home for the homebound patient. The objective of this program is to enable patients who do not require fulltime nursing care to remain in their homes. Care is given under the direction of a physician. Services include skilled nursing, personal care services, physical therapy and speech therapy.
   About OCS, Inc.: OCS is the market leader in healthcare information solutions. By collecting, evaluating and interpreting healthcare information, we empower leaders with data-driven insight that helps optimize mission-critical decision-making. OCS combines the richness of the nation’s most comprehensive post-acute data warehouse with cutting-edge analysis tools, consulting services and custom technology solutions. Our information-based solutions facilitate providers, payers, industry analysts, consultants, Federal and state governments, medical products and pharmaceutical companies with advancing their missions using objective, independent information that is not available from other sources. Learn more at www.ocs.com or call 888.325.3396.   1052 0903 1/15/2009 hdl

Delores Condict has graciously donated to the Monroe County Appeal a survivor-colored afghan to be raffled for the 2009 Relay For Life of Monroe County.

It is that time of year again - time to participate in the annual 2009 Relay For Life of Monroe County. This year’s event‘s “Kick Off Celebration” is set for Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 5:30 p.m., in the Paris Library Roegge Room. This is a great opportunity to learn how to start a team, develop your current team and learn more about the programs and services that the American Cancer Society provides.
   This year’s theme for the Relay is “We’re Gonna Party Like It’s… 1985.”
   “Join us for fun, food and prizes,” said Event Coordinator Joanne Bonney.
   Joining last year’s teams will be two new teams for the 2009 Relay For Life for Monroe County – Paris R-II Schools captained by Tracy Huffman and Paris Christian Church captained by Martha Staggs.
   According to the American Cancer Society, One day. One night. One community: By participating in an American Cancer Society Relay For Life event near you, you honor cancer survivors, pay tribute to the lives lost to the disease, and raise money to help fight it – all right in your community.
   Much more than a walk around a track, Relay is a time to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remember those lost and get inspired to fight back. Those who have shared the same experience find common ground, hope and healing at Relay. By participating, you have the power to continue the American Cancer Society’s progress toward a future where cancer doesn’t take the lives of our friends and family.
   Here’s how your involvement helps: Saving Lives: Every dollar you raise makes a difference to people in your community whose lives are touched by cancer. The Society has contributed to almost every major discovery in cancer research. Millions of lives have been saved as a result, including people you may know. For those people and countless others, the research the Society has funded is resulting in better ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer.
   The American Cancer Society will also continue to exert influence on all levels of government, advocating for stronger policies and enacting legislation that will save lives and conquer cancer.
   Helping Those Touched by Cancer: When cancer affects you or someone you love, the American Cancer Society can lessen your fears and provide inspiration through our many programs and services - all free of charge and made possible through donations from local communities.
   Your donations also give those touched by cancer answers to their questions and offer places to turn for help in their community through the Society’s Web site, http://www.cancer.org/ and our 24-hour toll-free number, 1-800-ACS-2345.
   Empowering People to Fight Back Against Cancer: A cancer survivor’s recovery involves much more than medical treatments - it takes hope to heal. By participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, those touched by cancer can feel empowered to fight back against this disease.
   All of this is made possible because of activities like Relay For Life. Are you ready to get involved? It’s easy! You can put together a team or join an existing team. You can get involved or make a donation right now by clicking on “Find My Relay” on the left side of the page. You’ll be directed to the events nearest to you. Relay For Life® is about being a community that takes up the fight!
   So what happens at Relay? Dedicated volunteers are committed to fighting cancer in their communities year-round, but once a year, they gather at Relay For Life to celebrate survivors and caregivers, remember loved ones lost and to gain inspiration for the fight.
   Each of the more than 4,800 Relays nationwide is a fun-filled, overnight event that mobilizes communities to celebrate survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer), remember loved ones and raise money for the fight against cancer. Teams of eight to 15 members gather with tents and sleeping bags with the goal of keeping on person on the track at all times. Relay For Life® brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, churches ... people from all walks of life. Teams seek sponsorship prior to the Relay, all with the goal of eliminating cancer.
   Relay For Life opens as cancer survivors take the first lap. This emotional time sets the stage for the importance of each participant’s contribution. A festive atmosphere always develops as participants make new friends and spend time with old ones. Highlighting the evening is a luminaria Ceremony of Hope held after dark to honor cancer survivors and to remember loved ones lost to cancer. The luminaria candles line the track and are left burning throughout the night to remind participants of the incredible importance of their contributions.
   Sign up today to become a part of the Relay phenomenon.
   Relay History: One person can make a difference. Nowhere is that more evident than with the story of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®, which began in Tacoma, Washington, as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.
   In the mid-1980s, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed—running marathons.
   In May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for more than 83 miles. Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He raised $27,000 to fight cancer. That first year, nearly 300 of Dr. Klatt’s friends, family, and patients watched as he ran and walked the course.
   While he circled the track those 24 hours, he thought about how others could take part. He envisioned a 24-hour team relay event that could raise more money to fight cancer. Months later he pulled together a small committee to plan the first team relay event known as the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.
   In 1986, 19 teams took part in the first team relay event on the track at the colorful, historical Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000. An indescribable spirit prevailed at the track and in the tents that dotted the infield.
   Since that first Relay For Life® event, millions have joined the cause all over the world, making Relay the largest fundraising event in mankind’s history.
   For more information about Relay For Life, to become a team captain or if you are a cancer survivor and want to participate in this year’s event – contact Joanne Bonney 660-327-4192.   1053 0903 1/15/2009 hdl

The Monroe County Sheriff Department’s deputies were commissioned by Judge Robert M. Clayton II. Left to right: First row - Doug Buie, Cole Hinshaw, C.J. Mudd. Sheriff David Hoffman, Sue Walker, Jamie Allen, Joe Colston and Darren Freidank. Second row - Kevin Jones, Ron Landon, Dale Ransdell, John Christensen, Charlie White, Eddie Hartgrove, Tom McGinty and Brad Wilt.
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The following individuals have filed for the positions indicated for the April Municipal Election. Deadline for filing is close of business on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
   City of Paris: Mayor - (I) Russell Peterson, Rick Reading and Bob Crabtree. Alderman (2) - (I) Curtis McCleary and (I) Jim Buckman.
   Paris R-II Schools (2): (I) Libby Williams and (I) Laura Long.
   City of Madison: Mayor - No filings. Alderman (2): Hal Bennett, (I) Nancy Meals and (I)Tommy Johnson.
   Madison C-3 Schools (2): (I) Larkin Bennett.
   Village of Holliday (2): (I) Guy Callison and (I) Sam Akers.
   Holliday C-2 Schools (2): (I) Richard Ensor.
   Middle Grove C-I School (3): (I) Ralph Hoppe; (I) James Roslien and (I) Nichole Embree.
   Monroe County Nursing Home Sub District 5 (1): No filings
   Monroe County Nursing Home Sub District 6 (1): Russell Wolfe.
   Monroe County Special Road District (1): Tully Tonsor.
   
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If President-elect Barack Obama can’t persuade Congress to delay the Feb. 17 start date, some area consumers may find themselves unable to watch television on their old sets.
   President-elect Obama recently asked Congress to postpone the analog-to-digital shift, arguing that too many Americans still aren’t ready for it. Congress set the date, so it would have to pass a new law to delay it.
   Delay or not, it’s hard to conceive that people haven’t received the message yet, what with nonstop TV announcements, weekly tests that show whether your television is ready for the DTV transition and more than a year of news reports and announcements.
   Here’s what’s about to happen: On Feb. 17 -- or whenever Congress decides -- all full-power TV stations across the country will stop broadcasting in their current analog format, and the spectrum they use for analog broadcasting will be put to other uses.
   The channels will be called the same but to get them through outside antennas or rabbit ears, you will need one of those separate digital-to-analog converter boxes.
   Stores carrying converter boxes in the area have seen empty shelves as the boxes are in high demand, especially in rural areas where antennas are commonplace.
   Most of those people are receiving their TV signals through outdoor antennas or rabbit ears on TV receivers bought prior to 2004.
   The vast majority of consumers are okay, either because they have newer televisions with digital tuners or because they get their TV signal through cable or satellite. Others took advantage of coupons offered by the government that reduced by $40 the cost of a converter box that installs between the antenna lead-in wire and the TV set.
   Unfortunately, those coupons are all gone now. While the government may issue more coupons, more than 100,000 people are on the waiting list. So for consumers who haven’t yet bought a converter, the chances of getting the discount between now and D-Day are virtually nonexistent.
   That means those who don’t have the box need to pay full cost for one, which can be purchased at most electronic stores for $45 to $90.
   Why did the change take place? Essentially, the analog format being phased out is the traditional method of transmitting TV signals and has been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television, explains the National Association of Broadcasters on its DTVAnswers.com Web site.
   Digital broadcasting allows stations to offer improved picture and sound quality.”
   The NAB notes that every TV set made before 1998 had a traditional analog receiver. If you bought a big-screen, projection television between 1998 and 2004, there is a chance it has a built-in digital tuner inside. Before 2004, only a limited percentage of projection TV sets included digital tuners.   1056 0903 1/15/2009 hdl