January 3, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 10

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Community Friday, January 3, 2020 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Page 5 SWODA members honored The South Western Oklahoma Develop- ment Authority Board of Trustees honored Mitchell, at-large trustee; and Sterling Moore, Roger Mills conservation districts the service of eight board members and one trustee. SWODA employee at the monthly meeting SWODA Executive Director Debora in December 10 in Burns Flat, according to Glasgow honored Nicky Boone, Harmon a SWODA news release. County commissioner, as an outgoing SWODA Board Chairman John Dee board member. Butchee presented the awards. SWODA comprises eight counties - At the meeting, board members receiv- Beckham, Custer, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, ing service awards were Thedis Mitchell, Kiowa, Roger Mills and Washita - covering at-large trustee, five years; Eddie Tom over 7,000 square miles and approximately Lackey, Beckham County municipalities 110,000 residents. For more information, trustee, 10 years; Mike Brown, Custer contact the South Western Oklahoma De- County municipalities trustee, 15 years; velopment Authority at 580-562-4882. Geary Caswell, Harmon County com- missioner, 15 years; and Sterling Moore, Roger Mills County conservation districts trustee, 20 years. Ruthie Southerland, SWODA Aging Ser- vices case manager, was honored for her five years of service, the release stated. Butchee also presented Perfect Atten- dance certificates to SWODA board mem- bers who attended meetings held from January through December of 2019: Edie Brown, Washita County conservation dis- tricts trustee; Geary Caswell, Harmon County commissioner; Leo Goeringer, Washita County commissioner; Thedis Eddie Tom Lackey Edie Brown Mike Brown Leo Goeringer Health officials warn residents about flu-season severity By Jesse Crittenden The health department symptoms, and most pa- Torbati said. Proper precau- Torbati agreed the most Influenza B is contagious The Norman Transcript, reported the influenza geo- tients are being diagnosed tions include hand washing important precaution resi- and its easy to spread to Okla. graphic spread is at “wide- with influenza B. Influenza with soap and hot water, dents can take is getting a other people, Torbati said. spread” in Oklahoma, with B is typically associated staying home if a person is flu shot, but not just to help As health officials and NORMAN- Flu season influenza B accounting for with symptoms such as fe- experiencing symptoms and prevent the illness. residents continue to take began in September and it the majority of hospital- ver and body aches. using tissues or shirt sleeves “Tf people get the vac- precautions against _ this doesn’t look like it’s leav- izations and deaths. Cir- “I don’t want people to for coughs or sneezes. cine and still get sick, their year’s flu season, Torbati ing any time soon. culation of influenza B is panic too much. We go However, the biggest pre- symptoms and sickness typ- said it’s important that According to the Okla- “atypical,” according to through this cycle from caution for residents is to ically aren’t as serious, At people continue to monitor homa State Department Oklahoma State Depart- time to time,” Torbati said. get a flu shot, according to the very least, the vaccine their health and be aware of of Health, there have been ment of Health, and health “Tt’s not out of the ordinary Dr. Shaylea Beach of Nor- is a lot better than nothing.” possible symptoms. 286 hospitalizations and officials across the state are to see the flu season start man Regional Hospital. Oklahoma State Depart- “We just want people to six deaths due to flu-like urging residents to take no- earlier in the year, but we’re “Even though we're in ment of Health data shows be healthy, and if you know symptoms in Oklahoma tice. definitely seeing earlier and the middle of flu season, It’s children and residents over you’re sick, please stay since Sept. 1. Cleveland Hussein Torbati, physi- significant cases of the flu.” not too late for people to get the age of 65 are at the most home if possible,” Torbati County has accounted for cians assistant and man- Since influenza B can only their flu shot,” Beach said. risk for the flu. Other high- said. 10 of those hospitalizations, aging director of Classen “The highest cases of the flu risk groups are pregnant be transferred from human For more information on which is the fourth-most Family Urgent Care, said to human, it’s more impor- typically happen in Janu- women and people with the flu, visit www.ok.gov/ only behind Tulsa, Oklaho- he has noticed the increase tant than ever for residents ary, and the flu shot usually preexisting conditions such health. The OSDH updates ma and Muskogee counties. in patients reporting flu-like to take proper precautions, takes two weeks to settle in. as asthma and diabetes. statistics regarding flu-re- It’s also important for any- The health department lated hospitalizations and Providing comfort and, Supportfor End of Life cholces one experiencing symptoms also stresses that anybody deaths every Thursday dur- to take Tamiflu within 48 experiencing symptoms ing flu season. hours of symptoms for it to needs to stay home from Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual re- work at its best.” work or school, if possible. sources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one. Population The Census Bureau reported that growth nationally has slowed every year since Continued from page 2. 2015, For questions regarding hospice service or eli ibility, contact: annual population estimates. “In 2019, natural increase dropped to According to the estimates released this 957,000, marking the first time in at least Carrie Perry, RN/ Adminsistrator week, the majority of the population gain in four decades that it slipped below a million, Oklahoma in the past decade came through continuing the trend toward fewer births Pat Welsh, RN/ Coordinator ofPatient Care the net increase in births over deaths. Mi- and more deaths,” the bureau said in a news gration from other states and other coun- release. Some of the most common conditions are: tries accounted for the rest. Oklahoma was one of 42 states and the * Cancer * Failure to Thrive * End Stage Cardiac Disease (CHF) Population growth slowed in Oklahoma District of Columbia that had fewer births in recent years, mirroring the trend in the in 2019 than 2018. + End Stage Cerebrovascular Disease (CVA) * End Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) * End Stage Pulmonary Disease (COPD) nation. The nation’s population was estimated at From July 2014 to July 2015, for in- 328.2 million on July 1, with over 25% liv- + End Stage Liver Disease * End Stage Renal Disease AIDS/HIV stance, Oklahoma gained nearly 32,000 ing in just three states -- California, Texas * End Stage Neurological Disease such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s residents and was on pace to top 4 million and Florida. before the end of the decade. In the most “Half of the nation’s population was con- carrte recent annual period, the gain was 16,736; centrated in the 10 largest states: California, Perrig RN Professional, Passionate the growth rate was just slightly below the Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, II- national rate of 0.5% and kept Oklahoma’s Advance, Attentive... linois, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina and population at 28th out of the 50 states and Michigan,” according to the Census Bu- Our Difference Is Our Care the District of Columbia. reau. Have you ever considered becoming a hospice volunteer? Better water for better livin A fulfilling experience in the spirit of giving and receiving. SALES © SERVICE * RENTALS * Water Softeners * Salt Delivery & Filter Changes * Reverse Osmosis Systems * Free Water Analysis (580) 323-2041 You could give your people (800) 310-6336 Culligan Wator culligan.com