Storms force cancellation of Shawnee's Red, White and Blue Celebration

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer Program at Unity Health Center’s Cancer Center.
A facility receives this recognition following an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program.

Salads are a great way to incorporate vegetables and fruits into any diet.
When a salad is made with lots of fruits and vegetables, it can be loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, said Janice Hermann, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all we had to do to lose weight was eliminate fats from our diets?

Shawnee realtor Teri Thompson took third place in a 5K run May 3 in her age group. The event was sponsored by the Shawnee Board of Realtors for Family Promise.

The Pottawatomie County Health Department is joining the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health and the Oklahoma State Department of Health in celebrating National Women’s Health Week May 10-16. The theme of this 10th annual health observance, “It’s Your Time,” helps call attention to the importance of women’s health.

The Tecumseh Public Library is partnering with two community organizations to offer workshops during May on maintaining healthy lifestyles and good nutrition. Ron McIntosh, RD of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe and Sonja McDaniel of the OSU Extension Service each offer a Fit for Life program for adults interested in learning more about diabetes and nutrition.

Patients and visitors of Unity Health Center may find it easier to get from their cars to the hospital and back, due to a recent gift from the Unity Health Center Volunteer Auxiliary. The volunteer auxiliary purchased a sporty, six-seat, purple golf cart to offer guest parking lot shuttle services.

In response to increasing concerns regarding swine flu cases in the U.S., local health officials at Unity Health Center said they are well-prepared to combat the virus if it reaches Pottawatomie County but urged good hygiene practices from community members.
“The number one thing is to wash your hands or use alcohol-based rubs, just good overall health hygiene,” said Vicki Milliken, director of infection control at Unity Health Center. “And cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw the tissue away. Then wash your hands again afterward or use a sanitizer.” 

Fundraising totals for Shawnee’s annual Relay for Life event fell short this year, Tina Wellman, event chair, said.
“Our goal was to reach $83,000 this year,” Wellman said. “We raised $80,700. But we are hoping more will donate so we can still meet our goal.”

St. Gregory’s University senior Marisol Hernandez will host a health fair April 23 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Rockwood Center’s Great Room on the SGU campus. The fair, Hernandez’s senior project, will feature booths from at least six health organizations from the area. The event is free and open to the public.

If you were to ask me why exercise, my response would definitely be because the health of you and your loved ones is important.
As a personal trainer, I take great pride in challenging you to treat and respect your health as the very serious business that it is. I’ve said this many times before, and will say it again, that when you allow your health to decline, so to does your active quality of life.

Jasmin Johnson, assistant professor of nursing at Oklahoma Baptist University, was recently published in the Journal of Christian Nursing.
Her article, on the topic “Passion for the Profession,” discusses the difficulties nurses face during their career, and the need for nurses to have a passion for what they do.

Wouldn’t you agree, there are millions of excuses not to exercise? Either we are too busy, too tired, or feel it is too boring. I certainly can relate to those feelings myself because each and every day, I have to overcome them as I make my way to the gym.

A few years ago, a peek into Dr. Keith Conaway’s office would have revealed stacks of patient charts waiting to be completed.

I have got to tell you, it is wonderful to see so many seniors staying active with their morning or evening walks. More and more people are out, enjoying the challenge of remaining functional and healthy through regular physical activity.

In life, one of the most valuable and precious gifts a parent receives is the birth of their children.
One day they are little bundles of joy in a crib, and the next thing you know they are walking, talking, playing little league, and, yes, even driving a motor vehicle at the young age of 15 and a half.

Carol Tanner and Shirley Gregory from the Center For Rehabilitation at Unity South spoke to Pottawatomie County Retired Educators recently about strokes.

Pottawatomie County’s Pioneer Libraries are offering free workshops presented by Sonya McDaniel of the OSU Extension Service.

There are many different reasons why we maintain our exercise programs. Some more serious than others. Resistance or weight training has often been associated with appearance only. Many times the benefit of improving our health is forgotten and becomes secondary instead of primary like it should.

This time of year so many people are in the process of losing fat, gaining muscle, and increasing their physical activity.