Thursday, May 17, 2012 

 

Whooping Cough Outbreak Noted in Wright County  

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough is on the rise once again in Wright County, as well as other parts of the state. Wright County Public Health reports that 77 confirmed cases have been reported since the beginning of the year. Officials say most of the diagnosed cases are in school age children, but adults and children as young as 4 months have also become ill. Pertussis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Droplets are produced in the air, but don't travel far. Officials say usually they only infect persons nearby. Symptoms often start out mild, and are similar to a cold, such as sneezing, cough, runny nose, and sometimes a low-grade fever. The cough tends to be worse at night, and over time can become severe, lasting weeks or even months. Pertussis, or whooping cough can be very serious for youngsters, and in some cases can be fatal. Public Health officials say anyone who develops a cough illness after direct exposure to someone who has pertussis, or anyone who has a persistent cough of unknown origin that lasts more than 7 days, or a violent cough that occurs with a whooping sound, accompanied by vomiting or gagging while coughing, or the inability to catch one's breath while coughing should be checked for pertussis. A 5-day course of antibiotics is usually prescribed for persons confirmed to have pertussis. Though the treatment doesn't necessarily help the cough go away faster, it does help to prevent the spread of this very contagious disease. Booster vaccines of Tdap, or tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are available from the Wellness on Wheels, or WOW van, or of course, from your physician. For more on pertussis, log onto the Minnesota Department of Health website at; www.health.state.mn.us.

Friends and family remember a lifelong, and well-known resident of Maple Lake at funeral services today. Clifton "Cliff" Jude passed away Saturday at the age of 88. Cliff served in the Merchant Marines during World War 2, then returned to Maple Lake where he worked for Jude Candy and Tobacco Company for many years. A Funeral Mass for Cliff Jude is scheduled for 10:30 this morning at St. Timothy's Catholic Church of Maple Lake.

Evening Lane Restrictions on I-94 in Albertville  

Officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation say evening lane restrictions will be in effect for the next several days on I-94 through the community of Albertville. Traffic is being reduced to one lane in each direction as a part of the westbound collector-distributor road project that will allow westbound I-94 traffic to access County Road 19. The evening lane restrictions are expected through at least May 22nd, though MnDOT says all travel lanes will be opened during daytime and peak traffic hours. Motorists are urged to slow down, pay attention and watch for workers while traveling in the construction zone. For more information on the project, contact officials with the City of Albertville at (763) 497-3384.

Carver County Sheriff Seeks Help From Public on Burglary and Assault Case  

The Carver County Sheriff's Office is reaching out to residents of the region for assistance in piecing together an alleged 1st degree burglary and assault in Chanhassen late last month. Sheriff Jim Olson says around 10:45 AM on April 25th, Carver County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the 900 block of Santa Vera Drive in Chanhassen. Officials determined that a suspect forced entry into the residence through a locked front door. The female victim in the residence was able to fight off her assailant and escape. The suspect then fled the seen in an unknown direction. The suspect is described as being a white male approximately 25 years old, 6 feet 1, to 6 feet 2 inches tall, with a stocky build, brown hair, blue eyes and clean shaven. The suspect was last seen wearing a light blue t-shirt and khaki colored cargo-style pants. The Carver County Sheriff's Office and the City of Chanhassen are offering a 1 thousand dollar reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting the Carver County Sheriff's Office in the on-going investigation.

Suicide Awareness Event Tonight in Buffalo  

Area residents are reminded that the Buffalo Mental Health Coalition, in conjunction with United for Youth will present a special informational event on suicide tonight at the Buffalo High School. Internationally known speaker and expert in suicide and mental health, Dr. Daniel Reidenberg, the Executive Director of SAVE, or, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education will give the presentation on suicide awareness from 7 to 8 PM tonight at the Buffalo High School Performing Arts Center. Suicide is a leading cause of death for youth in our state, and is a significant cause of death for adults and seniors as well. Wright County has had numerous incidents of suicide, mainly among young people, in recent years. In his presentation, Dr. Reidenberg will highlight the extent of the problem, diseases most commonly related to suicide, symptoms of illnesses, and the warning signs of people at risk for suicide. Participants will also hear about the most commonly asked questions regarding suicide, and will be able to ask their own questions to help prevent suicide in their communities. The event is free to the public, and is sponsored by the Buffalo Mental Health Coalition, in conjunction with United for Youth.

Howard Lake City Administrator Accepts Position With Annandale  

Howard Lake City Administrator Kelly Hinnenkamp recently announced that she will be stepping down from her post to accept the city administrator position in the community of Annandale. The Howard Lake Herald Journal reports that Hinnenkamp, who interned in Howard Lake in 2001 while studying for a degree in community development, was originally hired as the community development assistant in late 2001, and assumed the city administrator duties after the resignation of the former city administrator in January of 2002. Hinnenkamp said she felt that after 10 years, the opportunity in Annandale was a chance for a career move while still being able to live in, and be involved in the Howard Lake community. Hinnenkamp reportedly plans to ensure that all projects such as the Thriving Communities initiative and the assisted living facility will be able to be overseen by others until the city can hire a new administrator. Hinnenkamp's final day with Howard Lake is scheduled to be June 22nd.

3rd Annual Relay for Life Garage Sale Saturday in Montrose  

A special garage sale to benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life will be held Saturday in Montrose. The Montrose Community Center will host the event this Saturday, May 19th from 8 AM to 4 PM. Numerous types of garage sale items will be on sale, including exercise equipment, clothing, and household items. Proceeds from the event will benefit the many ACS Relay for Life events throughout the Wright County area. For more information, call (763) 497-0510.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Minnesota, and this month advocates are trying to raise awareness about the symptoms and ways to reduce your risk. John Michaelson has a complete report in our on-air news today. More information is available on the American Heart Association's website at; www.heart.org. 

Maple Lake Irish Diamonds Grand Opening This Weekend 

The new Irish Diamonds ball fields in Maple Lake will be celebrated this weekend with a Grand Opening Saturday and Sunday. Maple Lake fast-pitch softball, and youth baseball teams will play games on the new diamonds that are located east of the Irish Football Stadium adjacent to the Maple Lake Public School campus. Prize drawings, a basket raffle and full concessions will be available. A program will be held Sunday at 4 PM to award prizes, including the 1 thousand dollar diamond pendant donated by Loch Jewelers of Monticello. The Grand Opening of the sports field complex will mark the fulfillment of a commitment that began in 2009 with a proposal to construct the community ballfields. A 440 thousand dollar project budget was approved with financing from the school district, and the Maple Lake Irish Diamonds and Dreams organization, which held numerous on-going fundraising events to reach their goal of seeing the fields become a reality.

Dayton Woman Seriously Injured in Weekend Auto Crash 

A woman from our region was seriously injured in a weekend traffic crash in Benton County. The State Patrol says 47-year-old Lisa Forbes of Dayton, was southbound on Highway 10 near the community of Sauk Rapids when her vehicle drifted into the median while shifting to the left lane. Officials say she apparently over-corrected, and the vehicle rolled over. No other vehicles were involved. Forbes was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital where she is listed in critical condition. The Benton County Sheriff's Department, Sauk Rapids Fire and Gold Cross Ambulance assisted at the scene. The State Patrol is continuing its investigation.