May 12, 2012 Protect Against Pertussis/Whooping Cough
Pertussis is known as whooping cough because of the "whooping" sound people often make while gasping for air after a coughing fit. It is a highly contagious bacterial disease which starts off like a cold, but leads to severe coughing that can last for weeks. In rare cases, it can be fatal. Pertussis is not just a children’s disease as many think.
This year, Washington state has had an outbreak of about 1,300 cases of whooping cough, one of the worst in decades. Health officials there have declared an epidemic, and are urging people to get vaccinated amid worry that more cases of the highly contagious disease could occur. Wisconsin has also reported nearly 2,000 cases this year, but has not declared an epidemic. Also, New Mexico and Idaho have reported infant deaths resulting from the disease. In 2010, California had over 9,000 cases, 10 of which resulted in death.
Doctors are encouraged to spot whooping cough early, send infected babies to the hospital and promptly treat those diagnosed. Parents are encouraged to have their young children vaccinated. Middle school and high school students should have a booster shot. It is also recommended for adults, especially those who are around babies.
The adult booster for pertussis, called Tdap for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis, has only been available since 2005. Fewer than one in 10 adults have gotten the shot and most don't even know they need it. About 70 percent of teens have received a booster shot. Most people do not find out they even need a booster shot until they go to the doctor for a tetanus shot.
Talk to your doctor about receiving the vaccination. If you do not have insurance, contact the health department for information.
May 12, 2012 Absentee Ballots -- Vote!
It is shameful that so few people in our country vote. We take this privilege for granted, that it will always be there. With the real threat to the freedoms granted in our Constitution, this year's election is one of the most important in our country's history. If you are unable to make it to the polls, it is now easier to request an absentee ballot. Vote!
Click on the following link for more information on absentee voting. http://www.ok.gov/elections/Absentee_Voting/
Editorials/Opinions/Letters to the Host
May 11, 2012 Letter to the Host - Elections
April 25, 2012 The Rise and Fall of Jeffrey Bishop - The Golden Boy by Sara Liberty
April 6, 2012 A Model Separation Agreement for Our Country by John J. Wall
April 3, 2012 A City Council History of "Active Protest" by Sara Liberty
March 20, 2012 A Necessary Action or a Precursor of What is to Come?
March 20, 2012 When Government Power Goes Unchecked
March 17, 2012 What Are They Feeding Our Children?
In the past year, due to the efforts of Jamie Oliver who is a Celebrity Chef on the Cooking Channel, Pink Slime has come to the forefront of the minds of many people.......more
Announcements
Warnings and Scams
May 12, 2012 4 Risky Places to Swipe Your Debit Card by Claes Bell (Bankrate.com)
May 11, 2012 Health Care Fraud or Health Insurance Fraud (FBI)
The FBI gives examples of and tips for avoiding health care fraud or health insurance fraud.
Medical Equipment Fraud:
Equipment manufacturers offer "free" products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered.
"Rolling Lab" Schemes:
Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes, or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare.
Services Not Performed:
Customers or providers bill insurers for services never rendered by changing bills or submitting fake ones.
Medicare Fraud:
Medicare fraud can take the form of any of the health insurance frauds described above. Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signature is in place, the manufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered.
Tips for Avoiding Health Care Fraud or Health Insurance Fraud:
Never sign blank insurance claim forms.
Never give blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered.
Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
Carefully review your insurer's explanation of the benefits statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.
Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.
Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services.
Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.
Know if your physician ordered equipment for you.
Public Records/Information
May 15, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Amanda Washburn
April 28, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Bobby Penner
April 28, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Theodore Archibald
April 24, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Ricky Brown
April 14, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Crystal Seely
April 12, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
David Everhart
March 18, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Tyler Creswell
March 15, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Mickey Chapman
March 14, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
David Brewer
February 28, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Ryan Jackson
February 26, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Michael Weathers
February 15, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Donald Robinson
February 14, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Corey Burris
February 8, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Zane Dunn
February 8, 2012 Blanchard Police Arrest
Marquita Allen
February 8, 2012 Tom Linn Indicted for
Bribery of a Public
Official
February 8, 2012 Bill Edwards Indicted for
Bribery of a Public
Official
December 19, 2011 Yvonne Lackey Receives a
Deferred Sentence
October 27, 2011 Greg Shupert Pleads
"No Contest" to Charges
May 13, 2012 Filing For Vacant Council Seats Coming Up
The filing period for the Declaration of Candidacy for the Ward 1 and Ward 3 council seats will begin 8:00 am on Monday, June 4, and will run through 5:00 pm, Wednesday June 6. Declarations of Candidacy will be accepted at the McClain County Election Board located at the County Courthouse. The municipal election will be held jointly with the Runoff Primary on Tuesday, August 28, 2012.
Friday, June 1, will be the last day to register to vote in the upcoming Primary Elections to be conducted June 26.
May 9, 2012 Council Taking Steps to Hire a City Manager
At the May 8, 2012 city council meeting, the council discussed and established procedures to review the 21 resumes for potential candidates for city manager. Over the next two weeks, council members will review each resume and will determine the candidates to interview.
May 4, 2012 Stroke Identification: Remember the '3' steps, STR
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours, he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which oftentimes is tough.
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions.
Remember the '3' steps, STR, in recognizing a stroke. Read and Learn!
S -- Ask the individual to SMILE ..
T -- TALK. Ask the person to SPEAK a simple sentence coherently (e.g., "It is sunny out today").
R -- Ask him or her to RAISE both arms.
If he or she has trouble with any ONE of these tasks, call the ambulance and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
Note: Another test to tell if it is a stroke is to ask the person to "stick" out their tongue. If the tongue is "crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.
April 11, 2012 Council Votes to Hold Election for Ward 3
At the regular council meeting on April 10, 2012, the council approved a resolution to have a special election in August to fill the vacant Ward 3 council seat. With the election for both Ward 1 and Ward 3 in August, the council will have all seats filled.
April 11, 2012 City to Search for Interim City Manager
At the regular council meeting on April 10, 2012, the council voted to search for an Interim City Manager through a posting with the Oklahoma Municipal League.
April 6, 2012 Voter Registries Have Been Updated
Marilyn McReynolds, with the McClain County Election Board, has confirmed the voter registries have now been updated.
Mrs. McReynolds had previously stated she would do everything her office could do to have the registries updated by April for the city to have an election in April or June for Ward 1.
An election has been called in August for Ward 1. No election has yet to be called for Ward 3.
.
Linked News Stories
May 17, 2012 Conversation With Blanchard's Own Jody Miller (KFOR News 4)
May 16, 2012 Lawmen Accused of Falsifying Records (KFOR News 4)
April 14, 2012 Blanchard Teacher of the Year Named (Norman Transcript)
April 12, 2012 Blanchard Baby Fights Rare Condition Causing Enlarged Leg (KOCO News 5)
April 10, 2012 Mother-In-Law Of Murdered Blanchard Woman Accused Of Giving Money To Witness (News 9)
April 6, 2012 Blanchard Parents Face a Rare Disease and a Decision for Life (NewsOK.com)
Videos and Audio
April 24, 2012 Video Recording of Regular Council Meeting 4/24/2012
4
April 11, 2012 Video Recording of Regular Council Meeting 4/10/2012
Mayor attempts to call for a special election for Ward 1.
February 19, 2012 Your Right to Vote - Council Meeting 7/12/2011 AUDIO
What happened to our right to vote that Mr. Hagan stated on this audio, but denied us when he and Mike Ferencich appointed Barbara Harris? Click on audio to listen.
February 16, 2012 Video Recording of City Council Meeting 2/14/2012
Stories of Interest
May 15, 2012 Bounty Hunters Barge Into Wrong Home (KFOR News 4)
May 7, 2012 South Korea Seizes Capsules Containing Powdered Flesh of Dead Babies (Yahoo News)
The article is neither anti-republican nor anti-democrat. Charlie Reese clearly defines the people in our federal government who are responsible for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. A very interesting column that is completely neutral. Charlie Reese wrote his final column for the Orlando Sentinel before retiring. He had been a journalist for 49 years. Be sure to read the Tax List at the end.
545 vs. 300,000,000 People by Charlie Reese ......more
Photo Albums
Photos and dance video of Blanchard's first St. Patrick's Day Parade.
State and National News
May 17, 2012 Coburn Urges National Parties to Reject Funding (KOKH Fox 25 News)
May 17, 2012 Another Step Toward Fiscal Responsibility by Tom Cole
May 15, 2012 - FLOOR STATEMENT Dr. Coburn Illustrates the Oversized Web of the Federal Government
May 11, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE Cole Named One of Congress' Most Conservative Members
May 10, 2012 Defusing Our Debt Bomb With A $2 Trillion Stimulus By Senator Tom Coburn, M.D.
May 10, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE Coburn Introduces Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act
May 10, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE Cole Votes to Restrain Spending, Prevent Deep Defense Cuts
May 9, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE Senate and House GOP Question HHS on Wasteful Billion Dollar Loan Program
May 7, 2012 Young Jobseekers Struggle in Tough Economy by Tom Cole
May 2, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE Coburn Joins Other Finance Committee Members In Leading Bipartisan Effort to Combat Waste, Fraud, & Abuse In Medicare & Medicaid
May 2, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE Cole Statement on President's Afghanistan Address
April 28, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE Tom Cole Comments on Student Loan Relief
April 25, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE Ending Federal Duplication Finds Immediate Savings by Tom Coburn
April 25, 2012 U.S. Tax System an Obstacle to Economic Growth by Tom Cole
April 25, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE Senate Votes to Limit Lavish Spending on Government Conferences by Tom Coburn
All submissions require full contact information, name, address and phone number. Names may be withheld upon request.
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF BLANCHARD News and Information Forum
Blanchard, Oklahoma
Last Updated May 17, 2012 at 11:30 p.m.
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The Greatest Gift of All
John 3:16
A DVD video of the Veterans' Parade is available for $10.00 from American Legion Commander Sam Broyles, VFW Commander Roy Sampley, and Paul Gilliam of the Masons. All proceeds from the sale of the videos will go toward next year's parade.
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Quote of the Day
May 17, 2012 Right is right, even if everyone is against it; And wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it."...... William Penn
May 16, 2012 “Never judge a man's actions until you know his motives.” ......Unknown
May 15, 2012 “The more you are willing to accept responsibility for your actions, the more credibility you will have.” ......Brian Koslow
May 14, 2012 “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” ......Winston Churchill
May 13, 2012 “When you feel neglected, think of the female salmon, who lays 3,000,000 eggs but no one remembers her on Mother's Day.” ....... Sam Ewing
May 12, 2012 “Where is the man who has the strength to be true, and to show himself as he is?” ......Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
May 11, 2012 "Safeguarding the rights of others is the most noble and beautiful end of a human being.". ...Khalil Gibran
May 10, 2012 "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government."..........Edward Abbey
May 9, 2012 "The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities."......Ayn Rand
May 8, 2012 "The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic."............John F. Kennedy
May 7, 2012 "No right is more precious in a free country than that of having a voice in the election of those who make the laws under which, as good citizens, we must live. Other rights, even the most basic, are illusory if the right to vote is undermined." ...................Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1, 17-18 (1964)
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