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X-ray upgrade
Jackie Lieuwen/Houston Today
DIGITAL X-ray
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad, Site Coordinator at Houston Health Centre Sally Sullivan, Medical Radiation Technologist Joanne Kilback and Regional Health District Chair Stoney Stoltenburg, hold a small ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new digital x-ray machine at the Houston Health Centre.
A technological advancement is dramatically improving services for patients requiring x-ray imaging in Houston. The Houston Health Centre imaging department has made the switch from film to computer imaging, with the installation of a Computed Radiography System (CR 30X digitizer). “With this new system, Houston residents can now benefit from the types of digitized medical equipment seen in other areas of the province,” said Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. “The move to computer technology means faster care for patients.” Patients will benefit from high-quality images, and radiologists will have faster access to those images. The upgrade will also reduce the need for physicians to take follow-up images, and
for x-ray results to be physically transported to physicians’ offices, as doctors will now be able to receive and view the images electronically. An end to chemical film processing also benefits diagnostic imaging staff, and the environment. “This updated equipment is also the type of technology that today’s technicians are learning to use in school,” said Sally Sullivan, Houston Health Centre site coordinator. “This will make Houston that much more attractive from a recruitment and retention perspective.” The imaging department at Houston Health Centre performs approximately 1150 x-ray procedures each year. The $100,000 project is funded by the Government of B.C. and the Northwest Regional Hospital District.
Local cattlemen organize Predator Control Committee By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
The regional cattlemen’s association has formed a new committee to help ranchers deal with wolves and other livestock predators. Skeena Regional C a t t l e m e n ’s Association is part of a provincial policymaking association, and is made up of four locals including
the Pleasant Valley Cattlemen’s of the Houston area; the Bulkley Valley Cattlemen’s, Smithers area; the Lakes District Cattlemen’s, Burns Lake; and the Skeena Stockmen’s, west of Smithers. The Pleasant Valley Cattlemen’s, Six Mile Hill to Hungry Hill, includes 25 to 30 ranches and has one business meeting a year, with directors
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taking care of most routine business and issues. The Skeena Regional Cattlemen’s Association formed a Predator Control Committee and met last Friday in Houston with CO Sgt. Darrell Ashworth, provincial predator conflict prevention and response coordinator from Williams Lake, to talk about predator issues.
“Reported increase in wolf sightings”
Ranchers have been seeing more and more wolves on their farms, closer to town than they’ve ever seen them before, said Gerrit Keegstra, predator control committee member.
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The committee, made of eight local ranchers from Burns Lake to Smithers, met with Ashworth and talked about the current predator issue, the need for a committee and how
they might move forward towards wolf population control, such as getting trappers involved, Keegstra said. Keegstra says one of the main purposes of the committee is to begin collecting data about wolves and predators, including solid numbers of verified predator kills on livestock and wolf packs in the area, and pictures.
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Asked about the wolf population, Sgt. Kevin Nixon, Sergeant Conservation Officer for the Skeena region, says that it’s hard to give a number or say whether the population is increasing or just cycling, but he has definitely seen lots of wolf signs and heard from hunters that wolf numbers seem to be up. See WOLF on Page 2
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