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Tuesday, January 5, 2016
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Flu vs. common cold ‘It’s not too late’ to take your shot By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — If you’re thinking it’s too late to receive a flu vaccine this season — think again. Believe it or not, flu season has yet to peak, and local health officials are urging
Looking backward ... and forward
there is still time to get vaccinated. Since 1982, the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) has tracked peak flu activity in the U.S. on a monthly basis. During this 32-year period, flu activity most often peaked in the month of February, followed by December, January and March. Laurie Geuther, director of nursing at the Bureau/Putnam/Marshall County Health Departments, said the best way to prevent seasonal flu is by getting the flu vaccine. Anyone six months and older are urged to get vaccinated.
The flu is caused by viruses, which infect the respiratory tract. The flu can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. It is estimated in the U.S., each year on average, 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications, according to the CDC. While the flu vaccine doesn’t 100 percent guarantee prevention from the flu, the vaccine can help protect people from catching the virus, especially those who are at greater risk of getting seriously
Servers, sellers, ID checkers must become certified
By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com
DePue Page 4
Flu Page 4
New rules for those serving alcohol
Ringing in 2016
Mayor optimistic about future for DePue DEPUE — The new year has barely kicked off, but the village of DePue is already looking into plans and preparations of new projects 2016 will bring for the town. On Monday, Mayor Eric Bryant took a moment to talk about what’s to come in the new year for DePue. One of the largest projects he hopes to see this year is the cleanup of private properties within the Superfund site. Last year, the village started testing private properties for heavy metals, such as lead and arsenic. Altogether there were 41 properties tested and found to be contaminated. Fingers are crossed that plans meet the projected time to begin cleaning up those areas this year, while more properties around the village continue to get tested. “We’ve got our hopes up, and we’re hoping that plan that we learned about last year will come to fruition,” Bryant said. Also this year, the village of DePue will start looking into the area’s two economic development groups — The Starved Rock Alliance and the Economic Development Corporation of North Central Illinois (EDCNCI).
ill. Those at greater risk include elderly, young children, pregnant woman and patients with certain health conditions. Flu vs. common cold While it may be difficult to tell the symptoms apart, there is a big difference between the seasonal flu and common cold. Symptoms of the flu are more severe and include fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and dry cough, according to Geuther. Also, symptoms of influenza typically have a quick onset.
By Pam Eggemeier Sauk Valley Media
BCR photo/Joann Bowman
Those who attended the New Year’s Eve dance at the Princeton Moose Lodge were treated to plenty of dancing to the music provided by The Generics, snacks, party favors, a champagne toast and more, as event-goers welcomed in 2016 with family and friends.
ROCK FALLS – Liquor and pawn shops dominated discussion at the last ordinance committee meeting of 2015. While cities try to digest new state laws, one piece of liquor legislation signed into law July 15 will be ushered in through July 1, 2018. The same law that brought happy hour back to many Illinois drinking establishments this year also changed the rules for the people serving alcohol and checking IDs. Public Act 99-0046 requires that not only the owners, but also employees serving and checking IDs, complete the Beverage Alcohol Sellers/Servers Education and Training, or BASSET, every three years. Counties will be phased in according to population, except for Cook – the only Illinois county that already requires the training certification. Most area counties, including Whiteside, Lee, Ogle and Bureau, require certification by July 1, 2017. When first passed, much of the burden for overseeing the transition was put on the municipalities, but now it is back on the businesses. This is for bars, restaurants, gambling parlors, hotels, liquor stores, convenience stores, and it’s not just for the owner. It’s the responsibility of the establishment with the license to keep track of their training. Comment on this story at www. bcrnews.com.
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