PCR-01-13-2016

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Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 148 No. 20

“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

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 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 Febru-

Looking back at 2015

ary, 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 peo-

ple from catching the virus, especially those who are at greater risk of getting seriously 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. Cold symptoms are usually milder and more likely cause a runny or stuffy nose. Colds do not generally result in serious health problems, such as pneu-

monia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations. Exposure to the flu virus Being exposed to the flu virus is sometimes inevitable, which is a reason why many local healthcare providers urge the vaccine. The most common way the virus is spread is through respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes, according to the CDC. Symptoms of the flu virus usually begin about one to four days after a person is exposed. What’s even trickier is most healthy adults can infect other people before their own symptoms develop. They can also infect others up to five to seven days after becoming ill with the virus.

Un-tying the knot in Illinois

PC/Hall wrestlers compete

New divorce laws and their impact on couples, children

The year in the rearview mirror

Editor’s note: This is the third part in a series recapping what happened in the area in 2015. July 1 Ryan Caulfield, a 15-yearold from Magnolia, hopes to help bring soccer to Putnam County schools. Currently, if a student wants to play organized soccer they have to travel outside of the county. He has discussed starting a school soccer team with the Putnam County School Board. July 8 Abby Colvin of Varna was crowned Miss Marshall-Putnam County Fair during the queen pageant July 5 at the fairgrounds in Henry. Dayton Maubach of Henry was crowned Junior Miss and Genavyve Barnes of Henry was named Little Miss. July 15 Community Partners Against Substance Abuse has purchased an incinerator, which will allow the organization to continue its successful P2D2 program, which allows residents to safely dispose of their unused prescription medications. July 22 Standard residents have safe water after more than two months of boil orders and a number of water out-

2015 Page 2 Vol. 148 No. 20 One Section - 16 Pages

By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com

PCR photo/Lyle Ganther

Putnam County/Hall wrestler Nick Bouxsein takes Morrison’s Thomas Dykema to the mat during their 182-pound match on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Bouxsein defeated his opponent by fall at 1:48. The squad lost to Morrison 51-18, but beat Riverdale 39-30 in the triangular meet held at R.M. Germano Gymnasium. See more wrestling pictures and results on Page 7.

PRINCETON — New changes in Illinois divorce laws, which went into effect Jan. 1, are meant to eliminate outdated and inequitable concepts that have historically loomed over many divorce cases in the past. Holly Harris, an attorney with May, May, Angel & Harris Law Office in Princeton who handles many divorce cases, believes the changes will provide greater hope for both parents to be a meaningful participant in their children’s lives. While there used to be a huge trend in giving custody to mothers, Harris said new social trends are showing a greater number of dads taking on more parenting roles. “Having both parents involved in a child’s life can’t hurt,” Harris said. “Fathers in Bureau County have really stepped up and will be benefited by these new laws.” Here are a few of the key changes to the divorce laws that went into effect this year: Eliminating the terms “custody” and “visitation” In the past, the trend in a

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