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Editorial

Week emphasizes being ‘ready before the call’

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed Monday through Sunday as Community Risk Reduction Week in Michigan. The week coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is recognized as a National Day of Service. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is highlighting the week as part of its ongoing efforts to prevent avoidable emergencies and strengthen emergency response across the state. CRR Week emphasizes the most effective emergency response begins long before a 911 call is ever made, LARA states in a news release. “Michigan continues to make meaningful progress ...

Amid cold and flu season, check labels on OTC meds

With flu season apparently in full swing, plus colds and COVID in the mix, Aspirus Health Care recommends some caution when reaching for over-the-counter medications to treat whatever bug might have struck. Aspirus Pharmacy Resident Kenneth Yuk reminds the public to review labels carefully for safe use. “People often grab multiple cold and flu products without realizing they contain the same active ingredients,” Yuk said. “That is how accidental overdosing happens, especially when you are trying to treat several symptoms at once.” Choosing the right product starts with ...

Snowmobile safety always good idea

The amount of snow the region has received this winter has certainly been well received by those who enjoy snow sports, including snowmobile enthusiast who are enjoying some of the best trail conditions in years. The well-groomed trails that crisscross the Upper Peninsula are hosting scores of snowmobilers, which also bodes well for the many local businesses that make a good share of their income over the winter. Along with the good, though, comes the not so good, which is when machine operators have an accident. These can range from a simple mishap to a tragic major crash. In an ...

The Washington Post on national nutrition guidelines

The Trump administration has flipped the national food pyramid as part of its campaign to “Make America Healthy Again,” and once again the new dietary guidelines recommend Americans change their food habits. The main takeaway: don’t get takeaway. Eat more protein and fats. Scale back on breads and pastas. “We are ending the war on saturated fats,” said Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The villains of the new food pyramid are “highly processed foods laden with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives.” The ...

Snow shoveling can impact health

With a lotof snow on the ground, driveway and walkway clearing is taking place every day in Superiorland. And a great deal of it is accomplished by out-of-shape homeowners looking to save a little money by doing it themselves. There might be problems with this picture. According to one medical study, about 100 people die each year from heart attacks related to snow shoveling. An unknown number of people are stricken but survive — perhaps to shovel again. According to the American Heart Association, one of the reasons heart attacks can occur during snow shoveling is the combination of ...

State seeks public input on proposed firewood quarantine

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is inviting Michigan stakeholders to provide comments on a proposed firewood quarantine. The proposed quarantine would restrict the movement of firewood originating outside the state of Michigan to help prevent the introduction and spread of more than 140 plant pests and diseases that can hitch a ride on untreated firewood. These plant pests and diseases include Asian longhorned beetle, oak wilt, beech bark disease and spotted lanternfly, which are pests that pose a serious threat to Michigan’s forests, agriculture and ...