Needles, insulin, and excercise collide

Jokes about being scared of needles and poking fingers quickly made their way into the chatter last Wednesday night in the basement of the Tamarack Clinic.

Mental health clinics held

More than 19 million people in the United State suffer from depression annually. Many factors can lead to depression including unrealistic goals, financial stress, family expectations, and change of schedule or eating habits. According to Neil Nedley, MD, a few lifestyle changes may be all you need to break free of the trap of depression.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: internet dating

In 1727, Helen Morrison, a lonely spinster in Manchester, England, placed the first lonely hearts personal, advertising for a husband in the local weekly newspaper. In response, the town mayor committed her to a lunatic asylum for a month. But in hindsight, Helen Morrison was a pioneer. People from that period would be appalled that the day has come when advertising for a mate is considered a legitimate way of meeting new people. Chat rooms have replaced bar rooms and dating sites.  Personal ads no longer have the “stigma”  they once did.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Compulsive lying

Lying often starts in childhood and may be part of the normal developmental process or lying could be an indicator of a more serious problem.  Why do children lie?  Many  young children (ages 4-5) often lie because of their inability to distinguish fact from fantasy.  An older child or adolescent may  lie to avoid doing something, or deny responsibility for their actions to avoid disapproval and punishment.  Others may lie to prevent hurting people’s feelings or to protect their privacy.  For some children, lying is a common place behavior that they experience all the time. For instance, parents tell white lies, break promises or distort the truth (“I had to lie because--”). 

A lil' backcountry ingenuity

Dr. Michael Righetti’s day job prepares him pretty well for the unexpected medical emergencies he may encounter as a backcountry horseman. The St. Joseph Medical Center orthopedic surgeon knows that a little ingenuity can go a long way when limited resources and wilderness isolation force you to think outside the box to save a life.

Market is a great addittion

Saturday was the closing day of the Thompson Falls Market and attendees enjoyed perfect fall weather, nearly 20 vendors, live music and a cinnamon roll contest that included some of the county’s best bakers (boy, those were some lucky judges!). We are fortunate to have a market that allows folks to come together from around the county to buy locally, display and sell their made/grown in Montana goods, and to just visit with neighbors.

Hospital wins award

The Clark Fork Valley Hospital was the recipient of a 2009-2010 Quality Achievement Award from the Mountain Pacific Quality Health Foundation (MPQHF).

Food for Thought: homework battles

Do you find homework time often becomes a war zone where there is  begging, pleading, bargaining and demanding between you and your child?  Every September these battles happen on a daily basis throughout the country.

Partisan concerns

What’s up with Republicans these days? Take the recent primary race for Senator in Delaware to replace Joe Biden’s seat, for instance. Republican voters were faced with choosing old establishment  “moderate ideals” by casting their vote for candidate Mike Castle or taking a truly bold step by selecting Christine O’Donnell as their choice for a conservative reformer. The standard everyday Republicans are not going to “roll the current destruction” occurring in America today, in the halls of Congress in Washington, D.C., in the State legislative sessions amongst all fifty states, or even in hundreds of local courthouses of county governments.

A lil' backcountry ingenuity

r. Michael Righetti’s day job prepares him pretty well for the unexpected medical emergencies he may encounter as a backcountry horseman. The St. Joseph’s Medical Center orthopedic surgeon knows that a little ingenuity can go a long way when limited resources and wilderness isolation force you to think outside the box to save a life.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Is anger worth the hangover?

Whether your anger is justified or not, anger can be very harmful unless you can appropriately express it and let it go.  Letting go of anger is not an easy task.  Although  anger may give you power and make you feel like it is something important to hold on to, it is no life jacket.  In fact, anger and stress can hurt your physical and mental health.  High levels of hostility are responsible for heart disease and increased blood pressure.  It can lower your immune system and leave you open to an array of diseases and health problems.  It drains energy from your life and doesn’t make you feel well.

Thompson Falls Market holds challenge

The Thompson Falls Market will close the 2010 market season with the much anticipated Cinnamon Roll Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the west lot of the Falls Motel.

Seeds of jealousy planted at young age

Jealousy is a very complex emotion. It is estimated that 20 percent to 35 percent of all murders involve a jealous lover.

Arkansas students lend a hand

The New Day Fellowship church in Haugen that serves the area from St. Regis to the Idaho state line had some welcomed help last week. A group of 18, 13 youth and five sponsors, traveled two days on a bus from Springdale, Arkansas, to provide assistance and encouragement for New Day Fellowship, which was launched back in August under the leadership of Dr. Alan Damron and his wife, Sarah. The group, which came from the New Hope Fellowship church, came to help out with tasks around the church in Haugen as part of their summer mission trip.

Sex offender gets 99 years in prison

Judge cites seriousness of crime, extreme conduct and attempt at concealment for sentence

Convicted sexual offender Robert Fishbaugh, 54, of Thompson

Bicycling down to the border

New pastor embarks on humanitarian mission before starting in Plains

The Plains/Paradise United Methodist Church has a new pastor in town, but you may have missed him. After arriving from the Philadelphia area to settle in the Plains/Paradise community last week, Pastor Thomas Hall hit the road once more, but this time by bicycle.

Retirement program alternatives

On Wednesday, May 19th, I was in Helena for my State Administration and Veterans Affairs (SAVA) Interim Committee meeting. Our day was dedicated to working with Dave Slishinsky and Doug Fiddler, Consulting Actuaries from Buck Consultants.

Diabetic walk and run

New committee seeks to bring awareness to diabetes and provide support for those living with the condition

Museum looking to go to 150th Anniversary Mullan Road Conference

During this time 150 years ago, U.S. Army Lieut. John Mullan was finishing the first road ever to cross the Rocky Mountains to the inland of the Pacific Northwest. Mullan started the road in the spring of 1859 and finished it during the summer of 1860. The road travels from Fort Walla Walla, Washington to Fort Benton, Montana, which at the time was then Nebraska territory.

Community Calendar, March 10

Horsemen Gathering