COVID infections are on the rise, but how concerned should we be? Is it just a blip on the radar screen or a sign of things to come? We talk to local doctors, including former White House COVID Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, about the present and future of COVID-19. This segment aired on August 16, 2023.
Parents are being warned to be on the lookout for fever and rash symptoms in young children as strep a infections sweep across Queensland. Key points: Doctors have warned of a “significant” increase in invasive strep A cases in Queensland New strain of group A streptococcal from the UK is believed to be a contributing factor to the rise in cases Common conditions like scarlet fever and impetigo caused by strep A can develop into the more serious invasive illness Townsville University Hospital clinical physician Nishila Moodley said group A streptococcus was a common bacteria that causes a range of conditions, such as scarlet fever and impetigo, also known as school sores. “Scarlet fever is where you have a group A strep throat, but it causes another reaction, there’s a toxin released and it causes … patches on the skin,” Dr Moodley said. “They describe it as being like sandpaper, and it may peel like a sunburn.” But group A strep can develop into a more serious illness — invasive group A streptococcus infection — which can require hospitalisation and become life-threatening. “When group A strep becomes worse, it starts to develop a toxin and it makes your body produce a reaction to itself – it basically attacks its own body,” Dr Moodley said. “That’s when you can develop long-term complications, including things like rheumatic heart disease, and post-strep glomerulonephritis, which is an infection of your kidneys.” Data from Queensland Health shows more than 350 invasive strep A cases have been recorded across the state in the year to date. The figure is up almost 150 cases on the same time last year. “It’s almost twice as high as the five-year average,” Dr Moodley said. Strep A cases are on the rise in Queensland this year.(Supplied: Telethon Kids Institute) Those most at risk are people over 65 or under five, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Indicators of invasive infections can include fever, a fast heart rate, cold hands and feet or a mottled look to the skin, and difficulty waking. Symptoms to look out for in young children that may indicate severe illness include difficulty breathing, high-pitched crying, and refusal to eat or feed. “Often with kids, they stop eating, and they stopp behaving like they normally would — that’s when you’d be concerned and take them off to a GP to be examined,” Dr Moodley said. New strain, national database A new strain of the strep A bacteria that originated in the UK was detected in Australia earlier this year. Professor Michael Good from Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics said the M1UK strain was likely partly responsible for the uptick in cases. “That organism produces what are called more virulence factors or toxins than the normal streps do,” he said. “What we’re seeing globally, and in Australia, is new strains of streptococcus and particularly M1UK.” Professor Good said an immunity deficit built up during the pandemic was thought to be another contributing factor to the increase in cases. “We’ve seen more cases of viral diseases now that people have come out of lockdowns and restrictions,” he said. “The population as a whole seems to be more prone to viruses.” Professor Michael Good says research is underway to develop a vaccine against the disease.(Supplied: Griffith University ) The Doherty Institute of Melbourne is working toward a national framework to collate the number of invasive cases, the documenting of which only began in Australia in 2021. “We’re setting up a national genomic framework to actually investigate [the various strains of streptococcal disease] nationally,” the institute’s Mark Davies said. “If we can understand what strains are causing which proportion of infections, then we can start setting up these surveillance systems to understand and define earlier where it’s coming from,” Dr Davies said. Vaccine trial underway Dr Moodley said early detection and prevention were the best methods to combat the illness as there was currently no vaccine available. “We try and catch the scarlet fevers and the strep throats quite early if we can, so we can treat them and prevent those long-term complications,” she said. “If you’ve been exposed, wash your hands. If you have a sick child, keep your child at home so that you protect others in the community.” Professor Good said the first phase of a vaccine trial was underway, in a collaboration between researchers in Queensland and overseas. “It’s hard to know how long that strain will persist for … as strains do come and go [and] people … eventually develop some sort of immunity to different strains, and that will suppress them,” he said. “The trial is looking very promising — we’re hopeful that if all goes well, we could have a vaccine by 2030.” Find more local news Browse for your location and find more local ABC News and information
The American Red Cross has seen a shortfall of about 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of the summer, which makes it hard to keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood products. Local residents will have an opportunity to donate Thursday, Aug. 24, from 12-6 p.m. at the Bott Community Center, 705 LaFayette, Warsaw. By making an appointment to give blood or platelets in August, donors can keep the national blood supply from falling to shortage levels. Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Menstrual products have been in use for a long, long time; reports point to 20 patents drawn out for them between 1854 and 1915. Interestingly, though, their much-advertised absorption capabilities weren’t based on actual tests involving human blood. The first study to use human blood to test the efficacy of period products was just published this month in the British Medical Journal’s Sexual and Reproductive Health. “No study exists comparing the capacity of currently available menstrual hygiene products using blood. Utilizing actual menstrual blood to test the collection capacity of menstrual hygiene products would be challenging, but blood products are a closer approximation than water or saline,” the authors noted. Until now, traditional substitutes for menstrual blood in research were saline water or, well, just water, The Guardian reported. Unfortunately, they weren’t too helpful in determining the products’ absorption capacities because neither is nearly as viscous as menstrual blood, which includes not just blood cells, but also secretions and tissue from the shedded endometrial lining. To address the gaps thus created in our understanding of how well menstrual products absorb actual blood, the present research involved two trials: the first one used O+ blood that expired 33 days prior, and the second one re-used the same unit of blood that had, by then, expired 58 days ago. The result: menstrual discs may be better-equipped to handle heavy flow, compared to pads, tampons, and period underwear. Hailing the new study for providing “practical, clinically relevant information to help patients match a product with their own menstrual protection needs, and better plan for the expense,” Dr. Paul Blumenthal, an Emeritus professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University, wrote in an editorial, “[H]aving data-driven estimates of menstrual product capacity was all the more important when you consider that menstruators carry the financial burden of accessing and purchasing menstrual products, pain control modalities, laundry and other menstrual hygiene items… Saline absorption is a surrogate for menstrual blood, but it is not a clinically meaningful endpoint that measures how a patient feels or functions with the tampon.” Related on The Swaddle: Is Delaying, Suppressing Periods Worth the Risk? Until 2017, sanitary napkin brands across the world shied away from even depicting menstrual blood as red — despite advertising the products’ blood-absorption capacity — in their ads. Meanwhile, India had to wait until 2020 for its first ad that didn’t pretend people bled blue on their periods. “A woman’s uterus isn’t a test tube, we aren’t bleeding blue. It is so important to normalize blood,” Afshan Shaikh, the director of the Indian ad, had told The Times of India. It shows how research on menstrual products has lagged behind public usage requirements considerably, and for too long. Just last year, a new report revealed how a number of India’s most popular sanitary pads contain toxic chemicals that can induce severe health issues in consumers — an alarming discovery since the vagina, being a mucous membrane, is highly permeable, and can absorb the toxins at a much higher rate than, say, merely the skin. Yet, despite the sanitary napkin market in India being valued at around US$618.4 million in 2021, this pertinent information eluded us. However, given that periods are largely considered a “women’s problem,” and medical science has a tendency to routinely ignore women’s health, it’s hardly surprising that any helpful research on period products is hard to come by. During the pademic, too, it had taken thousands of women to experience disruptions in their periods, and experts questioning data gaps and advocating for deeper investigations, before scientists studied the impact of the Covid19 vaccines — and the infection itself — on people’s menstrual health. Hopefully, however, research will continue in its present stride, affording people the information they need to make the right choice for themselves. “If you go to the store and you want to buy some salsa or hot sauce, there are standardized approaches to measuring the hotness of those products,” Blumenthal noted, explaining that, similarly, “menstruators might make different decisions if they were forewarned or forearmed with respect to the capacity of a given [period] product.”
Share on PinterestMaking up for insufficient weeknight sleep during the weekend may not lessen its cardiovascular impact. Image credit: Maria Korneeva/Getty Images. A new study found that when sleep is restricted to 5 hours per night, heart rate and blood pressure worsen over the course of the week in young men. Researchers found that attempting to get extra sleep over the 2 nights of the weekend may be insufficient to dial back the hits to an individual’s cardiovascular health. Researchers measured participants’ heart rate and blood pressure multiple times throughout the day. The participants’ heart rates and systolic blood pressure changed with each day of too little sleep and did not return to baseline by the end of the recovery period. A third of adults in the United States report getting less than the recommended amount of sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A new study led by researchers at Penn State suggests that when sleep is restricted during the work week, it may impact an individual’s heart rate and systolic blood pressure. Additionally, the research suggests attempts to catch up on sleep over the weekend may not be enough to bring back cardiovascular health back to baseline. The research was published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. An interest in the effects of sleep on cardiovascular health drove David Reichenberger, a graduate student in biobehavioral health at Penn State, to design this study. For the research, he used data sourced by Dr. Anne-Marie Chang, associate professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State, who had conducted an 11-day inpatient sleep study a few years ago. For the study, participants went from sleeping up to 10 hours a night to being restricted to 5 hours a night over 5 nights. “I just really wanted to see what are the effects during this potential work week on someone’s blood pressure and heart rate,” Reichenberger explained to Medical News Today. Researchers recruited 15 healthy men between the ages of 20 and 35 who lived in Pennsylvania. They excluded participants who had medical or mental health diagnoses, took medicine or drugs, had a recent history of shift work, or had traveled across more than two time zones within the previous three months. Participants were also excluded if during a screening, they showed risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Prior to the study, participants met with a psychologist who determined whether they were likely to be able to tolerate 11 days of inpatient study. For a week before patients came to the Clinical Research Center at Penn State to complete the study they were asked to be in bed from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. and asked to keep a log of sleep and wake times. At the research center, participants stayed in private rooms that were sound-dampened with no windows. During scheduled wake periods, participants were not allowed to sit on lay on the bed or to exercise. Researchers exposed participants to low lighting during wake periods and darkness during sleep opportunities. A dietician designed a menu of weighed foods, which were limited in sodium, that provided three meals a day. On the first three nights of the study, participants could sleep between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. On the fourth night, participants could sleep between 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. This continued for 5 consecutive nights. “And so this is really simulating an adult’s work week,” Reichenberger told MNT. “They may be self-restricting their sleep, just to go to bed later or get up earlier for work.” On the final two nights, participants again could sleep between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Approximately every 2 hours during the day, researchers measured the participants’ resting heart rates and blood pressure. Researchers found that the participants’ heart rate increased by nearly one beat per minute (BPM) with each day of the study. The average baseline heart rate of participants was 69 BPM. Following the participants’ second night of recovery sleep, the average heart rate of participants was still 78 BPM. Additionally, researchers found participants’ systolic blood pressure increased by about 0.5 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) per day. The average baseline SBP was 116 mmHg. Following the participants’ second day of recovery sleep, the average SBP was 119.5 mmHg. Researchers measured no significant impact of sleep on the participants’ diastolic blood pressure. “We weren’t surprised to find out that sleep restrictions [have] an effect on cardiac outcomes: blood pressure, heart rate,” Dr. Chang, a co-author of the study, told MNT. “But what surprised me perhaps was that when you allow for recovery sleep […] that the results showed those impairments or increases on the blood pressure and heart rate didn’t return really to baseline level.” – Dr. Anne-Marie Chang The researchers believe their study is unique because they measured participants’ heart rate and blood pressure multiple times throughout the day for the duration of the study. Other studies, Reichenberger told MNT, might take the measurements at a certain time each day or use equipment that takes the measures continuously. “With more measurements, we have more of an ability to detect whether there’s an effect of the restricted sleep on blood pressure,” he said. “We can account for the timing of measurements more easily that way. So looking at, let’s say, 8 measurements versus 1 measurement during a day, you can get an indication of how blood pressure and heart rate may change across the day and you can account for that in your statistical analyses,” Reichenberger added. The researchers noted in their paper that other studies, including one published in PLOS ONE in 2009, measured SBP one time each day and found no increase in SBP during sleep restriction. Dr. Hani Aiash, a cardiologist and assistant dean of interprofessional research in the College of Health Professions at Upstate Medical University, not involved in this research, pointed out several limitations of the study to MNT. A key shortcoming of the research, he said, is that the study did not have a control group.
LaRue to receive Ohio EPA funding for water treatment plant improvements COLUMBUS — Ohio EPA recently finalized the 2024 Drinking Water Assistance Fund (DWAF) program management plan, which includes more than $1.4 billion in funding requests. This funding will be used for a record number of infrastructure projects around the state. Among the communities to receive funding is LaRue, which was awarded $119,200 for design work and $1,640,000 for water treatment plant improvements. The DWAF provides financial and technical assistance for a variety of projects that help improve or protect the quality of Ohio’s drinking water. The 2024 DWAF program year runs from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. Loan funds are available to all applicants that meet program requirements. FOP begins annual phone solicitation The Marion Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) began its phone solicitation Monday. This will run until Sept.1. The company that conducts the solicitation for the FOP is OTMC. If you have any concerns of the legitimacy of the phone call that you receive, you can always drop off a donation to the Marion City Police Department or the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Red Cross says donation shortfall may impact blood supply The American Red Cross has seen a shortfall of about 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of the summer, which makes it hard to keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood products. By making an appointment to give blood or platelets in August, donors can keep the national blood supply from falling to shortage levels. Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive, type B negative and type A negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors. For those who don’t know their blood type, making a donation is an easy way to find out this important personal health information. The Red Cross will notify new donors of their blood type soon after they give. There are five blood drives currently scheduled in Marion County through August, including three at the Alber Red Cross Center and blood drives in LaRue on Saturday and in Prospect on Aug. 28. Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). All who come to give throughout the month of August will get a $10 e-gift card to a movie merchant of their choice. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Movie. Upcoming meeting: ● Marion County Park Board, noon, Thursday, Prospect Room, Marion County Building, 222 W. Center St., Marion
How is your heart health? The cardiovascular system endures a ton of stress from our environment and experience, resulting in elevated stress levels in the modern world. Cardio FLEX Reviews So, it’s unsurprising that more than 122 million Americans live with high blood pressure. According to a 2023 report from the American Heart Association, almost half of all American adults live with this disorder. Moreover, most Americans admit they don’t know the normal range for healthy blood pressure. ADVERTISEMENT Also known as “hypertension,” most people know this condition by its other moniker, “the silent killer.” That’s because we don’t notice an increase in blood pressure until it reaches dangerous levels. High blood pressure can have a dramatic adverse impact on your cardiovascular health. You’re predisposed to heart attacks and strokes that could kill you or leave you physically and mentally impaired for the rest of your life. PLR-15 – The Stress Hormone that Destroys Heart Health Recent scientific research should cause alarm for anyone interested in improving their heart health. A 2022 study by Mayo Clinic involved 450,000 male and female participants aged 35 to 85 years old. The study was the first of its kind, including people from all walks of life. Most participants were coping with the effects of hypertension (high blood pressure) in their life. The scale of the problem ranged from people with mild effects to those with dangerously high blood pressure levels, using medications to manage their condition. The research shocked the medical community. According to the study, the difference between participants with high blood pressure and those in the normal range was an increase in the presence of the “PLR-15” stress hormone. Those with hypertension issues had more of this hormone circulating in their bloodstream. The study shows PLR-15 is 400% more present and active in people dealing with hypertension than those with healthy blood pressure levels. PLR-15 is one of six stress hormones affecting the body. Cortisol and adrenaline are examples of other stress hormones that initiate the “fight-or-flight” response. Stress hormones like PLR-15 and cortisol increase blood pressure to help you escape a dangerous situation. However, in today’s society, these hormones experience increases in production when we deal with a stressful environment. As a result, we end up with anxiety disorders and sub-optimal heart health. The PLR-15 stress hormone is becoming more prevalent in younger generations. Being plugged into toxic social media wars, pressure at work, and hectic home life all contribute to the overproduction of stress hormones and the onset of anxiety disorders. The sympathetic nervous system that controls the fight-or-flight response can’t tell the difference between the stress of losing your job or arguing about a parking spot at the mall. As a result, levels of the PLR-15 hormone increase, adversely affecting your cardiovascular health. As a result, the arteries firm and harden with plaque, causing scarring on the inside. This decrease in cardiovascular health makes you more at risk of enduring a heart attack or stroke as you age. Introducing CardioFLEX – The 10-Second Ritual to Better Cardiovascular Health What if there was a way to improve heart health naturally without relying on medications? To keep yourself out of the doctor’s office, supplement withCardioFLEX. As mentioned, the PLR-15 hormone has a devastating effect on the cardiovascular system. However, the overabundance of PLR-15 in the blood also affects other vital organs. For instance, PLR clogs up the kidneys, leading to sub-optimal filtration and more toxins circulating in the bloodstream that cause disease. PLR-15 can also affect the eyes, leading to premature macular degeneration. That means you must visit the optometrist more frequently to change your prescription. The relationship between PLR-15 and poor cardiovascular health is well documented. Higher PLR-15 levels mean you’re at risk of developing hypertension and a hardening of your arteries. If you feel high blood pressure and hypertension symptoms, you’ll visit your doctor for a diagnosis. The physician takes your blood pressure and asks questions about your health and lifestyle. They’ll prescribe blood pressure medicine to help you manage your condition. However, the issue with this approach is that it doesn’t stop the cause of the problem – too many PLR-15 hormones circulating in your bloodstream. You experience temporary relief, and your blood pressure settles into the normal range. However, as soon as you stop taking the medication, the problem returns. That’s because the drugs don’t do anything to reduce the presence of PLR-15 in the bloodstream. What if there was a natural way to reduce levels of PLR-15 without visiting your doctor for a prescription? CardioFLEX offers you the solution you need to better cardiovascular health. Try CardioFLEX today and see the difference! What are the All-Natural Ingredients Found in CardioFLEX? This science-backed supplement features formulation with nine clinically proven ingredients designed to lower PLR-15 production. Combining heart-healthy ingredients reduces the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes, optimizing circulation through the cardiovascular system. Unlike medications that can leave you feeling terrible, CardioFLEX is a natural formulation that gives your body the raw materials needed to stop hypertension and safeguard your cardiovascular system. Here is a breakdown of the ingredients profile in CardioFLEX and the benefits they offer your cardiovascular system. Papaya Fruit Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Reduces heart disease risk. Regulates blood glucose levels. Psyllium Powder Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Improves digestion and blood flow. Reduces the risk of developing heart disease. CardioFLEX Is On Sale Now For A Limited Time! Acai Berry Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Regulates blood glucose and insulin sensitivity. Enhances immune function. Slippery Elm Bark Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Improves biome health and optimizes digestion. Rejuvenates nails and skin. Inulin Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Prebiotic fiber for optimal biome health. Improves weight loss results. Chlorella Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Promotes growth of hair and nails. Lowers LDL cholesterol and overall lipids in the blood. Hyssop Leaf Lowers levels of the PLR-15 hormone. Improves circulation. 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The American Heart Association recently recognized 2,671 health care organizations in the U.S., including 18 in Mississippi, for improving health outcomes for cardiovascular patients through evidence-based efficient and coordinated care. #placement_606011_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;} Newsletters
August 16 marks 46 years since Elvis Presley died. His legacy lives on — not just for fans, but for those who got to know the man behind the music. More than 60 years after befriending the iconic southern crooner while enlisted in the U.S. Army, author Johnny Lang put pen to paper and documented a few of the fond memories he had with Presley in his novel, “My Army Days with Elvis: Friendship, Football, & Follies.” Lang exclusively told Fox News Digital he was motivated to write the novel after watching Austin Butler’s “outstanding” performance in the award-winning film, “Elvis.” Walking out of the theater with his children and grandchildren, Lang’s son asked, “What do you think, Dad? Do you think you’re ready to write a book?” ELVIS PRESLEY’S 1968 ‘BORDELLO’ SCENE ORIGINALLY CUT FOR BEING TOO RISQUE: DIRECTOR “After seeing this, man, it inspired me,” Lang responded. His wild memories with Elvis lasted a lifetime. From spending hours in training to countless weekends together playing football and nearly becoming blood brothers, Lang cherished the close bond he formed with the “Jailhouse Rock” singer. Author Johnny Lang detailed Elvis Presley’s humor and larger-than-life persona in a book about their time together in the Army. (Getty Images) Elvis was drafted into the Army in 1958 while Lang volunteered for the service, which was typical at the time. The only difference was that Presley already had thousands of fans across the country as the “Heartbreak Hotel” artist with a Las Vegas residency under his belt. Lang had seen Elvis on the firing range in Fort Hood, Texas, but his first opportunity to speak with the musician was on a train headed to New Jersey before they were due to hop on the USS Randolph to Germany. WATCH: Author Johnny Lang remembers special moment with Elvis Presley Charlie Hodge, Presley’s long-time best friend, introduced Lang to the singer while en route. ELVIS PRESLEY’S FINAL MONTHS WERE PLAGUED WITH PHYSICAL PAIN AS HE EMBARKED ON GRUELING TOUR, AUTHOR CLAIMS “I never met a celebrity in my whole life,” Lang recalled. “There’s Elvis, sitting down there like that, and I walk up to him, standing up and my heart’s going like this. And I just stare at him. Elvis Presley was drafted into the United States Army in 1958. (Getty Images) Presley stands with a group of young men at an induction center raising their right hands as they are sworn into the United States Army by an officer standing next to an American flag. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images) “And he’s looking at me. Finally, he says, ‘Sit down, chief.’ So I sit down, and I’m so nervous. I said, ‘Hey, will you autograph my grandmother’s picture? My sister’s picture? My mother’s picture?’ He says, ‘No problem.’ Anyway, I was there for about 15 minutes and in awe, in awe. And the last thing he says to me, ‘I’ll see you on the boat, Johnny. Maybe we can spend some time together.’ I say, ‘I’ll be looking for you.’” Presley was allowed to live off base while stationed in Germany, and Lang was a regular visitor. WATCH: Elvis Presley was a jokester at heart “I spent all my weekends at his house.” Lang said. “I’d get up about noon, and then at about one o’clock, I’d be at the house, and there would be about three or four hundred people there because they all want an autograph,” Lang said. “I just knock on the door. … I spent almost a year and a half with him every weekend. “We’d play football with three or four hundred people watching us play ball.” Presley served for two years and was discharged in 1960. (Michael Ochs Archive) Elvis Presley had already found fame when he was drafted into the Army in 1958. (Vittoriano Rastelli) One of Lang’s favorite stories with his friend was from a time Elvis had a head cold, and the pair shared a quiet, yet poignant moment together. “We were combat training in a place called Grafenwöhr,” Lang recalled. Presley had a “tank outfit” while Lang was in a “scout outfit,” but they somehow reconnected. “I find the barracks. Elvis is all by himself. So, I walk in and say, ‘Hey, babe, what’s going on?’ He says, ‘I don’t feel good. All the guys are at training. They left me here behind.’ So, he’s laying on an army bed, and I’m sitting there, just him and me. Biggest guy in the world. But we’re talking,” Lang remembered. ANN-MARGRET DESCRIBES HER ELVIS PRESLEY CONNECTION, REMEMBERS NIBBLING ON PAT BOONE’S SHOULDER “I sat on the edge of the bed, and I said, ‘Hey El, will you tell me something?’ I said, ‘Why are you, with all the fame you have and all the money you have, why are you and I friends?’ He said, ‘I’m going to tell you something Johnny Lang. You’d still like me if I was a janitor, and thank God I’m not.’ And I say, ‘You’ve got that right.’ I got up, and in my mind, I’m thinking, ‘Unbelievable, just him and I, the whole world would love to see it.’” Presley performed on the “The Ed Sullivan Show” Jan. 6, 1957, in New York City. (Michael Ochs Archives) Along with fellow recruits, Elvis (left) waits for a physical examination upon entering the U.S. Army at the Fort Chaffee training installation at Fort Smith, Ark., March 25, 1958. (Don Cravens) Lang remembered helping Presley fix his blanket because he wasn’t feeling his best and said, “You take care. I know you’re not feeling good. I won’t keep you up, but God bless you. I’ll see you when that opportunity arrives again.” “He said, ‘No problem, Johnny. Thanks for coming by.’ And that’s my favorite story of all. I mean. Entertainer of the century!” Elvis kept Johnny on his toes, too. WATCH: Elvis Presley had ‘the greatest laugh’ and a huge heart “You never know what he’s going to do,” Lang said. “He
Red Cross says donation shortfall may impact blood supply The American Red Cross has seen a shortfall of about 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of the summer, which makes it hard to keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood products. By making an appointment to give blood or platelets in August, donors can keep the national blood supply from falling to shortage levels. Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive, type B negative and type A negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors. For those who don’t know their blood type, making a donation is an easy way to find out this important personal health information. The Red Cross will notify new donors of their blood type soon after they give. There are eight blood drives scheduled in Richland County from now until the end of the month, including drives at the Richland Mall Wednesday and Friday and again on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30. Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). All who come to give throughout the month of August will get a $10 e-gift card to a movie merchant of their choice. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Movie. Portion of Vennum Avenue closed Vennum Avenue from Ohio Street to Albert Avenue in Mansfield is closed for water main repairs. It’s expected to reopen by Friday. Traffic is advised to plan an alternate route to avoid possible delays. Book signing at Oak Hill Cottage The Richland County Historical Society welcomes author Christopher Kuntz for a presentation and book signing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at Oak Hill Cottage, 346 Oak Hill Place, Mansfield. Kuntz is the author of the book “Scott Brown: Cartoonist” about his grandfather and acclaimed national cartoonist who lived in Mansfield. Garden Club to celebrate its 95th anniversary Mansfield Garden Club will celebrate its 95th anniversary at 4 p.m. Friday at the Carriage House at the Kingwood Center Gardens. The Mansfield Garden Club is the oldest garden club in Mansfield and one of the oldest in the state. The group accomplished a lot over the years including landscaping the grounds around the newly built Mansfield General Hospital. They also created the Mansfield Park Association. The current group maintains the flower garden surrounding the downtown gazebo and decorates a tree in the gazebo and a room in the Kingwood Center mansion at Christmas. They recently had an aluminum sculpture erected in the garden by the Carriage House at Kingwood to honor the many hours of volunteerism by the garden clubs. Upcoming meetings: ● Shelby City Council Finance & Personnel Committee, 2:30 p.m., Thursday, conference room, 5 Water St., Shelby ● Shelby City Council Utilities & Streets Committee, 3:30 p.m., Thursday, conference room, 5 Water St., Shelby
