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Bandera County Courier is published weekly by Gail S. Joiner, 1210 Hackberry St., Bandera, TX 78003. Subscription price $26 per year in Bandera County, TX; $36 per year for other Texas counties; $40 per year out of Texas. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Bandera County Courier, P.O. Box 1704, Bandera, TX 78003. Periodicals Postage pending in Bandera, Texas.

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Articles in the Health section of the on-line Courier:

Peterson Regional Medical Center ushers in new era in healthcare	Published March 27, 2008
DSHS concludes investigation of Bastrop-area illnesses	Published March 27, 2008
Good Samaritans descend on Nagel Clinic	Published March 20, 2008
New chief of staff at Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital announced	Published March 13, 2008
Payne takes reins of Arthur Nagel Community Clinic	Published Feb. 28, 2008
Last mobile clinic for HC Mission for Health	Published Feb. 21, 2008
San Antonio bakery products recalled	Published Feb. 16, 2008
Flower Garden Fish advisories issued	Published Feb. 7, 2008
Flu vaccine, personal precautions offer protection	Published Feb. 7, 2008
State to begin wintertime rabies bait drop program Jan. 6	Published Jan. 3, 2008
Sid Peterson board announces new members, elects officers for 2008	Published Dec. 27, 2007
DSHS encourages HIV testing	Published Dec. 6, 2007
Area flu shot clinics set	Published Nov. 22, 2007
Schreiner's Crate lecture on bismuth	Published Oct. 25, 2007
Flu shots available	Published Sept. 27, 2007
Taking precautions against blood-suckers	Published July 19, 2007
Sid Pete names new development director	Published July 12, 2007
DSHS issues flood-related precautions	Published July 5, 2007
National Women's Health Week set May 13-19	Published April 12, 2007
Nearby naturopath touts cryogenic therapy	Published March 29, 2007
Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital Joins Texas Wellness Initiative	Published Feb. 15, 2007
Orthopaedic Surgeon Elected Chief of Staff at Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital	Published Feb. 15, 2007
Help walk away multiple sclerosis	Published Feb. 15, 2007
Nursing facility class set Feb. 28	Published Feb. 8, 2007
Health articles from 2006	Health articles from 2005

DSHS concludes investigation of Bastrop-area illnesses Published March 27, 2008    March 21 -- The Texas Department of State Health Services has finished its investigation of six gastrointestinal illnesses that occurred in the Bastrop area the first week of March and reports finding no common source of infection, no additional matching illnesses and no evidence of a continuing health threat.     DSHS laboratory tests of samples from the six cases did not detect a toxin, virus or bacterium that could have caused the illnesses.     On March 7, after being notified of the six illnesses, DSHS issued a health alert advising anyone in the area with severe diarrhea to seek medical attention.     Initial testing by a private laboratory had indicated shiga toxin as the cause of the illnesses. But subsequent tests by the commercial lab and by the DSHS laboratory in Austin were negative for the toxin, which can be produced by several types of bacteria.     Samples have been sent to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laboratory to see if more advanced testing can identify an organism. DSHS testing can detect live organisms. The CDC test can detect remnants of a dead organism.     Results of the CDC tests are not expected for several weeks.

Good Samaritans descend on Nagel Clinic by David Arny BCC Staff Writer Published March 20, 2008 Horizon Bay execs applied a little old-fashioned elbow grease to shovels and rakes while landscaping the clinic grounds. Staff Photo by David Arny Jill Elliot of Richardson, a “top-drawer” administrative dietician for the nationwide firm, assembled furniture for the clinic. After planting lots of pretty foliage around the soon-to-open clinic, Horizon Bay’s Senior Veep of Operations Tiffany Cobern doused the new flora well. Nagel Clinic President of the Board of Directors Dan Wise greeted Steve Benjamin, president and COO of Horizon Bay Senior Communities. Looking as if he were having almost too much fun, digital wizard Matt Gruber, director of Internet Technology, happily fiddled with the Nagel Clinic’s computers.    The nascent Arthur Nagel Community Clinic was the scene of a remarkable event Thursday, March 13, when a merry band of strangers appeared to bestow their kindness upon the citizens of Bandera.     Approximately 30 mid- and upper-level managers with Horizon Bay Senior Communities of Tampa, Fla. were holding their annual three-day leadership retreat at the Flying L Ranch. Vice President for Organizational Development Mike Ulm contacted Jean Tumlinson, director of sales for the Flying L, to ask about local non-profits that might be interested in his group volunteering some of their time while in Bandera. Tumlinson referred Ulm to Patricia Moore, director of the Bandera Visitor’s Bureau, and, in turn, Moore put Ulm in contact with Jesse Parks, executive director of the Helping Hand.     Pipe Creek’s Kevin Johnson owns the local company contracted to design and provide landscaping at the clinic. Parks called Johnson and told him a group of volunteers wanted to help out, even offering to buy the plants and garden mulch for the project. Johnson gratefully accepted the offer. He laid out the borders for the xeriscaped garden area, “busted up” the hardpan caliche and pulled a trailer full of tools, equipment, plants and mulch to the site.     The Horizon Bay group showed up a short time later, ready to go.     The crew arrived via bus from the Flying L, disembarked, and split into two smaller parties. One group armed themselves with shovels and garden rakes, donning work gloves and applying sunscreen. The other headed into the clinic carrying more gear and equipment.     The scene almost resembled a well-coordinated military operation – except for the smiles and laughter of the “soldiers.”     Ulm later described the operation as a “team building exercise.”     “We also want to create a small business culture in a large corporation,” he said. “Each one of our senior care facilities is like a small business and we’d like to promote that concept among the staff at our centers.”     The previous night, the Horizon Bay managers invited local businessmen Brick Gibson, Scott Asher and Alex Donaldson to a seminar at their Flying L quarters to learn how those successful entrepreneurs foster the concept of teamwork and maintain good employee relations in their companies’ workplaces.     While watering some freshly planted sage outside the health clinic, Senior Vice President for Operations Tiffany Cobern elaborated. “Whether it’s a large, multi-layered corporation or a small company, commitment and passion about what you’re doing is necessary,” she said. “We’re usually focused on logistics. This is a way for us to recommit to the culture of giving.”     Smiling co-worker Sarah Curtis added, “There’s nothing our people would rather be doing than helping out here today.”     In addition to the dirt-under-the-fingernails crew outside, several “inside jobs” were completed as well.     Jill Elliot, Horizon Bay Food Services Supervisor, assembled furniture in the reception area while Director of Internet Technology Matt Gruber set up the clinic’s computer network. Vice President of Health Services, Wilhelmenia Long, RN, found an appropriate location for the clinic’s new defibrillator – also provided by Horizon Bay.     Company president and Chief Operations Officer for Horizon Bay Steve Benjamin arrived shortly after noon. Summing up the operation, he said, “This really is a win-win-win situation. The clinic backers win, the folks that will be served by the clinic win and, of course, our people win by helping out.”     “You just can’t measure the value to our team by them being here,” Benjamin added.

New chief of staff at Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital announced Published March 13, 2008    Eugene N. “Clay” Clayton MD, has been elected chief of staff at Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital, replacing outgoing chief of staff D. Clint Morris MD, an orthopedic surgeon, who assumed the position in January 2007.     “With the new medical center opening in the spring, this year promises to be one filled with opportunity and growth for healthcare in the Hill Country,” said Clayton, whose pain management clinic is located at the Peterson Ambulatory Care Center in Kerrville. “It’s an honor to be elected chief of staff by my peers during such an exciting time.”     To become chief of staff, a physician is nominated by the hospital’s medical staff and approved by its board of directors.     Responsibilities include assuming the leadership role for the medical staff to ensure quality medical care throughout the hospital.      The chief of staff also takes the lead on credentialing new physicians, reviewing care processes and advising the hospital on how best to improve clinical programs and services. As a voluntary position, the chief of staff must juggle the demands of medical practice and also the new position.     According to SPMH Chief Economic Officer Pat Murray, physicians chosen as chief of staff all possess proven leadership qualities and a willingness to sacrifice something they have very little of - time.     “We are fortunate to have extremely talented and caring physicians on our medical staff who willingly volunteer for this important leadership role," Murray said. "I greatly appreciate the commitment of Dr. Clayton and our past chiefs of staff physicians who have offered their time, effort and expertise. Our hospital and the communities we serve benefit from their service.”     Clayton earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He completed his medical education with residencies in anesthesiology at Austin’s Brackenridge Hospital and in pain management at Emory University in Atlanta. He is board-certified in anesthesiology. Clayton has been on the SPMH medical staff since 1993. He and his wife Monica are the parents of five children.     For more information on the SPMH medical staff, call 830-258-7717. For more information on programs and services available through SPMH, call 830-258-7624 or visit at www.spmh.com.

Payne takes reins of Arthur Nagel Community Clinic Special to the Courier Published Feb. 28, 2008 Cindy Payne    Cynthia Cox Payne was unanimously elected as incoming president of the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic Board of Directors during a recent board meeting. The clinic is associated with Bandera’s Helping Hand, 1116 12th Street. She took over the reins on Feb. 1, following the resignation of former president, Dan Wise, who has been hired as the clinic’s executive director.     “This is a much-needed facility in Bandera County and I am honored and excited about doing my part to help those who otherwise would not be afforded medical care,” Payne said, regarding her election. In addition to providing pro bono legal counsel for the formation of the Arthur Nagel Clinic as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Payne also reviewed all architectural and construction contracts. She has also performed pro bono work for the BISD Educational Foundation and the Grace Lutheran Church, her home church after she and her husband, John, moved to Bandera from Houston.     The couple practiced law in Houston before purchasing a ranch north of Bandera in 2002. They opened the Payne Law Firm in Bandera, but continue to work with clients in Kerr, Medina, Kendall, and Harris counties.     Although the Paynes enjoy their law practice, their first love is horses. Both are active with the Cowboy Capital Rodeo Association and the Ranchers and Landowners Association of Texas of which Cindy Payne heads the legislative committee. Other new board members include Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dean Schmelling, vice president; Ann Gartrell, secretary; and Bob Jamison, treasurer, as well as Ginny Brient; Alan Fremland, MD; Saleh Jaafar, MD; Clarence Jernigan, MD; Jana McDermott, RNC, MSN, NP; Joe McMullan; and Sherlie Vangsnes, RN. Wise will also remain on the board.     Joining Wise on the clinic staff are Jaafar as medical director, McDermott as nurse practitioner and Office Manager Kitty Page.     As medical director, Jaafar will monitor and oversee all healthcare services at the clinic. He has practiced medicine in Bandera County for the past nine years and serves as an admitting physician to the Methodist Hospital System in San Antonio.     McDermott has worked with free and low-cost health clinics serving uninsured patients for 14 years, principally in Fayette and Lee counties in East Texas, as a program director. She earned her Master of Science degree from the School of Nursing at the University of Texas School of Medical Science at Galveston. Most recently, McDermott served as consultant to the Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital in Kerrville, providing clinical support for hospital physicians.     Construction of the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic will be completed in February. A March opening is scheduled with a date to be announced. The clinic was built by Helping Hand to provide free and low-cost healthcare services to the estimated 2,000 Bandera County families with limited access to medical care due to low income and lack of health insurance. To be eligible for clinic services, a patient must be a resident of Bandera County and have an income below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Services cannot be provided to patients who have any form of medical insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIPS.     The clinic will offer preventive and primary care only, including clinical evaluation and management of chronic illnesses as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In addition, evaluation and management of minor non-emergency illnesses such as respiratory infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, urinary tract infections, muscle sprains and strains and sexually transmitted diseases will be provided.     Women’s health services include family planning, pap smears, breast exams and pregnancy tests. Pre-natal care is available for eligible women who do not qualify for other public assistance programs. The Prescription Assistance Program will be available to help obtain selected medications.     A licensed and certified nurse practitioner will provide healthcare services; however, some services may be provided by referral to a participating physician or specialist. Referrals will be made by the nurse practitioner; appointments will be made by the clinic staff.     Clinic staff will also assist patients to access programs available to low income families by helping them complete the proper applications.

Last mobile clinic for HC Mission for Health Contributed Published Feb. 21, 2008    Due to insufficient grant funding, the Hill Country Mission for Health conducted its last mobile clinic session in Bandera on December 16.     Over the past four years, the mobile clinic served low-income, uninsured adults twice a month, setting up shop at the Helping Hand Center and the First Baptist Church.     Volunteers felt honored and blessed to be afforded the opportunity to make a difference in the health of many Bandera County residents, said Joyce Clair, RN, organization spokesman.     Patients already enrolled may continue to receive charitable medical care at the Boerne office until the Arthur Nagel Community Health Clinic opens. To make appointments, established patients are asked to call 830-249-0130.

San Antonio bakery products recalled Texas Department of State Health Services Published on-line Feb. 16, 2008    Feb. 15, 2008 -- La Familia Bakery in San Antonio is recalling all of its packaged products because some of them contain nuts, milk and other allergens that are not listed on the packages.     Texas Department of State Health Services officials believe that product distribution was limited to convenience stores in the San Antonio, Pearsall and Devine areas.     The recalled products include cookies and Mexican sweet bread, or pan dulce. They are sold in clear, twist-tied, plastic bags that contain the company name.     Standard ingredients labeling on the product packages indicate that the products contain water, flour, sugar, cinnamon and shortening. But DSHS officials said some of the product labels should have listed pecans or other nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy and FD&C Yellow #5, a food coloring.     Anyone who has one of the recalled products should not consume it if they are allergic to any of these ingredients.     Federal and state food manufacturing regulations require that food product labels include the product name, the company’s name and address, the net weight, an ingredients listing and the source of major allergens.

Flower Garden Fish advisories issued Published Feb. 7, 2008    Feb. 5, 2008 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is telling commercial seafood processors not to accept certain kinds of fish from the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary area in the Northern Gulf of Mexico due to ciguatera toxin.     The Texas Department of State Health Services is advising recreational fishermen and other consumers not to eat the fish. Cooking does not affect the toxin.     Several human cases of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) have been linked to eating certain fish from the area.     Fish species covered in the advisories are marbled, gag, scamp and yellowfin grouper; blackfin and dog snapper; and hogfish caught within 10 miles of the Flower Garden. Also included are yellow, horse-eye and black jack; king mackerel; amberjack; and barracuda from within 50 miles of the sanctuary.     The ciguatera toxin is produced by algae that grow on some coral. The Flower Garden is a coral reef system. The toxin accumulates in fish tissue along the natural food chain as smaller fish eat the algae and larger fish eat smaller fish.     Symptoms of CFP may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness, tingling around the mouth, a prickly feeling in the skin, joint and muscle pain, headache, reversal of hot and cold sensations, increased sensitivity to temperature extremes, vertigo and muscular weakness. CFP also can cause irregular, slow or rapid heartbeat and lowered blood pressure.     Symptoms usually begin within a few hours of consumption and typically last several days, but some symptoms can last for months. CFP is rarely fatal.     The Flower Garden, a popular spot for commercial and recreational fishermen and scuba divers, is in U.S. territorial waters 120 miles southeast of Galveston.

Flu vaccine, personal precautions offer protection Published Feb. 7, 2008    Jan. 24, 2008 -- With flu classified as widespread in the state for the last two weeks, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) officials are reminding people to take precautions to reduce the risk of getting and spreading the viral illness.     According to health officials, getting a flu vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent getting and spreading the illness. Vaccination is recommended for people ages 6 months and older. Flu vaccines are available in shot and nasal spray forms. Only healthy people ages 2 through 49 years who are not pregnant may receive the spray form.     DSHS health officials offer the following additional precautions:     · Wash your hands frequently with either soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;     · Cover your coughs and sneezes;     · Stay home if you're sick.     The Texas flu season typically runs October through March.     The flu vaccine, which takes about two weeks to become fully effective, can be given at any time during this period. People wanting the flu vaccine should call their health care provider, local public health department, 2-1-1 or check online at www.211Texas.org about availability.     Flu is not a reportable condition in Texas, but DSHS relies on reports from a surveillance network to classify flu activity in the state. The widespread classification applies when there are increases in flu-like illnesses and recent laboratory-confirmed flu cases in at least half of the state's regions.

State to begin wintertime rabies bait drop program Jan. 6 Published Jan. 3, 2008    The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will begin field operations for its annual Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (ORVP) bait drop Jan. 6 from the Zapata County Airport. The second portion of the drop begins about Jan. 11 from both Junction's Kimble County Airport and Fort Stockton-Pecos County Airport.     Bandera County is not one of the counties included in the two drops, but several neighboring counties are.     Counties in the 2008 West-Central Texas vaccine distribution area are: Brewster, Coleman, Concho, Crane, Crockett, Ector, Edwards, Gillespie, Irion, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Llano, Loving, Mason, Maverick, McCulloch, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler and Zavala. Counties in the 2008 South Texas vaccine distribution area are: Cameron, Dimmit, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, La Salle, Maverick, Starr, Webb, Willacy, Zapata and Zavala.     Maverick and Zavala counties are included in both distribution areas.     For several weeks in January, about 3.3 million baits filled with rabies vaccine will drop from five specially-equipped airplanes flying across 44 South and West-Central Texas counties. "The goal of the 12-year-old program is to create zones of vaccinated coyotes and gray foxes to first contain the spread of rabies virus, then eliminate canine and gray fox rabies in the area," said DSHS veterinarian Ernest Oertli, ORVP director. "No human cases of rabies in either area have occurred since the vaccine airdrop began."     The number of canine rabies cases in South Texas has declined from a high of 142 cases when the program began in 1995 to none in 2002 and 2003, 1 reported in 2004, and none in 2005, 2006 and through November 2007. Gray fox cases are down overall from an all-time high of 265 cases in 1994 to 61 in 2007 through November. The fewest number of cases, eight, was reported in 2005.     The specialized bait of fish meal was designed for coyotes, and a dog-food bait containing molasses and vanilla flavoring was designed for gray foxes. Each bait contains 2 milliliters of oral rabies vaccine. "The vaccine inside the bait cannot cause rabies in people or animals," Oertli said.     Because baits contain a biological agent and are less likely to be eaten by wildlife if people touch them, they should not be handled. Each brown bait, which measures 1.25 by 1.25 by .75 inches, is marked with a DSHS toll free number, 1-877-722-6725, that people may call for information.     "People still need to get their pets vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian as required by law," Oertli said. He added that a domestic animal's rabies vaccination can be safely given even if the animal recently ate an oral rabies vaccine bait.

Sid Peterson board announces new members, elects officers for 2008 Published Dec. 27, 2007    The Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital Foundation recently welcomed three new members to its board of directors and elected a new slate of officers. The new members include JH "Sonny" Baldwin, Edgar A. Wallace and Curg Starkey.     "We're very pleased to welcome three such distinguished men to our foundation board," said President Robert Fairchild. "Each individual believes in service to his community and our board will benefit from their experience and wisdom as we continue working on behalf of Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital."     A West Texas native, Sonny Baldwin hails from Lamesa. After graduating from Texas Tech University, he spent the next 30 years in Dallas banking and agribusiness professions. He serves as president of Baldwin Agriland Company, a ranching and agribusiness enterprise in North Texas. Baldwin and his wife Sue Dale (Simmonds) moved to Kerrville in 1998. Raised in Hunt and Kerrville, Sue Dale is a Tivy graduate.     Since relocating to Kerrville, Baldwin has immersed himself in community service, serving as president of the Hunt Methodist Foundation, as well as a former director and treasurer of the Museum of Western Art. The Baldwins are active members of the Hunt United Methodist Church.     Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Edgar Wallace received a Bachelor of Arts degree in German from Washington and Lee University, and, after graduation, studied in Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship.     Wallace received his LLD from the University of Texas School of Law in 1963. A practicing attorney for the past 44 years, he now limits his practice to estate planning, probate, wills and trusts.     Wallace is past president and current secretary of the Symphony of the Hills Association, past president of the Riverside Nature Center Association and advisory committee member for the Kerrville State Hospital. He is also a member and former elder, deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville. Wallace is married to Kerrville native Nancy Allison Wallace.     President of the Six S Family Ltd. Partnership, a commercial property management company, Curg Starkey is a Kerr County native with a long history of community service. Descended from a Kerr County pioneering family, Starkey graduated from Tivy High School and attended Angelo State University. The former home builder and former member of the Tivy Athletic Booster Club is also an inductee of the Tivy High School Hall of Fame.     Starkey has served on the State Board of Plumbing Examiners, the City of Kerrville's Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and is a graduate of Leadership Kerr County.     A member of the Rotary Club of Kerrville, Starkey has also raised funds for Notre Dame Catholic School. A member of the Upper Guadalupe River Authority Board since 2002, he currently serves as board president.     Starkey and his wife, Monica, have two sons.     The nine-member Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Directors includes President Robert Fairchild, Vice President Bill Womack, Secretary-Treasurer Beverly Sullivan, Baldwin, Dalene Reagan, Starkey, Scott Stehling, Wallace and Billie Zuber. Organized in 1992 to manage the Kitch Nursing Scholarship Fund, the foundation's board has since raised funds to improve facilities.     The board also purchases equipment that enables SPMH physicians and nurses to provide quality patient care.     Since 2005, board members also have worked to support the "Family, Friends and Neighbors" capital campaign to build the new Peterson Regional Medical Center.     For more information about SPMH, call 830-258-7411.     To make an online donation, visit the hospital's website, www.spmh.com and click on "Giving Online."

DSHS encourages HIV testing Published Dec. 6, 2007    Since 1981 there have been 97,227 cases of HIV/AIDS reported in Texas, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Saturday, Dec. 1, was World AIDS Day, an observance to increase awareness of the disease.     "HIV can affect anyone. It's important that people be educated about the risks, know their HIV status and get tested if they are unsure," said David Lakey, M.D., commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services. "This way, those infected can take advantage of newer, more effective treatments, and they can protect others."     About 4,500 cases of HIV are diagnosed in Texas each year. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.     There are 60,571 Texans living with HIV or AIDS, a 33 percent increase since 2002.     The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 250,000 people in the United States are infected with HIV but do not know it.     HIV testing locations are available by visiting www.hivtest.org.

Area flu shot clinics set Published Nov. 22, 2007    Bandera     A flu shot clinic will be held at Bandera City Hall, 511 Main Street, from 10:30 until noon, Thursday, Nov. 29.     Shots for the general public will cost $25, but city employees will be inoculated free of charge. The clinic, underwritten by H-E-B, is scheduled to serve 40 people.     For more information or to reserve a spot, call city hall at 830-796-3765.     Kerrville     Kerrville's Schreiner University will offer flu shots to the community from 11 am to 2 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 28.     Inoculations will be will administered in the lobby of the Floyd and Kathleen Cailloux Campus Activity Center. This is the final clinic Schreiner will host this flu season.     Shots cost $10, and the clinic is open to Schreiner employees and the general public. For more information or to reserve your shot, call Gloria Algeo, RN, at 830-792-7279.

Schreiner's Crate lecture on bismuth Published Oct. 25, 2007    The Schreiner University fall Harry Crate Lecture is scheduled for 7 pm, Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Floyd and Kathleen Cailloux Campus Activity Center on the Kerrville university campus.     Dr. Edward Tiekink, associate dean of graduate studies in chemistry at the University of Texas at San Antonio, will speak on "Bismuth Thiolates: Pharmaceutical Use and Development."     One example of a bismuth compound is Pepto-Bismol, used for treating stomach complaints.     "In this presentation, we will see that other bismuth compounds can exhibit a range of pharmaceutical potential, from anti-tumor agents to anti-virals," said Tiekink.     He will also discuss the rationale, chemistry and biological evaluation of new bismuth compounds and their potential pharmacological uses.     The Crate lectures are free and open to the public.     For more information, contact Dr. Bob Holloway, associate professor of chemistry at Schreiner University, 830-792-7250 or bholloway@schreiner.edu.

Flu shots available Published Sept. 27, 2007    Don't look now, but fall ­ and flu season ­ is officially here.     Certain groups, such as infants, young children and people older than 65, are considered at high risk for complications associated with influenza. During the next couple of weeks, flu shots will be offered at several locations, including:     * Silver Sage Corral Senior Activity Center, 803 Buck Creek Boulevard, 9 am until noon, Tuesday, Oct. 9. Medicare covers these shot for senior citizens, so eligible participants are reminded to bring their cards with them. For more information, call 830-796-4969.     * American Legion Hall Post 410 in Lakehills, 9 am until noon, Wednesday, Oct. 10. For more information, call 830-751-3711.     * Comprehensive Physical Therapy & Bandera Fitness, 3456 Highway 16 South, 9:30 am until 2 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 16.     In addition to offering flu shots, Comprehensive Physical Therapy & Bandera Fitness will hold a health fair that day which includes free screenings for cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, Body Mass Index, physical therapy and more. For more information, call 830-796-3447.

Taking precautions against blood-suckers Published July 19, 2007 The dreaded mosquito    After recent heavy rains and flooding, standing water has become a prime breeding ground for illness-causing mosquitoes.     The females of most species suck blood from other animals – a characteristic that has made these insects one of the most deadly vectors known to man. Mosquito-borne illnesses include West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis, malaria and dengue fever.      The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) asks Hill Country residents to take the following precautions to prevent being bitten by ever-annoying – and often dangerous – insects:     • Always use an appropriate insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Place insect repellent at the front and back doors of your home and apply before going outdoors.     • Mosquito-proof your house by making sure doors seal securely and window screens are intact.     • Limit the amount of time spent outdoors from dusk to dawn, the times when the mosquitoes likely to carry infections are most active.     • Drain standing water from around your home. Empty cans, buckets, tires, rain gutters and flower pot bases regularly. Change the water in pet bowls, bird baths and wading pools several times a week.     For more information visit www.dshs.state.tx.us.

Sid Pete names new development director Contributed Published July 12, 2007 Milton L. Dare    Administrators with Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital in Kerrville recently announced the appointment of Milton L. Dare, FACHE, as director of development.     Dare will oversee the hospital’s fundraising efforts and institutional advancement programs, including Phase II of the new medical center’s “Family, Friends and Neighbors” Capital Campaign.     A veteran fundraising professional, Dare brings more than 30 years experience in healthcare development to the position. He has successfully created and implemented fundraising initiatives, including strategic planning, annual fund drives and capital campaigns and endowment growth. For nearly 16 years, he served as executive director of the St. Joseph Foundation in Bryan’s St. Joseph Health System.     “We are pleased that a professional of Milton Dare’s caliber will soon join the Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital leadership team,” said SPMH CEO Patrick Murray. “His energy, commitment and extensive experience will be extremely valuable assets as we plan for the future of our new medical center.”     “I’m happy to be part of Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital, which is an exceptional organization with strong community support, dedicated leadership and an outstanding staff of physicians, board members, employees and community volunteers,” said Dare. “My family and I look forward to being a part of the Kerrville community and I am excited about the opportunities and challenges this new endeavor presents,” he added.     A native of Central Texas, Dare has family roots in the Hill Country and even worked at Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital as a student. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in general business and economics at Southwestern University in Georgetown. He continued his education at Trinity University in San Antonio, where he earned a Master’s degree in healthcare administration. Dare is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and an active member of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy.      In addition, he has served in leadership roles in many community, civic and church groups including Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Bryan, Junior League of Bryan-College Station, United Way of the Brazos Valley, Bryan ISD and the Boy Scouts of America, Arrowmoon Division.      He and his family are active in Christ United Methodist Church, where they participate in the music ministry. Dare is also a member of the Sanctuary Choir, serves on the church leadership council and is a delegate to the Texas Annual Conference.     He is married to elementary school teacher Sandra Wesch Dare, and the couple has two adult sons, Matthew and Michael.     For more information on the SPMH Foundation or the “Family, Friends and Neighbors” Capital Campaign, call 830-258-7421. For more information on SPMH, call 830-258-7624 or visit www.spmh.com.

DSHS issues flood-related precautions Published July 5, 2007    In Texas, when it rains, it pours. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has issued a series of precautions for Texans to follow if they find themselves facing flood conditions. Water     • Watch and listen for news announcements about the safety of public drinking water supplies. Follow any “boil water” alerts issued by local water utilities or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Do not drink water from unknown sources.     • Anyone under “boil water” alerts and people with private wells possibly contaminated by flood water should use only bottled, boiled or treated water until water has been tested and deemed safe.     • To boil water for drinking purposes, allow it to boil for at least one minute. Water also may be disinfected with chlorine or iodine (follow package directions) or with ordinary household bleach, using one-eighth teaspoon – about eight drops – per gallon of water. Sterilize water containers and drinking utensils with a solution of household bleach.     Food     • Do not eat food that has been in contact with flood water.     • If electricity has been off, refrigerated food may have spoiled. Discard any food that has been at room temperature for more than two hours, or if it has an unusual odor or color. Thawed food from freezers may be safe for consumption or refreezing if it is still partially frozen or is “refrigerator cold.”     • Babies on formula should be given ready-to-feed formula or powdered formula prepared with bottled drinking water.     • Wash hands with soap and disinfected water before eating or handling food, after clean-up work and after handling flood water-contaminated items. Environmental Hazards     • Snakes and other wildlife may seek shelter in trees, homes and vehicles. Bats are often injured in heavy rains and winds. Do not handle injured or any other bats. Seek immediate treatment if bitten or injured by an animal. Also, beware of displaced pets.     • Return home in daylight for best visibility and to be aware of any unsafe power sources. Do not use lanterns or torches until after the premises are safe from gas leaks.     • Standing water after floods becomes a breeding place for mosquitoes. Drain all standing water and empty water from outdoor items such as old tires, cans and flower pot bases. Protect yourself with an appropriate insect repellent.     • Allow no one re-enter your home while flooded unless the main electrical switch has been turned off.     • Wear shoes in post-flood areas to reduce the chances of punctures or cuts from nails and other sharp contaminated objects.     Medical     • Persons with puncture wounds or cuts exposed to flood water could be at risk of contracting tetanus and may need to have a tetanus shot to prevent infection.     • Try to rest and conserve energy and avoid heat stress. People with heart conditions and other illnesses should avoid strenuous exertion.     General     • Do not allow children to play in or near flood water or storm drains.     • Disinfect all furniture, woodwork and other household surfaces in homes that have flooded.     • Wash hands frequently during cleanup to avoid recontamination of cleaned areas.     • To prevent allergic reactions and other health problems caused by mold, replace porous, flood-damaged wallboard from at least 12 inches above the waterline.     • Disinfect children’s toys with a solution of one cup bleach to five gallons of water.     • To prevent producing toxic fumes, do not mix bleach with products that contain ammonia.     • To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, do not burn charcoal or use gasoline-powered generators or pumps indoors.     For more information, contact the local health department or DSHS regional office.

National Women's Health Week set May 13-19 Published April 12, 2007    The 8th annual National Women's Health Week will kick off on Mother's Day, May 13, and continue through May 19. National Women's Check-up Day will be Monday, May 14.     National Women's Health Week encourages women to take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life. The theme for National Women's Health Week 2007 is "It's Your Time: Pamper Your Mind, Body and Spirit." During the Week, families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations and other groups work together to:     • celebrate the extraordinary progress in women's health     • bring attention to and create understanding of women's health issues     • encourage women to get regular check-ups     • provide free or reduced screenings for women nationwide     • educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and prevent disease

Nearby naturopath touts cryogenic therapy Contributed Published March 29, 2007    Cold has become the hottest method used by naturopathic practitioners to treat certain inflammatory diseases. One of cryogenics foremost proponents is located here in the Hill Country.     Dr. Andre Alexander Kulisz, a local naturopathic physician, recently contracted with the Polish Mpg/Kriomed Center to expand cryogenic treatments offered by the clinic and establish branch clinics in Poland and other countries of the European Union. The Polish Mpg/Kriomed Center operates a natural health clinic, which uses systemic cryogenic therapy to treat patients from Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Denmark and Scandinavia.     "I am looking forward to this new opportunity," Kulisz said in a recent interview. "The systemic cryogenic treatments offer dramatic improvements to patients with inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathy, lupus, fibromyalgia and some forms of cancers, among others. I was were asked to include treatment modalities used by American naturopathic physicians to make treatment a complete natural health approach – with or without associated allopathic treatments."     Allopathic refers to conventional Western medical treatments and practices. As a practitioner of naturopathy, Kulisz treatments improve health and treats disease chiefly by assisting the body's innate capacity to recover from illness and injury.     Essentially, the brain reacts to extreme cold by drawing most blood into the center of the body to conserve heat. When the body is removed from the frigid temperatures, an increased blood surge throughout the body revitalizes the system. At the same time, the brain increases the manufacture of different hormones such as endorphins, serotonin, adrenaline and others, as well as increasing the production of lymphocytes, the body's natural defenses against invading organisms.     Cryogenic therapy was first used in Poland to treat athletes. A facet of naturopathic medicine, cryogenic therapy requires patients to stay for up to three minutes in a enclosed chamber at temperatures down to minus 184º Fahrenheit. (minus 120 degrees centigrade). The intense cold tricks the body into thinking it must fight for survival, which jump starts its survival mode. After the treatment session, patients exercise to re-heat the skin.     As a natural response to cold, the body's blood vessels constrict. Exercise alleviates this condition, bringing a surge of blood containing oxygen and nutrients and flushing away toxins. Kulisz went on to say European countries with drastically overextended national health care budgets welcomed this inexpensive and natural approach to treating certain diseases and improving overall general health. "We plan to include courses that teach elements of natural medicine in allopathic practice to doctors in the European Union. Although this was an exploratory trip, we are looking forward to establishing good cooperation with our Polish counterparts."     After traveling extensively in Western and Eastern Europe overseas, Kulisz will resume his practices in Kerrville and San Antonio the end of April. In addition, he hopes to refer some of his patients for treatment in the Polish clinic.     "I also hope to identify other clinical practices in Kerrville and San Antonio that might be interested in the application of low temperatures in their treatments," Kulisz added.

Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital joins Texas Wellness Initiative Published Feb. 15, 2007    KERRVILLE - Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital has joined an important state-wide wellness program designed to improve employee health. Jay Seifert, co-founder of the LoneStart 21-Day Wellness Initiative, will present the LoneStart Employee Wellness Challenge to more than 850 hospital employees at scheduled meetings on Feb. 12 & 13. Initiating such a program illustrates the hospital's commitment to the long-term health and wellness of its employees.     According to Seifert, the LoneStart Wellness Initiative is a common-sense program that provides participants with the opportunity, information, motivation and support to make better dietary choices, achieve sustainable weight loss and take charge of their personal health. It is designed to enable participants to recognize motivational triggers, build momentum and increase confidence through moment-by-moment, day-to-day choices.     SPMH CEO Pat Murray welcomes employee participation in the program. "This initiative takes a proactive approach to health and wellness. It's about more than just losing weight or exercising; it's making positive, permanent changes in lifestyle," Murray said     The LoneStart 21-Day Wellness Initiative is a straightforward, three-week program that can be repeated over and over. Seifert said the program is personally challenging yet easily achievable. "It requires a small commitment of time but a major commitment to self," Seifert stated.     For Pat Murray, program participation is another step in fulfilling a long-term hospital goal. "This is an opportunity for us to reinforce our role as the wellness resource in our community while making an investment in our most important resource - our hospital employees," said Murray.     For additional information on the LoneStart 21-Day Wellness initiative, please contact Jo Ann Hagemeier by email at jhagemeier@spmh.com or by telephone at 830-258-7034. More information in the initiative can be found on the LoneStart Web site at www.LoneStartNow.com.     For more information on programs and services available through SPMH, please call 830-258-7628 or visit our Web site at www.spmh.com.

Orthopaedic Surgeon Elected Chief of Staff at Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital Published Feb. 15, 2007    KERRVILLE – Orthopaedic surgeon D. Clint Morris, MD, has been elected chief of staff at Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital. Morris replaces outgoing chief of staff Klaus Schroeder, MD, an internist who assumed the position in January 2006.     "It's an honor to be elected chief of staff," said Morris, whose practice is located at 695 Hill Country Drive in Kerrville. "This new role is a tremendous opportunity and comes at a very exciting time, when we are building a new medical center and achieving new levels of performance and quality."     To become chief of staff, a physician is nominated by the hospital's medical staff and approved by its board of directors. The position has many responsibilities. The chief of staff assumes the leadership role for the medical staff, whose purpose is to ensure quality medical care in the hospital. The chief of staff also takes the lead on credentialing new physicians, reviewing care processes and advising the hospital on how best to improve clinical programs and services. The position of chief of staff also is voluntary. Physicians who assume this critically important role must juggle the demands of their practice and those of their new position. But those who serve in this capacity see it as an opportunity to have an impact – on their hospital, their peers and their community.     SPMH CEO Pat Murray said the physicians chosen chief of staff all possess proven leadership qualities and a willingness to sacrifice something they have very little of - time.     "We have extremely talented and caring physicians who volunteer for this important leadership role," Murray said. "I greatly appreciate the commitment of physicians such as Drs. Morris and Schroeder who offer their time, effort and expertise. Our hospital and the communities we serve benefit from their knowledge and leadership."     Morris earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center – Houston. He completed an internship at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, TN, and a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Tennessee's Campbell Clinic. Morris has been on the SPMH medical staff since 2001. He is married to Hunter Morris, and they are the parents of three beautiful daughters.     For more information on the SPMH medical staff, please call 830-258-7717. For more information on programs and services available through SPMH, please call 830-258-7624 or visit our Web site at www.spmh.com.

Help walk away multiple sclerosis Published Feb. 15, 2007    This year's MS Walk will be held Saturday, March 3, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio beginning at 9 a.m. Bandera County residents are encouraged to come join the walk for a cure or to contribute to research by making a donation.     Approximately six to seven Bandera County residents are battling multiple sclerosis, including retired Lakehills attorney and Medina Lake Cajun Festival originator Bob Caswell. Caswell said he will accept donations for the MS walk. The checks must be made out to the MS Society and are tax deductible. They may be sent to Caswell at 9638 FM 1283, Lakehills, 78063. Individuals with questions are urged to call Caswell at 830-751-3130.

Nursing facility class set Feb. 28 Published Feb. 8, 2007    A CE class entitled, "The Top Ten Nursing Facility Deficiencies" will be conducted Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home in Floresville.     Participants will receive 2.75 clock hours for administrators, 3.6 contact hours for nurses, or 2.75 credit hours for social workers.     The class will be held from 9 a.m. To noon with free breakfast tacos for participants.     Seating is limited. Call Tamara Tapman at (512)699-6192 or email tamara.tapman@glo.state.tx.us for more information.     The facility is at 200 Veterans Drive.     The class is sponsored by the Texas State Veterans Homes and Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.     Visit: www.texasveterans.com.