[OCT. 14, 2000]  The Lincoln Park District recently hired a personal trainer. Her name is Pam Nemith, and she is available to assist you with a number of fitness needs.

Pam is a veteran of the fitness industry. She has been teaching aerobics for 18 years and in 1984 was certified by IDEA to teach group exercise. She taught her own classes in Indianapolis for 10 years and was in "semi-retirement" before moving to Elkhart 2½ years ago, when her husband was transferred here for his job. When the opportunity opened up to teach at the Lincoln Park District, she couldn't say no.

In the course of her experience, Pam also developed an interest in wellness issues and the more personal side of fitness. She studied for and received a certificate as a personal trainer from the American Council on Exercise in June of this year. With that expertise, Pam can design personal exercise programs for her clients and discuss general diet concerns — though she cannot prescribe a specific diet, which must be done by a nutritionist. Pam can also measure blood pressure and body fat and can make general fitness assessments.

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In her continuing quest for knowledge, Pam is working toward a certificate to assist clients who have diagnosed cardiovascular disease. She also is certified to teach exercise classes for older populations. Pam is certified in CPR.

Philosophically, Pam believes it is important to note that a number of health problems can be helped with proper exercise and lifestyle choices and that medications, while often helpful, are not the only answer.

Pam looks forward to working with more clients from Lincoln and the surrounding communities. If you have questions or would like to sign up with a personal trainer, Pam can be reached at the Lincoln Park District, (217) 732-8770, or at (217) 947-2925.

[Cherie Rankin]

Flu shots available

[NOV. 30, 2000]  Logan County Health Department has received the remainder of its order of flu vaccine. Flu shots are available immediately on a walk-in basis at the Logan County Health Department office at 109 Third St. in Lincoln. Flu shots are available between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Flu shots are available for all interested parties. A physician's order is required if the recipient is under the age of 18.

The Mobile Health Unit also has flu vaccine available on a walk-in basis at all of its regularly scheduled locations.

Medicare covers the cost of the influenza vaccination. Medicare recipients are reminded to bring their Medicare card to the Health Department or the Mobile Health Unit when they come to receive their vaccination. For non-Medicare clients the cost for the flu vaccine is $10.

Influenza flu manufacturers experienced a delay in shipping the flu vaccine this year. The cause of the delay was twofold. First, some influenza vaccine manufacturers reported that one of the three influenza virus components used to make this year's vaccine had not grown as well as the corresponding strain used last year. Secondly, two manufacturers licensed to distribute this vaccine in the United States had been experiencing manufacturing problems. Both manufacturers worked closely with the Food and Drug Administration to address and correct these problems.

Influenza is a serious disease. A virus that spreads from infected persons to the nose or throat of others causes influenza. The "influenza season" in the United States is from November through April each year. Influenza can cause fever, sore throat, cough, chills, headache and muscle aches. People of any age can get influenza. Most people are ill with influenza for only a few days, but some get much sicker and may need to be hospitalized. Influenza causes thousands of deaths each year, mostly the elderly.

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People at risk for getting a serious case of influenza or influenza complications and people in close contact with them (including all household members) should get the influenza vaccine. An annual flu shot is recommended for these groups:

• Everyone 50 years of age or older.
• Residents of long-term care facilities housing persons with chronic medical conditions.
• Anyone who has a serious long-term health problem with heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, diabetes, anemia or other blood disorders.
• Anyone whose immune system is weakened because of HIV/AIDS, long-term treatment with drugs such as steroids or cancer treatment with radiation or chemotherapy.
• Anyone 6 months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment.
• Women who will be past the third month of pregnancy during the influenza season.

• Physicians, nurses, family members or anyone else coming in close contact with people at risk of serious influenza.

Logan County Health Department would like to emphasize that it is not too late to get a flu shot. Protection develops two weeks after the shot and lasts for several months.

Pneumonia shots are available

[OCT. 25, 2000]  Logan County Health Department has received its full shipment of pneumococcal vaccine and is administering pneumonia shots on a walk-in basis at the Logan County Health Department office at 109 Third St. in Lincoln. Pneumonia shots are available between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Pneumococcal disease is a serious disease that causes much sickness and death. People at greatest risk from this disease are people 65 and older, the very young and people with special health problems such as heart or lung disease, kidney failure, diabetes, HIV infections or certain types of cancer.

Usually one dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is all people need throughout their lifetime. However, under some circumstances a second dose may be given:

• A second dose is recommended for those people 65 and older who got their first dose when they were under 65, if five or more years have passed since that dose.

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• A second dose is also recommended for people who

• have a damaged spleen or no spleen

• have sickle-cell disease

• have HIV infection or AIDS

• have cancer, leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma

• have kidney failure

• have nephrotic syndrome

• have had an organ or bone marrow transplant

• are taking medication that lowers the immunity (such as chemotherapy or long-term steroids)

Children 10 years old and younger may get this second dose three years after the first dose. Those older than 10 should get it five years after the first dose.

Medicare covers the cost of the pneumonia vaccine. Medicare recipients are reminded to bring their Medicare card to the Health Department when they come to receive their vaccination. For non-Medicare clients the cost of the pneumonia vaccine is $16.

[Logan County Health Department news release]

This family resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities Partnership (732-2161, Ext. 409) and the Healthy Families Task Force.         

Resources for Logan County families

Agency	Phone number	Address
911	911 (Emergencies) 732-3911 (Office -- non-emergency)	911 Pekin St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital	732-2161	315 Eighth St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Aging (Department of)	785-3356	421 E. Capitol, #100 Springfield, IL 62701-1789
American Cancer Society	546-7586 (24 hour)	1305 Wabash, Ste. J Springfield, IL 62704
American Red Cross	732-2134 1-800-412-0100	125 S. Kickapoo Lincoln, IL 62656
Catholic Social Services	732-3771	310 S. Logan Lincoln, IL 62656
Chamber of Commerce	735-2385	303 S. Kickapoo St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Community Action (CIEDC)	732-2159	1800 Fifth St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Community Child Care Connection	525-2805 1-800-676-2805	1004 N. Milton Ave. Springfield, IL 62702-443
Crisis Pregnancy Center	735-4838	513 Pulaski St. Lincoln, IL 62656
DCFS (Department of Children & Family Services)	735-4402 1-800-252-2873 (crisis hotline)	1100 Keokuk St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Heartland Community College GED Program	735-1731	620 Broadway St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Hospice Care of Illinois	1-800-342-4862 (24 hour) 732-2161, Ext. 444	720 N. Bond Springfield, IL 62702
Housing Authority	732-7776 732-6312 (24 hour)	1028 N. College St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program	735-2317 1-800-269-4019	LCHD - 109 Third St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Illinois Department of Public Health	782-4977	535 W. Jefferson Springfield, IL 62761
Illinois Employment & Training Center (JTPA)	735-5441	812 Lincoln Ave. Lincoln, IL 62656
Legal Assistance Foundation	(217) 753-3300 1-800-252-8629	730 E. Vine St., Ste. 214 Springfield, IL 62703
Library - Atlanta	(217) 648-2112	100 Race St. Atlanta, IL 61723
Library - Elkhart	(217) 947-2313	121 E. Bohan Elkhart, IL 62634
Library - Lincoln	732-8878	725 Pekin St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Library - Mount Pulaski	792-5919	320 N. Washington Mount Pulaski, IL 62548
Lincoln Area YMCA	735-3915	319 W. Kickapoo St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Lincoln/Logan Food Pantry	732-2204	P.O. Box 773 Lincoln, IL 62656
Lincoln Parents’ Center	735-4192	100 S. Maple Lincoln, IL 62656
Lincoln Park District	732-8770	1400 Primm Rd. Lincoln, IL 62656
Logan County Department of Human Services (Public Aid)	735-2306	1550 Fourth St., P.O. Box 310 Lincoln, IL 62656
Logan County Health Department	735-2317	109 Third St., P.O. Box 508 Lincoln, IL 62656
Logan Mason Mental Health	735-2272 1-888-832-3600 (crisis line)	304 Eighth St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center	735-1413	760 S. Postville Dr. Lincoln, IL 62656
Oasis (Senior Citizens of Logan County)	732-6132	501 Pulaski St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Project READ	735-1731	620 Broadway St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Salvation Army	732-7890	1501 N. Kickapoo Lincoln, IL 62656
Senior Services of Central Illinois	732-6213 1-800-252-8966 (crisis line)	109 Third St. Lincoln, IL 62656
Sojourn Shelter & Service Inc.	732-8988 (217) 726-5200 (24-hour hotline)	1800 Westchester Blvd. Springfield, IL 62704
U. of I. Division of Specialized Care for Children	524-2000 1-800-946-8468	421 S. Grand Ave. West, 2nd Floor Springfield, IL 62704
U. of I. Extension Service	732-8289	122 S. McLean St. Lincoln, IL 62656

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