Health

Longview Police collect 57 pounds of unwanted medication during take-back event

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012, 8:24am

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Longview Police said they collected 57 pounds of pills from the public at the the Longview Police Highlands Satellite Office on April 28 as part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's national drug take-back campaign.

Highlands community coach Liz Haeck and Shannon Miller from Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition were present and assisted the police department during the event.

Approximately 50 people used the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of medications no longer used. By disposing of the drugs at the many local disposal bins now in Cowlitz County, locals helped to keep the medications out of the water supply and out of the hands of drug abusers.

Current drop-off sites include:

Longview Police Department, 1351 Hudson St., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Kelso Police Department, 201 Pacific Ave. S., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, 312 SW 1ST Ave., 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Get a free oral cancer screening this week in Longview

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Monday, April 23rd, 2012, 11:12am

Dr. Kleven, Dr. Ziegler, and the entire team at Advanced Dental Services in Longview are excited to be able to offer the highest quality care with regard to oral cancer screening at its free public oral screening event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26.

During this event, six hours have been set aside to see individuals who want a screening exam performed. It is not necessary that you have been a previous patient in our practice; this event is open to the public. However, the number of screening time slots are limited, so be sure to register early to ensure a spot in the schedule.

For more information or to answer any questions you may have, feel free to call Advanced Dental at 360-425-4900.

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Cowlitz County residents are lacing up

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Thursday, April 19th, 2012, 8:00am

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Approximately 100 people young and old will lace up their walking shoes in Longview on April 28 to give hope that every baby will have a healthy start. They're walking and raising money to support March of Dimes funded research and programs to help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies.

Here's why:

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Longview Police to take back unwanted prescription drugs April 28

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012, 10:26am

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28, the Longview Police Department (LPD), The Highlands Neighborhood Association, Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to the Longview Police Satellite office at 216 30th Ave. in Longview. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Captain Deborah Johnson will be present to take in drugs and answer questions.

Last October, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds --188.5 tons -- of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement partners. In its three previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds -- nearly 500 tons -- of pills.

LPD has been collecting prescription pills weekdays since September 2009 and has taken in a total of 465 pounds of medication according to LPD property-evidence technician Ron Cryderman.

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America's oldest walking event to hit Longview streets April 28

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Monday, April 2nd, 2012, 8:00am

America's oldest walking event to hit Longview streets April 28

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Hundreds of families and business leaders will join together April 28 at PeachHealth Women's Pavillion in Longview in the March of Dimes' annual March for Babies -- the nation's oldest walk fund-raiser and the only one honoring all babies -- those born healthy and those who need help to survive and thrive.

James and Holly Hanset are walking in SW Washington for their son, Holdyn, who was born at 24 weeks gestation -- about four months too soon. He weighed only 1 pound, 8 ounces. James and Holly were told by multiple neonatologists they should consider not resuscitating as Holdyn was at such a high risk of defects and lifelong complications.

"We decided that Holdyn should at least be given a chance," James said. "We spent the next five months living in the NICU."

Though they still have struggles, James says they now have one of the sweetest toddlers anyone could ask for.

Joining James, Holly, Holdyn and so many others who know the trauma of premature birth or birth defects, are key sponsors like PacificSource, First Tech Federal Credit Union, KeyBank and Kaiser Permanente.

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PeaceHealth St. John takes steps to protect against Pertussis

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012, 8:00am

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- In recent weeks, Cowlitz County has experienced a significant amount of pertussis, with 30 cases reported in the past month. This continues a trend seen locally in 2011, when the number of pertussis cases was up nearly six times over 2010.

Pertussis can be life threatening for infants, especially newborns. Due to the ongoing rise of pertussis, PeaceHealth St. John in Longview is implementing heightened infection control measures to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable populations. Pertussis is highly contagious and is easily spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In the first ten weeks of 2012 there have been a total of 375 pertussis cases reported across Washington State, compared to just 76 cases reported in the same period in 2011.

Effective immediately, PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center is observing the following infection control measures:

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Running of the Fools set for March 31 in Longview

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012, 5:18pm

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- Sign up now for the Running of the Fools, set for March 31 in Longview.

The 10k run/walk will take place at Willow Grove Park. Walkers start at 7:45 a.m. and runners start at 8:30 a.m. Packet pickup and registration begins at 6:45 a.m. The male course record is 34:40.9 and the female course record is 43:52.3. The 6.2-mile course goes around the Willow Grove loop. The race will start and finish by the covered picnic area at Willow Grove Park.

Proceeds benefit the Cowlitz Valley Runners Scholarship Fund and help support the local Girls on the Run program.

Overall male & female and top three in age divisions (15&U, 16-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71 and older). Also, awards will be given for a variety of other foolish reasons: best costume, last place, oldest and youngest runners.

Pre-registration is $25 (this includes a technical shirt to the first 200 registrants). Day-of-race registration is $30 and includes a technical shirt to the first 200 registrants.

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