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FAST Action is Vital for Stroke Awareness Month
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HELENA, Mont. (NMB) - May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and one of the key points in the event of a stroke is FAST action. Dr. Ziad Darkhabani says certain clot-busting drugs can only be given withini a short time frame, so people need to call 911 immediately upon onset of symptoms. Identifying those symptoms can be memorized with the acronym "FAST."
"Facial, Arm, Speech and Time. So facial, any facial weakness basically, that's going to indicate possible stroke. Arm weakness or drift. Speech problem. And they added the 'T' just to show how important time is."
Time is also vital because with a stroke, brain damage begins right away.
"Every minute passed, thousands of cells will die. Thousands of connections between the cells also will die, and that's why time is extremely important for the treatment of stroke."
Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.
(Copyright 2013 New Media Broadcasters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Lindeen Discusses Affordable Care Act
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HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) - Throughout this week, Montana Securities and Insurance Commissioner Monica Lindeen has been traveling to towns across the Hi-Line to talk with local residents about health insurance topics. The primary subject of discussion has been President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. Lindeen explains the impact the Act will have in Montana.
"We know now that we have 3 companies here in Montana that will be participating in the exchange: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Pacific Source, and the new co-op that's been formed."
She adds that the changes probably won't affect many small business owners in north-central Montana.
"One thing that people really need to understand first and foremost is that if you have less than 50 employees, you are not required to actually purchase insurance for your employees."
The ACA will take effect on January 1st, 2014. People can begin signing up for coverage on October 1st, 2013.
(Copyright 2013 New Media Broadcasters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Rocky Boy HS Celebrates Graduation
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ROCKY BOY, Mont. (NMB) - Thursday night, 32 seniors at Rocky Boy High School were honored with graduation ceremonies. One student was missing, though. Arron Olson passed away in February 2010 due to injuries sustained in a house fire. At the ceremony, senior Mark Jarvey Jr. announced that the Class of 2013 would never forget their classmate.
"Throughout the year we were always fighting, and we were always getting at each other, and we couldn't agree, but one thing we agreed upon is that we still missed him and we remembered him, so we want to honor his mother."
Every graduate gave Olson's mother a hug, and presented her with a tribal blanket. Also missing from graduation was senior Levi Olson, who is competing at the Class B State Track and Field Meet in Bozeman.
(Copyright 2013 New Media Broadcasters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Blackpowder Club Gears Up for Big Weekend
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HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) - Throughout the weekend, the Bullhook Bottoms Blackpowder Club will be hosting the 34th annual Blackpowder Shoot. The three-day event begins at 8:00 Saturday morning at Fort Assiniboine. A number of shooting matches will take place, but club member Jim Riggs says there are other events to enjoy, like the ladies' frying pan throw and the pancake race.
"(They) build a fire, cook a pancake, and then they gotta race that pancake down the line about 25 yards. (They) flip the pancake once, throw a tomahawk and race back, flip the pancake again, and cross the finish line."
He notes that another unique aspect is the clothing of some of the competitors.
"The period that we represent is basically the fur trapper era from the 1830's to the 1860's. There are guys that will be wearing military uniforms. They went into the Calvary aspect of the program."
There is a $2 registration fee, as well as a $1 fee for each match entered.
(Copyright 2013 New Media Broadcasters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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GED Boot Camp Registration This Saturday
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HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) - For the roughly 300 or so GED students in our area, a new program is being introduced to help prepare for the final exam in just under 2 months. Registration for the GED Boot Camp is this Saturday at the HRDC Building. Adult Basic Education Instructor Fawn Thibodeaux has the details.
"Registration Saturday morning - the morning session - the doors will open at 9:00. It's about a 2 1/2 hour process. The afternoon session will start at 6:00, and we'll probably be here at 5:30."
She adds that this program is perfect for students who don't have the time to attend the regular classes during the day.
"Seven weeks, anybody could do something. 3 1/2 hours a day, 4 days a week, for 7 weeks, that's less than a basketball season."
The program is slated to begin on June 3rd.
(Copyright 2013 New Media Broadcasters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Bike Program Pedals Ahead
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HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) - The Hill County Health Consortium met Tuesday afternoon. During the meeting, the Obesity Prevention through Exercise and Nutrition, or OPEN Gym Sub-committee gave an update on a potential city-wide bike share program. Ryan Pearson serves as co-chair of the sub-committee. He says two bike racks have already been completed and will be installed shortly.
"Havre High School donated their time to build 2 bike racks. We're gonna be installing one bike rack on the west side of the Atrium, and the second one will be installed on the east side of the Atrium."
He adds that an additional 4 bike racks are scheduled to be made this fall.
"MSU-Northern has also told us in the fall that they would also be willing to build a couple racks for us, as well."
Pearson says he wants all of the bike racks in place before actual bicycles are donated or purchased.
(Copyright 2013 New Media Broadcasters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Legislators Meet for One Last Public Forum
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HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) - Tuesday night, the Havre Chamber of Commerce and Bear Paw Development hosted a post-session Legislative forum. Members of the community discussed a number of topics with 5 local legislators. One of the most debated subjects was the failure of proposed Medicaid expansion. Democratic Senator Greg Jergeson of Chinook says low-income Montanans are most at risk without a solution.
"Now what do they do? Well, they avoid going to see a medical provider. What they end up doing is waiting until they are very, very ill, and then it is very, very expensive to treat that illness."
Republican Representative Kris Hansen of Havre says Montana could already be on its way to a solution, if not for Governor interference.
"We are now 4 years behind where we could be on Medicaid and Medicare reform coverage in this state. And we have not taken those opportunities because of our vetoing-happy Governors."
Governor Steve Bullock vetoed over 70 bills from this past session, a number that Republican Representative Wendy Warburton of Chinook says is too high.
"I think 71 vetoes of a lot of very good bills shows a total lack of respect for the Constitutional bounds of power."
Democratic Representative Clarena Brockie of Harlem says that although the two political parties disagreed quite often, relations remain cordial.
"You might debate with someone, but you have that respect when you walk out of there. Very respectful place, you know, just still respect that person even if we disagree."
Democratic Senator Jonathan Windy Boy of Box Elder also attended the forum.
(Copyright 2013 New Media Broadcasters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Pieces in Place for Great Northern Fair
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HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) - At Tuesday night's Great Northern Fair Board meeting, the Rodeo Committee discussed the two-night concert it will be hosting this year. The band Second Amendment will be traveling from Utah to perform on Friday and Saturday night after the rodeo. Rodeo Committee Member Susan Brurud said the tickets for the concert and rodeo should be printed by early June. Beyond that, she says the next major task is prepping the arena.
"We grease all of the hinges so that all the chutes run and gates run really smoothly. We work the arena up and water it several times, getting the footing really well-prepared."
Fair Manager Tim Solomon also noted that a rumor has been going around town that the Junior Rodeo won't be taking place, but to his knowledge that event will still be happening.
(Copyright 2013 New Media Broadcasters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Pipeline Ban Lifted
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HELENA, Mont. (NMB) - Federal officials have lifted their temporary freeze on funding for the $361 million water pipeline project on the Rocky Boy Reservation.
According to the Chippewa Cree Tribe official website, Bureau of Reclamation spokesman Tyler Johnson said Wednesday the agency is satisfied tribal officials are addressing the funding problems identified in March.
Funding was temporarily halted after money had been discovered missing. A federal investigation led to the indictments of 6 individuals, including Chippewa Cree Construction Corporation CEO Tony Belcourt.
Belcourt has pleaded not guilty to fraud, theft and money laundering charges.
(Copyright 2013 New Media Broadcasters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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* KPQX Local News *
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KPQX local news emphasizes quality and substance. Audio is utilized to ensure accurate reporting - no misquotes or misinterpretations because listeners hear the actual quote and audio from the people and events making the news. You interpret this significance of the report yourself.
Our local news brings relevance to issues of importance - news coverage that relates to residents of North Central Montana. Accurate, timely information delivered in a prompt and cohesive manner.
Expanded hourly updates are delivered at the top of each hour at 6, 7, 8 and 9 a.m. and every afternoon at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. Headline news, breaking stories and updates available all other hours. "Montana at Noon" is a more in-depth review of the news starting daily at 12:15 p.m. daily.
Residents of North Central Montana have long recognized the quality and timeliness of our newscasts. Additional recognition of our news at the national, regional and state level comes from the Associated Press, Society for Professional Journalists, the Greater Montana Foundation and the Radio and Television News Director Association's prestigious Edward R. Murrow award.
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