Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Health-A-Rama Is This Saturday

The fourth annual Health-A-Rama will be held in the First Baptist Church gymnasium in air conditioned comfort Saturday, September 9, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Participants are urged to fast before going to the event so that the different health-related screens, including blood sugar for diabetes and cholesterol, will be more accurate. There will be food vendors or free juice available for snacks after the screens.

Other health-related screens will be oxygen saturation, blood pressure checks, cataract and glaucoma exams, anemia screening and child development screens. The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be on site to take donations for Nevada County.

There will be many health education booths on display covering a variety of topics, including drug/alcohol abuse prevention, calcium needs, breast cancer awareness with a chance to schedule a local mammogram, organ donor recovery, hospice care, physical fitness and child development milestones.

For computer buffs there will be an opportunity to learn how to access health related information from the Internet.

Children haven't been forgotten. At the Health-A-Rama parents can have their children fingerprinted and have a photo ID made. There will be bingo, health related games, face painting, McGruff the Crime Dog, a coloring contest with two age divisions and Balloon Man. Lots of prizes for events as well as door prizes will be given out throughout the day. Parents can have their children screened for child development milestones.

The Health-A-Rama is sponsored by the Nevada County Health Alliance. This is a core group of health-care professionals representing the health-care providers in the area.

The alliance was formed after the Nevada County Hospital closed. The idea was to see that health services were still available to the residents of the Prescott-Nevada County area.

However, along with the medical professionals involved, other civic leaders pitched in on the health-care effort.

Groups helping with the fourth Health-A-Rama include Nevada County Office of Economic Development, Medical Park Hospital of Hope, Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, Holly's Health Mart, Nevada County Cooperative Extension Service, Dr. Charles Vermont, Nevada County Health Unit, Nevada County Day Service Center, Beverly Health Care, AllCare Pharmacy, Southern Clinic, St. Michael Clinic, Dr. Alan Fox, Arkansas Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Firestone, Potlatch, Teague and Pearson Eye Clinic, Southwest Arkansas Development Council, Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Heart Watch, Nevada County Ambulance Service, Nevada County Fitness Center, and the city of Prescott.

Groups and businesses who have contributed toward the success of the event include Prescott Rotary Club, Firestone, Potlatch and Boys To Men. EZ Click and IOCC will be available on Internet access at the fair.

Everyone is urged to attend this year's fair. It is much more fun than a doctor's office and the service are free to participants.