Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Children's Week plans done

Plans for Childrens Week are pretty much in the bag, so to speak.

Prissy Traczewitz, with the Prescott-Nevada County Health Alliance, told Alliance members there will be a lot of good things going on this year for Childrens Week, which is scheduled for the first full week in April.

She said there will be a lot of presenters and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will have its traveling aquarium at the Prescott-Nevada County Library for Library Day. Children will get to see the different varieties of fish in the states rivers and lakes. In addition, Library Day will feature special readers and a puppet show.

Traczewitz said there will be eight areas for children to visit. Were waiting to hear back from several. Weve got the backpacks and Friends of the Library will be giving each of the children a book.

The Department of Health-Human Services will stuff the backpacks, which will include a schedule of events for Childrens Week.

The backpacks are a clear plastic.

Edie Greenwood said in the past the Nevada County Health Unit has furnished white grape juice, cracker and cheese as a snack for the children. However, some children cant eat or drink these things and have problems trying to maneuver with them. This year, she suggested getting juice in boxes and making a kind of trail mix with cereal. There would be no nuts in this trail mix, she told the Alliance. About 200 juice boxes would be needed.

Tina Blevins talked about the tobacco grant. She began by introducing Joe Maxwell, the program administrator. I contacted five more retailers and got a call from Hines Trucking. In addition, she visited with several civic groups about not smoking.

Greenwood talked about the Active for Life program, saying those participating were given their T-shirts and a pedometer. Everyone was told they need to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. A total of 175 people are involved in the program, she said.

There will be prizes for teams reaching their goals along with individuals who exceed their goals. These people will be given Prescott Bucks to be used at participating local businesses. The details about the prizes have not been finalized yet.

About 30 people attended the diabetes program, which was part of the grant received for the Active for Life program. Following the workshop, those attending went to the local grocery store and read compared labels. It was a good workshop.

The PNCHA, Greenwood said, has been approved to receive a $1,500 grant from the Prevention Resource Council. The grant is to be used for coalition building. Janet McAdams is handling the grant. It has been suggested members of the PNCHA have a retreat to discuss and decide which direction the Alliance needs to be going in and what issues need to be addressed.

Pat McCullough, co-president of the Alliance, reminded everyone of the town hall meeting on underage drinking Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Prescott High School Auditorium.

It will be an open forum, she said, with a question and answer period. The panel includes Prescott Police Chief Brian Russell, Prosecuting Attorney Randy Wright, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dana Stone, Bubba Powers and Marcia Lasiter, who will speak on the insurance side of teen drinking.

We want parents to be there, she said. Were not there to talk to kids, but they can come. A short film will also be shown at the meeting.

Lori Arnette, with the Prescott School District, said there will be a know your nutrition workshop from 1-2 p.m. at the PHS March 28 as well.

Greenwood talked about the Prostate Grant Mayors Campaign, saying the prostate van will be at the First United Methodist Church parking lot from 4-7 p.m. Friday, May 12. This event is to encourage men to be checked for prostate cancer. Those attending will be given a digital rectal exam along with a prostate specific antigen test.

Id like to see 100 people get tested, Greenwood said. Michelle Rhodes had gotten the names of people in churches and will be contacting them to urge the men in their congregation to be tested.