Category: Health & Lifestyles

By Kayleen Holder and Catherine Richard
Did you know that the US has more than 200,000 air, ground, and naval personnel deployed overseas? Key areas of deployment include approximately 5,000 in Africa, approximately 100,000 in Europe, approximately 10-15,000 in Southwest Asia, and more than 80,000 in East Asia (2024), according to the CIA’s World Fact Book which can be accessed online.
The World Factbook defines “deployed” as a permanently stationed force or a temporary deployment of greater than six months. Paramilitaries, police, contractors, mercenaries, proxy forces, and deployments smaller than 100 personnel are not included in these figures. The numbers provided are estimates.
With the 23rd anniversary of 9/11 and the beginning of the War on Terror having just passed and with the approach of Veteran’s Day, Americans can take this time of remembrance and support the service members that are currently serving their country.
There are a few programs in place designed to bring encouragement to deployed service members. Some organizations offer letter-writing programs, where personal letters can be sent in care packages to service members. Other organizations take donations and send out packages to either specific individuals or to an unspecified unit that requests them. Listed below are a few of these organizations.

Continue reading “Did you know that the US has more than 200,000 troops deployed overseas?”

Rene Langley is happy to announce her new massage studio in Devine!  She offers 60 and 90 minute customized massages with a goal of “a treatment that is totally individualized to EACH client.”  She also offers short and affordable chair massages starting at $45.

“I am certified in many modalities from Swedish deep tissue, cranialsacral, myofascial release, trigger point, to reflexology, sports injuries/ surgery rehabilitation, headaches/migraines and more.  I have been a Sports Massage Therapist for  over 10 years,” Langley said, having studied physical therapy and sports medicine as well before delving full time into massage therapy. 

“I have worked in hospitals, clinics and spas on many clients with a variety of issues from helping clients needing to relax, to helping with injuries or diseases/illness/disabilities that affect clients on a daily basis,” Langley adds.

“I broke my back as a teen so I personally know the benefits of therapeutic massage and to take care of my body. I have a passion for helping people not only feel better but to get better in all aspects of their health,” Langley said.

Continue reading “Devine studio offers Specialized Massage, Reflexology &more”

For some, being in your mid 30’s is considered “over the hill” for bull riding. But thanks to three cowboys who had a passion for continuing their rodeo careers, the World Senior Professional Bull Riders Association (WSPBR) was born in 2009. They recently competed in a rodeo this September at TW Arena in Bigfoot.
They held an open bull ride after the WSPBR event as well.
Robert Long, Morgan Saunders and Troy Moseley are the “Founding Fathers”, of WSPBR, which is now considered, the longest running and most competitive senior bull riding association in the world, according to wspbr.com.
“With 30+ events per year and over 300 members, the WSPBR attracts bull riders from all over the continental United States and beyond those borders. Membership cards are scattered from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Virginia and Colorado,” their website states.
Some even travel here from as far away as…

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By Catherine Richard
After suffering from a seizure last November, Israel and Gloria Garza’s 32 year old son has had limited mobility. When he was released from the hospital in Feb., a door was quickly installed in the side of his parents’ house along with a steep makeshift plywood ramp to get his mobile bed in and out.
A nurse at the hospital urged the Garzas to reach out to The Texas Ramp Project, and on Wednesday, Sept. 18, construction began for a new ramp.
A group of 22 people assembled to complete the project, six of which were volunteers for The Texas Ramp Project.
Roland Guzman, the team leader for The Texas Ramp Project volunteers, said that without a ramp, many ill or disabled people end up unable to leave their homes, unable to go to doctor appointments or make other essential trips.
“We need to make sure we get people out and about,” Guzman said.
The Texas Ramp Project has built 27,917 ramps in the state. With its origins in Dallas, in 2006 the organization was officially started in order to build wheelchair ramps to for low-income elderly or disabled Texans. It now operates in 132 counties.
The Texas Ramp Project crew arrived early in the morning, equipped with a plan and…

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Next meeting Oct. 28th in Hondo

The Huajilla Chapter of Retired Teachers Association held its first meeting of the new year on September 23, 2024, at the D’Hanis Community Center with 55 members and guests present.
Huajilla President Earline Schlortt called the meeting to order, welcoming Special Guests TRTA District 20 President Melissa Ramos and her husband, Jesse Ramos, who also serves as Vice President of Texas Retired Teachers Foundation, along with new members Darlene Haby, Pam Syasak, Gail Gooley, Melissa Haby, and guests Irene Cox and Shirley Click.
Sam Dubberly led the Pledges to the US and Texas flags; Lewis Stroud offered the opening prayer, followed by singing of “America the Beautiful.”
Schlortt turned the meeting over to Melissa Ramos who formally installed the 2024-2026 executive officers: President Earline Schlortt; 1st Vice President Elaine Neuman; 2nd Vice President Betsy Polgue; Secretary Irene Rodriguez-Dubberly; Treasurer Maria Elizondo; and Parliamentarian Bertha Benedetti. Past President Marianne Garrett was unable to attend.
President Schlortt’s meeting focus continued with recognition and appreciation of those who…

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Local doctor warns about overdoses from common OTC medication

By Catherine Richard
In a recent interview, a local doctor drew attention to a very common over-the-counter medication that results in thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths every year.
The culprit is nothing other than acetaminophen.
While it has good safety profile when taken properly, slightly higher doses could cause liver toxicity.
“The therapeutic dose of acetaminophen and the toxic dose of acetaminophen are not that far off from one another,” said Dr. Richard Neel, MD, MPH.
According to one study published in 2023 by the National Library of Medicine, acetaminophen is the second leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.
Furthermore, on a yearly basis, overdoses account…

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How rare are train derailments? Since 2020, more than 4,000 trains have derailed with 70% of derailments happening in cities. A very publicized one you may recall was the Norfolk Southern freight train incident in East Palestine, Ohio in 2023. Some interesting train derailment statistics can be found on usafacts.org under “Are train derailments becoming more common?” Many of us cross railroad tracks every day in our county. We probably don’t think much about it, but trains have become longer and are very likely carrying hazardous materials that are highly explosive increasing the risk to the communities they pass through. This year, our preparedness focus for the Health Unit will include education on railway, truck and pipeline safety. Our office and the county Office of Emergency Management & Fire Marshal will be offering a seminar on identifying hazards like these in our communities and how to protect ourselves and our environment. The seminar will be open to the public and I hope to have some information on that soon. Future plans on this topic may include training for volunteers on identifying toxic chemicals and accident response. What would accident response look like for public health in a railway derailment situation or pipeline leak or explosion? For public health, there may be air, surface soils and surface water affected. There may be individuals affected with symptoms of chemical exposure. There may be evacuations or sheltering in place to plan for. If you are interested in attending some of our future events on this topic, email me at patricia.mechler@medinatx.org. It doesn’t mean you have to be a volunteer with us, it means you want to be aware of and able to spot some of the hazards these types of situations can produce and how you could be prepared to take care of yourself, your family and friends. Source: www.nlc.org Rail Safety in Communities Across the U.S.