Category: Health & Lifestyles

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.

By Catherine Richard
After years years of planning and construction, the Wolf Hawk Precision shooting range and gun shop opened its doors to the public this past Saturday, September 7.
The owner, William Bennett, a sixth generation Texan, has built the impressive complex on a 55 acre stretch of land within the Bennett family ranch. Coming from multiple generations of hunters, Bennett wanted the facilities to serve the needs of casual gun owners, new hunters, and professionals alike.
Inside the gun store there are a variety of firearms lining the walls, from CZs to Rugers, along with shelves of ammo and suppressor components.
The store is equipped to create customized suppressors, which can be assembled, stamped, and processed in the store.
The shooting range, meanwhile, provides an opportunity for gun owners to train with their firearms. There are two areas, the rifle range and the pistol pit.
Close to the range, there is a ground level area for those who want to improve their marksmanship or sight in their rifles. It is overlooked by elevated platforms, which more advanced marksmen can qualify to practice on.

Continue reading “Shooting range complex, and gun store opens in Pearsall”

If you are a nature lover, a bird watcher, a landscape designer, conservationist or just enjoy seeing things grow, there is a position open just waiting for you to claim it. To be qualified, you must be able to see beauty and colors, smell fragrance, enjoy clean air, or touching the earth, flowers and plants and the taste of clean water.
You must be in the age range of 16 to 106 and have some experience in walking barefoot in the grass or picnicking in the park. Or maybe you have hiked in the woods and stopped to smell the roses. Beginners will find their wages are a few aching muscles and the pay-off will be a rise in spirits and a joyful heart. If you enjoy the experience, you may advance to the title of chairman of a project or an officer in the garden club.
Benefits include the security of social friendships with garden club members everywhere. The benefit of retirement is a wheelbarrow full of happy memories, a perennial remembrance of worthwhile accomplishments, the pleasure of learning from other gardeners and, perhaps, a beautiful garden that is all your own creation.

Continue reading “Want to join Devine Garden Club?”

By Paul Schattenberg
Waylon Hastings ’15, Ph.D., has returned to his alma mater as an assistant professor in Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Nutrition with a mission to develop efficient methods to measure individual differences in aging.
Hastings, who began Aug. 1, earned undergraduate degrees in biochemistry, genetics and mathematics, as well as a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University. He also holds a dual-title doctorate in biobehavioral health and bioethics from Pennsylvania State University.
Prior to returning to Texas A&M, Hasting was a postdoctoral scientist in the Behavioral Neurodevelopmental Genetics Laboratory at Tulane University School of Medicine and council adviser for Bayer Healthcare LLC.                 
“We’re excited Dr. Hastings is returning to Texas A&M,” said David Threadgill, Ph.D., head of the Department of Nutrition. “He brings a wealth of knowledge from his graduate and postdoctoral training, especially regarding his focus on cancer and aging, including the impact of nutrition on the rate of aging. This represents an important new dimension in research for the department.”

Continue reading “Hastings will investigate interventions to increase human ‘health span’”

Donations are being accepted for the Fall Indoor Yard Sale to be hosted at the Lytle Community Center on Saturday, September 7 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.
All proceeds will benefit Lytle Animal Allies and City of Lytle Animal Care and Control.
Getting your home ready for the holidays? Don’t know where to take your unwanted items? The City of Lytle Animal Care and Control will accept your donated items, Monday- Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. at their facility at 17971 FM 2790 South, Lytle, Texas 78052.
Please no electronics, computers, monitors or shoes.