Latest news with #LoganHealth
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles case confirmed in Flathead County
May 21—Flathead County health officials confirmed Wednesday a case of measles in a county resident who recently traveled outside of the area. There is not yet a clear indication of the exact point of exposure, officials said in a May 21 press release. The individual, an adult whose vaccination status remains unknown, is isolating at home, according to the Flathead City-County Health Department. "Our staff swiftly conducted the investigation upon receiving notification from the state and were able to quickly identify close contacts to prevent further spread. Staff are diligently working with local health care providers to remain in communication. We appreciate their partnership," said county Health Officer Jennifer Rankosky in a statement. Measles is a highly contagious and infectious disease that is spread primarily through the air. Droplets, often transmitted through coughing, sneezing and talking, can linger in the air for up to two hours. It can also spread through touching contaminated surfaces. The disease typically begins with a fever, cough, runny house, red eyes and white spots inside the cheeks. A red rash often appears two weeks after exposure. Health officials recommend anyone suffering measles symptoms contact their health care provider immediately. A medical provider can explain how to get care without exposing others to the illness. Those experiencing measles should stay home and turn away visitors until the disease is either ruled out or the patient is no longer contagious, health officials said. Montana saw its first case of measles since 1990 this year, according to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The case was first reported in Gallatin County. In March, Flathead County health experts stated they were preparing for a potential measles outbreak after the disease began spreading in Texas. "If you are unvaccinated and you live in the Flathead, well our herd in the Flathead is not immune," said Logan Health pediatrician Dr. Ken Graham in March. Herd immunity is reached when enough people are immune to a virus to hinder its spread. For measles, herd immunity is reached when roughly 94% of people are protected against the virus. About 86% of Montana's two-year-olds have at least one dose of MMR vaccine, which covers measles, mumps and rubella, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. That is slightly lower than the national average of 90%. But the level of protection in Flathead County is unknown. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the virus still kills more than 200,000 people a year, according to the Mayo Clinic. Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Employers at job fair looking to fill open spots
Apr. 18—Waves of students and job seekers walked the rows of the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday featuring over 100 businesses and a chance to connect and explore professional opportunities. Levels of urgency varied when it comes to hiring across industries with some employers expressing extreme hiring concerns and others finding themselves in a better place than in previous years. The event at the Flathead County Fairgrounds was hosted by the Daily Inter Lake, Job Service Kalispell, Flathead Valley Community College, Discover Kalispell Chamber and WorkForce Flathead. "We're hiring a little bit of everything right now," said Nomad GCS project manager Shean Gross, sitting at the Flathead Valley manufacturer's booth at the entrance to the job fair. Last year Nomad added around 100 employees to its local workforce, interim manager Candance Zumalt, said. "We're constantly growing so we're constantly hiring," she said. A list of current openings included quality assurances inspectors, engineering leads, assembly technicians, software engineers and human resource positions. Logan Health is also hiring across the board, according to the hospital's talent acquisition partner Amy Quinn. The hospital is also experiencing more stable employee numbers than in years past. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospital has utilized a travel program that recruits medical staff for weeks at a time. The hospital is eliminating the program as a result of adequate local staffing, Quinn said. "That's why we're hiring right now too, to keep those good numbers up," she said. The hospital is looking to fill vacancies, including imaging specialists, pharmacists, nurses, lab technicians and administrative positions. Nurses are in demand also, Quinn said. The goal is to show that working at Logan can appeal to everyone, Quinn said. She highlighted the hospital's certified nursing assistant program, where people as young as 16 can earn their Montana CNA license. The job fair consisted of a morning session for highschoolers and an afternoon session open to the general public. A pig lung sat on the Logan Health table, a chance for kids and patrons to watch a lung inflate, as well as other goodies including candy and pens. Other booths were also interactive. The company behind Redneck products had a bucket of smoked sausages and the United States Marine Corps recruiting station boasted a pull-up bar for people to try. The Spot, a Kalispell coffee and doughnut shop, had a wall of doughnuts for visitors. While some companies report solid employment numbers, others find it trickier to lock down employees. The nonprofit Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana, which provides social services assistance, reported a need for more employees. "It's been stagnant it seems, the applicant pool," Valerie Camp, a project manager for the agency said. She recounted a slow start to staffing last year as well. Kevin Connors, a career transition specialist with Job Corps, noted that the trade industries are also always in need of more employees. Job Corps, through the U.S. Department of Labor, gives young people an opportunity to train in various career fields including forestry conservation, firefighting and urban forestry. The fields range beyond natural resources, with entrances into manufacturing, carpentry, welding, culinary arts and facilities management. At the job fair on Thursday, Plains High School senior Isaiah Paseman said he wants to pursue a trade after graduation and took the opportunity to speak to employers about the opportunities in the trades. "It's cool to see all of the different job opportunities laid out, but I know I want to go into something more trade based," he said. Spring is the time when many businesses are adding additional staffing to prepare for the busy summer tourist season. "For the most part, we're in a good spot. Right now, we're approaching our busy season, so we're prepping with that in mind," said Amber Stafford, a district manager with Town Pump. Glacier National Park Lodges, a Xanterra company, is 94% staffed as of Thursday for the summer season, according to Victoria Nix, the company's human resource director. Seasonal jobs are posted in October and usually fill up with little issues. Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@ Students from Hot Springs High School play a drone operator simulation with Staff Sgt. Justin Kjos and the U.S. Army National Guard recruiting station at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday, April 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Sean Sandersan, a senior from Libby High School, plays an oversized game of Jenga with Alyssa Smith and Harley May from the clothing retailer Buckle at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday, April 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Wesley Adams, from Hot Springs High School, does chin-ups for a T-shirt with Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Steward at the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at the Northwest Montana Job and Opportunity Fair on Thursday, April 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
County teams up with Logan Health to distribute gun locks
Apr. 5—The Flathead City-County Health Department and Logan Health are rolling out a program to distribute gun locks to community members in an effort to prevent firearm related deaths. "Ensuring that firearms are secure and inaccessible to children and teens is one of the most effective ways to prevent suicides and other firearm-related deaths," Flathead County's Community Health Manager Rose Hash said. The locks are funded from a grant awarded to the Health Department through the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant program, which provides core maternal and child health services. A review of all Flathead County deaths in children ages 17 and younger revealed that since 2021 about 40% of preventable deaths involved a firearm. Further, 21% of students indicated that they had seriously considered attempting suicide, according to a 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey for Flathead County. The review identifies if deaths may have been preventable and implements yearly death prevention initiatives in the community, Hash explained. As a result of the findings, the Health Department's objective is to distribute gun locks with Logan Health Behavioral Health. Gun locks, cheaper than gun safes, are designed to secure independent firearms to prevent them from being loaded, fired or accessed by individuals without a key. "Spreading that time out, preventing access, makes the risk for suicide go down significantly," said Caleb Jordt, the outpatient services manager at Logan Health Behavioral Health. Prior to this program, Logan Health started distributing locks a couple of years ago in inpatient scenarios and Flathead County distributed the locks in schools in a past project, highlighting the need for suicide prevention initiatives over the years. "In Montana, gun ownership is, to no surprise, among the highest of all states," Jordt said, adding that other factors make Northwest Montana a high risk for suicide as well. Flathead County in 2021 saw a suicide rate of 39.29 deaths per 100,000 people, nearly twice the national average, according to the Flathead County Community Health Improvement Plan. One of the action items in that plan was to partner with programs and organizations to distribute more gun locks. Hash introduced the program to the Flathead County-City Health Board at their March meeting. Logan Health is also part of a larger suicide prevention coalition, including entities like the Nate Chute Foundation, that is working on coordinating efforts to reduce suicide in Flathead County, currently focusing on bringing awareness to the 988-crisis line. Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Student leader helps others in the classroom and on the court
Mar. 31—Stillwater Christian School senior Carson Miller is a well-rounded student with a proclivity for math, music and mentoring. "Carson is a kind and compassionate student that seeks excellence in all areas of his life," Stillwater guidance counselor Michelle Fetveit said. Fetveit is one of three people who nominated him for the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award, which he received earlier this month. The Award recognizes the academic achievement and community involvement of high school students who contribute to improving the lives of others. It is sponsored by Logan Health in collaboration with the Daily Inter Lake. "We have other leaders in our school who will fulfill all that is required of them, but Carson takes to heart the purpose of his role as a leader, and he will plan, prepare, and execute his duties with a great attitude and effective skill and commitment," said fellow nominator Micah Hunter who is the choir director and dean of the conservatory at Stillwater. Hunter also pointed to Miller's leadership skills within the school's house system, which is a way of grouping the student body. House leaders spearhead meetings, fun competitions, chapel and retreats "As a house leader, he shows tremendous poise in leading discussions on difficult or personal topics, and he is always humble in his leadership. He has developed a great feel for leading by lifting others up," Hunter wrote in his nomination letter. Miller said he strives to be a servant leader, looking to Jesus as the ultimate example. "A servant leader is somebody who inspires the ones that he's leading but also puts their needs before his own. I try to remember that, but it's extremely difficult," Miller said. MILLER ALSO started a tutoring program at Stillwater about two years ago. He said he had been involved in a tutoring program that was discontinued during the pandemic, but the need for extra academic help remained and sought to establish a new program. Getting the green light from principals, he started contacting teachers to determine interest and recruiting classmates to serve as tutors for the new program called the Cougar Den, named after the school mascot. "He has a great desire to learn and takes great enjoyment in helping others learn as well," said his mother Tami Miller, who also submitted a nomination letter. When Stillwater didn't offer calculus this year, he decided, on his own, to take an Advanced Placement Calculus course, she said. "I do like math, yes, that's my thing," he said. Miller was exposed to advanced math concepts at a young age, starting in preschool. While most preschoolers are learning how to identify numbers and work their way up to addition and subtraction, Miller's older sister, who is now a math teacher, was giving him lessons in multiplication and division. After graduation, he plans to major in either physics or engineering at Biola University. He also plans to minor in music. "I did musicals from fifth through eighth grade," he said, with Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish. His first audition as a child was more at his parents' behest than his interest at the time. "I was like, no, I'm a baseball player, I'm not going to do musicals. But then I auditioned one time, I got in, and I actually ended up really liking it," he said. By the time he reached high school, he didn't hesitate to join band, jazz band, concert choir and chamber choir and will receive Stillwater's Conservatory of Music diploma at graduation. AS AN ATHLETE, his leadership skills extend to the basketball court. Passionate about the sport, he didn't wait to join the basketball team. Toward the end of his freshman year, however, he tore his ACL and underwent surgery. Undeterred by the setback, he worked hard to come back from the injury and succeeded. Then, during his junior year, the varsity team captain's ACL tore again, requiring more surgery. "I took that as a sign from the Lord for me to stop basketball because I was really committed to it. I would play, like, two hours a day, even when there wasn't practice," he said. Crestfallen he couldn't return to the court as a player, Miller didn't pass on his coach's suggestion to lead the fifth- and sixth-grade boys' basketball team. "[As a] player, yeah, you're just focusing on winning," he said. "But the coaching, I'm thinking about winning, but also, since it's fifth and sixth grade, I'm thinking about how to really be more of a teacher." Outside of school, Miller is a camp counselor at Big Sky Bible Camp in Bigfork. He and his siblings were all campers and said it was a natural transition to become a counselor. "You're just kind of thrown into the wolves, sorta, with like 10 elementary school age boys in a cabin for the week," he said with a laugh. He is also a counselor for Camp Promise, which is geared to people with disabilities. Fetveit said Miller is a positive influence in the lives of many campers in her nomination letter. "I just really love sharing the gospel with them and my love of the Lord with them," he said. With experience working with students of different ages through tutoring, counseling and coaching, Miller said his favorite age groups to work with are the fifth and sixth graders. At this age, he said kids have a level of maturity but know how to have fun. In addition to the award, Miller is a National Merit semifinalist, Ben Carson Scholar and has a 4.0 unweighted GPA. "I've grown a lot as a leader, spiritually and mentally," he said. LEARN MORE Winslow Nichols Award nomination criteria: Eligibility: High school students in Flathead, Lake or Lincoln counties. Academics: Students who value their education by exhibiting academic responsibility; preferably have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Character: Students who display integrity, compassion, service and excellence. Citizenship: Students who nurture healthy communities through community service, volunteerism or other contributions to their community and/or school. Leadership: Students who take initiative and are role models for others. Forms are available at Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Flathead County health experts prepare as measles spreads across U.S.
Mar. 5—Flathead County health officials and experts are preparing for measles as an outbreak spreads in Texas and cases of the virus pop up across the United States. "If you are unvaccinated and you live in the Flathead, well our herd in the Flathead is not immune," said Logan Health pediatrician Dr. Ken Graham last week, referencing herd immunity or when enough people are immune to a virus to make it difficult to spread. For measles, herd immunity is reached when roughly 94% of people are protected against the virus. About 86% of Montana's two-year-olds have at least one dose of MMR vaccine, which covers measles, mumps and rubella, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. That is slightly lower than the national average of 90%. But the level of protection in Flathead County is unknown. That's because counties are no longer required to report vaccination rates after the passing of House Bill 334 in 2021. While county data is unavailable, Graham suggested that since the onset of Covid-19, vaccination rates have dropped across the board. Mistrust of vaccinations grew during the pandemic. On a national scale, vaccination coverage among kindergartners has decreased from 95.2% during the 2019 — 2020 school year to 92.7% in the 2023 — 2024 school year, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk during the 2023 — 2024 school year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A longtime opponent of vaccines, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested Americans consider the measles vaccine after the outbreak in Texas turned deadly in recent weeks. In a March 2 opinion piece published on Fox News Digital, he recommended parents in particular consult with physicians about it. "The decision to vaccinate is a personal one," Kennedy wrote while highlighting good nutrition as "a best defense against most chronic and infectious illnesses." Aside from the Texas outbreak, measles cases have popped up in nine states: Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island. Back in the Flathead Valley, health experts like Graham have sought to assure people of the vaccine's safety. "There's so much misinformation but what we do know is this is entirely safe, we know that with certainty. And it does not cause autism. We know that with certainty," Graham said. "If we don't get the message out, I'm really worried about Montana, especially as you get further north [in the state]." Graham said that vaccination rates are sometimes lower in rural communities, such as in Northwest Montana. County health officials said they would follow a standardized protocol to respond to an outbreak and adjust to circumstances on the ground. "We utilize the protocol as a guide, but our specific response will be altered slightly to best address an outbreak based on what disease is involved and other contributing factors," said Lisa Dennison, population health manager for Flathead County. The best thing you can do if you suspect you have measles is to quarantine and contact a physician, Graham said. Measles is most notably a childhood respiratory infection that spreads easily and prove fatal. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, red, watery eyes and a spreading rash. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the virus still kills more than 200,000 people a year, according to the Mayo Clinic. As a result of high vaccination rates in the past, measles hasn't been widespread in the U.S. in about two decades. Most outbreaks occurring now are in people who were unvaccinated. Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@
