Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Valley News at a Glance

Snowfall near average, up from last year

Ag Communications Scholarships available

Influenza season is here; case reported in county

Stevensville Christmas Bird Count sets species record

“The snowfall season so far has been quite variable," says Roy Kaiser, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) water supply specialist. "Statewide mountain snowpack is near average and up from last year.”

The NRCS provides mountain snowpack data and streamflow forecasts by evaluating data gathered at automated and manual sites located throughout the foothills and mountains of the western United States.

“The snow water content recorded on Jan. 1, 2008 represents about 40 to 45 percent of the seasonal snowfall,” said Kaiser. “With more than half of the snowfall season remaining and slightly above average precipitation, Montana could see a positive snowpack for the season.”

Mountain precipitation for December west of the Continental Divide was 123 percent of average and east of the Continental Divide was 109 percent of average. According to Kaiser, the erratic storms tracking mostly west of the Continental Divide and across mountains in the southern portions of southwest and south central Montana have helped to improve precipitation levels.

Mountain snow water content statewide was 91 percent of average and 111 percent of last year. West of the Continental Divide, mountain snow water content was 90 percent of average and 106 percent of last year. East of the Continental Divide, mountain snow water content was 90 percent of average and 114 percent of last year. In the Bitterroot River basin, snowpack is 111 percent of average and 132 percent of last year.

Applications are now available online for the third annual Ag Communications Scholarship, presented jointly through Agri-News, Stockman Bank, Western Livestock Reporter, and Northern Ag Network. As many as three scholarships totaling up to $4,000 will be awarded in May to graduating high school seniors intending to attend a college or university with the long-term goal of working in ag communications.

Preference will be given to students from ag backgrounds who want to serve rural people in their careers.

More information and a printable version of the application are available online at www.cattleplus.com, and the deadline for application is April 11.

Influenza season is here; case reported in county

The Flu season has begun in Montana. As of January 5, 2008, there are laboratory confirmed reports of influenza from the following counties: Ravalli, Beaverhead, Blaine, Cascade, Custer, Flathead, Gallatin, Hill, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Missoula, Park, Phillips, Pondera, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Valley and Yellowstone.

Basic Influenza (Flu) Facts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and can even lead to death. On average every year in the United States, 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu. More that 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from the flu. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person in respiratory droplets by the coughing or sneezing of people infected with the flu. People also can become infected by touching anything with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eye. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to at least five days after the onset of symptoms. That means you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated. Additionally, basic health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands frequently can help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses to others, especially the flu. The following are good health habits to follow on a daily basis to decrease the spread of many viruses:

1) Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick.

2) Stay home when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. Do not send sick children to school or day care as they easily spread viral illnesses.

3) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing.

4) Clean your hands often to protect you from germs. Wash your hands with warm, clean water and soap for 15-20 seconds. Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door. If you are not near water, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

5) Antiseptically clean frequently used objects, such as office equipment including computer keyboards, telephones, copier keyboards, etc.

6) Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth.

7) Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

If you do get the flu, there are some actions you can do at home: rest extensively, drink plenty of non-caffeinated liquids, avoid using alcohol and tobacco. You may be able to take medication to relieve the symptoms of the flu, but only as directed on the medication. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms – and particularly fever – unless directed otherwise by your doctor.

Again the best protection against the flu is vaccination and it's not too late to get your flu shot. About 70 flu shots are still available at Ravalli County Public Health for $25.00 or free with your Medicare/Medicaid card. Beginning January 28, a limited number of free flu shots will be available on a first come, first served basis. Call 375-6670 to schedule an appointment to get your flu shot today. Flu shots also have been available throughout the community at clinics and pharmacies.

The 43rd annual Stevensville Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place on December 29, 2007. The weather was fairly mild, with partly sunny skies. Forty-three field observers spent part or all of the day out looking for birds within the Count Circle, which includes the area within 7.5 miles of the Stevensville Ranger Station. They were joined by 24 feeder watchers who counted birds in their yards.

A total of 10,142 individual birds were counted, representing 87 different species, which breaks the previous species record (set in 2006) by one species. The species count will once again be the first or second highest total for any of the CBCs in Montana.

New species for the Stevi CBC included Chestnut-backed Chickadee (native to our area, but uncommon and restricted to the Bitterroot canyons) and Eurasian Collared-Dove, an exotic species that has spread across the U.S. from Florida over the past 20 years and was first noticed in Stevensville in 2005. Local counters have now seen a total of 152 species over the 43 years of the Count. Besides the two new species, new Count records were set for Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Wild Turkey, California Quail and Mourning Dove. Other birds tallied that are rarely seen in our area during the winter included Snow Goose, Greater Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Virginia Rail, Canyon Wren and Varied Thrush. The actual results of the Stevensville CBC and all the other CBCs across the U.S. can be viewed on the Internet at www.audubon.org/bird/cbc.