This page was last updated 03/02/2010 08:49 AM
N E W S R E L E A S E
DATE \@ "MMMM d, yyyy"
March 2,
2010
For immediate release
For more information, contact: Jessica Davies, 308-487-3600 or
866-701-7173
Businesses may realize 3-to-1 cost savings through worksite wellness
No company is too big or too small to get on board with worksite wellness. “Businesses can reduce absenteeism, improve morale and productivity, plus see a cost savings,” said Jessica Davies, wellness coordinator with Panhandle Public Health District.
PPHD is hosting an information opportunity in Sidney and Alliance next week for companies interested in getting on-board to support healthy lifestyle choices. Keynote speaker will be Carrie Havranek of Gering.
The City of Gering has an active worksite wellness program. They have recently received the Governor’s 2009 Excellence in Wellness award. Cheyenne County officials Diane Scott and Beth Fiegenschuh will join Havranek in Sidney. In Alliance, Box Butte General Hospital’s Human Resources Director Becky Sisler and Terri Allen, worksite wellness coordinator for Scotts Bluff County Health Department will also make brief presentations on healthy worksites.
Attendees will hear about how these agencies have created model, results-oriented programs. Updates on best practices will be shared and other networking opportunities are available. There is no cost to attend and a free incentive will be provided to each attendee.
The gatherings are March 9 in Sidney and March 10 in Alliance. The Sidney meeting is at the 21st Century meeting room on the east side of Highway 385. The Alliance meeting is at the Alliance Library and Learning Center, 1750 Sweetwater Avenue, in Room C. Both meetings will be from 9 to 11 a.m. To register, contact Davies by calling 308.487.3600 or e-mailing jdavies@pphd.org.
N E W S R E L E A S E
DATE \@ "MMMM d, yyyy"
February 15,
2010
For immediate release
For more information, contact: Tabi Prochazka, 308-487-3600 or
866-701-7173
Area students are getting involved in protecting the public health related to America’s #2 cause of lung cancer – radon. More than a dozen area youth won iPods, MP3 players and gift cards from Panhandle Public Health District for promoting Radon Action Month in January. They include:
1st, Jadyn McCartney, Chadron Middle School, won an iPod Nano
2nd, Shaylee Gunwall, Chadron Middle School, won an MP3 Player
3rd, Sydney Nordeen, Grandview, Alliance Schools, won an MP3 Player
4th, Ahlaura Pourier, Chadron Middle School, won an MP3 Player
5th, Eric Escajeda & Spencer Shields, Mary Lynch, Kimball Schools, won Wal-Mart gift cards
1st in Media - Alexandria Noblin, Brendan Brehmer, Danielle Johnson, Kaci Waugh, Kaitlyn Haug and Teagan Westemeier from Chadron Middle School won Wal-Mart gift cards
In addition, area students in grades three through five are involved in a second contest to promote radon test kits to be used in individual homes. Following a short informational video and brochures distributed in each classroom regarding the dangers of radon, the students hit the streets, giving coupons to area residents to redeem for a free short-term radon test kit through PPHD. The class, which garners the most homeowners returning a test kit, will receive free duffel bags.
The radon test kit contest continues through March 31, so more schools may still join the effort and families should continue to request the free test kits through PPHD. For additional information about radon, contact Tabi Prochazka at 308-487-3600, call toll-free to 1-866-701-7173 or visit www.pphd.org.
“The response has been good,” Prochazka said. “But there’s still room to grow. This has been a new effort to draw attention to radon as a serious public health issue. In addition, students are learning the basic information about radon in their classrooms and motivating others to take action.”
