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Covid-19 Vaccine is Now Available Submitted by Joetta Hunt, Administrator, PC Health Dept. The Putnam County Health Department has a limited supply of the newly updated and recommended COVID-19 vaccine available for community members who desire to receive it. The newly recommended vaccine is available for individuals, ages 6 months and older. The health department will offer vaccine to those who are 12 and older. According to the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, vaccines continue to be one of the best and safest ways to protect ourselves and our loved ones against severe COVID illness. Updated COVID vaccines are designed to target the variants currently circulating and are recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. The newly recommended vaccine is different from the previous versions in that it offers a layer of protection against severe disease,
hospitalizations with complications, and death against the XBB.1.5 variant. At this time, this is the only COVID vaccine available in the United States. The CDC and ACIP recommend persons ages 5 years and older to wait at least two months since their previous dose before receiving the updated COVID vaccine. During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration, the COVID vaccines were free to all Americans. Vaccines remain free to the majority of Americans through private health insurance, Medicare, and vaccine assistance programs. Currently, the health department is billing Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial health insurance. We are only able to bill specific Medicare Advantage plans. If you have questions as to whether your health insurance will cover the cost of the vaccine, please reach out
Vaccine ... Cont. to pg. 4
Welsh Shares Alaskan Railroad Experiences with Rotary
Putnam County native Steve Welsh (right) spoke to Rotarians about his 35 year career with the Alaskan Railroad. Steve drove to Alaska as a young man and worked his way up to engineer of the Hurricane Turn Train. The Hurricane Turn route provides transportation to people in wilderness areas where there are no highways. The only ‘flagstop” service in the US is provided on the Hurricane Turn route people wanting to get on the train simply flag it down. Shown with Steve is Rotarian Craig Comstock. Photo credit: Mary Comstock
The Unionville
REPUBLICAN & Putnam County Journal
“157 years of continuous service to Putnam County” www.unionvillerepublicanonline.com
Volume One Hundred Fifty-seven, Issue Number 14
PC Cafe and Resource Center Focus of Rotary Presentation
October 4. 2023
Journal Notes If It Rolls, It Shows Vehicle Show October 7th, 2023 at the Unionville Fairgrounds. 8 am - Noon
Prizes awarded at 1:00 pm
City Wide Garage Sales October 5-7, 2023 Map and Ads on page 16
Brenda Collins (left) and Mary Clapham updated Rotarians on the PC Cafe and Resource Center. Photo credit: Mary Comstock Brenda Collins and Mary Clapham updated Rotarians on the PC Cafe and Resource Center. The Meals on Wheels program provides 40,000 meals to Putnam County residents annually. In addition, nutritious lunches are available at the center Monday through Friday; all provided by one full-time and 3 part-time kitchen workers. Mary said, “They do incredible work.” Mary has led the PC Cafe for 23 years and has experienced greatly reduced government funding in that time. Currently, the center must raise 63% of its yearly budget. Brenda is in her 9th year at the center. An excellent opportunity to help the PC Cafe is coming up October 26,
when the 9th annual fish fry will be presented. All donations made at that time will be matched by Amcor, a manufacturing business in Centerville, Iowa. Last year’s total was close to $20,000. Mary said, “Our community is so very generous!” To cover the governmental shortfall, other fundraisers are offered throughout the year. The Meal Champion program is popular with individuals, businesses and organizations. For $225, anyone can be a Meal Champion for a day. The $225 donation covers the raw food cost for one day’s meals. Meal Champions are listed in The Unionville Republican and on Facebook, a note is put on every
takeout sack, and signs are placed on the inside dining tables on Meal Champion days. Bus trips are another way the PC Cafe raises money. Diamond Tours handle all the bus trips and Mary and Brenda make sure everyone has a fun time. Two trips to Pigeon Forge took place this fall, and trips are planned to San Antonio next March, and Mackinac Island in August. An important service provided by Mary and Brenda is Medicare Part D assistance. They help seniors find the best and cheapest Part D plan and have helped Putnam County senior citizens save thousands each year.
Special Homecoming Section, pp. 7-14
The Ministerial Alliance is looking for Volunteers for Monday Oct. 9th, Tuesday Oct. 10 and Thursday Oct. 12th. See page 17 for details.
PC Band to March in 32nd Annual Parade of Champions Set for Oct. 7 in Kahoka On Saturday, October 7, over 20 high school marching bands will descend on Kahoka for the Parade of Champions parade and field show competition. The 32nd Annual Parade of Champions marching band and field show competition, sponsored by the Clark County R-1 Fine Arts Boosters, will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023, in Kahoka, Missouri. “We are excited to
Parade ... Cont. to pg. 17