‘Five Minutes’ with kids can make a big difference

Written by Joyce Kyle Tuesday, 11 October 2011 14:46

Parenting is a demanding job in today’s busy world of families. My husband and I used to spend time each evening with both of our boys individually at bedtime. It became a time of bonding, but also of instilling values we held deeply.

Years ago, in my work with children, I came across “The Five Minutes” in “Healing the Hurt Child” by Denis M. Dono­van and Deborah McIntyre. The purpose is to improve child/adolescent parent communication and to help the child or adolescent feel genuinely understood.

The rules are:

(1) The time together is to be private and uninterrupted (one-on-one).

(2) The “Five Minutes” is not to compete with any other activity. The parent is to gently remind the child/adolescent that, “This is our...

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Things looking up at Goessel senior center

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 11 October 2011 14:45

About three weeks ago, the future of Goessel’s AGAPE Senior Center seemed bleak, but after two successful fundraising events in September and early October, along with the addition of a new manager, things are looking up.

Glendene Schmidt, the center’s board secretary, said the loss of their cook, the turnover in managers and losing their board chair because of illness, did cause concern, but at the moment the center is stable.

“Elaine Goertzen was our chair and involved with the board for more than 20 years,” she said, adding that everyone was grateful for her help and service on the board.

Part of the problem as to why the center is without a cook was because the meal count was low.

How centers operate

“A lot of people...

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Small-town hospital feels about right for new Hillsboro CEO

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 11 October 2011 14:45

Cheri Barton, who started earlier this month as the new chief executive officer at Hillsboro Community Hospital, feels comfortable in her role. “I like being able to effect change and making certain that all aspects are covered,” she says. Small towns and small-town hospitals are familiar territory for Cheri Barton, who stepped in earlier this month as the new chief executive officer at Hillsboro Community Hospital.

Prior to arriving, Barton held a similar position for the past three years at the Seiling (Okla.) Community Hospital, a general medical and surgical hospital in a community of around 875.

Add to that a stint in Oswego, with less than 2,000 people, and Ironton, Mo., with less than 1,400, and a pattern seems to emerge.

“I prefer small towns,” Bar­ton said. “I like the community atmosphere. When you walk in the grocery store, you know everyone. That has its good points and bad, but just being able to care for people you know and care about is important...

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Racing heart could be more than wine’s effect

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 13 September 2011 16:34

QWhenever I drink a little too much wine, I find that I wake up at night and my heart seems to race for a while. Can wine do that?

AThe short answer is yes. But, first, it sounds like you haven’t told a doctor about this. And you should—immediately. What you’re describing could be atrial fibrillation. The risk of atrial fibrillation increases with age, particularly after age 60.

Atrial fibrillation—also called AF or AFib—is the most common form of irregular heartbeat. It is an abnormal heart rhythm originating in the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. The rate of impulses through the atria can range from 300 to 600 beats per minute.

Because the atria are beating rapidly and irregularly, blood does not flow through them...

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