FEBRUARY 16, 2011 THE PRESS . PAGE 5
VOICES
CONTINHED FROM PAGE I
Jody Clemens, the panel's
guide, said"We as people don't
like to see the innocent suffer or
the guilty go free. In our minds,
our innocent babies suffered,
and we were guilty."
They all vowed tO keep their
abortions secret and to "never,
ever speak of this to anyone."
This is why the general pub-
lic never hears the true stories of
abortion, but last Wednesday,
hundreds listened, and were af-
fected
It seemed there was not a sin-
gle dry eye among the crowd
listening that night. The panel
cried, the listeners cried, and we
all grieved with them.
Eventually, all six women
found their way back to their
faith and to forgiveness, and
through their involvement with
the 40 Days for Life campaign,
the women found each other.
These women who vowed to
"never, ever speak of this to
anyone" have spoken to 30
communities in North Dakota
and Minnesota over the last year
and a half.
The panel ended their discus-
sion with the "most important
message, one of love, hope, and
healing" and led the crowd in
singing Amazing Grace.
After a closing prayer, eve.ry-
one was invited to enjoy
refreshments in the fellowship
hall. Copies were available of
the book Unplanned written b.y
former Planned Parenthood
clinic director Abby Johnson.
40 Days for Life is a commu-
nity-based campaign that draws
attention to abortion through the
use of a three-point program
that includes prayer and fasting,
constant vigil, and community
outreach.
On their website, the group
states "Our desire is to share the
truth in love in hopes that those
who hear will be better
equipped to reach out to others
who are struggling with a cur-
rent choice or a past decision
concerning the issue of life. We
don't want to condemn anyone,
criminalize anyone, or even de-
bate anyone. We merely want
to share our stories and personal
encounters with loss and re-
demption."
There have been seven coor-
dinated 40 Days for Life
campaigns since 2007 in more
than 337 cities across all 50 of
the United States plus six
Canadian provinces, three
Australian states, and commu-
nities in Northern Ireland and
Denmark. The next campaign
is March 9 to April 17.
"Everyone can get involved
in one way or another, even if
only through prayer," said
Samson.
For more information about
abortion or 40 Days for Life,
visit their website
www.40daysforlifend.com or
contact The Pregnancy Help
Center at 284-6601.
Walsh County Health District Offers a New
Program "Baby and Me - Tobacco Free"
GRAFTON, N.D. -- Under the new Baby & Me
Program, pregnant women who use tobacco, agree to
get help with quitting and stay off tobacco after the
birth of their children can be rewarded with free dia-
pers, according to Sharon Laxdal with the Walsh
County Health District.
The Walsh County Health District is one of six
local public health units in North Dakota that are par-
ticipating in the Baby & Me Program, which is
sponsored by the North Dakota Department of
Health's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.
The Walsh Cotmty Health District is very pleased
to announce this new program for expectant mothers
in Walsh County. The goal of the program is to help
pregnant moms quit using tobacco and help them stay
off tobacco after the birth of their children. Tobacco
use can cause things such as premature birth, low birth
weight, still birth and sudden infant death syndrome.
It's so important for morns to protect their babies from
the harms of tobacco. After the birth of their child, it
is importance to stay tobacco-free to protect children
from the dangers of secondhand and thirdhand smoke.
Moms will participate in at least four tobacco ces-
sation classes during her pregnancy. Then after the
birth of her child the mother agrees to takea monthly
breath or saliva test to prove they are still tobacco-
free• Each mom who remains tobacco-free after the
birth of her baby will receive a monthly voucher for
free diapers for a year ($25.00 value). Participants will
learn things like successful strategies for quitting, how
to identify tobacco-use triggers, how to reduce stress
and how to stay quit• With help from this program,
moms can make the commitment to quit tobacco and
can succeed at providing a healthy future for them-
selves and their babies•
Pregnant women who are interested in signing up
for the program should contact the Walsh County
Health District at 701-352-5139. All health care
providers are encouraged to refer expectant mothers to
this program also.
A00re you sluressed out?
FCHC to host classes on stress
PARK RIVER, N.D. -- Winter
weather, short days, work, fami.ly,
money, or relationships got you
stressed? Don't let stress and frus-
tration drain your energy and rin
your day. Take control of your
stress and do something about it.
Come and check out the Stress
Management and Wellness classes
at First Care Health Center in Park
River, ND!
This series Of classes will pro-
vide useful information on stress
and teach effective skills that will
help you manage the stress in your
life. The classes are free and will
be presented by Tom Roskos, MA,
psychology intern at. First Care
Health Center.
The Stress Management and
Wellness classes are provided
through the WOW2 (Wellness
Outreach Without Walls) Network
grant.
There will be a serie's of six
classes on Stress Management and
Wellness beginning March 7.
Each class will focus on an aspect
of stress management and will in-
volve an informational and skills
building component. Some of the
topics/activities will include:
Recognizing/understanding
stress
' Rural/Farm stress issues
Coping skills/strategies
• Relaxation techniques
• Effective communica-
tion/conflict resolution
• Stress and eating
• And more•••
The schedule for classes will be
7 to 8 p.m. on March 7, March 14,
March 21, March 28, April 4, and
April 18.
Classes will be held in the North
Conference room at First Care
Health Center.
Space is limited and pre-regis-
tration is required. To pre-register
or for more information call Ruth
Jelinek at 701-284-4589 or email
at hcc@polarcomm.com.
Spit-tobacco users urged To
quit, offered free help
WALSH COUNTY, N.D. -- Emphasizing the fact
that spit tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking;
the Walsh County Health District is encouraging spit-
tobacco users to get help with quitting during Through
With Chew Week, February 20-26, 2011.
With many public places across the world becom-
ing smoke-free, the tobacco industry has started
presenting the idea that spit tobacco is a good substi-
tute for smoking. The fact is, though, that spit-tobacco
will not help you quit smoking and is not a safe alter-
native. Spit-tobacco use increases the risk of oral
cancers - which include cancer of the lip, tongue,
cheeks, gums and the floor and roof of the mouth -
and can cause other cancers, heart disease and strokes,
high blood pressure, tooth decay and gum disease.
Spit-tobacco users are urged ta watch for signs of
disease and cancer. If they have a sore in the mouth
that does not heal within two weeks, feel any bumps
or soreness or see any discoloration, they need to con-
tact their health-care provider. These could be early
warning signs of cancer.
Instead of waiting to see signs of illness, spit to-
bacco users should ask for help with quitting. The
North Dakota Tobacco Quitline is available to help
spit-tobacco users in their efforts to quit and will de-
sign a program specifically for them• The Quitline
also offers free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges for
those who qualify. These nicotine replacement aids
can be a great help during the quitting process. The
Quitline phone number is 1-800-QUIT-NOW. In ad-
dition, tobacco users may contact their Walsh County
Health District at 701-352-5139 for assistance as well
as refunds for qualifying products used to help with
the quitting process.
During Through With Chew Week, Walsh County
dental offices are offering free oral exams to spit to-
bacco users• Please call for an appointment to
schedule your free exam.
Free Oral Cancer Screenings at:
Duerre Dentistry, Grafton at 352-2450
Kern Family Dentistry, Graflon at 352-2013
Drs Larson/Beneda, Park River Dental Clinic at
284-6131
Dr. Ekman, Lifetime Dental, Park River at 284-
7777
Daby Dentistry, Grafton at 352-0730
WHAT'S YOUR NEXT MOVE?
Choosing one of North Dakota's five community colleges is a good move. In just
two years, you can get a degree and move right into a great career. You'll save money
and be ready to make more money in today's hottest jobs. Or, after two years at a
community college, you can transfer on for your bachelor's degree. Our programs
prepare you to successfully transfer to four-year universities in North Dakota or
wherever you choose. Find out more at NDcommunitycolleges.info.
BISMARCK
North Dakota
COMMUNITY
COLLEGES
Now you're getting somewhere!
IM
THROIJGH W!THCHI':W Mrl:00EK
FIHIRUARY-20-26, 2011 .., ....
Free Oral Cancer Screeninas at: ....
v
Daby Dentistry, Grafton at 352-0730
Duerre Dentistry, Grafton at 352-2450
Dr. Ekman, Lifetime Dental, Parkaiver at 284-7777
Kern Family Dentistry, Grafton at 352-2013
Dr. Larson 8, Dr. Beneda, Park River Dental Clinic at 284-6131
Call to schedule your free screening!
USE OF SPIT TOBACCO CAN LEAD TO CANCER,
GUM DISEASE AND TOOTH DECAY.
CALL THE ND QUITLINE
at 1-800-784-8669
WALSH COUNTY HEALTH
at 701-352-5139
il
Your source for Happy Happenings.
Walsh County Press 2s4-6333
