Archive

GRAMBLING — If the budget bill (HB1) currently moving through the Louisiana Legislature is not amended, Grambling State University is slated to lose $5.5 million in state appropriations.
This will bring Grambling’s total state funding reductions since Fiscal Year 2008-09 to $17.8 million (56 percent). As the current budget proposal stands, total reductions in state general fund support for all of higher education since FY 2008-09 would reach $585 million.

SIMSBORO — At the Village of Simsboro’s monthly town hall meeting May 7, the focus was on applying for a LaSTEP grant, which would provide funds to make considerable improvements to their infrastructure.
Simsboro is trying to obtain the LaSTEP grant, which is funded by the State of Louisiana’s Office of Community Development, to help replace the water lines on Louisa and Braswell Streets.
The village’s initiative to replace all the waterlines in Simsboro started five years ago.

Sue Martin found the dog she affectionately dubbed “Mama Dog” near a dumpster.
Mama Dog had serious injuries to her hind quarters and her ribs were showing.
Martin took Mama Dog home, started feeding her, and she thought the dog was doing better.
About three weeks ago, Mama Dog gave birth to three puppies.

Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, are more likely to affect women than men. Now researchers are beginning to understand why.
Diseases like lupus, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis are caused by a body’s natural defense system attacking the body instead of fending off actual illnesses.
In August 2011, researchers at National Jewish Health determined that immune system B-cells make autoantibodies that bind to and attack the body’s own tissue. The researchers found that high levels of these cells were most notable in older female mice. The findings were presented in the journal Blood.

Although many people think of heart disease as a man’s problem, women can and do get heart disease. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. It is also a leading cause of disability among women.
The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. It’s the major reason people have heart attacks.

Women commonly gain weight during pregnancy. Though such weight gain is expected and perfectly natural, some women still want to maintain a healthy weight and hope to avoid gaining a few too many pounds while they’re pregnant.
Exercise can be a great way for women to fight off those extra pregnancy pounds, but a woman should discuss any exercise regimen with her physician before beginning.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Valencia, Calif., plays home to The Forgotten Sea, a man-made wave pool that holds 480,000 gallons of water.
Closer to home, what holds 480,000 gallons of water, was built and opened in 1930 and is 200 feet long and 70 feet wide? The answer: The City of Ruston’s Municipal Pool, which in its prime was described as one of the most beautiful municipality-owned pools in Louisiana.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Central Louisiana was one of five organizations to recently receive a grant from Claiborne Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up program.
The organization received $3,046.00 to purchase three cafeteria-style tables for daily use, special events and the summer feeding program. The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Central Louisiana is based in Ruston and serves 1,006 students annually with enrichment programs and meals.

Freida Hamilton, registrar, Louise Tull, service to veterans chairman, Rebecca Stenzel, regent, and Marcia Richardson, flag chairman of Long Leaf Pine Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, with the help of local businesses and friends collected and donated 1,025 personal care, useful and fun items to the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Monroe.

Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke, according to the National Stroke Association.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and awareness is more than half the battle against stroke. According to the NSA’s website, www.stroke.org, 80 percent of strokes are preventable.