November 13, 2018 • Page 8 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Stopping The Flu Starts With You By Gov. Dennis Daugaard As my term comes to a close, Linda and I have been planning for our future outside the Governor’s office. One of the things we are most looking forward to is spending more time with friends, family and loved ones. In addition to planning for our financial future, we’ve also been taking steps to ensure we’re taking care of our health, including getting our annual flu vaccination. Last year, South Dakota experienced one of its most severe flu seasons in recent history. Although the flu is considered a common illness, its complications can be deadly, especially for those at highest risk for complications. An annual flu vaccination is the single most important thing we can do to prevent the flu— and it’s not too late to get your flu shot for this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 80,000 Americans died from influenza last season. In South Dakota, 73 deaths were reported and 92 percent of them occurred among adults aged 65 years and older. South Dakotans have a history of taking care of themselves when it comes to vaccination. We live by the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Unfortunately, influenza vaccination among South Dakotans 65 years and older dropped by 12.5 percent last year, putting us behind the national average since routine reporting began in 2010. Due to the weakening of the immune system that happens with age, it is vitally important that people over the age of 65 get their annual flu vaccination. Flu vaccination has been shown to reduce flu illness and serious complications. Recent studies have shown that flu vaccination reduced deaths, intensive care unit admissions (and length of stay), and overall duration of hospitalization among hospitalized flu patients 65 years and older. Don’t make the mistake of think- Scott Stern To Depart As GOED Commissioner PIERRE, S.D. – Scott Stern will leave his position as Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) at the end of this month, Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today. Stern, who has served as commissioner since 2016, is leaving to assume leadership at Stern Oil Company, a ing the flu isn’t a serious illness. The Freeman, SD family business since 1976. His last day will headache, fever, chills, coughing and be December 1, 2018. “Scott has been a great salesman for our state and he body aches can be very severe and has led GOED’s efforts to tell South Dakota’s story as one for some people, can lead to comof the best places in America to do business,” said Govplications like pneumonia that may ernor Daugaard. “Our state was very fortunate that Scott require hospitalization. took time away from the private sector to enter public The medical community recomservice, and I wish him the very best.” mends yearly flu vaccination for Prior to joining GOED, Stern spent four years with everyone over the age of six months. Suncor Energy and, prior to that, twenty-nine years Vaccination is especially important with Stern Oil Company. In addition to serving as GOED for those who are at higher risk commissioner, Stern has also served on the Governor’s for flu complications – pregnant Executive Committee. women, people over age 50, people “It has been an honor and privilege to work for Govwith chronic medical conditions ernor Daugaard and the people of South Dakota. South like heart disease and health care Dakota is the best place in the nation to do business and workers. Infants are too young to be vacci- I’m looking forward to being part of its business communated, so we can best protect infants nity,” said Stern. Aaron Scheibe, GOED’s deputy commissioner, will by getting vaccinated ourselves, serve as interim commissioner from December 1 for the especially if we have infants in our remainder of the Daugaard administration. households. For your own health and the health of those you love, contact your local clinic or pharthe Missouri Valley Shopper macy today about getting vaccinated In print and online! for the flu. Learn more about what you can do to stop the flu at FluBug.org. www.missourivalleyshopper.com Get Your Ad In! 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-5884 Rapid City Guard Unit Honored During Homecoming Ceremony RAPID CITY, S.D. - About 90 Soldiers with the South Dakota Army National Guard's Company C, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment is were honored during a homecoming ceremony in Rapid City, Nov. 4. Hundreds of family members, friends and community supporters assembled at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center to welcome home the Soldiers who returned to South Dakota in September after serving nearly a year throughout the Middle East. "You know they got your back you can go forward and do your job knowing that everyone is behind you and supporting you and really the entire community," said 1st Sgt. Michael Martin, 1-189th senior noncommissioned officer. "Being back is amazing. You really appreciate the things you have at home when you're gone for a year." MOVE AROUND THE HOME WITH EASE 5%RODFFTS 1 O UC While deployed, the unit provided 24/7 combat life-saving aerial medical evacuation support with HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to U.S. military and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria. State and local government leaders to include Lt. Gov. Matt Michels, Congresswoman Kristi Noem, Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender and Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch, SDNG adjutant general, spoke to the audience and addressed the Soldiers and their family members during the ceremony. "To the members of the 1-189th, it's great to have you back!" said Reisch. "The mission that you performed was critical to this nation's strategic objectives in the Middle East, and by all accounts, you performed all aspects of this mission in an outstanding manner. I couldn't be more proud of you than I am today and to have you home safe and sound." The unit completed over 500 flying missions from six locations and evacuated over 700 patients while providing enroute medical care to higher-level medical facilities. The Soldiers also worked with over 20 coalition nations to develop medical capacity and training while deployed. The unit's commander, Maj. Anthony Timanus, thanked the Soldiers for their efforts and praised the unit's various sections for their contributions to the mission. "We flew over 500 missions and 252 of those were live-combat missions," Timanus said. "Every single location that we had a live mission, I know out of those 252 people that we picked up, there are people that are walking back home in the United States right now. You guys were amazing." Timanus and Martin were thankful to have their Soldiers home safe in time for the holidays. "Your goal as a leader is always to come home with the same number of people that you left with," Timanus said. "I couldn't ask for more than that. It's a great Christmas present." "We missed the last holidays and this just makes it all the more special because we're going to be together on this one," Martin said. Participating Businesses Are… HANDICARE STAIRLIFTS THESE P MBER. IN NOVE this ad) ention (if you m RAMPS J&H Cleaning Services YANKTON WORKS Want your REAL-TIME MESSAGE on the most visited media website in the Yankton area? Join our ‘Friends2Follow’ program! To talk with a home solution expert or purchase products, call 605-665-1508 or visit your local Avera Home Medical Equipment store at 1001 W. 9th St., Yankton. Avera.org/home-medical-equipment 18-HMED-14198 TRILLIUM WALKERS Contact your Yankton Media Representative today! 605-665-7811