by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Health and Wellness
Oakland County Health Division Offering Free Polio Vaccine
- Free polio vaccinations begin Monday, Dec. 12 at Oakland County Health Division offices.
- No appointments are required for the polio vaccine at the Health Division.
- Health Division hours are 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mondays and 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
Pontiac, Michigan – Polio vaccine (IPV) will be available at no cost to Oakland County residents who are not up to date on their polio vaccine beginning Monday, Dec. 12 at Oakland County Health Division offices. The Health Division is removing financial barriers for residents to protect themselves against the disease following a confirmed case of paralytic polio in another U.S. state earlier this year. Vaccination is the best prevention against poliovirus.
“Our public health experts tell me the risk of getting polio in the United States remains low, but that vaccination remains the best way to protect against the illness,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. “Oakland County is offering residents the polio vaccine for free so that anyone who wants the vaccination can get one.”
Waiving the $40 vaccination fee and $7 administration fee for polio vaccination reflects the Health Division’s commitment to preventing cases of polio in our community and removing financial barriers for families.
“We are all fortunate to have a public health department always on the front lines protecting our community, including in the fight against polio,” Board Chairman David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak) said. “We are very supportive of removing all cost barriers for residents. Get vaccinated! Together, we all need to do our part to shield our community with this safe and effective vaccine, ensuring those of all ages are safeguarded against this debilitating, and preventable, disease.”
Polio vaccines are available at Health Division offices in Pontiac and Southfield. No appointments are necessary. Bring a photo ID and insurance card, if applicable.
“Thanks to a successful vaccination program, most people in the U.S are protected from polio,” Oakland County Health Officer Calandra Green said. “People who are not vaccinated or who haven’t received all recommended doses, however, may be at risk of getting polio. By removing the cost of the vaccine, we’ve made it easier for everyone to receive their needed doses and to gain protection.”
Health Division offices are located at the following addresses:
- North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac
- South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield
Hours are 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mondays and 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
The United States is now considered a country with circulating poliovirus because of the one confirmed case in another state earlier this year. Polio was considered eliminated in the United States since 1979.
According to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the number of children completing their core series of vaccines (including polio vaccine) has declined the past few years. A lower vaccination rate creates more opportunity for vaccine preventable diseases to spread in the community.
Parents can contact their child’s healthcare provider to ensure they are up to date on the polio vaccine. Adults who have not completed their IPV series are encouraged to get fully vaccinated. Those who are unsure of their vaccination status may find their vaccination record by going to https://mdhhsmiimmsportal.state.mi.us/.
There is no cure for polio but preventing the spread of polio is possible through safe and effective vaccination. Inactivated Polio Virus (IPV) – the only polio vaccine available in the U.S. – is safe and contains no live virus. The CDC recommends that children get four doses of IPV, with one dose at each of the following ages:
- 2 months old
- 4 months old
- 6 through 18 months old
- 4 through 6 years old
- Children who will be traveling to a country where the risk of getting polio is high should complete the series before leaving for their trip.
Polio is very contagious. Not everyone infected with poliovirus will show symptoms, and the most common symptoms are sore throat, fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, and stomach pain. In more severe cases, polio can result in meningitis and paralysis which can lead to death. Poliovirus spreads from person-to-person through contact with the feces (often tiny, invisible amounts) from an infected person. Less often, it can spread through the sneeze or cough droplets from an infected person. Before the polio vaccine was available, polio outbreaks caused more than 15,000 cases of paralysis each year.
For up-to-date information, visit www.oakgov.com/health, follow the Health Division on Facebook and Twitter @publichealthOC. Nurse on Call is also available to answer questions at 800-848-5533, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
For media inquiries only please contact Bill Mullan, Oakland County public information officer, at 248-858-1048.
by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday December 10th at 8:30 PM
Here are my thoughts this week in Girls Basketball.
Oak Park: The Knights had a huge win over Detroit Martin Luther King in which they scored more points against them than the entire year last season. Oak Park may have found something. They have Farmington looming this week.
Ferndale: The Eagles have not played a game yet. They will have Ferndale University looming this week. Ferndale will be very interesting this season.
Pontiac: The Phoenix are really struggling right now. They fell to Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, Lake Orion, and Southfield Christian. Pontiac has a really tough week with Troy Athens and Avondale looming this week. Maybe it could help them going forward.
Ferndale University: The Eagles have some serious concerns after losing to Sterling Heights Parkway Christian. Ferndale University could be in some trouble with the blowout losses. They have Ferndale looming this week but long terms concerns are there with the Eagles.
Avondale: The Yellow Jackets are really struggling right now. Avondale has been blown out three times since their opening night loss to Warren Mott. The Yellow Jackets have two winnable games against Holly and Pontiac looming. Avondale needs to turn things around and quickly.
Farmington: The Falcons have had a rough week with losses to Troy and North Farmington. There are some concerns with Farmington. They have Royal Oak and Oak Park looming. It’s a big week for the Falcons if they want to bounce back from their rough week.
Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks used that 19 point fourth quarter rally in their loss to Seaholm and put up two good wins over Detroit Cody and Orchard Lake St. Marys. Bloomfield Hills has two road trips to Adrian and Sterling Heights Stevenson this week. It will be a very interesting week for the Blackhawks.
Adams: The Highlanders had a very tough week against their city rivals. They fell by one to Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest and was blown out by Rochester. Adams is very young to their defense. They have Utica and Berkley looming this week. It’s a big week for the Highlanders.
Troy Athens: The Red Hawks beat their arch rival Troy last week. Troy Athens has been playing very good basketball. They have Pontiac and a big one with North Farmington later in the week. The Red Hawks have been rolling but their biggest test awaits on Friday.
Harper Woods: The Pioneers haven’t played a game yet. They have St. Clair Shores Lake Shore and Royal Oak this week. It will be a tough challenge especially the second game for Harper Woods. If they can win both games then they could be a sleeper.
Seaholm: The Maples have some concerns. They did not play well against Groves last week. Seaholm has a tough week looming with Clarkston and Oxford both on the road. It’s going to be a very tall task for sure for Seaholm.
Royal Oak: The Ravens had a good win against arch rival Royal Oak Shrine. Royal Oak has been a pleasant surprise this season. The Ravens have Farmington and Harper Woods looming this week. Should be a very interesting week for Royal Oak.
Berkley: The Bears did not played a game this week but the 0-2 start is a big concern. Berkley has Southfield Arts and Tech and Adams. If they can get two wins then maybe it could turn things around for them. It’s a big week for the Bears for sure.
North Farmington: The Raiders weren’t really tested this week in beating arch rival Farmington. We’ll know a lot more about North Farmington when they play Stoney Creek, Orchard Lake St. Marys, and Troy Athens this week. The Raiders have been solid right now but this week should be a big test.
Oxford: The Wildcats almost had a letdown against North Branch last week but managed to survive that one. Oxford has a very interesting matchup with Riley Abbney and Brandon and Seaholm looming this week. The Wildcats should be fine going forward but they have to be careful of the letdowns.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors have been scoring a ton of points lately which is a great sign but the defense is still a problem. They beat Hamtramck but lost to Romulus. Southfield Arts and Tech has Berkley and Stoney Creek looming which should be tough matchups. It looks like the Warriors are heading in the right direction when it comes to putting up points.
Troy: The Colts had their moments of ups and downs. They beat Farmington but lost to arch rival Troy Athens. The road for Troy gets tougher with Dearborn and Stoney Creek looming this week. The Colts are very young as mentioned last week but going through the process is a tough road.
Groves: The Falcons had two bounce back games against Seaholm and Livonia Thurston winning both games after losing to Novi on opening night. Groves has two tough games looming with both programs that made the Division One State Finals in Hartland and West Bloomfield. This is going to be a very tough challenge looming for the Falcons.
Stoney Creek: The Cougars are quietly going along with their business by winning over Orchard Lake St. Marys and Macomb Lutheran North. Stoney Creek has a tough week ahead of them when they play North Farmington and then Southfield Arts and Tech. The Cougars have been rolling but we will see if they are for real this week.
Clarkston: The Wolves are clearly a different team without Ellie Roback. Roback had a concussion which was evident in their blowout loss. Clarkston also went on the road and beat a good Macomb Dakota program. They have Seaholm and Lake Orion this week. It should be a very interesting week for the Wolves.
Rochester: The Falcons are a much different team since their opening night loss to Farmington Hills Mercy. They had a good week by beating a very good Utica Ford II program and also arch rival Adams. Rochester should have a very interesting week with Rochester Lutheran Northwest and Troy this week. The Falcons have been starting to figure some things out.
Lake Orion: The Dragons have went along with their business by beating Pontiac and Rochester Lutheran Northwest. Lake Orion has Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and then should be tested on Friday when they host Clarkston in what will likely be three meetings this season. There are some critics that have really criticized the schedule on a competitive part but its strategic scheduling to improve the depth heading into the Red. The Dragons are in good shape right now.
West Bloomfield: The Lakers took on the top ranked team in Indiana in South Bend Washington and fell 86-74. Summer Davis had 29 points while her sister Indya had 14 points in the loss. Turnovers and missed layups doomed West Bloomfield in their loss along with rebounding. The Lakers depth remains a concern. They have two very tough but winnable games with Saginaw Heritage and Ann Arbor Prep looming this week.
by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Saturday December 10th at 8:30 PM
Here is the updated Top 23 for the week in Girls Basketball.
- West Bloomfield (1-1): Lakers had it rough with South Bend Washington. They will be fine even though there are some depth issues.
- Lake Orion (3-0): Dragons quietly moving along with their business.
- Oxford (3-1): Wildcats almost had a letdown against North Branch.
- Rochester (3-1): Falcons have won three straight since the loss to Farmington Hills Mercy.
- Clarkston (3-1): Wolves are a much different team without Ellie Roback.
- Stoney Creek (4-0): Cougars have scored 62 points in the last two games.
- North Farmington (3-0): We’ll know how good the Raiders are this week.
- Troy Athens (4-0): Red Hawks keep improving each game.
- Groves (2-1): Falcons have seemed to get things back on track since the loss to Novi.
- Royal Oak (2-1): The Ravens might be back to their defensive ways.
- Bloomfield Hills (2-1): Blackhawks have played nine really good quarters.
- Southfield Arts and Tech (1-3): Warriors have the offense, defense is a bit iffy.
- Troy (3-2): There will be a lot of growing pains for the Colts.
- Seaholm (1-2): Big week for the Maples to see if they are for real.
- Adams (1-3): Two tough losses to Rochester schools not named Stoney Creek. Big week looms for the Highlanders.
- Farmington (1-3): Rough week for the Falcons but once Blue starts they will be fine.
- Berkley (0-2): Bears didn’t play last week. Big week awaits them.
- Harper Woods (0-0): Can’t judge the Pioneers yet.
- Oak Park (1-1): Knights put up 50 points which is the most they have scored in two years.
- Ferndale (0-0): Can’t judge the Eagles yet.
- Avondale (0-4): Yellow Jackets haven’t been the same since the six players on the court technical foul in their loss to Warren Mott.
- Ferndale University (0-2): Two blowout losses is not good for the Eagles.
- Pontiac (0-4): Phoenix have played a really tough schedule.
by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Recreation
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Dec. 9, 2022
Contact: Christie Bayus (DNR Grants), [email protected]
Parks and trails in 13 counties to share $1.9 million in Recreation Passport grant funding
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced nearly $2 million in Recreation Passport grants will be awarded to 14 communities for public recreation enhancement projects in 13 counties: Allegan, Alpena, Baraga, Benzie, Berrien, Delta, Eaton, Gladwin, Kent, Newaygo, Sanilac, St. Clair and Wayne.
“Recreation Passports help more Michiganders explore Pure Michigan and secure critical resources to improve state, local, and community parks,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Michigan has always been a four-season recreation destination, and the enhancements made possible through Recreation Passport grants help ensure residents and visitors of all abilities can enjoy a rich variety of activities and experiences every day of the year.”
The funding will support the addition of beach volleyball courts at a park in Alpena County, a splashpad in Kent County, a new park welcome center in Newaygo County and park development in Berrien and Delta counties, and much more.
Since the introduction of the Recreation Passport in 2010, support for it has steadily grown. The Recreation Passport grant program – which has awarded just over $16.5 million statewide since its inception – is funded from 10% of Recreation Passport revenues, with the remaining funding supporting state parks operation and maintenance, capital improvements, cultural and historic resources in state parks, forest recreation, and marketing and promotion. |
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by orionontv | Dec 12, 2022 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Releases Parents’ Council Report Recommending Further Investments in Student Wellness, Teacher Recruitment, Learning Supports, and More
Report follows statewide outreach campaign by the Michigan Parents’ Council to solicit parent feedback
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the final report from the Michigan Parents’ Council, an advisory group she established to better include parents in the education budget process. The report summarizes feedback from thousands of Michigan parents and seven regional roundtables the council held. The report recommends continued investments in student mental health, school safety, teacher recruitment, learning supports, and parent/student feedback on state and local education policy. The council builds on Governor Whitmer’s inclusion of the parent perspective in the education budget she signed for the current school year and includes parents from across Michigan, as well as parents of students with a variety of educational needs.
“Parents are their children’s first and most important teachers, and by including their perspectives in the policymaking process, we can set our kids up for long-term success,” said Governor Whitmer. “As a mom of daughters who attended public schools, I am grateful for the council’s work to learn from parents about how we can best support students, educators, and schools. I look forward to incorporating the council’s recommendations in our next education budget and building on the historic progress we have made to invest in Michigan’s kids. Let’s keep working to put our kids first.”
“I applaud the work of the Parents’ Council and its focus on Michigan students—rebounding from the pandemic both academically and socioemotionally; supporting our educators; and providing safe learning environments in our schools,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. “The voices and input of parents are important factors in helping our schools and educators best meet children’s needs.”
“Bringing parents and caregivers to the table is critical to setting our kids up for success,” said Tracey Troy, Chair of the Michigan Parents’ Council and President of the Michigan PTA. “I am proud of the Council’s work to foster inclusive conversations, solicit feedback from parents across Michigan, and put together comprehensive recommendations to present to Governor Whitmer for consideration in the next education budget. We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Whitmer to bring parents to the table and invest in a great future for every Michigan student.”
The council conducted seven regional roundtables, a virtual statewide event and an online parent survey to engage parent and caregiver voices. The council held roundtables in:
- Flint
- Marquette
- Midland
- Detroit
- Battle Creek
- Grand Rapids
- Eastpointe
Roundtable findings included resounding consensus among parents that education policy and budget initiatives should continue to:
- Prioritize and support access to student mental health and school safety funding for schools in the state budget, including funds for counselors and social workers, school programming, and curricula
- Provide schools with the resources and flexibility to meet the unique learning needs of every student
- Continue supporting creative teacher recruitment and certification funding strategies
- Expand opportunities for parents and students to give feedback on state and local education policy and budget initiatives
Michigan Parents’ Council
The Council includes appointees who represent various communities and reflect the wide range of experiences and perspectives from across the state. The council convened roundtables of parents and family members across Michigan to strengthen partnerships between parents and schools and shared input from the roundtables directly with the governor’s team and state superintendent.
The executive order establishing the council can be viewed here.
Governor Whitmer’s Education Investments
For four years in a row, Governor Whitmer has worked across the aisle to make the largest education investments in Michigan history—without raising taxes. Since taking office, the governor has tripled the number of literacy coaches, closed the funding gap between schools, boosted state per-student investment to an all-time high, and helped districts hire thousands of teachers and on-campus mental health professionals.
The 2023 bipartisan education budget included the highest state per-pupil funding in Michigan history, increased mental health dollars for every student, and investments in educators, school infrastructure, and student supports.
The Whitmer-Gilchrist administration’s education accomplishments can be found here.
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