As if the flu wasn’t enough, now there is Norwalk virus to contend with
ARCHBISHOP — Archbishop Norbert Wendelin Mtega was in Conrad last Tuesday to meet with city and county officials. He is the Archbishop of Songea, Tanzania, Africa. He has been a priest for 39 years and a bishop for 27 years. In a meeting with the commissioners he said, “I am trying to see the future” by coming to America. He traveled the 9,000 miles in part to visit a student of his, Father Hugo who is a priest at St. Michaels Catholic Church. He also noted he would like to see farmers from here go to Tanzania to teach farmers there. Pictured here, from the left in front are Commissioners Sandy Broesder and Joe Christiaens, Archbishop Mtega, Conrad Mayor Wendy Judisch, County Attorney MaryAnn Ries and Father Hugo. In the back are Pondera County Extension Agent Dan Picard and Pondera County Sheriff Tom Kuka. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
While flu continues to be seen in the county, Pondera County Health Department reminds the public that severe gastrointestinal symptoms while often referred to as stomach flu is often not influenza at all.
Sometimes referred to as Winter Vomiting; Norwalk virus has recently been confirmed within the county.
Cynthia Grubb RN for Pondera County Health Department (PCHD) told the I-O on Wednesday, “People often think of sudden onset of nausea and vomiting as influenza when in fact; a norovirus or other food borne illness could be the culprit.”
Norwalk or ‘Noro’ virus accounts causes about 21 million cases of acute gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach or intestines) and contributes to about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths yearly and occurs most commonly in the winter months from November to April.
Spelling bees a breeze for one
Thirty-seven students from Conrad, Heart Butte, and Valier participated in the annual Pondera County Spelling Bee held Feb. 5.
After many difficult rounds and words, Matthew Lyons of UMS placed first, spelling the word miasma.
Tyla Kimball of Prairie View placed second. Angel Dugan of UMS placed third. Sheridan Johnson of UMS placed fourth, and Bonnie Brown of UMS placed fifth.
The Pondera Masonic Lodge 80 and the Conrad Lions Club provided the monetary awards for the bee.
The pronouncer was MaryAnn Ries.
The judges were Michele Goyette, Monica Tomayer, and Sandy Shirley.
The round counter was Diana Aagre, and the registration helpers were Debby Perry, Tammy Jones, Danele Dyer and Taya Dyer.
Lyons will be going to Billings to participate in the state spelling bee in March.
Fifth graders tie flies
CONCENTRATE! — Fifth grade student Romey Hagee concentrates as she winds the thread around her hook in preparation to create her own unique fly. I-O Photo by Tirsea McNeal
By Tirsea McNeal, I-O Reporter
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Matt Wilhelm from Livingston came out to Prairie View School and worked with the fifth grade classes teaching them to tie flies.
Wilhelm said, “The hunting and fishing license sales are down and we work to encourage kids to have an interest in the outdoors.”
As the students filed in to the room, their attention was riveted to the tables holding the hooks and material to make their flies.