Time To Run

29th Annual
Run Thru History
Saturday March 1, 2008
Vicksburg National Military Park
Vicksburg, Mississippi

Join us for a lovely stroll through time and space that is the beautiful VMPark! Fun, food, and festivities follow the race at Battlefield Inn!

see details at the Mississippi Track Club Site!

With Sympathy

Troop 638 would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy to Sherri Harmon and Nick Harmon and their extended family in the passing of Sherri's Grandmother Minnie Moore .... Time dulls the pain and memories keep our loved ones ever near...... Love bears all things and endures all things..... Love NEVER fails.... and nothing can seperate us from Love not even death! We love you and are here if you need us!

Let's Get Walking Troop 638

Benefits include:
Improved mood and self-esteem
Stronger immune system
Improved social skills
Stronger bones and muscles
Increased energy levels
Weight control

Healthier children are better students. Here is a closer look at what research says about exercise and how it can impact your students and school:
1)Aerobic exercise improves function in the brain's frontal, temporal and parietal cortexes – areas vital for high order thinking.
2)Students who are physically active have been shown to have higher test scores in math, reading and writing, as well as a reduction in disruptive behaviors in the classroom.
3)Physically active students have also been shown to have greater creativity, higher levels of concentration and a better overall attitude towards school.

Let’s Go Walkin’ Mississippi!

WASH YOUR HANDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flu season getting worse; vaccine only 40 percent effective on circulating bugs
The Associated Press • February 15, 2008

ATLANTA - The flu season is getting worse, and U.S. health officials say it's partly because the flu vaccine doesn't protect against most of the spreading flu bugs.
The flu shot is a good match for only about 40 percent of this year's flu viruses, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.That's worse than last week's report when the CDC said the vaccine was protective against roughly half the circulating strains. In good years, the vaccine can fend off 70 to 90 percent.Infections from an unexpected strain have been booming, and now are the main agent behind most of the nation's lab-confirmed flu cases, said Dr. Joe Bresee, the CDC's chief of influenza epidemiology.It's too soon to know whether this will prove to be a bad flu season overall, but it's fair to say a lot of people are suffering at the moment. "Every area of the country is experiencing lots of flu right now," Bresee said.This week, 44 states reported widespread flu activity, up from 31 last week. The number of children who have died from the flu has risen to 10 since the flu season's official Sept. 30 start, including three in Mississippi.Those numbers aren't considered alarming. Early February is the time of year when flu cases tend to peak. The 10 pediatric deaths, though tragic, are about the same number as was reported at this time in the last two flu seasons, Bresee said.The biggest surprise has been how poorly the vaccine has performed.Each winter, experts try to predict which strains of flu will circulate so they can develop an appropriate vaccine for the following season. They choose three strains- two from the Type A family of influenza, and one from Type B.Usually, the guesswork is pretty good: The vaccines have been a good match in 16 of the last 19 flu seasons, Bresee has said.But the vaccine's Type B component turned out not to be a good match for the B virus that has been most common this winter. And one of the Type A components turned out to be poorly suited for the Type A H3N2/Brisbane-like strain that now accounts for the largest portion of lab-confirmed cases.Over the years, the H3N2 flu has tended to cause more deaths, Bresee said.This week, the World Health Organization took the unusual step of recommending that next season's flu vaccine have a completely different makeup from this year's. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to make its decision about the U.S. vaccine next week.H3N2 strains are treatable by Tamiflu and other antiviral drugs, but the other, H1N1 Type A strains are more resistant. Of all flu samples tested this year, 4.6 percent have been resistant to antiviral medications. That's up from less than 1 percent last year."This represents a real increase in resistance," Bresee said.

Ways To Stay Flu Free This Flu Season

Vaccinate: Take time to get a vaccine.
A flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu.
The flu vaccine protects against three different flu viruses.
Getting a vaccine is very important for people at high risk for serious flu complications and their close contacts. People at high risk include infants, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart disease, and people 65 and older.
This year, an all-time high supply of vaccine is available so more people than ever can seek protection from the flu.
Because flu season can last as late as May, getting a flu vaccine now can still be beneficial.


Stop Germs: Take everyday preventative actions.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze—throw the tissue away after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not near water, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Stay away as much as you can from people who are sick.
If you get the flu, stay home from work or school. If you are sick, do not go near other people so that you don't make them sick.
Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way.


Antiviral Drugs: Take antiviral drugs if your doctor says you need them.
There are flu antiviral drugs that can treat the flu or prevent infection with flu viruses.
For treatment, antiviral drugs should be started within 48 hours of getting sick.
For prevention, antiviral drugs are 70% to 90% effective in preventing infection.
These drugs must be prescribed by a health care provider.
If you develop flu-like symptoms (usually high fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches), or are exposed to the flu before you get a flu vaccine, your health care professional will decide whether you should take antiviral drugs.

This Is Why We Wanted You To Stay BACK From The Floats!

Coast Man Dead After Parade Float Runs Over Him
The Associated Press • February 3, 2008

BAY ST. LOUIS — A Bay St. Louis businessman is dead after falling off a float in New Orleans during a Mardi Gras parade.

Police said Jody Compretta was riding on the captain’s float of Endymion when he was killed Saturday after he fell off the float outside the Superdome. Police said the 39-year-old apparently tried to exit the float early, fell and was run over.Jeanne Sampognaro at the Edmond Fahey Funeral Home in Bay St. Louis told The Associated Press Sunday that Compretta was the son of Mississippi state Rep. J.P. Compretta, of Bay St. Louis.She said funeral services were scheduled Wednesday in Bay St. Louis. Visitation is from 1-2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church. The service is at 2 p.m. with burial directly thereafter.

Mardi Gras Vicksburg Style

Saturday, February 2, 2008
Downtown Vicksburg’s 7 th Annual Mardi Gras Parade, 2 p.m.
Contact: Rosalie Theobald, 601-634-4527.
Don’t miss out on a Saturday afternoon of fun as thousands of beads are thrown to spectators who gather along Washington Street from Belmont to Jackson Street.

Go catch our beads back and get a head start on Mardi Gras 2009! LOL