Did you hear?

Minnesota records its first case of flu for the seasonThe first case of laboratory- confirmed flu for the 2004-05 season was diagnosed in a 44-year-old woman from Minneapolis.The woman’s illness was caused by the A Fujian strain of the virus, one of three strains covered in this year’s flu vaccine.Unfortunately, many of us who usually choose to get the flu shot won’t be able to do so this year because of a contamination problem the manufacturer in England experienced in the lab.In the past two weeks the MDH has been asking that vaccines be reallocated for people in high risk groups.This year the vaccine is only being recommended for the following:
People 65 years of age or older
People living in nursing homes or other long term care facilities
People with chronic health problems
Pregnant women
Children and teenagers who take aspirin on a regular basis
Infants 6 to 23 months
Health care workers who have face-to-face contact with ill patients for extended periods of time
People who have children under six months of age or who provide care to children under six months of age outside the home.If you would like more information about receiving a flu shot locally, you can contact the Luverne Medical Center or Nobles Rock Public Health.You can also check the Minnesota Department of Health’s Web site at www.mdhflu.com.Another major road project completed in SW MinnesotaThe Minnesota Department of Transportation announced that State Hwy 59 from Worthington to Fulda should be open to traffic by Friday, Oct. 22, according to Dan Janovsky, project supervisor.The Highway 59 project, which began in May and includes a detour to state and county roads, experienced a delay in August.Improvements include replacement of deteriorated pavement, new shoulders and a smoother surface as well as turn lanes and wider shoulders in the Fulda area.Check 21 could mean more overdraftsA new banking law called Check 21 could result in more overdraft notices for people who write checks with the idea that they will have sufficient funds in place to cover them by the time they clear.Check 21 will allow banks to process check transactions more quickly.Under current law, banks must physically move paper checks from the bank where the check is deposited to the bank where the funds reside.Check 21 allows banks to destroy the original paper check and electronically transmit an optical image of the original to other banks.According to Minnesota State Auditor Pat Anderson, the biggest and most noticeable change for consumers will be the time it takes for a check to clear. Because banks will be able to process checks electronically, checks will move from bank to bank instantaneously.Although it was never a good idea to write a check without the necessary funds to cover its payment, that practice is especially unwise under Check 21 as the time between when a check is issued and when that check is processed will be shortened. Those who have grown accustomed to writing a check on Monday with the intention of making a necessary deposit on Wednesday may be in for a rude awakening as the chances of that check bouncing will increase significantly under Check 21.Publisher Roger Tollefson can be reached by e-mail at tolly@star-herald.com