Michael Brun
Primary tabs
Michael Brun joined RiverTown Multimedia at the Red Wing Republican Eagle in March 2013, covering county government, health and local events. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls journalism program.
Contact Email
History
- Member for
- 6 years 4 months
Author Content
Goodhue County Health and Human Services has joined Dakota, Washington and other Twin Cities-area county health departments in leading Minnesota toward statewide accreditation. The Goodhue County health department, which provides a host public health programs, economic assistance and social services, announced in June that it received national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board, or PHAB. That makes it the 10th health department in the state and among the more than 268 nationwide to earn the distinction.
Brian Lombardi of Woodbury wasn't much of a runner until 2013. That's the year he was diagnosed with cancer. Lombardi and his wife were expecting their third son when the diagnosis came: Hodgkin's lymphoma. He started cancer treatment on the closing days of his paternity leave. Today the 41-year-old said the cancer is in remission. He has since become an avid runner, including multiple appearances in the Hope in Motion 5K, an annual event celebrating cancer survivors by Minnesota Oncology.
Janelle Nordine said she is blessed to be alive. The Prescott woman survived a brain aneurysm and stroke 16 years ago. Today she said she is doing well and living her life to the fullest. Part of that is helping ensure others can live their lives, too. The 64-year-old is a prolific blood donor. For the past few years, she said she has given blood around every eight weeks — as frequently as the rules allow. "I had one of the phlebotomists tell me I'm his favorite patient ever," Nordine said with a chuckle. "So that made me feel good."
WATCH: Her cancer went undetected, now this grandmother wants to help others get the right diagnosis
Lisa Drummond did what people are supposed to do when they feel sick, she went to see a doctor. Then she went back, again and again. She was given multiple explanations for her symptoms, offered solutions and found temporary relief. But something was still wrong. In December 2018, after two years and several doctor visits, Drummond got the answer she was looking for, just not the one anyone wants to hear: metastatic colorectal cancer. Drummond said doctors told her she likely got the disease a couple years ago, right around the time she started to have symptoms.
Extreme cold in the forecast for Wednesday Jan. 30, 2019, has prompted the U.S. Postal Service to suspend mail delivery in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to a news release Tuesday.
Maybe they're from decorations or new toys this holiday season. Or maybe they've been getting stashed for years in the ubiquitous junk drawer. Batteries have a way of piling up around the house. Though some can be thrown away, others contain metals that are potentially dangerous to your health and the environment — and need extra care for disposal.
There were 36 fire deaths in Minnesota through 2018, a 47 percent drop compared to 2017, according to preliminary numbers released Jan. 10, 2019, from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division.
Coming down to find presents under the Christmas tree is great; coming down with an illness is not. With many clinics closed for the holidays and folks traveling out of town, it can be a particularly inopportune time to get sick. Instead of a trip to urgent care, some of the afflicted will instead turn to a virtual medical visit. Jenny Kemp of Hopkins, Minn., was in Missouri for a family Thanksgiving gathering when her skin started to itch. When the sensation persisted the next morning, she said it was time to get it checked out.
A record number of Americans are expected to hit the road, take to the sky or catch a train this holiday season, according to AAA and analytics company INRIX. More than a third of the country — around 112.5 million people — will travel by automobile, airplane or train for end-of-the-year gatherings between Dec. 22 and Jan. 1, according to a travel forecast released Dec. 13. AAA says the expected number of travelers is a 4.4 percent increase over last year and the most ever since the motor club association has been tracking holiday travel.
With all the decorating, shopping, cooking and get-togethers, the holiday season can leave a person breathless. Though these activities are all in good fun, the added commitments can also bring on additional stress this time of year.