As temperatures get colder, it is important to make a plan to stay safe during winter weather and freezing temperatures.

Plan ahead for winter weather

• Put your ice scraper and other equipment in your vehicle to handle a winter emergency.
• Put an extra pair of warm clothes, snacks, and water in your vehicle if you have a long distance to travel.
• Keep your gas tank at least 1/2 way full if you are traveling during winter weather.
• Prepare your home by insulating your home, including water pipes that are exterior to the house.
• If you use a fireplace or wood stove, be sure to clean chimneys.   Install smoke detectors and change the battery as necessary.
• Bring your pets indoors. If you cannot bring them indoors make sure they have adequate shelter and unfrozen water.
• Keep devices charged in the case of a power outage.

Stay safe indoors

• Heat your home safely.
• Have extra blankets, sleeping bags, coats to help keep warm if the power goes out.
• If you are using a fireplace, be sure to your smoke detectors have new batteries in them and there is proper ventilation in the household.
• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from furniture, drapes, and bedding. Make sure it is not on top of furniture and is not covered.
• Make sure you have flashlights in the case of a power outage.
• Allow heated air to get to pipes by leaving cabinet doors open and leave the sinks at a low drip to help avoid pipes freezing.

Stay safe outdoors

• Wear proper hats, gloves, boots, and coats to help keep yourself warm.
• Wear water resistant boots, pants and gloves.
• Wear layers to help stay warm and to remove if you start sweating.
• Don’t ignore shivering – that is an important bodily function to let you know you are too cold. Go inside as soon as possible to begin warming up.

There are warming centers throughout Missouri that are available for you to go to when the temperature drop. Call ahead to the business to verify hours and availability. Check the warming center map for a location near you.

Macon County Warming Centers open their doors when they see a need. Here are a few places we have confirmed will open if they can or if there is a need:

• Callao Christian Church – 119 2nd St. Callao, MO 63532, 660-768-5402
  • Open through the night
  • Enter through the original building doors and go through the door on the left. Go down the hallway where there are tables, chairs, bathrooms, water and heat provided
• Atlanta Christian Church – 218 Williamson St. Atlanta, MO 63530, 660-384-2008
• Bevier Baptist Church – 411 N. Macon St. Bevier, MO 63532
  • Bring your own blankets, chairs, cots, air mattresses, etc.
• Crossroads Christian Church – 1816 N. Missouri St. Macon, MO 63552, 660-385-4813 or 660-498-5900 (after hours)
  • Keep an eye on Crossroads Christian Church Facebook page
• Ethel Community Church – 203 E. Main St, 660-384-4212 or 660-322-2118

Macon County Health Department announces continued WIC contract

Macon, MO – The Macon County Health Department announces a contract continuance to provide WIC services for federal fiscal year 2024 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a special supplemental nutrition program providing services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their 5th birthday based on nutritional risk and income eligibility. The primary services provided are healthy, supplemental food, risk assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, health screening and referrals to health care. To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have an income of less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level and be at nutritional risk. Migrant families are also eligible.

WIC supplemental food packages are specially chosen to provide foods high in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Eligible women and children receive fortified milk and cheese, eggs, whole grain bread products, hot or cold cereals, 100% fruit juices, and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. The WIC program recommends breastfeeding, provides breastfeeding support, baby foods, and infant cereal. For women who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, infants may receive supplemental, iron fortified formula. WIC participants obtain their foods by using their eWIC cards for specific items at participating local grocery stores and pharmacies.

Studies confirm that pregnant women who enroll in WIC during the early months of pregnancy have fewer low birth weight babies, experience fewer infant deaths, see the doctor earlier in pregnancy and eat healthier.

WIC is administered in Macon County by the Macon County Health Department. Persons interested in applying or who are in need of more information should contact the Macon County Health Department at 660-395-4711 or visit our website. WIC clinics are offered at 503 N. Missouri Street in Macon, MO on Mondays and Tuesdays from 7:45 am-5:30 pm.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

 

Attached: Missouri WIC Income Guidelines

 

Save the date! We are coming to a town near you.

The Macon County Health Department will be holding convenient drive-thru flu vaccine clinics throughout Macon County this October.  We hope to see you there!

Drive Thru Flu Vaccine Clinics

• Flu vaccines will be available for adults –
  • High-dose flu vaccine and flublok are available for those who meet the age or employment criteria.
  • Pediatric flu vaccines are being provided at all Macon County schools and will be available at the Macon County Health Department
• The most up-to-date COVID-19 immunization will be offered.  We are waiting for fall guidance from the CDC.
• Bring your insurance card or a copy of the front and back.
• Flu vaccines will be available at drive-thrus at no cost for those who are uninsured or underinsured.
• Wear a short-sleeved shirt as vaccine(s) will be given in the arm.

Dates –

• Macon: October 3, 2023, from 9 am to 5:00 pm at the Macon County Fairgrounds
  • Our office will be closed all day for this clinic
• Callao: October 11, 2023, from 9:30-11:30 am in the parking lot of 36 & 3 cafe
• New Cambria: October 12, 2023, from 2-4 pm in the parking lot of the United Church of New Cambria
• Bevier: October 19, 2023, from 9:30- 11:30 am at the Bevier Ball Field
• Atlanta: October 19, 2023, from 2-4 pm at the Atlanta Community Building
• Elmer: October 24, 2023, from 10-11:30 am at the Community Center (414 E. Weeks)
• Ethel: October 24, 2023, from 1-2:30 pm at the Community Church (203 E. Main)
• La Plata: October 26, 2023, from 1:30-4 pm on the East Side of the La Plata Park
  • Our office will be closed from 11:30-5:30 for this clinic

You can print out your form and complete it before the drive-thru: Drive Thru flu-covid consent 23-24

August 21, 2023

The Department of Health and Senior Services has issued a release to help clarify animals in a food establishment and/or grocery store.

Read the full release.

Live animals are not ordinarily allowed on the premises of a food establishment according to 6-501.115 of the Missouri Food Code. Service animals who are controlled by the disabled employee or person are allowed in non-food preparation areas if a health or safety hazard will not result from the presence or activities of the service animal.

Service animals are defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  Animals who provide comfort without a specific task are considered emotional support animals, not service animals.  Visit the ADA website for more information and questions.  Service animals are not required to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness and handlers are not required to show proof.  However, service animals must be under the control of the handler at all times, whether unleashed or leashed. To determine if a dog is a service animal, individuals can ask two questions:

1. Is this a service animal?
2. If so, what tasks is this animal trained to perform?

Animals can contaminate the surfaces of a food establishment and grocery store, such as if an animal is in a cart that is not cleaned between users, which can cause health or safety hazards.

Link to frequently asked questions about service animals and the ADA: https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/