Local News
Stroke patients go Wii at Riley Hospital
Just a week after suffering a stroke, Walter Rowry is not only up and around, but he is also playing video games.
“This is fun, I could play all day,” said Rowry as he bowls a perfect game on a Nintendo Wii (pronounced “we”) at Riley Hospital’s Tom C. Maynor Rehabilitation Center.
“My arm’s a little stiff, but it’s loosening up,” Rowry says as he continues to maneuver the Wii wand through a series of games.
The gaming console has been incorporated into the center’s rehab program for patients who have suffered a stroke. The idea was suggested by Dr. Janet Coyle, a hospitalist at Riley.
“Dr. Coyle got one (Wii) for Christmas and after playing on it for awhile, she realized that it would be wonderful for our stroke patients,” said Ben Rucks, director of rehabilitation services at Riley.
Since its introduction, the gaming console has been credited for helping people lose weight — a Wii Workout book is in the works according to an article in Time magazine — and is being used by medical researchers to treat children who suffer from hemiplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that can paralyze one side of the body.
“Unlike other video games — which only use the thumbs — the Wii requires use of the whole body, balance and hand-eye coordination,” Rucks said. “This is especially ideal for stroke patients in their recovery.”
The gaming device was recently purchased by the Meridian Stroke Support and Education Group in observance of Stroke Awareness Month.
“I’m so pleased about the advances that have been in treating stroke patients,” said Maynor, a stroke survivor who serves as president of the group. “And I am especially pleased that those in the Meridian area no longer have to go far for treatment; they can get it right here.”
According to Deanna Cornish, marketing director, Riley Hospital has the only accreditated acute rehabilitate unit within a 90-mile radius of Meridian.
In addition to bowling, the gaming console also features baseball, fishing, boxing and tennis. Cornish said other programs will be added, including those that will appeal more to female patients.
“We could have stroke patients string beads or do this to regain their strength and mobility,” Cornish said. “This is a more fun way for them to do this.”
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Lauderdale resident gets celebrity wake up call
When Lauderdale resident Rose Marie Schultz answered an early morning call Wednesday, she didn't expect to hear talk show host Kelly Ripa on the other end.
"I thought my friend was calling me, because it was early – a quarter after 8," said Schultz, who is originally from Levittown, Penn. "And here it was Kelly. I said, 'Oh, my God!'"
The co-host of "Live! With Regis and Kelly" and her guest host, rapper and actor Ludacris, were calling to inform Schultz that she was selected the day's participant in "Spring Fling Trivia A Go-Go." -
Open meetings law in limbo
Last week, the Mississippi House passed a bill originally designed to give some teeth to the state's ill-enforced Open Meetings law — but that bill likely won't make it through the week.
Mississippi's Open Meetings law dictates that any public governing body —such as a city council or school board — must conduct all of their business in public. There are a few exceptions that allow a body to discuss something in an closed meeting, and those exceptions are all spelled out in the state law. -
Flash flooding possible
Some of the rainfall totals for Kemper and northern Lauderdale County Wednesday peaked over three inches even though a little more than an inch was recorded at Key Field in Meridian.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service said flash flooding may be a problem this morning with the latest band of storms that began moving through the area early this morning. And even though forecasts said the rain should be over by mid-morning, creeks and rivers that are already inundated with water may become a problem. -
Jobless rates at 12 percent
Mississippi’s unemployment rate stood at 12 percent in January, up from 10.3 percent in December and higher than the national rate of 10.6 percent.
The state Department of Employment Security released figures Wednesday.
Unemployment ranged from a high of 23.1 percent in Noxubee and Holmes counties to 8 percent in Rankin. -
Local youth set to save lives March 24
Youth in Lauderdale and Newton County will join others across the state and nationwide on March 24 to voice their opposition of Big Tobacco during 2010 Kick Butts Day.
Kick Butts Day is an annual nationwide initiative in which kids lead the effort to snuff out youth tobacco use. As part of this year’s Kick Butts Day celebration, the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Lauderdale County is working with students at West Lauderdale Middle, Union Middle, Newton Middle, Calvary Christian High and Oakland Heights Elementary schools to help them educate their peers about tobacco companies’ deceptive marketing practices. -
Raising the Bar
Anderson Health and Fitness Center is raising the bar on fitness and well-being.
On Tuesday, the board of directors of Anderson Regional Medical Center ratified what is described as an "exciting new vision and direction" for the fitness facility. -
100 animals seized in Kemper County
The Humane Society of the United States and the Mississippi Animal Rescue League assisted the Kemper County Sheriff’s Department in the seizure of more than 100 dogs and several cats in Preston on Tuesday.
United Animal Nations also assisted in the rescue of animals in this case of alleged cruelty.
The animals were removed from Raven’s Hope Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit organization that claims to offer animals for adoption. The seizure is the largest known animal rescue in Kemper County. -
Police search for missing teen
Juvenile Detectives with the Meridian Police Department Criminal Investigation Division are seeking information on the whereabouts of a 16-year-old black male, Jeremiah Devontae Murray.
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School Board narrows list of candidates
The Board of Trustees for the Meridian Public Schools announced Tuesday that it had narrowed down its list of interim superintendent candidates to three, but possibly with one more.
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MPD looks for armed robbery suspects
Meridian police are looking for help in identifying suspects in an armed robbery at BP Express Lanes, located at 1019 Highway 39 By-Pass.
Police released surveillance video and still photographs of the robbery Tuesday, in hopes the public can help identify the robbers. - More Local News Headlines
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