March 2022

Brushing and flossing ensures the removal of plaque and bacteria, which are culprits in tooth decay and gum disease. Periodontal disease is caused by a buildup of such bacteria and plaque. Brushing removes materials from the surface of the teeth, while floss gets in between teeth where toothbrush bristles cannot reach. The American Dental Association says that a combination of brushing and flossing is the key to good oral health. While both brushing and flossing are necessary, some oral health experts says that, if done correctly, flossing actually may be slightly more important since it gets to hard-to-reach spots where the most destructive microbes live.

CHI Health St. Mary’s in Nebraska City, NE announced it has been recognized as a 2022 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, this annual recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX.

The Iowa Legislature appropriated state infrastructure funds to the Iowa Department of Natural Re sources (DNR) to be used for a community-based tree planting program for derecho recovery tree planting. Additionally, through the USDA Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters 2021 State Urban Forest Resilience Grant Program, the Iowa DNR received funds for emerald ash borer reforestation.

Celebrate by donating on Red Cross Giving Day, March 23; giving blood; or volunteering In March, the American Red Cross of Nebraska is honoring the people who make its mission possible every day during its annual Red Cross Month celebration — a national tradition started nearly 80 years ago when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first national Red Cross Month proclamation recognizing those who give back through the American Red Cross.

The Watson Fire Department will have a benefit for their fire chief, Tom Gibson, on March 12, beginning at 5 p.m. The fish fry will be a goodwill offering. There will be an auction after the fish fry. All donations will go for Tom’s medical bills, as he recently had a complete hip replacement after passing out in his home. Also there is a quilt being raffled and a 1022 rifle.

Dogs are wildly popular pets. The American Pet Products Association says there are 63.4 million households in the United States that have a dog, and with the exception of 2002 and 2015, that number has steadily risen since 2000. Certain breeds remain especially popular among dog owners. In August 2021, the pet insurance provider Trupanion released the most popular dog breeds of 2020, and the top five breeds were:

A Nebraska City man accused of second-degree murder entered a plea of not guilty in Otoe County District Court on Monday afternoon. Donald Pack is accused of shooting David Trey Holmes on Dec.