The menu was beef ribs, fried chicken, tater tots and mixed vegetables, some whom were in the audience. Who should we find at the podium but Linda Wise. Matthew Owen was out of town on another one of his free trips to Hawaii so she was acting President. Bruce Smith led us in the flag salute. Bruce Rupp gave the invocation. Dennis Hunter was recognized for being in Rotary 40 years. Jerry Reece reminded us that The annual Rotary fundraiser Mardi Gras with a purpose is to be held at the Sequoia Conference Center February 17th . You should already have gotten your tickets in the mail. There is a token in one of the cupcakes worth $4,000 so don’t swallow anything lumpy or you’ll have to wait a few days to see what you have won. Boast, Roast and Toast: Bruce Smith said that there was a bright side to being in the hospital. He lost 35 pounds. He donated $5 per pound to the foundation. That’s $175 in American money.
Our speaker was Dr. Don Baird from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services. He talked about the increasing number of deaths from Opiates and Opioids. Oxicontin and fentanyl are widely available as well as designer drugs created by chemists. In 2012 -2014 Humboldt County had 33.9 deaths per 100,000 people. The state of California averaged 11.6 per 100,000. The median age for overdoses is 50-59. Mortality statistics are for drug users and don’t count those who mix alcohol with drugs. He said the area needs more treatment centers. Apparently there are none in Eureka for opiate abusers. Meth use is up an astounding 75% this year. He doesn’t know why. Houston, we have a problem.
Injected by Hank Ingham
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