3. Smoke Free Iron County

     We all agree with supervisor Don Richards that the best way to reduce smoking rates in our county is to keep people from smoking in the first place - and that starts with young people.

      We also agree that the smoking rates at all ages are unacceptable. We still have a lot of work to do.

     While I am told by County Board Chairman Dennis DeRosso that Zona Wick is a good department head and administrator, I still must refute some questionable data that was presented to the Iron County Health Committee by her on December 16, 2008. Some of the information given was baseless, poorly researched, and not indicative of the educated titles that follow Wick’s name. I will clarify, give credit where credit is due, and point out statements of emotion rather than fact.

Ironwood Globe 12/12/2008 11:55:00 AM

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HURLEY -- Donald Richards, vice chairman of the Iron County Board of Supervisors, wants a $56,056 windfall in state funding for tobacco prevention and control to be used to educate youth.

     Currently the feds and state are increasing tobacco coalition funds for Iron County and this is excellent news! Iron County currently administers and disperses tobacco coalition money through the Iron County Health Department. After conducting extensive and exhaustive research on this matter, the fact very simply is that the grant funds would be better off with our two great school systems. This is where the help is needed.