Early Stroke Recognition Minimizes Brain Damage

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to smile.
2. Ask him or her to raise both arms.
3. Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

NOTE: The information above was submitted to the Signal via email with the familiar "send this to everyone you know" request. In this instance, the stroke detection method is entirely accurate and useful information that may indeed save someone's life. Many times however, the information in such emails is false and occasionally outright dangerous. One such example is a method of preventing heart attack by coughing. While "Cough CPR" is technically feasible under professional guidance, the average heart attack victim would be better off taking an aspirin and calling 911 than wasting time on a technique that could result in greater damage to the heart and possibly death (see Cough Dropped on Snopes.com).

Don't be taken in by internet scammers. Before forwarding a questionable email, check it out at Snopes.com.

Fowler Returns from Afghanistan

Sheldon Fowler in Afghanistan with Robin Williams. Sheldon missed the USO show but his "air tran" duties allowed him to meet the celebrities and entertainers as the arrived in at the airbase.

Melissa Smith informs the Signal that her fiancé Sheldon Fowler recently returned from Afghanistan. Sheldon enjoyed a brief visit with parents Bob & Deanna Fowler of Skidmore before returning to North Carolina where he is currently stationed. Ms. Smith thanks the many people of Skidmore that sent letters to Sheldon during his tour of service. "The letters really mean a lot to the soldiers." Sheldon is 22 years old and expects to return to Afghanistan sometime in 2006 as one of countless American soldiers serving in our military overseas. Please keep these young men and women in your thoughts and prayers.


Sheldon met this Afghani child as he passed out candy during a Christmas visit to the boy's village.

"Out-Law" Group Bands Together in Support of Junior Livestock Show

The In-Laws and Out-Laws are a group of individuals and businesses that have for the past 8 years joined together to create greater buying power to purchase projects at the Bee County Jr. Livestock and Homemakers Show Special Sale. The objective of the group is not to purchase Grand and Reserve Grand Champions, but to help those exhibitors who don't have a buyer and possibly keep them from having a minimum bid.

The success of the In-Laws and Out-Laws depends on the support of its members and they are now asking for donations for this year's show. The Special Sale is Saturday, February 5th. Please make your donations prior to this date. Checks should be made payable to the Bee County Jr. Livestock and Homemaker's Show and mailed to: BCJLandH Show, P.O. Box 167, Skidmore, Texas 78389.

Posters are placed in the building with a list of all donors. Donor names will be announced throughout the auction as a part of the buying group and will be published in the local paper as a member of the In-Laws and Out-Laws. For more information, contact Mary Anne Linney at 361-358-6386.