Oneida County Health Department

The Oneida County Health Department has worked endlessly with schools, businesses and community partners throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

This month, they were recognized for that effort with the Wisconsin Technical College System’s Futuremaker Partner award.

That’s an annual award that WTCS uses to recognize an organization for its collaboration with a college.

Linda Conlon, the director of the Oneida County Health Department, says the health department has worked with Nicolet College for a long time.

The Oneida County Health Department is working with two local coalitions – the Community Outreach, Prevention, and Education Coalition and the Northwoods Tobacco Free Coalition – to complete a county-wide assessment on substance use.

Jenny Chiamulera, a community health specialist with the health department, said the goal of the assessment is to collect data, and then translate that data into action.

Manganese is a metal found in soil, rocks and minerals, frequently with iron.

If you live in Northern Wisconsin, you might also find manganese in your water.

Last year, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources found elevated levels of manganese in public water supplies in counties across northern and western parts of the state.

That includes Oneida, Iron and Marathon counties.

Because of this, the Oneida County Health Department is encouraging Northwoods residents to get their well water tested.

The Oneida County Health Department has got its system down.

People make an appointment, they drive up to Grace Foursquare Church, and get handed a buzzer like you’d find at restaurants while you’re waiting for a table.

When it’s your turn the buzzer goes off, you go inside, and several tables are set up with people ready to give you your shot.

Once vaccinated, you wait for 15 minutes in a chair that’s six feet from any others and you’re on your way.

This process has allowed the Health Department to vaccinate roughly 55 people an hour.

Dozens of people met near Rhinelander Thursday afternoon to practice something they hope they never have to do. 

The Oneida County Health Department led a Mock Family Disaster exercise to see if their emergency plan setting up a Family Assistance Center is workable in case the real thing occurs. Volunteers were simulating a large scale fire.

Public Health Assistant Director Marta McMillion says this simulation is designed around a large-scale fire. There's a central location where a number of services are provided...

It was once thought that measles had been eliminated from the United States, but the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention reports 555 confirmed cases have been reported this year. That number is the second-highest total recorded since 2000. Cases in Illinois and downstate Michigan have been reported.

Measles is an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash on the skin, typically occurring in childhood.

Oneida County Public Health Nurse Jennifer Bates says with summer approaching, the spread of the disease is possible..

The Oneida County Health Department is hosting series of classes beginning next month to help parents with young teenagers get through what can be interesting times.

Community Health Specialist Jennifer Chiamulera says the 'Strengthening Families' program helps parents of young people between ages 10 and 14 to get together one time a week for seven weeks to help build a bond with their kids..

"...get some skills for some of the struggles they might, you know, struggles they're inevitably going to experience as they move through middle school...."

More than 100 Rhinelander High School freshmen students went through a program designed to provide information about making smart health choices.

Called "Street Smarts", the program is a venture of the Oneida County Health Department and Kids Impacting our Neighborhood, or KIN.

Jenny Chiamulera is a Community Health Specialist with the Oneida County Health Department.

She says "Street Smarts" is evidence based programming  to high school age students....

A new study shows birth weights for Oneida county newborns are going up, a good sign and that education is working says an Oneida County public health nurse.

A state report shows the percent of babies born here with a low birth weight is just over 6 percent.

Oneida's figure is about one point lower than the state average. Low birth weight is defined as being under 2,500 grams or just over five pounds.

Dawn Klink says babies born early cause problems for parents...

This is National Women's Health Week, a time for women to take a check on their health and make it a priority.

Oneida County public health nurse Nichole Peplinski, who also works with the Wisconsin Well Woman Program, says there are things woman can do today to help them improve their health....

Adults remember their adolescence, and young people going through that period of their lives often struggle with it. The Oneida County Health Department has a series of programs coming up that might give families some help.

Community Health Specialist Meagan Neis says the weekly program gives families greater insight...