Second-class city vote timing in doubt in Port Angeles

A ballot measure to make Port Angeles a second-class city would go before voters in November 2017, according to state statute, unless the City Council votes to put it on the upcoming general election ballot, City Attorney Bill Bloor said Thursday. Bloor, who is reviewing the legality of the Our Water, Our Choice! petition for […]

Machias voters approve keeping fluoride in the water

Machias voters Wednesday night elected to continue adding fluoride to the water for the intended purpose of fighting tooth decay. The question was the last of 55 articles on the warrant at the annual town meeting and was the only question to elicit any discussion or opposition. Machias resident Vince Roberts, who had prompted selectmen […]

Summer sealant program aims to curb cavities

Chew on this: The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 40 percent of children 2-11 years old have had cavities in their baby teeth. More than 20 percent of those 6-11 years old have had cavities in permanent teeth. This summer, Knox County Health Department and InterFaith Health Clinic will work […]

Dentists seek to add fluoride in Marco Island water

Dentists are asking Marco Island leaders to add fluoride to its drinking water. It’s a controversial practice that’s been done for decades. These dentists say it’s necessary because the tooth decay on wealthy Marco Island is worse than in impoverished Immokalee, but not all parents are on board. Casey Canady doesn’t support adding fluoride to […]

Machias voters to decide whether to continue water fluoridation

Machias voters will decide next week whether to continue adding fluoride to the town water supply. “[Shall] fluoride be added to the public water supply for the intended purpose of reducing tooth decay?” reads Article 55 for the 2016 Machias town meeting, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, in the Machias High School gymnasium. […]

Arab: Council takes no action on water board request

The Arab City Council apparently doesn’t plan to comply with a request from the Arab Water Works to put on hold all matters pertaining to the city’s lawsuit against the water board until the Alabama Supreme Court rules on pending appeals. The water board made the request last week. After an executive session Monday night, […]

In New York, some new activists take up old war on fluoride

Protests take on green hue At a public meeting in New York City last month, the topic was supposed to be the state’s $8 billion Medicaid waiver program. But when 13 anti-fluoride activists took the microphone to protest the use of Medicaid funds for fluoride, it became something unexpected. A 16-year-old high school student skipped […]