The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1949-10-20
DR.. Kicks Speaker;
Big Parade Held;
Others Take Part

Progress of public health work
IN Holmes county was described
oy DR.. H. c. Kicks, head of the
otate Hygienic Laboratory, jack
son, in the principal address at
the dedication of Holmes countv's
new $4,000 Health Center buid-
ing at Lexington Friday afternoon.
DIR. Kicks said holmes county,
mad come a long way from two
rooms in the courthouse to the
present beautiful and spacious
building.
But" he said, you deserve
anything you work for and get
honestly, and you have worked
Tor this. 1t isn't free, however,
you pay for it and coming genera.
tons will continue to pay" he
added.
The Holmes County Health De.
partment was established on a
full time basis on June 81, 1925,
Since January 1, 1880, there have
been ten health officers here
many of them have gone on to
make national and international
regulations, the speaker said.
During 1925, before the Health
department was functioning in
the county, there were "A cases of
typhoid fever with nine deaths
from the disease and there were
many cases not reported to the
authorities. There must have
been at least ninety cases that
year, he said.
During I948 there were only
two cases of typhoid fever in
Holmes county and no deaths.
During 1925 there were Az
cases of diptheria in Holmes coun-
ty with four dead. In 1948 there
were three cases reported of Dip
liberia with no deaths.
DR.. Kicks paid tribute to DR..
w. H. Weeks as the best health of
ficer the county has had and said
his entire staff has done a splen-
did job in public health work in
Holmes 'couney. He also co.a-
mended the people of the county
and the members of the Board Of
Supervisors without whose inter-
est and cooperation the work
could never have been accom-
plished.
DR.. Weeks NC.
DR.. Weeks was master of cere.
monies at the dedication service
which was attended by a large
crowd. Visitors were present
from all parts of the county and
from out Of the county.
DR.. Weeks paid a tribute of
thanks to Mrs. o. D. Hooker who
generously donated from her own
home grounds enough land to the
Health Department to make it
possible to erect the new building
without cutting the two beautiful
trees which stand at the front of
the building.
He also thanked The Lexington
Advertiser for its generous use
OF space in promoting public
health activities at all times: and
the members of the Lexington B
PW club for their efforts in spon-
soring the service, especially Pre-
sident Irene Watson.
Introducing Mayor Allie S. Po-
vail, Lexington, the master Of
ceremonies told of the work done
by the city Of Lexington toward
having everything ready at the
new Health Center.
Mayor Povall
Mayor Povall made few brief
remarks citing the interest of the
city in public health and pledging
cooperation at all times with its
splendid detectives. He especial
ly thanked members of the BPW
club for their part in the days
activities.
H, H. johnson
Hon. H. H. johnson, attorney
for the Board of Supervisors, act
ing on their behalf, presented the
building to the county stressing
that it was county building and
not just for Lexington alone.
DR.. Weeks then introduced DR..
Kicks, the speaker, as the man in
the State Health Department who
has done more than any other
person in the state office for
Holmes county. We owe DR..
Kicks more than anyone else, DR.,
Weeks added.
p. II. WilIioms
Following the 10-minute speech
OF DR.. Kicks the building was ac-
cepted for the people of Holmes
county by Hon. Parham H. Will
liams, chacery clerk, who said
Mississippi was foremost in the
nation when it came to matters
of public health.
The service ended with the
mass singing of the Star Spangl-
ed Banner with music by the Lex
ington school band and open
house at the Center where hum
dredS visited the building