Detroit man accused of mailing heroin enters plea 

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A Detroit man accused of mailing more than $38,000 worth of heroin to associates in West Virginia has pleaded guilty to a federal drug charge.

Thirty-year-old Zachery Jose Merritt entered the plea Tuesday in federal court in Huntington to conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin says Merritt mailed heroin to associates in Huntington from September 2012 to last June. The heroin was then resold and drug proceeds were deposited in Merritt’s bank account.

Merritt faces up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing is set for Feb. 18.

Free varicose vein screening is Nov. 21 in Ashland  

ASHLAND, Ky. — King’s Daughters Medical Center is offering a free varicose vein screening beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Tri-State Vascular Specialists offices, Suite 140, Medical Plaza B, 613 23rd St., Ashland.

Vascular/endovascular surgeon Al Addasi, M.D., will perform the screening.

Varicose veins are swollen veins that you can see through your skin. They often look blue, bulging and twisted. Left untreated, varicose veins may worsen over time and can cause aching and feelings of fatigue as well as skin changes, rashes, redness, and sores. As many as 40 million Americans have varicose veins.

Varicose veins affect men and women. Factors that can increase your risk include family history, being overweight, lack of exercise, smoking, standing or sitting for long periods of time or having deep vein thrombosis.

The screening is available to adults age 18 and older and consists of a paper and pencil questionnaire followed by a visual examination of the affected area(s).

Appointments are required for the screening and can be made by calling King’s Daughters at 1-888-377-KDMC (5362).

St. Mary’s to 

present program 

on lung health

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — St. Mary’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation and The Total Woman will present “The Art of Living: One Breath at a Time” Thursday, Nov. 14 from 5-7 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Conference Center, 2825 Fifth Ave.

William R. Beam, MD, medical director of St. Mary’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation, will speak about lung health. Free screenings will be available for COPD and Alpha1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a hereditary disease that can be misdiagnosed as COPD or asthma.

Nurses and respiratory therapists who attend will receive two CEUs.

Registration is required and can be done by calling (304) 526-1271.