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DURANGO, Colo. (AP) — Fiddler-guitarist Charlie Daniels said he suffered a mild stroke while snowmo- biling in Colorado and has stiffness and numbness in his left hand and arm. Daniels, 73, suffered the stroke Friday just outside Durango, about 230 miles southwest of Denver. He was treated at a local hospi- tal then airlifted to a Denver hospital, where he was released on Sunday. In a posting on his Web site Wednesday, Daniels said he was starting physical therapy. He didn't say whether his playing had been affected but wrote, ''I'm doing fine.'' Another statement on the Web site says he doesn't plan to cancel any concerts. His next appearance is scheduled for Feb. 27 in Fort Pierce, Fla. Daniels lives in Mount Juliet, Tenn., but has a home in the Durango area where he takes an extended vaca- tion every year around Christmas, his spokes- woman Paula Szeigis said. NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices tumbled Wednesday, weighed down by a drop on Wall Street, a stronger dollar and signs that China's energy needs might not be as robust as previously thought. Gasoline prices also fell, sliding lower for the sixth straight day. Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service said Americans still aren't driving enough to justify higher prices. ''We'll see larger pull- backs in the days and weeks ahead, I believe,'' Kloza said. The national average fell by less than a penny overnight to $2.737 a gal- lon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. A gallon of regular unlead- ed is still 14.7 cents more expensive than it was last month and costs 89.4 cents more than the same time last year. Benchmark crude for February delivery gave up $1.40 to settle at $77.62 a barrel on the last day of trading for the contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Most of the trading already moved to the March contract, which also fell $1.58 to settle at $77.74 a barrel. 8 – Daily News – Thursday, January 21, 2010 Flu Clinics H1N1 and Seasonal OPEN TO ALL TEHAMA COUNTY RESIDENTS Thursday JANUARY 21ST 2:00 to 6:00 Red Bluff Community Center For more information, call Tehama County Health Services Agency Public Health Division (530) 527-6824 or 1-800-655-6854 Remember - to protect yourself and your family: Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Vita VIP Event Thursday the 21st of January New Year New You…With Obagi 5:00pm-7:30pm Come join us for a fun informative evening. 30% off Obagi Systems 25% off individual Obagi products 35% off Elastiderm Eye Cream (while supplies last) Raffle prize & other extraordinary door buster specials. Receive a FREE VISIA Complexion Analysis during event! The night will be about seizing the opportunity with the New Year and taking care of you and your skin. Receive a free gift when you RSVP today!! 530.528.VITA (8482) Vita Dermatology and Laser Institute 2450 Sister Mary Columba Drive Red Bluff, CA 96080 No purchase necessary. Dear Annie: I have been with ''Sven'' for two years, and we have been living together since August. He is good to me and my two kids, but I'm having a prob- lem. For starters, Sven has stopped telling me he loves me. Last night, when I told him I loved him, he responded that he ''really likes me a lot.'' Also, I am a full-time student, and he disagrees with my choice to become a paramedic. I cannot talk to him about school, as he says it bores him. If I ask him to go some- where with me, he won't. He no longer visits my parents, which I can tolerate, but I said holi- days should be an exception. He disagreed, saying his family doesn't celebrate holidays, so last Christ- mas, my children and I went to my parents' and then visited my broth- er for five days. The night before I left, I found out Sven was going to his brother's house for Christmas and that it had been planned for more than a week. He lied to me about it and then quickly invited me to come with on Christmas morn- ing. When I stopped at his brother's on my way out of town, his sister- in-law accused me of being rude because I didn't respond to her invi- tation — the one I didn't know about. Sven has no desire to change, and I am becoming miserable. I spent my entire savings to attend school, and Sven helps pay the bills. I don't graduate for another year and cannot afford day care. Until this summer, our relationship was great. I don't want to give up yet. What are my options? — Anastasia Dear Anastasia: Sven isn't in love with you any- more, and you'd be a fool to pretend otherwise. We suggest you break it off and look for another roommate and a cheaper apartment. You also can get a loan, drop out of school until you accumulate enough money to finish or ask your family for help. Whatever you choose may not be the solution of your dreams, but your dreams don't seem to be working out. Dear Annie: My 26-year-old son has many good qualities — he's smart, attractive, friendly and hard- working. What troubles me is that he doesn't take care of his physical appearance. He goes for days with- out bathing, and his hair is often uncombed and unkempt. He has many friends, but I am sure they (and his employer) won- der about his lack of hygiene. Pleas from his family don't seem to help. He lives in another city so we don't see him often, but I wish he would take better care of himself. Any suggestions? — Worried Mother Dear Worried: Since you see your son so infrequently, is it possi- ble he saves the disheveled look for you, knowing you will accept him anyway? Has anyone asked him why he won't bathe and how he thinks others respond to his appear- ance? He may not realize how noticeable it is, and how repugnant. Or he may be doing it deliberately to keep people at a distance. Lack of hygiene can also indicate depres- sion or an underlying medical con- dition. If your son won't listen to you on the subject, suggest he see his doctor. Otherwise, we hope one of his friends will set him straight. Dear Annie: Like ''Going Gray,'' I, too, have naturally gray hair. I have never colored it. In fact, I started going gray when I was in my 20s. Now that I'm 49, most peo- ple simply tell me how much they admire my hair. But if anyone says anything about the gray, I reply, ''I am a natural beauty.'' — Sarasota, Fla. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. Live-in boyfriend doesn't love me anymore Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar FEATURES DEAR DR. GOTT: My father has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's dis- ease. Because we know so little about the condi- tion, we would like to know what we might expect. DEAR READ- ER: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progres- sive neurological disorder that occurs when neurons located in a portion of the brain become impaired or die. In healthy individu- als, these cells produce a chemical known as dopamine that allows smooth, coordinated functioning of muscles and movement. When approximately 80 percent of the dopamine-produc- ing cells are damaged, symptoms of Parkinson's appear. This is the second most common neurode- generative condition, fol- lowing Alzheimer's. About 4 million people worldwide are affected, with the disorder being more common in men. Early symptoms are subtle, may occur slowly, and often include a decreased or total lack of the ability to smell. As the disease progresses, complications may esca- late. Handwriting may appear cramped and diffi- cult to read. Rigidity, lack of facial expression, pos- tural instability, slowed thinking, memory loss, sleep disorders, constipa- tion, urinary inconti- nence, visual hallucina- tions, dyskinesia (invol- untary movements) and emotional changes may occur. Depression affects quality of life and may be present in up to 70 per- cent of all sufferers. Dif- ficulty swallowing affects about 75 percent of all individuals with moder- ate to advanced PD. Oddly enough, we've been led to believe that the condition is always associated with a tremor when, in actuality, almost one-third of all PD patients fail to have that symptom. When it occurs, it most frequently begins in a hand, although it can appear in a foot or the jaw. Treatment includes new drugs that may assist in avoiding the complications associated with the long-term use of levodopa, which was introduced in the 1960s and considered the first effective medication for control. Debate remains regarding when to begin initial treatment. Delay- ing treatment until symptoms become severe is common prac- tice since levodopa is effective only for a period of a few years, but there is a growing con- sensus that sup- ports early treat- ment. As a patient ages, he or she will likely experi- ence difficulty with remember- ing to take med- ication. This contributes to a decrease in adher- ence to drug schedules. In this instance, a pill con- tainer listing the days of the week and times of day may come in handy. And it goes without saying that a caregiver will be required to set out and monitor the specific amount of medication prescribed. Caregivers are an extremely important part of the picture, yet a great deal of auxiliary assis- tance may be needed at the appropriate time. A patient may benefit from medication; physical, occupational and speech therapy; exercise; mas- sage; acupuncture; and herbs. In fact, almost 50 percent of patients admit to using alternatives such as grape-seed extract and vitamin B50 for control of tremors. Caregivers should realize that a coor- dinated, successful indi- vidual who may have been the primary bread- winner in the family will have difficulty adapting to something over which he or she has no control. Frustration, anger and a feeling of hopelessness may result. The patient must remain as indepen- dent and active as possi- ble for as long as possi- ble. The services of an outside counselor might be appropriate. If he isn't already, your father should be under the care of a neu- rologist with appropriate knowledge of Parkin- son's. Ask his primary- care physician for a refer- ral. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Parkinson's Dis- ease." Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to men- tion the title. Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet," available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook." Family addresses Parkinson's Dr. Peter Gott Largest Selection In Tri-County • Herbal Medicines • Edibles (Foods) • Clones 1317 Solano St. (530) 824-4811 www.tehamaherbalcollective.vpweb.com Corning Calif. Oil tumbles with stock market Musician Charlie Daniels suffers mild stroke in Colorado