Daily Mining Gazette/Kurt Hauglie Gail Ploe, Western Upper Peninsula Health Department prevention specialist, looks over a smoking-cessation informational booklet. Ploe is involved with smoking cessation efforts at the health department.

HANCOCK — The American Cancer Society has been trying for 33 years to get people to quit smoking with their Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday in November, but officials at the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department are working to help people quit all year long. Gail Ploe, health department prevention specialist, said the Great American Smokeout is a worthwhile event for them to be involved with. “It’s an opportunity to get that message of hope out,” she said. Ploe said besides working individually with people who want to quit smoking, she also works with groups. “We do, from time to time, offer smoking-cessation programs through employers,” she said. “Typically, they’re poorly attended.” Although the Smokeout is a useful tool, Ploe said a greater number of people are prompted to take action to stop smoking by another tradition. “I get more calls after Jan. 1 than I do for the Smokeout,” she said.