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Making their community better, one person at a time
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insideStudent-athletes buildon strong traditions
PAGE 2FSouthern SpecialTHE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012 CONTACT US: [email protected] 1F
Making their community better, one person at a timeBY LES O’DELLFOR THE SOUTHERN
Du Quoin is a very active community. Not onlybecause the leaders of the community areprogressive in attracting new business and
residents to the city, and not just because city is busy ashome to the Du Quoin State Fair and all of the otherevents that take place on the fairgrounds. Du Quoin isactive because its people choose to promote andencourage healthy living by taking care of themselves andby supporting those who participate in exercise, healthprograms and sports.
“Du Quoin is a very health-conscious community,” saysPerry County Health Department Administrator JodiSchoen. “While we all come at it from different angles —the health department, the schools, private agencies andthe people themselves, we understand that it’s importantto make choices for ourselves and to educate others tomake better decisions about their health. We’re seeingthat personal responsibility is important.”
With walking paths, gyms, personal fitness andnutrition businesses and programs in the schools whichpromote healthy lifestyles, the community is makingitself better, one person at a time. Plus, cooperationamong health-related groups and businesses as well asthe perpetually successful athletic teams at Du QuoinHigh School as an example, residents are eager to stayactive, fit and healthy.
“We all work together,” Schoen adds. “We all get it andrealize that we need to help each other, encourage eachother and collaborate, because in the end we’re making adifference.”
Much of the focus is on the children of Du Quoin.Programs like CATCH at the elementary school and, ofcourse, Du Quoin Indians athletics at the high schoollevel show the importance of getting and staying fit.
“We’re just focused on helping our kids be the best thatthey can be, whether it is in athletics or education oranything,” says High School Assistant Principal JeffGossett. “We just like to see our kids succeed.”
STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNDu Quoin resident Megan Dearmond and her son, Rowen, 2, play at Keyes Park. Children are a very important partof the fabric of this Perry County community.
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BY LES O’DELLFOR THE SOUTHERN
How do you teachchildren andadolescents about
healthy living and goodnutrition? At Du QuoinElementary School, youmake it all about fun. Fromnew playgroundequipment to fun lessonsabout eating right andspecial events andassemblies, the CATCHprogram is helping kidsdevelop healthy habits.
CATCH stands forCoordinated Approach toChild Health, and it is anoutreach of severalorganizations including theschool’s wellnesscommittee, the AmericanCancer Society, areabusinesses and SouthernIllinois Healthcare. Lastyear the program included“Fitness Fridays,” wherethe last day of each schoolweek featured an emphasison activity and exercise.
This year, “WellnessWednesdays” promotedhealthful living throughactivities and making goodfood choices, says Du Quoin ElementarySchool Principal MargaretPursell. The effort alsoincluded wellness andactivity challenges for bothstudents and their parents.
“We’re promotingchildren’s health,” shesays. “This program andits activities have allowedus to use an establishedcurriculum for wellnesslessons in the classroom,”she says. “It also hashelped us to pay forprograms and purchasenew equipment foractivities for physicaleducation and theplayground.”
Pursell says that as partof the CATCH program,PE activities havetransitioned to activitiesand games where allstudents play for theentire time, instead of
games which mayeliminate students.
“There’s moreplayground equipmentand a cart to keep it all on:hula hoops, balls, jumpropes and more,” she says.“The kids really enjoy it,and it has kept them allactive during recess.”
School nurse ChrissyHarsy says CATCHactivities have includedwellness booths as well asbringing yoga and exerciseinstructors into the schoolfor special activities suchas fruit and vegetabletasting events. There alsohave been the wellnesschallenges.
“We have them keeptrack of their activitiesand encourage them to beable to mark down at leastan hour of physicalactivity each day,” shesays. “Those that do, cango play with the newequipment first. We try toinspire them.”
Harsy says the teachers
are key to the program.“We’re doing this mainly
in kindergarten throughfifth-grade, and theteachers are really onboard. It’s been a reallygood, positive program forour schools.”
She adds that some ofthe lessons are findingtheir ways home as well.
“I think the students aretaking a lot of this home totheir parents,” she adds.“They’re talking aboutnew foods and showingtheir parents what theyhave learned.”
Even the faculty andstaff at the school arebenefitting.
“We’re branching outinto other areas, such asworkplace wellness,”Pursell says. “We’relooking for ways to helpthe adults who work herestay healthy as well.Everybody’s into this andif we’re all healthierbecause of it, all thebetter.”
BY LES O’DELLFOR THE SOUTHERN
When the Indians of Du QuoinHigh School enter into anysport competition against
young men or women from otherschools, the Indians have a secretweapon. It’s not trick plays, or even asuper-athlete.
It’s the athleticism that comesfrom work team members are doingoutside of school and outside ofpractice — it’s work that they do at alocal gym: Doc Z’s Fitness.
The student-athletes haven’t justgotten stronger thanks to theprograms and training regiments atthe fitness center, but they have alsogained flexibility and endurance.Depending on the sport or activity,there’s usually a special programdesigned to make the Indians better,says Marti Rider, director of groupfitness at Doc Z’s.
She says, for example, theIndianettes dance team participatedin a specially-designed program todevelop cardiovascular capacity andflexibility.
“This whole program came aboutthrough Indianettes coach LatashaBaxter. She wanted to address a fewthings and working with some of ourinstructors, we were able to incorp-orate some things that were out ofthe box and really helped,” she says.
Soon, other student-athletes werefollowing suit. Rider says they’veeven implemented a yoga for athletesprogram for the high school andjunior high boys.
“It’s been nice,” she says. “Kidstend to be a lot stiffer today.”
And how have the “hardcore jocks”felt about doing yoga?
“They’ve taken right to it,” Riderexplains. “Fortunately, they’re seeingathletes do it on ESPN, so it’s been aneasy transition for them. A lot ofcredit goes to some of the topathletes and key leaders who’ve come
in with an open mind.”The programs have been designed
in a sports-specific way. Forexample, for football players, planshave been to work on flexibility andcore strength. Girls on the track teamhave done high-intensity training ontreadmills as well as a very specifiedcardio workout.
“Everything is coach-driven” Ridersays, adding that the programs forthe student-athletes at Doc Z’s aredesigned to specifically focus onabilities the Indian coaching staffsrequest.
The team members themselvesraise the money to pay for the gymtraining sessions, which arediscounted by management.
“We really want to help,” Riderexplains. “Dr. Zimmerman hasalways been a community-mindedguy and he’s always on the sidelinesfor football games; always willing tohelp, so this became a very naturalthing to do.”
It is one that is very appreciated by
DHS administrators and coaches.“Dr. Zimmerman puts in a lot of
time and helps with just abouteverything, especially encouragingkids to keep in shape and to do thethings that they need to do over thesummer,” Assistant Principal JeffGossett says.
He adds that being able to use thefacilities at Doc Z’s is a plus.
“Especially now that we are inconstruction on our building, thismakes things much easier for us,”Gossett adds. “The athletes get achance to get their work in withoutdisruption.”
He also says the work at Doc Z’s isjust another way that the communitycomes together to support the highschool.
“Our whole athletic program isvery community oriented,” he says.“We get a lot of support from manyplaces. The community has a realinterest in what goes on and for thewell-being of our athletes. It’s beeninvaluable to our success.”
BY LES O’DELLFOR THE SOUTHERN
There’s justsomething aboutsports in Du Quoin,
and, to many, the city issynonymous with highschool football. And whynot, with a span of morethan two dozenconsecutive playoffappearances in the recordbook? Asduquoinindians.com, awebsite devoted to DHSsports, says, it is a historyand tradition unmatchedin Illinois.
But, successes comefrom places other thanthe gridiron. Just thisyear, the boys basketballteam set a new schoolrecord for most wins with23; the softball team won27 games (also a newrecord) and won aconferencechampionship; plus theIndianettes dance squadmade their fifth straighttrip to state.
Success on the field,court, dance floor, courseand pool is justsomething that thepeople of Du Quoin havecome to expect andsomething the studentathletes work diligentlyto continue.
“I think Du Quoin ismuch the same as manyother small towns, whereseveral generations of thesame family haveparticipated in sports inone way or another,” saysDHS alumnus and long-time Indians booster TimHirsch. “It’s justsomething we do. My dadplayed for Du Quoin, Iplayed, my son played;it’s a tradition.”
High school sports ispart of the flavor and feelof the Perry Countycommunity, says 1987 Du Quoin High Schoolgraduate Greg Scott whonow lives in Carbondale.
“Even though I didn’tplay sports in highschool, I always enjoyedbeing one of those
residents who reallysupport the athleticsprograms and the teams,”he says. “During the weekof a big game, you canjust feel it in the air. Thetown is all decorated, thewindows of thebusinesses are paintedand everybody’s talkingabout the game.”
The successes comeabout through efforts ofnot just the athletesthemselves, but alsocoaches, schooladministrators, teachers,alumni and members ofthe community, all ofwhom cooperate toencourage and supportthe athletes.
“When the town getsbehind you and supportsyou in that way, it’s ahuge boost,” Scott adds.“And with the successthat they’ve had, it tendsto build on itself.”
Scott, who is a cousinof Du Quoin legendDarrell Anders,remembers when he wasin high school how theenthusiasm for one sportwould continue into thenext season.
“I remember how thefootball team was acontender for a statechampionship, and theexcitement from thatwould just go right intothe basketball season,and they werecontenders, as well. Itwould just keepcontinuing like that, andit was really somethingfun to watch.”
He adds that theexcitement of sports hasalways added to thequality of life in hishometown.
“It’s not unusual beforeor after a game to seeresidents approachplayers and congratulatethem or wish them thebest. The people in DuQuoin are very passionateabout their sports, theirsports teams and theyyoung men and womenwho represent theircommunity.”
STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNMargaret Pursell, principal at Du Quoin Elementary School, pulls a cart with assorted balls, hoops and jump ropes on it backinside the school Monday in Du Quoin. The school was able to purchase the equipment through a health and wellness grant.
STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNLogan Spain, a Du Quoin High School graduate and former Indians football player,does a few reps of bar shrugs while working out at Zimmerman Chiropratic onMonday in Du Quoin. Spain is training over the summer in preparation for theupcoming football season at Lindenwood University in Belleville.
CATCH: Helping kids stay healthy
Doc Z: Giving teams a competitive edge
THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTODu Quoin’s Jonathan Boss brings in a pass during a footballgame in 2011.
Student-athletes buildon strong traditions
BY LES O’DELLFOR THE SOUTHERN
Adiverse group ofpeople representingan even more diverse
listing of organizations,businesses and agencies isworking to make Du Quoinand all of Perry County ahealthier place to live.
For the past two years thePerry County Health andWellness Coalition hasbrought together peoplefrom both the private andpublic sectors to worktogether and to assist oneanother in promotinghealth, fitness and generalwell-being to those wholive, work and play in thecounty.
“Our focus areas are
basic health areas such aspromoting nutrition andphysical activity, mentalwell-being and anythingthat has to do withchildren’s health,” JodiSchoen, administrator ofthe Perry County HealthDepartment explains.
She says membership inthe coalition is continuingto grow and develop, butalready includesrepresentatives of publichealth, the local schooldistricts, MarshallBrowning Hospital, areabusinesses, governmentalagencies and health relatedorganizations.
“I think that’s what reallymakes a coalition strong —a lot of diversity and a lot ofinput from everyone,”
she says.Schoen says not only do
the members of thecoalition all work togetheron joint projects, butmembers are able to helpeach other out individuallyas well, offering assistanceand suggestions for eachgroup’s own activities.
“We meet together to talkabout a few topics thatbecome priorities for usand help the communitybecome healthier,” addsChrissy Harsy, who worksas the school nurse for Du Quoin schools. “Wefind ways that we can worktogether to advocate and topromote health andwellness in the schools, theworkplace and in thecommunity in general.”
Along with the AmericanHeart Association, thegroup was one of thedriving forces behind thedevelopment of new “StartWalking” path within theDu Quoin StateFairgrounds. Schoen saysthe group also hopes toinvolve downtownbusinesses to establish asecond path in the city’score.
“We’re trying to get asmany people involved inour group as possible andwe’re open to ideas,suggestions andopportunities that arise,”she says.
Other coalition-supported events includehealth fairs, schoolprograms and activities
such as the CATCHprogram at the elementaryschool, public awarenesscampaigns and healthscreenings. The group alsois working on a program toassess just how fit Du Quoin really is.
Called a communityhealthy living assessment,the coalition has theopportunity to apply aprogram developed by thenational YMCA thatassesses everything fromneighborhoods to schools,day cares and businesses tosee what kind of healthyliving choices are beingmade and whatopportunities are present.
“It’s to see what theenvironment is and what isavailable to make healthy
choices,” Schoen explains.“We are able to see wherewe are and that’s not onlythe first step, it can also beeye-opening. It can lead tochange and that’s what wewant to do.”
She says the assessmentwill, for example, see whatoptions are available invending machines atworkplaces or howavailable sidewalks andplaygrounds are forresidents. The goal, likewith of the coalition’sefforts is to promote allaspects of healthy living.
“When you havecommunities like thiswhere we all work togetherand supporting each other,it can really make adifference,” she says.
BY LES O’DELLFOR THE SOUTHERN
The health care needs ofour communities areconstantly changing,
but Marshall BrowningHospital continues toadapt and grow to meetthose needs for the peopleof Du Quoin and thesurrounding area.
Much of the expansion isbecause of a recent affilia-tion agreement with Carb-ondale-based SouthernIllinois Healthcare, theregion’s largest health careprovider.
“This is a remarkablerelationship which, in avery real sense, is acollaborative effort inimproving patient care andeducating healthprofessionals,” Edwin Gast,Marshall BrowningHospital CEO, said.
The arrangement willhelp bring digitalmammography services toMarshall BrowningHospital, and anaccompanying agreementwith a radiology groupensures that those scans, aswell as X-rays and otherimages, are read andinterpreted by theradiologists who areaffiliated with SIH.Additionally, the twoorganizations are workingto increase the number andscope of specialty clinicsoffered in Du Quoin toinclude services such asurology, pain management,ophthalmology andOB/GYN services.
Thanks to the affiliation,other SIH programs arecoming to Du Quoin,including the popular“Second Act” program foradults age 50 and older,and implantation of SIH’straining program, designedto improve performance ofhospital leadership,resulting in enhancequality and service forpatients and their familiesat a lower cost.
Both through theagreement andindependently, MarshallBrowning Hospital also isexpanding its programsand services in all areas ofhealth care. A new respiteretreat program is availableat Marshall BrowningEstates, the hospital’s 22-unit independent livingcenter. This programprovides a furnishedapartment for people
needing a safe and privateplace to recuperate. TheMarshall Browning familyalso is growing with therecent addition of CaryBailey, NP as the facility’snewest hospitalist.
“Cary is highly trainedand will greatly enhancethe services provided toour inpatients,: Gast said.“She lives in thecommunity and has a verygood rapport with localphysicians. Physicians areable to check on, give caresuggestions, and helpmanage care of theirpatients closely with Cary.Having Cary become partof the hospitalist teamprovides continuity in thecare patients receive andwith having an in-housephysician hospitalistavailable 24 hours a daythis hybrid care systemshould benefit patients atMarshall BrowningHospital greatly.”
Other new programs atMarshall Browning includea new hippotherapyprogram, in which licensedoccupational, physical andspeech and languagetherapists use horses tohelp patients improvepostural and motorresponses. The horse isused as the treatment toolto provide motor andsensory benefits to patientswith stroke, head injury,
spinal cord injury, backpain, developmental delay,autism spectrum disorders,cerebral palsy andattention deficit disorderdiagnoses.
The rehabilitationdepartment also offers theSportsmetrics program, arecognized leader intraining proven to decreasethe occurrences of kneeinjuries in female athletes.This six-week jumptraining program is madeup of warm ups, jumps,plyometric drills, strengthtraining and flexibilitywork. The hospital is theonly facility in SouthernIllinois to offer this highly-acclaimed trainingprogram.
Understanding its role asa community hospital,Marshall Browning worksthroughout the region,promoting healthy living.For one example, thehospital provides freeathletic training to theathletes of Du Quoin HighSchool, and members ofthe hospital training staffcan often be seen on theIndians’ sideline andbenches. The hospital alsoprovides a four-yearscholarship to a studentwho plans on a career inhealthcare and hosts avariety of workshops,programs and specialevents for the community.
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STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNTim Davis, Du Quoin High School athletic trainer and physical therapist at Marshall BrowningHospital Rehabilitation Center, raises the left leg of Paige Kellerman while doing strengtheningexercises Monday in Du Quoin. Kellerman has had chronic knee issues for several years andhad surgery to help correct the problem.
Coalition works together for better living
Marshall Browning teams with SIHAdds new programs to provide even more care
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