Southern Special
inside Student-athletes build on strong traditions
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THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012
Making their community better, one person at a time BY LES O’DELL FOR THE SOUTHERN
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u Quoin is a very active community. Not only because the leaders of the community are progressive in attracting new business and residents to the city, and not just because city is busy as home to the Du Quoin State Fair and all of the other events that take place on the fairgrounds. Du Quoin is active because its people choose to promote and encourage healthy living by taking care of themselves and by supporting those who participate in exercise, health programs and sports. “Du Quoin is a very health-conscious community,” says Perry County Health Department Administrator Jodi Schoen. “While we all come at it from different angles — the health department, the schools, private agencies and the people themselves, we understand that it’s important to make choices for ourselves and to educate others to make better decisions about their health. We’re seeing that personal responsibility is important.” With walking paths, gyms, personal fitness and nutrition businesses and programs in the schools which promote healthy lifestyles, the community is making itself better, one person at a time. Plus, cooperation among health-related groups and businesses as well as the perpetually successful athletic teams at Du Quoin High School as an example, residents are eager to stay active, fit and healthy. “We all work together,” Schoen adds. “We all get it and realize that we need to help each other, encourage each other and collaborate, because in the end we’re making a difference.” Much of the focus is on the children of Du Quoin. Programs like CATCH at the elementary school and, of course, Du Quoin Indians athletics at the high school level show the importance of getting and staying fit. “We’re just focused on helping our kids be the best that they can be, whether it is in athletics or education or anything,” says High School Assistant Principal Jeff Gossett. “We just like to see our kids succeed.”
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Du Quoin resident Megan Dearmond and her son, Rowen, 2, play at Keyes Park. Children are a very important part of the fabric of this Perry County community.
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Du Quoin’s Jonathan Boss brings in a pass during a football game in 2011.
Margaret Pursell, principal at Du Quoin Elementary School, pulls a cart with assorted balls, hoops and jump ropes on it back inside the school Monday in Du Quoin. The school was able to purchase the equipment through a health and wellness grant.
Student-athletes build on strong traditions
CATCH: Helping kids stay healthy
residents who really support the athletics programs and the teams,” he says. “During the week here’s just of a big game, you can something about sports in Du Quoin, just feel it in the air. The town is all decorated, the and, to many, the city is windows of the synonymous with high school football. And why businesses are painted and everybody’s talking not, with a span of more about the game.” than two dozen The successes come consecutive playoff appearances in the record about through efforts of not just the athletes book? As themselves, but also duquoinindians.com, a coaches, school website devoted to DHS sports, says, it is a history administrators, teachers, and tradition unmatched alumni and members of the community, all of in Illinois. whom cooperate to But, successes come encourage and support from places other than the athletes. the gridiron. Just this “When the town gets year, the boys basketball behind you and supports team set a new school record for most wins with you in that way, it’s a 23; the softball team won huge boost,” Scott adds. “And with the success 27 games (also a new that they’ve had, it tends record) and won a to build on itself.” conference Scott, who is a cousin championship; plus the of Du Quoin legend Indianettes dance squad Darrell Anders, made their fifth straight remembers when he was trip to state. in high school how the Success on the field, court, dance floor, course enthusiasm for one sport would continue into the and pool is just next season. something that the “I remember how the people of Du Quoin have football team was a come to expect and contender for a state something the student championship, and the athletes work diligently excitement from that to continue. would just go right into “I think Du Quoin is the basketball season, much the same as many other small towns, where and they were several generations of the contenders, as well. It would just keep same family have continuing like that, and participated in sports in one way or another,” says it was really something fun to watch.” DHS alumnus and longHe adds that the time Indians booster Tim excitement of sports has Hirsch. “It’s just something we do. My dad always added to the quality of life in his played for Du Quoin, I hometown. played, my son played; “It’s not unusual before it’s a tradition.” or after a game to see High school sports is part of the flavor and feel residents approach players and congratulate of the Perry County them or wish them the community, says 1987 best. The people in Du Du Quoin High School graduate Greg Scott who Quoin are very passionate now lives in Carbondale. about their sports, their sports teams and they “Even though I didn’t young men and women play sports in high who represent their school, I always enjoyed community.” being one of those BY LES O’DELL
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This year, “Wellness Wednesdays” promoted healthful living through activities and making good ow do you teach food choices, says children and Du Quoin Elementary adolescents about School Principal Margaret healthy living and good Pursell. The effort also nutrition? At Du Quoin included wellness and Elementary School, you make it all about fun. From activity challenges for both students and their parents. new playground “We’re promoting equipment to fun lessons children’s health,” she about eating right and says. “This program and special events and its activities have allowed assemblies, the CATCH us to use an established program is helping kids curriculum for wellness develop healthy habits. lessons in the classroom,” CATCH stands for she says. “It also has Coordinated Approach to helped us to pay for Child Health, and it is an programs and purchase outreach of several organizations including the new equipment for activities for physical school’s wellness education and the committee, the American playground.” Cancer Society, area Pursell says that as part businesses and Southern of the CATCH program, Illinois Healthcare. Last year the program included PE activities have transitioned to activities “Fitness Fridays,” where and games where all the last day of each school week featured an emphasis students play for the entire time, instead of on activity and exercise. BY LES O’DELL
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hen the Indians of Du Quoin High School enter into any sport competition against young men or women from other schools, the Indians have a secret weapon. It’s not trick plays, or even a super-athlete. It’s the athleticism that comes from work team members are doing outside of school and outside of practice — it’s work that they do at a local gym: Doc Z’s Fitness. The student-athletes haven’t just gotten stronger thanks to the programs and training regiments at the fitness center, but they have also gained flexibility and endurance. Depending on the sport or activity, there’s usually a special program designed to make the Indians better, says Marti Rider, director of group fitness at Doc Z’s. She says, for example, the Indianettes dance team participated in a specially-designed program to develop cardiovascular capacity and flexibility. “This whole program came about through Indianettes coach Latasha Baxter. She wanted to address a few things and working with some of our instructors, we were able to incorporate some things that were out of the box and really helped,” she says. Soon, other student-athletes were following suit. Rider says they’ve even implemented a yoga for athletes program for the high school and junior high boys. “It’s been nice,” she says. “Kids tend to be a lot stiffer today.” And how have the “hardcore jocks” felt about doing yoga? “They’ve taken right to it,” Rider explains. “Fortunately, they’re seeing athletes do it on ESPN, so it’s been an easy transition for them. A lot of credit goes to some of the top athletes and key leaders who’ve come
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STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERN
Logan 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 on Monday in Du Quoin. Spain is training over the summer in preparation for the upcoming football season at Lindenwood University in Belleville.
in with an open mind.” The programs have been designed in a sports-specific way. For example, for football players, plans have been to work on flexibility and core strength. Girls on the track team have done high-intensity training on treadmills as well as a very specified cardio workout. “Everything is coach-driven” Rider says, adding that the programs for the student-athletes at Doc Z’s are designed to specifically focus on abilities the Indian coaching staffs request. The team members themselves raise the money to pay for the gym training sessions, which are discounted by management. “We really want to help,” Rider explains. “Dr. Zimmerman has always been a community-minded guy and he’s always on the sidelines for football games; always willing to help, so this became a very natural thing to do.” It is one that is very appreciated by
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DHS administrators and coaches. “Dr. Zimmerman puts in a lot of time and helps with just about everything, especially encouraging kids to keep in shape and to do the things that they need to do over the summer,” Assistant Principal Jeff Gossett says. He adds that being able to use the facilities at Doc Z’s is a plus. “Especially now that we are in construction on our building, this makes things much easier for us,” Gossett adds. “The athletes get a chance to get their work in without disruption.” He also says the work at Doc Z’s is just another way that the community comes together to support the high school. “Our whole athletic program is very community oriented,” he says. “We get a lot of support from many places. The community has a real interest in what goes on and for the well-being of our athletes. It’s been invaluable to our success.”
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are key to the program. “We’re doing this mainly in kindergarten through fifth-grade, and the teachers are really on board. It’s been a really good, positive program for our schools.” She adds that some of the lessons are finding their ways home as well. “I think the students are taking a lot of this home to their parents,” she adds. “They’re talking about new foods and showing their parents what they have learned.” Even the faculty and staff at the school are benefitting. “We’re branching out into other areas, such as workplace wellness,” Pursell says. “We’re looking for ways to help the adults who work here stay healthy as well. Everybody’s into this and if we’re all healthier because of it, all the better.”
Doc Z: Giving teams a competitive edge
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games which may eliminate students. “There’s more playground equipment and a cart to keep it all on: hula hoops, balls, jump ropes and more,” she says. “The kids really enjoy it, and it has kept them all active during recess.” School nurse Chrissy Harsy says CATCH activities have included wellness booths as well as bringing yoga and exercise instructors into the school for special activities such as fruit and vegetable tasting events. There also have been the wellness challenges. “We have them keep track of their activities and encourage them to be able to mark down at least an hour of physical activity each day,” she says. “Those that do, can go play with the new equipment first. We try to inspire them.” Harsy says the teachers
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Coalition works together for better living BY LES O’DELL
basic health areas such as promoting nutrition and physical activity, mental well-being and anything diverse group of that has to do with people representing an even more diverse children’s health,” Jodi Schoen, administrator of listing of organizations, businesses and agencies is the Perry County Health working to make Du Quoin Department explains. She says membership in and all of Perry County a the coalition is continuing healthier place to live. For the past two years the to grow and develop, but already includes Perry County Health and representatives of public Wellness Coalition has health, the local school brought together people districts, Marshall from both the private and Browning Hospital, area public sectors to work businesses, governmental together and to assist one agencies and health related another in promoting organizations. health, fitness and general “I think that’s what really well-being to those who makes a coalition strong — live, work and play in the a lot of diversity and a lot of county. input from everyone,” “Our focus areas are
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she says. Schoen says not only do the members of the coalition all work together on joint projects, but members are able to help each other out individually as well, offering assistance and suggestions for each group’s own activities. “We meet together to talk about a few topics that become priorities for us and help the community become healthier,” adds Chrissy Harsy, who works as the school nurse for Du Quoin schools. “We find ways that we can work together to advocate and to promote health and wellness in the schools, the workplace and in the community in general.”
STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERN
Tim Davis, Du Quoin High School athletic trainer and physical therapist at Marshall Browning Hospital Rehabilitation Center, raises the left leg of Paige Kellerman while doing strengthening exercises Monday in Du Quoin. Kellerman has had chronic knee issues for several years and had surgery to help correct the problem.
Marshall Browning teams with SIH Adds new programs to provide even more care spinal cord injury, back needing a safe and private pain, developmental delay, place to recuperate. The autism spectrum disorders, Marshall Browning family cerebral palsy and he health care needs of also is growing with the attention deficit disorder recent addition of Cary our communities are diagnoses. Bailey, NP as the facility’s constantly changing, The rehabilitation newest hospitalist. but Marshall Browning department also offers the “Cary is highly trained Hospital continues to Sportsmetrics program, a and will greatly enhance adapt and grow to meet recognized leader in those needs for the people the services provided to training proven to decrease our inpatients,: Gast said. of Du Quoin and the the occurrences of knee “She lives in the surrounding area. Much of the expansion is community and has a very injuries in female athletes. This six-week jump because of a recent affilia- good rapport with local training program is made tion agreement with Carb- physicians. Physicians are up of warm ups, jumps, able to check on, give care ondale-based Southern plyometric drills, strength suggestions, and help Illinois Healthcare, the training and flexibility region’s largest health care manage care of their patients closely with Cary. work. The hospital is the provider. only facility in Southern Having Cary become part “This is a remarkable Illinois to offer this highlyof the hospitalist team relationship which, in a acclaimed training provides continuity in the very real sense, is a program. care patients receive and collaborative effort in Understanding its role as improving patient care and with having an in-house a community hospital, physician hospitalist educating health Marshall Browning works professionals,” Edwin Gast, available 24 hours a day throughout the region, this hybrid care system Marshall Browning promoting healthy living. should benefit patients at Hospital CEO, said. For one example, the Marshall Browning The arrangement will hospital provides free Hospital greatly.” help bring digital athletic training to the Other new programs at mammography services to Marshall Browning include athletes of Du Quoin High Marshall Browning School, and members of a new hippotherapy Hospital, and an program, in which licensed the hospital training staff accompanying agreement occupational, physical and can often be seen on the with a radiology group Indians’ sideline and ensures that those scans, as speech and language benches. The hospital also therapists use horses to well as X-rays and other provides a four-year help patients improve images, are read and scholarship to a student postural and motor interpreted by the who plans on a career in responses. The horse is radiologists who are healthcare and hosts a used as the treatment tool affiliated with SIH. variety of workshops, to provide motor and Additionally, the two sensory benefits to patients programs and special organizations are working events for the community. to increase the number and with stroke, head injury, scope of specialty clinics offered in Du Quoin to DIGGING DREAMS FOR include services such as THREE GENERATIONS! urology, pain management, ophthalmology and OB/GYN services. Thanks to the affiliation, CRANE & EXCAVATING SERVICE other SIH programs are 3 Generations of Excellence coming to Du Quoin, Cranes Ranging from 12½ tons to 165 tons! including the popular NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL! “Second Act” program for We offer FREE estimates adults age 50 and older, and implantation of SIH’s 618-542-8024 or 542-8384 training program, designed 659 Quillman Rd. • Du Quoin to improve performance of hospital leadership, resulting in enhance quality and service for patients and their families AVORITE HINGS BY UDY & O at a lower cost. 216 E. MAIN ST. DU QUOIN, IL. Both through the PHONE 618-542-4697 agreement and independently, Marshall Browning Hospital also is Jewelry, Accessories, Baby expanding its programs Items, Home Decor, Candles, and services in all areas of Cards, Custom Window health care. A new respite retreat program is available Treatments, Silk Florals & at Marshall Browning Arrangements, Gifts for all Estates, the hospital’s Occasions 22-unit independent living FREE Gift Wrapping center. This program provides a furnished apartment for people e-mail: judyco.2006@yahoo.com BY LES O’DELL
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Along with the American Heart Association, the group was one of the driving forces behind the development of new “Start Walking” path within the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. Schoen says the group also hopes to involve downtown businesses to establish a second path in the city’s core. “We’re trying to get as many people involved in our group as possible and we’re open to ideas, suggestions and opportunities that arise,” she says. Other coalitionsupported events include health fairs, school programs and activities
such as the CATCH program at the elementary school, public awareness campaigns and health screenings. The group also is working on a program to assess just how fit Du Quoin really is. Called a community healthy living assessment, the coalition has the opportunity to apply a program developed by the national YMCA that assesses everything from neighborhoods to schools, day cares and businesses to see what kind of healthy living choices are being made and what opportunities are present. “It’s to see what the environment is and what is available to make healthy
choices,” Schoen explains. “We are able to see where we are and that’s not only the first step, it can also be eye-opening. It can lead to change and that’s what we want to do.” She says the assessment will, for example, see what options are available in vending machines at workplaces or how available sidewalks and playgrounds are for residents. The goal, like with of the coalition’s efforts is to promote all aspects of healthy living. “When you have communities like this where we all work together and supporting each other, it can really make a difference,” she says.
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