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• Pancake supper
The event is planned 4:45-6:30 p.m. Friday at Murray Community School, before the basketball game. There will be pancakes, sausage and drinks. It will be a free-will offering. Donations go to Murray school and scholarships for seniors. It is sponsored by Murray Community School Foundation.
finish 1-2 at home Quad page 7
www.osceolaiowa.com
154 YEARS • NO. 4
OSCEOLA, IOWA 50213
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014
SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Clarke County encouraged to join Live Healthy Iowa’s 10-week challenge By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
Contributed photo
Pictured is Mercede Miller in Sitka, Alaska.
ALASKAN ADVENTURE Miller shares experience of going to school in Alaska By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
As an exchange student in Juneau, Alaska, Mercede Miller wanted to try so many different things, from eating Alaskan King Crab legs to going deep-sea fishing. “I see all of these pictures, and these people are holding up these fish as wide as their wingspan, and I’m just, like, I want to do that,” Miller said. Miller, 19, graduated from Clarke Community High School in 2012. The college sophomore attends school at the University of Northern Iowa. Currently, Miller is involved in a national student ex-
Where is Juneau, Alaska?
change program and takes classes at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau. She spent the fall semester in Juno and is now starting her spring semester there. No. 1 reason What made a girl from Iowa want to live in Alaska for a year? “Marine biology was definitely the number one reason for going anywhere, besides Iowa,” Miller said. “So, I just wanted something new, different. An adventure, more or less. It’s a really good experience.” Miller is majoring in biology. She said she wants to get her master’s degree in marine biology. In her fall classes, Miller said she enjoyed discussing the Arctic sea changes and whales. She attended WhaleFest in Sitka, Alaska, and listened to symposiums from scientists. “It wasn’t just a snorefest,” Miller said with a laugh. Life in Juneau According to Miller, the summer months are the best months in Alaska, and it’s a big tourist season. Once October arrives, so does a lot of rain. She compared it to the city of Seattle, Wash. “It’s not as cold as everyone, like, expects it to be,” Miller said. “Everyone thinks that we live in igloos and have dogsleds.” Miller said she was excited to start her spring semester in Alaska since it had been warmer there than Iowa during her winter break. When Miller first arrived in Alaska for her fall semester,
What’s the first step to becoming healthy? It’s being proactive. “You have these grand ideas, and then it’s just where do I start?” said Shawn Johnson, who oversees Clarke County participants involved in Live Healthy Iowa’s 10-week c h a l lenge. “There’s Johnson so much information out there. You get bogged down. You get overwhelmed. You go, ‘Well, I’ll just wait.’ The biggest thing is you just have to do something. So start doing something … you’re not going to see change if you just sit on the couch.” What is Live Healthy Iowa? As part of Iowa Sports Foundation, Live Healthy
Please see ALASKA, Page 4
Iowa began in 2002 as a friendly competition encouraging Iowans to “Lighten Up” and adopt healthier lifestyles through increased physical activity and smarter nutrition choices. As for the challenge, in the course of 10 weeks, from Jan. 27 to April 4, teams of two to 10 people track activity minutes and/ or weight loss through the Live Healthy Iowa website. The web-based challenge provides Iowans with an opportunity to improve their health while engaging in friendly competition. If people are interested in joining the 10-week challenge, they should go to www.livehealthyiowa. org. A two-person team can even consist of a husband and wife. For a fee of $20, participants receive a challenge T-shirt, chances to win prizes, weekly motivational emails, unlimited access to online recipes, workouts Please see LIVE HEALTHY IOWA, Page 4
Secrets to Weight Loss seminar Shawn Johnson, who oversees Clarke County participants involved in Live Healthy Iowa’s 10-week challenge, will be holding a free seminar titled “Secrets to Weight Loss” 1 p.m. Sunday at Clarke County High School’s auditorium. Johnson has a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise physiology from the University of Central Missouri and Master of Science degree in exercise physiology from the University of Louisville. Johnson is based in Osceola and owner of Johnson’s Elite Training for personal training and physical fitness. According to Johnson, during the seminar, he will discuss exercising, but also other factors to losing weight, such as hydration, sleeping and eating.
New conservation director brings many ideas to Clarke County By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
One of the things that first interested Chris Dunkin in working in Clarke County was the chance to interact with people. “I love the people. It’s more of Dunkin a laidback atmosphere,” said Dunkin, the new director of Clarke County Conservation Department. “I got family around here. I love bow hunting. I love the outSINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
Copyright 2014 2013
door opportunities that are in southern Iowa.” Dunkin, 27, has been on the job for a few months. His first day was in late October. “It’s just been a learning process, but I’m enjoying every minute of it,” Dunkin. Background Dunkin grew up south of Knoxville, attended Iowa State University and received a bachelor’s degree in animal ecology. While attending Iowa State University, Dunkin worked for Marion County Conservation for four summers. He also worked for Iowa Department of Natural Resources as a water-
You should know An archery range will be at East Lake Park by April.
patrol officer for two summers. “After doing that, I got hired by the Newton Police Department,” Dunkin. “So, I worked in Newton for just under two years as a police officer. And, then, I wanted to get back into the conservation field, so Please see DUNKIN, Page 4
Index Obituary........................3 Editorial.........................4 Church Directory..........8 Classifieds..................11
Public Notices........ 9-10 Record..........................2 Sports........................ 6-7
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Flag essay: Pictured are members of American Legion Davis Pence Post. No. 69 with Clarke
fifth-grade students during an assembly at Clarke Community Elementary School Jan. 17. All fifth-grade students wrote an essay entitled, “What the Flag Means to Me.” Three winners were selected by members of the American Legion and announced during the assembly. The first place was submitted to the district level. Nicole Barnard, front row, center, received first place. Emma Bolton, not pictured, received second place. Clerida Illescas, front row, right, received third place. The winner’s name is engraved on a plaque at the school. Previous winners are also listed on the plaque. To read Barnard’s essay, go to page 4.
Weather Your Local Weather Thu
1/23
9/4 Mainly sunny.
Fri
1/24
Sat
1/25
35/26
35/21
Windy with a mix of sun
Partly cloudy and windy.
Don’t Forget
Masonic Lodge soup supper
The event is planned 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, at the Masonic Lodge, which is located at the intersection of Park and Washington streets. Free-will offering is accepted.
and clouds. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s. NOTICES AND SPORTS. CHECK OUT OSCEOLAIOWA.COM FOR DAILY UPDATED NEWS, DEATH