1 Front Volume 141 No. 12
Friday, February 27, 2015
Single Copy Cost 50¢
A heartfelt topic ... February is American Heart Month By Zita Henneberry Shaw Media Service
February is the month where many have love on their minds ... hearts on their sleeves. With these heartfelt emotions, it’s a good time to remember cardiovascular disease! President Barack Obama proclaimed February as American Heart Month. In this month of love, Obama hopes Americans will remember to care for their hearts in every way. IVCH Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Paul Bonucci believes heart health is a great topic and should be examined, as it’s America’s No. 1 cause of death. Obama’s proclamation reminded Americans cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure are responsible for one out of every three deaths. Bonucci agreed with Obama that as the No. 1 killer in the nation, cardiovascular disease needs an American focus. While explaining the importance of heart health, Bonucci offered an analogy. He likes to think about the human body like a car; the only car a person will have for his or her entire life. He explained maintaining that car and taking care of what goes into it is the only way to make it last. When the engine fails, there’s no replacing the car. In his proclamation, Obama said, “During American Heart Month, as we honor their (those killed by heart disease) memories, let us recommit to improving our heart health and continuing the fight against this deadly disease, for ourselves and our families.” Deaths from heart disease, said Bonucci, if caught early enough or if proper steps are taken
Vol. 141 No. 12 One Section - 8 Pages
are preventable. This and its prevalence throughout the country is why raising awareness for heart health is so important, said Bonucci. Alongside Michelle Obama, whose Let’s Move! initiative encourages good heart health habits for young kids, Obama hopes America can stop heart diseases at or before its start. He aims to revolutionize America’s fight against heart disease. He said, “My administration is committed to leading a new era of medicine.” Bonucci reminded people with existing heart conditions to avidly follow their medication plans. For those looking to live a heart healthier lifestyle, the doctor recommends a regular exercise regiment, healthy eating habits and advised against smoking. With February as American Heart Health Month, Bonucci said it’s a great time for people to quit smoking. He said smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, as well as for lung cancer and stroke. The concept of changing one’s lifestyle as an intimidating feat, therefore, Bonucci proposed people taking healthier habits one step at a time. He said people should consider what is feasible and sustainable for them on an individual basis. Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative announced in January is also taking an individualistic approach to medicine. This emerging approach to medicine is taking into account the individual variability in genes, environment and the lifestyle of each person being treated. While the practice has been established for some cancers, it is not currently utilized for most diseases. “This bold new effort will revolutionize how our nation fights disease by investing in research that will enable clinicians
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Scientifically speaking ... Tonica students strut their stuff at TGS Science Fair By Dixie Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
TONICA – Six months of student work was on display in the Tonica Grade School (TGS) gym Friday, Feb. 20. The annual TGS Science Fair had 44 seventh- and eighth-grade students presenting their projects. TGS science teacher Karen Jones said students work on this project at school, home and some at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC). “We introduced the science fair in September, devoting one to two days a week for science fair-related work,” Jones said. “Students performed their scientific experiments at home, and I had several that did their testing at IVCC with professors there.” The students first choose a project they are interested in from personal experience. Jones also provided websites which had ideas. “By the time February comes around, we don’t want them to not like what they have picked,” she said.
The traditional scientific method is taught to students. They first settle on a question, and then do background research. The next step is to construct a hypothesis. Then the students move step-bystep to test the hypothesis by doing experiments and collecting data. After they gather data from the experiments, they analyze the data and draw a conclusion. Throughout the process, the students have specific due dates to reach assigned levels of their individual projects. Guidelines are followed from the Illinois Junior Academy of Science. TGS is a member of this organization. The entire TGS staff helps along the way, according to Jones. “We have help from other teachers when writing a research paper to using math to complete the data and create charts, as well as to technology in formatting the entire project on the computers. It is a real group effort from all of the junior high teachers,” she said. Superintendent John Suarez was proud of his
students and staff with their efforts in the science fair. “I am very proud of the students’ projects. We have a very strong and proud tradition here with the science fair and the students have not disappointed. I also want to thank all the parents, grandparents, guardians, and aunts and uncles. This is truly a community event and not just a middle school event. I want to give a special thanks to Mrs. Jones, our science teacher, who has done an excellent job for us. Thank yous should also go to Mrs. Marcinkus who helps every year and all of the middle school teachers. Everyone should be proud of what has been accomplished,” Suarez said. Eighth-grade student Aiden Greenwalt focused his project on what was the best popcorn. “I picked my project because I liked popcorn. I found out that Orville Redenbacher is the best popcorn if you want more popcorn for your bag,” Greenwalt said. “I just got my mom to buy some popcorn for me, and I tested them. I wasn’t surprised with the results. I had to count all the kernels for each bag and that took a while. I checked what didn’t pop to make con-
clusions.” Emily Anderson, an eighth-grader at TGS, took the debate of clean water to task. “My project was ‘Water, is it Clean?’” she said. “People always told me not to drink that water; it’s gross or dirty, but I always believed otherwise,” she said. “So I tested it. My mom helped me do this project ... I found that Tonica and Leonore water is not dirty and was not contaminated whatsoever. I also tested Lostant, Spring Valley and well water.” Students wrote a formal research paper and designed a tri-fold presentation board to display their project’s findings. Each student dressed in their Sunday best and discussed their project with the judges. Ten students from TGS have been selected to represent the school at the regional science fair, which will be held Saturday, March 21, at Northern Illinois University. State competition will be held May 2 at Southern Illinois University. The students include Logan Johnson, Tony Galindo, Aiden Greenwalt, Faith Dauber, Bryan Stillwell, Becky Schmidt, Camille Carlson, Janelle Bernardoni, Owen Wolfe and Cade Ploch.
LGS makes quick work of short agenda By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
© The Tonica News
Tonica News photo/Dixie Schroeder
Tonica Grade School eighth-grade student Emily Anderson (right) presents her science fair project on “Which Gender is More Physically Fit” to volunteer judges Greg Oesland (left) and Laura Adcock on Feb. 20. The annual science fair, under the direction of Karen Jones, had 44 students participating in it.
LOSTANT — A short agenda met the Lostant Grade School Board at its meeting Wednesday, Feb.
18. After informational items and short discussions, board members gave their approval to all three items on their action list. The board granted use of the school’s ball diamond
to the Lostant Summer League Baseball program. The agreement between the school district and the village is renewed each year. The board also approved changing the destina-
tion of the sixth- and seventh-grade class trip from Chicago to Peoria. Scheduling and transportation issues necessitated the change. Class sponsors will now plan the itinerary for the trip.
The board also approved the use of the school gymnasium by the Lostant Alumni Association. The association will have its annual basketball event in the gym from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25.