The Dubuque chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association hosts their fourth annualmemory walk today to raise money for the disease that strikes 66-thousandIowans. Sister Michelle Nemmers coordinates the walk that raised 50-thousanddollars for Alzheimers last year.Alzheimer’s costs families about 36-thousand dollars a year, and isn’tcovered by insurance. Sister Nemmers says about 500 walkers make adifference for those families.The Iowa chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association hosts walks on other datesall over the state in cities like Davenport, Muscatine, Clinton, andBurlington. Sister Nemmers says the money raised helps families all yearlong.If you wish to get involved, the four-mile Dubuque walk starts at nine thismorning at Louis Murphy Park off highway 61, or you can contact your nearestAlzheimer’s Association chapter.
ISU attacks misperceptions on student drinking
Iowa State University is trying to attack drinking problems among studentsby knocking down misconceptions about student life. Elizabeth Knurekis the Health Promotions Director at the ISU student health center. Knureksays a survey of students showed many of them believe binge drinking is acommon thing.The survey showed students believed over half of their peers drink heavilywhen only 37-percent do. Knurek says students want to fit in and may drinkmore to do so.She says freshmen are more likely to go along with everyone else when itcomes to drinking.Knurek says the university is trying to educate students through a campaignthat explains that a majority of students are NOT drinking to excess. Knurek says she can understand why students might believe drinking is thenorm.Knurek says they’re using adds in the student newspaper and posters in dormsto advertise the truth about the amount of drinking on campus.
State helps schools deal with hazordous materials
State officials concerned about how schools are handling hazardous oldchemicals may launch a project to help deal with the out-of-date chemistryclass materials. Next Monday, the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission will consider an80-thousand dollar iniative to start helping a group of Iowa schools (in theGrant Wood Area Education Agency district) properly dispose of chemicalslike mercury. Becky Wehrman of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources hasbeen working on the project. She says chemistry and even art classesgenerate hazardous chemicals which schools must dispose of properly.Wehrman says nearly all Iowa schools can dispose of those chemicals inregional collection centers set up by the D-N-R.Wehrman says a few large schools have to contact a commercial waste vendor,which can be expensive, and Wehrman says the state is trying to find a way toreduce the price.
