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Local News

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Weekend: Wii Fit a big hit among Hancock County schools
Ewald Furniture
By DENISE GRANT

Staff Writer

Students in Hancock County Schools are working out more than their thumbs with Nintendo's Wii video game system.

All seven Hancock County school districts are outfitted with a Wii Sport system, including Wii Fit. The game systems were bought last school year with a $3,000 grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.

Physical education teacher Jana Amstutz, and Lisa Salsburey, a physical therapist, both with the Hancock County Educational Service Center, wrote the grant, hoping to get everyone moving. It is working.

Last school year, the focus was on improving the physical fitness of students in third through sixth grade, and measuring that improvement.

Students from the University of Findlay helped with teacher training.

Volunteers and a "target group" of students at each school district measured their fitness levels before and after a four- to six-week exercise program. About 40 percent of the grade schoolers showed improvement in running speed, agility, balance, coordination and strength.

A program for body mass index offers new levels of play as a reward for progress.

Wii Fit is played while standing on balance board. The system measures body weight and equilibrium. The goal is to stand, squat, lean and move, through 40 different challenges, without losing balance or falling off the board.

Wii Sport, with games like tennis, baseball and bowling, help make it fun and motivating, Amstutz said.

She was pleased with the results, especially considering it was difficult for students to find work-out time. Participating students either had to come to school early or stay late to get their exercise done.

"If anything makes the argument that students need to spend time in physical education daily, this did," Amstutz said.

Students in Hancock County Schools have physical education classes only twice a week, for about 40 minutes at a time.

Recent surveys conducted by the Hancock County Obesity Task Force show that about 38 percent of the county's students are overweight or obese.

Amstutz said the project also helped demonstrate to the county's physical education teachers the importance of evaluating the fitness levels of students.

Amstutz said the project also emphasized student use of math, science and technology while using the system. She said the academics helped to secure the grant.

Salsburey said the game system has also been a good source of exercise for students with limited mobility and those who are in wheelchairs. It is a fun workout, she said, and a nice break in their physical therapy routines.

This school year, the schools have been free to create their own programs using their new Wii system.

Amstutz said Arcadia School is using its system for a high-level fitness program for juniors and seniors. The system can be "intense," she said, but students like that it moves quickly and keeps them active.

The school is also using the Wii to provide an extra station, and an extra chance to participate, when classes are playing games like tennis or racquetball, which allow for only a few players at a time.

Cory-Rawson Schools are using the system in their health classes, and Van Buren allows students routine access to the games.

"We were just so excited. It has been a big hit and has been a really good way to promote fitness," said Salsburey.

Grant: 419-427-8412,

Send an e-mail to Denise Grant


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Main Street will not be accessible from East Lincoln Street. Lincoln Street will be closed to through traffic from South Main Street to South Blanchard Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for continued improvement work. Access to local businesses and residents only will be maintained.

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OTTAWA -- After certifying election results on Wednesday, the Putnam County Board of Elections has announced a recount will be required for the Union Township trustee race, according to Deputy Director Shelly Burkhart.

The recount will be completed on Wednesday at the county elections board office, 336 E. Main Street, Ottawa.

Incumbent Daniel R. Ellerbrock has secured his position on the board, earning 685 votes. However the remaining trustee spot will require a recount as Gery P. Wurth earned 598 votes and Mark J. Kahle collected 601 votes, according to official results.

An automatic recount is necessary if the margin is within one-half of 1 percent of total votes cast, according to state law.

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The road is expected to open by 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use Township 242.