“We’re having fun and we’re helping people move up in life.  It’s a win win deal,” says volunteer bowler, Len Pluemer.

Local bowlers from the Dubuque area might not be a professional or a fulltime volunteers, but they are volunteering to strike out hunger.

Dubuque Labor Harvest spokesperson, Dave McCarthy says, “It’s a fund raiser for the Dubuque Area Labor Harvest which is a non-profit organization that provides free meals and food assistance for low income residence in Dubuque.”

For bowlers like Len Pleumer these fundraisers are doing more than avoiding gutter balls, it’s helping community members avoid empty dinner tables.

“If this is what makes that happen for them get them back up on their feet and go on that would be a great thing,” says Pleumer.

Back on their feet and providing local citizens with food to keep them up and running.

“It’s also a great community event gets people out to meet new people,” says Pleumer.

“They care that people that are less fortunate than themselves need help and assistance and it shows that they are willing to be a part of the effort to assist them individuals,” says McCarthy.

An effort involving doubles, splits, and from some a perfect game.

“It’s something that a person never intends to be in that position a little help at certain times can make a big difference in a person’s life,” explains Pleumer.

Making a difference one pin or one strike at a time.

To suggest even more ideas for future fundraisers contact the Dubuque Area Labor Harvest.

Emily.Allen can be contacted at Emily.Allen@loras.edu

DUBUQUE – A report released on Monday estimates 35 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

National Alzheimer’s Association president Harry Johns says, “The number of people affected by Alzheimer’s is growing at a rapid rate, and the increasing personal costs will have significant impact on the world’s economies and health care systems…”We must take action against Alzheimer’s now.

This Saturday local citizens took action by taking steps in a memory walk to raise money and awareness to the ongoing disease. For Norene Millman, living with her mother has been an experience she won’t forget.

“One day I went in there and I opened her night stand up and it was just full of like cookies and crackers or whatever she decided,” says Millman.

Stories like these may be a bit humorous, but for Norene and her family it was the start of something serious.

“She put her hearing aids in her denture cup and ruined them.  $5,000 worth of damage. She lost her teeth, she’s lost her glass so we head to get her new ones,” explained Millman.

8 years ago Norene Millman’s mother was diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, a progressive and fatal brain disease causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behavior.

“She’d be like, ‘Well I know you belong here but I don’t know your name.’ And you don’t have a mother to talk to anymore that’s what hurts. As it goes on it just keeps getting worse and worse or else she’s in the past,” says Millman.

But Norene couldn’t keep up with aggressive disease and made a choice her children were not happy with.

“Two of them really upset with me because I put her in the home but I really didn’t have a choice, but it took be three months before I finally did it and I probably cried for three months afterwards because I did it,” says Millman.

And after making the difficult choice, Norene made another decision, to join the Dubuque Alzheimer’s Association and walk for a cure.

“I think because mom got it, I just decided I need to do that,” says Millman.

A report released from the National Alzheimer’s Association reveals a startling statistic; the number of people with Alzheimer’s is expected to nearly double every 20 years.

Volunteers across Dubuque help raise awareness each year with a memory walk to help raise money for a cure and to promote awareness of the disease.

“If we have people out there saying, ‘Oh I don’t really know why I need to become involved,’ It’s because we really need to find a cure for this before it becomes an epidemic if that’s the case,” explains Dubuque Alzheimer’s Community Relations Coordinator, Margie Meeham.

Although the memory walk for this year is over, events and fundraisers will continue until a cure is found.

“If they can find a cure for it you wouldn’t have so many people in the nursing homes,” says Millman.

But until then Norene and her family will stay by her mother’s side and wait.

“You don’t know how long it’s going to be it could a long time it could be tomorrow, we don’t know, we just except it because living like that living,” says Millman.

More events to promote awareness and raise money for Alzheimer’s are planned and can be found on the National Alzheimer’s website.

Emily.Allen can be contacted at Emily.Allen@loras.edu

Emily Allen
Published : September 9, 2009

Platteville, WI–With the recent economic recession, some tri-state colleges are not able to meet their quota, but for others, this is not the case.

For freshman Katie Martin, choosing the University of Wisconsin Platteville was not a difficult choice.
“Ever since I was little I always came up here for cheerleading camps, basketball camps, you name it,” says Martin.

A soon as Martin became a student at UWP, he hit the books.
“I did enjoy biology classes in high school, so I thought I would give that a try and I’ve really liked it so far,” explains Martin.
Martin and the rest of this year’s freshman class are already in the record books.

This is the longest incoming freshman class that Platteville has ever seen ever in it’s history of being a university,” says UW-Platteville tour guide, Patrick Harker.

Martin couldn’t be happier. She says, “It think it’s really great knowing that I can look back and say my class is kind of started the process of making Platteville bigger.”

Because of the additional 1,550 students, the campus had to make a few accommodations.
“In the older residents halls the lounges are converted into rooms. Two to six students are in each lounge and it’s just like a regular residence hall they normally would have,” explains Harker.

Although some students might view the expanded housing program as a negative situation, both Martin and Harker believe the program will assist students in the future.

“We met our enrollment quota for the year and there was some negatively with having to decline applications,” says Harker.

“I think it’s really not as big of a deal as people are making it out to be, I think everything will go smoothly,” says Martin.

But Harker reassures students there is hope for those in an expanded room.
“Incoming students unfortunately drop out, or they don’t show up.  Those students placed in expanded housing will then be relocated to those regular rooms,” says Harker.
Allowing other students, like Katie to experience college in a positive way.

UW-Platteville isn’t the only college seeing an increase in enrollment. The University of Dubuque, Loras College, and other Iowa college are witnessing an increase as well.  To find out more click here.

Emily.Allen can be contacted at Emily.Allen@loras.edu

DUBUQUE – The list of Norma Denlinger’s accomplishments is impressive.

“Many things I am doing are Dubuque Racing Association, United Way Services, Dubuque Botanical Gardens Arboritum,” says Denlinger.

But maybe what’s more impressive is the fact that Norma has accomplished even more in the past 80 years. “As a child I was always taught that I have an obligation to see that I shared with other people,” recalls Denlinger.

Don’t let her age fool you, she believes it is her 80 years of experience that keep her on the go.

“Nobody has ever said to me you should stop your not for profit, I think the people who know me well know that’s what make me tick that’s why I get up in the morning. The others who don’t know me…seem to tolerate me,” laughs Denlinger.
Norma knows there are others her age that aren’t quite as independent as herself. Luther Manor administrator, Barbara Y. Baker, knows this as well. “It’s National Nursing Homes week and we do all sorts of crazy things, we have mis-match day, we just had sundaes, and today is crazy hat day,” says Baker.

Baker says she and her staff don’t do it just because it’s mandatory and they don’t do it once a year. “We are doing fun stuff like this all the time, this really does improve and enhances the quality of a person’s life,” says Baker.

And Denlinger says what enhances her life is the secret to happiness. “If you can’t be flexible and move with the times of change, I don’t know that you can really be happy with yourself,” says Denlinger.

Happiness has certainly entered Norma’s life. In addition to her many accomplishments she also helped apply for a license for both the Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino and the old Diamond Jo Casino river boat.

“People continue to ask me why I have been on that so long, and want to know if I like to bet. I’m not a gambler, I did it because it was going to be good for the community,” says Denlinger.

Norma continues to help support and sponsor others non-profit organizations that are good for the Dubuque community and isn’t about to stop anytime soon.

Emily.Allen can be contacted at Emily.Allen@loras.edu

CHICAGO, IL – Thirty-two Loras College students volunteered to be abducted this past Saturday. They marched in the rain, and stopped traffic in downtown Chicago all in an attempt to be the voice for the voiceless.

Hans Sleichter was one of the 32 Loras Students who was tied with 2000 strangers across the Midwest with nothing in common except a piece of rope.

“To see how passionate people were about it and coming together for the cause of people they don’t even know, it’s just that love for humanity that just kind of moves me and it was really exciting,” says Sleichter.

Students traveled to Federal Plaza in Chicago were they were “abducted” as part of the World Wide Invisible Children Rescue.
“When we walked up the crowd started cheering it was just like one of those moments that gives you goose bumps,” says Joel Allen, a fellow abductee.

“We marched 1.7 miles to Grant Park where we stayed the entire night,” says Sleichter.

Participates in the march held on to a piece of twine reenacting the children in Uganda’s struggle for survival.
“This was just unbelievable, the cops were in on it they were stopping traffic for us on their segways,” recalls Sleichter.

The march blocked the Chicago streets and sidewalks, affecting the entire city.

“Traffic was blocked up 8 blocks. It was just such a cool feeling because it’s like we are forcing you to see what we are doing. You see the buses they are off their routes time wise and people in taxis are paying just to sit there,” says Sleichter.

But an angry crowd and honking vehicles wasn’t the only issue abductees had to face.

“The rain started happening and I was just like, man this is horrible. It went from 40 degrees and rain and you could see your breath, it was horrible,” says Allen.

Allen admits his shorts, short sleeve shirt, and flip-flops weren’t exactly weather appropriate, but he says it was all for a good cause.

“There was a point in time when I just wanted to give up. It had rained about two inches in thirty minutes and I was dripping wet, I couldn’t feel my feet anymore. I didn’t know if I could do it. But Hans reassured me and reminded me that the kids in Uganda don’t have a choice. They don’t get to say it’s too cold let’s just go home,” says Allen.

But despite harsh weather, lack of media attention and multiple location sites Joel and Hans believe the event was a success.
“Spreading the word is what has got the organization as big as it was,” says Sleichter.

It’s been 4 days since the abduction and Chicago is the one city out of 100 cities across the globe that is still in need of a rescue. Sleichter says he is going to back to Chicago tomorrow and along with the rest of the Chicago abductees is going to continue to wait for a celebrity or political figure comes to the rescue.

Today at 11:00am the troop marched to Oprah’s Harpo Studios and moved their location to Lincoln Park Zoo. Currently individuals from the Invisible Children headquarters based out of San Diego are headed to the windy city for the rescue.

Emily Allen can be reached at emily.allen@loras.edu

DUBUQUE – Alyssa Hentrich was 11 years old, home with her siblings when a tornado destroyed her family’s farm.

“We were outside playing on the trampoline and this big green mass starts coming down the driveway. We heard the phone ring and it was my grandma, and she told us there’s a tornado,” says Alyssa.

She remembers the evening of May 10, 2008 in great detail. Alyssa recounts, “The sirens in town never went off, we didn’t hear it. There were no birds chirping, no dogs barking, it was just quiet.” With very little warning, Alyssa and her siblings acted quickly and went into the basement.

Alyssa recalls that it was just seconds after seeking shelter that she heard and felt the shaking. “It was a really loud, ear-piercing sound and it lasted for about 10 seconds and then again silence.” The tornado’s path over-turned every building on the Hentrich farm, except the house.

When the storm had calmed, a neighbor came to the Hentrich house to check on Alyssa and her siblings. “Then we heard a voice up stairs, it was saying ‘kids kids’ so we ran upstairs and we were like ‘oh my God we have a house,” states Alyssa.

It’s stories like Alyssa’s that have motivated weather spotters to get warning out sooner. Steve Thompson, a Meteorologist for the Nation Weather Service in La Cross, Wisconsin believes storm spotters will always be important for tracking severe weather. “Radar has limitations that ground true information that is coming from train storm spotters make all the difference,” says Thompson.

Last week he trained over 240 storm spotters. “Their interest was definitely peaked by the Parkersburg event last Memorial Day and the flash flooding that occurred in April and June,” comments Thompson.

Thompson stresses that no matter how big the storm is, spotters need to be aware of their safety. Thompson also explained to spotters that a tornado’s path is unpredictable, but Alyssa believes there was another reason her and her siblings survived.

“My dad passed away back in 2000 and for a tornado to hit nine buildings and go around our house, we all just think it was our parent looking out for us,” says Alyssa.

Emily Allen can be contacted at Emily.Allen@loras.edu

DUBUQUE – The economic struggle has seen companies across the country shutting down. Among all the failing businesses there had been one service that is thriving from the downfall.

“We dated for about two years and then Thanksgiving in front of my family he proposed,” said newlywed Katie Andrews.

After Katie and her husband, Randy celebrated their vows, the faced ‘the real world’ and all its economic hardships. The couple are both working on their degrees. Randy works for the YMCA while also coaching for the school district and Katie works full time at the hospital.

Even with both of them having jobs it still is not enough to pay the bills, so Randy joined the U.S. Army.

Randy commented about his wife’s reaction, “she said ‘well if you want to do it’ so I was like alright, cool.”

As the economy continues to fall, military officials say enlistment numbers are continuing to rise. “I see a lot more people just coming in the door, a lot more. I would say probably a 25 – 40% increase over two months ago,” said U.S. Army Sergeant, Kurt Dock.

That is because other job options are getting slim so people are looking to enlist to help their burdens.

“We have noticed for the people that are coming into us, people that maybe wouldn’t even consider it before because of the fact that there were so many other opportunities out there for them to check out,” said Dock.

As for Randy he says that while the money and benefits are nice, he is focused on a larger goal. “In a sense it’s going to help me get a job in the future.” Hopefully it will ultimately give the couple a better financial future.

“It is going into savings, we’re going to buy a house, hopefully sooner rather than later,” said Katie. Randy leaves for basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, next week.

Emily Allen can be reached at Emily.Allen@loras.edu

The class of 2007 presented a gift to Loras College, Handicap assessable doors. Now, Dubuque is following that example by funding a home primarily meant for physically disabled individuals.

One out of ten thousand United States citizens are born with Spina Bifida, Pat O’Hea is one.

“I have never been able to walk, so I was born as is now. I’ve seen all 27 years from this level,” said O’Hea.

Although he has movement in his legs, Pat’s mode of transportation is in a wheel chair.

“It’s less and less walking and more wheel chair from day to day,” said O’Hea.

More wheels means less mobility for Pat.

“We’ve found spots in our house that are a little bit tougher than others,” said O’Hea.

That is the reason why the Step by Step foundation created a disabled housing complex in Dubuque.

Wayne Breckon, President of the Step by Step program, explained why this building is unique.

“The microwave is a drawer, the oven is a side door swing, and the cabinets have a huge area beneath them for the wheel chair to roll under so it’s designed for true functionality and removing barriers to ease movement for the residents,” said Breckon.

The build is located in the middle of downtown Dubuque on Bluff Street, and Wayne hopes this project is viewed not only as an apartment complex, but as a community allowing residents to feel welcome.

“It promotes community living environment people can live together, and eat together and do things together,” said Breckon.
Pat thinks the facility will shed light for residents who feel limited.

“It’s going to give them a sense of independence which people who are disabled will tell you they want to be independent they just haven’t been able to make adjustments until the last few years,” said O’Hea.

Emily Allen can be reached at emily.allen@loras.edu

DUBUQUE – Elizabeth Van Cleave has been in Dubuque for quite a while.

“I have lived in Dubuque for about the past fifteen years,” said Van Cleave.

She like other Dubuquers is always trying to find something new to experience in the area.

“I like to go to concerts and I like to hang out with my friends, and there is really not a lot to do in town sometimes,” said Van Cleave.

Dubuque Chamber of Commerce president Molly Grover believes Envision 2010 is the key to solving this citywide issue.

“We have many dedicated volunteers working on the ten different committees,” said Grover.

VanCleeve believes one of the goals of the Envision 2010 project is just right for her. The integrated walking, biking, and hiking trail system.

“If Dubuque has something more like that I think a lot more people would get out of their house and go out and walk and ride their bikes because they have a reason to be out there,” said Van Cleave.

Emily Allen can be reached at Emily.Allen@lctv13.com