Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Tia Chamberlain, student, demonstrates a hand
held heart monitor.

LOCUST GROVE, OKLAHOMA - Locust Grove schools purchased new fitness center equipment and equipment for physical education (P.E.) classes with the help from a $44,000 grant from the Cherokee Nation.

"We just want to give a big thank you to the Cherokee Nation and I can’t stress that enough", said Ladney Keener, P.E. coach at Locust Grove schools. "This would have never been possible if not for their help and support."

"We are set in prevention mode here at Locust Grove", said Glinna Flemming, assistant superintendent at Locust Grove Schools. We are practicing prevention by getting these kids motivated, rather than waiting until something happens."

Locust Grove schools used their money to buy new P.E. equipment as well as treadmills, stationary bikes, and free weight equipment to be used in a new fitness facility.

"One of our main goals is to educate children in exercise", Flemming said. "We bought some hand held heart monitors and the kids love them. "The batons help to monitor a person’s heart rate while they walk, the quicker you can get your heart rate to come down after exercising, the healthier you are getting."

The Cherokee Nation selected Locust Grove School as one of seventeen schools to share in a $1 million grant distributed by the Cherokee Nation diabetes program. Schools that applied for the Cherokee Nation Diabetes Prevention grant had to submit a plan for improving their existing physical activity program or starting a new one.

"We hope to promote lifetime activities so kids can see the importance of health and good physical fitness", Keener said. "I believe that we as a whole can either get physical or get good insurance."

The Cherokee Nation distributed the grant as a form of diabetes prevention among Native American people. Schools with a high number of Native American students were given top priority in the selection process.

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org