Vidette-Messenger of Porter County from Valparaiso, Indiana • 2

2A The Vldette-Messenger, Saturday, Feb. 26, 1994 LOCAL Waet prom to be 6 dry 9 I- A i Warm weather means drinking season for teenagers, but a group of county representatives hope to get a warning out before then, to both parents and students. 'v 1 1 'i-'Ak A group of Jackson Elementary students watch a video they created to Jackson students MIKE MCARDLBThe Vktette-Meisenger show new students and their parents what the school has to offer. say, Welcome' by Phil Potempa The VkJette-Messenger It's only February, but some county educators are already thinking about the prom. And the Porter County Cooperative Education office is using the winter months to educate students and parents about the dangers of drinking, before warm weather ushers in what they refer to as the "drinking season." "Once the weather warms-up and prom season nears, problems with teenage drinking begin," said James Jordan, the Porter County Extension Office educator for the 4-H Youth Division.

Jordan has assembled a panel of Porter County representatives who have positions requiring them to deal with the consequences of teenage drinking. Panelists are currently traveling to school systems throughout Porter County to talk to teenagers and parents about problems that arise from alcohol usage. The alcohol awareness program is sponsored by the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and the Community Sys-temwide Response Task is co-chair of the task force. "We wanted to select a group of individuals for our panel who could share some of the startling statistics of drinking from right here in Porter County," he said. The panelists include Porter County Sheriff Larry Deminski, Gary Germann, a local attorney, Larry Shurr, an insurance agent, and Judge Raymond Kickbush.

"We've already given our 45-minute evening panel presentation to the Portage Schools and to Morgan Township. The attendance and response has been by Jennifer Seward The Vidette-Messenger JACKSON TWP. Being "the new kid on the block" is never easy. That's why a handful of fifth-grade students at Jackson Elementary School were more than happy when they were selected to be a part of the school's "Welcome Wagon" video project. "We all know what it's like to be new," said Heather Janosky, 11.

Together, Janosky and fellow students Eric Camel, Jennafer Underwood, Mary Frisch, Erin Gillespie, A.J. Shultz and Sam Lowe act as tour guides for new students and their families. A group of fourth-graders are being trained to replace the current tour guides, who'll graduate to middle school next year. However, although Janosky and the group won't be around next year, they've left their mark by way of a video. A video tour of the school which features the students interviewing teachers and faculty was completed in December.

It can be checked out of the library by new families. "The icing on the cake is for the family to be able to take the video home with them," said guidance counselor Rick Law-son. So far, 35 new families have gotten acquainted with the school through student-lead tours. But the video really adds something special, Lawson said. "The faculty have told us they very good.

Both the students and parents asked the panelists some good questions," Jordan said. His office selected this particular group of panelists because each are affected by teenage drinking in a different way. Jordan said Dembinski's stories from the road open the "eyes" of both students and parents to the number of traffic fatalities that result each year from drunk driving. During Germann's portion of the presentation, he's quick to tell parents that legal fees for drunk driving can begin at $1,000, not including more than $300 for court fees. Shurr shocks parents and teens with tales of tripled insurance rates and policy cancellations.

And according to Kickbush, 80 percent of the cases before him are alcohol-related. This is the second year we've sponsored this program. The program's mission is to be a leader in helping communities develop an on-going response to alcohol and substance abuse and impaired driving by juveniles," Jordan said. The panel presentation will be given at 7 p.m. at the following area schools on the following dates: Washington March 22; Flint Lake, March 23; Ben Franklin, April and Hebron Schools, April 11.

Dates have not yet been scheduled for John Simatovich, Union Center or the Duneland schools. tal in Michigan City. Friday evening, the hospital reported her condition as stable. Three other nursing students were killed in the crash Kimberly Pressel, 22, of Wanatah; Jill S. Rosko, 21, of Merrillvilje; and Laura K.

VanDyke, 21, of Valparaiso. Valparaiso University spokesperson Pat Downing said she thought it likely there would be a memorial service for the three students, but it wouldn't be until after students return from Spring Break March 14. employee groups and union members whose gifts made them the 50 largest United Way contributors in 1993. In December, the local community planning and fundraising organization announced it will distribute $1,953,000 raised in last fall's campaign. Free copies of the poster are available through the United Way of Porter County office by contacting Robert K.

Scott, vice president of communications and marketing, at 464-3583. Says chlorine-health link unproven Injured students remain in hospital Senate OKs controversial 'mixing' bill VALPARAISO. Two Valparaiso University nursing students, injured when their car collided with a van Thursday, remained hospitalized Friday evening. Adrienne Lynch, 20, of Valparaiso, who suffered injuries to her neck, back and pelvis, continues to be listed in fair condition at Porter Memorial Hospital. Julie Brumm, 20, of Illinois, suffered neck and back injuries.

She was listed in good condition Friday morning at Saint Anthony Hospi think the video is a warm addition to our school. It makes new families feel more invited, a part ofus-. Beingan outgoing tour guide also helps. "We're all pretty talkative. I think that makes people more comfortable," Underwood, 11, said.

"Yeah, especially if they're talky like you," Camel, 10, smiled. However, Frisch and Gillespie, both 10, and the more reserved of the seven, find being shy doesn't prevent them from being a good tour guide; many times, it makes them more sympathetic. "The kids are pretty much' shy. One new girl I toured with didn't say anything," Gillespie said. Save the Dunes Council, i "We testified against the bill before a Senate Committee which approved the bill with only Sen.

(Frank) Mrvan (D-Hammond) opposed. "We have made progress in the statehouse during the past few days, but not enough to kill the bill. Now we must ask Gov. Bayh to again exert his leadership on water quality issues and veto this bill." Bayh signed current water quality standards in February 1990, which ended mixing zones in lakes, he said. The legislation would open the door for seven other Indiana companies which discharge into Lake Michigan to dump additional pollution into the lake, which serves as the sole drinking water source for millions of area residents, Anderson said.

The lake also provides enormous recreational opportunities, he said. that chlorine and its byproducts, such as dioxin and "organochlo-rines," may be linked to birth defects, reproductive problems, rSELLS FOR Wiiv0 f-tV APT" CmJ JO VI I Wedding Invitations Graduation Announcements and Accessories Plus Personalized Office Supplies 462-3267 nrvi liminin DM ML Frisch said it's the parents who ask the most questions. "Yeah, and that's weird because we (kids) are usually the ones asking them questions," Shultz, 10, said. And the students don't consider their job done after the tour is through either. Each periodically checks in on the new students to make sure they're adjusting well and have made friends.

Lowe seems to have made a very appreciative one of a fellow student he onCe brought on a tour. "During Valentine's Day she gave me a card and thanked me for the tour. Sometimes when I'm riding the bus and I see that she's alone, I'll sit by her," he said. thyroid problems, decreased fertility, behavioral abnormalities and problems with the immune system in Great Lakes wildlife. Lienhart said industries that use large amounts of chlorine, such as paper and pulp mills, have substantially reduced their releases to the environment.

"We're here to be a part of the solution to the problem," he said. For example, industry was willing to look for environmentally friendly substitutes to the pesticide DDT, which is chlorine-based, but many of the alternatives are also chlorine based, Lienhart said. He added that the industry is also encouraging recycling of chlorine-based plastics, such as polyvinyl chloride. However, Jack Weinberg, who is leading the anti-chlorine campaign for the environmental group Greenpeace, said such recycling programs were only public relations tactics. "I don't think you're going to see your Barbie Dolls and credit cards end up in the recycling bins," he said.

Weinberg said studies have shown human sperm count is down 50 percent in the Great Lakes. Other hormonal problems have been linked to chlorinated compounds, he said. TRY OUR NEW LUNCH DINNER ALL-U-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST FRUIT BUFFET Big Boy Famity Restaurants! VALP0 fob. KhNMUHc Parts and Service the Rest. United Way poster honors contributors HAMMOND (AP) A link between the industrial use of chlorine and human health effects has not been established yet, an industry spokesman said.

Brad Lienhart, president of the Chlorine Chemistry Council, also said industry has been researching health effects for several years and is willing to cooperate with further research. "We don't believe today that the levels that are in the environment are having an effect on health," he said. However, he acknowledged abuses had been committed by industry. "We know there were insults in the past." He was among the environmentalists, industry representatives and others who gathered at Calumet College of St. Joseph to discuss reducing the use of chlorine as an industrial feedstock.

The International Joint Commission, a U.S.-Canadian panel that formulates policy on the Great Lakes, has recommended since 1992 that chlorine be gradually eliminated from industrial use in the region. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not followed the commission's recommendation yet, the Clinton administration recently proposed an 18-month study on the A controversial bill affecting Lake Michigan passed the Senate Friday, despite being opposed by legislators in affected counties. The Senate passed the Lake Michigan "Pollution Mixing Zone" bill 37-13. Most Northwest Indiana senators, including Sens.

Bill Alexa, D-Valparaiso, Anita Bowser, D-Michigan City, Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake, and Rose Ann Antich, D-Merril-lville, voted against the bill. This legislation was pushed by Amoco Oil in Whit-ing and would repeal the three-year-old ban on mixing zones for dischargers into Lake Michigan. Amoco is backing the bill to allow dumping of wastewater into Lake Michigan. "We are disappointed this terrible piece of legislation has passed the General Assembly," said Tom Anderson, executive director of the effects of chlorine and chlorinated compounds on humans and wildlife. Some research has shown cm 071721 C'S SALES SERVICE WE SPECIALIZE IN VCR COMPUTER MONITOR REPAIR MOST MAKES AND MODELS "Established in 1964" 819VELM 'I, Block West of Beet Mart) VALPARAISO 464-7987 If you don 't know where to turn, let United Way be your FIRST CALL 464-3583 A cmrnunity service of imed iy of porter County md Northsi Indiana Federal kn of Labor.

(TV) wmm mm VALPARAISO The United Way of Porter County has published a special poster honoring the top 50 largest contributors to its 1993-94 campaign. "It's oar way of publicly recognizing the strong support given to United Way by these special groups," said Kathi Dimitri, UWPC's board chairman. "We thank each organization for their generosity." Published annually, the commemorative poster salutes the local corporations, Vol. 67, No. 234(USPS 659-100) 1111 E.Glendale.

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