Resolutions get help from Health Fair

The health fair, which featured information presented by representatives of 31 agencies, businesses and programs from northwest Nebraska and southwest South Dakota, was the first of what organizers are hoping will become an annual event.

Although attendance figures were not recorded, Dr. Bill Roweton, CSC director of sponsored research, said he saw hundreds of people walk through the fair in the Nelson Physical Activity Center during the nine-hour event.

Information was presented about a wide variety of topics, from those considered to be traditional health care and fitness subjects to others, such as massage therapy, dancing and tips for buying shoes.

“I’d never helped organize a health fair before, but what really interests me about this event is that there are so many creative ways that we can address the topic of health and wellness,” Roweton said.

Shellie Johns, CSC coordinator of conferencing, said about 75 letters were sent to possible presenters for the fair during the event’s planning stages. She said one of the event’s goals was to attract topics of interest to not only traditional college-age students, but also others in the region.

The health fair was organized in conjunction with the Chadron State College Residence Life Association’s blood drive. Jill Reading, Edna Work Hall residence director, said the drive exactly met its goal with 85 units of blood collected by American Red Cross staff from North Platte.

Roweton said the health fair gives Chadron State a way to interact with other agencies, programs and people of its region.

“There are not many better ways for people in the community to become acquainted than to physically put them next to one another at an event like this,” he said.