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Many walkers took part in events around the area yesterday as part of Governor Terry Branstad’s Healthiest State Initiative.  The Governor’s goal is to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation in four years.  Part of that goal was the Healthiest State Walk.  Edie Nebel from Washington County Public Health says about 115 people signed up to walk around the square.

She notes more than that may have taken part because they didn’t sign up in person.  Nebel says walks were also conducted in other communities as well as at the schools across the county.  She says these events are a way to inspire people to increase exercise in the future to work on reducing obesity.

Here are the walk totals from yesterday where 1,074 more walkers took part this year.

Total Walkers: 3,713

Washington Schools  1,792

Halcyon House 25

Hospital 14

Washington Square 117

Mid-Prairie Schools 965

Wellman 36

Kalona Elementary 278

Kalona 15

Riverside w/ School 19

Brighton 32

Highland Schools 420