Midweek Music is a free live lunchtime concert each Wednesday 6/3-8/26

(ROCK ISLAND, IL - May 29, 2015) - Renaissance Rock Island is pleased to present Midweek Music beginning Wednesday, June 3, 2015. Midweek Music is a free lunchtime concert series taking place on The Great River Plaza from 12-1 p.m. every Wednesday in June, July, and August.

Enjoy musical performances as you eat lunch outside on the beautiful Great River Plaza. Each Wednesday a local musician will entertain downtown Rock Island visitors during the lunch hour. To stay updated on who is performing check www.ridistrict.com or The District's Facebook and Twitter page (www.facebook.com/ridistrict, www.twitter.com/districtri). We encourage attendees to grab lunch from a downtown restaurant, and take it to go so you can enjoy the music on the plaza!

Midweek Music is presented by Renaissance Rock Island.

The event is free. For more information and to print a map of participating locations, please visit www.ridistrict.com.

PELLA, IA (05/29/2015)(readMedia)-- The following local students graduated May 16 from Central College.

Allison Garman of Bettendorf graduated with a degree in sociology.

Brittany Hinton of Davenport graduated with a degree in exercise science.

Alicia Huegel of Bettendorf graduated with a degree in elementary education.

Ashlyn Huegel of Bettendorf graduated with a degree in integrated studies.

Megan Querry of Bettendorf graduated with a degree in psychology.

Nathan Thiessen of Davenport graduated with a degree in music.

Lauren Weber of Muscatine graduated with a degree in English.

Garrett Young of Muscatine graduated with a degree in exercise science.

These students were among 263 who completed degrees in 36 majors. Central's class of 2015 came from 18 states, including Florida, California, Arizona, Washington, Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey and Michigan.

Brian Peterson, professor of economics, served as class dean for this class of students since 2012 and gave a special address at baccalaureate. "I marvel at the ability of our graduates to accomplish as much as they have," he said. "I wonder when they sleep! I wish them all success after Central, and that they never forget that, as much as they think Central has helped them grow, they have helped Central grow as well."

At commencement, seniors also presented their class gift: the renovation of Maytag Student Center's outdoor patio. The patio was not included in a recent $3.125 million renovation of Maytag Student Center, but it is attached to the new campus restaurant Fred's, one of the most popular gathering spots. The class gift will help create a multi-faceted gathering place that complements recent indoor upgrades and makes the patio ideal for students to gather for live music events, studying or connecting with classmates outdoors.

Founded in 1853, Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private, residential four-year liberal arts college known for its academic rigor and strength in global experiential learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), sustainability education, athletics success and tradition, and leadership and service. Central continues to value its long-standing relationship with the Reformed Church in America that began in 1916. The college participates in NCAA Division III athletics and is a member of the Iowa Conference. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just two minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake.

AMES, Iowa (May 29, 2015) - At Iowa State University's spring commencement ceremonies, 4,345 students received degrees. Iowa State awarded 3,646 undergraduate degrees, 448 master's degrees, 147 veterinary medicine degrees and 104 doctor of philosophy degrees.

Of the students receiving bachelor's degrees, 1,093 graduated "With Distinction" (cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude). A total of 94 students graduated as members of the Honors Program.

-30-

HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, DEGREE - DESCRIPTION, MAJOR(S), HONORS (if listed)

Andalusia, IL

Kacy Flaherty, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Journalism and Mass Communication, Cum Laude

Bettendorf, IA

Michelle Anderson, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Child, Adult, and Family Services , Cum Laude
Alison Aquino, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology and Health, Cum Laude
Jamie Blaser, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Event Management, Magna Cum Laude
Kailey Bueker, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, Cum Laude
Kelly Butcher, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Summa Cum Laude
Caitlin Cain, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Event Management
Adam Dane, M.Educ - Master of Education, Education
Dillan Dwyer, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude
Christopher Foss, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Cum Laude
Erik Fowler, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Marketing, Management Information Systems
Andrew Hartman, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering
Lucy Heiderscheit, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Marketing
Jordan Kerr, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology and Health
Jennifer Klindt, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Business
Lance Lipovic, B.F.A. - Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design
Mary Misak, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Event Management, Magna Cum Laude
Frederick Thompson, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies
Erin Toohey, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Biology (AGLS), Animal Ecology, Cum Laude
Heather Vandewostine, D.V.M. - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medicine

Blue Grass, IA

Timothy Gipple, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Megan Reimers, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Early Childhood Education

Coal Valley, IL

Benjamin Brogren, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Management Information Systems

Davenport, IA

Samuel Alvarado, Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy, Inorganic Chemistry
Seth Bacon, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, English
Emily Beard, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Animal Science
Molly Bridges, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, Magna Cum Laude
Emily Brimeyer, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design
Abigail Clevenger, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, Cum Laude
Elizabeth Doebel, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Mathematics, Magna Cum Laude, Honors Program Member
Trevor Fennelly, M.Educ - Master of Education, Education
Bridget Garnica, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Advertising
Sarah Jensen, B.L.A. - Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Landscape Architecture
Schaun Juchter, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies
Lance Keltner, M.Sci - Master of Science, Civil Engineering
Angeline Khounlo, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration
Emerald Klauer, B.F.A. - Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Cum Laude
Joseph Kopacz, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude
Kristina Lund, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Financial Counseling and Planning
Vanessa McNeal, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Child, Adult, and Family Services , Magna Cum Laude
Sarah Neighbour, B.F.A. - Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design
Zachary Petersen, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Construction Engineering
Alexander Pogue, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, Magna Cum Laude
Brylee Raupp-Timmons, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering
Eric Schmidt, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy
Sally Stringham, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design , Cum Laude
Matthew Swanson, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Kyle Thiessen, B.L.A. - Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Landscape Architecture
Kelsey Tope, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Event Management
Mary Van Camp, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies, World Languages and Cultures
Katherine Walton, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude
Paige Wiebler, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies
Dominique Williams, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Hospitality Management
Kelsie Witt, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design , Cum Laude
Kayla Worrell, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Financial Counseling and Planning
Connor Young, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude

Eldridge, IA

Christopher Amaya, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Dietetics (H SCI)
Destinie Hsu, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education
Whitney Van Pelt, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Biology (AGLS)

Moline, IL

Hans Schaeffer, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering
Danika Schroeder, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Linguistics
Danika Schroeder, B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Caleb Spiegel, B.AR. - Bachelor of Architecture, Architecture-Professional Degree, Magna Cum Laude

Reynolds, IL

Kurtiss Mueller, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering

Rock Island, IL

Derrick Anderson Jr., B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering
Ryan Bush, B.I.D. - Bachelor of Industrial Design, Industrial Design, Cum Laude
Andria Mendoza, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology and Health
BriAnna Watson, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, Management, Supply Chain Management

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today announced that he is extending the State of Disaster Emergency in response to the avian flu outbreak until July 1, 2015. The governor's original disaster declaration was set to expire Sunday, May 31, 2015. The proclamation can be read here.

 

As of Thursday, May 28, 2015, Iowa had 68 cases of the disease in the state. The disease is affecting birds in 18 counties. The counties affected at this time are: Buena Vista, Sac, Osceola, Sioux, O'Brien, Kossuth, Clay, Pocahontas, Cherokee, Madison, Wright, Palo Alto, Lyon, Plymouth, Calhoun, Adair, Webster and Hamilton. 

The proclamation of disaster emergency can be read below and does the following:

1.      Activates the disaster response and recovery aspect of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department's (HSEMD) Iowa Emergency Response Plan.

2.      Authorizes the use and deployment of all available state resources, supplies, equipment, and materials as are deemed reasonably necessary by the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Iowa HSEMD in order to do the following:

A.      Track and monitor instances of confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza  throughout the state of Iowa and the country,

B.      Establish importation restrictions and prohibitions in respect to animals suspected of suffering from this disease,

C.      Rapidly detect any presumptive or confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza within Iowa's borders,

D.     Contain the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within our state through depopulation, disinfections, and disposal of livestock carcasses,

E.      Engage in detection activities, contact tracking, and other investigatory work to stop the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within our state, and

F.       Eliminate the disease in those disaster counties where it has been found and lessen the risk of this disease spreading to our state as a whole.

3.      Temporarily authorizes the Iowa HSEMD, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), other state agencies, and local law enforcement agencies and private contractors employed by the same to remove and/or dispose of live animals and animal carcasses on publicly or privately owned land when those live animals and/or carcasses threaten public health or safety.

4.      Authorizes the Iowa HSEMD, the Iowa DOT, the Iowa DPS, the Iowa DNR, IDPH, other state agencies, and local law enforcement agencies to implement stop movement and stop loading restrictions and other control zone measures as are reasonably deemed necessary, including establishing buffer zones, checkpoints, and cleaning and disinfecting operations at checkpoints and borders surrounding any quarantine areas established by the IDALS or at any other location in the state of Iowa, in order to stop the spread of this contagious disease.

5.      Authorizes state agencies to assist the IDALS in disinfection, depopulation, and livestock carcass disposal efforts.

6.      Temporarily waives restrictions to allow for the timely and efficient disposal of poultry carcasses.

7.      Temporarily suspends the regulatory provisions pertaining to hours of service for commercial vehicle drivers hauling poultry carcasses infected with or exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza or while hauling loads otherwise related to the response to this disaster during its duration, subject to certain conditions outlined in the disaster proclamation.

UPDATE ON ACTIVIES OF STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN RESPONSE TO AVIAN INFLUENZA

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)

• Quarantining all infected sites
• Subject to facilities implementing nationally approved biosecurity measures, the Dept. permits the movement of materials such as feed and other supplies on and off of infected sites
• Leading efforts to monitor poultry within a 10-kilometer circle of each infected site
• Coordinating state communication efforts on the disease
• Working with federal and state officials to ensure the humane depopulation and disposal of all birds from infected sites
• Encouraging residents in counties with affected sites that have poultry to contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at BirdFlu@IowaAgriculture.gov or 515-725-1122

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department (HSEMD)

• Coordinating partial activation of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) with several state agencies, including the Iowa Departments of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Public Health, Natural Resources, Transportation, Public Safety, and the Iowa National Guard. USDA, Iowa Turkey Federation, and Iowa Poultry Association are also present at the SEOC.
• Providing resource support coordination as requested.
• Regularly providing information for situational awareness with county emergency management coordinators.
• Providing support for IDALS communications activities.

Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) - in conjunction with local public health officials

• Sharing CDC recommendations on the use of personal protective equipment by persons working directly with sick chickens and carcasses.
• Following up with workers who had direct contact with sick birds without the use of personal protective equipment.
• Providing sound risk information, making sure the public understands that the virus presents no food safety concern or risk to the general public.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

• DNR Air Quality has issued two variances for portable incinerators.  The DNR has also issued a variance for a thermal treatment unit.
• The DNR's primary concern is that disposal methods protect surface water, groundwater and air quality and does not result in further spreading of the AI virus
• Investigating the feasibility and the potential benefits and problems associated with various disposal options including landfilling, composting, incinerating, and burying.
• Looking at potential criteria for emergency air permits if needed for the incineration process.
• Working with contacts at several landfills to determine the ability of those operations to take dead poultry as well as being able to wash and disinfect transport vehicles on site.
• Investigating and maintaining contact with wastewater treatment facilities on the ability to accept and adequately treat leachate  produced by any landfill for the AI virus that may take dead poultry.
• Developed solid waste acceptance criteria for landfills willing to accept AI infected poultry.
• Contacted numerous potential sources of wood chips that can be used for composting. The wood chips would be used as part of the composting process.  The DNR has issued several variances to facilities to expand wood chipping capacity.
• Preparing maps of infected facilities that show quarantine boundaries and to determine the proximity of other poultry operations and neighbors.
• Investigating the geology involved with operations to determine the optimum potential locations for burial if needed.
• Working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct sampling of waterfowl for AI.

Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS)

• Communicated to the Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team (DBHRT) that volunteers were needed to assist with damage assessment surveying in the northwest region.  Three DBHRT members did volunteer to assist.
• The Division of Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) is responding to requests from Buena Vista and Kossuth counties for mental health support; a plan is being structured in collaboration with businesses in Buena Vista and Kossuth counties.
• MHDS is in communication with Iowa Concern staff who are taking calls from people with concerns relating to the Avian flu.  If calls are received from people who need additional support, contact will be made to MHDS and a plan will be put in place utilizing either local resources or DBHRT support.

Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT)

• Water hauling to assist with USDA operations continues.
• Districts have applied dust control to gravel shoulders along Highway 3 in Wright County.
• Provided a routing contact number and establish approved routes for IDALS permitted loads of carcasses up to 90,000 lbs.
• Assisting the Poultry Association by providing routing to help carriers hauling healthy poultry products to and through the state so they can avoid the infected areas.
• Created static signs for counties to install notifying haulers of poultry and poultry products of emergency restrictions placed on movements of such materials on select roads. Signs currently have been installed in Dallas, Emmet, and Palo Alto Counties.

Iowa National Guard

• Supporting mission for IDALS incident command post.

Background Information

The United States has the strongest Avian Influenza (AI) surveillance program in the world.  As part of the existing USDA avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners as well as industry are responding quickly and decisively to these outbreaks by following these five basic steps: 1) Quarantine - restricting movement of poultry and poultry-moving equipment into and out of the control area; 2) Eradicate - humanely euthanizing the affected flock(s); 3) Monitor region - testing wild and domestic birds in a broad area around the quarantine area; 4)  Disinfect - kills the virus in the affected flock locations; and 5) Test - confirm that poultry farms in the area are free of the virus.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health are working directly with poultry workers at the affected facility to ensure proper precautions are being taken.

These virus strains can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick. People should avoid contact with sick/dead poultry or wildlife. If contact occurs, wash your hands with soap and water and change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds.

All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard flock owners, should continue to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/federal officials, either through their state veterinarian at 515-281-5321 or through USDA's toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.