28 Aug 2015

Governor Takes Bill Action 8/24/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action on the following bills today:

 

Bill No.: HB 184

An Act Concerning State Government

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 356

An Act Concerning Criminal Law

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 488

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Veto

Effective: Veto message below

 

Bill No.: HB 821

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 1424

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 1429

An Act Concerning Finance

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 1660

An Act Concerning State Government

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 2462

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 3103

An Act Concerning Business

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 3194

An Act Concerning Finance

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto message below.

 

Bill No.: HB 3197

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 3507

An Act Concerning State Government

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto message below.

 

Bill No.: HB 3673

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 4025

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 4044

An Act Concerning Criminal Law

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 4113

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto message below.

 

Bill No.: SB 202

An Act Concerning Criminal Law

Action: Signed

Effective: July 1, 2015

 

Bill No.: SB 248

An Act Concerning Elections

Action: Signed

Effective: July 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 661

An Act Concerning Public Health

Action: Veto

Note: Veto message below.

 

Bill No.: SB 1271

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto message below.

 

Bill No.: SB 1421

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto message below.

 

Bill No.: SB 1441

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 1487

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 1518

An Act Concerning Safety

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: SB 1526

An Act Concerning Revenue

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto message below.

 

Bill No.: SB 1547

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Signed

Effective: 90 Days After Becoming Law

 

Bill No.: SB 1679

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: SB 1793

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: SB 1833

An Act Concerning Business

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto message below.

 

Bill No.: SB 1866

An Act Concerning Civil Law

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 1882

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 1921

An Act Concerning State Government

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Veto Message for HB 488

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois House of Representatives 99th General Assembly:

Today I veto House Bill 488 from the 99th General Assembly in order to protect Illinois from new legal claims that will clog the court system and drive up litigation costs.

House Bill 488 would shift attorney's fees to parties that prevail in obtaining an injunction under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. Illinois and federal law generally disfavor shifting attorney's fees; fees should only be awarded to successful plaintiffs in rare and special cases, usually where attorneys identify and advance important legal rights. Attorney's fees are not appropriate in most cases, and they are not appropriate in this case: fee shifting would not advance public safety.

Public safety and enforcement are properly the responsibility of the State. This bill would effectively shift that responsibility from the State to trial lawyers, who would pursue new and costly litigation for greater potential reward. This will burden the court system and delay other proceedings.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 488, entitled "AN ACT concerning regulation," with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

 

Veto Message for HB 3194

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois House of Representatives, 99th General Assembly:

Today I return House Bill 3194 with specific recommendations for change.

Over the last several years, the State has awarded weatherization grants under the Urban Weatherization Initiative Act and the Energy Assistance Act, supported by federal funds. Because of the federal funding, federal prevailing wage rates applied.

The federal program ended on June 30, 2015, at which point federal prevailing wage requirements no longer apply. The proponents of the bill are concerned that Illinois prevailing wage rates will apply going forward, leading to a marked increase in wage rates, which will significantly reduce the value of the program. Among other changes, House Bill 3194 would require that employees performing weatherization work continue to be paid in accordance with (lower) federal prevailing wage rates rather than (higher) Illinois prevailing wage rates, regardless of whether the State receives federal funding.

This bill demonstrates the problems with the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. There is no classification under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act for "weatherization worker." Instead, contractors are required to use general classifications - in particular, carpenters - which results in inflated wage rates. When the U.S. Department of Labor conducted a survey of weatherization wage rates in Illinois in 2009-2010, it found that the prevailing wage for weatherization workers was a fraction of the wage rates applicable to carpenters.

We have an obligation to taxpayers and the beneficiaries of government services to maximize public resources. Every public program can go farther when it is not compelled to subsidize artificially-inflated wages. For that reason, we need broader reform to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act.

I am returning House Bill 3194 to clarify the applicability of federal law. While I agree with the sponsors that Illinois prevailing wage rates should not be required, we should require payment of federal prevailing wage rates only if and when required by federal law - something that can be left to federal law itself and not repeated in Illinois statute.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(e) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 3194, entitled "AN ACT concerning finance", with the following specific recommendations for change:

On page 2, by replacing lines 13 through 16 with the following: "subdivision thereof. Works financed or funded in whole or in part with grants awarded under this Article shall not be considered public works for purposes of the Prevailing Wage Act."; and

On page 8, by replacing lines 2 through 8 with the following: "the weatherization program. Works financed or funded in whole or in part with grants awarded under this Article shall not be considered public works for purposes of the Prevailing Wage Act.".

With these changes, House Bill 3194 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

 

 

Veto Message for HB 3507

To the Honorable Members of  he Illinois House of Representatives 99th General Assembly:

Today I veto House Bill 3507 from the 99th General Assembly, which mandates that cases within the Department of Children and Family Services remain open until the ward reaches 21 years of age. This unfunded mandate places a significant financial burden on the Department, particularly because the Department would not be eligible for matching federal funds for all these services.

The Department currently provides numerous services for 18- to 21-year-old persons, including finding safe living arrangements, job placement, and scholarship funding. The federal funding match for these programs is only available for services to persons over the age of 18 if the person is in a work or educational setting or unable to be because of a disability. House Bill 3507 does not satisfy this requirement.

The Department suggested legislative provisions that would address the concerns raised by youth advocates while still maintaining federal funding. The Department's suggestion would have incentivized youth to develop job and educational skills necessary for independence and self-sufficiency and would have maximized federal funding. Unfortunately those ideas were rejected.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House 3507, "AN ACT concerning State government", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

 

 

Veto Message for HB 4113

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois House of Representatives, 99th General Assembly:

Today I return House Bill 4113 with specific recommendations for change.

First, House Bill 4113 exempts printing contracts for the student newspaper at Southern Illinois University's Carbondale campus from the Illinois Procurement Code for one year, during which time the bill requires those contracts be publicly awarded through an alternative process. Student newspapers are a vital part of vibrant and engaged student populations at all universities. The changes made by this bill - which provide more flexibility to the student newspapers while ensuring a public procurement process - should apply to all public universities and colleges during the one-year trial period.

Second, the bill increases the voting representation of students on the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees. Current law provides the student bodies of both campuses with representation on the Board of Trustees; one of those representatives is a voting member, and the other is a non-voting member. The bill would permit both representatives to be voting members.

Student representatives are valuable additions to the Board of Trustees. But on a board of just nine or ten voting trustees (depending on whether one or both student representatives are voting members), having two student voting members is not necessary or advisable. The Board of Trustees must consider difficult budgetary issues, academic requirements, and student conduct and disciplinary issues. The long-term views of professionals must be given appropriate weight. The current make-up allows for the students' perspective to be heard without diluting the insight gained from the other trustees' years of professional experience.  As such, I recommend that no change be made to the composition of the Board of Trustees.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(e) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 4113 with the following changes:

On page 1, line 7, by deleting "Southern Illinois"; and

On page 1, by replacing line 11 with "at any public institution of higher education as defined in the Board of Higher Education Act."; and

On page 1, by replacing lines 12 and 13 with "Notice of each contract entered into by a public institution of higher education that is related to the procurement of printing"; and

On page 1, line 17, by replacing "Southern Illinois University" with "The public institution of higher education"; and

On page 2, by deleting lines 10 through 24; and

By deleting pages 3 through 5; and

On page 6, by deleting lines 1 through 7.

With these changes, House Bill 4113 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

 

 

Veto Message for SB 661

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois Senate, 99th General Assembly:

Today I veto Senate Bill 661 from the 99th General Assembly in order to shield Illinois from significant spending mandates and to protect our State's health care providers from unnecessary civil liability.

Senate Bill 661 creates the Hepatitis C Screening Act, which stems from the hard work of the Illinois Hepatitis C Task Force. This bill requires health care practitioners, regardless of setting, to offer a hepatitis C screening test to individuals born between 1945 and 1965, unless the health care practitioner reasonably believes that certain conditions are present. The bill also requires all insurers, public and private, to provide coverage for hepatitis C screening and confirmatory testing consistent with reasonable medical standards.

I support the General Assembly's determination to combat hepatitis C. I further applaud the members of the Illinois Hepatitis C Task Force for their efforts to raise awareness of this very serious problem.

Senate Bill 661, however, imposes significant short-term financial obligations upon the State Medicaid agency and the State health insurance plan at a time when Illinois is facing a fiscal crisis. The bill would help identify Illinoisans afflicted with hepatitis C, but it does not address the important question of how to pay for the expensive treatment necessary to defeat the disease. It is an untenable position to diagnose a disease but not account for funding for the treatment.

The bill further mandates that doctors adhere to the "Testing Recommendations for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection." By dictating a specific standard of care to doctors, the bill sets an ill-advised precedent with respect to the State's health care industry. This bill replaces doctors' ability to provide patient-centered care with government-mandated medical care. This could expose our doctors to new and costly litigation, which will further increase medical costs.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 661, entitled "AN ACT concerning public health", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

 

 

Veto Message for SB 1271

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois Senate, 99th General Assembly:

Today I veto Senate Bill 1271 from the 99th General Assembly, which would reduce competitive bidding for park, forest, and conservation district contracts.

Given Illinois's history of corruption and insider dealing, government transparency is paramount. Competitive bidding ensures that units of local government are getting the best price for services and that taxpayer funds are being used effectively. Consequently, increasing the threshold for competitive bidding from $20,000 to $25,000 is a step in the wrong direction for government transparency and conserving taxpayer dollars.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 1271, "AN ACT concerning local government", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

 

 

Veto Message for SB 1421

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois Senate, 99th General Assembly:

Today I veto Senate Bill 1421 from the 99th General Assembly to protect consumers from costs for services they do not receive.

Over the coming decades, Illinois will need to make significant investments in replacing and maintaining its water and wastewater infrastructure. Senate Bill 1421 attempts to address this need by allowing a public utility, with approval by the Illinois Commerce Commission, to recover its water service and wastewater costs from consumers, thus providing a source of consumer-funded revenue for infrastructure investment.

Whenever we permit utilities to pass on their costs to consumers, we should ensure that costs are passed to consumers who use and benefit from the particular services to the extent possible. Unfortunately, because not all consumers receive both their water and wastewater services from the same utility, Senate Bill 1421 would permit a public utility to pass on wastewater costs to consumers who do not receive wastewater services. This type of subsidy is not appropriate or necessary.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 1421, entitled "AN ACT concerning regulation", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

 

 

Veto Message for SB 1526

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois Senate, 99th General Assembly:

Today I veto Senate Bill 1526 from the 99th General Assembly, which would amend the Property Tax Code to impose further burdens on property owners seeking to appeal their assessments.

Senate Bill 1526 precludes a property owner from seeking a change in the assessed valuation of his or her home of $100,000 or more unless that change is specifically indicated in the complaint. This places a needless burden on Illinois taxpayers who already pay the second highest property taxes in the nation and further inhibits legitimate valuation appeals. Moreover, because this bill would preclude the appeal altogether, it creates an excessive penalty for what is a technical matter.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 1526 entitled "AN ACT concerning revenue", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

 

 

Veto Message for SB 1833

To the Honorable Members of the Illinois Senate, 99th General Assembly:

Today I return Senate Bill 1833, which amends the Personal Information Protection Act, with specific recommendations for change.

The Personal Information Protection Act was enacted in 2005 to protect consumers from the damaging consequences of a data breach. Illinois businesses and non-profit organizations must take their obligations seriously.

Senate Bill 1833 makes significant changes to the Personal Information Protection Act, many of which are intended to protect consumers and update the Act. But unfortunately, the bill goes too far, imposing duplicative and burdensome requirements that are out-of-step with other states. These unnecessary requirements will hurt our economic competitiveness without providing commensurate benefit to Illinois consumers and residents whom the bill is intending to protect.

In particular, the bill would add "consumer marketing information" and "geolocation information" to the types of protected personal information. This is significant departure from the data protection laws of other states. Compared to other types of personal information, the unauthorized release of consumer marketing and geolocation information does not pose the same risk of identity theft that justifies the extraordinary and costly security and notice requirements imposed by the Personal Information Protection Act.

The bill requires that notices be given to the Attorney General within 30 business days after the breach is discovered. While many states do not impose a specific requirement of this type, those that do more often require notice within 45 calendar days (which is approximately the same as 30 business days). To ease the burden of compliance across multiple states, I recommend that the notice be required within 45 calendar days instead of 30 business days.

The bill would also require the operator of any website to post a privacy policy. Because California law already requires this, most large businesses already comply with this requirement. Layering on an Illinois-specific requirement will only increase the cost of compliance without adding value to consumers. Moreover, for those small businesses that are not required to comply with the California law, this is a burdensome and costly mandate, particularly because no other state has imposed a similar requirement.

The changes recommended below would address these and related concerns. While I commend the sponsors for their efforts to protect consumers, Illinois does not need regulation that makes it even more difficult to do business. Illinois is suffering from the consequences of over-regulation. We need to break the cycle of taxation and regulation that has created a hostile economic environment in order to grow our economy, create new jobs, and generate more tax revenue through economic expansion.

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28 Aug 2015

ADVISORY: "Iowans Pay the Price" Statewide Tour Starts Monday, Aug 24

By Rick Martin
Statewide Tour to highlight new, in-depth MapLight Research Analysis Detailing the Power of Money in Politics

DES MOINES, Iowa - On Monday, Iowa Pays the Price, a non-partisan organization dedicated to educating Iowans on money in politics, will join MapLight, a national, non-partisan research organization studying money in politics, will embark on a statewide tour promoting a new MapLight research book titled: "Iowans Pay the Price: The Power of Money in Politics - A MapLight analysis of how outside money affects everyday Iowans."

The in-depth analysis highlights how outside interests such as Big Oil, Wall Street and for-profit colleges, inject hundreds of millions of dollars into politics and push an agenda that hurts Iowa families and Iowa's economy.

Joining Iowa Pays the Price bipartisan co-chairs on the tour will be Pamela Behrsin, MapLight's Vice President of Communications and Editorial Director.  "The goal of MapLight is to reveal how money influences our political system," said Behrsin. "In this spirit MapLight is proud to work closely with Iowa Pays the Price in their efforts to educate how money directly affects the lives of everyday Iowans."
THE "IOWANS PAY THE PRICE" TOUR SCHEDULE:

MONDAY, August 24th:

10:00 AM - Des Moines
  • WHAT: Roundtable discussion with Iowans
  • WHO: MapLight's Pamela Behrsin and Iowa Pays the Price co-chairs David Niffenegger and Brad Anderson
  • WHERE: Java Joe's coffee shop, 214 4th St., Des Moines, IA
Noon - Marshalltown

1:30 PM - Tama

3:00 PM - Cedar Rapids
  • WHAT: Roundtable discussion with Iowans
  • WHO: MapLight's Pamela Behrsin and Iowa Pays the Price co-chair Brad Anderson, as well as Iowa state Representatives Art Staed and Liz Bennett.
  • WHERE: Rush Nicholson Law Firm, American Building, 101 2nd St SE #100, Cedar Rapids, IA
4:15 PM - Mount Vernon

5:00 PM - Iowa City
  • WHAT: Bipartisan event with Iowa City residents
  • WHO: MapLight's Pamela Behrsin and Iowa Pays the Price co-chair Brad Anderson, as well as former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach
  • WHERE: Larew Law Office, 504 E. Bloomington St. #504, Iowa City, IA

TUESDAY, August 25th:

10:00 AM - Durant

11:00 AM - Davenport
  • WHAT: Roundtable discussion with Iowans
  • WHO: MapLight's Pamela Behrsin, Iowa Pays the Price co-chair Brad Anderson, Iowa State Representative Cindy Winckler, and Iowa State Representative Jim Lykam
  • WHERE: Independent Insurance Services, 3956 North Pine St., Davenport IA
1:00 PM - Clinton

2:30 PM - Maquoketa

3:30 PM - Dubuque
  • WHAT: Roundtable discussion with Iowans
  • WHO: MapLight's Pamela Behrsin and Iowa Pays the Price co-chair Brad Anderson
  • WHERE: Vinny Vanucchi's restaurant, 180 Main St., Dubuque, IA
4:45 PM - Dyersville


WEDNESDAY, August 26th

9:00 AM - Waverly

10:00 AM - Cedar Falls
  • WHAT: Roundtable discussion with Iowans
  • WHO: MapLight's Pamela Behrsin and Iowa Pays the Price co-chair Brad Anderson
  • WHERE: Sidecar Coffee, 2215 College St., Cedar Falls, IA 50613
11:00 AM - Charles City

1:00 PM - Mason City
  • WHAT: Roundtable discussion with Iowans
  • WHO: MapLight's Pamela Behrsin and Iowa Pays the Price co-chair Brad Anderson
  • WHERE: Law Office of Joseph LaPointe, 202 1st St. SE ste. 102, Mason City, IA
3:00 PM - Iowa Falls

4:00 PM - Webster City

6:30 PM - Storm Lake


THURSDAY, August 27th

10:00 AM - Sioux City
  • WHAT: Roundtable discussion with Iowans
  • WHO: MapLight's Pamela Behrsin and Iowa Pays the Price co-chair David Niffenegger
  • WHERE: Sioux City Main Library, the Gleeson Room, 529 Pierce St., Sioux City, IA
1:00 PM - Carroll

###
27 Aug 2015

News from the Iowa State Fair 8/24/2015

By Mindy Williamson

Top Sheep Chosen at Iowa State Fair Shropshire Show

DES MOINES, IA (08/24/2015)(readMedia)-- WEG & I-80 Flocks, of Geneva, Neb., claimed Champion and Reserve Champion Ram, Champion and Reserve Champion Ewe, and second place Premier Exhibitor honors in the Shropshire Sheep show judged Thursday at the 2015 Iowa State Fair.

SS Shrops of Davenport placed first in the Premier Exhibitor contest, and Rueber Shropshires of Marshalltown placed third.

The Premier Exhibitor award is given to the exhibitor who scores the most points based upon class placings during the breed's show.

Additional results below (names and hometowns):

Yearling Ram

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

Shorn Yearling Ram

1) SS Shrops, Davenport

Fall Ram Lamb

1) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

2) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

January Ram Lamb

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) SS Shrops, Davenport

3) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

4) SS Shrops, Davenport

5) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

6) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

February Ram Lamb

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

3) SS Shrops, Davenport

4) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

5) SS Shrops, Davenport

6) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

March & After Ram Lamb

1) Tim Roberts, Washington, Okla.

2) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

Shorn Ram Lamb -- All Ages

1) SS Shrops, Davenport

Pair of Ram Lambs

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) SS Shrops, Davenport

3) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

4) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

5) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

Yearling Ewe

1) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

2) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

3) Elizabeth Kron, Jefferson

4) SS Shrops, Davenport

5) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

6) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

7) Tim Roberts, Washington, Okla.

8) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

9) Elizabeth Kron, Jefferson

Shorn Yearling Ewe

1) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

2) SS Shrops, Davenport

3) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

4) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

5) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

6) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

Pair of Yearling Ewes

1) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

2) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

3) SS Shrops, Davenport

4) Elizabeth Kron, Jefferson

5) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

6) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

Fall Ewe Lamb

1) SS Shrops, Davenport

2) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

3) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

4) SS Shrops, Davenport

January Ewe Lamb

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

3) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

4) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

5) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

6) SS Shrops, Davenport

7) SS Shrops, Davenport

 

February Ewe Lamb

1) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

2) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

3) SS Shrops, Davenport

4) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

5) Tim Roberts, Washington, Okla.

6) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

7) SS Shrops, Davenport

8) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

March & After Ewe Lamb

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

3) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

4) SS Shrops, Davenport

5) Tim Roberts, Washington, Okla.

Shorn Ewe Lamb -- All Ages

1) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

2) SS Shrops, Davenport

3) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

4) SS Shrops, Davenport

Pair of Ewe Lambs

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

3) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

4) Rueber Shropshires, Marshalltown

5) SS Shrops, Davenport

6) Tim Roberts, Washington, Okla.

Pair of Lambs

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) SS Shrops, Davenport

3) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

4) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

5) Tim Roberts, Washington, Okla.

Young Flock

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

3) SS Shrops, Davenport

4) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

5) Tim Roberts, Washington, Okla.

Flock

1) WEG & I-80 Flocks, Geneva, Neb.

2) SS Shrops, Davenport

3) Sugar Ridge Ranch, Viroqua, Wis.

4) 3G Shropshires, Grand Island, Neb.

# # #

Suhr Wins Iowa State Fair's 4-H Steer Show

DES MOINES, IA (08/24/2015)(readMedia)-- Aaron Suhr of Dunlap captured the highly coveted Grand Champion Market Steer banner with his Champion Crossbred steer in the 4-H Market Beef show Wednesday at the 2015 Iowa State Fair.

Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer honors went to Maggie Ferguson of New Sharon for her Champion Crossbred steer.

Elizabeth Jones of Williamsburg earned the Third Place Overall banner with her Charolais. Fourth Place Overall went to the Keaton Otto of Manning who exhibited a Maine-Anjou, while Fifth Place Overall was earned by a Crossbred Steer shown by Grace Voss of Dexter.

The Champion Market Heifer was shown by Ainsley Lovrien of Clarksville. Riley Jansen of Hull exhibited the Reserve Champion Market Heifer. The Third Place Overall Market Heifer was shown by Cole Neil of Fairbank.

Additional results below:

Champion Angus: Austin Staudt, Rockford

Reserve Champion Angus: Abraham Kinrade, Maquoketa

Champion All Other Breeds: Brady Edge, West Branch

Reserve Champion All Other Breeds: Korbyn Dewey, Shell Rock

Champion Charolais: Elizabeth Jones, Williamsburg

Reserve Champion Charolais: Karlie Wosepka, Shell Rock

Champion Chianina: Ross Hoefling, Merrill

Reserve Champion Chianina: Maggie Ferguson, New Sharon

Champion Hereford: Aiden Pals, Indianola

Reserve Champion Hereford: Abby Anderlik, Dayton

Champion Limousin: Hannah Al-Mazroa, Peru

Reserve Champion Limousin: Carson Walrod, Moorland

Champion Maine-Anjou: Keaton Otto, Manning

Reserve Champion Maine-Anjou: Dustin Lund, Corning

Champion Shorthorn: Elizabeth Smith, Decorah

Reserve Champion Shorthorn: Sadie Stolte, Springville

Champion Shorthorn Plus: Cade Ticknor, Bridgewater

Reserve Champion Shorthorn Plus: Colton Webb, Centerville

Champion Simmental: Jamie Flynn, Nevada

Reserve Champion Simmental: Makenna Buesing, Stockton

Champion Crossbred Division 1: Joseph Herr, Fontanelle

Reserve Champion Crossbred Division 1: Tomi Rodgers, Indianola

Champion Crossbred Division 2: Aaron Suhr, Dunlap

Reserve Champion Crossbred Division 2: Maggie Ferguson, New Sharon

Champion Crossbred Division 3: Grace Voss, Dexter

Reserve Champion Crossbred Division 3: Kennedy Core, Pleasantville

The Grand and Reserve Champion Market Beef, along with 14 other livestock champions, will be auctioned in the prestigious Sale of Champions on Saturday, August 22, at 2 p.m. in the Penningroth Media Center of the Putney Family Cattle Barn. The event is sponsored by the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement, a non-profit organization established to encourage the pursuit of agriculture-related careers by Iowa's youth.

# # #

Experienced Horseshoe Throwers Compete in Championship at Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, IA (08/24/2015)(readMedia)-- Horseshoe throwers from across the state competed in the Iowa State Elders Championship division of the Horseshoe Contest Saturday at the 2015 Iowa State Fair.

The State Fair hosts both Championship and Open Class competitions every Fair day. Division winners are crowned daily. All Horseshoe Pitching competitions take place on the clay courts just east of Farm Bureau Pioneer Hall.

Complete results below:

IOWA STATE ELDERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Championship Class

1. Glenn Warden, Grimes

2. Bert Logsdon, Osceola

3. Ron Stanerson, Marengo

4. Bud Johanson, Gowrie

5. Larry Purcell, Cedar Rapids

6. Bill Sprague, Berwick

Class A

1. Larry Bolt, Traer

2. LeRoy J. Law, West Des Moines

3. Gary Hinrichs, Marengo

4. Leo Lamparek, Cedar Rapids

Class B

1. Frank MacArthur, Davenport

2. Henry Trumpold, Marengo

3. Jack Navin, West Des Moines

4.Paul Clark, Marshalltown

# # #

Top Honors Awarded in Iowa State Fair Miniature Hereford Cattle Show

DES MOINES, IA (08/24/2015)(readMedia)-- RJTNT Farm of Lawler exhibited the Grand Champion Bull in the Miniature Hereford show at the 2015 Iowa State Fair.

Complete results below (names, hometowns and animal identification):

Junior Heifer Calf -- Jan. 1, 2015 & After

1) Maine Aim Ranch, Allerton, Miss Maine Aim Queena: 29.5 IN - 170 LBS, 5/24/2015, 43607477

2) Double T Cattle Co., Rockford, KW Yoni's summer Sunshine: 26 IN - 116 LBS, 7/31/2015, 43618995

Junior Heifer Calf -- Jan. 1, 2015 & After

1) CT Miniature Herefords, Altoona, CT Hazelnuts Cap-puccino: 32 IN - 250 LBS, 4/6/2015, 43603153

2) Maine Aim Ranch, Allerton, Miss Maine Aim Windy: 32 IN - 242 LBS, 4/1/2015, 43607476

3) Bebler Pine Tree Ranch, Wells, Minn., Luck Independence: 44 IN - 877 LBS, 4/17/2015, 43597659

4) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, 22 OPAL'S PERFECT JEWEL: 34 IN - 276 LBS, 4/10/2015, 43574822

5) LiL KaF Ranch, Mechanicsville, KaF Show Me Ms Molly: 30.5 in - 165 lbs, 4/10/2015, P43576851

Junior Heifer Calf -- Jan. 1, 2015 & After

1) Double K Mini Herefords, Walcott, Double K Luna DK09: 36 IN - 370 LBS, 3/24/2015, 43567285

2) Smith Mini Herefords, Fairfield, SMH Miss Mountain Rose 161: 33 IN - 298 LBS, 3/12/2015, 43600325

3) Cream & Crimson Cattle Company, Bloomington, Ind., C Ampersand Lil' Zoey: 31.5 IN - 190 LBS, 3/4/2015, 43584426

4) LiL KaF Ranch, Mechanicsville, KaF LiL Jade: 31 in - 187 lbs, 3/29/2015, 43590602

5) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, 22 FLASH'S LIL SYDNEY ET: 35 IN - 306 LBS, 3/13/2015, 43574819

6) Meyer Farms, Garrison, MF Janie: 35 IN - 312 LBS, 3/5/2015, 43592146

Junior Heifer Calf -- Jan. 1, 2015 & After

1) Taylors Miniature Herefords, Humblodt, Lucy: 36 IN - 332 LBS, 2/6/2015, 43592820

2) CT Miniature Herefords, Altoona, CT Polli's Golden Mirela: 34 IN - 278 LBS, 2/21/2015, 43603151

3) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, 22 FLASH'S LIL ADELAIDE: 35 IN - 306 LBS, 2/19/2015, 435574812

4) KATH FAMILY FARM, Hollandale, Minn., MPK TRICKS QUEEN: 31 in - 270 lbs, 2/11/2015, 43594521

Junior Heifer Calf -- Jan. 1, 2015 & After

1) Smith Mini Herefords, Fairfield, CJ Risa's Lil Sky 204: 38 IN - 514 LBS, 1/15/2015, 43569317

2) LiL KaF Ranch, Mechanicsville, KaF LiL Saphire, 1/15/2015, 43555346

3) Kinsey Coffey, Garden Grove, CT Miss Pot O' Glory: 34 IN - 348 LBS, 1/28/2015, 43603156

4) CT Miniature Herefords, Altoona, CT Spanki's Sophi: 36 IN - 366 LBS, 1/27/2015, 43603150

5) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, 22 Moro's Lil Jaya: 34 IN - 368 LBS, 1/1/2015, 43574805

Fall & Winter Senior Heifer Calf -- Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2014

1) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb., SS MISS WONDA: 36 IN - 391 LBS, 11/9/2014, 43568060

2) KGS Ranch, North Platte, Neb., KGS LEILA: 34 IN -297 LBS, 11/4/2014, 43591082

3) River Ridge Mini-Herefords, Eldon, RR MISS MOLLY: 34.5 IN - 435 LBS, 11/17/2014, 43555105

Fall & Winter Senior Heifer Calf -- Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2014

1) Kelly Van Vliet, Pella, RHH Elsa: 38.25 IN - 545 LBS, 10/25/2014, 43539061

2) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb., SS Miss Happy: 36 IN - 432 LBS, 10/30/2014, 43598017

Fall & Winter Senior Heifer Calf -- Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2014

1) RJTNT Farm, Lawler, RJTnT Jewel: 37.75 IN - 575 LBS, 9/1/2014, 43596552

2) Chase Van Vliet, Pella, RHH Sky: 36.5 IN - 449 LBS, 9/8/2014, 43539062

3) Mary Faidley, Colfax, BGB Britney: 40 IN - 576 LBS, 9/2/2014, 43547805

4) LiL KaF Ranch, Mechanicsville, KaF LiL Ruby Sampson: 37 in - 413 lbs, 9/7/2014, 43527174

5) RFD Miniature Herefords, Seymour, Ind., BAT Miss Gia: 35 IN - 399 LBS, 9/10/2014, 43557003

6) Frog Hollow Miniature Herefords, West Union, FHMH HOW ABOUT HOLLY: 36 IN - 462 LBS, 9/1/2014, 43529837

Summer Senior Heifer -- May 1 - Aug. 30, 2014

1) Smith Mini Herefords, Fairfield, EF Betty 1424: 37 in - 553 LBS, 7/24/2014, 43548432

2) Trenton Elliott, Tekamah, Neb., Adison HSC 214: 37.25 IN - 573 LBS, 7/22/2014, 43526490

3) J Bar W Cattle Company, Franktown, Colo., JW's Sky:40.5 IN - 591 LBS, 7/13/2014, 43526956

4) J Bar W Cattle Company, Franktown, Colo., JW's Breeze: 40 IN - 622 LBS, 8/2/2014, P43538688

Summer Senior Heifer -- May 1 - Aug. 30, 2014

1) Cale Jensen, Plainfield, BPTR COOKIE: 39.25 IN - 555 LBS, 7/1/2014, 43572861

2) Cream & Crimson Cattle Company, Bloomington, Ind., C Amersand's Gypsy Rianyde 35 IN - 416 LBS, 7/13/2014, 43512349

3) Frog Hollow Miniature Herefords, West Union, FHMH CLYDES BODACIOUS BONNIE: 38 IN - 548 LBS, 7/2/2014,

4) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, 22 VANCE'S LIL RALEIGH: 38.5 IN - 578 LBS, 7/1/2014, 43501088

Summer Senior Heifer -- May 1 - Aug. 30, 2014

1) Rolling Hills Miniature Herefords, Blakesburg, MSH Bambi: 40 IN - 746 LBS, 5/16/2014, 43527078

2) KATH FAMILY FARM, Hollandale, Minn., SHERDELLS ULA: 40.5 in. - 717 lbs., 5/9/2014, 43485772

3) Taylors Miniature Herefords, Humblodt, Darma: 39 IN - 574 LBS, 5/31/2014, 43563774

4) Taylors Miniature Herefords, Humblodt, Zoe: 39 IN - 562 LBS, 5/27/2014, 43563777

5) Skylar Coffey, Garden Grove, CT Luckys Queen of Hearts: 38 IN - 512 LBS, 5/5/2014, 43473271

6) Bebler Pine Tree Ranch, Wells, Minn., Lucky Arlou: 38.5 IN- 650 LBS, 5/17/2014, 43503512

7) Meyer Farms, Garrison, MF Grace: 36 IN - 462 LBS, 5/18/2014, 43488549

Spring Senior Heifer -- Jan. 1 - April 30, 2014

1) Taylor Thomas, Grinnell, Horshoe B Miss 151B1: 38.5 IN - 682 LBS, 4/22/2014, 43516165

2) Taylor Thomas, Grinnell, Horseshoe B Miss 48B: 40 IN - 620 LBS, 4/16/2014, 43518650

3) Double K Mini Herefords, Walcott, Double K bunny DK07: 42 IN - 805 LBS, 4/20/2014, 43475799

4) RFD Miniature Herefords, Seymour, Ind., MLU Sammie: 40 IN - 622 LBS, 4/21/2014, 43526804

5) Ryan Faidley, Colfax, BGB Beatrice: 39.5 IN - 645 LBS, 4/26/2014, 43547810

6) Meyer Farms, Garrison, MF Donna: 38.25 IN - 570 LBS, 4/17/2014, 73488548

Spring Senior Heifer -- Jan. 1 - April 30, 2014

1) Taylors Miniature Herefords, Humblodt, Kiki: 42 IN - 794 LBS, 4/3/2014, 43492270

2) Payton Wills, Sherican, Ill., JW's Hadley: 31.5 IN - 748 LBS, 4/11/2014, 43522793

3) Double K Mini Herefords, Walcott, double K Bristol DK05: 41 IN - 762 LBS, 4/8/2014, 43475796

4) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb., SS Miss Lina: 42 IN - 714 LBS, 4/10/2014, 43489477

5) Maine Aim Ranch, Allerton, Kokomo Harriat: 40.25 IN - 600 LBS, 4/7/2014, P43468208

6) Lacey Rouse, Mechanicsville, KD Whisper 64: 41.5 - 713 LBS, 4/10/2014, 43510769

7) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, 22 HUNTER'S SWEET AS HONEY ET: 40.5 IN - 783 LBS, 4/15/2014, 43483740

8) Rosemary Chamness, Blairsburg, Double K Diamond DK06: 38 IN - 640 LBS, 4/15/2014, 43475798

Spring Senior Heifer -- Jan. 1 - April 30, 2014

1) Maine Aim Ranch, Allerton, Miss Maine Aim Star: 39 IN - 625, 3/14/2014, 43498889

2) J Bar W Cattle Company, Franktown, Colo., JW's Ice 42 IN - 764 LBS, 3/23/2014, 43522786

3) JHCH Farms, Nichols, JHCH Little Lady ET: 385 IN - 736 LBS, 3/24/2014, 43498554

4) Lacey Rouse, Mechanicsville, KAF My Foxy Lady: 41 IN - 710 LBS, 3/23/2014, 43467187

5) Frog Hollow Miniature Herefords, West Union, FHMH Something Royal: 38.5 IN - 658 LBS, 3/4/2014, 43501201

Spring Senior Heifer -- Jan. 1 - April 30, 2014

1) RFD Miniature Herefords, Seymour, Ind., 22 Flash's Lil Misti: 42.5 IN - 787 LBS, 1/10/2014, 43466086

2) Rolling Hills Miniature Herefords, Blakesburg, RHH Look At Me: 40.5 IN - 759 LBS, 1/8/2014, 43448608

Senior Heifer -- Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2013

1) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb., SS Miss Winnie: 43 in - 899 lbs, 9/18/2013, 43425186

2) RFD Miniature Herefords, Seymour, Ind., RFD Striker's Carmeleta: 43 IN - 780 LBS, 9/27/2013, 43461033

3) Bebler Pine Tree Ranch, Wells, Minn., Shortness Irena: 39.5 IN - 643 LBS, 9/29/2013, 43493478

Cow/Calf Pair

1) Rolling Hills Miniature Herefords, Blakesburg, SMH Lexie:43.75 IN - 814 LBS, 3/8/2013, 43395545

2) Maine Aim Ranch, Allerton, Miss Maine Aim Princess: 41 IN - 714 LBS, 6/20/2013, 43401771

3) CT Miniature Herefords, Altoona, CT Rogers Lil Amber: 44 IN - 941 LBS, 2/8/2012, 43277746

4) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, 22 MARO'S FLASHY OPAL: 41.5 IN - 834 LBS, 10/25/2012, 43360184

5) Double T Cattle Co., Rockford, KW Lucy's Nugget: 42 IN - 811 LBS, 4/17/2013, 43396835

6) Loyd Shorthorn Cattle, New London, SMH Golf Serena 134: 41.25 IN - 621 LBS, 1/10/2013, 43392026

Cow/Calf Pair

1) Double K Mini Herefords, Walcott, KAP Vikings Lil Bruna:45 IN - 1121 LBS, 4/2/2010, 43071334

2) Bebler Pine Tree Ranch, Wells, Minn., KR Lil Miss Independence: 32.5 IN - 263 LBS, 7/4/2010, 43112994

3) Double T Cattle Co., Rockford, KAP Quips Lil Yoni I/ CALF DOB: 7/18/15, 6/25/2010, 43104030

4) Frog Hollow Miniature Herefords, West Union, NSH CRIMSON MAGEE: 41 IN - 810 LBS, 8/1/2011, 43262664

Junior Bull Calf -- Jan. 1, 2015 & After

1) Rolling Hills Miniature Herefords, Blakesburg, RHH Shakey: 31.5 IN - 242 LBS, 4/22/2015, 43576310

2) Frog Hollow Miniature Herefords, West Union, FHMH Booyah: 33 IN 249 LBS, 5/8/2015, 43607914

3) Taylors Miniature Herefords, Humblodt, Bran: 32.5 IN - 284 LBS, 4/1/2015, P43592837

Junior Bull Calf -- Jan. 1, 2015 & After

1) LiL KaF Ranch, Mechanicsville, KaF King Mo Money: 35 in - 312 lbs, 2/9/2015, 43554225

2) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, 22 Huners El Fuego: 35 IN - 340 LBS, 3/24/2015, 43609687

3) Meyer Farms, Garrison, MF Nash: 32 IN - 278 LBS, 3/18/2015, 43592148

Late Senior Bull -- July 1 - Dec. 31, 2014

1) Bear Grove Beef, Colfax, BGB Ben Dover: 39 IN - 606 LBS, 10/3/2014, 435478904

2) RJTNT Farm, Lawler, RJ TnT Diamond Legacy: 39.5 IN - 698 LBS, 7/24/2014, 43563567

3) J Bar W Cattle Company, Franktown, Colo., JW's Bring It On: 41.5 IN - 711 LBS, 8/2/2014, P43538689

4) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb.

5) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb., KGS SUPERMAN: 36 IN - 407 LBS, 11/6/2014, 43591083

 

Early Senior Bull -- Jan. 1 - June 30, 2014

1) RJTNT Farm, Lawler, RJ TnT Sisco King: 38.75 IN - 675 LBS, 6/30/2014, 43563566

2) Double T Cattle Co., Rockford, KW Thunder Struck: 41.75 IN - 880 LBS, 5/10/2014, 43490204

3) Trenton Elliott, Tekamah, Neb., Windsor HSC 314: 39.5 IN - 789 LBS, 5/20/2014, 43526498

4) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb., SS Sir Darby: 42.5 IN - 886 LBS, 5/7/2014, 43489199

5) J Bar W Cattle Company, Franktown, Colo., JW's Gunslinger: 38 IN - 695 LBS, 4/28/2014, 43526216

6) River Ridge Mini-Herefords, Eldon, RR BULLET: 41.5 IN - 844 LBS, 5/23/2014, 43502889

7) Brighton Rouse, Mechanicsville, 22 Vances Lil Jonah: 40.75 IN - 782 LBS, 5/1/2014, 43502986

8) RFD Miniature Herefords, Seymour, Ind., RFD Strike Zone: 41 IN - 789 LBS, 6/23/2014, 43515713

9) Maine Aim Ranch, Allerton, Mr. Maine Aim Disco Lighting: 40 IN - 638 LBS, 3/14/2014, 4349889

Early Senior Bull -- Jan. 1 - June 30, 2014'

1) J Bar W Cattle Company, Franktown, Colo., JW's Gold Buckle:41 IN - 873 LBS, 3/26/2014, 43522788

2) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, RHH MOSES 22 ET: 41.5 IN - 966 LBS, 3/26/2014, 43544123

3) JHCH Farms, Nichols, JHCH Hello Ladies ET: 39 IN - 834 LBS, 3/19/2014, 43498552

Two Year Old Bull -- Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2013

1) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb., Ss Mr HURRAH: 44.25 IN - 1110 LBS, 12/20/2013, 43489467

2) River Ridge Mini-Herefords, Eldon, RR LEVI: 44 IN - 1071 LBS, 9/14/2013, 43438721

3) KATH FAMILY FARM, Hollandale, Minn., KAP 1/2 ENUF. HUNTER ET: 45.5 in - 1049 lbs, 4/1/2013, 43391999

Prospect Steer

1) Smith Mini Herefords, Fairfield, SMH Cyclones Gold Dust: 30 IN - 235 LBS, 4/24/2015, 43600327

2) LiL KaF Ranch, Mechanicsville, KaF King Diesel: 31.5 in - 208, 3/9/2015, 43590560

3) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City, 22 Chadon Dean: 32.5 IN - 264 LBS, 1/10/2015, 43574806

4) KATH FAMILY FARM, Hollandale, Minn., MPK TRICKS BLIZZARD: 31 in - 196 lbs, 3/24/2015, 43594522

Market Steer

1) Paisley Lautner, Jefferson, HORSESHOE B MR 68B, 3/3/2014, 43498989

2) Gerdes Show Cattle, West Point, RHH Dewalt, 6/18/2014, 43532309

3) Rolling Hills Miniature Herefords, Blakesburg, RHH Look Again: 43 IN - 845 LBS, 4/28/2014, 435C5482

4) Double K Mini Herefords, Walcott, WW Golden Boy: 779 LBS, 4/6/2014, 43472533

5) Lil Kaf Ranch, Mechanicsville, KAF Little Stout Turbo: 440 LBS, 11/7/2014, 43534710

6) Waylon Gaines, Indianola, C&C IZAR's Buddy: 39 IN - 605 LBS, 4/19/2014, 43535310

Two Females

1) Smith Mini Herefords, Fairfield

2) J Bar W Cattle Company, Franktown, Colo.

3) Maine Aim Ranch, Allerton

4) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb.

5) LiL KaF Ranch, Mechanicsville, KaF LiL Saphire: 33 in - 281 lbs, 1/17/2015, 43555346

6) LiL KaF Ranch, Mechanicsville, KaF LiL Ruby Sampson, 9/7/2014, 43527174

7) Meyer Farms, Garrison

Two Bulls

1) RJTNT Farm, Lawler

2) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb.

3) J Bar W Cattle Company, Franktown, Colo.

4) River Ridge Mini-Herefords, Eldon

Get of Sire

1) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb.

2) River Ridge Mini-Herefords, Eldon

3) 22 Cattle Company, Orange City

4) Meyer Farms, Garrison

Champion & Reserve Junior Heifer Calf

1) Smith Mini Herefords, Fairfield, Cj Risas Lil Sky 204

2) Double K Mini Herefords, Walcott, Double K Luna DK09 36 IN

Champion & Reserve Fall/Winter Senior Heifer Calf

Champion) RJTNT Farm, Lawler, x

Reserve) Kelly Van Vliet, Pella, x

Champion & Reserve Summer Senior Heifer

Champion) Jensen Angus Farm, Plainfield, x

Reserve) Rolling Hills Miniature Herefords, Blakesburg, x

Champion & Reserve Spring Senior Heifer

Champion) Taylors Miniature Herefords, Humblodt, x

Reserve) Taylor Thomas, Grinnell, x

Champion & Reserve Senior Heifer

Champion) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb., x

Reserve) Rfd Miniature Herefords, Seymour, Ind., x

Grand Champion & Reserve Heifer

Grand) Taylors Miniature Herefords, Humblodt, x

Reserve) Jensen Angus Farm, Plainfield, x

Champion & Reserve Cow/Calf

Champion) Rolling Hills Miniature Herefords, Blakesburg, x

Reserve) Double K Mini Herefords, Walcott, x

Champion & Reserve Junior Bull Calf

Champion) Lil Kaf Ranch, Mechanicsville, x

Reserve) Rolling Hills Miniature Herefords, Blakesburg, x

Champion & Reserve Late Senior Bull

Champion) Bear Grove Beef, Colfax, x

Reserve) RJTNT Farm, Lawler, x

Champion & Reserve Early Senior Bull

Champion) RJTNT Farm, Lawler, x

Reserve) Double T Cattle Co., Rockford, x

Champion & Reserve Two Year Old Bull

Champion) Splitt Creek Ranch, North Platte, Neb., x

Reserve) River Ridge Mini-Herefords, Eldon, x

Grand Champion & Reserve Bull

Grand) RJTNT Farm, Lawler, x

Reserve) Bear Grove Beef, Colfax, x

# # #

27 Aug 2015

Money Prep for Prospective Parents

By Steve Burke

By Nathaniel Sillin

It costs parents an average of $245,340 to raise a child from birth to age 18.

That figure from the U.S. Agriculture Department is just one reason why prospective parents are advised to consider parallel financial planning for child-based expenses and retirement. The key is to start doing it as early as possible - in a December 2012 article in The New Republic, adults are starting families later than previous generations. In short, savings needs for childcare, college and retirement seem on a tighter collision course than ever.

For prospective couples or single parents, any discussion of family should begin with the pros and cons of starting a family in terms of personal, lifestyle and career success. In short, the question "Do we want kids?" should come before "Can we afford kids?"

Once family goals are settled, it's wise to evaluate where current finances stand. While many couples have a thorough money talk (http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/moneyquestions) before they wed, it works for family planning, too. Couples and single parents will benefit from complete financial transparency before pregnancy, adoption proceedings or fertility treatment starts.

Utilize qualified financial and tax advice to fit specific circumstances. Consult trusted family and friends for referrals to qualified financial planning and tax experts. Also check current tax rules for how to handle and potentially deduct certain costs related to adoption or fertility treatments.

Research thoroughly and bookmark resources online. The IRS website (http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Parents) continually updates its summary of tax issues for parents which can guide overall planning. New authors and bloggers emerge daily on virtually every aspect of parenting; friends, relatives and colleagues can also provide resources.

For prospective parents who are employed, it is a good idea to evaluate benefits well ahead of a pregnancy, fertilization procedures or adoption. Depending on specific circumstances, employees should review health and general benefits for routine and emergency medical coverage, medical leave policy and extras like child care benefits. Couples should compare their coverage to determine who has the best family coverage overall.

Start planning for childcare expenses as soon as possible. Full- or part-time childcare services for working parents can be surprisingly expensive and difficult to obtain depending on location. In 2015, the White House reported that the average cost of full-time care for an infant was about $10,000 a year, and a 2014 Boston Globe (https://www.bostonglobe.com) report noted state-by-state estimates that were significantly higher. For peace of mind and affordability, it is advisable to tackle the childcare issue as early as possible. Prospective parents might also speak with a qualified tax advisor about whether it is more advantageous to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit on their taxes or pay childcare expenses from a Flexible Spending Account at work.

Loved ones can also lend financial assistance to a new family in a variety of ways. Affordable basics include general parenting advice, as-needed babysitting services and sharing coupons and hand-me-downs like clothing, toys and unneeded child-related equipment in good condition. For those willing to lend financial support, such options might include a Coverdell Education Savings Account, 529 college savings plan or a gift of cash or assets to the child subject to IRS rules. Also, anyone can directly pay medical expenses in full for someone they do not claim as a dependent under certain circumstances. If friends or family members offer financial help, encourage them to evaluate options with qualified financial and tax experts.

Finally, prospective parents should become dedicated bargain hunters and savers with an equal focus on handling childcare expenses and supporting retirement goals. Both financial goals are equally important.

Bottom line: It pays to plan early for a family. Evaluate your finances, reach out to friends and family for advice and get help from qualified experts if you need it
24 Aug 2015

MTI launches third annual mrWF/MTI High School Scholarship Program

By Nick Ostdick

MOLINE, Ill. - Midwest Technical Institute and the mikeroweWORKS Foundation are pleased to announce the third annual mrWF/MTI High School Scholarship Program for graduating high school seniors beginning Sept. 1.

The 2015-2016 program will award seven graduating high school seniors with a 100 percent tuition-paid scholarship for any of MTI's workforce training programs. Winners will have the opportunity to select from a number of in-demand vocational courses and programs including welding, HVAC, medical assisting, dental assisting, truck driving and more.

The program, in collaboration with TV personality Mike Rowe, was established in 2013 as a partnership between MTI and the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to foster an interest in a wide range of mechanical trade and allied health careers. Each year, approximately $800,000 in scholarship funds is awarded to help high school students gain the skills and experience necessary to secure meaningful employment in today's competitive workforce and develop into industry-leading professionals.

Speaking of the program's importance, MTI's Director of High School Development Eric Gleason believes the program can play a vital part in helping today's high school students realize their future without the expense of a traditional college degree.

"Student loan debt can follow you for many years and this scholarship opportunity allows you to graduate debt free," Gleason said. "For example, as a college graduate, I still owe $4,000 and I am 36 years-old."

To be eligible, students must be graduating seniors during the 2015-2016 academic year and submit a brief essay and video detailing why they should be selected as a scholarship winner. Submitted videos will be uploaded to MTI's website for a period of public voting where the video with the greatest number of votes will be declared the winner.

Submissions will open Sept. 1 and be accepted through March 25, 2016. Public voting on student videos will run from April 1 to May 1, and winners will be announced on or about May 6.

. Media inquiries should be directed to MTI's Director of Marketing Stacey Wierman at (217) 527-8324, or swierman@midwesttech.edu.


About Midwest Technical Institute

Midwest Technical Institute offers hands-on training in a number of mechanical trade and allied health career fields to help students succeed as a member of today's rapidly-changing workforce. MTI, along with its sister school, Delta Technical College, operates seven campuses across the Midwest and Mississippi Delta regions. For more information, visit www.midwesttech.edu.
24 Aug 2015

The red carpet came out to celebrate the publishing of historical books written by children and for children

By Mary McNeil
(Rock Island, IL)  The concept of  A BOOK BY ME allows children to interview Holocaust victims, World War 11 survivors  and other heroes and write about them.  The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities and the Holocaust Education Committee of the Greater Quad City Area will be celebrating their work at a Red Carpet event today,  Sunday August 23 from 2:00 - 3:00 at the Tri-City Jewish Center in Rock Island. In attendance will be the young authors, the illustrators and two "heroes" who are the subject of two of the newly published books.

One hero in attendance is World War II veteran Casimer "Casey" Celske who is one of the few surviving members of the celebrated World War II Special Forces unit known as The Devil's Brigade or The Black Devils. While part of the Special Service Force, Casey was wounded twice. The first wound came from shrapnel that hit his head, face and ears, splitting his helmet in two and knocking him unconscious. It killed the soldier next to him in the foxhole. Then in Anzio, Italy he was wounded in the leg when a bullet from a machine gun struck him as he crawled on his belly across a wheat field. "I was lucky," he insists. "I was wounded twice but I just kept quiet because I'd seen so many dead kids or ones with legs blown off. It was horrible."

It was during the attack at Anzio that the brigade got their nickname. Some say the diary of a dead Nazi soldier was found saying "The black devils are all around us every time we come into the line. We never hear them coming." Another German prisoner stated "They are treacherous, unmerciful and clever. You cannot afford to relax." The Black Devils were immortalized years later in Hollywood in a 1968 movie titled "The Devil's Brigade" starring William Holden. The film portrays the first mission of the Italian campaign, the seemingly impossible task of capturing an impregnable Nazi mountain stronghold called Monte La Difensa. Casey knew how to handle mules from life on the farm back in Wisconsin. He volunteered to bring a pack of four with supplies up the mountain in Italy. The plan was to lead one and have the other three follow but that plan didn't work all the time because mules can be stubborn. It was an extremely cold and tedious journey up the mountain.

A great victory was won when Monte la Difensa was in Allied hands and eventually the Allies took the other mountain peaks nearby. Afterward, they tried to catch up to Patton's Army who were at the Battle of the Bulge. They never did find them and Casey's unit was near the Czech border in the spring of 1945 when the news came that the Allies had won the war in the European theater. Today Casey is a decorated war veteran with a bronze star and two purple hearts. In 2013, the United States Congress passed a bill to award the First Special Service Force members the highly prestigious Congressional Gold Medal. By his side will be young author Halie Parkinson of Aledo, Illinois. She is proud to tell his story for young readers.

Another "subject" for the A BOOK by ME Human Rights Series in attendance will be Father Marvin Mottet of Davenport. Father Mottet worked tirelessly on civil rights issues and brought Reverend Martin Luther King Jr to the Quad Cities to speak. In addition, he had Mother Teresa come for an event. He is a social justice champion and his story will be documented by Sophie Jackson of Moline. She is the newest young author in the A BOOK by ME series.

Many young writers and artists will be attending to receive L'dor Vador awards. A major component of Judaism is passing traditions from generation to generation. In Hebrew this is known as L'dor Vador. The young people involved in the A BOOK by ME writing process have assured that important stories of the Holocaust, Human Rights and Heroes will be told to the next generation.

The celebration will include praise for the Scott County Regional Authority as the Jewish Federation received a spring grant allowing the Holocaust Education Committee to donate 2,900 copies of children's books about local subjects from the Holocaust Series. In addition, the celebration will include a number of smaller grants and the fact that over two dozen books in the series are now available on Amazon. To see those available, visitwww.abookbyme.com and see the link on the right hand corner. 

WHAT:  Red carpet event to celebrate young writers
WHERE: Tri-City Jewish Center Rock Island
WHEN:  Sunday, August 234rd 2 pm

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24 Aug 2015

Saturday, August 22 Iowa State Fair Highlights

By Mindy Williamson

DES MOINES, IA (08/22/2015)(readMedia)-- With so much adventure and excitement to experience here at the Iowa State Fair, here's a brief recap of what you may have missed today and what to expect tomorrow.

Karen Cross of Ankeny won first place and a $500 cash award in the Best Templeton Rye Dessert competition. Denise Donald of Des Moines claimed second place and $300. Amanda Hagenow of Windsor Heights earned third place and $200. Entries were judged on taste alone.

Kids and parents alike stood in line for the 2015 Mutton Bustin' competition. Five rounds of competition took place in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion culminating in the Championship Rounds. In the five and under division finals, Gage Harsh, 5, of Des Moines claimed first place. Second place was awarded to Brock Norine, 5, of Somers. In the six to eight-year-old division finals, Callie Baebout, 7, of Gravity won first place. Alyssa Tucker, 8, of Pleasant Hill claimed second place, and Coy Mergen, 6, of Altoona grabbed third place.

Contestants competed in the Scholastic and Speed Chess Tournaments held Wednesday at the 2015 Iowa State Fair. Drake Starr of Winterset, Theo Cokrean of Van Meter, Mason Peter of Boone, and Xeon Wolfe of West Des Moines all won first place in their respective division in the Scholastic Chess Tournament. In the Speed Chess round, David Skarr of Ames won first place.

Coming Up Sunday, August 23

- Enjoy the last day of the 2015 Iowa State Fair with special pricing on gate admission all day. Gate Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for ages 6-11 until 9 p.m.

-The 56th Annual Bill Riley Talent Search concludes tomorrow with the Championship round at 1:30 p.m. on the Anne and Bill Riley stage sponsored by Pepsi with media sponsor KCWI.

- Rock out in the Grandstand tomorrow with Rock-A-Thon, staring Dee Snider, Dokken, Warrant, and Firehouse, and hosted by Eddie Trunk. Tickets are $30.

# # #

24 Aug 2015

River Bandits Weekend Results

By Marco LaNave

BANDITS LOSE 7-RUN LEAD TO SQUANDER SWEEP

Kane County is the first team since June 10 to score 10 runs off Quad Cities pitchers

GENEVA, Ill. (August 23, 2015) - The Quad Cities River Bandits scored seven runs while batting around in the second inning to take an 8-1 lead, but they lost their largest lead in a game in more than two years, as the Kane County Cougars rallied to ultimately take the lead in the eighth inning of a 10-9 win that kept the visitors from sweeping the three-game series at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Sunday afternoon.

The River Bandits (34-21 second half, 79-44 overall) lost a seven-run lead for the first time since April 6, 2013 (also an 8-1 advantage at Kane County in a 13-10, 11-inning win) and a lost a game in which they held a seven-run lead for the first time since April 16, 2010, when they squandered a 9-1 lead at Clinton in an 11-10, 11-inning loss. On Sunday, Quad Cities put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the ninth inning with one out, but Cougars closer Zac Curtis retired left fielder Drew Ferguson and center fielder Jason Martin on consecutive groundouts to end the third straight one-run contest between the teams with the two best records in the Midwest League.

Quad Cities scored its first seven runs off Cougars left-hander Josh Taylor. In the first inning, center fielder Jason Martin hit a one-out single to right field, stole second base and scored on designated hitter Ramon Laureano's RBI single to left field. Kane County (38-17, 74-49) immediately tied the score in the bottom of the inning against right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn, as shortstop Ildemaro Vargas had a leadoff bunt single, stole second base and scored on second baseman Henry Castillo's RBI single.

In a 1-1 tie beginning the second inning, River Bandits catcher Trent Woodward and shortstop Kristian Trompiz began their respective three-hit games with consecutive singles. Taylor walked third baseman Luis Reynoso, before Ferguson hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly to right field. Martin then popped up a bunt that catcher Elvin Soto dropped when he collided with Taylor near the first-base line. With the bases loaded, the next six batters each collected an RBI. First baseman Bryan Muñiz singled, and Laureano walked to end Taylor's outing after 1 1/3 innings. Left-hander Hector Hernandez - a River Bandit in 2011 and 2012 in the St. Louis Cardinals organization - then allowed three straight singles to second baseman Jose Fernandez, right fielder Ryan Bottger and Woodward, who had two hits in the inning. Trompiz's sacrifice fly made it 8-1 before Hernandez escaped. Taylor was charged with seven runs - six earned - on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts, while Hernandez lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and a second-inning earned run while striking out two batters.

The Cougars' comeback began in the bottom of the second inning against Dykxhoorn. Third baseman Joe Munoz and Soto hit consecutive singles, and Vargas chopped a one-out ground ball off Muñiz's glove to score Munoz. Dykxhoorn's one-out balk scored Soto, and Castillo's two-out RBI single made it 8-4. In the fifth inning, first baseman Marty Herum hit a leadoff double to right-center field and scored on Munoz's two-out RBI single. After Quad Cities added a sixth-inning run against right-hander Jency Solis on Bottger's sacrifice fly that scored Martin, the Cougars answered in the bottom of the sixth inning with right fielder Victor Reyes' walk preceding Vargas' two-run home run. That finished Dykxhoorn's start, after he allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits (both career highs) in five-plus innings.

Left-hander Zach Davis (0-1) relieved Dykxhoorn for two scoreless innings, matching Cougars right-hander Ryan Burr (1-0). But with a 9-7 lead in the eighth inning, Davis began by hitting Vargas with a pitch, and designated hitter Cody Regis added an infield single. Castillo hit an RBI single to center field, and Herum drove a go-ahead, two-run double to right-center field for a 10-9 lead. In the ninth inning, Woodward greeted Curtis with a leadoff single. Curtis' error on Trompiz's sacrifice put runners at first and third bases, and Reynoso sacrificed Trompiz to second base before Curtis and Herum handled consecutive ground balls to give Curtis with his league-best 29th save.

BANDITS USE EARLY LEAD TO ELUDE COUGARS

Quad Cities moves within three games of Kane County in the second-half Western Division race

GENEVA, Ill. (August 22, 2015) - The Quad Cities River Bandits scored three first-inning runs and never lost the lead, as left fielder Drew Ferguson and second baseman Jose Fernandez each homered, before right-hander Angel Heredia allowed two ninth-inning runs but stranded the tying run at third base to save a 6-5 win over the first-place Kane County Cougars at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Saturday night.

Holding the best record in baseball, the playoff-bound River Bandits (34-20 second half, 79-43 overall) won their second straight one-run game over the Cougars (37-17, 73-49) and became the first visiting team to win a series in Kane County since Bowling Green June 3-5.

River Bandits center fielder Bobby Boyd began the game with a bunt single fielded by Cougars All-Star first baseman Marty Herum. After Cougars left-hander Jared Miller (3-4) struck out Ferguson, All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu grounded a single into left field. With Boyd and Tanielu both running, designated hitter Bryan Muñiz grounded an RBI single off the glove of shortstop Ildemaro Vargas into left field to score Boyd. After Fernandez walked to load the bases, right fielder Ramon Laureano grounded to All-Star third baseman Cody Regis, whose throw on a force attempt went past catcher Michael Perez, allowing Tanielu and Muñiz to score.

After the three-run first inning, Miller allowed four hits over the next five innings, with the only additional run coming on Ferguson's first Midwest League home run on a drive down the left-field line to a picnic deck for his first Midwest League home run. Miller was charged with four runs - three earned - on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings.

River Bandits right-hander Joshua James (6-3) held the Cougars to two singles by Vargas through the first four innings. James faced one batter over the minimum until the fifth inning, when second baseman Henry Castillo grounded a triple down the first-base line and scored on a sacrifice fly from Cougars All-Star center fielder Colin Bray to cut the lead to 4-1.

Kane County put the tying run on base for the first time in the sixth inning, when Vargas hit a one-out double to right field, Regis hit an RBI single to left-center field, and James hit Herum with a pitch. That ended James' outing after 5 1/3 innings in which allowed six hits without a walk or strikeout. Right-hander Eric Peterson entered and hit Castillo with his first pitch to load the bases with a 4-2 lead. After Bray flied out to right field, Peterson's wild pitch scored Regis to make it 4-3. With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Peterson got catcher Michael Perez to fly out to left field. James was charged with all three earned runs, but Peterson held the one-run lead for 2 2/3 scoreless innings, working around a walk in the seventh inning and error and hit batter in the eighth inning.

Ferguson and Fernandez helped Quad Cities add insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, against Cougars right-hander Nick Baker. Ferguson hit a seventh-inning, two-out single to right field, marking his first three-hit game as a River Bandit. He then stole second base on the same play as a Baker wild pitch, allowing Ferguson to reach third base, before another wild pitch scored him. In the eighth inning, Fernandez hit a leadoff drive over the left-field wall for his second Midwest League home run this season and a 6-3 lead.

In the ninth inning, Heredia began with a three-run lead and struck out Perez - the only strikeout by a Quad Cities pitcher in the game - before a one-out walk to designated hitter Joe Munoz and two-out walk to left fielder Chuck Taylor. Vargas then hit a two-run triple to right-center field - his game-high fourth hit - to make it 6-5, before Regis flied out to Boyd, giving Heredia his team-high ninth save.

BANDITS BULLPEN SILENCES FIRST-PLACE COUGARS

Using a franchise-record 32nd pitcher this season, Quad Cities beats Midwest League ERA leader

GENEVA, Ill. (August 21, 2015) - The Quad Cities River Bandits fell behind, 2-0, in the first two innings but rallied for three runs in the fifth inning, while left-hander Steve Naemark and right-hander Elieser Hernandez combined for 5 2/3 scoreless relief innings in a series-opening 3-2 victory over the first-place Kane County Cougars at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Friday night.

With their 33rd comeback win of the season, the River Bandits (33-20 second half, 78-43 overall) kept their hold of the best record in Minor League Baseball while denying the Cougars (37-15, 73-48) a chance to trim their magic number to clinch a second-half playoff berth. Quad Cities also made history in the bottom of the first inning, when right-hander Thomas Eshelman made his Midwest League debut. The Astros' second-round pick in this June's draft became the 32nd different pitcher the team has used this season, topping the 56-year Midwest League franchise's previous single-season high of 31 pitchers used in 2005. Eshelman allowed both Kane County runs after leadoff walks in the first two innings, but he lasted a career-high 3 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and three walks with two strikeouts.

Eshelman began the first inning by walking Cougars left fielder Chuck Taylor, who went to third base on designated hitter Henry Castillo's one-out single to left-center field. All-Star first baseman Marty Herum hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Taylor for a 1-0 Cougars lead. After All-Star center fielder Colin Bray walked to load the bases, shortstop Dawel Lugo to hit into an inning-ending double play.

In the bottom of the second inning, Eshelman opened with a walk to Cougars third baseman Joe Munoz, followed by catcher Elvin Soto's single to right field and right fielder Victor Reyes' RBI double down the third-base line for a 2-0 lead. With runners at second and third bases, Eshelman struck out Taylor before consecutive groundouts by second baseman Ildemaro Vargas and Castillo to end the inning. That began a stretch of seven straight batters Eshelman retired before Soto's one-out double in the fourth inning to end Eshelman's outing.

With Eshelman's exit, Naemark (1-0) entered in the fourth inning and allowed an infield single to Reyes. With Reyes at first base and Soto at third with one out, Reyes broke for second base, while second baseman Jose Fernandez cut off a throw from catcher Trent Woodward and threw back to home plate to get Soto for the inning's second out. Naemark got Taylor to ground out to end the inning.

Entering with a Midwest League-leading 2.47 ERA, Cougars right-hander Brad Keller (7-9) allowed two hits and a walk in the first four innings, but right fielder Ramon Laureano began the fifth inning with an infield single to Lugo. Woodward walked, and on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Luis Reynoso, Keller overthrew first base, allowing Laureano to score and putting Woodward and Reynoso at third and second bases, respectively. After center fielder Bobby Boyd struck out, designated hitter Drew Ferguson lined a game-tying single to right-center field. Then All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu bounced an infield single behind second base, where Vargas only stopped the ball from reaching center field, as Reynoso scored for a 3-2 Quad Cities lead. Keller was charged with three runs - two earned - on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts in five innings. The Cougars bullpen combined to allow two hits and no walks in four scoreless innings.

With a 3-2 lead, Naemark allowed a fifth-inning leadoff double to Vargas, who went to third base on Castillo's sacrifice. Herum walked before Naemark got two straight popups, including an inning-ending sliding catch by Laureano in right field. Hernandez also got help from Laureano's diving catch in the right-center field gap to end the sixth inning with the tying run at first base. Hernandez scattered three hits without walking a batter and striking out three in four scoreless innings to earn his first Midwest League save.

24 Aug 2015

Governor Announces Appointments 8/21/2015

By Catherine Kelly
SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, the Illinois Joining Forces Foundation and the Business Enterprise Council.

Name: Douglas S. Steffenson
Position: Arbitrator - Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Douglas S. Steffenson an arbitrator for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. He brings 24 years of legal experience to the commission.

Currently, Steffenson is a partner at Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, P.C. He has been with the firm since 2000. Steffenson formerly served as an attorney at Crowley, Tamillow & Rubin from 1997-2000. He also served as an assistant state's attorney for Cook County from 1991-1997. He has extensive trial and appellate practice in workers' compensation, occupational disease and employer liability law.

Steffenson earned his bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from Iowa State University and a law degree from DePaul University. He lives in Wilmette.

 

Name: Dave Leckrone
Position: Member - Illinois Joining Forces Foundation

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Dave Leckrone to the Illinois Joining Forces Foundation. He brings more than 32 years of military and veteran work experience to the foundation.

Leckrone is a decorated combat veteran, who served as a Colonel for the U.S. Army. He is an Iraqi Freedom War Veteran and has been deployed overseas more than 20 times. He was awarded two bronze star medals for his efforts in combat operations.  He is also a former federal senior management official for the Department of Defense.

Currently, Leckrone is a small business owner and consults for Rush University and various non-governmental organizations. Utilizing his strategic resource management background, he provides critical long-range and operational level support for expansion programs focused on combat medical preparedness, warrior resiliency development and humanitarian aid for military operations.

Leckrone earned her bachelor's degree in finance and business from Western Illinois University and a master's degree in strategic studies at Army War College. He lives in Springfield.

 

Name: Emilia DiMenco
Position: Member - Business Enterprise Council

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Emilia DiMenco to the Business Enterprise Council. She brings more than 35 years of business experience to the council.

DiMenco is President and CEO of the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC). She has been in this position since 2013 and previously served as the COO for three years. While with the WBDC she has launched two WBDC microloan programs, has lead an initiative to automate all economic impact monitoring and reporting, and has greatly increased fundraising totals. Prior to her time with the WBDC, DiMenco served as an executive vice president with BMO Harris N.A.

DiMenco is well-known for her contributions to leading civic and professional organizations, including the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago. She has also advised the Chicago Area Chapter of NAWBO on strategy and has served as an adviser to participants in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Chicago. Nationally, she is a leader in Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), helping the organization develop policies for access to capital for women-owned businesses.

Emilia holds bachelor's degree and master's degree in finance from DePaul University. She lives in Chicago.

 

Name: Selena Gray Sizemore
Position: Member - Business Enterprise Council

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Selena Gray Sizemore to the Business Enterprise Council. She brings more than 15 years of experience to the council.

Sizemore currently serves as the Director of Entrepreneurship for the Chicago Urban League. She is responsible for the overall management of the Urban League's Entrepreneurship Center, which supports community-based investment and growth through facilitating entrepreneurship and business development. She has worked with her team to develop and launch the Midwest Regional Teaming Program (MRTP), the organization's first multi-state entrepreneurship program.  Under her leadership, the MRTP has reached more than 60 small business owners across nine states to help form 16 small business teams which have been awarded more than $90 million in federal contracts.

Sizemore began her career in the construction industry with one of the largest African American general contractors in the region. She worked with a wide range of public and private clients. She has also taught Construction Costs & Bidding at Purdue University Calumet and has mentored young people interested in the construction industry.

Sizemore is a graduate of Purdue University Calument. She lives in Chicago.

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24 Aug 2015

"That thing out there... That is no dinosaur."

By Putnam Museum
See the summer's biggest movie on the Quad Cities' biggest screen! Playing Friday, August 28th and Saturday, August 29th at 6:15pm and Sunday, August 30th at 12:30pm, catch the latest installment of the Jurassic Park series at the Putnam's National Geographic GIANT Screen Theater.
JURASSIC WORLD 3D
About the film: Located off the coast of Costa Rica, the Jurassic World luxury resort provides a habitat for an array of genetically engineered dinosaurs, including the vicious and intelligent Indominus Rex. When the massive creature escapes, it sets off a chain reaction that causes the other dinos to run amok. Now, it's up to a former military man and animal expert (Chris Pratt) to use his special skills to save two young brothers and the rest of the tourists from an all-out, prehistoric assault.
Special ticket pricing applies for this film:
Adults - $12.50
Seniors, College Students and Military - $11.00
Youth (ages 3-18) - $9.00.

Putnam and FunBundle Members receive $1 off stated pricing.

Tickets are available at the Putnam's ticketing counters, over the phone by calling (563) 324-1933, or buy online!

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