28 Jan 2015

The Dangers of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

By Everyday Health

 

If you have type 1 diabetes, one of the serious complications you may face is a condition known as ketoacidosis. In diabetic ketoacidosis, acids called ketones build up in your blood and could eventually lead to diabetic coma or death.

But by vigilantly controlling your diabetes and watching for early signs of ketoacidosis, you can help prevent it from happening to you.

What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis?
"When blood sugars get elevated and there is not enough insulin, your fat cells start to break down their storage sites of energy, which are called ketones," says Jay Cohen, MD, medical director of the Endocrine Clinic and clinical assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Tennessee. Ketones are acidic, and that acid builds up in your blood.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is found more often in younger people than older people, and more often in women than in men. At least 20 percent of people learn they have diabetes after seeking medical care for complaints that turn out to be symptoms of ketoacidosis.

Common Causes of Diabetic Ketoacidosis
The three common causes of ketoacidosis are:

Not enough insulin. This can happen if you don't inject enough insulin or if your insulin needs increase in response to an illness such as a cold or the flu. Blood glucose can't be used for energy without enough insulin to help in the process, so the body breaks down fat for energy and high ketone levels result.

"Elevated blood sugars could be due to an infection or any other physical or emotional stress ? good or bad," says Dr. Cohen. Unexpected increases in your blood glucose levels can increase your insulin needs. "You may have a certain amount of insulin that you usually use, but if you have an infection, you may need more insulin to help your body to improve blood sugars," Cohen explains.

Not enough food intake. If you don't eat enough, your body has to break down fat for energy, producing high ketone levels. This is particularly common in people who are sick and don't feel like eating.

Low blood glucose levels.
This situation can force your body to break down fat to use as energy, resulting in ketone production.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis Symptoms
Symptoms of ketoacidosis usually progress relatively slowly. But since diabetic ketoacidosis can be a life-threatening condition, it is important to seek medical help immediately if you experience any of its symptoms. These include :

  • Excessive thirst
  • Dry mouth
  • Frequent urination
  • Elevated blood glucose levels
  • Elevated ketones in the urine
  • Persistent fatigue
  • Skin that is dry or flushed
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Pain in your abdomen
  • Shortness of breath
  • A fruity smell to your breath (the result of elevated ketone levels)
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Confused state

Preventing Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Ask your endocrinologist how you can reduce your risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis. It is often a good idea to use a home dipstick test to check for ketones in your urine when your blood glucose levels are high (over 240 milligrams per deciliter) and when you have an infection.

Diabetes education also helps. One study found that hospital stays for ketoacidosis were reduced among a group of people who attended diabetes education classes.

Managing Diabetic Ketoacidosis
If think you may have ketoacidosis, it is essential to contact your doctor or get to the emergency room immediately.

"If we can catch it early, with medicine and IV fluids, we can stop the diabetic ketoacidosis from progressing to severe dehydration," says Cohen. "Diabetic ketoacidosis, if severe and not treated aggressively, has about a 5 percent death rate, so you really want to get a handle on it rapidly."

Remember that regularly monitoring your blood glucose levels, performing urine ketone tests as recommended, and recognizing symptoms that might indicate your ketone levels are high is the best approach to reducing your risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.

28 Jan 2015

Laura Rodgers Earns Master of Education from Valdosta State University

By Jessica R. Pope

VALDOSTA, GA (01/26/2015)(readMedia)-- Laura Kathleen Marie Rodgers has successfully earned a Master of Education from Valdosta State University. The Blue Grass, IA, resident majored in Communication Disorders and is one of more than 490 students recognized for meeting the qualifications for graduation during Summer 2014 Commencement.

Valdosta State University is a comprehensive university, characterized by outstanding instruction, a wide range of student life opportunities and a close connection to the community. Established in 1906, the institution's mission is to prepare students to meet global opportunities and challenges through excellence in teaching and learning; to expand the boundaries of current knowledge, and explore the practical applications of that knowledge, through excellence in scholarship and creative endeavors; and to promote the economic, cultural, and educational progress of the community and region, through excellence in service outreach. VSU seeks to accomplish this mission in a dynamic, student-centered learning environment marked by a respect for diverse abilities, backgrounds, and contributions by all members of the university community.

Learn more about VSU at www.valdosta.edu.

28 Jan 2015

EXTENDED PASSPORT HOURS & PHOTO DISCOUNT

By Rita Vargas

January 26, 2015

EXTENDED PASSPORT HOURS & PHOTO SPECIAL

As a courtesy to our customers, the Scott County Recorder's Office will have extended passport hours and a discount on passport photos.

Saturday, February 7th, 2015 9 am to noon.

Saturday, March 7th, 2015 9 am to noon.

*Photo Discount $5 each (Reg. $8)

www.scottcountyiowa.com/recorder

CONTACT: Rita Vargas

(563) - 326-8652

rita.vargas@scottcountyiowa.com

28 Jan 2015

Statement from Secretary Vilsack on Expanded Market Access for U.S. Grown Apples to China

By USDA Office of Communications

Agreement expected to boost apple exports by $100 million per year

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2015 - This weekend, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reached agreement with Chinese officials to allow all U.S. grown apples to gain access to the Chinese market. This will allow a greater share of U.S. apple exports to China in the coming months and has the potential to increase U.S. fresh apple exports, which were valued at more than $1 billion in 2013, by approximately 10 percent. With this new agreement, the apple industry estimates that within two years, exports to China will reach 5 million bushels annually, a value of nearly $100 million per year. The agreement was reached during bilateral discussions between USDA and China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) in San Francisco.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today made the following statement regarding this announcement:

"USDA values the relationship we are forging with China to bring mutually-beneficial food and agricultural trade to Americans and Chinese alike. The new access for American exports we're announcing today is the culmination of decades of hard work by USDA staff. These efforts will result in high quality, fresh U.S. apple varieties available for consumers in China and a significant boost in sales for American apple producers.

"USDA remains a strong partner and advocate in the international marketplace, working with foreign governments and international organizations to ensure the smooth and safe flow of international trade. The past six years have been the strongest in history for agricultural trade, with U.S. agricultural product exports totaling $771.7 billion since 2009. Strong agricultural exports contribute to a positive U.S. trade balance, create jobs and boost economic growth. As the President said in his recent State of the Union address, we now look to Congress build on this success and pass a bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority bill to continue to support a robust trade agenda that will create thousands of new American jobs."

For more information, please see this fact sheet: FACT SHEET: Helping U.S. Exporters Gain Access to Valuable Overseas Markets (PDF, 45KB).

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28 Jan 2015

Quad City Rollers 2015 season-opening home bout set for Jan. 31st

By AJ Juskewycz

DAVENPORT, IA - The Quad City Rollers, the QCA's premier all-female flat-track roller derby team, are hosting their 2015 season-opening game on Saturday, January 31st, at the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201.

The Quad City Rollers All-Star team will take on the Fly Over Femmes Fatales followed by a "Fresh Meat" Mixer for the debut of the 2014 Boot Camp graduates. The night also includes a special appearance from our Junior league, The Orphan Brigade, who will be scrimmaging before the adults play.

The 2015 season is the ninth for the Quad City Rollers. Doors for the January 31st game open at 5:00 pm, the Juniors begin at 5:30 pm, the Veteran Mash-up at 6:30 pm and the Fresh Meat Mixer begins at 8:00 pm.

A complete breakdown of the Quad City Rollers individual ticket pricing for the 2015 season is as follows:

  • Advanced General Admission Tickets (adult), $10.00

  • Day of Game General Admission Tickets (adult), $12.00

  • Kids 12 and under, FREE

Tickets can also be purchase online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1155609. Day of Game tickets can be purchased at the QCCA Expo Center beginning at 4:30 pm.

Our complete 2015 season home games are:

  • Saturday, January 31 at 6:00 pm

  • Saturday, March 14 at 6:00 pm

  • Saturday, April 11 at 6:00 pm

  • Saturday, April 25 at 6:00 pm

  • Saturday, May 16 at 6:00 pm

  • Saturday, June 13 at 6:00 pm

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28 Jan 2015

How to Pop the Cork on the Good Life - and the Time to Do It Is When You Retire

By Rick Martin
Nationally Recognized Retirement Expert Offers 3 Simple
Tips in 2015 for Improving Retirement Prospects

Imagine a bright, golden vista filled with soothing, warm sunshine - perhaps it is California's Highway 29. You're driving this scenic route after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on a Tuesday during working hours. That's right, you're going to Napa.

Of course, this is precisely the kind of thing you're getting used to doing on Tuesdays - not only because you're becoming a wine connoisseur, but also because Tuesdays no longer belong to hours under the glare of fluorescent lights in front of your work computer. Aah, you're retired.

"That's the dream, and as a native San Franciscan I know it well. I myself have traveled the byways of food and wine in the Bay Area. More Americans could be living their dream during retirement, wherever they go to play," says Stephen F. Lovell, a nationally recognized retirement expert who emphasizes a comprehensive approach for well-being during one's golden years.

"Many baby boomers will retire in the next few years, and for many of them that dream has a nightmarish tinge?they're worried they'll run out of money."

Lovell, president of Lovell Wealth Legacy, (www.lovellwealthlegacy.com), says 2015 can and should be the start of that good life. He offers three simple ways to bring your dream into reality.

·  Revise your budget at the year's beginning. Ask yourself: How do I spend my money? Many of us believe we have a reasonable idea of where we put our money, but unless you account for your spending, you may miss out by not putting away enough for your happy retirement.

A household's discretionary spending on nonessential goods and services like a second smart phone case or the premier movie channel is could top 30 percent. And that is often twice what you intended?but you don't see it until you budget. "Budgeting puts you in the driver's seat," Lovell says. "From there you can control where you spend. You're buying on purpose, and sometimes you get a nice surprise. That alluring vacation is now within reach."

·  Be proactive about your financial interests before visiting a professional. Knowing which financial products may work best for your personal needs and how to protect your hard-earned money from unnecessary taxation is not what most laypeople excel at. That job is best handled by working with a professional. But, as with your health, you reap the benefits of being aware of your needs and of initiating the process of looking after yourself.

"Remember, 40 percent of retirees underestimate their life expectancy, according to an Ernst & Young study," Lovell says, "so if you don't want to run out of money, create your financial plan to cover this extended retirement period. Then, you odds for a comfortable retirement are improved."

·  Consider alternatives to stocks, bonds and cash. Many new investment types have appeared to solve planning and retirement issues. Yet most investors limit their choices by relying exclusively on stocks, bonds and cash. From 2000 to 2013, the stock market, for all its ups and downs, wound up at roughly the same place, around 1527. At a 2 to 3 percent investment cost per year, many investors, for all their efforts, lost money! "I educate my clients by bringing to their attention the wide universe of investment types. Results are that more suitable solutions are uncovered and then applied for the client's benefit."

About Stephen F. Lovell, MBA, ChFC®, CLU®, CFP®
CFS, BCM, CRPC®, AEP®, RHU®, AIF®

Stephen F. Lovell is a thoroughly credentialed, nationally recognized financial professional. Since 1990, he has been gathering various licenses ? in insurance, securities, real estate, commodities and as a registered principle ? to offer his clients a thoroughly comprehensive perspective on their wealth. He is president of Lovell Wealth Legacy, (www.lovellwealthlegacy.com), and a branch manager at LPL Financial. Lovell has earned several professional honors and memberships. Since walking with his mother as a child for the March of Dimes in San Francisco, he has been active in local and national charities. More recently, Lovell has taken to the airwaves as a radio host at KDOW, where he hosts a weekly show about pursuing financial success and, of course, enjoying the fruits of that financial success.

28 Jan 2015

Rand Paul Returns to Iowa in February

By Steve Grubbs

Trip to Emphasize Government Financial Audit and Privacy Rights

Contact: Steve Grubbs, steve.grubbs@randpaul2016.com

 

Friday, February 6, 2015

5:30 PM

Event: Liberty Iowa 'Audit the Fed' Rally

Contact: Adil Khan

Email: adil@libertyiowa.com

Location: Jasper Winery
2400 George Flagg Parkway
Des Moines, IA 50321

Media: Open, credentialed through Liberty Iowa

 

Saturday, February 7, 2015

9 AM

Event: Meet and Greet with Senator Paul for Congressman Blum

Location: Legends American Grill, Marshalltown

2902 South Center Street

Contact: John Ferland

Media: Open, via John Ferland

 

12:30

Event: Iowa State University basketball game

Host: Steve Sukup

Location: Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa

Media: Open. Access through Iowa State University

 

2 PM

Event: College Students Gametime!

Location:

Iowa State Center

Suite 102, Scheman Building

Ames, Iowa

Contact: Matt Evans, U of Iowa YAL Chair

Media: Open, through RandPAC, Eleanor May

28 Jan 2015

Lt. Gov. Reynolds to address American Legion Summit in Washington, D.C.

By Office of the Governor of the State of Iowa

(DES MOINES)  - The American Legion is hosting its National Credentialing Summit in Washington at the Mayflower Hotel on Feb. 17-18. The invitation-only event will bring together more than 200 key executives, thought leaders and lawmakers from across America to focus on best practices for helping veterans and transitioning service members get credentials for civilian jobs.

 

The summit will showcase panels of experts from the private sector, nonprofits, the military, federal agencies and other organizations, and feature guest speakers including Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, Teamsters President James Hoffa, Jr., Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, and Gen. David Perkins, head of the U.S. Army's training and doctrine command.

 

Reynolds, Iowa's Lt. Governor, has played a key role in leading the state's innovative Home Base Iowa initiative. The Home Base Iowa Act, signed by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad in 2014, aims to recruit veterans leaving the service to Iowa to be matched with the high-quality careers available in the state.

"In Iowa, we believe in welcoming our nation's veterans and their families into our state and communities, and helping them find high-quality careers when leaving the service," said Reynolds. "Iowa's Home Base Iowa initiative continues to attract veterans to our great state and match their unique skill sets with 21st century careers."

Verna Jones, the Legion's executive director in Washington, said much progress has been made since the country's largest organization of wartime veterans held its first credentialing summit in 2012, cosponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

 

"This summit will be a real learning experience for individuals who are committed to our military community, but may not know what specific steps need to be taken to provide veterans and their spouses with the credentials they need for the civilian work force," Jones said.

 

"We want this event to have a ripple effect, so that each person who attends will go back to his or her company, college, legislature or association and effect real changes to help veterans get jobs."

 

Panel topics include credentialing best practices in health care and in transportation, assessing the quality and value of credentials, credentialing of spouses, and tracking the outcomes of credentialing.

 

Jones said the upcoming summit is The American Legion's latest effort in its longstanding involvement with credentialing for the military community. "We've been testifying before Congress on this particular issue since 1997."

The summit will be held in the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel at 1127 Connecticut Ave. NW in Washington.

 

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28 Jan 2015

PLEASANT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL HONOR ROLL - 1st SEMESTER, 2014-2015

By Beth Marsoun

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE - GRADE 12

Zareef Affarka, Hannah Blaske, Madeline Bowman, Ryan Bubbers, Kelsey Culp, Matthew Doyle,
Ashton Ehrecke, Anna Fletcher, Emily Fuller, Andrew Hillman, Taylor Huber, Gabriel Johnson,
Jacquelyn Judickas, Melanie Kessler, Abigail Kurth, Christina Meadows, Katherine Melbourne,
Madison Morrison, Jack Moss, Tyler Oberman, Ajay Penmatcha, Bethany Piotter, Addison Royer,
Abigail Schafer, Kelly Schissler, Alexander Shepherd, Megan Spector, Nicholas Staver, John Stecker,
Aravindakumar Sundaramraj, Allison Theisen, Shipra Verma

FIRST HONORS

Uzair Ahmed, Andrea Aller, Lindsey Anderson, James Anil, Rachel Basala, Nicole Baxter, Victoria Campbell, Esther Chovan, Madalyn Coffield, Elizabeth Coin, Makenna Cox, Shannon Crawford, Adriana Ehlers, Siena Fah, Caitlin Ghere, Haley Hawbaker, Spencer Hickman, Amine Hocine, Rekha Karuparthy, John Kennedy, Bryce Kosinski, Kelby LaBarge, Rachele Miller, Jill Oberhart, Ann Peters, Hannah Pinho, Justin Rowell, Elizabeth Sharis, Grace Stori, Claire Swanson, Sean Ulrich, Gilles Vandereecken, Nicole Vershaw, Alissa Wagler, Alexander Waugh, Benjamin Whigham, Alison Young, Shao Yang Zhang

SECOND HONORS

Alexis Aguilar, Jordan Allender, Samuel Bailey, Sara Bastola, Halle Beeler, Sebastian Bladel, Jensen Bloomfield, Anna Brown, Sarah Bubbers, Collin Burns, Maranda Bussell, Haley Collins, Matthew Conway, David Cooke, Michael Cronk, Keiana Deevers, Christian del Castillo, Sara DePover, David Dickenson, Nathan Drapeau, Hailey Duwa, Nancy Garcia, Paige Gerhart, Stephanie Graham, Shelby Hildebrandt, Alexis Hooks, Michael Hudachek, Monica Johnson, Jeffrey Kardell, Yashpreet Kaur, Aishwarya Kothapalli, Caro Lamarque, Brendan Massengale, Colleen Matos, Hannah McKay, Sean McLaughlin, Alyssa Mick, Rachel Miller, Logina Mostafa, Jacqueline Nash, Colin Nelson, Emily Norwood, Waleed Omar, Nicole Oppel, Taylor Redmond, Abby Reed, Noel Reilly, Kaitlin Reither, Michael Ruccolo, Landry Said, Claire Schwarz, Mary Sears, Aman Sharma, Ryan Spelhaug, Michael Stevens, Joshua Wallin, Caleb Wilson, Chandler Yarde

COMMENDED

Austin Adamson, Shirlya Bacchus, Robert Beardsley, Jesse Belk, Jeffrey Bell, Shane Bleeker, Reed Brockhage, Caitlyn Burns, Bridget Bush, Austin Carroll, Mara Claeys, Blake Crowell, Matthew Cullinan, Parul Dadhwal, Matthew Delzell, Corinne DeVries, Carlotta Dooley, Aubrey Drake, Madison Foley, KayLynn Fullmer, James Geisler, Grace Gode, Keegan Gravert, Karlee Gray, Elizabeth Halligan, Madelyn Henricksen, Julia Hunt, Ryan Johnson, Richard Jones, Taylor Jordahl, Jessalyn Kehrberg, Zoheb Khan, Scott Kraft, Megan Lederman, Colin Lentz, John Lynn, Bradley Martin, Michael McBeth, Madison McDonald, Matthew Miller-Wells, Danielle Mohr, Grant Morthland, Erin Mullen, Paige Neal, Collin Parker, Kate Peer, Bryce Robinson, Jacob Rockey, Zachary Schony, Tristan Sekharan, Jessica Sevigny, Jordan Simon, Anna Sperry, Drake Stanbary, Erica Staub, Madison Tudeen, Shelby Vogele, Kaley White-Ciluffo, Thomas Witters, David Zimmer

 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE - GRADE 11

Joshua Bump, Alexander de la Bruere, Allison Denny, Hannah Dobroski, Carly Donahue, Claire Feeney, Rebecca Fuhrmeister, Megan Guest, Camille Jaime, Zain Khan, Lena Kosinski, Vignesh Krishnan, Cole Krueger, Brooke Lee, Susan Li, Lana Lindstrom, Julia Martin, Sarah Mendel, Farah Omar, Sarah Oswald, Michael Perenich, Aishwarya Pradeep, Rachel Preston, Grace Sack, Cooper Schou, Theodore Sergesketter, Karson Sommer, Rishi Wagle, Diana Wu

FIRST HONORS

Brooklyn Alman, Aiden Bailey, Sarah Bartlett, Kendall Beardsley, Johanna Bellig, Michael Berger, Celia Brecht, Margaret Burke, Daniel Carber, Alex Chaplain, Shelby Christensen, Conor Conway, Bennett Cournoyer, Kirby Curran, Kelli DeGeorge, Hannah Demarest, Brandon Eckhardt, Valerie Feld, Ana Paula Ferreira, Cole Finnegan, Megan Foltz, Reghan German, Emily Hammer, Neha Haque, Isaiah Harris, Emma Hauber, Sydney Hester, Levii Hildebran, Charles Humes, Omar Ismail, Bridget Joers, Cortland Johns, Brady Johnson, Alexis Kontos, Maria Korndorf, Ostap Kukhar, Michael Li, Caroline Mack, Swetha Marisetty, Hannah Mathews, Lauren May, Rachel McCracken, Hannah McDonald, Peter Molyneaux, Nabeeha Pasha, Nicholas Roth, Allison Schurr, Sara Stickney, Korryn Taghon, Tanner Thompson, Natalie Van Raalte, Emma Wichman, Madison Wild, Mackenzie Woods, McKenzie Yanek

SECOND HONORS

Elaine Andorf, Katherine Baker, April Bennion, Kyle Berst, Brenna Bleeker, Sarah Bowman, Paul Boyd, Jacob Bump, Zachary Corrigan, Alexander Crosson, John Czarnecki, Zachary Finn, Jenna Foley, Henry Friederichs, Thomas Griffin, Bailey Hanna, Sara Herzberg, Conor Johnson, Khaled Kayali,  Seema Kotob, Kathryn Kruse, Nicole LaMar, Jasmine Lara, Caitlin Lyon, James McCauley, Hannah McComber, Daniel McNamara, Cora Meyers, Kaitlyn Moroney, Rahul Namboori, Isabel Noble, Allison Ocel, Brennen Reynolds, Brooke Schuler, Nickolas Schwake, Sydney Snyder, Chloe Stone, Marta Storl-Desmond, Emilee Swanson, Alexander Syverud, Claudio Tekeli, Marah Tews, Austin Thompson, Brittany Vazquez, Elizabeth Warner, Ethan Welker, Amanda Welveart, Christine Yocom

COMMENDED

Andrew Aiello, Mackenzie Banowetz, Hannah Baucom, Jacob Bowman, Morgan Brake, Whitney Casas, Alyssa Conway, Kara Cosgrove, Jacob Daugherty, Eric Dilley, Alexis Dvorak, Nicholas Faulkner, Madison Flinn, Dallas Gill, Caleb Good, Carly Grimm, Levi Hamby, Emily Hamilton, Paige Hawbaker, Robert Hengst, Joshua Hoover, Melissa Hughes, Cassadi Kriner, Devin Lamb, Luke Leathers, Kennedy Lenz, Bobbi Malmgren, Ashly Malone, Gabrielle Meyer, Kristen Miller, Shawnee Molck, Spencer Nevills, Richa Patel, Melody Pershall, Stephen Pim, Nicholas Roys, Simran Sharma, Benjamin Slavens, Zachary Smith, Hannah Smith, Ashlyn Spay, Addison Stockwell, Jaya Thakur, Michael Tilka, Luke VenHorst, Adyson Werkmeister, Kyle Werning, Nicholas White, Megan Wirtjes, Bailey Yoder

 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE - GRADE 10

Samina Abdullah, Joshua Bowman, Ryan Brohm, Emily Bruinsma, Laura Butler, Catherine Byrne, Meghan Dixon, Jarrin Flores, Natalie Garner, Vincent Gnad, Cristina Gunther, Jonathan Hahm, Dylan Hartford, Hannah Humes, Vijayendra Jagtap, Christian Jones, Samuel Lederman, Kara Lindhoff, Windsor Lundy, Ashley McMahon, Allison Miller, Kylie Murphy, Matthew Nelson, Emily Nutt, Isaac Sears, Emily Suen, Addie Swanson, Rachel Tebbe, Maureen Thomsen, Cameron Trentz, Grace Wilson

FIRST HONORS

Ryan Anderson, Madeline Barnes, Cassandra Berta, Kia Braet, Michael Brees, Tyler Brewster, Reece Callaway, Alice Chang, Cecily Clark, Mark Conway, Alexis Cordts, Maxim Cremer, Lindsay Danielson, Jarrett Fossum, Emma Gellerstedt, Benjamin Gorman, Thomas Hotard, Jessica Huang, Carly Jewell, Lillie Klauer, Brandon Letney, Montana Malmen, Megan Maloney, Alex McLean, Patrick McMonagle, Maci Noack, Mallory Obenauf, Mackinsey Paulson, Theresa Perenich, Carrie Peterson, Harrison Qu, Margarita Rasgado, Damandeep Riat, Keeli Richards, Charles Roethler, Julia Said, Tessa Schmidts, Madison Schony, Sarah Schwartz, Erin Sollars, Rachael Souhrada, Aditya Subramaniam, Ryan Thompson, Trenton Vogele, Andrew Wendel, Alexander Wong, Courtney Yarde, Sarah Yoerger, Peter Zucker, Elizabeth Zupancic

SECOND HONORS

Ian Aplington, Russell Berkley, Cameron Blunk, Meagan Burke, Paige Carter, Lauren Cramer, John Davis, Hannah DePover, Cole Edwards, Kaitlyn Evans, Alyssa Farrell, Sydney Frazer, Jenna Griffin, Brynn Hancock, Emma Hartman, Olivia Heckel, Jenna Hoover, Connor Hornbuckle, Kaitlyn Housenga, Ebteehal Ismail, Alexander Kitzmann, Emily Kueter, Eleanor Kurth, Jack McHugh, Parker McMillan, Michael Meyer, Sarah Meyers, Peter Mills, Ryan Morrissey, Scott Murphy, Zachary Myatt, Divya Nachnani, Cameron Peer, Hianca Pinho, Millenama Prasai, Reagan Putnam, Abhishek Roy, Arjun Salgado-Westman, Nicholas Schons, Malachi Scott, Zachary Sherman, Christian Simmons, Alicia Staver, Austin Stickel, Hannah Sturtzer, Sriram Sugumaran, Anna Vershaw, Shawn Yulga

COMMENDED

Tyler Ahlgren, Robert Arroyo, Ryan Bader, Daniel Bastola, Trevor Behan, Cosmo Benson, Taryn Bloomfield, Kelsey Borbeck, Tanner Bortolazzo, Lathan Carter, Cameron Carter, Joseph Chap, Kelsey Clarke, Joseph Clifton, Austin Collins, Darian Creighton, Evan Decker, Jackson Ferry, Samantha Foerderer, Isaac Franks, Gabrielle Graham-LeGare, Andrew Gratton, Michael Guhin, Megan Hackney, Jordyn Haessler, Danielle Henricksen, Madison Johnson, Jonathan Kaufman, Austin Kress, Alecia Krier, Ricardo Lozano, Samuel Lundry, Anthony Marchiori, Hannah Mausser, Samantha McGee, Adam McLemore, Seth Moffitt, Trevon Montgomery, Eric Morgan, Kate Morrissey, Carly O'Toole, Claire Park, Abigail Riley, Ariel Rivera, Andrew Sandry, Terry Saul, Abigail Schaller, Kyle Schick, Maya Sheybani, Ezekiel Sickels, Elizabeth Staebell, Devan Steinhart, Carson Sutherland, Teleah Thomas, Logan Thornburg, Andrew Van Nattan, Alexus Verel, Elena Volfson, Owen Ward, Antonio Wells, Gavin Wilken, Emily Wilkening, Nicholas Williams,
Skylar Yutesler

 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE - GRADE 9

Hannah Allen, Ramya Banda, Alex Basala, Madelyn Bennett, Reegan Brockhage, Laura Brown, Perapa Chotiprasidhi, Megan Collins, Evelyn D'Antico, Lily Feldman, Elle Fietsam, Jacob Fuhrmeister, Srineha Gurram, Ashlyn Haack, Austin Halupnik, Veronica Henderson, Isabella Holland, Nia Howze, Cassandra Huffman, Camryn Hunter, Hallie Jones, Mark Kessler, Jordan Keyes, Lauren Kulas, Sydney Lear, Jack Lynn, Grace Necker, Naina Ninan, Abinaya Paravasthuramesh, Grace Parker, Roshni Penmatcha, Olivia Peters, Sydney Prochaska, Max Royer, Jenna Ruccolo, Kelsey Ruff, Annika Schulz, Caroline Sharis, Konnor Sommer, Gretchen Strobbe, Jidong Sun, Ava Thomsen, Keshav Wagle, Andrew Witters, Sophia Xiao, Nicholas Yanek

FIRST HONORS

Subrat Acharya, Jacob Ager, Zachary Ahlers, Mohammed Amish-Malik, Ashwathi Arumugam, Sophie Bergman, Samantha Bladel, Myra Bowe, Grace Budde, William Christophersen, Bailey Connors, Sydney Cournoyer, Evan Crawford, Brian Dayman, Rory Donahue, Giavanna Eckhardt, Justin English, Lucy Foley, Sydney Foley, Benjamin Fuller, Zachary Garner, Ethan Good, Hannah Gorsline, Seth Hamby, Abigail Hammer, Samuel Hanna, Justin Harrington, Brooke Harris, Katherine Harris, Emma Horsfield, Katelyn Jensen, Vivek Joshi, Bethany Junge, Sarah Kayali, Cassidy Kilcoin, Emma Kriley, Alexia Lara, Elizabeth Lindmark, Phillip Lyon, Leah Manahl, Giavanna Mariani, Mackenzie May, Nathan McKay, Kaylin McNeal, Abigail Melbourne, Bradley Melvin, Mackenzie Messer, Katelynn Mickle, Elizabeth Moore, Roshni Nair, Adrienne Necker, Lauren Nelson, Alexander Ngo, Parker Olson, Madeline Patramanis, Andrew Pavey, Benjamin Piotter, Katherine Schumacher, Trinity Shi, Gabriela Smith, Collin Smith, Cassidy Sorenson, Ellen Spelhaug, Alex Stein, Vishwajit Subramanian, Claire Thomsen, Nicholas Waugh, Sara Wetzel, Rachael Woods, Maxwell Yonash, Nathan Zabel

SECOND HONORS

Rebecca Abdullah, Maaz Ahmed, Brent Alman, Jack Angell, Ryan Aplington, Caleb Arnold, Kira Arthofer, Lauren Barlow, Rishem Bhogal, William Bogner, Robert Border, Jackson Castonguay, Jonathon Compton, Isabelle Davis, Maggie Davis, Nicole Deir, Maureen-Joy Delpilar, Hannah Deutmeyer, Michael Dobroski, Sean Dolphin, Hannah Edwinson, Sydney Einck, Emma Elceser, Tomas Elias, Sean Finnegan, Kelsie Foltz, Haley Germain, Camden Glenn, Emily Goodman, Connor Guenther, Jaleece Harrison, Emma Hartz, Nicholas Hofman, Haley Humphries, Rachel Hunt, Alysa Jones, Nicholas Kontos, Payton Krueger, Collin Kuebrich, Ramya Kumar, Adam Kunau, Hope Leonard, Samuel Lindhoff, Aliya Lovejoy, Audrey McCracken, John McGrath, Steele McKinnon, Megan Mitchell, Brooke Morin, Emma Morris, Elissa Moylan, Luc Nading, Mukul Nair, Alexa Neal, Olivia Nelson, Emeleigh Nevills, Logan Nichols, Kaylynne Nowak, Preston Olson, McKenna Olson, Mohammed Omar, Brandon Parejko, Morgan Parkhurst, Elizabeth Paxton, Kalista Paxton, Isabella Perales, Sophia Picchiotti, Lily Porter, Jeffrey Ransom, Kayla Reilly, Callum Revell, Corrine Richland, Ali Rizvi, Brendan Roethler, Daniel Romans, Jaejun Shin, Logan Smith, Taylor Stinson, Theodore Storl-Desmond, Jillian Sutton, Luisa Tekeli, Josette VenHorst, Jacob Vincel, Logan Volkert, Dermot Weldon, Jered Wilson

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28 Jan 2015

Military Homeownership Assistance Program Assists Iowa Military Service Members and Veterans Purchase Homes

By Ashley Jared

State Program Offers $5,000 Down Payment Grants to Service Members and Veterans

 

Des Moines - Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds joined state officials today to announce that the Military Homeownership Assistance program has assisted nearly 3,400 military service members and veterans purchase a home in Iowa. The program is jointly administered by the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs and funding is appropriated by the Iowa Legislature.

The Military Homeownership Assistance Program provides eligible service members with a $5,000 grant that may be used towards down payment and closing costs to purchase a home located in Iowa.

"More than 800 veterans have already been matched with jobs in our state through the Home Base Iowa initiative, with the opportunity for us to welcome thousands more. A key component in the transition to civilian life for these veterans is making their own permanent home right here in Iowa and this program will help them to achieve that goal," said Governor Branstad.

"Our efforts to match veterans and their spouses with quality careers in Iowa are working. With the Iowa Finance Authority's work to assist veterans in making a down payment on a home, we believe even more veterans will make our great state their home base," said Lt. Governor Reynolds.

When combined with the Iowa Finance Authority's other down payment assistance programs, eligible service members could receive a total of up to $7,500 in grant funds toward the purchase of a home. In fiscal year 2014, the program assisted 423 military service members and their families to fulfill their dream of homeownership.

"Upon my return from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, my wife and I started looking for a house in Osceola, where I now serve as a reserve Sheriff's Deputy and volunteer firefighter," said tenured military veteran Sergeant Byron Jimmerson. "We were excited to discover that we qualified for IFA's Military Homeownership Assistance Grant Program to help with the down payment. The grant helped ease the financial cost of owning a home, especially with the anticipated expenses of starting a family."

"The Military Homeownership Assistance Program was created by the Iowa Legislature in an effort to foster affordable homeownership opportunities for service members," said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison. "Down payment assistance is a valuable resource and it affords service members and veterans an avenue to conduct civilian life in a permanent, stable home in Iowa."

 

"The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs' mission is to assist veterans with obtaining services and benefits that they are entitled to.  We are also concerned about the successful reintegration of veterans into civilian life and the community," said Colonel Robert King, Executive Director, Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs. "The Military Homeownership Assistance Program is an excellent program that directly impacts qualified veterans' ability to purchase a home. We are extremely pleased with the response of veterans requesting this program."

The Military Homeownership Assistance Program has provided more than $15.4 million in funding to support approximately 3,400 military service members and their families since the program's inception in 2005. Availability of funding for this program is subject to annual state appropriation and funds are made available on a first-come, first-served basis. More information about the program is available at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov.

The Iowa Legislature created the Iowa Finance Authority in 1975 to undertake programs to assist in the attainment of housing for low-and moderate-income Iowans.

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