LAMONI, IA (06/09/2014)(readMedia)-- Graceland University celebrates the graduation achievement of 500 graduates, hailing from 38 states and 11 countries. Graceland graduates were awarded 313 bachelor's degrees, 181 master's degrees, and the very first six Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from Graceland at the 117th Annual Commencement Convocation held Sunday, May 18, 2014, on the Lamoni, Iowa, campus.

The following area students were among the 2014 graduating class:

Elizabeth Kempnich of Davenport, IA, graduated with a Master of Education.

Sarah Murphy of Bettendorf, IA, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.

Todd Stone of Bettendorf, IA, graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing.

Jenna Washko of Bettendorf, IA, graduated with a Master of Education.

Congratulations to all our Graceland Grads!

Graceland University, founded in 1895, creates learning communities where students develop their potential for meaningful, productive lives. Offering residential and non-residential environments, Graceland boasts more than 50 academic majors and programs and over 50 clubs and organizations. Graceland stresses the joy of lifelong learning, the rigor of intellectual discipline, and the relationship of both to a satisfying professional and personal life. A sense of community prospers throughout the world with a vibrant Graceland alumni network.

A family of four can attend a game for just $57.50, saving 10 percent off nationwide average

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (June 9, 2014) - Affordable entertainment is a signature of the Modern Woodmen Park experience, and recently released statistics from Minor League Baseball show the cost of attending a Quad Cities River Bandits game offers some of the best value for families nationwide.

A family of four can attend a River Bandits game at Modern Woodmen Park for $57.50, which is 10 percent more affordable than the national average of $63.55 for a family to attend a Minor League Baseball game at one of the 160 ballparks in the 14 domestic-based leagues. The price includes parking, two adult tickets, two child tickets, four hot dogs, two sodas, two beers and a program or scorecard.

"Making River Bandits games not just affordable, but an unbeatable value for families is always our goal," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "A game at Modern Woodmen Park is one of the best deals in the country, and with our promotional lineup and ticket and concession discounts, the savings and entertainment only get better!"

The River Bandits regularly offer discounts on tickets and concessions, with a different promotion every day of the week. Among the highlights, fans can purchase $2 ticktes and concession items on Markdown Mondays, 2-for-1 tickets and kids eat free on Tuesdays, and $2 drink specials on Thirst-Day Thursdays. IHMVCU members also have 2-for-1 kids ticket specials on Wednesdays, and 2-for-1 for all tickets on Thursdays. Group outings and picnics offer even more savings over the regular admission and concession prices.

Average Cost of Attending a Game

MiLB Class A River Bandits

Adult ticket $7.56 $7.58 $7.00

Child ticket $6.63 $6.60 $6.00

Hot Dog $3.30 $3.30 $2.75 Kids, $3.75 Adult

Soda $3.14 $3.18 $2.75

Beer $5.28 $5.33 $5.50

Program $2.35 $2.39 Free

Parking $2.78 $2.50 $2.00

Family of 4 $63.55 $63.47 $57.50

Ticket prices are based on the most economical fixed seat in a stadium on a typical night at the ballpark

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park at 6 p.m. Saturday with a Craig Biggio Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Prairie Farms and FOX18 for the first 1,500 fans. Tickets are available at riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

Farm Bill Implementation Continues as Energy Facilities Can Now Apply for Renewed Biomass Crop Assistance Program

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications June 16 from energy facilities interested in receiving forest or agricultural residues to generate clean energy. The support comes through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

BCAP provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who establish and maintain new crops of energy biomass, or who harvest and deliver forest or agricultural residues to a qualifying energy facility. Of the total $25 million per year authorized for BCAP, the 2014 Farm Bill provides up to 50 percent ($12.5 million) each year for matching payments for the harvest and transportation of biomass residues. BCAP matching payments will resume this summer, while crop incentives will begin in 2015. Some matching payments will support the removal of dead or diseased trees from National Forests and Bureau of Land Management public lands. This will be turned into renewable energy while reducing the risk of forest fire. Agriculture residues, such as corn cobs and stalks, also may qualify as energy-producing feedstock.

"Removing dead or diseased trees from forests to use for biomass production creates clean energy while reducing the threat of forest fires and the spread of harmful insects and disease," said Vilsack. "Increasing our country's production of biomass energy also helps grow our economy. Food is made in rural America, but fuel is made in rural America, too. This program is yet another USDA investment in expanding markets for agricultural products made in rural places across the country."

With the 2014 Farm Bill requiring several regulatory updates to BCAP, the resumption of payments for starting and maintaining new sources of biomass (Project Areas) has been deferred until a later date when the regulatory updates occur.

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers BCAP, will begin accepting applications from biomass conversion facilities beginning June 16, 2014, through July 14, 2014.  Information on funding availability can be found in the Federal Register notice at http://go.usa.gov/8FSH. For more details on applications and deadlines on BCAP, visit a local FSA county office or go online to www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap.

BCAP was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.  The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

 

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (06/09/2014)(readMedia)-- PEORIA, Ill. - Members of the Heroes 2 Hired (H2H) program, a Department of Defense initiative aimed at helping unemployed veterans find jobs, teamed up with Goodwill's Veteran Services program to host a job fair at the Goodwill Commons building in Peoria, Illinois, June 5.

Darrell Melrose of Washington, Illinois, the H2H employment transition coordinator for Illinois, said he believes veterans bring a wide variety of skills to civilian employment.

"Military trained employees are more likely to show up on time, ready to accomplish tasks in a safe and efficient manner," said Melrose. "Servicemembers are adept at teamwork, working in austere environments, adapting to their surroundings, accustomed to receiving and conducting training and much more."

Melrose, who is also a captain with the Illinois Army National Guard's 65thTroop Command in Springfield, Illinois, has been a part of the H2H program since its inception as the Employment Initiative Program in 2011.

Melrose said the H2H program's robust website helps Soldiers translate their military skills into civilian terms. The site also allows Soldiers to register with the program.

"Beyond the H2H website, registered job seekers are assigned a case manager, who can assist them in any number of ways with their career search, such as resume help, interview assistance, navigating the website, and providing opportunities," said Melrose.

Melrose said he works closely with his counterparts at Goodwill and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program.

Dick Franzen, of Germantown Hills, Illinois, the ombudsman director of Employer Support for Guard and Reserves (ESGR) for Illinois was also at the event. Franzen, who retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Army Reserves, said he has been volunteering for the ESGR for nine years and has worked with Melrose on many occasions.

"We get our funding from the same pot, so we work together," said Franzen.

Franzen said one function of the ESGR is to help mediate any issues that might arise between a Soldier and an employer.

Representing Goodwill at the fair was Johanna Wagner, of Rock Falls, Illinois. Wagner serves as the veteran services manager for Goodwill of Central Illinois.

Wagner said she doesn't think many veterans consider Goodwill when they are unemployed.

"I wish more would come in when they are underemployed or unemployed. We could get many of them a better job within their skillsets," said Wagner.

While this is the first event of its kind in this facility, Wagner said she believes it has been very successful and she would like to see more events like it in the future.

Wagner said they had so much interest from employers they had to turn down a few offers of booths because of space limitations.

One of the employers present was Volt Workforce Solutions, a staffing agency that has offices across the country. Christopher Page of Indianapolis, Indiana, is a military program liaison for Volt. Page was present alongside his colleague Shelby DuBois of Pekin, Illinois, a liaison to Volt from the Caterpillar company.

Page said Volt has hired approximately 3,100 veterans within the past year and has committed to hiring 10,000 within the next three years. DuBois and Page are both veterans themselves. DuBois retired from the Marine Corps as a chief warrant officer after 22 years of service, while Page retired as a staff sergeant from the Army after 26 years of service.

DuBois said he works with more than just veterans. However, he said he feels veterans bring skills that their civilian counterparts might not have.

"(Veterans) bring a certain level of maturity over their peers. They have real-world common sense and that is sorely needed," said DuBois.

A representative from Congressman Aaron Schock's office, Michael Gilmore, was at the fair as well. Gilmore, who is also a staff sergeant with the Illinois Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment in Chicago, is a military and veterans affairs specialist for the 18th district. He offers constituent services to veterans in Schock's district.

"I help vets who are having issues with their GI Bill, the VA, even their employers," said Gilmore.

Many veterans don't realize they have resources through their representatives in government, Gilmore said.

With close to a dozen vendors and more than 300 estimated visitors, Wagner said the event went better than she could have anticipated. She also said this event is a small precursor to a much larger event slated to take place Aug. 8.

Melrose said the sponsors of this event, which include Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois, Hero 2 Hired, ESGR, and the Illinois Department of Employment Security will partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce employment initiative program known as Hiring our Heroes and will conduct a large veteran hiring event at the Peoria Civic Center where there will be more than 100 vendors and veteran service organizations.