Teachers use student-designed stickers to encourage great work

DES MOINES, IA (06/02/2014)(readMedia)-- Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) members around the state have used ISEA's student-designed stickers to celebrate student achievement and good work for over 29 years. Now in its 30th year, the popular Design-a-Decal program helps give statewide recognition to young art students when their winning designs are printed on stickers and educators use them to give positive feedback to their students. With encouraging messages like "Way 2 Go" and "Super Cool," the stickers get used on everything from homework assignments, to papers and projects.

Students competed in three, grade-level categories: elementary (K-5); junior high/middle school (6-8); and high school (9-12). The 24 winning designs are printed in full color on sheets of one-inch square stickers and each design is featured twice.

"The Design-a-Decal contest is one of our longest-standing programs because it's so much fun for the students. Art teachers who administer the program are very enthusiastic and the students who submit designs do a great job and love to participate, so it's a win-win for everyone. It's a wonderful way to encourage creativity. The end result is a terrific page of stickers our members can use on homework and other assignments to encourage more great work," said Tammy Wawro, president of the ISEA.

The students who created the designs used on the decal sheets receive two plaques from the ISEA-one they keep and one to be displayed at their school.

(A listing with names of the schools, supervising art teacher, and students whose designs were selected for use on the decal sheets is attached. Also attached is a picture of the winning decals.)

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, today, with representatives of the Des Moines Symphony, the Food Bank of Iowa, Bank of the West, Hy-Vee, and Casey's announced the official start of the sixth annual Yankee Doodle Drive Against Hunger.

"The Yankee Doodle Drive Against Hunger is a wonderful campaign that raises awareness and collects much-needed non-perishable food items for the Food Bank of Iowa," said Reynolds. "I am honored and proud to be a partner with community businesses to shed a light on the importance of eliminating hunger in central Iowa."

The public is encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items at area Bank of the West locations, area Hy-Vee locations or at the Des Moines Symphony's 20th Annual Yankee Doodle Pops. In addition, the Office of Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will today accept donations from the public at their office in the State Capitol.

Yankee Doodle Pops will be held on the State Capitol grounds on July 3, 2014, at 8:30 p.m. All donations from the food drive will benefit the Food Bank of Iowa. The drive runs until July 7, 2014.

For more information on the Yankee Doodle Food Drive, visit www.foodbankiowa.org

Each year when Father's Day rolls around, I'm reminded that I wouldn't trade the experience of raising my two kids for the world. But when I think back to how naïve my wife and I once were about the costs of raising children, I can't help wishing we'd been better prepared.

If you're a new dad, or about to become one, you'd better sit down. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a typical middle-income family can expect to spend over $241,000 to raise a newborn child until age 18 - and that doesn't even include prenatal care or college costs.

Right now, you're probably more worried about getting enough sleep than funding your retirement. But at some point, you'll need to plot out a financial roadmap to ensure your family's future financial security. As one dad to another, here are a few strategies I've learned that can help:

Start saving ASAP. It's hard to save for the future when your present expenses are so daunting, but it's important to start making regular contributions to several savings vehicles, even if only a few dollars at a time:

• Establish an emergency fund with enough cash to cover at least six months of living expenses. Start small by having $25 or $50 a month deducted from your paycheck and automatically deposited into a separate savings account.
• Even if retirement is decades away, the sooner you start saving and compounding your interest, the faster your savings will grow. If your employer offers 401(k) matching contributions, contribute at least enough to take full advantage of the match.
• Once those two accounts are well established, open a 529 Qualified State Tuition Plan to start saving for your children's education.

If funding these accounts seems impossible, look for a few luxuries you could cut from your budget for six months - lattes, eating out, premium cable, etc. After six months, evaluate whether they were actual "needs" or simply "wants" you can live without.

Get insured. If your family depends on your income, you must be prepared for life's unexpected events, whether an accident, illness, unemployment or death. Get adequate coverage for:

• Health insurance. Everyone needs medical insurance, no matter how young or healthy.
• Homeowner/renter's insurance. Don't let theft, fire or another catastrophe leave your family without a home or possessions. To reduce premiums, consider choosing a higher deductible.
• Life insurance. You'll probably want coverage worth at least five to 10 times your annual pay - more, if you want to cover college costs. And don't forget to insure your spouse's life so you'll be protected as well.
• Disability insurance. Millions of Americans suffer disabilities serious enough to miss work for months or years, yet many forego disability insurance, potentially leaving them without an income after a serious accident or illness. Ask about your employer's sick leave and short-term disability benefits and if long-term disability is offered, consider buying it.
• Car insurance. Almost every state requires insurance if you own or drive a car, and for good reason: It protects you financially should you cause an accident or be hit by an uninsured driver. Make sure you have sufficient liability coverage to protect your net worth and income - it only takes one serious accident to wipe out your savings.

And finally, spend responsibly. If you buy things you don't really need or can't afford, you'll just end up having to work longer hours to pay for them - time you could have spent watching your kids growing up.

On June 1, 2014 at approximately 4:06 PM Blue Grass Officers were called to a report of an off duty officer following behind a stolen vehicle inside the City of Blue Grass. Blue Grass Sergeant was able to catch up to the vehicle on Hwy 61 heading toward Muscatine. Blue Grass Police assisted in the pursuit until the suspect turned back around and began leading officers back to Scott County.

During the pursuit in Scott County, the suspect vehicle nearly hit three vehicles. The Blue Grass Police Sergeant ended the pursuit by conducting a pit maneuver. The suspect vehicle hit the highway off ramp exit sign which stopped the vehicle from going any further. The driver exited the vehicle and led the Sergeant on a short lived foot pursuit where the Sergeant ultimately apprehended the suspect.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Brennen Smith who was a DOC escapee. He was taken into custody for the warrant for being an escapee. There is no bond. There will be additional charges pending including theft in the first degree, aggravated interference with official acts and eluding.

The passenger of the suspect vehicle identified as Amanda Thompson was taken to hospital for medical checkup and is also facing charges. Nobody involved in the accident was injured.

The assisting agencies were: The Buffalo Police Department, The Walcott Police Department, Iowa State Patrol and the Scott County Sheriff's Office.