16 Jan 2014

MALLARDS' HEEMSKERK TO AHL'S WORCESTER SHARKS; MALLARDS SIGN FOX, NIEDERT; NIKIFOROV PLACED ON IR

By Brian Lavelle
MOLINE, Ill. (January 16, 2014) - Quad City Mallards goaltender Thomas Heemskerk has joined the American Hockey League's Worcester Sharks on a professional tryout agreement while the Mallards have signed forward Justin Fox and goaltender Nick Niedert and placed forward Vladimir Nikiforv on seven-day injured reserve, the Mallards announced today.

Heemskerk, 23, ranks second in the Central Hockey League in goals against average (2.45) and save percentage (.920) and is tied for third in shutouts (2).  The 6' 0", 210-pound Chilliwack, British Columbia native has suffered just one regulation loss this season, going 9-1-4 in 15 games.  Heemskerk is unbeaten in regulation in his last five games, a stretch during which he has posted a 4-0-1 record, a 1.57 goals against average, a .944 save percentage and two shutouts.  Last week Heemskerk was named CHL Goaltender of the Week.

This is Heemskerk's third AHL call-up this season.  The third year netminder joined the Iowa Wild for a pair of stints as a back-up earlier in the campaign.  Heemskerk is no stranger to Worcester, having seen action for the Sharks each of the last two seasons.  Over two games last year with the San Jose Sharks' top affiliate, Heemskerk turned aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced in 67 minutes, turning in a 1.79 goals against average and a .931 save percentage.  In four games with Worcester in 2011-12, he went 0-1-0 with a 2.14 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.

Heemskerk spent the bulk of his first two seasons in the ECHL.  Last year he went 14-17-3 with a 3.10 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 38 games with the San Francisco Bulls.  Heemskerk began his professional career in 2011-12 with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder, for whom he posted a record of 13-12-0 along with a 3.27 goals against average and a .893 save percentage in 25 games.

Heemskerk turned pro after four years in the major junior Western Hockey League. In his final WHL campaign, he finished second in the league in minutes (3,841), third in saves (2041) and fifth in wins (36) while recording a 2.94 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and a pair of shutouts in 65 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The 2010-11 season was the second straight campaign during which Heemskerk landed among the league leaders. In 2009-10, while tending goal for the Everett Silvertips, he topped the Western League in save percentage (.927), finished third in goals against average (2.34) and was tied for seventh in shutouts (4) while going 24-12-4 in 42 games. Heemskerk's efforts helped the Silvertips earn a share of the United States Division title. Heemskerk joined Everett midway through the 2008-09 season after spending his first year and a half in the WHL with the Kootenay Ice.

Fox joins the Mallards from the Southern Professional Hockey League's Huntsville Havoc.  The 26-year old Whitby, Ontario, native leads the SPHL in points (40), is tied for the league lead in assists (24) and is tied for fourth in goals (16).  Tuesday Fox was named SPHL Player of the Week after piling up three goals and three assists in two games last weekend.

The 6' 0", 190-pound Fox split last season between Huntsville and the CHL's Tulsa Oilers.  Fox scored twice and totaled 11 points in 23 games with Tulsa.  He recorded ten goals and 21 points in 24 SPHL regular season games and produced three goals and four assists in eight playoff games while helping the Havoc to the SPHL finals.  As a rookie in 2011-12, Fox notched 22 goals and totaled 46 points in 52 games for Huntsville.

Before arriving in Huntsville, Fox played four seasons of college hockey- two for Salem State College and, after transferring, two for the State University of New York-Oswego.  He registered 58 goals and 153 points in 104 career collegiate games.  In 2009-10 and 2010-11 he helped propel Oswego to both the State University of New York Athletic Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division III Frozen Four.

Niedert rejoins the Mallards from the Danville Dashers of the Federal Hockey League.  The 31-year old served as backup goaltender in three games for the Mallards last month before returning to Danville.  The 5' 8", 185-pound product of Hudson, Iowa, has gone 3-9-1 with a 5.05 goals against average and a .874 save percentage in 13 games with the Dashers this season and also tended goal in one ECHL game for the Utah Grizzlies.

Niedert played for five teams in four leagues last season- the Gwinnett Gladiators and Reading Royals of the ECHL, the Bloomington Blaze of the CHL, the August RiverHawks of the Southern Professional Hockey League and the Danbury Whalers of the FHL.  Over the course of his nine-year career, Niedert has played for 22 teams in nine different leagues after competing for five teams over three seasons of junior hockey.  He first wore the Mallards' colors during the club's 2011 training camp.

Nikiforov, who has scored six goals and totaled 20 points in 31 games, has been sidelined by an upper body injury.

The Mallards return to action tomorrow night against the Thunder in Wichita.  The Mallards next play at home on Friday, January 31 at 7:05 p.m. against the Tulsa Oilers.  January 31 is another $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X.  $1 hot dogs and beers will be available at iWireless Center concession stands during each of the Mallards' 11 Friday night home games this season.

Tickets for the January 31 game and all Mallards regular season home games can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

16 Jan 2014

Farm Bill Update: New Cost Estimate Shows Grassley Farm Bill Provisions Save Additional Money

By Grassley Press

Thursday, January 16, 2014

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today said that a new cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office shows that his provisions to place a hard cap on farm payments and ensure that farm payments go to people actively engaged in farming save $387 million over 10 years, which is an additional $210 million over previous estimates.

Grassley asked the Congressional Budget Office to rescore his provisions after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report in October 2013 showing a great deal of subterfuge of the current actively engaged law, with one farm claiming it needed 16 active "managers" who didn't have to verify work on the farm.  The GAO wrote that the legislative language in the Senate and House passed farm bills would be an appropriate fix to the agency's findings.

"With a $17 trillion debt, any additional savings are a tremendous benefit," Grassley said.  "The majority of Congress backs these provisions and the last two presidents have been supportive of significant reform like this.  Both the House and Senate bills contain our common sense reforms.  It's a no brainer to keep the provisions as is.  It would be short-sighted to allow a parochial mindset to undermine important and necessary reforms."

The Grassley reform in the Senate and House farm bills ends some of the most egregious abuses of the farm program, makes sure that the farm program payments are going to those who need them most, and saves money.

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16 Jan 2014

Iowa Farm Bureau Works to Secure Strength of Renewable Fuels Standard, Crop Insurance and 'Big Data' Security at 95th AFBF Convention

By Andrew Wheeler

SAN ANTONIO - January 16, 2014 -- Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) voting delegates helped secure the strength and commitment to the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) this week, as voting delegates took up the RFS and other priority issues for Iowans at the 2014 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

IFBF voting delegates joined more than 350 other state Farm Bureau delegates to find national consensus on a variety of legislative issues.  A high priority for Iowa is the RFS, which adds nearly $12 billion, or about 9 percent, to Iowa GDP and supports nearly 83,000 jobs.  Despite federal threats to weaken the RFS, Iowa voting delegates worked to approve policies to continue support of renewable fuels tax incentives for the production of biodiesel and to continue funding for next-generation cellulosic and biomass fuel research and installation of blender pumps and improved infrastructure.

Iowa delegates also led the charge to approve a new policy to protect proprietary data that is collected when farmers use GPS or automated software operating systems, available and readily used now in planting, spraying, field planting preparations and harvest equipment. AFBF delegates agreed such private and unique information gathered wirelessly and stored on 'Cloud' based computer servers should not be eligible for release under the Freedom of Information Act.

"IFBF farmers also worked to secure the prioritization of an affordable crop insurance program in the Farm Bill, which Congress still works to approve.  But we wanted to secure the national consensus and continued federal support for a crop insurance program to assure strong farmer participation.  Iowa has faced several weather challenges in recent years: a flood one year, drought the next, and in unpredictable weather cycles and uncertain markets, such a tool is vital to the sustainability of farming in Iowa," says IFBF President Craig Hill.

AFBF policies are developed by Iowa and Farm Bureau representatives of 49 other states to secure grassroots lobbying strength in the 2014 legislative session.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to helping farm families prosper and improve their quality of life.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve economic growth, educational improvement, and environmental quality in their communities.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

16 Jan 2014

Governor Quinn Announces $16.2 Million for Road Construction Project in Moline

By Dave Blanchette

Project Will Feature Work on Route 5 Between I-74 and 38th Street

MOLINE - Governor Pat Quinn today announced a capital investment of more than $16.2 million for a road construction project in Moline, part of his Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program. The project is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward.

"Our investment will make sure this vital Quad Cities road receives needed improvements and upgrades," Governor Quinn said. "The project will also employ a number of construction workers, which will help the local economy."

All of the work to be done is located along Illinois Route 5 between Interstate 74 and 38th Street in Moline. The 41st Drive Connector from Coaltown Road to 38th Street will be widened and reconstructed. A new two-span plate girder bridge with a concrete deck, traffic signals and other work will also be constructed. McCarthy Improvement Company of Davenport, Iowa was the lowest of three bidders at $16,246,154. The project will be overseen by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"These improvements throughout Moline will create additional jobs and ensure our roads remain safe to travel," State Senator Jacobs (D-Moline) said. "These improvements span from stabilizing bridges to widening roads for quicker travel throughout the district and will increase the overall economic development and job development throughout the area."

"This project will bring a new bridge, new road surface, and new traffic signals to a vital part of the Quad Cities' transportation infrastructure," State Representative Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) said. "Projects like this help us grow and continue to be a regional hub of jobs, commerce, and transportation."

"Governor Quinn understands the need to keep the Quad Cities' network of bridges, highways, and interstates in good shape," State Representative Patrick J. Verschoore (D-Milan) said. "These projects will make travel safer for all Illinois motorists, and additionally put area residents back to work."

The project is part of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest capital construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest capital construction programs in the nation.

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16 Jan 2014

LeClaire Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner

By LeClaire Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Davenport County Club
25500 Valley Drive,
Pleasant Valley, IA

5:30-6:30 Cocktails (cash bar) and Silent Auction

6:30 Awards

7:00 Dinner

8:00 Live Auction

6-10 Music by Keep Off the Grass
Please RSVP by January 24
to First Central State Bank 563-289-2265
$35 per person paid in advance.
Make check payable to:
LeClaire Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 35
LeClaire, IA 52753
Casual Party Attire
To donate for the auctions, please take items to First Central State Bank
or email chamber for more information.
Everyone Welcome!
16 Jan 2014

SCOTT COUNTY EXTENSION CALENDAR

By Amanda Heitz

January 27, 2014 Private Pesticide Applicators Training, Scott County Extension Office, 9:30 am

January 27, 2014 Private Pesticide Applicators Training, Scott County Extension Office, 1:30 pm

January 28, 2014 Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

February 12, 2014 Commercial Ag Weed, Insect, and Plant Disease Management, Scott County Extension Office,   9:00 am-11:45 am

February 25, 2014 Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

February 26, 2014 Seed Treatment, Scott County Extension Office, 9:00 am-11:30 am

Visit our events calendar at our web site: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/

16 Jan 2014

Master Conservationist Program

By Amanda Heitz

Join Nahant Marsh for our Master Conservationist Program. Come discover the world around you. Topics include urban water and energy conservation, sustainable agricultural practices, and wildlife diversity in Iowa. Participants will receive 32 hours of instruction from March to August 2014, with many of the classes held at outside locations. Each participant is asked to put their knowledge into practice by volunteering at least 32 hours of their time to a conservation or natural resource related service. Previous volunteer activities have included prairie planting, seed harvesting, water quality testing, and staffing conservation centers. Cost is $150.

Registrations are accepted by mail or in person at ISU Scott County Extension and Outreach, 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf, IA 52722. There is a maximum class size of 25, so early registrations are encouraged. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. The deadline for registration is February 21, 2014.

For more information, call the Scott County Extension office (563-359-7577) or Nahant Marsh (563-323-5196).

16 Jan 2014

Hannah Stellick Named to Dean's List at Wisconsin Lutheran College

By Curtis Wech

MILWAUKEE, WI (01/16/2014)(readMedia)-- Hannah Stellick, of Wilton, IA, a senior, has been named to Wisconsin Lutheran College's Dean's List for the fall semester.

To be eligible for Dean's List, a student must carry a semester GPA of 3.6 or higher.

Wisconsin Lutheran College is an independent Christian college in Milwaukee that is recognized for its academic excellence and Christian leadership tenets. To learn more, please visit wlc.edu.

16 Jan 2014

Iowa Ranks 11th in the Nation with a C for for Policies that Support Emergency Patients

By Julie Lloyd, American College of Emergency Physicians
WASHINGTON – Iowa moved from 19th place in 2009 to 11th place in the 2014 American College of Emergency Physicians' (ACEP) state-by-state report card on America's emergency care environment ("Report Card"). The state received an overall C, despite critical health care workforce shortages.

"Limited access to specialists and other health care continue to burden the Iowa health care system," said Dr. Michael Miller, president of the Iowa Chapter of ACEP. "Our state has demonstrated a great commitment to injury prevention funding and disaster preparedness. We need to build on those strengths to address remaining weaknesses in the state's support for emergency care." 

Iowa received its best grade, a B for Public Health and Injury Prevention, for strong funding of injury prevention, which is reflected in the state's low fatal injury rate. Iowa has the eighth lowest rate of homicide and suicide, a very low rate of alcohol-related traffic fatalities and one of the lowest pedestrian fatality rates. The state still has one of the higher rates of fatal occupational injuries. According to the Report Card, funding directed specifically for occupational injury prevention would reduce that rate.

The C+ for Disaster Preparedness ranked Iowa 14th in the nation in this category. The state more than doubled its bed surge capacity since the last Report Card and has the fifth highest percentage of nurses who have received disaster training (47.2 percent). Iowa could improve this grade further by increasing medical professional registration in the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals.

Iowa received C's in both Quality and Patient Safety Environment and Medical Liability Environment, and ranked in the bottom half of the country in both categories. The state lacks specific triage and destination policies for stroke and heart attack patients and lacks a uniform system for providing pre-arrival instructions. Iowa has few legal protections in place for physicians who provide emergency care to high-risk patients. Iowa's Medical Liability Environment could be improved by the institution of pretrial screening panels to discourage frivolous lawsuits and a cap on non-economic damages.

The C- and 13th place ranking signals a decline for Iowa in the category of Access to Emergency Care from the 2009 Report Card. The state has the lowest per capita rate of emergency physicians in the nation and lacks neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons, orthopedists and hand surgeons. Increased Medicaid fee levels could help attract and retain a skilled health care workforce.

"The best medicine in the world won't help you if there's no physician to deliver it in a timely manner," said Dr. Miller. "Iowa must focus on increasing our medical workforce and enacting medical liability reforms to make Iowa an attractive place to physicians."

"America's Emergency Care Environment:  A State-by-State Report Card - 2014" evaluates conditions under which emergency care is being delivered, not the quality of care provided by hospitals and emergency providers. It has 136 measures in five categories:  access to emergency care (30 percent of the grade), quality and patient safety (20 percent), medical liability environment (20 percent), public health and injury prevention (15 percent) and disaster preparedness (15 percent). While America earned an overall mediocre grade of C- on the Report Card issued in 2009, this year the country received a near-failing grade of D+.

ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

# # #
16 Jan 2014

Branstad, Reynolds applaud Legislature for passing resolutions supporting RFS

By Office of the Governor of the State of Iowa

Resolutions pass following Gov. Branstad's call for swift, bipartisan action in support of renewable fuels

(DES MOINES) -  Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released statements applauding the Iowa Legislature for passing resolutions in support of a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  The Legislature's action comes two days after Gov. Branstad called for swift, bipartisan action in support of the RFS in his Condition of the State Address.

"I am pleased the Iowa Legislature has joined Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and me, and the entire Iowa Congressional Delegation, in support of a robust Renewable Fuels Standard," said Branstad. "I'm encouraged that the Legislature agrees that  this rule proposed by the EPA would be devastating to the agriculture and renewable fuel sector of the economy. Together, we'll keep fighting to protect the RFS."

Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and the entire Iowa Congressional Delegation are hosting a hearing, "Hearing in the Heartland: Supporting the Renewable Fuels Standard," on the proposed EPA rule Thursday, January 23, 2014. More information on the hearing can be found on by visiting the governor's website.

"Iowans understand how important a strong Renewable Fuels Standard is to our state's economy," said Reynolds. "I applaud the Iowa Legislature for moving quickly and decisively in support of the RFS. It's clear Iowans are in favor of lower-cost choices at the pump, diversifying our nation's energy portfolio, reducing harmful transportation emissions, supporting the growth of the economy, and reducing our dependence on overseas oil."

Gov. Branstad called on the Legislature to act during his Condition of the State Address Tuesday, January 14, 2014:

My friends, Iowa faces another challenge where we can come together again and rally around what is best for our state.  The EPA has proposed reducing the level of biofuels outlined in the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

If this rule is adopted, it would be a devastating setback to the agriculture sector of the Iowa economy.

The proposed rule comes at a time when our state continues to implement new pioneering policies encouraging growth and innovation in the renewable energy sector.

In a partnership with Iowa State University, we launched the "Fueling Our Future" program last October, which will bring Iowa to the forefront in the use of E30 fuel.

This new program is a reflection of the importance of further advancing the renewable fuels industry, and how the RFS is helping to create important Iowa jobs.

The RFS has led to a cleaner environment, opened the markets for Iowa corn and soybeans and reduced our nation's dependence on foreign oil.  Thousands of Americans are coming together to support the RFS.

We will be holding a public hearing later this month to give Iowans the opportunity to voice their concerns with the EPA's proposal. Lt. Governor Reynolds and I are pleased the entire Iowa Congressional Delegation and Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey have agreed to co-host this important forum.

Today, I call on the General Assembly, as its first order of business, in bipartisan fashion, to pass a resolution in support of maintaining a robust Renewable Fuels Standard.

Read the full speech

The resolutions from the Iowa House and Iowa Senate can be found here:

Iowa House Resolution 101

Iowa Senate Resolution 101

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