With reports of the unemployment rate dropping to 7 percent, lower than it was even five years ago and down from a peak of 10 percent in October 2009, many are breathing a sigh of relief. But the effects of a long bout of high unemployment are sure to have thrown off the balance of employee well-being, says former Exxon executive Bob Epperly.

"Of course, the rate does not take into account those who are underemployed, including over-skilled workers in menial jobs and those with too few hours. For those lucky enough to have decent employment, many feel insecure and are willing to skew their work-life balance into a tailspin, with exaggerated emphasis on their career," says Epperly, a CEO who realized at age 55 that even a very successful career cannot fulfill every aspect of life.

"Most people cannot afford to simply refuse the demands of their job, so what's a worker to do?"

Epperly, author of "Growing Up After Fifty: From Exxon Executive to Spiritual Seeker," (www.bobepperly.com), offers tips for correcting lifestyle imbalance.

• It's never enough. Ambition is admirable, but if it's all that drives you, no matter how much you accomplish, it will never be enough. If professional ambition is more important to you than anything else in your life, that's a red flag that your life is dangerously unbalanced. The consequences will be painful feelings of emptiness, lack of fulfillment, and having missed out. Take steps now to restore balance, beginning with personal, non-work relationships.

• No one ever says, at the end of their life, that they should have worked longer and spent less time with family. When it's all said and done, life is short, and many realize that time is life's most precious resource. Intense focus on work tends to deprive professionals of opportunities with their loved ones - moments and memories that cannot be replaced. Set goals for how much time you'll spend giving your family 100 percent of your attention each day and week, and stick to them!

• Make communication a top priority! The importance and value of real communication cannot be overemphasized. "More important than speaking is listening," Epperly says. "My relationships immediately improved when I began listening very carefully to what was being said."

• Only you are responsible for your life. The Serenity Prayer goes a long way in work-life balance; it reads: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Epperly says that recognizing he is responsible for his life and focusing on the aspects of it over which he has influence while recognizing those he needs to let go has been pivotal.

• Accept who you are. This can be challenging; it demands courageous self-reflection and letting go of the need for external approval. "When a friend asked me, 'Do you think the world is ready to accept Bob Epperly just as he is?' I suddenly saw that I had always felt I had to accommodate; that I wasn't okay as I am," he says. "I started to give myself permission to be me."

About Bob Epperly

Bob Epperly worked in management at Exxon Research and Engineering Co. for more than 20 years, finally becoming a general manager, and later was a senior executive in two startup companies. Having spent much of his professional life creating win-win environments for employees and employers and co-authoring a book entitled, "Interactive Career Development: Integrating Employer and Employee Goals", he now coaches people who seek life-transforming career change. During the last quarter century, he has made spiritual self-realization and psychological integration his top priorities. Epperly and his wife, Sarah, live in Mountain View, Calif., and have three grown children and four grandchildren.

The Scott County Sheriff's Office would like to introduce a new procedure for applying for weapon permits. Effective February 5th, 2014, Weapon Permits may be ordered online and now have the option to pay using a credit or debit card.

Prior to the new system, Scott County Residents applied in person using paper applications during business hours for weapon permits. The online system allows applicants to apply online 24 hours a day / 7 days a week and from the convenience of your home. There is a $4.00 convenience fee for applying online plus any credit or debit card fees that may apply.

For those citizens who may not have access to an Internet connected device, you may apply in person at the Scott County Sheriff's Office inside the Scott County Courthouse where we will place a kiosk for weapon permit applications. Paper applications will no longer be accepted.

All orders require a valid e-mail address or phone number to communicate the status of your order. You will be notified via e-mail and/or phone whether your application has been approved, denied, or require additional information. Once approved applicants are required to appear in person to the Sheriff's Office to show your valid I.D. and training documentation.

There will be a press conference on Wednesday February 5th, 2014, at 10:00 am in the Sheriff's Office Pavilion Conference Room to demonstrate the online application system.

More information may be found on our webiste after Wednesday February 5th, 2014 at
http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/sheriff/weapon_permits.php.

Visit every floor, peek into closed rooms, and satisfy curiosity through this all-access pass to the Brucemore Mansion during the Nooks and Crannies Tour - March 6 and 20 at 6:00 p.m. Marvel at the Skinner pipe organ room, discover the architectural oddities in the attic, and experience the sight and sound of a "rain storm" in the basement Tahitian Room. Examine the superior craftsmanship and learn about ongoing preservation work. The tour is not recommended for children under ten or individuals who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Admission is $15 per person and $12 per Brucemore. Space is limited; purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.

The Nooks and Crannies Tour is part of Brucemore's Thursday Night Lineup. Every Thursday night Brucemore will feature a different specialty tour focusing on topics for all interests, including arts and culture, Midwestern industry, gardening, landscape design, architecture, preservation, behind-the-scenes at Brucemore, and growing up in the early twentieth century. For more information on the Thursday Night Lineup or other upcoming tours, visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

PELLA, (02/04/2014)(readMedia)--  Central College freshman Emma Simmons, native of Davenport, competed in the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Lincoln, Neb. the week of Jan. 20. KCACTF is an annual festival dedicated to celebrate and improve the quality of collegiate theatre, while providing professional opportunities. The Region V festival drew 1,525 students from 81 colleges and universities.

Simmons was one of 316 nominees for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. The scholarship provides recognition, honor and financial assistance to outstanding student performers who wish to pursue further education.

Central College is a residential liberal arts college dedicated to the education of 1,500 undergraduate students. Guided by its ecumenical Christian tradition, the college community engages in vigorous, free, open inquiry in pursuit of academic excellence. Founded in 1853, the college is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America and NCAA Division III athletics.

Central is a recognized leader in study abroad as a result of its international, residential programs. Central College is located in Pella, Iowa, a thriving community of 10,000 two minutes from the state's largest lake and 40 minutes southwest of Des Moines. Please visit the college website at www.central.edu.