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.

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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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16 Jan 2014

3 Things Every Patient Should Know When Dealing with the Health-Care System

By Ginny Grimsley
Patient Advocate Warns Those New to Insurance Coverage:
Speak Up for Yourself

With millions of people newly covered by health insurance, and 11,000 more becoming eligible for Medicare every day, more people will be visiting doctors and hospitals.

And while that's a positive, patient advocate Ruth Fenner Barash warns that the U.S. health care system is not always the benevolent safety net many people believe it to be. It can be abusive, incompetent, callous toward patients - and worse.

"Patients and their loved ones cannot blindly turn themselves over to this massive, technology-based system and trust that it will care - or take care of them," says Barash, who shares lessons learned from extensive health-care experiences in a new book, "For Better or Worse: Lurching from Crisis to Crisis in America's Medical Morass," (http://forbetterorworsebook.com/).

Her cautionary tale traces the long medical journey her husband, Philip, endured with her as his advocate. She discovered mismanagement and excess, useless interventions and a sometimes complete disregard for pain - even when there was no hope of healing.

"I learned a great deal from our experience, and with so many people now gaining access to health care, I want others to benefit from what I've learned," she says. "You can navigate the system; you just have to know how."

Barash offers these suggestions for patients and their loved ones, whether it's a trip to the doctor for a checkup or a diagnosis of a catastrophic illness.

• Avoid the emergency room - for your own sake. Emergency rooms were developed with the idea that few people would use them - most people would see their physician. But as health care costs rose, they became a primary care facility for those without insurance or the money to pay for services out of pocket. "Patients and their families were not expected to spend a long time in the E.R. - presumably, they would be seen quickly and either admitted to the hospital or treated and released - so they're not designed for comfort," Barash says. "They've become very crowded, especially in cities, and patients might wait for hours sitting in hard plastic chairs in the waiting room. For someone who's sick or injured, this can be torture."
Sick people usually are not isolated, so waiting rooms also teem with germs, she notes.

• Be skeptical - question everything. Too often, we take the first thing we're told as gospel, Barash says. "If you have the luxury of time, take some of that time to think things through, to research and get second opinions," she says. Research your physician's connections. When you're referred to a specialist, ask why that particular person. If you live in an area with a large academic community, ask around about the physicians and health-care providers with the best reputations. Who has the most experience in a particular niche? Who's doing the most promising research? How many times have you performed this procedure and what is your success rate?

• Ask what it costs - no matter who's paying. Our health-care system is absurd in the number of useless consultations, diagnostic procedures and interventions it foists on patients, Barash says. Whether our hospital bills are fully covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance, or we're paying a portion ourselves, we must all include cost in our discussions with health-care providers. "Part of the blame for having the most expensive health-care system in the world goes to us, the individuals, who don't question purchases or shop for prices as we would for groceries, clothing, or furniture," Barash says.  "If a test or consultation is ordered, understand why. Is it really necessary? You can say no!"

Finally, Barash says, we all must come to terms with the fact that death is a given.

"My husband's problem, and the problem many of us may be doomed to face, is the seemingly endless getting there - a dying we don't want."

About Ruth Fenner Barash

Ruth Fenner Barash studied philosophy at City College of New York and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. In 1958, she met and married Philip Barash, a private practice attorney. She went on to work in public relations and real estate, served education and civic organizations at the executive level, and taught art in various media. Her long marriage was a "harmonious adventure" despite the couple's treacherous journey through the health-care system. Her husband died in 2012.

16 Jan 2014

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION

By Jackie E. Holecek

City of Davenport, Iowa

Saturday, January 18, 2014, 8:30 a.m.

City Council Chambers, City Hall, 226 West 4th Street

I. Goal Setting and General Fund Operating Budget Introduction

16 Jan 2014

DRURY UNIV. FALL DEAN'S LIST

By Mike Brothers
Drury Announces Fall 2013 Dean's List

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., January 15, 2014 - Earning a spot on Drury University's Dean's List is a significant accomplishment; it means a student earned a grade point average of 3.6 or greater (on a 4-point scale) while carrying a full-time course load of 12 or more semester hours at Drury. Drury University is ranked 8th among Midwest Regional Universities in the United States in the publication U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2014.

In the fall 2013 semester, Olivia Thompson of Moline made the Dean's list:

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16 Jan 2014

Lt. Gov. Simon leads discussion of key issues facing rural communities

By Ted Nelson

SPRINGFIELD - Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon will discuss pending state and federal legislation that could improve education equity and local food access in rural Illinois Thursday at a meeting of the Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC).

State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) will also discuss progress of the Education Funding Advisory Committee, which is examining the state's current education funding system and propose a system that provides adequate, equitable, transparent, and accountable distribution of funds to school districts that will prepare students for achievement and success after high school. Simon, who serves as the state's point person on education reform, testified before the committee this week regarding inequities that often hamper rural school districts in Illinois.

A representative of Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), a member of the 2013 Farm Bill Conference Committee, will provide a status report regarding negotiations of the federal farm bill, which includes funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Simon has signed on to two letters to Congress in recent months asking that SNAP and farmers market incentives be protected from devastating cuts.

DATE: Thursday, Jan. 16

TIME: 10 a.m.

LOCATION: Stratton Office Building, Room 413, Springfield

NOTE: Media availability following meeting.

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16 Jan 2014

Upper Iowa University Announces Fall 2013 Dean's List

By Monica Bayer Heaton

FAYETTE, IA (01/15/2014)(readMedia)-- Upper Iowa University names its 2013 Fall Dean's List. To be honored, the undergraduate must have earned a minimum 3.50 GPA for the semester and be enrolled as a full-time student.

Peter Mullarkey of Bettendorf, IA

Adam Chitwood of Davenport, IA

David Green of Bettendorf, IA

Elizabeth Guy of Le Claire, IA

Anna Kuhl of Andover, IA

William Stellmach of Davenport, IA

Gina Fox of Davenport, IA

Jessica Buntemeyer of Davenport, IA

Jillian Dossett of Eldridge, IA

Kiri Hamilton of Davenport, IA

Amandeep Kaur of Davenport, IA

Rocio Lopez of Bettendorf, IA

Ram Marme of DeWitt, IA

Allison O'Hara of Davenport, IA

Marissa Reese of Bettendorf, IA

Annulka Shipp of Bettendorf, IA

Amanda Shreve of Davenport, IA

Evan Trenkamp of Delmar, IA

Jeffrey Williams of De Witt, IA

Travis Zurcher of Moline, IL

Cheyenne Burnett of Rock Falls, IL

Paige Davis of Rock Falls, IL

Haylie Franklin of Muscatine, IA

Abbie Moellenbeck of Calamus, IA

Travis Willows of Davenport, IA

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to more than 6,200 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and self-paced degree program. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

16 Jan 2014

CHAMPIONSHIP STAFF RETURNING TO RIVER BANDITS

By Marco LaNave
Omar Lopez set for second year as manager; Borkowski, Chimelis and Coleman return from 2013 field staff

DAVENPORT, Iowa (JAN. 15, 2014) - Manager Omar Lopez and three coaches from the Quad Cities River Bandits' run to the 2013 Midwest League Championship are returning to the team for the 2014 season. The River Bandits and Houston Astros, entering their second season of a new affiliation, announced the Class-A club's field staff on Monday.

Lopez will begin his second season with Quad Cities and seventh as a manager in the Astros organization when the River Bandits host Kane County on Opening Day at Modern Woodmen Park April 3. In 2013, the River Bandits won 81 regular season games - the third-most in franchise history - and Lopez, 37, reached his first playoffs as a minor league manager. Quad Cities went 7-1 in three postseason rounds to claim its second Midwest League Championship in three seasons and sixth title since the franchise joined the league in 1960. Lopez is the 34th manager for the Quad Cities Midwest League franchise and fifth to manage an Astros affiliate in the Quad Cities. He is the third Quad Cities manager to win a championship in his first season, joining Jim Napier of the 1979 Quad City Cubs and Don Long of the 1990 Quad City Angels. Prior to Lopez, only Fred Koenig, with the 1969 Quad City Angels, and Napier, with the 1980 Quad City Cubs, returned to the Midwest League club the season after leading the team to a championship.

Lopez has a career regular season record of 217-237 (.478) in his first six managerial seasons in the Astros organization. He managed the rookie-level Greeneville Astros in the Appalachian League in 2011 and 2012, the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2009 and 2010, and the Venezuelan Summer League Astros in 2008. Prior to managing, Lopez served as a hitting and infield instructor in the Astros Venezuelan program and as a scout for the organization from 1999 to 2007. He was the Astros International Man of the Year in 2005 and Player Development Man of the Year in 2010. A native of Valencia, Venezuela, Lopez was an infielder for three seasons in the minor league systems of the Chicago White Sox (1996-97) and Arizona Diamondbacks (1998). He played two seasons for the rookie-level Bristol White Sox and his final season with the South Bend Silver Hawks of the Midwest League.

Former major league pitcher Dave Borkowski returns for his second season as the River Bandits pitching coach and fifth as a coach in the Astros organization following 15 seasons (1995-2009) as a professional pitcher. Borkowski's first Quad Cities staff issued the fewest walks (394) in the league and posted a 3.62 team ERA that was fourth-best among 16 teams. Borkowski, 36, appeared in 181 Major League games (21 starts) and was 13-20 with one save and a 5.87 ERA in seven combined seasons with Detroit (1999-2001), Baltimore (2004), and Houston (2006-08). His first professional season was in 1995 after being selected in the 11th round of the June 1995 draft by Detroit, and he pitched in the Midwest League for the 1997 West Michigan Whitecaps. Borkowski coached the pitching staff of Class-A Lexington in the South Atlantic League in 2011 and 2012, and he was the pitching coach of rookie-level Greeneville in 2010.

Joel Chimelis returns for his second season as the Quad Cities hitting coach and ninth consecutive season as a hitting coach in the Astros organization. In 2013, Quad Cities was fourth in the league with 636 runs and third with a .338 team on-base percentage. The 2014 season will be the 11th overall as a minor league coach for Chimelis, 46, following a 14-season professional career. He has also coached in the Astros organization with short-season Class-A Tri-City (2006-10), Class-A Lexington (2011) and Double-A Corpus Christi (2012). Chimelis was on a championship-winning staff with Tri-City in 2010. He spent 2004 and 2005 with the Savannah Sand Gnats of the Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos in 2004) organization. As a player, Chimelis was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 11th round of the 1988 Major League draft. He was a minor league infielder in the Athletics (1988-1991), San Francisco Giants (1991-1995) and New York Mets (1996) organizations. He was called up to the Giants major league roster in 1995 but did not appear in a game. Chimelis also played in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and Korea.

Former major league All-Star Vince Coleman is entering his second season with the River Bandits and Astros organization as a development specialist focused on outfield and baserunning. He will again be with the club for homestands and also be a scout and roving instructor within the Astros organization. Quad Cities led all Midwest League Western Division teams with 151 stolen bases as a team in 2013. Coleman, 52, played 13 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals (1985-90), New York Mets (1991-93), Kansas City Royals (1994-95), Seattle Mariners (1995), Cincinnati Reds (1996) and Detroit Tigers (1997). He was the National League Rookie of the Year when he set a major league rookie record with 110 stolen bases in 1985 - the first of a major league-record three straight 100-steal seasons to start a career. In his first six seasons, he was a two-time All-Star, and led the National League in stolen bases every year from 1985 to 1990. In 1989, Coleman set the major league record when he stole 50 consecutive bases without being caught. His 752 career stolen bases rank sixth in Major League history.

Michael Rendon enters his first season as the River Bandits athletic trainer and fourth season overall with the Astros organization. Rendon worked with rookie-level Greeneville in 2011, and he was with short-season Class-A Tri-City in 2012 and 2013, when the ValleyCats won the New York-Penn League Championship. A 2010 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Rendon completed two internships with the athletic training staff for the Double-A Springfield Cardinals in the St. Louis organization and worked for the Southern Illinois University Clinical Experiences, assisting with the rehabilitation and treatment of injured student athletes.

James McNichol enters his first season as the River Bandits strength coach and second with the Astros organization. McNichol was with the Gulf Coast League affiliate in 2013. Prior to joining the Astros, McNichol worked at the National Basketball Academy in Orlando, Fla. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Central Florida, where he majored in applied exercise physiology.

In 2013, the Houston Astros had a franchise-record six minor league playoff clubs, becoming the first organization to have six domestic affiliates qualify for the playoffs in the same season since Pittsburgh in 2003. Each of the highest six affiliates - Triple-A Oklahoma City (Pacific Coast League), Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas League), Class-A Advanced Lancaster (California League), Quad Cities, short-season Class-A Tri-City (New York-Penn League), and rookie-level Greeneville (Appalachian League) - made the postseason. Quad Cities and Tri-City each won their respective league championships. The combined regular season winning percentage of all affiliates (.569, 476-360) ranked second out of 30 MLB organizations.

UP NEXT: Season-ticket holders can still guarantee their same seats for the upcoming season, but time is running short! Ticket-plan holders must renew their plans with a $50 deposit per seat by Jan. 31, in order to keep the same seats as last season. Contact your account representative or call 563-324-3000 today to renew your ticket plan. To order ticket plans - with new lower prices - for next season, call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000 or visit www.riverbandits.com to download the season ticket order form. 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.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is opening this spring, along with a carousel, a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.

*****

16 Jan 2014

Grassley: U.S. Military Academy Selects Four Iowa Students

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said today that Connor Gillette, Neil Harte, Seth Horsley and Peter Meyers have received appointments to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for the 2014-2015 school year.

"Admission to the service academies is highly competitive and a great honor," Grassley said.  "Students work very hard to earn this kind of opportunity.  I wish Connor, Neil, Seth and Peter well and thank them for their commitment to serve our nation."

Gillette is the son of Katie and Graham Gillette of Des Moines.  He will graduate in May from Theodore Roosevelt High School.  Gillette participated in swimming, rugby, water polo, National Honor Society and Best Buddies.

Harte is the son of Lyudmila and Willis Harte of Iowa City.  He will graduate from City High School in Iowa City in May.  Harte participated in cross country, track and field, Model United Nations and National Honor Society.  He served as president of the Chinese Club, as well as staff writer and opinion editor for the student newspaper, Little Hawk. Harte also serves in the Iowa National Guard.

Horsley, of Carroll, is the son of Kristina and Duane Horsley.  He is a graduate of Carroll High School.  Horsley participated in football; swim team; chorus; show choir; the fall musical; Big Brothers and Big Sisters; student senate; National Honor Society; North Highland Weightlifting Club; and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

Meyers is the son of Laura and Joel Meyers of Reinbeck.  He will graduate from Gladbrook Reinbeck High School in May.  Meyers participated in football, weight training, basketball, track, soccer, student council, National Honor Society and church youth group.

Gillette, Harte, Horsley and Meyers were among the 55 Iowans Grassley nominated this year for appointments to the U.S. service academies.  Information about seeking nominations can be found on Grassley's website.

For more than 200 years, these academies have educated and trained individuals to lead and command the U.S. armed forces.

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