What started out as a bit of a lark for fishing and hunting friends, has blossomed into a cottage industry for author Tim Murphy. On the one-year anniversary of his first book, "Flannel John's Hunting & Fishing Camp Cookbook," Murphy has released his eighth title in his "Cookbooks for Guys" series called "Flannel John's Hearty Bowl Cookbook - Soup, Stew, Chili & Chowder" (7.95). This book features over 100 pages of warm bowls of comfort food.

"I wrote the first 'cookbook for guys' for friends. They would show up at deer camp or the fishing cabin with beef jerky, a block of cheese and a case of beer. Aside from the olfactory assault and possible heart-stopping properties, the camp needed food with more substance. They needed dishes that were easy and quick to make from breakfast and lunch, to dinner, snacks and sides. Now "Flannel John's Hearty Bowl Cookbook" continues the simplicity for this year's deer camp. Guys can make tasty, filling, basic meals with a pot and a ladle."

Two other books were released this past fall in the series, "Flannel John's Tailgating Grub & Couch Potato Cookbook" ($9.95) and "Flannel John's Single Guy Cookbook" ($7.95).

"The Tailgating book is for football fanatics. It's great food for the stadium parking lot or man-cave recliner. 'The Single Guy Cookbook' is aimed at recent grads, single dads or guys kicked out of their parents' basement. Every recipe in that book is six ingredients or less," said Murphy.

And who is Flannel John?

"Flannel John is a character based on a few old hunters I knew from Michigan's upper peninsula. I wanted to honor their spirit and what they taught me. He is essentially part Babe Winkelman, Ted Nugent, Red Green, Grizzly Adams and crusty mountain man. They were the inspiration for these books. I've written seven Flannel John books with another dozen planned. The next book, "Flannel John's Winter Cabin Cookbook" will be out in November.

The first book, Flannel John's Hunting & Fishing Camp Cookbook, cracked Amazon.com's "Top 1%" Sales" category within a month of release.

Subsequent releases included Flannel John's Woods and Water Cookbook - Critters, Fritters, Chili and Beer in February 2013, Flannel John's Pirate Galley Cookbook - Coastal Cuisine and Maritime Meals from Oceans, Lakes and Rivers in April 2013 and for the backwoods, rustic soul there was Flannel John's Mountain Man Cookbook - Frontier Food from the Hills, Country and Backwoods in May 2013.

Murphy also released his first "non-Flannel John title this summer called "The Tube Steak Boogie Cookbook - A Celebration of Hot Dogs, Sausage, Brats & Kielbasa."

"That book was a tribute to the hot dog stand of my youth, and adulthood, in the south suburbs of Chicago called Willie's Wee Nee Wagon," said Murphy.

Why cookbooks for guys?

"I didn't see anything written for men, especially beginner and novice cooks," said Murphy. "The first book covered basic comfort food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, deserts and drinks. It was aimed at hunters and anglers but it's great for campers and RVers. After the first title, I kept discovery new themes and new recipes. So now we have books for seafood, fish, pioneer recipes and a lot more. I have a dozen new titles slated to rollout over the next two years including the first non-food title. That's going to be "Flannel John's Outhouse Reader and Emergency T.P. Book."

Tim Murphy is a graduate of Western Michigan University. This 23-year radio veteran spent

17-years hosting morning radio shows in Laramie, WY, Stevens Point, WI and several Michigan cities including Holland (92.7 The Van), Muskegon (Z108), Traverse City (Double Rock KLT), Saginaw (WIOG-FM) and Houghton (The Wolf). Murphy has had a long career as a freelance and comedy writer. His work has appeared in dozens of outlets including Backwoods Home Magazine, The Porcupine Press U.P. Magazine, National Lampoon, The Traverse City Record Eagle and ABC Radio Network. He lives in Seaside, Oregon with his wife LisaMarie Costanzo and vacations at his cabin near Bergland, Michigan.

All eight books can be found at Amazon.com and at www.flanneljohn.com. They are $7.95 except for the Tailgating book, which is $9.95. For additional information on the books, to interview the author or to inquire about wholesale book pricing, contact Tim Murphy at (701) 238-1775 or at shamrockarrow@gmail.com or like "Flannel John" on facebook.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013/National FFA Organization) - Students from Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Iowa, West Virginia and Oregon have been elected by delegates from throughout the U.S. to serve on the 2013-14 National FFA Officer team.

Brian Walsh of Virginia, an agribusiness major at Virginia Tech, was elected president. Mitch Baker of Tennessee, an agricultural communications major at University of Tennessee, will serve as secretary.

Steven Brockshus of Iowa, an agricultural education and global resource systems major at Iowa State University, was elected Central Region vice president and Jackson Harris of Alabama, a community development major at the University of Alabama, will serve as Southern Region vice president.

Wes Davis of West Virginia, an agribusiness management and rural development major at West Virginia University, was elected Eastern Region vice president and Jason Wetzler of Oregon, an agricultural leadership major at Oklahoma State University, will serve as Western Region vice president.

Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, six students are elected by delegates to represent the organization as National FFA officers. Delegates elect a president, secretary and vice presidents representing the central, southern, eastern and western regions of the country.

National officers commit to a year of service to the National FFA Organization. Each travels more than 100,000 national and international miles to interact with business and industry leaders, thousands of FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials, state FFA leaders, the general public and more. The team will lead personal growth and leadership training seminars for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.

"For this new national officer team, it will be a year of hard work, long hours, lots of travel and major advocacy for FFA and agricultural education," said 2012-13 National FFA President Clay Sapp, who delivered his retiring address today before the new team was named. "It is a year of profound experiences that will change their lives and thousands of lives their service will touch."

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 579,678 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,570 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 579,678 student members as part of 7,570 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at www.FFA.org, on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.

Davenport, Iowa - Quad City Federation of Labor has endorsed the following candidates for the November 5th, 2013, City Council Elections in Davenport, Blue Grass, and LeClaire.

Davenport: The Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, has endorsed Rick Dunn (UA 25 member) for 1st Ward; Carlton Wills (IBEW 145 President) for Davenport City Council 3rd Ward; Robby Ortiz for 4th Ward; Shelia Burrage (CWA 7110 member) for 5th Ward; Mike Matson (Davenport Education Association) for 7th Ward; Jamie Woods for 8th Ward; and Kevin Perkins for the At-large race. Dunn and Matson are running unopposed.

LeClaire: The Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, has endorsed Loren Long (USW 105 member) for at-large city council.

Blue Grass: The Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, has endorsed incumbent Mayor Brinson Kinzer (IBEW 145 member)

How you vote is a personal decision, but after careful consideration, the Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, has endorsed these candidates because we feel the best represent the interests of working people in Scott County.

Where more than 70% of voters turned out for the Presidential Election, sometimes as few as 10-20% turnout for City Elections. We feel strongly at Quad City Federation of Labor that people should exercise their right to vote in every election, and that it is at the local election where our vote and our voices can be stronger.

City officials determine when and where economic development occurs, and whether it will be awarded to companies that pay a fair wage to their workers. City officials also decide what sidewalk, sewer, and road repairs to prioritize, and what will be the working conditions for city workers. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Scott County residents to get involved so they may have a voice in those important local decisions. Your vote is your voice - please get out to vote on November 5th. For a list of polling locations, please visit the Scott County Auditor's website.