URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, IL (09/09/2013)(readMedia)-- A permanent memorial was dedicated in memory of Sgt. Shawna Morrison, a fallen Illinois National Guardsman, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sept. 8.

Morrison enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in 1996 at age 17 and was a member of the 1544th Transportation Company (TC) in Paris, Ill, and was a member of the University's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). While deployed with the 1544th to Iraq she was killed Sept. 5, 2004 by a mortar attack.

Hundreds of friends, family and fellow servicemembers gathered for the ceremony to include her company commander Maj. Brandon Tackett, the former 1544th TC commander. Tackett is with the Ohio Army National Guard and flew from Kuwait to be part of the ceremony. The entire 1544th along with the 144th Army Band and the University's ROTC program marched from the University of Illinois Armory to Lincoln Hall where the dedication was held.

"She had an infectious personality and energy to match her work ethic," said Tackett. "She was a special person, a person willing to leave the safe confines of the University and fight for other people's freedom in a far and distant dangerous land."

Morrison was the first female from the Illinois National Guard killed while serving in Iraq. She was also the first Illinois student actively enrolled in college to die in combat operations.

"She was a member of the Illinois family," said Phyllis M. Wise, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign chancellor. "Her service and commitment will touch all those who are at Illinois now and forever in the future. With this memorial marker, she will always have a place...in the heart of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign."

Morrison was enrolled at the University of Illinois as a psychology major and intended to commission as an Army officer after graduation to continue a career in the military.

"As students, teachers and parents walk past Shawna's memorial in this place of continuing pride, continuing purpose and continuing mission, someone will ask 'Who was Sergeant Shawna Morrison?' and someone will know and someone will remember," said Brig. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei, the Illinois National Guard Adjutant General. "Someone will tell them she was a part of latest greatest generation. Shawna Morrison was a citizen. Shawna Morrison was a Soldier."

In addition to the memorial, Sept. 8, 2013 is now known as Sgt. Shawna Morrison Day in Illinois "in honor and observance of this heroic Soldier whose service and sacrifice is an inspiration to citizens of the land of Lincoln," stated the proclamation signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.

Since the economic collapse in 2008, American households haven't been alone in feeling the pain of budget cuts. Cities and counties have been working with shrinking budgets, often leading to layoffs and reductions in services.

But since many services communities provide are vital - from education to paramedics and firefighters to law enforcement - community leaders across the country are getting creative and innovative.

"Throughout the United States, slimmer budgets are resulting in two outcomes: 1) killing jobs and services, and 2) coming up with ways to sustain programs and even improve them with brilliant ideas," says Dion Nugent, a volunteer firefighter and CEO for a software development company that works closely with paramedics, emergency medical technicians and fire fighters throughout the country.

"I prefer the latter. One blessing of troubled times is that they inspire inventive responses, which can revolutionize an industry. We're seeing that every day at the local government level."

Nugent cites several examples leadership devising ways to do more with less:

• Consolidation and multi-purposing in Texas' Grapevine-Colleyville school district. The district's superintendent never thought he'd have to focus on creative financing, but that has been necessary to keep his schools running. Parking lots formerly used only during Friday night football games are now rented out on weekdays to a company in need of overflow parking. The district's printing press is being put to extra use churning out city documents -- for which the schools are paid, and school buses are selling ad space on their sides. All these efforts are chipping away at a $5 million budget deficit.

• Using technology to streamline first-response data on Captiva Island, Fla. Captiva Fire Department first-responders used to spend hours on paper work and sometimes risked misspelling critical information such as patient medication. The department has bought time, and greater efficiency, with new software from Forté Holdings, Inc. Called iPCR, (www.ipcrems.com), it takes electronic patient-care reporting to new levels of portability and affordability. The software utilizes iPads, which are much lighter and significantly less expensive than the Toughbooks laptops many stations now use. The innovation has allowed the department to not only maximize its first-responders' time, it has improved response times.

• The Civic Protection Institute - a nationwide effort. Several studies find that what reduces crime most effectively is to have law enforcement visible in the public. However, there are a number of functions police officers have served that do not directly affect crime. The Civic Protection Institute (www.civicprotectioninstitute.org) is a private, not-for-profit organization that enlists capable citizens to shoulder many of these extracurricular services, including "a pool of competent private sector agencies, vetted and certified to high quality standards, for public sector services," according to the website.

About Dion Nugent

Dion Nugent is a volunteer firefighter and CEO of Forté Holdings, a leading provider of health-care software solutions in the United States. For 30 years, the company has combined technological expertise with input from medical workers to develop software that supports and improves patient care and administrative processes within the health-care industry. The company's flagship products - iPCR (patient-care reporting) and the Forte8000 line of billing and EHR - address the needs of specific medical workers, from first responders to private practitioners. iPCR is designed for the iPad and is Gold-certified by the National Emergency Medical Services Information System.

WHO: Corn Crib Nursery

WHAT: 2013 Fall Festival

WHEN: Saturday, September 21^st - 9 AM to 5 PM

WHERE: 6924 U.S. Highway 150 - Coal Valley, IL (Just South of QC International Airport)

WHY: This local and family owned full service garden center in its 41^st year of operation has fun for everyone at the annual fall festival. Call (309) 799-3745 to register for the free "Broken Pot Planter" seminars - learn about the latest trend in home and garden décor. Plus, enjoy family activities, food, door prizes, an antique tractor show and more.

(TOKYO) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad, on a media conference call during an international trade mission in Tokyo, today issued the following statement regarding the International Olympic Committee's decision to keep wrestling as an Olympic sport:

"Also, another great news (announcement) that came out of the International Olympic Committee was the decision to keep wresting. As you know, we've been working on this - LetsKeepWrestling.com - we launched that last winter. We've gotten a tremendous response: over 25,000 people joined in our efforts. I recruited other governors to join. We had 30-some other governors that wrote to the International Olympic Committee in support of wrestling. And so, these two decisions made in Buenos Aires, are great for Tokyo and certainly great for the state of Iowa and the future of the Olympics, so we are very excited about that."

The governor also commented on Tokyo being chosen as host for the 2020 Olympic Games:

"The big news that happened while we've been here is the decision by the International Olympic Committee to have the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. This is huge news all over the world, but obviously here in Tokyo, it's tremendous.

"They're very excited. This is great news for Japan. We're proud to be here with them for this big announcement. It was tremendously well-received by everybody."

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds made the following statement in Des Moines:

"Iowans have a special bond with wrestling. High school gyms across the state fill up every Saturday in the winter, with fans cheering passionately and loudly as athletes compete on the mat. The governor and I took very seriously our role in promoting wrestling to the International Olympic Committee, and knew it would take a significant effort in what was perceived as an uphill battle. Undaunted, Iowans joined with us and thankfully, we prevailed in keeping wrestling as an Olympic sport. We want to thank the International Olympic Committee for this decision, and we thank the tens of thousands of Iowans who participated in this important effort."