DAVENPORT, IA - On September 12, 2013, Kelly Taylor, age 51, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced to one year and one day of imprisonment for bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt.  Chief United States District Judge James E. Gritzner also sentenced Taylor to a five year term of supervised release, following the term of imprisonment.

Beginning in August 2012, and continuing until January 2013, Kelly Taylor executed a scheme to defraud Scott Schools Credit Union ("SSCU"). Taylor and her husband had been longstanding clients of SSCU and had a personal checking account at the credit union. On August 28, 2013, Taylor opened a business account at SSCU for the business owned and operated by Taylor and her husband.

After opening the business account at SSCU Taylor immediately wrote $430,000 worth of checks drawn on the account and deposited the checks into her personal account. Taylor knew that she did not have sufficient funds in the business account to cover the checks. Several days later, Taylor wrote $430,000 worth of checks drawn on her personal account and deposited the checks into her business account. Taylor knew that she did not have sufficient funds in her personal account to cover the checks.  

Taylor continued to write checks between the business account and her personal account in close succession in order to take advantage of the time required for the bank to process the checks. By operating in this manner Taylor was able to make it appear as if there were sufficient funds in her two accounts to cover large checks and debits despite the fact that the true balances in both accounts were grossly insufficient. Taylor knew that she did not have sufficient funds in her accounts to cover the checks drawn on the accounts and she continued to kite insufficient funds checks between the accounts in order to deceive the credit union until her accounts were closed in January 2013.        

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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Cedar Rapids - Showing continued momentum in his campaign for Governor, Tyler Olson today announced the support and endorsement of 29 state legislators.
"I am proud to have such overwhelming support from colleagues in the legislature," said Rep. Tyler Olson. "Together we will build a strong campaign organization all across the state that will bring my vision to begin the next thirty years to Iowa voters."
"Tyler has been a champion of working families across Iowa and has the experience and vision to make Iowa a better place for the next generation," said Rep. Chris Hall.
"Tyler's experience in business gives him the background to lead our state's economic development efforts. We need to stop focusing solely on attracting the big fish, we need a greater emphasis on innovation, Tyler understands that," said Rep. Scott Ourth.
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Amana - The energy, charisma and music of Tom Jones and Elvis all come together for one spectacular tribute show at The Old Creamery Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. on the Main Stage.

Starring tribute artist, Irv Cass, who has spent many years perfecting his Elvis performances. He has worked with the famous show "Legends in Concert," in four different states, as well as performed live in many countries and on dozens of cruise ships. Irv is proud to carry the world champion title from the "Images of Elvis" competition in Memphis, TN as well as winning many other competitions and awards throughout his career. Irv has also appeared in the movie "Almost Elvis" as well as TLC's "The Men Who Would Be King," and a special for 20/20 among other TV specials. He's shared the stage with celebrities DJ Fontana, The Jordanaires and Willie Nelson, just to name a few.

Irv is also an accomplished Tom Jones impersonator and is credited for convincing many others to pay tribute to a variety of artists. Irv's favorite part of performing or emceeing at Elvis themed events is making friends with all those he meets.

The event will be emceed by the multitalented Ronny Craig, formally of Tama, Iowa. Ronny worked for 10 years as a professional Elvis Tribute artist and opened his own show in Branson, MO, which had a successful five year run. He is also the producer of the Elvis Explosion, a highly popular contest in LaCrosse, WI and has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows.

Call the box office at 319-622-6262 or visit the website at www.oldcreamery.com for more information, ticket prices or to reserve your seats. Walk-ins are always welcome if seats are available. Reservations are highly recommended for this one day only special event.

CARBONDALE - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, will advocate for the state to prioritize mental health funding following a tour of a group home and crisis center Friday.

"Mental health providers are on the front lines, serving some of our state's most vulnerable residents, and they depend on state funding," said Simon. "I am committed to working with the governor, legislators and stakeholders to support programs that are allowing people with developmental disabilities to thrive."

Simon will visit a group home and a mental health crisis center operated by The H Group. For more than 50 years the agency has provided mental health services in Franklin, Jackson and Williamson Counties. Simon's visit follows a tour earlier this spring of the Murray Developmental Center in Centralia.

Lt. Governor Simon is the only Southern Illinois member of the state's Budgeting for Results Commission. In order to evaluate programs, the bi-partisan commission - comprised of Lt. Governor Simon, legislators and leaders in business, education, budgeting and finance - spent the summer holding public hearings to gather testimony from service providers, advocates and stakeholders, regarding the success of existing programs and services. The commission will advise the Governor on the Fiscal Year 2015 budget.

Between 2009 and 2011, Illinois cut general revenue funding for mental health services by almost $114 million and was fourth in the nation for total cuts.

DATE: Sept. 13, 2013

TIME: 2:30 p.m.

PLACE: The H Group Administration & Counseling & Wellness Center, 310 West Plaza Drive, Carterville

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced that they again are inviting schools to Skype with them, following last year's successful "Skype Your School!" effort.

 

"We were excited to see the response to our Skype Your School initiative last school year, and are encouraging administrators, teachers and students to join us again this year," said Branstad. "We had great conversations with dozens of classrooms, and appreciate the opportunity to answer students' questions. As we work to restore Iowa's leadership position in education, we believe this level of accessibility is important and a positive experience for everyone involved."

 

To request a "Skype Your School!" classroom chat, teachers, administrators and students are encouraged to click on the featured image at http://Governor.Iowa.Gov, request a "Skype Your School" event in the comments section on Facebook.com/TerryBranstad and Facebook.com/KimReynoldsIA, or to use the #SkypeYourSchool hash tag on Twitter.

 

Last year's "Skype Your School!" effort garnered national attention for "pushing the frontiers of digital technology" on Skype's blog.

 

"Our Skype Your School initiative has enabled students to learn about new technology, and allowed us to stay in touch with classrooms throughout the state," said Reynolds. "We have had some great questions from students, and appreciate the opportunity to address a variety of topics straight out of Iowa's classrooms. The governor and I enjoy visiting all of Iowa's 99 counties every year, but our Skype initiative allows us to cover a lot more ground throughout the entire state."

 

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One Month. One Cause. One Million Miles.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation to host Million Mile Run to raise awareness and funds during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, September '13

Philadelphia, PA - In an effort to raise the profile of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation will go the distance this September introducing the Million Mile Run. With firsthand knowledge of just how far parents of children with cancer would go to find a cure for their child, the Foundation will challenge supporters across the country to do just that,  collectively walk or run one million miles during the month of September to work toward better treatments and ultimately cures.

The brainchild of Foundation Co-Executive Director, Jay Scott, a running enthusiast, the Million Mile Run will invite ambitious individuals, as well as teams, to pledge to walk/run and contribute to the one million mile goal during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Drawing from the inspiration of Foundation creator Alexandra "Alex" Scott, who set out to raise $1 million through lemonade stands in 2004, Jay Scott feels that through combined efforts, reaching one million miles in just thirty days is attainable.

"The Million Mile Run will act as an easy way for walkers and runners of all abilities to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer and raise the profile of the awareness month," says Scott. "Though some people have commented that one million miles might be a crazy goal, and maybe they are right, my daughter Alex taught me that when you set your mind to something and garner the help of others, anything is possible. She reached her million, and I think we can too."

The Million Mile Run will utilize both the MapMyRun application and the ability for participants to manually enter the miles they log daily. Individuals who participate will average 3-4 miles a day, while teams can split up the 100 miles. For instance, a group of 4 employees can walk a mile at lunch every day and easily reach their goal. Additionally, participants are urged to recruit friends and family members to pledge dollar amounts for each mile, or provide a straight donation.

"September has become highly recognizable within the childhood cancer community as an important time of year," says Liz Scott, Alex's mom and Co-Executive Director of the Foundation. "However, for the general public, it still flies highly under the radar. We think the Million Mile Run has the ability and mass appeal to change that, one mile at a time."

Individuals and teams who are interested in participating or learning more about the Million Mile Run can visit MillionMileRun.org where they will find a video detailing the effort.

About Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $60 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 300 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

How far is 1 Million Miles?

A trip to the moon and back, twice.

More than 40 times around the earth.

More than 3,000 trips from NYC to Los Angeles.

                                                                     More than 38,000 Marathons.

Michel Shane, executive producer of Catch Me If You Can and I, Robot, has forged an unusual collaborative alliance with the Chinese government, artists, investors, and Japan's Genco Inc. and Flamingo Features to produce an epic television series based on The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

Filming will commence July 14 in historical locations throughout China under the direction of Executive Producer Hu Mei (Confucius), one of that nation's leading filmmakers.

"This will be the first time The Art of War has ever been done in the West as a film or TV series, and it's unique in that the complete series is being shot in China," Shane says.

Adds Taro Maki, founder of Genco Inc., a Japanese studio best known for its anime productions: "Our full-fledged multinational collaboration stems from a mutual respect for Sun Tzu and his masterpiece. Here is an undefeated general whose lessons remain as important today as they were 2,500 years ago. We want to honor his story and share his wisdom."

Sun Tzu, considered the greatest military commander in history, penned The Art of War around 525 B.C. It is one of history's most enduring texts and today is required reading in the curricula of military, business, economic and political science classes around the globe.

The series will cover the life of Sun Tzu, his contemporaries and their exploits, and explore the events that may have provided the foundation for lessons shared in The Art of War. Following the timeline of the final war between Wu and Ch'u, each episode will take the viewer farther across the battlefields of ancient China as Sun Tzu leads his outnumbered army to victory after victory. The life stories of Sun Tzu and those who influenced him will interspersed in the form of memories.

The Municipal People's Government in China has created a government board to oversee production matters, and each episode will be directed by various internationally acclaimed directors.

"This marks a new day," Maki says. "We're entering an era of true co-production, which holds tremendously exciting potential from many perspectives -- cultural, economic and political."

About Michel Shane: Michel Shane is a filmmaker, producer and co-founder of Hand Picked Films. He's best known as the executive producer of "Catch Me If You Can" and "I, Robot," along with his business partner Anthony Romano. One of motion pictures' premier independent producers, he specializes in financial structuring and feature film development. In recent years, he has worked with Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and Will Smith, among others.

About Tari Maki: Tari Maki is president of Genco, Inc., a Japanese anime production studio established in 1997 in Tokyo, Japan. Genco has produced more than 100 titles of animation TV series and films including Sword Art Online, Elfen Lied and Tokyo Godfathers. From financing, studio booking to merchandising, Genco provides a wide range of production service for audiovisual projects.

About Flamingo Features: Flamingo Features has played a crucial financial and creative role in nearly 100 film, television and documentary projects throughout Asia. Flamingo Features manages content distribution rights for video on demand (VOD) and multi-media platforms to more than 70 million subscribers in Latin America and Japan. The company manages an active International Film Fund of nearly $1 billion dollars.

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 - October 17, 24, and 31 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 member. 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 the fall schedule, 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.

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Homeless Family Shelter in Dire Need

Quad Cities, USA:  The Salvation Army Family Service Center, 301 W. 6th Street, Davenport, is in desperate need of new or gently used bath towels and wash clothes.

People often come to The Salvation Army with just the clothes on their backs and the towels are given to new residents and their children (60% of the shelter's residents are children) as they enter the program.

Approximately 100 people reside at the Family Service Center every night receiving shelter, food and case management.  This homeless family shelter provides all the basic needs to the residents who are without.

The towels and monetary donations can be dropped off any time at The Salvation Army, 301 W. 6th Street, Davenport - on the corner of Harrison and 6th Streets.

If you wish to make a donation by credit card, please call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).

National restaurant management & culinary arts program blends classroom learning with real-life experience

August 26, 2013 - Davenport, IA - Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) programs across the state are fast-tracking curriculums that provide career paths to students. With a projected growth rate of 1,000 jobs every year for the next decade, hospitality is an obvious partner industry. Davenport high schools (DCSD) have responded by implementing the ProStart® program, a two-year curriculum that teaches both culinary and hospitality management skills.

"The opportunities for young people in our industry are endless," said May Schaben, Executive Director, Iowa Restaurant Association Education Foundation. "The ProStart program prepares students for immediate employment and establishes a foundation for further learning. In fact, many collegiate hospitality management and culinary arts programs offer college credits for ProStart courses."

The program's satellite location is Davenport Central High School, but students from the entire Davenport Community School district are involved.

Preparing Students for Immediate Employment

The Iowa foodservice and restaurant industry currently employs 140,300 workers, or nine percent of Iowa's total workforce, and is expected to add 10,700 jobs over the next decade, the majority of which will be management level positions. Through the ProStart program, Iowa high schools are building a more prepared, highly skilled workforce to meet the industry's growing demand for professional employees. As one of 18 Iowa high schools participating in the ProStart program, DCSD students combine classroom work with mentored work experiences at local restaurants.

"We are excited that DCSD ProStart students will be connected with local industry," said Jenee Cross, DCSD ProStart Educator. "Hands-on experience is an effective way for students to connect academics to real-life situations."

Opportunities to Further Education

Once students complete all program requirements, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement, giving them access to scholarships and articulation agreements with leading colleges and universities. Currently seven community colleges across Iowa, in addition to Iowa State University, offer hospitality and management programs.

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The Iowa Restaurant Association Education Foundation

The Iowa Restaurant Association exists to create and promote awareness of hospitality as a professional career path and to strengthen and improve the educational offerings, opportunities and services for the advancement of the restaurant and retail beverage industries in the state of Iowa.

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