29 Aug 2013

Magic Waters Waterpark Re-Opens Due to Heat

By Laura Gibbs Green

The thrill is back, because the heat is on! Magic Waters Waterpark is going to re-open this Labor Day weekend due to the hot weather.  The waterpark was closed for the season, but is opening back up Saturday, August 31, 2013, Sunday, September 1, 2013, and Monday, September 2, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Our citizens asked that we extend the season due to the unprecedented heat, and we listened! We value what our guests have to say, and with the summer season being cut short due to Mother Nature providing some days filled with rain or colder temperatures, our guests deserve a little extra time to have some fun in the sun," said Magic Waters and Aquatics Director Zack McIntyre.

Please see the attached news release for more information about which attractions will be open for guests to enjoy including Tsunami Bay which is Illinois' largest wavepool and the most popular attraction at Magic Waters located in Rockford!
29 Aug 2013

Ian Sodawasser participates in Culver-Stockton's largest community service event, Extreme Dome Makeover

By Heidi Lanier

CANTON, MO (08/27/2013)(readMedia)-- Ian Sodawasser of Davenport, Iowa, was among Culver-Stockton College's students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members who spent Saturday, Aug. 24 volunteering for the fifth annual Extreme Dome Makeover. Over 400 volunteers participated in the event, sprucing up 13 work sites in the town of Canton, Mo.

Volunteers spent the day doing various activities like painting, landscaping and cleaning. Project sites included both public areas and private residences. Public sites included Canton Senior Housing, City Hall, Martin Park, the Mississippi River Park, the Canton Community Garden and more.

Extreme Dome Makeover provides the opportunity to introduce incoming students to the community of Canton, as well as to their classmates, advisors and neighbors. "We want our students to know that being a servant leader is important. Hopefully by the time they graduate they will know that importance and they'll be able to lead service projects in their own community after they graduate," said Dean of Students Chris Gill.

Culver-Stockton College, located in Canton, Mo., is a four-year residential institution in affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). C-SC specializes in experiential education and is one of only two colleges in the nation to offer the 12/3 semester calendar, where the typical 15 week semester is divided into two terms, a 12-week term and a 3-week term.

The C-SC Wildcats are members of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

29 Aug 2013

State Treasurer Fitzgerald brings "Treasure" and "Savings" to the Clay County Fair

By Karen Austin

DES MOINES, IA (08/27/2013)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced today that a stop at the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt and College Saving Iowa booth during the 2013 Clay County Fair may be worthwhile. Fair goers could find their name - over one million accounts are currently being held as unclaimed property in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. Visitors to the booth will be able to search the unclaimed property database to see if they have any treasures being held for them or register a loved one to win $5,290 in the College Savings Iowa fall giveaway. "Computers will be available for fairgoers to search for their names," Fitzgerald said. "Staff members will also be on hand to assist and answer questions for both programs."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $165 million in unclaimed property to more than 404,000 individuals since Fitzgerald started it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property's owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report and deliver unclaimed property to the state treasurer's office, where it is held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include : savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits and safe deposit box contents.

Clay County Fair visitors can also register for a chance to win the College Savings Iowa $5,290 Fall Giveaway for their child or grandchild. Saving for a child's education is always a smart investment, and College Savings Iowa is here to help. College Savings Iowa is an affordable, tax-advantaged option for families who are saving for their children's higher education. It takes just $25 to open a College Savings Iowa account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $3,045 per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income in 2013 and there no income or residency restrictions.* To learn more about College Savings Iowa, go to collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

Visit the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt and College Savings Iowa 529 Plan booth during the Clay County Fair in the Varied Industries building. The building will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. September 7 through September 14 and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on September 15. Go to greatiowatreasurehunt.com to search for your treasure today.

*Adjusted annually for inflation if withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as the responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 1-888-332-7545, or visit www.my529iowaplan.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

29 Aug 2013

Q&A on Presidential Libraries

By Randy Stalsberg

by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

 

Q:        What is the purpose of presidential libraries?

A:        Building on an idea conceived by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Congress passed legislation in 1955 that established a system to preserve the artifacts and documents of the presidency.  The network of libraries starts with the 31st president, Iowa's own Herbert Hoover.  The law has worked to secure the official papers, documents and materials collected throughout a president's years in office.  It also helps prevent these records that bear tremendous value to the American public from being lost, destroyed or sold.  The Presidential Libraries Act of 1955 set a precedent in which private dollars are used to establish and build the libraries after which the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) would operate and maintain them.  Until 1978, presidents were encouraged to donate their records and materials after leaving office.  The Presidential Records Act of 1978 established that all materials documenting the constitutional, statutory and ceremonial duties of the president are the property of the American public.  Through museums, archives and public programs, the 13 presidential libraries offer current and future generations a unique opportunity to understand and appreciate how history unfolded within the White House.  Technology has changed dramatically from the audio recordings of FDR's "fireside chats" to the video and social media platforms that today capture every breath a 21st century president takes.  No matter the medium, the carefully archived material offers researchers, scholars, historians and the American people a profound look back at each presidency.  From the millions of pages of letters and documents to the hours and hours of audio and video footage, visitors get to take a look behind the scenes and gain a deeper understanding of each president's policies, priorities, pressures, politics and place in history.  Congress passed a major funding update in 1986 that requires private endowments to be established for each facility to help offset the cost of maintenance.

 

Q:        Where are the 13 presidential libraries?

A:        Barbara and I took a road trip in August to visit the presidential libraries of the 33rd and 34th presidents, two Midwestern-raised men who made it all the way to the White House.  We spent five hours at President Harry S. Truman's presidential library and museum in Independence, Missouri, and the next day drove to Abilene, Kansas, to learn more about President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  Both of these men came from humble beginnings, chose to serve his country in the military, and then served two terms as leader of the Free World.  Both of their stories, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, illustrates the enduring American values of hard work, sacrifice, public service, and love of country.  Just like our visits to Hoover's library in West Branch, Barbara and I enjoyed visiting the presidential libraries in Missouri and Kansas.  Planning a visit to one or all of the 13 presidential libraries makes for a great family trip.  Visitors will soak in bits of history and come away with an even stronger appreciation for our American heritage.

 

Here's a list of each presidential library and location:

·         Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, West Branch, Iowa

·         Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, New York

·         Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri

·         Dwight D. Eisenhower, Presidential Library and Museum and Boyhood Home, Abilene, Kansas

·         John F. Kennedy, Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, Massachusetts

·         Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, Austin, Texas

·         Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, California

·         Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan

·         Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, Atlanta, Georgia

·         Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley, California

·         George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, Texas

·         William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas

·         George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Dallas, Texas.

 

Tuesday, August 27, 2013
29 Aug 2013

Antipsychotic prescriptions in nursing homes

By Grassley Press
Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has worked to increase the federal government's actions to protect nursing home residents from unnecessary antipsychotic prescriptions and to protect the taxpayers from improper payments for these drugs.   In light of serious warnings about using these medications in dementia patients, and significant uses of the drugs in dementia patients in nursing homes, Grassley asked for a government inspector general audit of the practice.  The audit in 2011 found that 88 percent of the powerful antipsychotic drugs being prescribed to nursing home residents with dementia carry what are called black box warnings from the Food and Drug Administration.  The warnings cite an increased risk of death in elderly patients with dementia.   With a fellow senator, Grassley wrote to the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, seeking a description of the agency's actions to protect nursing home residents from unnecessary antipsychotic prescriptions.  Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that "the national prevalence of antipsychotic use in long stay nursing home residents has been reduced by 9.1 percent since the last quarter of 2011."  Grassley made the following comment on this development.

"The 2011 inspector general audit documented serious challenges for the federal agency that oversees nursing home safety.  The federal government was right to respond.  Seeing a reduction in the use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes is a step in the right direction.  However, CMS needs to continue making progress toward protecting nursing home residents from unnecessary antipsychotic prescriptions.  The right kind and right level of medication are critical to nursing home residents' quality of care.   The government needs to be sure nursing home residents are getting good care in keeping with federal standards and good stewardship of tax dollars."

29 Aug 2013

Governor Quinn Opens Railroad Spur to Mount Vernon's Continental Tire

By Brooke Anderson

State-Funded Improvement Will Strengthen Company's Expansion and Lead to 100 New Jobs

MOUNT VERNON - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by local and company officials to open a new railroad spur to Continental Tire in Mount Vernon, a state-funded infrastructure improvement that will strengthen the company's expansion and pave the way for 100 new jobs by 2015. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and build a 21st century infrastructure that will drive Illinois' economy forward.

"Continental Tire is one of the largest single site downstate employers in Illinois with 3,000 employees already in Mount Vernon, and this improvement will allow them to add even more jobs to the local economy," Governor Quinn said. "We must continue to work every day to create job opportunities for the people of Southern Illinois."

The new $1.1 million railroad spur, supported by the Illinois Department of Transportation, will help the company bring more resources in and ship out more finished goods to national and international markets. The recently completed Truck Access Route at Continental Tire has already helped improve the flow of products in and out of the facility.

"The new rail spur will allow Continental to reduce logistics costs," Benny Harmse, Mount Vernon plant manager said.  "This rail spur is a key component in supplying raw materials required to ensure continued growth at the Mount Vernon facility."

Continental Tire is in the process of investing $129 million in its Mount Vernon facility to expand operations, and will add 100 new full-time jobs over the next three years, which was announced in January. The expansion is expected to be complete by mid-2015, and will increase production to more than three million truck tires a year.

"The Continental Railroad Spur Project is an example of the partnership and confidence established between the State of Illinois, the City of Mount Vernon and Continental Tire to support a project that aids in expansion, leading to the creation of new jobs for Mount Vernon, Jefferson County and the Southern Illinois region," Mount Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley said.

Continental Tire the Americas, LLC (CTA) manufactures and distributes a complete premium line of passenger, light truck and commercial tires for original equipment and replacement markets. CTA is part of German-based Continental AG who is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has approximately 175,000 employees in 46 countries.

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29 Aug 2013

Israeli/Palestinian Conflict Series in October at Moline Public Library

By Jennifer Christiansen

The Moline Public Library and the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities welcome historian Dr. Arthur Pitz as he leads the four-part series The Israeli/Palestinian Conflict: Is Peace Possible? beginning in October.  The program will be held four consecutive Tuesdays, October 8, 15, 22 and 29th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Moline Library, 3210 41st Street.  No registration is required for this series.  For more information, visit the Moline Public Library or call 309-524-2470.

Dr. Pitz will introduce issues facing Israelis and Palestinians through the scope of the Harvard Program on Negotiations.  The series schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, October  8: What are the main roots of the Arab-Israeli Conflict?

How might they be addressed? Is this an age-old contest?  Dr. Pitz will help uncover those roots.

Tuesday, October 15: How does the Arab-Israeli conflict play out in the West Bank? Part I Participants will discuss the broader context of the problems faced in the West Bank and then focus on Hebron as a microcosm of the complex nature of the overall conflict.

Tuesday, October 22: How does the Arab-Israeli conflict play out in the West Bank? Part II Water is the basis for life as we know it and it is scarce in the West Bank.  Who should control it?  This contentious problem is also a microcosm of the complex nature of the overall conflict. 

Tuesday, October 29: Is there any hope for a peace process in the Arab-Israeli Conflict?

How might  Harvard's Program on Negotiations be used as a way to facilitate that process?  And, how might Harvard's Program on Negotiation be employed to deal effectively with the kinds of difficult, complex issues we face in our daily lives?

This grant-funded series is provided by the generosity of the United States Institute of Peace, the independent, nonpartisan conflict management center created by Congress to prevent and mitigate international conflict without resorting to violence. USIP works to save lives, increase the government's ability to deal with conflicts before they escalate, reduce government costs, and enhance national security. USIP is headquartered in Washington, DC with offices in Baghdad, Iraq, and Kabul, Afghanistan.

As part of its congressional mandate, USIP devotes a portion of its budget to support organizations that will advance the field of conflict management by developing new techniques, establishing best practices, and professionalizing the field through education and training. The Public Education for Peacebuilding Support is a program of USIP administered by the Institute of International Education.

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29 Aug 2013

Report: Conservation Work Minimizes Sediment, Nutrient Runoff

By USDA Office of Communications
A USDA assessment shows benefits of farmer-led conservation efforts to reducing runoff, Agriculture Secretary highlights the need for conservation programs provided by a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report that shows farmers have significantly reduced the loss of sediment and nutrients from farm fields through voluntary conservation work in the lower Mississippi River basin. Secretary Vilsack highlighted the value of conservation programs to these efforts, and called on Congress to pass a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill that would enable USDA to continue supporting conservation work on farms and ranches.

The report, released by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this week, marks the completion of a watershed-wide assessment of conservation efforts in the Mississippi River watershed. Its findings demonstrate that conservation work, like controlling erosion and managing nutrients, has reduced the edge-of-field losses of sediment by 35 percent, nitrogen by 21 percent and phosphorous by 52 percent.

"Farmers and ranchers work hard to conserve the land and water, and today's report shows the tremendous impact they've had for the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico," Vilsack said. "We need to keep up the momentum by providing scientific and technical expertise that supports conservation in agriculture. To continue these efforts, we need Congress to act on a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible."

While the report shows the positive impacts of conservation, it also signals the need for additional conservation work. The most critical conservation concern in the region is controlling runoff of surface water and better management of nutrients, meaning the appropriate rate, form, timing and method of application for nitrogen and phosphorous.

Model simulations show that an increase in cover crops will have a significant impact on reducing edge-of-field losses of sediment and nutrients and improve water quality.

The information in the report will help further develop NRCS' work in the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative and Gulf of Mexico Initiative, aimed at helping producers improve water quality, restore wetlands and sustain agricultural profitability.

The report is part of USDA's Conservation Effects Assessment Project, or CEAP, which uses advanced modeling techniques to assess the effects of conservation practices. The lower Mississippi report covers cropland in Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.

By comparing losses of sediment and nutrients from cultivated cropland to losses that would be expected if conservation practices weren't used, CEAP reports give science-based insight into the techniques that most benefit water quality, soil health and other resource concerns.

"These assessments are part of the scientific backbone that helps us work with farmers to get the right conservation techniques on the right acres," said NRCS Chief, Jason Weller. "A focus on the most effective conservation techniques means that we're helping to deliver the best results for farmers and our natural resources."

Over the past few years, similar assessments were completed in the upper Mississippi River, Tennessee-Ohio, Missouri and Arkansas-Red-White basins. As a whole, assessments in this project have shown:

  • Conservation on cropland prevents an estimated 243 million tons of sediment, 2.1 billion pounds of nitrogen and 375 million pounds of phosphorus from leaving fields each year. These figures translate to a 55 percent, 34 percent and 46 percent reduction in sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus edge-of-field losses, respectively, compared to what would have been lost if no conservation practices were in place.
  • Similarly, conservation has resulted in an estimated 17 percent reduction in nitrogen and 22 percent reduction in phosphorus entering the Gulf of Mexico annually. An additional reduction of 15 percent of nitrogen and 12 percent of phosphorus can be achieved by implementing comprehensive conservation plans on all cropland in the basin in areas that have not adequately addressed nutrient loss.

The scientific-based modeling also pointed out that higher rainfall and more intense storms lead to higher edge-of-field losses of sediment and nutrients in the lower Mississippi River basin than the other four basins in the Mississippi River watershed. Because of this, more soil erosion control and better management of nutrients are important in the basin.

Download a fact sheet, a summary or the full report. Learn more about USDA's Conservation Effects Assessment Project.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

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29 Aug 2013

Walk & Run for Wishes Moline Early Registration Deadline Nearing

By Amy Lane
Early Registration for Costumed Walk and Run Ends September 1st

 

PEORIA - Come as your favorite character to the Make-A-Wish Illinois Walk & Run for Wishes on Saturday, September 28 at Green Valley Sports Complex in Moline, and you can make wishes come true for local children with life-threatening medical conditions. Individuals and teams can participate and raise funds while enjoying the whimsical nature of the event. General Registration is $25 for adults, and $10 for children ages 12 and under. Following September 1st, an additional $5 will be added to each registration fee. Early registration prior to September 23rd also guarantees that participants will receive a custom event t-shirt.

Stepping off from Green Valley Sports Complex in Moline at 9:30 a.m., the event includes a 5K fun run and a leisurely 1 mile walk around the riverfront area. Refreshments, music and other entertainment will round out the celebration, with prizes awarded for top fundraisers as well as best youth and adult costumes. Additional details and registration are available online at www.walkrunwish.org. There is also an opportunity for "Virtual Walkers," participants who do not plan to attend the walk event but want to fundraise to help make wishes come true. "Virtual Walkers" who fundraise over $100 for Make-A-Wish will receive a free Make-A-Wish t-shirt! Presented by Unity Point Health Trinity and Tennant Truck Lines, Inc, all funds raised at Walk & Run for Wishes will benefit Make-A-Wish Illinois.

"We're excited to present this community event that is not only fun for people of all ages and abilities, but one that really makes a difference for the courageous kids we work with every day," said Janet Bantz Glavin, Community Relations Manager for Make-A-Wish Illinois.

This year, Make-A-Wish Illinois will grant wishes to more than 700 kids in Illinois who are living with life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer, renal disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Wishes can be a turning point in a child's battle against illness and help children feel stronger, more energetic and more willing and able to comply with treatment protocols. Additionally, wishes empower children to take control over an aspect of their lives while helping them feel less isolated and more self-confident.

About Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish® Illinois grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy. Since being founded locally in 1985, the chapter has granted more than 11,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish® with special children across the state with help from dedicated volunteers and generous community members.

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29 Aug 2013

Microsoft Phone Scam Targets Local Consumers

By BBB News

The Better Business Bureau has received an influx of calls from consumers who have been targeted by the "Microsoft phone scam."  In this scam, the consumer receives a call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft Corporation. The caller states that Microsoft has detected a virus on the consumer's computer and they are calling to assist in remedying the problem. In actuality, these cybercriminals are either trying to gain remote access to the consumer's computer or trying to download malicious software to extract personal information such as account numbers and passwords.

The BBB reminds consumers that Microsoft's Online Safety and Security Center states that neither Microsoft nor its partners make unsolicited phone calls.

The following tips will help you avoid falling victim to cybercrime:

  • Do not trust unsolicited calls. Never give out personal information, over the phone, to someone you don't know. If the caller claims there is a security threat to your computer, hang up and call your computer company directly.
  • Install virus detection. Help protect your computer from viruses by making sure you have virus detection software installed on your computer.
  • Educate yourself and your family on safe web surfing. Always be attentive of what you click on and download, including, movies, files, browser plug-ins and add-ons. Also, simply avoid clicking on pop-up ads as they can direct you to other harmful sites. You can also adjust your browser settings to turn on safe search options.

If you think you may have fallen victim to a cybercriminal or allowed someone access your computer, the BBB recommends you immediately change your computer's password as well as any other passwords you keep on your computer such as your email or online banking and proceed to find a computer repair company or person you can trust. Go to iowa.bbb.org to find reputable companies near you.

 

About the BBB. The BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior.  Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical business behavior.  The BBB Serving Greater Iowa, Quad Cities and Siouxland Region was founded in 1940 and is one of 113 BBBs.  Locally, the BBB has over 3,500 Accredited Businesses and provides reports and on companies throughout the state.  Contact the BBB at 1-800-BBB-1600 or info@dm.bbb.org.

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