UPLAND, IN (06/20/2013)(readMedia)-- The following local residents were named to the Spring 2013 Dean's list at Taylor University. Full-time students are named to the Dean's List when they have earned a GPA of 3.60 or higher for the term and at least 12 hours carry credit point values.

Angela Stuedemann, a resident of DeWitt, IA.

Brett Vacek, a resident of East Moline, IL.

About Taylor University: Founded in 1846, Taylor University is an interdenominational liberal arts university of evangelical faith located in Upland, Ind. The 2013 U.S. News and World Report survey America's Best Colleges ranked Taylor the number one Baccalaureate College in the Midwest. It marked Taylor's sixth straight number one ranking and followed 10 straight years of being ranked in the region's top three.

Taylor University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

Grassley Seeks IRS Answers on Potential $70 Million in Union Bonuses

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is pressing for answers from the IRS about why the agency is apparently on track to give $70 million in discretionary bonuses to union members contrary to guidance from the White House Office of Management and Budget and despite providing the union written notice on March 25, 2013, that it intended to eliminate the bonuses.

"The IRS says it's legally obligated to comply with its bargaining agreement," Grassley said.  "But the bargaining agreement says award funding is granted 'within applicable budget limitations' and can be changed with 60 days' notice.  If the IRS thinks it has to pay the bonuses, then why did it give notice in March that it was eliminating the awards?  The IRS needs explain that notice and make it available to the public."

Grassley said he received insight from a person with knowledge of IRS budgetary procedures alleging the agency is failing to take all legal steps to stop the bonuses to union members.

This information follows a revelation several weeks ago that the IRS has paid out more than $92 million in bonuses during the Obama administration.  Lois Lerner is the director of the IRS division that targeted political groups for scrutiny.  She pled the Fifth to avoid answering questions from Congress and is currently on paid administrative leave.  But, since 2009, she received more than $42,000 in bonuses.  Joseph Grant, the former head of the agency's tax exemption division, received $84,000.  Former Acting Commissioner Steven Miller received approximately $100,000 in bonuses since 2009.

An April 4, 2013, directive from the Office of Management and Budget instructs agencies to cease all discretionary bonuses during sequestration.  Grassley wrote to the acting IRS Commissioner this week to seek information about the status of the situation.  His letter is available here.

"The public deserves a full explanation, and I'm working to get it from the IRS," Grassley said.

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CHICAGO - Doctors from BluePearl Veterinary Partners are urging people to stop using and return or discard certain Natura Pet Products food and treats after the company issued another recall due to potential Salmonella contamination Tuesday.

On March 18, the company issued a voluntary recall due to the presence of salmonella being found during routine testing performed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

On March 29, the company issued an expansion of their original recall citing the same reason as before and adding that the Georgia Department of Agriculture had also confirmed the presence of Salmonella.

On April 19, the company issued a further expansion of the original recall stating the same reasons as before and adding that this was being done out of an abundance of caution.

Most recently, on Tuesday, Natura Pet Products issued a press release recalling specific lots of dry pet food citing the potential for the food to be contaminated with Salmonella, after routine testing performed by the Food and Drug Administration tested positive for Salmonella.

The most current release states, "Natura is voluntarily recalling all products with expiration dates prior to June 10, 2014."
According to the release, the affected products are sold in bags through veterinary clinics, select pet specialty retailers, and online in the United States and Canada. No canned wet food is affected by this announcement.
People who have the potentially contaminated product should discard it immediately and stop handling it as it poses a risk to humans as well.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Common symptoms of salmonella in pets include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, fever and abdominal discomfort.

"Any time you notice your pet is not acting right, you should take him or her to your family veterinarian as soon as possible," said Dr. Neil Shaw, chief medical officer of BluePearl. "If it is an after-hours emergency, we would be glad to help at any one of our locations."

The affected products are:
BRAND   LOT CODE/UPC/SIZES;     EXPIRATION


Innova Dry dog and cat food and biscuits/bars/treats    All Lot Codes, All UPC's, All package sizes     All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

EVO dry dog, cat and ferret food and biscuits/bars/treats       All Lot Codes, All UPC's, All package sizes     All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

California Natural dry dog and cat foods and biscuits/bars/treats       All Lot Codes, All UPC's, All package sizes     All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

Healthwise dry dog and cat foods        All Lot Codes, All UPC's, All package sizes     All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014
Karma dry dog foods     All Lot Codes, All UPC's, All package sizes     All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

Mother Nature biscuits/bars/treats      All Lot Codes, All UPC's, All package sizes     All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014
Natura Pet Products also said in their release that consumers looking for additional information, product replacement or a refund should call Natura toll-free at 800-224-6123. (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM CST).



BluePearl Veterinary Partners does not carry any of the recalled products.

About BluePearl Veterinary Partners
Formed in 2008, BluePearl Veterinary Partners is headquartered in Tampa, Fla., and employs more than 1,200 people including approximately 250 veterinarians. BluePearl hospitals are referral-only and don't provide primary care. Most BluePearl hospitals offer 24-hour emergency care services. BluePearl is one of the world's principal providers of approved veterinary residency and internship educational programs. BluePearl also participates in and conducts clinical trials to study the effectiveness of new drugs and treatments, which give clients access to cutting-edge medicine not yet commercially available and improves the quality of care delivered to our patients.
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For 30 years, Volunteers for Symphony has hosted the area's largest sale of gently used items to support the education programs of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. This year's sale has found a new home in Rock Island, in the former Rock Island Country Market/Eagle Country Market at 2252 24th Street.

 

The sale then continues on Friday, June 21, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 22, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both days are FREE ADMISSION. Prices are slashed to half-price on Saturday and features a $5 bag sale beginning at noon.

 

Research Says 'Yes;' Expert Shares 4 Tips to Take You There
No Matter What Your Income
By: Rick Rodgers

A report released earlier this year from the Chicago-based Spectrem Group estimated there were 8.99 million households in the United States with a net worth of at least $1 million at the end of 2012.

A contrasting report issued late last year from the American Payroll Association showed 68 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.  More than two-thirds of the 30,600 people surveyed said it would be somewhat difficult or very difficult if their paychecks were delayed for a week.

Is it possible for that average American to become a millionaire?

American millionaires are not all greedy corporate executives. Dr. Thomas Stanley has studied the habits of wealthy people for the past 30 years. His groundbreaking research has uncovered the truth about the lifestyles of the wealthiest Americans.

• Four out of five millionaires are self-made.
• Many millionaires own their own business and consider themselves to be entrepreneurs.
• Their companies are rarely glamorous and are more likely to be very ordinary jobs, like paving contractors and pest control businesses.

Becoming a millionaire most likely doesn't just happen to you.Rather, it takes planning and perseverance.  Here are some steps you can take to grow your net worth.

• Live below your means. This step is so obvious we shouldn't need to be reminded.  Unfortunately, most people never learn to spend less than they make.  Unless you discipline yourself to save something from every paycheck, you will never be able to accumulate money that can work for you.  The secret to living below your means is to have a budget and work your budget every month.

• Save a minimum of 10 percent. George Clason's classic book "The Richest Man in Babylon" tells the story of a man who wanted to become wealthy.  He started by saving 10 percent of his income and eventually became wealthy by having his money work for him.  Research has shown many of today's millionaires accumulated their wealth by saving and disciplining themselves to increase their savings every year.

• Invest your savings in businesses. Your savings should be put into growth-oriented investments. Not everyone has the ability or desire to start and run their own business. However, we all have the opportunity to own businesses by buying stock. Stock prices can be volatile but you can minimize the volatility by owning stocks through diversified mutual funds.  Investing on a regular basis allows you to take advantage of the stock market downturns through dollar cost averaging. 

• Don't follow the herd. The Great Panic of 2008 turned out to be one of the greatest buying opportunities. Stock prices fell by more than 50 percent during this downturn and have recovered to move on to new highs.  Unfortunately, many investors sold their stocks during this period instead of buying as evidenced by the net redemptions of stock mutual funds which totaled in the billions.  This prompted legendary investor Warren Buffett to write in an op-ed article for the Wall Street Journal "A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful."

• Hire a financial adviser. It's not easy to stay the course.  You often need an independent third party to remind you of your goals and help you make the right financial moves -- especially during times of great uncertainty.  A good financial adviser will try to help you develop a good investment strategy and keep you focused when you need it most.  Investors often make their biggest mistakes by allowing emotions to interfere with good judgment.  A financial adviser can help you keep your emotions in check.

Becoming a millionaire is not easy or there would be more of them! It takes discipline to live below your means and to save and invest.  One of the millionaires interviewed by Dr. Stanley never made more than $60,000 per year.

"I have accumulated most of my net worth by living below my means," she told him. "I have everything I want, but I have learned not to want too much."

About Rick Rodgers

Certified Financial Planner® Rick Rodgers is president of Rodgers & Associates, "The Retirement Specialists," in Lancaster, Pa., and author of "The New Three-Legged Stool: A Tax Efficient Approach to Retirement Planning." He's a Certified Retirement Counselor and member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers. Rodgers has been featured on national radio and TV shows, including "FOX Business News" and "The 700 Club," and is available to speak at conferences and corporate events (www.RodgersSpeaks.com).
June 30th - July 4th

Color in PatriART Week with Red, White & Blue

MUSCATINE, Iowa

"Chalk-the-Walk" is one of several new events added to this year's PatriART week. The 7th annual PatriART week is a celebration of Muscatine's art, history, and culture culminating with the fireworks display on July 4th.  All events are free and fun for the whole family.

PatriART week kicks off on Sunday, June 30th with a family bike ride departing from Discovery Park at 1 p.m. Participants will stop by the Muscatine Art Center for tasty treats at the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center's Annual Ice Cream Social. The Ice Cream Social will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Highlights include live music, a book sale, an art fair, "fun with fruit", kids games, and family activities. The Muscatine Art Center will also hold a dedication of the E. Bradford Burns Performing Arts Park at 1 p.m.

One of the new events, Chalk-the-Walk, will be held on Monday, July 1st from 5 p.m. to dusk on the riverfront in the parking lot by the Riverview Center. During the event, kids are encouraged to use sidewalk chalk to color in cartoon characters recreated by Flynn Collier and other local artists. Chalk is provided by the Muscatine Art Center. The Muscatine Civil War Roundtable will also present the lecture, "Muscatine & Vicksburg" on July 1st at 6:30 p.m. inside the Riverview Center.

Tuesday, July 2nd features two events - the opening of the exhibit, "Rollin' on the River," a collection of Oscar Grossheim's photographs of the Mississippi River and Concert Night at Weed Park. The exhibition is sponsored by the Musser Public Library and River's Edge Gallery. The reception is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at River's Edge Gallery, 216 W. Third Street. The exhibition will be on view at River's Edge Gallery throughout the month of July. Concert Night at Weed Park begins at 7 p.m. in the band shell with a performance by "Fun with Brass". Following the band's one hour performance, the Muscatine Civic Chorale will take the stage.

Noon on Wednesday, July 3rd brings the return of music on the lawn of City Hall. Mayor Hopkins has arranged for the "Vineyard Café After Hours" band to play. Residents of Muscatine will not want to miss this as Mayor Hopkins will take a seat behind the drums. Later in the day, families will want to catch all of the activities at Discovery Park for Family Night. The Environmental Learning Center will open a new temporary exhibition about snakes and let kids get up close with the slithery creatures. Friends of the Old Barn will offer tours and crafts from salvaged wood. The Friends of the Pine Creek Grist Mill will provide hands-on demonstrations and exhibits. Family Night will be from 5 to 8 p.m. with Grave Witching, a method for locating unmarked graves, offered from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Muscatine County Home Cemetery in Discovery Park.

The week wraps up with activities on July 4th. The Fourth of July Parade begins at 5:00 p.m. in downtown Muscatine. At 8 p.m., the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra will perform. The fireworks at dusk will mark the finale of the week's activities.

Schedule:

Sunday, June 30

Family Bike Ride (1-2 p.m.)

Meet at Discovery Park and depart at 1 p.m. for a family bike ride of either 3 or 10 miles. Both rides stop at the Muscatine Art Center for free ice cream. Participants who decorate their bike will also receive a coupon for another sweet treat.

Contact: Greg Harper (563) 263-4043/ greg@harperscycling.com

Ice Cream Social (1-5 p.m.)

Come to the Muscatine Art Center to enjoy ice cream, assorted desserts, family friendly fun, and live music. This year there will also be an art fair and the dedication of the E. Bradford Burns performing Arts Park at 1 p.m.

Contact: Melanie Alexander (563) 263-8282/ Melanie@muscatineiowa.gov


Monday, July 1

Chalk-the-Walk

Bring the family to the Riverfront where local artist, Flynn Collier will outline cartoon characters for kids to color in with chalk. Activities will take place on the riverfront in the parking lot of the Riverview Center. Chalk is provided.

Contact: Melanie Alexander (563) 263-8282/Melanie@muscatineiowa.gov

Muscatine Civil War Roundtable's "Muscatine & Vicksburg" (6:30 p.m.)

Listen to this exciting lecture at the Riverview Center.

Contact: Dan Clark (563)264-5990 /dclark@muscanet.com


Tuesday, July 2

Opening Reception for ""Rollin' on the River," Oscar Grossheim's photographs of the Mississippi River from the Collection of the Musser Public Library

Exhibition and Reception at River's Edge Gallery, 216 W 3rd Street, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Contact: Pam Collins at Musser Public Library - (563)263-3065/ Pcollins@muscatineiowa.gov or Joel Smyers at River's Edge Gallery - (563)263-3176

Concert Night (7-9 p.m.)

Fun with Brass and Muscatine Civic Chorale at Weed Park Band Shell

Contact: Fun with Brass - Carolyn Airola (563) 264-2071/ amcjairola@gmail.com, Muscatine Civic Chorale: Jan Phillips-  jphillips@eicc.edu


Wednesday, July 3

Concert on the Lawn of City Hall (12 p.m.)

"Vineyard Café After Hours" Band

Contact: Mayor Hopkins (563)264-1550

Discovery Park Family Night (5-8 p.m.)

Learn about snakes when the Environmental Center opens its traveling exhibit on snakes - Contact: Curt Weiss (563) 264-5922/ cweiss@co.muscatine.ia.us

Old Barn Tours and Crafts- Contact: David Metz (563) 263-4222/ davemetz@machlink.com

Hands on Demonstration and Exhibits of the Friends of the Pine Creek Grist Mill-Contact: Tom Hanifan tomhanifan@yahoo.com


Thursday, July 4

4th of July Parade (5 p.m.) - Contact: GMCCI (563) 263-8895

Muscatine Symphony Orchestra (8 p.m.) On the Pearl City Station's West Patio -Contact: Carolyn Airola (563) 264-2071/ amcjairola@gmail.com

Fireworks (Dusk)- Contact: GMCCI (563) 263-8895

U.S. soy family meets with customers, experts to discuss secure trade
ST. LOUIS (June 20, 2013) - Two years ago, countries in the Middle East, such as Syria, were promising  markets for U.S. soy exports, but political unrest threatens the stability of the region and has long disrupted lines of trade. This week, leaders from the soy checkoff and the American Soybean Association (ASA) met with Middle Eastern and North African customers in Amman, Jordan, to discuss secure ways to maintain exports during turbulent times.
"Markets in the Middle East represent a valuable and impactful dual opportunity for the U.S. soy family," says ASA Chairman Steve Wellman, a soybean farmer from Syracuse, Neb. "Soybeans provide nutritious protein for those in need; and as the markets emerge and buying power increases, so does the demand for the animal agriculture products of which our soybeans are such an integral part."
Most soybean imports in the Middle East and North Africa are crushed, and the meal is used for poultry and aquaculture feed, leaving the oil for use in cooking and frying. Between 2010-2011, Syria, as a hub of soy imports, brought in 18 million bushels of U.S. soybeans. The hope for this meeting in Jordan is to find more stable lines for trade to increase U.S. soy exports to the region. Countries such as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates could be potential trade centers for U.S. agriculture in this area.
While in the region, Wellman and United Soybean Board (USB) farmer-leader Scott Singlestad attended the dedication of the U.S. Soybean Export Council's Dubai office. This office, located in an international business hub of the area, will provide the U.S. soy industry access to even more potential customers.
"We're there to provide information that they want on soy in nutrition for both humans and animals," adds Scott Singlestad, soybean farmer from Waseca, Minn. "There's no better way to keep peace in the world than to make sure everyone has enough food."
The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after his amendment to ensure farmers and rural businesses have continued access to an important energy and economic development tool was added to the farm bill that is being debated by the House.  Currently, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) supports farmers and rural small businesses in pursuing energy project investments including windpower, biofuels, solar, and anaerobic digestion. Loebsack's amendment would allow farmers and rural small businesses to be able to continue to create jobs and grow our rural economy in a value-added and sustainable way.

"Investment in energy projects put people to work, create entrepreneurial opportunities, and generate new value-added opportunities for our farmers, rural small businesses, and communities," said Loebsack.  "In Iowa alone, over 1,600 rural energy projects were initiated between 2003 and 2012, many stemming from farm bill energy programs.  My amendment stresses the importance of farm bill energy programs to job creation and our rural economies, and allows one of our best resources - our farmers - to play a critical role in our domestic energy production."

Specifically, Loebsack's amendment reinstates feasibility studies under REAP in the Energy Title of the bill. Full text of the amendment can be found here.

Video of Loebsack speaking on the floor in support of his amendment can be seen here.

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July 4, 2013 Extension Office Closed for Holiday

July 5, 2013 Extension Office Closed for Holiday

July 12, 2013 Pesticide Applicator Testing, Scott County Extension office 10:00 am-2:00 pm

July 23, 2013 ISU Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm
Tips for Helping Your Family Survive
the '3 Generations' Rule

Two-thirds of baby boomers will inherit a total $7.6 trillion in their lifetimes, according to the Boston College Center for Retirement Research -- that's $1.7 trillion more than China's 2012 GDP.

But they'll lose 70 percent of that legacy, and not because of taxes. By the end of their children's lives -- the third generation -- nine of 10 family fortunes will be gone.

"The third-generation rule is so true, it's enshrined in Chinese proverb: 'Wealth never survives three generations,' " says John Hartog of Hartog & Baer Trust and Estate Law, (www.hartogbaer.com). "The American version of that is 'shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations."

There are a number of reasons that happens, and most of them are preventable say Hartog; CPA Jim Kohles, chairman of RINA accountancy corporation, (www.rina.com); and wealth management expert Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo, CEO of Pillar Wealth Management, (www.pillarwm.com).

How can the current generation of matriarchs, patriarchs and their beneficiaries beat the odds? All three financial experts say the solutions involve honest conversations - the ones families often avoid because they can be painful - along with passing along family values and teaching children from a young age how to manage money.

• "Give them some money now and see how they handle it." Many of the "wealth builders," the first generation who worked so hard to build the family fortune, teach their children social responsibility; to take care of their health; to drive safely. "But they don't teach them financial responsibility; they think they'll get it by osmosis," says estate lawyer Hartog.

If those children are now middle-aged, it's probably too late for that. But the first generation can see what their offspring will do with a sudden windfall of millions by giving them a substantial sum now - without telling them why.

"I had a client who gave both children $500,000. After 18 months, one child had blown through the money and the other had turned it into $750, 000," Hartog says.

Child A will get his inheritance in a restricted-access trust.

• "Be willing to relinquish some control." Whether it's preparing one or more of their children to take over the family business, or diverting some pre-inheritance wealth to them, the first generation often errs by retaining too much control, says CPA Kohles.

"We don't give our successor the freedom to fail," Kohles says. "If they don't fail, they don't learn, so they're not prepared to step up when the time comes."

In the family business, future successors need to be able to make some decisions that don't require the approval of the first generation, Kohles says. With money, especially for 1st-generation couples with more than $10 million (the first $5 million of inheritance from each parent is not subject to the estate tax), parents need to plan for giving away some of their wealth before they die. That not only allows the beneficiaries to avoid a 40 percent estate tax, it helps them learn to manage the money.

• "Give your beneficiaries the opportunity to build wealth, and hold family wealth meetings." The first generation works and sacrifices to make the family fortune, so often the second generation doesn't have to and the third generation is even further removed from that experience, says wealth manager Ashoo.

"The best way they're going to be able to help preserve the wealth is if they understand what goes into creating it and managing it - not only the work, but the values and the risks," Ashoo says.

The first generation should allocate seed money to the second generation for business, real estate or some other potentially profitable venture, he says.

Holding ongoing family wealth meetings with your advisors is critical to educating beneficiaries, as well as passing along family and wealth values, Ashoo says. It also builds trust between the family and the primary advisors.

Ashoo tells of a recent experience chatting with two deca-millionaires aboard a yacht in the Bahamas.

"They both built major businesses and sold them," Ashoo says. "At this point, it's no longer about what their money will do for them -- it's about what the next generations will do with their money."

About John Hartog, Jim Kohles & Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo

John Hartog is a partner at Hartog & Baer Trust and Estate Law. He is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law, and taxation law. Jim Kohles is chairman of the board of RINA accountancy corporation. He is a certified public accountant specializing in business consulting, succession and retirement planning, and insurance. Haitham "Hutch" Ashoo is the CEO of Pillar Wealth Management, LLC, specializing in client-centered wealth management. All three are based in Walnut Creek, Calif., and advise ultra affluent families.

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