Des Moines, July 3, 2013 - The Wapello County Family Treatment Court and Associate Juvenile Judge William S. Owens received awards from the National Rural Drug Abuse Network, at that group's annual institute on drug and alcohol abuse.

The Wapello County Family Treatment Court was awarded the Harold E. Hughes, Exceptional Rural Program - Award of Excellence. This national award is given annually to a rural program that exemplifies outstanding contribution to the rural alcohol and drug abuse field by establishing exceptional services in the field that help to improve the lives of those who suffer the effects of alcohol and drug abuse.

Judge Owens was awarded the Harold E. Hughes, Exceptional Rural Professional - Award of Excellence. This award, also given annually at the National Rural Institute, goes to a rural professional who exemplifies outstanding contribution to the rural alcohol and drug abuse field.

"We are especially pleased to receive these awards because they are named in honor of former Iowa governor and senator, Harold E. Hughes, who dedicated his professional and personal life to providing appropriate treatment to individuals suffering from the disease of alcohol and drug addiction," Judge Owens said. "Our group is the first from Iowa to be honored with the Exceptional Rural Program Award, and I am only one of two Iowans to be individually honored as an exceptional rural professional".

Family drug courts focus on the welfare of children with parents who have substance abuse problems. The courts emphasize judge-led community collaborations that offer treatment for substance-abusing parents, while holding them accountable through intensive court supervision. As in adult drug courts, participants in family drug courts are required to take random and frequent drug tests and appear weekly before a judge. The goal is to reunite broken families.

Judge Owens is the Associate Juvenile Judge to District 8A, which includes Wapello County. He was appointed to the bench in 1999. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas in 1981 and his law degree from Drake University Law School in 1984. He has previously received two additional awards for his work with the Wapello County Treatment Court.

These two prestigious national awards were presented at the award ceremony on June 11, 2013, at the University of Wisconsin - Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (07/02/2013)(readMedia)-- In addition to marking the independence of the United States, the Illinois National Guard is also marking the 150th anniversary of the Siege of Vicksburg and the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War and the 95th anniversary of the Battle of Hamel during World War I (WWI).

Three Illinois units participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, the 8th Illinois Cavalry, four companies of the 12th Illinois Cavalry, and the 82nd Illinois Infantry.

"At 7:30 a.m. on July 1, 1863 Lt. Marcellus Jones with the 8th Cavalry fired the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg and the first Union Soldier to die in the battle were from the 12th Illinois Cavalry," said Adriana Schroeder of Springfield, Ill., the Illinois National Guard command historian.

Two days later, the 82nd Illinois Infantry participated in the Union defense of the infamous Pickett's Charge.

Hundreds of miles and several states away, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant laid siege to Vicksburg, Miss., with nearly one-third of his entire force consisting of Illinois Soldiers.

"The turning point in the Civil War came July 4, 1863 when Confederate fighters surrendered at both Gettysburg and Vicksburg," said Schroeder. "Gettysburg marked the last push into Union territory for the Confederates. After Vicksburg, the Union Army controlled the Mississippi River and cut the Confederacy in two."

Fifty-five years later, in July 1918, Soldiers from the 131st and 132nd Illinois Infantry Regiments were attached to Australian brigades in France during WWI.

"These Illinois Soldiers were the first of the 33rd Division to fight in the war and possibly the first Americans to fight under the command of another country." said Schroeder. "On July 4, 1918, they successfully took out German trenches in the Hamel Woods, which had previously dominated Australian forces."

On Aug. 12, 1918, George V, the King of England, arrived at 33rd Division Headquarters and awarded 19 officers and enlisted men with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Military Cross and the Military Medal for acts of bravery.

Cpl. Thomas A. Pope, a Norwood Park, Ill., native, served with company E of the 131st Infantry Regiment and received the Medal of Honor at Hamel. His citation reads, "At Hamel, July 4, 1918...Corporal Pope's company was advancing behind the tanks when it was halted by hostile machine gun fire. Going forward alone, he rushed a machine gun nest, killed several of the crew with his bayonet, and, standing astride his gun, held off the others until re-enforcements arrived and captured them."

The Illinois State Military Museum has artifacts and displays that tell the story of the Illinois units and Soldiers who served in these key battles. The displays include battle flags, weapons, war trophies and a WWI trench scene depicting the battle of Hamel.

The Illinois State Military Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. It is located adjacent to Camp Lincoln at 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd. in Springfield. Admission and parking are free.

DES MOINES -- Gov. Terry E. Branstad today received word that President Obama approved his request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for 47 Iowa counties impacted by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that began May 19, 2013.

The counties included in the declaration are: Appanoose, Benton, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Clayton, Crawford, Davis, Delaware, Des Moines, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hardin, Henry, Ida, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lyon, Mahaska, Marshall, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, O'Brien, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Poweshiek, Sac, Sioux, Story, Tama, Wapello, Webster, Winnebago, and Wright.

The governor sent the request for the declaration on June 19 in response to significant damage that was caused by heavy rains, thunderstorms and flooding in those counties between May 19 and June 14, 2013.

The declaration by the President will provide federal funding to the declared counties under the Public Assistance Program. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by state programs, and designed to help public entities and select non-profits. Public Assistance funds may be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions and grants for public schools.

The governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future natural disasters by taking steps now to strengthen existing infrastructure.

Iowa Individual Assistance Program activated for Audubon County

Also today, Gov. Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Audubon County in response to recent storms and flooding. The governor's proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program in Audubon County.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or a maximum annual income of $39,060, for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the "Disaster Assistance" link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov.

The eleventh annual Brucemore Outdoor Children's Theater will bring to life The Amazing Story Machine, July 24 - 27 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Arthur the Inventor and his pet mouse, Rusty, will pull audiences out of their seats and take them on adventures of story time favorites, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and The Lion and the Mouse, during this world premier written by Joe Link and directed by Nathan Nelson. This will be Link's seventh original production on the Brucemore stage; previous plays include The Incredible Adventures of Captain Spoon, The Forgetful Pirate; The Princess Who Wouldn't Wear Pink; and Tyrannosaurus Fetch. Each year, the Brucemore Outdoor Children's Theater promises an engaging performance sure to keep the young audience captivated and the adult audience entertained.

Brucemore's natural amphitheater near the pond will set the stage for this hour-long performance. Gates open at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Children and their adult chaperones are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs (no food or beverage please). On-site parking is available. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children.  Brucemore Outdoor Children's Theater is sponsored by US Bank and media sponsored by ImOn Communications. Purchase tickets by visiting www.brucemore.org, calling (319) 362-7375, or at the box office the night of the event. Ticket purchases are nonrefundable.

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.