DES MOINES, IA (04/29/2013)(readMedia)-- Tickets for the much-anticipated Iowa State Fair Grandstand shows will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets. The 2013 line-up is presented by U.S. Cellular.

This year's line-up includes performances from top country artists Toby Keith, Gary Allan and Alan Jackson as well as Grammy award-winning rock artists Train. Former Saturday Night Live comedians Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon will offer their own unique flavor of comedy in a stand-up routine, and pop sensations Carly Rae Jepsen and The Wanted will offer up their own multi-platinum hits.

Print at home discounted admission tickets are also on sale now at www.iowastatefair.org. Fairgoers can purchase gate admission tickets online and print their own tickets at no extra charge. Fairgoers can also purchase food tickets, Fair Play Packs, midway tickets, zipline passes and 11-day punch cards online and have them mailed to them directly for a nominal fee.

Tickets for all concert and track events will go on sale Saturday, May 4, at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000. All concert events are reserved seating; track events are general admission. Beginning July 8, the Fair's Ticket Office will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturday for walk-up orders only (no mail, phone or fax orders). Convenience charges will apply to all tickets. Grandstand tickets do not include Fair admission. Gate admission must be purchased separately.

A complete listing of event dates, times and ticket prices follows:

2013 Iowa State Fair Grandstand Line-up

presented by U.S. Cellular

Thursday, August 8

Casting Crowns with special guest Jeremy Camp, 8 p.m., $30

Friday, August 9

Happy Together Tour 2013 starring The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night, Mark Lindsay former lead singer of Paul Revere and the Raiders, and Gary Lewis & The Playboys, 8 p.m., $25

Saturday, August 10

Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon from SNL, 8 p.m., $38

Sunday, August 11

Dierks Bentley with special guest Justin Moore, 8 p.m., $39

Monday, August 12

Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models, Sport Mods, Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Dirt Trucks, 5:30 p.m. Hot Laps, 6 p.m. Races, $17 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Tuesday, August 13

Victoria Justice with special guest Pentatonix, 8 p.m., $29

Wednesday, August 14

Grand Outlaw National Tractor and Truck Pull sponsored by Iowa Farmer Today, 2 p.m., $20 Adults, $10 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Thursday, August 15

Toby Keith Hammer Down Tour presented by Ford F-Series with special guest Kip Moore, 8 p.m., $49

Friday, August 16

Train with special guest Matt Nathanson, 8 p.m., $39

Saturday, August 17

Demolition Derby: Demolition Derby: Modified Weld, Stock Weld and Compact Weld; Figure Eight: Front Wheel Drive and Rear Wheel Drive, 11:30 a.m., $15 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Carly Rae Jepsen and The Wanted with special guest TBA, 8 p.m., $35

Sunday, August 18

Alan Jackson and Gary Allan, 8 p.m., $39

"Nothing Compares" to the 2013 Iowa State Fair, August 8-18. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today launched a "Residential Relief Calculator," which allows Iowans to calculate their property tax savings under the Senate Democrats' plan versus the plan put forward by the governor's office and House Republicans.

The Residential Relief Calculator is found here: www.Governor.Iowa.gov/calculator

"Iowans are facing a $2 billion property tax increase over the next eight years, and the majority of that increase will fall on Iowa homeowners," said Gov. Branstad. "Our Residential Relief Calculator demonstrates the significant savings our legislation provides."

Lt. Gov. Reynolds noted that Iowa's economy is improving, making it the wrong time to start raising taxes on Iowans.

"The Residential Relief Calculator gives Iowans the opportunity to see for themselves the savings under our property tax relief plan," said Reynolds. "We have the opportunity to provide permanent property tax relief to Iowans, help put people back to work and make Iowa more competitive."

It's easy to spot the largely unsung heroes in these three recent news stories:

• Fifteen National Guardsmen run 26 miles carrying full backpacks to raise money for the families of fallen soldiers.

• An off-duty firefighter rushes to a dangerous chemical blaze because he knows the local volunteer force may not be equipped to handle it.

• A middle school student in Georgia rallies youngsters and businesses to collect comfort items for troops deployed in Afghanistan.

"But each of these stories also has a surprising twist - one that underscores just why it's so important to share them," says philanthropist John Shimer, founder of the Angels Among Us project (www.angelsamongusproject.org).

"If we want people to be their best, we need to shine a light on what that looks like."

Shimer notes that in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, Americans took comfort in seeing and hearing about the many acts of selflessness.

"We were horrified by the fact that there's someone evil enough to place a ticking bomb next to children. But, thank goodness, we were also heartened by the bravery of the civilians who rushed into danger to help the injured, and the many area residents who opened their homes to stranded race participants."

In January, Shimer launched Angels Among Us to recognize just such people. Community "human angels" are selected from among nominations and, in addition to receiving an Earthly Angel Award and a donation to their charity of choice, Angels Among Us produces professional, high-quality videos that tell their story.

"The video productions are top quality, so any broadcast outlet can use them, and they're compelling, so people will watch them," Shimer says. "And that's how we spread the word,  inspire others, and even create a society where everyone is an Earthly Angel."

Angels Among Us, which accepts nominations at its website, has no shortage of amazing stories, Shimer says.

Consider these recent examples:

• National Guard 'Tough Ruckers': Fifteen Massachusetts National Guardsmen donned full gear, including backpacks weighing 40 pounds or more, to run the Boston Marathon in memory of fallen soldiers. The "Tough Ruck" also raised money for the families of deceased soldiers through the Military Friends Foundation.

But that's not the end of the story.

The men were near the finish line when the bombs exploded April 15. They're the guys in fatigues seen on countless videos rushing to pull down barricades to get to the injured.

• An off-duty, volunteer firefighter: Capt. Kenny "Luckey" Harris, 52, worked for the Dallas Fire Department but lived 80 miles away in West, Texas, where he also served with the all-volunteer station. He was off duty on April 17 when fire erupted at a fertilizer plant in West. He rushed to the plant.

"He was worried the volunteer guys wouldn't be safe on a chemical fire," his friend and fellow firefighter Ronnie Janek said. "He said he had to help them stay safe."

Harris was among the 14 people who died when the fertilizer plant exploded - 11 of them were first responders.

Volunteer firefighters, who put their lives on the line for their communities for no pay, make up 69 percent of U.S. firefighters.

• A boy with a heart for soldiers: As a 10-year-old fifth-grader, Remington Youngblood understood the hardships facing troops in Afghanistan and wanted to do something both to help them and to express his appreciation for their sacrifices. So he created a nonprofit, Change4Georgia, partnered with a Veterans of Foreign Wars post, and hit the speaking circuit to rally other schools, businesses and communities to the cause.

Today, the middle school student's charity not only regularly fills troops' wish lists for items like chewing gum and chapstick, last Christmas it delivered hundreds of gifts and foods to the children of active-duty soldiers. It also provides school supplies to those children, and even makes an annual scholarship donation to one student veteran.

As these stories demonstrate, angels surround us in many forms, Shimer says.

"If we look for them and follow their example," he says, "who knows how we can change the world?"

About John Shimer

John Shimer is a director of Fortune Family Foundation, a charitable corporation that provides assistance to non-profits focused on fostering self-sufficiency. For 33 years, Shimer was a fundraising manager and consultant for hospitals, human welfare agencies, and similar organizations. He is the author of "Turn Right at the Dancing Cow," the story of a "human angel" from Seattle and the vocational school she established in Uganda. He's the founder of the new Angels Among Us Project, which seeks to spotlight the best and most inspiring of human behavior.

Wednesday May 1st at 6pm Healing Lotus Acupuncture and Moline Chiropractic Clinic will be hosting a discussion on chronic low-level inflammation and its role in age-related health decline.

If interested in learning more, please join us at Moline Chiropractic Clinic, 4300 - 12th Avenue, Moline.

Seats fill - up fast, so please sign - up today! You can reserve a seat by calling (309) 764.4753 or sending an email to healinglotustcm@gmail.com

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