(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today unveiled the winning cover photo for the 2013 Iowa Travel Guide.  The next edition will feature a photo of a kayaker on the Turkey River on its cover. Facebook fans of the Iowa Tourism Office voted for their favorite of three cover options during a 10-day period ending February 1.

VIEW THE WINNING PHOTO

In December, the Iowa Tourism Office asked amateur and professional photographers to submit photos from their Iowa travels for consideration on the cover. More than 600 submissions were narrowed down to three cover options. The winning image was shot by Jessica Rilling of Cedar Rapids.

The four-color guide is Iowa's comprehensive trip-planning publication, with listings from more than 700 attractions, 550 hotels, 160 bed and breakfasts and 400 campgrounds in addition to information on state parks, trails and scenic byways. The Iowa Tourism Office distributes more than 100,000 copies of the Iowa Travel Guide annually to travelers from every state and around the world. The new guide will be available in the spring of 2013. A digital version will also be available at traveliowa.com.

"Tourism is an important industry in Iowa - it affects all 99 counties and generates $328 million in state taxes annually," said Gov.  Branstad.  "One of the best ways we have to showcase all that Iowa has to offer is the Iowa Travel Guide."

The other finalists were boaters having fun on an Okoboji lake entered by Brock Bringle of Storm Lake and a family hiking at Maquoketa Caves State Park submitted by Kelsey Delperdang of Cedar Rapids.

"People value vacations and their time away from the daily grind," said Lt. Gov. Reynolds. "The three destinations captured among the finalist cover options are representative of the thousands of great Iowa places you can choose for your next getaway."

People can get more information on Iowa travel destinations via www.traveliowa.com, the Iowa Tourism Office's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/iowatourism), Twitter account (www.twitter.com/Travel_Iowa), blog (www.traveliowa.blogspot.com) or Pinterest account (www.pinterest.com/iowatourism). Travelers can share their Iowa vacation photos in the Travel Iowa Flickr Pool (www.flickr.com/groups/traveliowa).

Tourism in Iowa generates more than $7 billion in expenditures and employs 63,400 people statewide. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

###

Extend the growing season by learning about and purchasing cool-season plants at Brucemore's Cool-Season Plant Sale to be held April 10 through April 12 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. The plant sale will be held in the 1915 Lord & Burnham Greenhouse located near the center of the Brucemore estate.

"Many annual flowers and edible plants grow and taste better when the soil and air temperatures are cool; however, there usually is not enough time for cool-season plants to grow between when the last frost occurs and the hot weather sets in," said Brucemore's Head Gardener Deb Engmark. "The cool-season plant sale is an opportunity for visitors to learn about extending the growing season by planting earlier with cool season plants."

A variety of cool-season plants will be for sale, including pansies, cabbages, snapdragons, sweet peas, and spinach. Brucemore will also sell early blooming perennials that will develop a strong root system if planted in April, such as bleeding hearts and Delphiniums. Cool-season plant sale prices range from $3.50 to $7.50, with all the proceeds benefiting garden and landscape rehabilitation projects at Brucemore. The garden staff will be on hand to provide expert advice on the selection, placement, and care of plants. The Summer Plant Sale will be held on May 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., featuring annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, and herbs.

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.

###

By Jason Alderman

Many people adopt a "penny wise, pound foolish" mentality when it comes to buying insurance. When trying to lower expenses, some will drop or reduce needed coverage, gambling that they won't become seriously ill, suffer a car accident or fall victim to a fire or other catastrophe. But all it takes is one serious uncovered (or under-covered) incident to potentially wipe you out financially.

Here are insurance policies no household should be without:

Medical. This is the most critical - and unfortunately, the most expensive - coverage you need. When comparing plans, consider:

• Are your doctors in their provider networks? If not, can you afford out-of-network charges - or are you willing to find new doctors?
• Are your medications covered under the plan's drug formularies?
• Do they restrict specialized services you might need like maternity, mental health or weight reduction treatments?
• If you choose catastrophic coverage to lower premiums, can you afford the high deductible in case of an accident or major illness?

Homeowner/renter. Faulty plumbing, theft and home-accident lawsuits are only a few catastrophes that could leave you without possessions or homeless. A few tips:

• "Actual cash value" coverage repairs or replaces belongings, minus the deductible and depreciation, whereas "replacement cost" coverage replaces items in today's dollars. Depreciation can significantly lower values, so replacement coverage is probably worth the extra expense.
• Jewelry, art, computers and luxury items usually require additional coverage.
• Review coverage periodically to adjust for inflation, home improvements, new possessions, change in marital/family status, etc.
• The market is competitive, so compare your rate with other insurance carriers. Get "apples to apples" quotes since policies may have varying provisions.

Vehicle. You probably can't even get a driver's license without demonstrating proof of insurance. Consider these coverage options:

• "Liability" pays if you cause an accident that injures others or damages their car or property.
• "Uninsured motorist" pays for damage caused to you or your car by an uninsured motorist.
• "Collision" pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision and "comprehensive" pays for damage caused by things like theft, vandalism and fire. However, they only pay up to the actual cash value (ACV) minus deductibles. Because the ACV for older cars is low, repairs often cost more than the car is worth.
• Common ways to lower premiums include : Raising deductibles; discounts for good drivers, exceeding age 55 or installing security systems; comparison shopping; and buying homeowner and car insurance from the same carrier.

Life insurance. If you're single with no dependents, you may get by with minimal or no life insurance. But if your family depends on your income, experts recommend buying coverage worth at least five to 10 times annual pay. Other considerations:

• Many employers offer life insurance, but if you're young and healthy you may be able to get a better deal on your own.
• After your kids are grown you may be able to lower your coverage; although carefully consider your spouse's retirement needs.
• You probably don't need life insurance on your children, but you might want spousal coverage if you depend on each other's income.
• If your divorce settlement includes alimony and/or child support, buy life insurance on the person paying it, naming the receiving ex-spouse as beneficiary.

Don't gamble your future financial stability by passing on vital insurance coverage - the odds aren't in your favor.

The "Leadership Squad" is back at Edison Junior High and its teaching other Rock Island middle school students how to be leaders...

(Rock Island, IL)  It began last fall when Diane Baker, with the University of Illinois Extension Service, taught a core group of students leadership and problem solving skills.  Now the group is back and they are going teach 25  new students what it takes to be a leaders?students teaching students.  Edison's "Leadership Squad" is part of the 21st Century Lights ON For Learning federal grant.

The students will become teachers for the next four Mondays from 2:45 - 4:30 pm.  Baker works with the "teen teachers" to plan a sequential leadership development curriculum.  Participants learn more about their own leadership styles, develop their communication skills, and are challenged to a variety of teambuilding experiences.  The program taps into each individual's leadership potential. "The Leadership Squad helps students realize that they can be leaders through group interaction and gives them the confidence to express themselves in a positive manner to their peers."

***The media is invited to see the Leadership Squad in action on Monday, February 4th between 3:00 pm and 4:00 p.m. in room 103 at Edison Junior High in Rock Island (4141 9th Street).   The students, teachers and site coordinator will be available for interviews.