Of 192 entries in this year's two-day competition of the 2012 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest, 17 entries made it through to the final round of judging.  Paul Bridgeford of Des Moines, Iowa, placed second with his acrylic painting of a pair of northern shovelers.

First place went to Robert Steiner, an artist from San Francisco, Calif. The announcement was made on September 29 by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Director Rowan Gould at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, during the annual art contest.

This is Steiner's second Federal Duck Stamp Contest win.  His art previously appeared on the 1998-1999 Federal Duck Stamp.

Steiner's acrylic painting of a common goldeneye will be made into the 2013-2014 Federal Duck Stamp, which will go on sale in late June 2013.  The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $15 and raises about $25 million each year to provide critical funds to conserve and protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge system for the benefit of wildlife and the enjoyment of people.

"We are very fortunate to have such a talented pool of artists in the Midwest Region," said Tom Melius, Midwest Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Congratulations to Paul and Robert, and all of the other artists who submitted their work.  These beautiful works of art are an inspiration for us all."

The judges for this year's Federal Duck Stamp Contest were: Dudley Edmonson, a wildlife photographer, filmmaker and author; Paul Higgins, an outdoor photographer; Don Paul, a wildlife biologist; Marjory Sente, a stamp collector; and Christine Thomas, dean and professor of natural resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  The alternate judge was John Cornely, a retired Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl biologist.

"Whether you buy a Duck Stamp to hunt waterfowl, add to your stamp collection, admire in a frame, or contribute to conservation, you are buying a piece of history," said Jerome Ford, the Service's Assistant Director for Migratory Birds.  "For nearly 80 years, hunters, wildlife watchers, and millions of other people who purchase Federal Duck Stamps have made a direct contribution to wildlife conservation through the protection of wetland habitats."

Federal Duck Stamps can be purchased at many national wildlife refuges, the U.S. Postal Service, or online at http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/stamps.htm.

Electronic files of this year's artwork featuring brant, Canada goose, common goldeneye, Northern shoveler and ruddy duck can be downloaded from www.fws.gov/duckstamps.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Connect with our Facebook page at facebook.com/usfwsmidwest, follow our tweets at twitter.com/usfwsmidwest, watch our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at flickr.com/photos/usfwsmidwest.

ATLANTA, Ga., Oct. 4, 2012 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding to modernize and improve the efficiency of rural electric generation and transmission systems. Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on Vilsack's behalf during a speech before members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Today's announcement includes a $30 million loan guarantee to Jefferson Energy Cooperative, which serves parts of 11 Georgia counties.

"USDA and the Obama administration continue to support investment by rural cooperatives that will modernize service and improve reliability for rural businesses and residential customers," Tonsager said. "Several of these utilities and cooperatives are also receiving funding that will allow them to deploy smart grid technologies in their operation."

Secretary Vilsack announced last month that USDA met its goal to finance $250 million in smart grid technologies in fiscal year 2012. Today's announcement includes support for $9.8 million in smart grid technologies.

The following is a list of rural utilities that will receive USDA funding, which is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan agreement.

Alabama

• Cullman Electric Cooperative: $29,190,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 461 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $937,600 in smart grid projects.

Arkansas

• South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $10,800,000. Funds will be used to serve build and improve 141 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $1,099,000 in smart grid projects.

Georgia

• Jefferson Energy Cooperative : $30,000,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 467 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $202,592 in smart grid projects.

Iowa

• Central Iowa Power Cooperative: $40,121,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 115 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $866,000 in smart grid projects.

Kansas

• Western Cooperative Electric Association, Inc.: $7,238,000. Funds will be used to serve build and improve 6 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements.

New Mexico

• Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. : $8,374,000. Funds will be used to serve build and improve 122 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $120,000 in smart grid projects.

North Dakota

• Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $24,100,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 404 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee amount includes $2,380,000 in smart grid projects.

Ohio

• The Frontier Power Company: $6,400,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 113 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $221,232 in smart grid projects.

Texas

• Wood County Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $32,000,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 222 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $225,000 in smart grid projects.

Virginia and North Carolina

• Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative: $18,931,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 166 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $833,279 in smart grid projects.

The $168 million in loan guarantees announced today are provided by USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service. The funding helps electric utilities upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural America's electric infrastructure. The agency also funds energy conservation and renewable energy projects.

For information on other RD projects, please visit Rural Development's new interactive web map at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html. The map features program funding and success stories for fiscal years 2009-2011.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $172 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

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Des Moines, October 4, 2012 –On Tuesday and Wednesday, October 9 and 10, the Iowa Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in the historic Supreme Court Courtroom in the Iowa State Capitol.

The supreme court courtroom in the Capitol was dedicated in 1886, three years after the Capitol opened. Members of the supreme court heard oral arguments and had chambers in the Capitol from 1886 to 2003 when the Judicial Branch Building opened. The Judicial Branch Building is directly south of the Capitol on Court Avenue. Members of the court of appeals heard oral arguments and had chambers in the Capitol from the time that court was organized in 1976 until 2003, when it also moved to the Judicial Branch Building.

The nine members of the Iowa Court of Appeals are: Chief Judge Larry J. Eisenhauer, Ankeny; Judge Gayle Nelson Vogel, Spirit Lake; Judge Anuradha Vaitheswaran, Des Moines; Judge Amanda Potterfield, Tiffin; Judge Richard H. Doyle, Des Moines; Judge David Danilson, Boone; Judge Mary Tabor, Des Moines; Judge Michael R. Mullins, Washington; and Judge Thomas Bower, Cedar Falls.

The Iowa Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court. It reviews appeals from trial court decisions that the supreme court has transferred to the court of appeals. A decision of the Iowa Court of Appeals is final unless reviewed by the Iowa Supreme Court on grant of further review. The majority of appeals filed in Iowa are decided by the court of appeals. Last year, the Iowa Court of Appeals issued 1,068 opinions.

As an appellate court, the Iowa Court of Appeals does not preside over trials. The court of appeals proceedings do not involve witnesses, juries, new evidence, or court reporters. Instead, the court reviews the written record of the trial court to determine whether any significant legal errors occurred.

Cases are decided by randomly selected three-judge panels that change in composition every three months. Cases are assigned for opinion writing randomly in equal numbers to each judge on the court. Each judge on the court authors about 100 opinions per year. This figure does not include dissents and special concurrences each judge might write. In addition, each judge reviews cases decided by the other panels of the court.

As always, oral arguments are open to the public.

The schedule for the Tuesday, October 9, Iowa Court of Appeals oral arguments in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the Iowa State Capitol is:

9:00 A.M.

The panel of Chief Judge Eisenhauer, Judge Vogel, and Judge Vaitheswaran will hear the cases of Brandes v. State, on appeal from Chickasaw County District Court; Kelly v. Riser, Inc., on appeal from Scott County District Court; and Faust v. Sakas, on appeal from Dubuque County District Court.

10:30 A.M.

The panel of Chief Judge Eisenhauer, Judge Vogel, and Judge Vaitheswaran will hear the cases of Oolman v. Icon Ag Solutions, L.L.C., on appeal from Sioux County District Court; and Jackson v. State, on appeal from Polk County District Court.

The panel of Chief Judge Eisenhauer, Judge Vogel, and Judge Doyle will hear the case of Moad v. Libby, on appeal from Johnson County District Court.

1:00 P.M.

The panel of Judge Potterfield, Judge Danilson, and Judge Tabor will hear the cases of In re Guardianship of F.W., on appeal from Dubuque County District Court; Fish v. Wapello County, on appeal from Wapello County District Court; and The Village at White Birch Town Homeowners Assoc. v. Goodman Assocs., Inc., on appeal from Polk County District Court.

2:30 P.M.

The panel of Judge Potterfield, Judge Danilson, and Judge Tabor will hear the cases of State v. Anderson, on appeal from Black Hawk County District Court; O'Reilly Auto Parts v. Alexander, on appeal from Polk County District Court; and Kalona Cooperative Telephone Co. v. Iowa Utilities Board, on appeal from Polk County District Court.

The schedule for the Wednesday, October 10, Iowa Court of Appeals oral arguments in the Supreme Court Courtroom in the Iowa State Capitol is:

9:00 A.M.

The panel of Judge Potterfield, Judge Doyle, and Judge Mullins will hear the case of Lanczos v. Walker, on appeal from Polk County District Court.

The panel of Judge Doyle, Judge Mullins, and Judge Bower will hear the case of Woodward v. Monona County Board of Supervisors, on appeal from Monona District Court.

10:00 A.M.

The panel of Judge Vogel, Judge Mullins, and Judge Bower will hear the cases of Effler v. State, on appeal from Polk County District Court; Sierra Club Iowa Chapter v. Iowa Department of Transportation, on appeal from Linn County District Court; and In re Marriage of Smith, on Appeal from Shelby County District Court.

2:30 P.M.

The panel of Chief Judge Eisenhauer, Judge Vaitheswaran, and Judge Doyle will hear the cases of Christiansen v. Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, on appeal from Johnson County District Court; State v. Scott, on appeal from Polk County District Court; and In re Estate of Burger, on appeal from Dallas County District Court.

Note to Editors: News media are invited to attend the oral arguments. Court rules apply regarding still camera, video camera and audio recording device use during the oral arguments. You can find information on expanded media coverage on the Judicial Branch Website at http://www.iowacourts.gov/News_Service/Expanded_Media_Coverage/.

The Iowa Court Rules regarding expanded media coverage are on the Iowa Legislature website at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/DOCS/ACO/CR/LINC/08-15-2012.chapter.25.pdf

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