SPRINGFIELD - May 31, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today issued the following statement regarding the House's 92-23-3 concurrence to House Bill 1645, Amendment 3, which establishes a strip club surcharge and fee structure to help fund rape crisis centers that have seen state funding decline about 28 percent over the past five years. The bill now awaits the Governor's signature.

Simon said: "I want to thank all of the advocates who answer rape crisis hotlines and counsel women, men and children who survive sexual abuse and assault. Sen. Hutchinson worked hard on your behalf to negotiate a compromise with the adult entertainment industry and garner bipartisan support for legislation that will help restore critical funding during tough budget times. My thanks also go out to Rep. Feigenholtz who ushered this bill through the House, again with bipartisan support. This is an example of how the process should work. All parties worked together for the good of our state."

Will allow for infrastructure improvement and future planning at the Waterloo, Independence & Oelwein airports

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) announced today that three eastern Iowa airports will receive a total of $1,051,556 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration.  This funding will be used to update master plans, identify future needs and improve runway lighting.

"This is great news for Eastern Iowa. The grant money will help these airports make critical infrastructure improvements right now and identify improvements needed in the future - both ensure the safety of passengers and employees," Braley said. "Whether traveling for business or family vacation, Iowans rely on their community airports to be safe, secure and reliable. It's critical we give Iowa's airports the tools they need to provide the safest and most efficient service to their customers."

Specifically, the funds will be used for:

Waterloo Regional Airport                        $967,856 to improve the runway lighting system to ensure visibility

Independence Municipal Airport              $52,200 to update the airport master plan and identify future needs

Oelwein Municipal Airport                        $31,500 to update the airport master plan and identify future needs

ROCK FALLS, IL - BlackhawkHills Resource Conservation and Development held its annual meeting on May 24, 2012 at the Freeport Country Club. The meeting was open to the public and featured Lynn Feaver of Prospering Together as the speaker.

Two awards were presented at the meeting. The 2012 Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Ron Colson, Sam Newton, and William Tonne for their hard work and dedication to the Northwest Illinois Broadband Opportunities Program. The 2012 Carson DeJarnatt Economic Development Award was presented to Prospering Together and was accepted by Lynn Feaver, Chuck Moen, Della Moen, and Sam Newton of Stephenson County.

Blackhawk Hills would like to recognize the following changes to the council. Ron Colson was elected as President. He previously served as Vice President for the past three years. William Tonne accepted the position of Vice President. He previously served as President for the past three years.

About the Volunteer of the Year Award

This award is presented annually to the person or persons who have shown outstanding dedication to a project or initiative within the six-county region. This award has been presented each year since 1976.

About the Carson DeJarnatt Economic Development Award

The Carson DeJarnatt Economic Development Award is given to a person, organization, or initiative that demonstrates commitment to regional economic development. The award's namesake, Carson DeJarnatt, joined the Blackhawk Hills council as the Whiteside County Board representative in 1987. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Blackhawk Hills' Economic Development District in 1992. The council of Blackhawk Hills created the economic development award in his honor after his passing in 1995.

About Blackhawk Hills RC&D

Blackhawk Hills RC&D is a not-for-profit corporation based in Rock Falls, IL, that serves Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties in northwest Illinois.  Blackhawk Hills RC&D's services include community planning, development assistance, natural resources conservation and protection support, and grant writing and administration. Blackhawk Hills RC&D is sponsored by local county boards and Soil and Water Conservation Districts and is overseen by an 18-member council, consisting of three representatives from each of the six counties.

Questions about Blackhawk Hills may be directed to Julie Jacobs at (815) 625-3854 or info@blackhawkhills.com.

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Staff Sgt. Nicole Dykstra
72nd Operations Brigade Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE DIX LAKEHURST N.J. -- When soldiers return from deployment to Joint Base-McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, they start the most important part of the reset process - demobilization. This crucial time allows soldiers time to resolve medical, dental, behavioral health, financial and administrative issues prior to their release from active duty.

Soldiers of the 200th Engineer Company, a National Guard unit from Pierre, South Dakota, recently returned to the Joint Base after a year-long deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As a multi-role bridging unit, the 200th maintained, repaired and replaced military bridges throughout Afghanistan.

Returning soldiers understandably want to return home as soon as possible, and while leaders of the 72nd Operations Brigade, the South Dakota Joint Force Headquarters, First Army Division East, Army Medical Command, and JB MDL support this desire, they work hard to ensure all soldiers receive the individualized care, transition support, and understand all the benefits due to them before they depart the demobilization site.

"We have all the resources here that soldiers can take advantage of, whether it be legal, medical or administrative assistance," said Col. Michael Shrout, commander of the 72nd Operations Brigade.

The 72nd supports the First Army Division East mission of overseeing the demobilization process for all redeploying Reserve Component soldiers at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

While active duty soldiers have all needed resources at hand, Reserve component soldiers may sometimes be hours away from those same resources.

"When they go back to being citizen-soldiers, the resources may still be available, but sometimes it's more difficult to get to them geographically, or it might be challenging to schedule them as they enter the civilian workforce. We want each soldier to be prepared to enter the reset process, and actually reset," Shrout explained.

"Demobilization is a necessary process, and soldiers need to be patient," said Capt. James Forbes, 200th Engineer Company commander, adding that one of the biggest challenges for a Reserve-component unit is the amount of time spent away from families and employers. For a year prior to the deployment, Reserve and National Guard units must complete additional training taking them away from their responsibilities at home. By the end of the deployment, soldiers have spent a considerable amount of time separated from their families.

Upon arrival at JBMDL, the 200th immediately began the process that prepares them to return to their families. In addition to medical, dental and behavioral health support, demobilizing soldiers receive information and resources on benefits, programs and access to care to assist their transition home. Representatives from TRICARE, the Veteran's Health Administration and Employer Support of Guard and Reserve are among the organizations who offer information and assistance. Soldiers also electronically registered for health benefits through the VA.

"This is the last stop before returning home but there is still a lot of work to be done and it's important not to lose sight of that," said Forbes. "Soldiers need to take a realistic look inside and assess what issues need to be addressed. You need to be able to ask for help if you need it, and you absolutely need to take the time we are given to get it taken care of."

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Dejong, a platoon sergeant in the 200th, was impressed by the quantity and quality of information provided at the demobilization site, especially compared to his experiences after his previous deployment to Iraq in 2004.

"When I returned from my first deployment, the process was much shorter and really only addressed medical issues," Dejong, a Sioux Falls, S.D., native said. "There was definitely a lot more information for us this time - you see the Army has learned a lot over the last eight years."

"We have a sacred responsibility to take these Active Duty, Federal troops and return them home as citizen-soldiers properly, with the dignity and respect they deserve as veterans," said Shrout.

"The Army isn't all about machines and weapons platforms - it's about people. If we want to sustain our operations around the world over the long haul, we have to take care of our people."