10 Aug 2012

Sean Casey and the TIV come to the Putnam!

By Jenna Smith

Sean Casey and the Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) will be at the Putnam Museum on August 18! Sean Casey is a professional storm chaser who appears in the reality television series Storm Chasers. Casey is also the filmmaker of Tornado Alley 3D - a film that the Putnam Museum will begin playing on August 18! In Tornado Alley 3D with the TIV, Casey captures inside footage that no one else has ever had!

Want to win a ride in the TIV, here's how!

Spot the sticker and win a ride in the Tornado Intercept Vehicle at the Putnam Museum!

Snap a picture wherever you see an "I BRAKE FOR WIND" sticker and email it to webmaster@putnam.org!

Remember to include :

·         Your name

·         Where you found it

·         The 4-digit number on the sticker

Stickers are placed at different location throughout the community so keep an eye out! The person who find the most stickers by August 15 will win a ride in the Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) with Sean Casey, star of Storm Chasers and Tornado Alley 3D!

Win tickets to watch Tornado Alley 3D with Storm Team 8!

Win tickets to see the 10 a.m. showing on Saturday, August 18 with the Storm Team 8 meteorologists! 50 winners will be selected to receive 4 tickets to the show and one lucky viewer will win a ride in the Tornado Intercept Vehicle!

Deadline for entry is Sunday, August 12! Meet the Storm Team 8 meteorologists and enjoy the film which "reveals the beauty and the power of some of our planet's most extreme?and least understood?weather phenomena."

For more information or to entry to win, visit WQAD's Facebook page.

One time only events! Don't miss out!

TIV Challenge: build and test!

Register today for the ultimate tornado challenge on August 18! From Noon - 2 p.m. participants will build their own TIV and learn about engineering design in the process! Then it's time to put your TIV to the test with a crush, drop and water test to see if it can remain undamaged!

Are you up for the TIV challenge? Do you think your TIV can pass the tests?  Register today; call 563-324-1933 ext. 219. This is not a drop-off program. Registration is required, per team (1-4 members allowed) $8 members, 10 non-members.

Sean Casey, star of Storm Chasers and Tornado Alley 3D, and the TIV will be at the Putnam during this exciting challenge! This is a one time only event, don't miss out!

Meet and greet with Sean Casey and the TIV!

Meet and greet as well as photo-opportunities with Sean Casey and TIV will be available on Saturday, August 18 from 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. and on Sunday, August 19 from 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.!

River Bandits Game on August 18!

Sean Casey will be at the 7 p.m. game to throw the first pitch! Don't miss out! For more information on this event please contact the Quad City River Bandits.

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10 Aug 2012

Information about Iowa Judges and Retention Election Available on Iowa Judicial Branch Website

By Iowa Judicial Branch

Des Moines,  August 9, 2012?Iowa voters can find information about the professional qualifications and background of every judge on the November 6th retention ballot at the Iowa Judicial Branch website?www.iowacourts.gov.

The 2012 Iowa Voters Judicial Directory contains biographies of each of the justices and judges on the ballot. These biographies include information about each judge's background and education, career, and professional and community activities. The directory also contains information about Iowa's judicial retention elections, as well as factors voters may want to consider when deciding whether to retain a justice or judge.

Today, The Iowa State Bar Association released the results of a performance evaluation by Iowa lawyers, providing Iowa voters with additional information about judges on the ballot. The evaluation asks members of the association to rate judges on a number of issues, including knowledge and application of the law, temperament, communication skills, timeliness of rulings, and impartiality. The performance evaluation also asks lawyers to state whether each judge should be retained.

In1962, Iowa voters approved a constitutional amendment that replaced the unpopular process of selecting judges by general elections based on political party politics with a nonpartisan merit selection and retention process. In the merit selection system, a nonpartisan commission reviews the qualifications of applicants for judicial office. Once the commission screens and interviews applicants, it forwards a slate of nominees to the governor who makes the final appointment. Merit selection and retention focuses on the professional qualifications of judges?experience, legal expertise and knowledge, judicial temperament, and promotion of a fair, impartial, and accountable judiciary.

After serving a full year on the bench, every justice and judge must stand for retention at the next general election, and then near the end of each regular term of office. In a retention election, judges do not have opponents. Instead, voters decide whether to retain a judge based on the judge's professional competency. If a judge receives a majority of "yes" votes, the judge may serve another full term.

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10 Aug 2012

Scott County Board of Supervisors' Tentative Agenda Aug 13 - 17

By Chris Berge
Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Committee of the Whole - 8:00 am
Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center

Facilities & Economic Development

1. Approval of temporary road closures for the Quad City Air Show. (Item 1)

2. Approval of the first reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 10, Sec. 10-10 of the
Scott County Code to establish a new "No Parking" area in Parkview. (Item 2)

3. Approval of purchase of an aluminum box culvert. (Item 3)

4. Approval of award of bid for fine paper purchase. (Item 4)

5. Approval of award of bid for the purchase of a Jail transport vehicle for the Sheriff's
Office. (Item 5)

Human Resources

6. Discussion of pending litigation pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(c). - CLOSED
SESSION

7. Approval of personnel actions. (Item 7)

Finance & Intergovernmental

8. Discussion of setting upcoming canvass dates: North Scott School District Election
on Tuesday, September 18 at 8:00 a.m. and General Election on Wednesday,
November 14 at 1:00 p.m.

9. Approval of beer/liquor license for Mickey's Country Cafe.

10. Resolution approving the appointment of Tony Brus (Muscatine County appointment)
to the Benefited Fire District #6. (Item 10)

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Regular Board Meeting - 5:30 pm
Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center

Presentation

1. Urban County Coalition update by Murphy Consultants.
10 Aug 2012

Use Biodiesel and Improve the Air Quality on Your Farm

By United Soybean Board

By Jim Willers, United Soybean Board director and a soybean farmer from Beaver Creek, Minn.

I know how much time I spend around diesel-powered vehicles, equipment and machinery, and I'd bet that most farmers around the United States spend similar amounts. That's why I'm so alarmed at the recent news from the World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer, which now considers diesel fuel exhaust to be a carcinogen as dangerous as secondhand smoke.

Farmers and ranchers make up the third-largest category of diesel fuel users behind truck drivers and heating oil users.

Thankfully, recent clean-diesel technology has cleaned up our emissions immensely, including significantly reducing some of the elements of diesel exhaust that prove to be so damaging to our health.

For example, in 2007, engine manufacturers began adding filters to trap soot. They added technology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions starting in 2010.

You can reduce these harmful emissions even more by using biodiesel.

Petroleum diesel exhaust contains toxic fumes that you don't get from biodiesel. Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning fuel that's made from U.S.-grown, renewable and biodegradable sources, and doesn't have those toxins.

Soybean oil remains the primary feedstock for U.S. biodiesel production and our soy checkoff continues to support the U.S. biodiesel industry. For example, the checkoff funds research into biodiesel's performance, environmental and health benefits.

According to the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, using 100 percent biodiesel significantly reduces some of the emissions that prove harmful to our health, including:

  • A 67 percent drop in hydrocarbon emissions.
  • A 48 percent decrease in poisonous carbon monoxide.
  • A 47 percent reduction in particulate matter.

Additionally, the National Renewable Energy Lab says a B20 blend of biodiesel (20 percent biodiesel mixed with 80 percent petroleum diesel) drops particulate matter emissions by 25 percent in engines without clean-diesel technology and by 67 percent in engines with the new cleaner-burning attributes.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes biodiesel's clean-air qualities in its regulation that requires the use of at least 1 billion gallons of biodiesel this year. Under this regulation, biodiesel remains the only commercially available fuel that qualifies as an Advanced Biofuel. It earned that distinction from the EPA because it reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 50 percent compared with petroleum diesel.

That regulation continues to improve biodiesel availability, which could make it easier for U.S. farmers to find and use the fuel.

To find biodiesel distributors or retailers in your area, visit www.biodiesel.org. To learn more about the soy checkoff's efforts to promote biodiesel as a way of increasing demand for U.S. soybean oil, click here.

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10 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Signs Law to Boost Bilingual Education

By Nafia Khan

New Law to Pave the Way for "Parent Academies" in Illinois

CHICAGO - August 9, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law designed to strengthen bilingual education in Illinois. The law authorizes the Illinois Advisory Council on Bilingual Education to study and make recommendations on the state of bilingual education in Illinois, as well as the role of parents of students whose first language is not English. Today's action at the Inter-American Magnet School paves the way for the possible implementation of "parent academies" and is the governor's latest to further improve education in Illinois.

"School is challenging enough for students and parents alike without having to struggle with a new language," Governor Quinn said. "This new law will keep Illinois on the cutting edge of bilingual education programs to ensure that every student is ready for the workforce."

Sponsored by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) and Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago), House Bill 3819 requires the Advisory Council to evaluate the success rate of bilingual programs, examine innovative initiatives such as "parent academies" and "cultural competency programs", and submit a report to the State Superintendent of Education, Governor and General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2013.

According to an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) study, there were 183,000 Illinois students in 2010 for whom English was not a first language, nearly 10 percent of the entire student population. Spanish-speakers comprise 80 percent of those enrolled in English language programs; rounding out the top ten are Polish, Urdu, Arabic, Tagalog, Korean, Cantonese/Mandarin, Gujarati, Vietnamese and Russian. While most live in Chicago, there are growing numbers of non-English speaking students in Elgin, Cicero, Aurora and Waukegan.

The Advisory Council on Bilingual Education, which was created in 1992 to propose recommendations to ISBE, will examine the feasibility of "parent academies" through which parents learn about standardized testing, homework completion strategies and student-teacher relationships. Some states offer free two-hour workshops for parents that cover "conditions for learning", such as school safety, home supportiveness and nutrition. In urban areas, the "parent academy" approach has successfully addressed the specific needs of single parents and immigrant families.

"Parents of non-English speaking students want - and need - to feel a greater stake in navigating their child's education. This new law opens the door to such innovations as 'parent academies' to accomplish that," said Rep. Chapa LaVia, who Chairs the Illinois House Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriations Committee.

"We are always looking for ways to help all students maximize their academic potential. This new law will help," said Sen. Martinez.

The bill was supported by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and passed unanimously in both chambers. The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2013.

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10 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action Thursday, August 9, 2012

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - August 9, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No: SB 3287

An Act Concerning: Government

Creates the Illinois Service Member Civil Relief Act to protect the financial security of Illinois soldiers.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No: SB 3555

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Allows Professional Sports Team License Plates to be issued to motorcycles.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

 

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10 Aug 2012

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Funding to Improve Rural Electric Service to Thousands of Customers in 18 States

By USDA Office of Communications
Almost $29 million in Smart Grid Projects Included

WASHINGTON, August 9, 2012 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that rural electric utilities in 18 states will receive loan guarantees to make improvements to electric lines, transmission facilities and to reduce peak electric loads by deploying smart grid technologies. USDA Rural Utilities Administrator Jonathan Adelstein made the announcement on Vilsack's behalf while visiting the offices of one of the recipients, Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) in Crewe, Virginia. The cooperative is using funds to build and improve a distribution line, transmission line, and will invest almost $7.4 million for smart grid system enhancements. In all, service will be upgraded for about 1,500 SEC members.

"Maintaining and upgrading rural electric systems improves system reliability, creates jobs and supports economic development," Vilsack said. "With these loans, we are continuing to help cooperatives provide reliable service to rural residents. A significant portion of this funding will go to smart grid technologies, helping consumers lower their electric bills and reducing peak demand for producers."

With this funding, USDA Rural Development moves closer to reaching Secretary Vilsack's goal to fund more than $250 million for smart grid technologies. Today's announcement includes support for nearly $29 million in smart grid projects. In all, USDA is investing more than $420 million in rural electric infrastructure.

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.

Idaho/Oregon/Washington

  • Clearwater Power Company -- $13,524,000. Funds will vey used to serve about 500 consumers, build and improve 132 miles of distribution line and 5 miles of transmission line, and make other system improvements.

Indiana

  • Whitewater Valley Rural Electric Membership Corporation - $12,000,000. Funds will be used to serve 240 consumers, build and improve 121 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan includes $519,405 in smart grid projects.

Kansas

  • Leavenworth-Jefferson Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $7,580,000. Funds will be used to serve 375 consumers, build and improve 100 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $104,028 in smart grid projects.

Kentucky

  • Pennyrile Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation - $22,894,000. Funds will be used to serve about 2,800 customers, build and improve 248 miles of distribution and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $232,800 in smart grid projects.
  • Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation - $13,000,000. Funds will be used to serve about 3,300 consumers, build and improve 216 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements.

Minnesota

  • Lake Region Electric Cooperative - $27,151,000. Funds will be used to serve about 1,300 consumers, build and improve 151 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $3,297,855 in smart grid projects.

Mississippi

  • Coast Electric Power Association - $51,766,000. Funds will be used to serve 9,240 consumers, build and improve 246 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $128,000 in smart grid projects.

North Carolina

  • Central Electric Membership Corporation - $22,000,000. Funds will be used to serve about 2,800 consumers, build and improve 102 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $278,800 in smart grid projects.

New York

  • Steuben Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $9,362,000. Funds will be used to serve 318 consumers, build and improve 121 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $706,050 in smart grid projects.

Oklahoma

  • Northwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc. - $18,306,000. Funds will be used to serve 912 customers, build and improve 134 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $843,400 in smart grid projects.

South Carolina

  • Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. - $44,347,000. Funds will be used to build 77 miles of new transmission line.

South Dakota/Minnesota

  • East River Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. - $62,207,000. Funds will be used to build 44 miles of transmission line, three new substations, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $3,951,000 in smart grid projects.

South Dakota/Iowa/Minnesota

  • Sioux Valley - Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Inc - $39,098,000. Funds will be used to serve over 1,400 consumers, build and improve 618 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $3,585,806 in smart grid projects.

South Dakota/Montana/North Dakota

  • Grand Electric Cooperative, Inc. -$14,164,000. Funds will be used to serve 153 consumers, build and improve 185 miles of distribution line and 1 mile of transmission line and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $1,480,903 in smart grid projects.

Texas

  • Comanche County Electric Cooperative Association - $18,469,000. Funds will be used to serve 1,068 customers, build and improve 143 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $6,551,790 in smart grid projects.

Virginia

  • Southside Electric Cooperative - $44,881,000. Funds will be used to serve 1,460 customers, build and improve over 700 miles of distribution line and 9 miles of transmission line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $7,352,881 in smart grid projects.

Funding is provided by USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). The loans help electric utilities upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural America's electric infrastructure. USDA Rural Development also supports energy conservation and renewable energy projects.

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 and strengthening 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, has an active portfolio of more than $170 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.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

#
10 Aug 2012

Upcoming events at the German American Heritage Center

By Janet Brown-Lowe
Dr. David Ellis presents
"First Servant of the State: Frederick the Great's Leadership and Legacy in War and Politics"
Dear friend of GAHC,

Come to the German American Heritage Center this weekend for a great presentation! Don't forget about our bus trip on August 25th to Cedar Rapids and also to RSVP for our member dinner on Sept. 18th at the Outing Club!
Sunday, August 12th at 2pm! Free for members!
Following Kai Swanson's talk two weeks ago on Frederick the Great's musical talents, GAHC is presenting Dr. David Ellis, professor of history at Augustana, and his talk on this legendary leader's military and political career. Please Join us for this interesting discussion on one of history's most notable characters!
Art Nouveau exhibition bus trip to Cedar Rapids!
Join GAHC as we travel to Cedar Rapids to visit the newly renovated National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. We will see such highlights as the celebrated exhibit Alphose Mucha: Inspirations of Art Nouveau as well as the recently restored textile collection in It All Comes Out in the Wash. The trip will be on Saturday, August 25th from 9 am to 5pm. The cost is $50 for members and $60 for non-members.

Call 563-322-8844 today to reserve your spot! This is a chance you do not want to miss! Visit http://www.ncsml.org/ for more information on the exhibits and http://gahc.org/CedarRapidsBusTrip.htm for more information on the trip!
10 Aug 2012

Another trillion dollars closer to the fiscal cliff

By Rick Manning
By Rick Manning

The Congressional Budget Office provided a glimpse at the 10-month mark of the federal fiscal year 2012, and the results are grim.

Outlays are virtually the same through 10 months of 2012 as they were in 2011 at $3 trillion and revenues collected during this same period are slightly higher at approximately $2 trillion.  This means that our nation is guaranteed to run another trillion dollar-plus budget deficit this year.

The nitty gritty numbers show that in the federal fiscal spending year ending Sept. 30, 2011, the government ended up spending more than $3.6 trillion with revenues of $2.3 trillion leaving a $1.3 trillion deficit ? that's $1,300,000,000,000.00.  If laid end to end, 1.3 trillion dollar bills would go around the circumference of the earth 5,040 times.

If the spending and revenue of the first 10 months of FY12 continue at the same rate through the end of the year, FY12 will be slightly less disastrous with outlays projected to hold steady at $3.6 trillion while revenues increase to $2.4 trillion leaving a $1.2 trillion deficit give or take $50 billion.

That makes four consecutive years that Obama has presided over a budget deficit in excess of $1.2 trillion and more than $5 trillion added to the deficit on his watch.

The chart below from the Office of Management and Budget demonstrate the reality of the budget wars in D.C. and provides some small hope to those who have been frustrated by House Republicans' seeming inability to win the spending battle.  If there is solace to be found, the fact that actual outlays are a full $200 billion short of Administration estimates is some small win.  It is this flattening of the outlays that is largely responsible for the meager reduction of our exploding deficit that was accomplished.

Before our nation's budget cutters go howling in the streets declaring victory is near, if this Congress had just held spending to the same levels as they were the year they were elected, the budget deficit would have dropped by around $150 billion more.

While Obama flies courtesy of the taxpayer around the country declaring a need for higher taxes, the point that he hopes no one notices is that during the Clinton Administration tax revenues only exceeded $2 trillion one time in his last year FY 2000, but in that year, outlays were under $1.8 trillion. Today, revenues are projected to have grown by 20 percent since 2000, while outlays have doubled in those 12 years.

Get full story here.

10 Aug 2012

Drought Webinar Looks at Grain Quality and Marketing Options

By Amanda Heitz
AMES, Iowa - Iowa crop and livestock producers are invited to attend an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach webinar Tuesday, Aug. 21 from 1 to 3 pm to learn about grain quality issues and marketing options related to drought. There is no charge to attend the webinar.

"As we near harvest, the attention has shifted to grain quality issues," said Virgil Schmitt, Extension Field Agronomist. "ISU Extension and Outreach specialists will talk about the quality issues farmers can expect, their marketing options, and how crop insurance will address reduced value. Just as important, livestock producers should be prepared for potential feeding challenges
of off-quality grain."

In addition, ISU Extension and Outreach specialists will look to the future and provide the outlook for crop and livestock prices. They also will discuss planning for the 2013 crop, including land lease considerations and the impact of drought on fall fertility decisions for the 2013 crop, Schmitt said.

Farm safety considerations during drought also will be discussed.

County extension offices around the state are hosting the webinar. In east central Iowa, the webinar can be viewed at the Durant Community Center, 606 5th Ave., Durant. Extension Field Agronomist, Virgil Schmitt will be facilitating the meeting along with Bob Owen, Regional Director for east central Iowa. The meeting is being sponsored by the Cedar, Clinton, Muscatine and Scott County Extension offices, and Kent Feeds.

Extension agriculture program specialists will facilitate the program at each site. Time has been allowed for questions and answers following the presentations. The webinar will be recorded and made available on the ISU Extension and Outreach website www.extension.iastate.edu/.

To find other hosting sites, contact your County extension office or go to the web site indicated above.

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