The national crime wave that stunned the nation earlier this spring - coast-to-coast thefts of Tide laundry detergent and its use in illicit drug buys - didn't surprise Kris Anderson.

"Laundry detergent can be expensive and it's a product just about everyone values - even drug dealers," says Anderson, president of Country Save Corp. (www.countrysave.com), maker of all-natural laundry and dish detergents.

"But it's not just stores getting ripped off; it's consumers. Anyone who buys laundry detergent and doesn't pay close attention when they scoop it ends up using too much," Anderson says. "Not only is it a fallacy to believe that more soap will make your clothes cleaner, it's a huge waste of money and it's actually bad for your clothes."

Almost every brand of detergent has a declaration of loads per box on its packaging, he says. And for almost every brand, the number on the box does not match the scooper size provided in the box.

Anderson, whose environmentally safe Country Save laundry detergent is also distributed by the Department of Defense to all soldiers in the field, offers these facts about using your detergent prudently and economically.

• Don't just fill up the scoop and dump it in the washer. "You definitely won't get the maximum number of loads from the box," Anderson says. "For instance, if you use Ultra Tide's 40-load box and fill the scoop for every load, you'll get just 15 scoops per box." Instead, he says, put on your glasses, if necessary, and look at the lines on the side of the scoop. The top line, for a full load, is usually well below the lip of the scoop. Highlight the lines with a dark-colored marker to help you avoid the problem in the future. If you have soft water, using half the recommended amount is sufficient.

• Too much soap causes clothes to fade faster. Over-use of detergent is actually the leading cause of fading. Clothing may also acquire a thin, filmy layer of soap because your washer can't thoroughly rinse the fabric. Do you tend to be itchy? It could be you're wearing your detergent!

• Too much soap's not good for your washing machine, either. Excess soap can gum up the works as soap deposits and lint form in your washing machine. These can contribute to mold - and its accompanying stench; they can plug up filters and other openings; and they can lead to mechanical breakdowns. In some machines, you may also end up wasting (and spending more for) water as the machine spins into extended cycles in an effort to remove the soap.

• Run a test load to see if you're over-soaping. Run a load with clothes only - no detergent. Do you see suds? That's an indication of how much detergent you are wearing.

• Reduce pollutants by using an all-natural detergent. While Country Save had the first phosphate-free detergent on the market back in 1977, many companies have now removed the additive because of its harmful effects on rivers, lakes and other fresh water. However, most companies continue to use other additives, such as optic brighteners, fragrances and dyes, Anderson says. "The more often consumers choose the most natural products, the better off our environment will be - even if some people still use too much!

About Country Save Detergent

Country Save became the nation's first phosphate-free detergent when Elmer Pearson - creator of Elmer's Glue -- introduced it in 1977. A chemist and environmentalist, he developed Country Save products without animal testing or animal byproducts. They're designed to be environmentally safe and they're recommended for people with sensitive skin. The line also includes dish detergent and oxygen-powered powdered bleach. Find Country Save products on the company's website and amazon.com.

Aprile Goodman and Deb Pumphrey of Mason City and Jo Stumo and Alan Steckman of Mason City were in Washington, D.C. for an advocates' conference.  Local CASA -- or Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children -- programs train volunteers who are asked by the court to represent the best interests of children in certain child welfare-related cases.

"For all of the policy improvements Congress makes, it's the people in the field who make the policies work," Grassley said.  "Those who spend time waiting at courthouses and weeding through paperwork at child welfare agencies make a tremendous positive difference.  These advocates wade right in and take part, not for glory but out of regard for the quality of life for every child."

Pumphrey, Goodman, Sutmo, Grassley and Steckman are pictured here.

Grassley was honored this year along with Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.  Grassley is Ranking Member and Leahy is Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Here is information from the CASA website.

Children's Champions in Congress

Every four years, the National CASA Association recognizes members of Congress who are strong and powerful voices for children served by CASA/GAL volunteers. This year, we are proud to honor and acknowledge Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Chuck Grassley.

US Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Senator Grassley has a long history of fighting for the rights of abused and neglected children. First elected to the US House of Representatives in 1974, he has focused on many issues that affect foster youth, including educational stability, substance abuse, and the over-prescription of psychotropic drugs. He also has worked on several adoption-related policies, including the adoption tax credit, kinship, and adoption awareness resolutions.

Senator Grassley worked to advance the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. Since its enactment, adoptions have increased to 54,000 per year, and many states have doubled their adoptions from foster care. He was a leader in the bipartisan effort to pass the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008. The act included Senator Grassley's legislation to make it easier for foster children to be permanently cared for by their own relatives, including grandparents and aunts and uncles, and to stay in their own home communities.

In 2009, Senator Grassley formed the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth with Sen. Mary Landrieu. The caucus provides a voice for foster youth in shaping the policies that affect their quality of life. The caucus has a special focus on older youth who need continued support as they age out of the system.

Most recently, Senator Grassley worked to reauthorize grants that support families who struggle with substance abuse and that improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children who are not in their homes or are likely to be removed from their homes because of substance abuse by their parents.

Senator Grassley will be honored during the State of CASA Luncheon on Sunday, June 10.

US Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont

Senator Patrick Leahy of Middlesex, VT, was elected to the United States Senate in 1974. He has a long history of standing up for women's safety and advocating for improvements in health and education that prepare children for success.

Senator Leahy is a defender of attacks on Head Start funding; a supporter of initiatives that improve access to and quality of special education; and a champion of childhood nutrition programs.

He is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In 2011, Senator Leahy introduced the recently passed Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA). The bill strengthens and improves programs authorized under the landmark law to assist victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Additionally, reauthorization of funding for the CASA program is included in VAWA.

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act also emphasizes the need to provide services and support to all victims of domestic and sexual violence. The bill helps to ensure access to services for all victims of domestic violence, mandating that victims seeking assistance cannot be denied services based on gender identity or sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability.

Senator Leahy will be honored during the Awards of Excellence Luncheon Monday, June 11.

http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.8104357/k.202B/Childrens_Champions_in_Congress.htm#.T9aVhINSx_g.twitter

DES MOINES, IA (06/12/2012)(readMedia)-- The Blue Ribbon Foundation will host the sixteenth annual Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party on Saturday, July 14 in the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the event's sixteenth year, with a focus on the Fair's sweet treats! "It's a Sweet Thing" to be a part of a night filled with exciting auction packages, entertainment and all of your favorite Fair foods, while helping to raise funds to restore the Iowa State Fairgrounds!

The live and silent auctions are filled with enticing packages. Take in the U.S. Cellular 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series in suite seats at the Iowa Speedway on August 4. See the Iowa State Fair in a new light with a behind the scenes tour of the Fairgrounds. Or, go backstage to meet Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, the Eli Young Band and Edens Edge, plus see their concert from the front row!

The Corndog Kickoff has been a pre-fair tradition since it began in 1997. First held in Pioneer Hall, 480 people were in attendance. Since then, the event has grown to raise over $2.3 million for the restoration and preservation of the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The 2011 event brought in a crowd of 1,300 and raised a record high of $280,000!

"The Kickoff continues to grow and we are looking forward to another great year," said John Putney, executive director of the Blue Ribbon Foundation. "This event plays a vital role in our fundraising efforts to preserve and improve the Iowa State Fairgrounds and we are grateful for all of the support."

Take advantage of the advance ticket price by ordering now. All inclusive Corndog Kickoff tickets are $75 each until June 30. After that date, tickets will be $100. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800) 450-3732, online at www.blueribbonfoundation.org or at the door the night of the event.

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $85 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. For more information on the Corndog Kickoff, please contact the Foundation at (800) 450-3732 or bluerf@blueribbonfoundation.org.

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Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, asked Attorney General Eric Holder about Operation Fast and Furious at a hearing today.   Grassley has been conducting an inquiry on the topic for the past year and a half.   Grassley made the following comment after the hearing.

"Attorney General Holder sounded willing to negotiate over releasing documents.  That's fine if the offer isn't hollow.  We've been talking for a year and a half.  A show of good faith would be to produce the documents in question.

"On an important factual note, the Attorney General said then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey was briefed on gun walking in Operation Wide Receiver and did absolutely nothing.  There is no evidence of that.  Documents show Attorney General Mukasey was briefed about a different case with a controlled delivery.  Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, on the other hand, did learn about gun walking in Operation Wide Receiver and did absolutely nothing.  These facts are critical, and the nation's top law enforcement officer should take care to get them right."

Attorney General Holder's comment about a prior attorney general and Operation Wide Receiver is available at 1:36:04 in the video here.

More details on the Justice Department's lack of action on the revelations regarding Operation Wide Receiver are available here.