28 Jun 2012

Civil War Sesquicentennial Exhibition to Open at the Library of Congress Nov. 12

By Audrey Fischer

Rare Documents, Artifacts to Reveal Human Side of the Civil War

To commemo­rate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Library of Congress will present "The Civil War in America," a major exhibition opening Nov. 12.

More than 175 unique items?many never before on public view?from the Library's unparalleled Civil War collections, will be featured in the exhibition. "The Civil in America" will be free and open to the public, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, from Nov. 12, 2012, to May 23, 2013, in the Southwest Exhibition Gallery of the Thomas Jefferson Building at 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. The exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the James Madison Council. Additional funding is provided by Union Pacific Corporation, the Liljenquist family and AARP.

"The Civil War in America" will tell the story of the nation's greatest military and political upheaval. Through diaries, letters, maps, song sheets, newspapers and broadsides, photographs, drawings and unusual artifacts, the exhibition will chronicle the sacrifices and accomplishments of those?from both the North and South?whose lives were lost or affected by the events of 1861-1865.

The exhibition will reveal the complexity of the Civil War through those who experienced it first-hand. It will feature pivotal documents, such as Lincoln's own reading copy of the second Inaugural Address and Confederate Major Jedediah Hotchkiss's strategic map made for Stonewall Jackson's historic Shenandoah campaign, together with little-known gems, including the poignant diary of Georgia teenager LeRoy Gresham and moving war accounts penned by Union veterans who lost limbs in the war. The exhibition will offer a human perspective on the war and shed new light on the many ways that this terrible conflict helped shape the American people and the nation.

Companion programming is planned by multiple divisions throughout the Library and will be announced in the coming months.

"The Civil War in America" is the centerpiece of the Library's commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. To mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the war?April 12, 1861 at Fort Sumter, S.C.?the Library featured nearly 400 ambrotype and tintype photographs of both Union and Confederate soldiers in an exhibition titled "The Last Full Measure: Civil War Photos from the Liljenquist Family Collection." The exhibition, which was on display April 12 to Aug. 13, 2011, may be viewed online at http://myloc.gov/exhibitions/civilwarphotographs/.

A Library-sponsored conference held last spring focused on the accomplishments of Civil War cartographers and topographic engineers from a multi-disciplinary perspective, and provided new insight into how their maps were used during one of the most difficult periods in U.S. history. The conference, titled "Re-Imagining the U.S. Civil War: Reconnaissance, Surveying and Cartography," can be viewed online at www.loc.gov/webcasts/.

The Library, in association with Little, Brown and Company, published "The Library of Congress Illustrated Timeline of the Civil War" by Margaret E. Wagner, with an introduction by historian Gary W. Gallagher. The 240-page, hardcover volume, with more than 350 color illustrations, is a companion volume to the upcoming exhibition. It is available for $35 in bookstores nationwide and at the Library of Congress Shop, Washington, D.C., 20540-4985. Credit-card orders are taken at (888) 682-3557, or shop on the Internet at www.loc.gov/shop/.

The Library of Congress, the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world, holds more than 151 million items in various languages, disciplines, and formats. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs, publications and exhibitions. Many of the Library's rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov.

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28 Jun 2012

Six Iowa Farm Families to be Recognized at the Iowa State Fair

By Lori Chappell

DES MOINES, IA (06/28/2012)(readMedia)-- Six Iowa farm families will be honored as recipients of The Way We Live Award at the 2012 Iowa State Fair. Each family will be recognized for their love of the land and the product they produce in an individual award ceremony during the Fair. "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair, set for August 9-19.

The Way We Live Award recognizes industrious Iowa families who demonstrate a daily dedication to animal agriculture and exemplify farm values derived from hard work and a love for the occupation of farming. Entrants were asked to submit a short essay describing how living on a farm and choosing the occupation of farming has shaped their family's life. Six recipients of the award were chosen from a pool of 75 entries representing a variety of commodities and locations throughout Iowa.

Each family will receive a prize package including $250 cash, Fair admission tickets, parking, Fair food tickets, and recognition in the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center during the Fair. The Way We Live Award is sponsored by NewsRadio 1040 WHO and Tractor Supply Company.

Benning Family

Ackley

Keith and Dar Benning live on the same farm now that they bought when they got married. Instead of attending college, Keith followed in his father's footsteps and pursued the farm life. Keith and Dar's three children did the same, and each of them were involved in 4-H and FFA in high school and showed at the Fair. Their two sons, Brad and Darin, have married and started families of their own, with both of their young sons already eager to join the farming operation.

Brad moved into his grandparent's house near Keith and Dar. Darin bought land close by and built a house. Between the three farms, they own 1400 acres, with four hog confinement barns, cattle and chickens. Keith, Brad and Darin work in the fields, keep up with maintenance and tend to the livestock. Dar and her two daughters-in-law help out with yard work, cooking and raising their young families. To the Bennings, farming is life and there is no other career they would rather be doing.

Henry Family

Indianola

Keith and Marie Henry not only share their love of farming with their own family, but they also open their home to share that love and understanding with others in their community. After over 25 years of marriage, they have established a farrowing operation and a several hundred acre farm. Keith has worked hard to establish a working relationship between his children and his father, Edwin Henry, and his uncle, Dale Henry. The multigenerational knowledge that flows between these three generations benefits all. The farrowing is done in conjunction with a family farm operation that includes cattle, hogs and crops. Keith and his children provide all the labor hours that are necessary to maintain the farm. As one of the few farrowing operations in Warren County, Keith has done all he can to promote this practice with other county youth.

Keith and Marie also spend their time teaching children who don't live on farms about agriculture. They volunteer to lead 4-H clubs and help with the Warren County Fair, and their four children (Lexie, Allison, Megan and Jordan) are all award winning members of 4-H and FFA and are working toward degrees in farming careers. The children are an intricate part of this operation and have serious responsibilities on the farm. Keith and Marie took their love for the farming community to a new level when their church, Farmers Chapel, burned down. They led the effort to rebuild the church and dedicated their time to those around them. The Henrys believe it is important to help involve the community in understanding what it means to farm and how important it is to our country.

Olthoff Family

Stanhope

Several years ago Bart Olthoff worked as a lab technician at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames and Katie, his wife, worked as a teacher. They had a desire to raise their children in the country but had no set plan. The opportunity to buy a turkey farm came up in 2009 and the couple couldn't pass it up. Bart's dad and grandfather had raised turkeys but timing did not allow Bart to continue in the turkey business. Since 2009, they have been living in the country raising their two children, Adam (3) and Isaac (1).

Although they are new to the farm world, Bart and Katie are fully embracing their new country life. Bart built tunnel ventilated turkey barns, using the latest energy efficiency and technology to keep his turkeys comfortable and well cared for. Bart and Katie hosted an open house with the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers to celebrate the third generation of the family turkey farm. Katie has a blog (www.onthebanksofsquawcreek.com), Facebook page and Twitter account to connect with people and educate them about her farm life, family and home. "There are lots of risks involved, but we feel that the financial benefits are nothing compared to raising our kids on a farm in this lifestyle," says Katie. Katie is also participating in a volunteer program called Common Ground, a social media effort sponsored by the United Soybean Board and the National Corn Growers Association, where she connects with other moms through social media and to answer questions about how farmers grow our food.

Ronnebaum Family

Earlville

For more than 30 years, Delbert and Darlene Ronnebaum farmed land that's been in their family since 1941. It's where they raised their five children, taught them about agriculture and dairy farming and built such close bonds with neighbors that they're considered family. Today all of their children live within five miles of the two family farms and are passing down the farming knowledge to their own kids.

Delbert has been a long-time member of the American Legion Post 136 in Dyersville and was awarded the Delaware County Distinguished Dairy Farmer Award in 2009. In addition to helping Delbert with both farms, Darlene also has worked at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester for 23 years as a nurse.

The Ronnebaums were nominated by their neighbor, Jill Lantermans. "Having grown up on a dairy farm next to one of Delbert's farms, I've known his family my entire life," she says. "He's the first one to come pulling into your field if the rain is coming and you are frantically trying to finish your fieldwork. If there's something you need and he has it - it's yours. No questions asked. If someone has a fire, storm damage, is suffering with an illness or death in the family, he's there right away offering his help."

Sager Family

Atlantic

Mick and LaVon Sager both grew up on family farms in southwest Iowa, learning to care for beef, sheep and hogs, and maintaining the land for future generations. When it came time to raise a family of their own, they chose to raise their four children (Whitney, Heather, Jordan and Tucker) on the farm where Mick grew up. As a family, they care for their farm of 55 sheep, 38 feeder calves, 210 chickens, 20 turkeys and 2 llamas.

Sisters Whitney, Heather and Jordan have each begun raising their own sheep flock. They trade labor for feed from their dad to help lower their operation costs, and they have all earned the American FFA Degree for their sheep-raising efforts, the highest degree awarded by the FFA. Tucker began his own egg selling business. He sells more than 40 dozen eggs each week to local customers who are looking for farm fresh, free-range chicken eggs. Only when all the animals are fed and settled in for the night, does this farming family's day end.

Mick and LaVon, both former 4-H and FFA members, volunteer their time and leadership to the clubs their children are involved in. LaVon has served as a 4-H leader for the past 15 years and served as a fairgrounds committee member for 4 years. Together Mick and LaVon served as the county fair poultry superintendents for two consecutive years. The Sagers understand the important role today's youth play in the future of agriculture. The children are able to take the lessons they learned on the farm and apply those lessons in their everyday lives at school and work.

Kent Timmerman

Cherokee

Kent and Natasha Timmerman both grew up on farms, working alongside their dads when they were young. Natasha vowed she'd never marry a farmer but Kent changed her plans. Natasha met Kent in college and the two quickly immersed themselves in a farming life of their own. When Kent's dad died in a tragic ATV accident, Kent took over the whole farming operation and has managed it for the last 14 years. The couple bought Kent's grandfather's home and started a new generation of Timmerman cattlemen with their three children (Cole, Trey and Ally).

Kent's true passion is his cattle, and he takes every opportunity to share this love with his two boys. The boys have shown their bottle calves at the county fair for the past few years, and they help dad and ride along in the tractor. Kent is up at all hours checking calves, working the fields, baling hay or helping others in the community with their farms. Natasha is an elementary school teacher, and she makes sure her farm boys are well fed when she gets home. Kent Timmerman is dedicated to their herd of cattle and managing their crops.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

28 Jun 2012

Strategies to Manage Cows in Drought Conditions

By Amanda Heitz

As the drought continues, cattlemen need to look at numerous management practices to help stretch their feed supply and maintain performance and reproduction in the cow herd. Here are a few strategies that may help.

First, develop a plan before the drought conditions get any worse. How do you plan to provide emergency feed in the short-term, as well as winter feed in the longer term? This requires an inventory of feed currently available and an inventory of the cow herd. You can often purchase hay less expensively during the growing season than in the winter. You also have the option now to incorporate silage into your winter feed supply.

Second, give your pasture some rest. Consider splitting your pasture into smaller paddocks and sacrificing one to use with supplemental feed. Allowing the other paddocks to rest and regrow when rain occurs this fall will probably result in more fall forage available to the cow herd. Also rotational grazing reduces selectivity in a cow's grazing habit, enhances forage utilization rate, and can improve pasture carrying capacity by 10 to 30%.

Consider weaning calves early. This will reduce the demand on the pasture forage by 25-35% and will reduce the nutritional demands of the cow by 30-40%. Creep feeding calves can help reduce the demand on the pasture slightly and will help prepare the young calf for weaning.

Cull all free-loader cows. Any late-calving cows, open cows, cows with feet, leg, and eye or udder problems should be sold immediately. Why waste precious feed on cows that don't perform?

Finally, get your winter feeds lined up soon. Whether you need to locate a custom chopper or bagger to chop your silage, or you need to lay out fence for grazing standing corn, it is much easier to do now that at the last minute.

More information on cow management strategies during a drought, or forage planning, can be found on the Iowa Beef Center web site at www.iowabeefcenter.org/droughtresources.html or by calling the Benton County Extension office at 319-472-4739, or Denise Schwab, ISU Extension Beef Program Specialist, at 319-721-9624.

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28 Jun 2012

ISU Extension and Outreach Calendar June 28

By Amanda Heitz
28 Jun 2012

Reactions to the Supreme Court ruling on Healthcare Decision

By Various sources

Schilling Statement on the Supreme Court's Health Care Ruling
"Illinoisans deserve policies that reduce the cost of care and improve its quality without increasing taxes"

Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) released the following statement after the Supreme Court announced its ruling to uphold the President's health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in its entirety, ruling that its individual mandate is a tax:

"Like many folks throughout Illinois' 17th Congressional District I'm disappointed by today's ruling, but the fact is that the President's health care law will cost trillions of dollars while doing absolutely nothing to address the rising cost of health care," Schilling said. "The opportunity remains for folks in Washington to come together in support of policies that address the rising cost of health care and put patients and their doctors back in charge of health care decisions, without this tax.  I will continue working to roll back the harmful parts of this law so we can get health care reform done right.  We can start over and in a transparent fashion work to enact bipartisan, step-by-step reforms that guarantee folks in Illinois and throughout the country are able to access health care that is affordable, convenient, and high quality."

Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, health insurance premiums continued to rise.  - while President Obama once promised that premiums would fall by an average of $2,500, but they have already risen by $2,213 during his administration.  Despite its major provisions not taking full effect until 2014, it has been estimated that the President's health care reform law has already added more than 12,000 pages of regulations and Federal Register notices.  It also creates as many as 159 new commissions, boards, and programs.  

The Administration argued repeatedly as it was working to advance the President's health care reform law that its individual mandate (which required nearly all Americans to purchase health insurance) was permissible under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, and that it wasn't a tax.  The Supreme Court ruled today, however, that the penalty a person must pay if they refuse to purchase health insurance is a tax that Congress can impose using its tax authority.  Under this ruling, the individual mandate survives as a tax, now leaving Americans with the choice between paying either higher insurance premiums or a massive tax.   

The House of Representatives has voted 30 times over the last year and a half on various proposals to repeal, defund, or dismantle the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  Furthermore, five pieces of the law have been repealed or had their funding rescinded.  Click here to view Schilling's plan for quality, convenient, patient-centered, and truly affordable health care.

"True health care reform shouldn't raid Medicare, ignore the skyrocketing costs of care, limit the private sector's ability to grow jobs, and put unelected bureaucrats between patients and their doctors," Schilling said. "The time is now to work together and advance policies to save Medicare for our kids and grandkids, make care more affordable, provide the private sector with the confidence necessary to hire our unemployed friends and family, and put patients and doctors back in charge of their health care decisions."

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To send Congressman Schilling an e-mail, click here

Braley Statement on Supreme Court Healthcare Decision

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act:

"The Supreme Court got it right today.  This decision is good news for the middle class and affordable healthcare.  It makes me think of thousands of Iowans like my nephew, Tucker.  Tucker survived a fight with liver cancer at age 2 because his family had health insurance.  But his parents lived in constant fear of losing their jobs because Tucker would be denied new insurance due to his pre-existing condition.  The healthcare reform law ended those fears -- and this decision means many other critical reforms will stay in place.

"From allowing 18,000 Iowans to stay on their parents' insurance up to age 26, to requiring insurance companies cover screenings for diseases like breast cancer, to saving Iowa seniors hundreds of dollars per year on their Medicare prescription drugs, the law's positive impact on Iowa is just beginning to be felt.

"It's not a perfect law.  That's why I'll be working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to improve it and make it better."

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Branstad and Reynolds release statements on Supreme Court ruling

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released the following statements on the United States Supreme Court ruling of Obamacare.

Gov. Branstad:

"Today, the Supreme Court handed down a disastrous decision to uphold President Obama's destructive health care law, which means a future of higher costs, higher taxes, and increasing debt for Iowans.  The current health care system is nothing but a federal takeover and continues to exceed its budgeted amount every day.  But, as Governor Romney has said many times, no matter what may happen in Court, the American people must remain vigilant in their fight to repeal the law. Our goal is for Iowa to become the healthiest state in the country and to do so Iowans will need to take ownership of their own health to reduce health care costs and lead healthier lives."

Lt. Gov. Reynolds:

"America needs real health care reform and we need Governor Romney in Washington. Gov. Romney will enact real reforms to ensure that the future of Iowa and America as a whole can replace Obamacare with solutions that put Iowans in control of their own health care and preserve the economic future of Iowa's next generation. "

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Loebsack Statement on the Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued their decision on the Affordable Care Act.

"Today's decision will bring stability and certainty to Iowans as they make critical health care choices for themselves and their families.  It maintains protections for those who have pre-existing conditions, ensures no Iowan will be denied coverage, and that young Iowans can stay on their parents' health care plans until they are 26.  Additionally, this ruling affirms that preventative care will be provided without a co-payment, and that those who lose their jobs will not lose their coverage.  It also prevents women from being charged higher premiums simply because they are female, and prohibits pregnancy from being treated as a pre-existing condition.  Further, the Medicare prescription drug donut hole will be completely closed by 2020, through reforms that are already saving our seniors $650 each this year.

"As we move forward, the bill is not perfect and I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the Affordable Care Act is enacted in a way that will reduce health care costs and help bring stability to Iowans during these difficult economic times."

 

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Statement from Lt. Governor Simon on Supreme Court decision

CHICAGO - June 28, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act:

"The Affordable Care Act is a good law. It helps seniors, young adults and middle class Americans receive stronger, more affordable care. It promotes preventive care, such as checkups and mammograms. And it prevents insurance companies from denying care to people with pre-existing conditions or charging women more based on their gender. The Supreme Court ruling today upholds these commonsense protections and puts our country on a healthier path. In Illinois, I encourage our state leaders to use this ruling as a backdrop as we set policies to make our citizens healthier, train the next generation of health care workers, grow local food systems and find other opportunities to move our state forward."

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Governor Quinn Statement on Supreme Court Decision Upholding Affordable Care Act

CHICAGO ­- June 28, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement hailing today's decision of the United States Supreme Court to uphold the federal Affordable Care Act.

"Today is a great day for Illinois and a great day for our country. This decision means that millions of working families across Illinois will continue to receive better healthcare.

"These historic reforms that are strengthening our healthcare system will continue to benefit young people, those with pre-existing conditions and care providers.

"We took a big step forward today as a nation and state, and I will continue to work with President Obama to help working families get the healthcare coverage they need."

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28 Jun 2012

Fortune Magazine on Fast and Furious

By Grassley Press
Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Fortune magazine piece on Operation Fast and Furious is problematic in several respects.   Sen. Chuck Grassley began investigating the circumstances of the death of border patrol agent Brian Terry 18 months ago after whistleblowers came to him with concerns.  The following statement is from Grassley's office.  Supporting documents are available here.

"The Fortune piece conspicuously ignores the most important fact in this case: ATF encouraged cooperating dealers to sell guns to known traffickers.  That fact is key to understanding how ATF made a strategic choice to track the guns instead of stop them.  The central claim of the article, that there was nothing ATF could have done to stop the illegal sales, is simply incompatible with the evidence.  If it is true that ATF could not interdict and seize weapons due to legal hurdles beyond its control, then ATF had no business telling gun dealers to go ahead with the sales.

"The Fortune article asks the reader to believe that sworn statements by whistleblowers who put their careers on the line to expose the truth for Brian Terry's family are merely conspiratorial fabrications for the sole purpose of getting back at their boss.  It asks the reader to believe that the ATF Director, the Attorney General, the White House, and Congress all fell victim to the fabrication and completely misinterpreted or misunderstood the thousands of pages of documents that corroborate the whistleblower allegations. The Justice Department retracted its previous denials of those allegations last December 2.  If the Fortune article is accurate, the Justice Department's December 2 retraction would itself be a false capitulation under political pressure aimed at protecting senior DOJ officials at the expense of ATF field office personnel in Arizona.

"The Fortune article inexplicably credits the self-serving statements of the supervisors in Arizona responsible for overseeing Fast and Furious.  There is no explanation as to why, given their obvious motive to claim there was no gun-walking to save themselves from criticism and punishment.  That's why the written records, the interviews on the record, and obtaining and weighing all evidence is so important.  We can only draw fair, informed conclusions from the facts."
28 Jun 2012

Celebrate Summer on the Water at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

By Beenders-Walker Group
FOR AQUA FUN, SEE AQUAPALOOZA ...

Hit a summer celebration high-water mark with AquaPalooza, the Lake's largest family-fun boating party, July 21 at Dog Days Bar & Grill (on land at 1232 Jeffries Road or the 19 mile marker on the water) in Osage Beach. Experience a free, live concert with four bands (including Australian country-music trio The McClymonts and AC/DC tribute band Hells Bells), contests, games, T-shirt giveaways, a live radio broadcast and special promotions throughout the day. Bring your family, your friends and float on the water in a boat, raft or tube. Or if you're a land lover, enjoy AquaPalooza with your crew inside the cool and dry comfort of Dog Days Bar & Grill. Admission is free. AquaPalooza 2012 is sponsored by Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association, Budweiser, Benne Media and Dog Days Bar & Grill. For more information, visit LOMDABoats.com, text "BOAT" to 22828, or call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).
WINES & BREWS ...

Wine and beer aficionados, unite and sample the works of some of Missouri's best wineries and breweries at the Midwest Wine and Brew Festival on Aug. 11. The event is presented by the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Country Club Hotel & Spa in Lake Ozark. Over a dozen wineries and microbreweries will have their wares on display to sample and purchase. Lake-area restaurants also will be on hand to offer light fare as a perfect complement to the wine and brew samples. Festival advance tickets are available for $15 and will include a tasting of all of the wines and beers, as well as a souvenir wine glass. Tickets bought the day of the festival are $20. For more information, call the Lake Area Chamber at 573-964-1008.
MASTER YOUR (WATER)CRAFT AT THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS ...

Your boat is welcome at the Lake of the Ozarks! Speedboats, fishing boats, pontoon boats and personal watercraft are all ways to have some relaxing summer fun at one of Missouri's largest lakes. There are nine public access boat ramps available for use at the Lake and if you're staying the night, most of the area's lodging facilities have their own boat docks. Don't have a boat? Don't worry. Watercraft can be rented by the hour or the day at most of the Lake of the Ozarks' resorts or marinas. For more about how to get out on the water or for a list of hotels and resorts with boat docks, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit the Bureau's website, FunLake.com.
TOP GUNS AT TOP SPEED ...

RC BoatIf one has the need for speed, there will be as much velocity as a fan of the throttle can handle at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, Aug. 25-26 at Captain Ron's Bar & Grill in Sunrise Beach. The event features more than 100 boats competing to be named the lake's fastest boat, racing against the clock in individual runs. Last year, Bill Tomlinson and Ken Kehoe captured the event's "Top Gun" title and electrified the crowd with a course record-tying speed of 208 mph. The timed runs take two days to complete and are the unquestioned Main Event, but the Shootout festivities stretch over nine days including a variety of activities for the whole family. Among this year's events during the week-plus of revelry are: a Class One R/C Mini Shootout for remote controlled boats (Aug. 18), a benefit golf tournament (Aug. 19), The Great Shootout Treasure Hunt (Aug. 20), The Shootout Street Party (Aug. 22), The PWC Dam Run (Aug. 23), a poker run (Aug. 24) and much more fun for fans of all ages. For more information about the Shootout and for a full schedule of Shootout-related events, visit LakeoftheOzarksShootout.org.
LOOKING AHEAD...

Summer is loaded with fun fairs, festivals and events at the Lake of the Ozarks! For more information about getaway packages, lodging, dining, shopping, events and attractions throughout the Lake area, contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit the Bureau's website, FunLake.com.

 

July 13, August 10 & September 14

HOT SUMMER NIGHTS

Hot Summer Nights, a cruising series on the Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark, will feature all makes and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Visitors attending the event will enjoy classic cars, trucks and motorcycles, contests, giveaways, helicopter rides, live entertainment and much more. For more information about Hot Summer Nights, call 573-964-1008 or visit CruiseHotSummerNights.com.

 

August 4

The GREAT BAGNELL DAM DUCK DROP

Rubber duckies make Lake time lots of fun at The Great Bagnell Dam Duck Drop in Lake Ozark. In this distinctive event at Bagnell Dam, spectators "adopt a duck" (purchase numbered tickets) and then thousands of the familiar bathtub toys (with numbers corresponding to tickets) are unleashed from the air to splash down into the Osage River. The ducks "race" to the finish line. The first duck to cross the finish earns a lucky patron the grand prize of $5,000. Consolation prizes include $1,000 for second place and several Lake-area shopping cards for other finishers. The event also boasts a 5K Fun Run and Waddle Walk, live music and entertainment, a Family Fun Zone (complete with clowns, kids' games, bounce houses and puppet shows), and a variety of delicious food for sale. For more information, visit GreatDamDuckDrop.com or call 573-286-8291.

 

 

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28 Jun 2012

FRATERNITY MEN CYCLING ACROSS COUNTRY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RIDE INTO DAVENPORT!

By Joey Haynes

A Journey of Hope to Enhance the Quality of Life

 

 

DAVENPORT, IA- On Thursday, July 12, a team of cyclists participating in the 25th Journey of Hope, presented by KRG Capital, will arrive in Davenport as part of a nine-week, 4,000-mile cycling event across the country to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities.

That evening, the team will have dinner and a Friendship Visit with the City of Davenport Parks and Recreation at 6:00 p.m. location TBD.

Journey of Hope is a program of Push America, the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, which raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities. The Journey of Hope team consists of men from Pi Kappa Phi chapters across the country. The team will cycle an average of 75 miles per day, beginning in San Francisco and Seattle and ending in Washington, D.C. on August 5.

At stops across the country, the three routes (North, South and TransAmerica) will distribute grants directly to assist organizations in serving people with disabilities. For the team, the real journey will not be on a bike, but spending time with the people for whom they are riding. The Journey of Hope team members will spend every afternoon with people with disabilities in many different community events and activities. These men are striving for community inclusion of people with disabilities and are helping to break the barriers of society that keep people of all abilities from living life to the fullest.

This year marks Push America's 35th anniversary and Journey of Hope's 25th. The organization was founded in 1977 with the hope of committing its members to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. With the combined efforts of sponsors and individual team members, this year's Journey of Hope will raise more than $600,000 on behalf of people with disabilities. Push America and Pi Kappa Phi have raised over $15 million to date and continue to be on the cutting edge of the disability movement.

 

For more information about this event or more on Push America's summer programs, please contact Paul Willar at (704) 504-2400 ext. 234 or log on to www.pushamerica.org
28 Jun 2012

Governor Quinn Urges Residents to Stay Safe During Extreme Temperatures

By Leslie Wertheimer

Temperatures to Rise Over 100 Degrees; Governor Encourages Visits to Cooling Centers, Wellness Checks

CHICAGO - June 28, 2012. With temperatures around Illinois expected to rise above 100 degrees, Governor Pat Quinn today urged Illinois residents to take precautions to stay safe and cool. The Governor also encouraged residents to visit cooling centers and to check on family members and neighbors who are vulnerable to hot weather, including the elderly and children.

"These extreme temperatures can be fatal, so it is crucial that people take steps to stay safe and cool," Governor Quinn said. "Please avoid spending too much time outside, and visit one of the state's cooling centers if needed. If you have children, or elderly neighbors or relatives, please check on them regularly to make sure they are safe."

More than 120 cooling centers are open around Illinois, in order to help those without air conditioning find respite from the heat. The cooling centers are located at Illinois Department of Human Services offices throughout the state, as well as at Illinois Tollway Oases in the Chicago area. Cooling centers are open to the public during regular business hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the Illinois Department of Human Services hotline at (800) 843-6154, or visit, http://www2.illinois.gov/KeepCool/Pages/coolingcenters.aspx for locations.

Governor Quinn and the IDPH are encouraging Illinoisans to watch for signs of heat-related illnesses. Symptoms of heat-related illness include headaches, skin that is hot to the touch, increased body temperature, loss of consciousness, seizures and irregular heartbeats.

To stay cool and avoid illness, people should increase their fluid intake but avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol and sugar; decrease strenuous, outdoor physical activity; and remain in air-conditioning when possible.

The Illinois Department on Aging also encourages relatives and friends to make daily visits or calls to senior citizens living alone. When temperatures and humidity are extremely high, seniors and people with chronic health conditions should be monitored for dehydration and other effects of extreme heat. Additionally, seniors should eat lighter meals, take longer and more frequent rests, and drink plenty of fluids.

For information about heat preparedness, visit the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov.

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28 Jun 2012

Attract Birds & Butterflies No Matter What Size Your Landscape

By Diana Paul

by gardening expert, TV/radio host & author Melinda Myers

Add a little extra color and motion to your summer garden with containers designed to attract birds and butterflies. Many garden centers continue to sell annuals throughout the summer and many of these mid-season annuals are a bit bigger, providing instant impact.

It's easier than you think to attract birds and butterflies and the good news is you don't need a lot of space to do it.  Container gardens give you the ability to attract wildlife to your backyard, patio, deck or even balcony. Simply follow these four steps and your garden will be filled with color, motion and a season of wildlife.

1-      Provide food for birds and butterflies.  Include plants with flat daisy-like flowers like pentas, zinnias, and cosmos to attract butterflies. For hummingbirds, include some plants with tubular flowers including nicotiana, cuphea, salvia, and fuchsia. And don't forget about the hungry caterpillars that will soon turn into beautiful butterflies. Parsley, bronze fennel, and licorice vines are a few favorites that make great additions to container gardens. You can even create containers that will attract seed-eating birds. Purple Majesty millet, coneflower, coreopsis, and Rudbeckias will keep many of the birds returning to your landscape.

2-      Include water for both the birds and butterflies.  It's a key ingredient and a decorative small shallow container filled with water can be included in a large container.  Or include a free-standing birdbath within your container collection.  I used a bronzed leaf birdbath in just this way.  It created a great vertical accent, added interest to a blank wall and provided a water supply for the birds.

3-      Give them a place to live and raise their young. Add a few evergreens, ornamental grasses, and perennials to your container garden.  Use weather resistant containers that can tolerate the extreme heat and cold in your garden.  Then fill with plants that are at least one zone hardier.  Or add a few birdhouses.  These can be included in the container or mounted on a fence, post, or nearby tree.

4-      Skip the pesticides, please.  Nature, including the birds you invite into your landscape, will devour many garden pests.  Plus, the chemicals designed to kill the bad guys can also kill the good bugs and wildlife you are trying to attract.  And, if pests get out of hand, use more eco-friendly products like soaps, Neem, and horticulture oil as a control mechanism.  And, as always, read and follow label directions carefully.

And to conserve time and energy, try using one of the self-watering containers or hanging baskets that are on the market.  This helps to make it both easy and convenient when time constraints and vacations get in the way of providing ideal care.  I recently tried using one of the Gardener's Supply Easy Roller self-watering containers.  I filled one with wildlife-friendly petunias along with papyrus and golden moneywort.  After a five-day trip during hot dry weather I returned to find my container garden in great shape and hummingbirds visiting the flowers.

So gather your family and get started planting your wildlife container garden today.

Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can't Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment segments which air on over 115 TV and radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and writes the twice monthly "Gardeners' Questions" newspaper column. Melinda also has a column in Gardening How-to magazine.  Melinda hosted "The Plant Doctor" radio program for over 20 years as well as seven seasons of Great Lakes Gardener on PBS. She has written articles for Better Homes and Gardens and Fine Gardening and was a columnist and contributing editor for Backyard Living magazine.  Melinda has a master's degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist and was a horticulture instructor with tenure.  Her web site is www.melindamyers.com

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