27 Dec 2011

Iowa Farm Bureau Webinar to Discuss 2012 U.S. and Farm Economic Outlook

By Heather Lilienthal

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Dec. 22, 2011 - While the agricultural industry is helping to strengthen the state's overall economy, it's important for Iowa farmers to carefully manage risk and understand economic challenges and opportunities, says the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). IFBF will offer a 2012 U.S. and farm economic outlook webinar on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at noon (CST).

The webinar will feature Robert Dieli, president of RDLB, Inc., and Paul Prentice, president of Farm Sector Economics. They will discuss the current volatility in agriculture and offer insight in opportunities and potential challenges.

Participants can access the free webinar at www.iowafarmbureau.com and look for the link on the main rotating banner. Registration is encouraged. Participants can also log in as guests on the day of the webinar.

For more information, contact Ed Kordick, Iowa Farm Bureau commodity services manager, at 515-225-5433.

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27 Dec 2011

VON MAUR Sponsors First-Ever Red Kettle Match Day On December 23 and December 24

By Holly Nomura
Quad Cities, USA: VON MAUR, the locally owned fashion department store, will sponsor their first-ever Red Kettle Match Day for The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities.

On December 23rd and 24th, VON MAUR will make a dollar-for-dollar match to Quad Cities red kettles at Northpark and Southpark Malls. The four locations include the 4-foot tall red kettles inside the malls and the food court kettles.

During these difficult economic times, donations are needed now more than ever as the need for the services of The Salvation Army continues to rise. The Salvation Army asks the community to raise awareness for this first-ever challenge by VON MAUR in order to maximize gifts made to The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities.

Jim von Maur states, "We have seen the good work of The Salvation Army first-hand and are proud to support their fine organization and all they do for the community."

Major Gary Felton, Quad Cities Coordinator is "so pleased to have our first annual match from a notable business in our community. We hope other businesses will contact us to do the same. We can be reached at 563-271-7933."

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27 Dec 2011

Braley Presents Purple Heart, Bronze Star to Dubuque WWII Veteran

By Jeff Giertz
66 years later, Zane Thorpe will finally receive seven medals he earned in service to his country 

 

Waterloo, IA - Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) will travel to Dubuque to present seven military service medals - including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star - to Zane Thorpe, a World War II Army veteran who was awarded the medals but never received them after he was honorably discharged from the military in 1945.

In his discharge papers, the Army told Thorpe he was entitled to the medals, but because of a shortage, they were never given to him.  This November, Thorpe's family approached Braley's office for assistance in finally obtaining the medals, 66 years after they were granted.

Thorpe enlisted in the Army in April 1943.  After basic training, he was assigned to the 157th Combat Regiment, 45th Division, 3rd Battalion, L Company, which was deployed to Sicily and campaigned throughout Italy.  By 1944, Thorpe's unit had moved on to France and later Germany, where he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.  Thorpe was evacuated to a hospital in England, and was transferred to a hospital in Texas.  He was discharged in July 1945 after V-E Day.

The Medals Award Ceremony was held on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 @ 11:00am at the Oak Park Place Senior Community, 1381 Oak Park Place in Dubuque, Iowa

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27 Dec 2011

More news from the Ron Paul Campaign

By Gary Howard
Ron Paul to Campaign in Central and Western Iowa
Three-day visit to include town hall meetings and a major 'Salute to Veterans Rally' in Des Moines
ANKENY, Iowa - 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul will campaign in Iowa for three days in the run-up to the January 3, 2012 Iowa Caucus.

The far-reaching visit will occur from Wednesday to Friday, December 28th to the 30th, inclusive. 

Public events during this visit include town hall meetings in large population centers and rural areas, and a major Salute to Veterans Rally.

"As we approach the final stretch, the Iowa team welcomes Ron Paul for another consequential visit during which he'll interact with voters and host a rally to salute our veterans.  Earlier visits by Dr. Paul laid the foundation for a strong top-three showing at the January caucus and this visit promises to build upon it," said Ron Paul 2012 Iowa Chair Drew Ivers.

Details of this far-reaching visit are as follows.  All times Central.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

12:00 p.m.
Jasper County Town Hall Meeting
Iowa Speedway Media Center
I-80 at Exit 168 
Newton, IA 50208
(take Iowa Speedway Dr. to Lincoln St. and enter speedway from south)

3:00 p.m.
Ron Paul visits GuideOne Insurance*
1111 Ashworth Road
West Des Moines, IA 50265

7:00 p.m.
Ron Paul's Salute to Veterans Rally
Iowa State Fairgrounds - Knapp Learning Center
East 33rd St. & University Ave.  
Des Moines, IA 50317

*Closed to the public but media are encouraged to attend.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

10:00 a.m.
Live in-studio interview w/ Jan Mickelson
WHO Radio
2141 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50309

12:00 p.m.
Perry Town Hall Meeting
Hotel Pattee
1112 Willis Ave. 
Perry, IA 50220

3:00 p.m.
Cass County Town Hall Meeting
Cass County Community Center at Cass County Fairgrounds
805 W 10th St. 
Atlantic, IA 50022

7:00 p.m.
Council Bluffs Town Hall Meeting
Mid-America Center
One Arena Way 
Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Friday, December 30, 2011

1:00 p.m.
Plymouth County Town Hall Meeting
LeMars Convention Center
275 12th St. SE 
LeMars, IA 51031

3:00 p.m.
Sioux County Town Hall Meeting
Sioux Center Public Library
102 S. Main Ave. 
Sioux Center, IA 51250

7:00 p.m.
Sioux City Town Hall Meeting
River's Bend Convention Center / Stoney Creek Inn
300 3rd St. 
Sioux City, IA 51101

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Ron Paul Endorsed by Davenport-area Pastor
Scott County pastor cites Dr. Paul's "stance on issues, his personal character, and his electability."
ANKENY, Iowa - 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul was endorsed today by the Rev. Christopher J. Neuendorf, pastor of Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Davenport.

"Ron Paul is the clear choice to me as a pastor on at least three fronts: his stance on issues, his personal character, and his electability. 

"When it comes to issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, foreign policy, and economics, Ron Paul's positions favor respect for human life, fundamental morality, and overall prosperity for the United States and our neighbors throughout the world.  

"In the realm of character, while other candidates pay lip service to fairly good positions on the issues, none exhibits the consistency, honesty, and determination of Ron Paul.

"As for electability, since many of his positions, particularly on foreign wars, appeal to a broad base beyond the confines of the Republican Party, Ron Paul stands the best chance of defeating President Barack Obama in 2012," said Rev. Neuendorf.

In making his endorsement, the Rev. mentioned that he was endorsing Ron Paul as an individual, not on behalf of the Holy Cross congregation.  As a member congregation of The Lutheran Church?Missouri Synod, the church publicly opposes abortion and same-sex marriage, but its individual members are not required, expected, or even encouraged to vote for a particular candidate.  That remains a matter of individual conscience.

Ron Paul 2012 Iowa Chairman Drew Ivers responded to the endorsement saying, "We welcome Rev. Neuendorf's endorsement and kind words on the very day Ron Paul is campaigning in Eastern Iowa.  The endorsement of the Rev. and other faith leaders promises to make a strong top-three caucus showing more likely."

Mike Heath, Iowa State Director for the Ron Paul 2012 campaign, is visiting Christian churches across Iowa to do outreach and discuss Ron Paul's candidacy.  To date, Heath has visited 256 houses of worship across the state toward that end.  Heath is an ordained Christian minister.

If ministering in Iowa, local pastors interested in discussing an endorsement are invited to email the Iowa Director of Voter Outreach, Meghann Walker, at meghannw@ronpaul2012.com.

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Ron Paul Draws Big Crowds on First of Two-Day Visit to Iowa
Huge turnout at four town hall meetings in Eastern Iowa's rural areas and large population centers
ANKENY, Iowa - 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul attracted sizable crowds at all four events held on the first day of his two-day, far-reaching visit to Eastern Iowa today.

Paul's Lee County event, held in Fort Madison, yielded 225 people.  His noon Henry County event in Mount Pleasant and his Washington County event in Washington attracted more than 200 people each.  Paul's Quad Cities event in Bettendorf yielded a remarkable more than 800 people.

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) surveys the over-capacity crowd of more than 800 at his Quad Cities
Town Hall Meeting in Bettendorf, the fourth event of its kind on the first of a two-day visit.
"The first day of Ron Paul's visit gave us another glimpse into what a Paul presidency would look like, with voters asking how this re-acquaintance with economic and personal liberty would affect 'me' during the transition.  We hope Dr. Paul's promotion of this philosophy, his 'Plan to Restore America,' and his candor is contributing to an atmosphere conducive to a strong top-three showing at the January caucus," said Ron Paul 2012 Iowa Chairman Drew Ivers.

The abovementioned appearances are listed in the order they occurred, and each event was a town hall meeting featuring a speech and Q.&A.

Details of Ron Paul's public schedule tomorrow follow.  All times Central.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

10:00 a.m.
Jackson County Town Hall Meeting
Historic Clinton Engines Building
605 E. Maple Street  
Maquoketa, IA 52060

12:00 p.m.
Dubuque Town Hall Meeting
Grand River Center - Meeting Room #4
Port of Dubuque 
500 Bell Street 
Dubuque, IA 52001

3:00 p.m.
Delaware County Town Hall Meeting
Delaware County Fairgrounds
200 E. Acers Street 
Manchester, IA 52057

7:00 p.m.
Cedar Rapids Town Hall Meeting
The Hotel at Kirkwood Center - Suites D & E
7725 Kirkwood Center   
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

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27 Dec 2011

MAURICE SENDAK TRAVELING EXHIBIT AT THE MOLINE PUBLIC LIBRARY

By Jennifer Christiansen

The Moline Public Library is celebrating the arrival of the traveling exhibit In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak with a kickoff event, Wednesday, January 4th at 3:00 p.m.  Attendees are welcome to take in the exhibit, enjoy refreshments, and view the illustrated short-film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are.  In a Nutshell will be on display through Februrary 24th.  Sponsored by Friends of the Moline Public Library.  For more information, visit the Moline Public Library at 3210 41st Street, Moline or call 309-524-2470.

 

In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak was organized by the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Philadelphia, and developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by grants from the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, and an anonymous donor, with additional support from Tablet Magazine: A New Read on Jewish Life. 

 

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27 Dec 2011

Post-holiday safety for peak fire months

By Lorraine Carli

NFPA reminds the public to properly store and dispose of seasonal decorations

December 21, 2011 - According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are more home structure fires in the cooler months than any other time of year. As pine needles begin to drop on living room carpets, NFPA is offering suggestions for safe storage and removal of holiday decorations.

 

"It's not uncommon to see residents keeping lights and Christmas trees up past December," said Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for NFPA. "The reality is, continued use of seasonal lighting and dried-out Christmas trees can pose significant fire hazards in and outside the home."

 

Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they have a higher chance of being deadly. NFPA recommends getting rid of the tree when it's dry. Dried trees should not be kept in the home, garage, or placed outside against the home. Check with your local community to find a recycling program.

 

In 2005-2009, holiday lights and other decorative lighting were involved in an annual average of 150 home fires, 8 civilian deaths, 14 related injuries, and $8.5 million in direct property damage. To reduce the risk of holiday light fires and keep equipment in good condition for next year, follow these storage suggestions:

 

  • To unplug electric decorations, use the gripping area provided on the plugs. Never pull the cord to unplug a device from electrical outlets. Doing so can harm the cord's wire and insulation and even lead to an electrical shock or fire.
  • As you're putting away electrical light strings, take time to inspect each for damage. Throw out light sets if they have loose connections, broken sockets or cracked or bare wires.
  • Do not place a damaged set of lights back into the storage box for next year's use.
  • Wrap each set of lights and put them in individual plastic bags, or wrap the lights around a piece of cardboard.
  • Store electrical decorations in a dry place where they cannot be damaged by water or dampness. Also, keep them away from children and pets.

Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months. In fact, half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, and February, according to NFPA's Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment (PDF, 723 KB) report.

 

NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) are working together to remind everyone that home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season. Learn more information about the organizations' joint safety campaign, "Put a Freeze on Winter Fires."

 

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA's website at www.nfpa.org for more information.

27 Dec 2011

Rep. Morthland Statement on Polling Place Closures

By Rich Morthland

December 21, 2011                          

Moline, IL...State Representative Rich Morthland released the following statement regarding the recent closure of a dozen polling centers in Rock Island County:

 

"Voting patterns change with the weather and the County Clerk means to tell us that these closures will not affect voter turnout? This is just another means of gerrymandering.

 

"It is a little too coincidental that Rural Township is also a significant Republican voting area and the County Clerk, though supposed to be a neutral election authority, is a Democrat. The locations of polling places, however, should not be a partisan consideration.

 

"If necessary, I stand poised to take legislative action on this matter. I stand with the 739 registered voters of Rural Township and support keeping their polling center open."

 

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27 Dec 2011

The Salvation Army Is $200,000 Short of Red Kettle Campaign Goal

By Holly Nomura

Quad Cities, USA: With red kettles wrapping up on Christmas Eve, the Red Kettle Campaign is still $200,000 away from making its 2011 fund raising goal.

Major Gary Felton states, "With a significant portion of our annual fundraising revenue collected during the Christmas season, the donations collected throughout the Red Kettle Campaign set the tone for the upcoming year and allow us to serve thousands of individuals with critical programs and services. We have raised a significant amount so far, but there is still a long way to go."

The 2011 Red Kettle Campaign goal is $700,000. As of December 20th, the donation total is $500,000. The Salvation Army is compelled to make another plea to the community.

There are many ways to share your blessings with others:

An online gift to: www.usc.salvationarmy.org/quadcities

Call to 1-800-SAL-ARMY for a credit card donation.

27 Dec 2011

Statement From Governor Quinn on New Federal Rule to Limit Mercury Emissions

By Katelyn Tye

CHICAGO - December 21, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement praising a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) rule that will dramatically decrease the amount of harmful mercury released into the air:

 

"High levels of mercury pose serious health risks, which is why we must do everything we can to ensure clean, healthy air for generations. I would like to thank President Obama and the USEPA for their mercury and air toxics standards rule.

 

"In Illinois, we have seen the benefits of enacting stringent requirements for reducing mercury emissions over the last several years. As a result, thousands of pounds of harmful mercury emissions have been kept out of our air. The President's action will protect millions of Americans from these dangerous emissions just like we have been doing in Illinois."

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23 Dec 2011

Jan Karski Presidential Medal of Freedom Campaign Gains Momentum

By Randy Stalsberg
Dear Friends of the Kosciuszko Foundation,

Many of you remember that Jan Karski was a member of the Kosciuszko Foundation for decades. The photo above shows Karski during one of his many talks at the Kosciuszko Foundation. While Karski is known as the man who tried to stop the Holocaust by urging Roosevelt and Churchill to take action, he was also a diplomat, resistance fighter against the murderous regimes of Hitler and Stalin, and a Professor at Georgetown University. Ever vigilant as a champion of justice, he was a true Polish hero.

 

On April 7, 2011, the executrix of Jan Karski's estate, Kaya Mirecka-Ploss and I wrote to President Obama asking him to award Karski with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. We are pleased to announce that the campaign is gaining momentum, and so far, 11 United States Senators and 66 Members of the House of Representatives have signed on to a letter in support of President Obama awarding this posthumous honor to Professor Karski.

 

Members of the steering committee that have been pushing the campaign include : Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter; Robert L. Billingsley, Co-Chair, Georgetown University Jan Karski Centennial Campaign; David Harris, Executive Director, American Jewish Committee; Andrzej Rojek, Kosciuszko Foundation Trustee; and Wanda Urbanska, Director of the Jan Karski U.S. Centennial Campaign.

 

As a beneficiary of Karski's estate, the Kosciuszko Foundation believes it is important to keep Karski's legacy alive. If you have time, please take a moment and call the White House comment line at (202) 456-1111 and ask the President to confer this long-overdue honor on Dr. Karski. If the line is busy, please keep trying.

 

To learn more about the campaign to honor Jan Karski visit: http://www.jankarski.net/

 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas,

Happy Chanukah,

and a fantastic New Year!

 

Alex Storozynski

President & Executive Director

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