Pete De Kock stepping down at month's end

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) announced today that Pete De Kock, who has served as Braley's District Director since he was first sworn-in to the US House in 2007, is stepping down at the end of the month to pursue new opportunities.  De Kock is based in Braley's Davenport district office.

Braley said, "Pete has done truly outstanding work on behalf of the people of Iowa and has become in many ways a fixture of the communities he's served in.  I was saddened when he told me the time had come for him to pursue new opportunities, but I know that Pete and his wife Jen have bright futures ahead.  I wish Pete and his family the best.  He will always be a friend of mine and a friend of the people of Iowa."

De Kock said, "My wife and I live in the Quad Cities, and with redistricting moving Scott County out of the First District, we decided now was the right time to pursue new opportunities for our family.  I am honored and blessed to have spent the last five years helping Iowans on Bruce's behalf.  This is a bittersweet moment for me.  I will miss working with Bruce and his team, but I'm looking forward to new opportunities.  I'd like to thank Bruce, my colleagues, and community partners for their friendship and commitment to listening, working hard, and getting things done for our country."

De Kock is stepping down effective next Wednesday, February 29th.  At Braley's request, De Kock has agreed to continue working in an advisory capacity until April 30th.

Nearly 100 advocates - staff and volunteers -- from across the state gathered in Des Moines this week for our annual Day at the Capitol.  Attendees, you blew me away with your energy and commitment to learning and interacting with legislators!

We were especially glad to have the Above & Beyond Cancer folks (the mountain climbers!) join us with their red jackets and passion for fighting cancer.  Members were honored with a resolution and recognition on the floor of the Iowa Senate, thanks to Sen. Pat Ward, R-West Des Moines. Thanks to Dr. Dick Deming and Charlie Wittmack for organizing the group!

The big draw for the day was our keynote speaker, Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the Society.  Dr. Brawley did not disappoint, offering frank and eye-opening data and stories during his presentation. He then went to the Capitol and visited with legislative leaders and the governor and did media interviews.  Radio Iowa and the Des Moines Register both had great stories.  Dr. Brawley also headlined a breakfast event that raised nearly $2,000 for ACS CAN.

Also presenting at DAC was Anne Kinzel, who helped attendees understand a crucial ACS legislative priority with her talk titled "What is a health care exchange and why should I care?"

I think it's safe to say that everyone finished the day with a better understanding of our priority issues and an increased commitment to advocacy. If you weren't able to join us this year, be sure to put it on your radar for 2013.

It was a very busy week at the Capitol, the busiest so far this year, because today was the first funnel deadline of the session. Legislators were in subcommittee and committee meetings, trying to get bills passed out of committee to beat the deadline.

The bad news is two of our priority bills - radon and casino smoking -- did not pass this hurdle, so are dead for the session.

The good news is most of our issues live on because of the chance to get them considered through amendments to other bills or because they are still eligible for consideration.  That is true for casino smoking, K-12 tobacco-free property and the health insurance exchange bills. You will continue to hear from us about opportunities to get these issues considered and possibly passed.

The Legislature will be in session until early to mid-April. We have many miles to go. As always, feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns - peggy.huppert@cancer.org.

DES MOINES, Iowa - When a Davenport woman discovered she'd won the very last top prize of $100,000 playing the "Triple Platinum 777" game on her break at work, she couldn't believe what she saw.

Jolene Ronek, 50, scratched the ticket during her evening break where she works as a machinist.

"I started shaking and I couldn't believe what I saw," Ronek said. "I took it to the break room to show all the other guys and I was in tears. They told me to sign it right away."

Ronek said her head was fuzzy because she couldn't believe the win was real.

"I kept looking at those zeros and going, 'No, that isn't right,'" she said.

Ronek told her family about her big win before claiming her prize Thursday at the Iowa Lottery's regional office in Cedar Rapids. Ronek said it also put everyone at work in a great mood for the rest of the evening shift.

"One of the guys at work got on the radio and told everyone," Ronek said with a laugh. "Everybody was just happy that someone they knew won."

Ronek said she was really surprised to get the big winner, because it was the very first ticket in a new pack of Triple Platinum 777 tickets at the QC Mart, 1402 State St. in Bettendorf.

Ronek said she's looking forward to using her winnings to become debt-free and also plans to use some to take a trip this summer.

"We travel all over riding motorcycles," she said.

Triple Platinum 777 was a $10 scratch game. Players scratched the "dollar" symbols and the "bonus box." If they revealed the "7" game symbol, they won the prize shown for that symbol. If they revealed the "77" game symbol, they won double the prize shown for that symbol. If they revealed the "777" game symbol, they won triple the prize shown for that symbol.  If they got two like symbols in "bonus box," they won $50 instantly. The overall odds of winning a prize in the game were 1 in 3.11.

Players can enter eligible nonwinning scratch tickets online to earn "Points For Prizes™" points. The point value will be revealed to the player on the website upon successful submission of each eligible valid ticket. There is a limit of 30 ticket entries per day. To participate in Points For Prizes™, a player must register for a free account at ialottery.com. Registration is a one-time process. Merchandise that can be ordered by using points will be listed on the website in the Points For Prizes™ online store. Players can choose from items in categories such as apparel, automotive, jewelry, sporting, tools and more.

Since the lottery's start in 1985, its players have won more than $2.8 billion in prizes while the lottery has raised more than $1.3 billion for the state programs that benefit all Iowans.

Today, lottery proceeds in Iowa have three main purposes: They provide support for veterans, help for a variety of significant projects through the state General Fund, and backing for the Vision Iowa program, which was implemented to create tourism destinations and community attractions in the state and build and repair schools.

WASHINGTON – The Coast Guard announced Friday its partnership with the U.S. Navy and Operation Sail, Inc., for The Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 essay and art contest, part of this year's commemoration of the War of 1812 and the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner.

Winners of the contest will be invited to sail aboard America's tall ship, the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, during one of the six, planned OpSail 2012 events.

The essay contest requires entrants to submit a 1,000-word essay on one of three topics:

• The role of the USS Constitution and the U.S. Navy in the War of 1812
• What The Star-Spangled Banner means to me
• The role of the Revenue Cutter Service in the War of 1812

The essay contest requires entrants to submit a copy of their original watercolor, oil, or pencil artwork, depicting one of three topics:

• What The Star-Spangled Banner means to me
• A maritime scene from the War of 1812
• A Revenue Cutter in action during the War of 1812

"It's an honor for Eagle's officers and crew to both celebrate and increase public awareness of our nation's history," said Capt. Eric Jones, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle.  "The fledging U.S. Navy along with the U.S. Revenue Marine, the predecessor of today's Coast Guard, "cut their teeth" in engagements with the royal navy during the War of 1812.  We hope that Eagle's appearance in ports along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts this summer will inspire students to reflect upon the significance of this oft-forgotten conflict."

One prize will be awarded in each of the OpSail 2012 event cities of New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Va., Baltimore, Boston and New London, Conn.  Entrants must name the one port for which their work is competing.  Deadlines vary by port city - full rules and deadlines for the contest may be found online at http://www.opsail.org/press-releases/45/opsail-announces-essay-and-art-contest/ and questions regarding contest rules may be directed to contest@opsail.org.  The six OpSail events are part of the nation's commemoration of the War of 1812 bicentennial.

The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle was taken from Nazi Germany by the United States as a war prize after World War II and has been homeported at the Coast Guard Academy in New London ever since.  As America's only active-duty, square-rigger, sailing ship, the Barque Eagle offers future Coast Guard officers the opportunity to put into practice the navigation, engineering and other professional theories they have learned in the classroom, and everyone who trains aboard Eagle experiences a character building experience.