WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Oct. 27, 2011 - A Conrad company focused on providing fresh water for livestock has earned the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's (IFBF) Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur of the Month award.

Ritchie Industries started in Oskaloosa in 1921 when Thomas Ritchie patented his first watering device. He connected underground running water to automatic float-controlled watering equipment. The water was heated with a kerosene lamp, saving farmers time and labor.

As the countryside grew, the business worked with the local rural electric cooperative as it installed electricity to area farms. Even though technology and farming practices have changed, the need for waterers remains strong for livestock farmers. The company was purchased and moved to Conrad in 1943. Today, the company focuses on providing equipment to the beef cattle, dairy and equine industries; selling to customers all over the United States and Canada.

While the company's reach is wide, it remains committed to its 65 employees and local community.

"They (Ritchie Industries) made the investment to stay and grow and be a part of our community and county," said Brian Feldpausch, Grundy County Farm Bureau president, who nominated the company for the award. "They also support ag education in our schools and donate to the library. They're a mainstay and add support for future growth (here)."

Renew Rural Iowa (RRI) is an IFBF initiative supporting new and existing businesses through education, mentoring and financial resources. Registration is open for the Nov. 2 "Business Success" seminar, featuring Curt Nelson, president of the Entrepreneurial Development Center. The register for the seminar, to be held at Iowa Farm Bureau in West Des Moines, go to www.renewruraliowa.com.

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(Kansas City, Kan., Oct. 27, 2011) - EPA Region 7 has awarded Iowa Public Broadcasting an environmental education grant totaling $25,308. This is one of six grants being awarded to schools, universities and organizations in the Agency's four-state region to fund the development of new environmental education projects. The execution of these environmental education projects will further EPA's commitment to protecting human health and the environment.

"Educating our communities on environmental issues is crucial to creating a safe and healthy environment for children to learn and grow," said Karl Brooks, regional administrator.  "The diversity of the proposals selected shows the commitment of the people of Region 7 to producing and sustaining a healthy environment."

Iowa Public Broadcasting will use this grant to provide professional development to 100 middle school science teachers in rural areas. This project will also assist teachers with instructional skills to engage students in problem-solving learning in the classroom.  Five courses will be offered over a two-year period and will address issues of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

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Braley will mail petition to US postmaster general

Waterloo, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley today launched an online petition urging US Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to stop the Postal Service's proposed closures of 178 small town post offices across Iowa.

The petition, which Braley will send - via postal mail - to the postmaster general, can be viewed and signed at the following link: http://www.brucebraley.com/post-office.

"Washington bureaucrats want to close thousands of post offices across the country, including almost 200 here in Iowa," Braley wrote in an email to Iowans.  "This is the wrong move, and I need your help to make sure Washington gets the message that our post offices must stay open.

"The Postal Service is in financial trouble, but closing post offices in Iowa isn't the answer," Braley continued. "One single post office is just a drop in the bucket for the massive Postal Service bureaucracy.  But it can be everything to a small town." 

The Postal Service has released a long list of post offices in Iowa being studied for potential closure.

Earlier this month, a US House committee endorsed a controversial bill that would, in part, allow the Postal Service to move forward with its plans to those post offices.  Braley is a member of the panel, and opposed the bill.  The bill, known as the Postal Reform Act, now must be approved by the full US House.

The full text of Braley's email to Iowans can be viewed below:

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From: Congressman Bruce Braley

Subject: Help Save Your Post Office

Dear Susan -

I grew up in Brooklyn, Iowa, and our post office was incredibly important to our small community. Back then, before cell phones, text messages and emails, the post office was our way of reaching folks in the outside world.

And still today in many small towns in Iowa, post offices are part of the economic life-blood of our rural communities.

But Washington bureaucrats want to close thousands of post offices across the country, including almost 200 here in Iowa.

This is the wrong move, and I need your help to make sure Washington gets the message that our post offices must stay open.

Will you sign my petition urging Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to keep Iowa post offices open?

I will send your name, along with everyone who signs the petition - via Postal Mail - to Postmaster General Donahoe.

Here's the text of the petition:

We the undersigned urge you to stop the proposed closure of nearly 200 post offices throughout Iowa. Closing small town post offices jeopardizes the economic health of countless Iowa communities, and deals a blow to towns struggling to survive.

The Postal Service is in financial trouble, but closing post offices in Iowa isn't the answer. One single post office is just a drop in the bucket for the massive Postal Service bureaucracy. But it can be everything to a small town. And I worry that closing post offices could effectively close small towns in Iowa to business.

And that's why I'm fighting to keep post offices open here in Iowa.

Sign my petition and tell the Postmaster General to keep Iowa's post offices open.

Together, we'll make sure Washington gets the message loud and clear: Don't close Iowa's post offices!

Thanks for all you do,

Bruce

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Local foods key to growing economy

CHAMPAIGN - October 27, 2011. At an award ceremony celebrating 25 of the greenest public, private and non-profit organizations and businesses in Illinois, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon said good environmental practices strengthen the state's economy.

"These awards recognize leaders in sustainability, and they also recognize smart economic policy for businesses and governments," Simon said at the 25th Annual Governor's Sustainability Awards Ceremony hosted by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center at the University of Illinois.

Among those recognized was Uncommon Ground in Chicago, which runs two restaurants serving locally grown food from its 2,500 square foot rooftop farm. The group received a Continuous Improvement Award, given to organizations that have won awards at previous Sustainability Award Ceremonies.

Simon noted that Uncommon Ground helps keep local food dollars in the state. Simon, who chairs the Governor's Rural Affairs Council has targeted building opportunity in Illinois by promoting local foods.  Illinoisans spend roughly $46 billion annually on food, but only $2 billion of that amount on food grown in Illinois.

The awards have been presented since 1987 by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) at the University of Illinois. Awards are given to organizations for their efforts in implementing green practices such as technology and energy conservation.

"The efforts of these businesses and organizations demonstrate that it is possible to meet social and economic needs while minimizing impacts on the environment," ISTC Director Manohar Kulkarni said. "Present and future generations will appreciate their foresight."

A Sustainability Award, which recognizes first-time winners, was given to the University of Illinois Retro-commissioning Group, which is comprised of engineers, field technicians and tradesmen. The group has spent $6 million making 27 campus buildings more energy efficient. The team's efforts have resulted in an average energy savings per building of 26 percent and a total $9.7 million reduction in utility costs since 2007.

Four community colleges - John A. Logan College, Lewis and Clark Community College, Rock Valley College and Southwestern Illinois College - all received sustainability awards for implementing energy efficiencies on campus.

"More efficient energy use in community colleges means more opportunity for students to get the education they need to be ready for the workforce," Simon said.

The winners are:

·         ActOnEnergy Business Program, Peoria

·         Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne

·         Cabot Corporation, Tuscola

·         City of Evanston, Evanston

·         City of Naperville, Naperville

·         DuPage County, Wheaton

·         Earth Friendly Products, Addison

·         Elmhurst Park District, Elmhurst

·         Gabriel Environmental Services, Chicago

·         GE Healthcare IT, Barrington

·         Harris Corporation, Quincy

·         J.L. Clark, Rockford

·         John A. Logan College, Carterville

·         Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey

·         Lincoln Park Zoological Society, Chicago

·         NOW Foods, Inc., Bloomingdale

·         PortionPac Chemical Corporation, Chicago

·         Rock Valley College, Rockford

·         Solberg MFG., Itasca

·         Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville

·         The Sherwin-Williams Company, Effingham

·         Uncommon Ground, Chicago

·         University of Illinois at Chicago, c/o Office of Sustainability, Chicago

·         University of Illinois Retro-commissioning Group, Champaign

·         Village of Hoffman Estates, Hoffman Estates

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