Dubuque, Iowa (January 26, 2010) - The following area students were named to the Dean's List at Clarke College for the fall 2009 semester. The list recognizes full-time Clarke students who have earned a 3.65 grade point average or above, on a 4.0 scale, with a minimum of 12 graded hours.

Clarke College is a dynamic, Catholic, liberal arts college known for superb teaching and academics. Academic offerings include more than 40 undergraduate liberal arts and pre-professional programs and four graduate degree programs. Founded in 1843 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Clarke is located near the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. It is the only BVM college in the country. Clarke's 55-acre campus is a blend of historic buildings and new, state-of-the-art facilities.

Sarah E. Christison, Bettendorf;

Kirk D. Garrison and Kaitlyn L. Tipsword, Moline;

Lauren E. Murga, Rock Island.

February is American Heart Month, drawing attention to heart disease, America's No. 1 killer, and the strides being taken through research and education to raise awareness of risk factors and to decrease death rates. Appropriately kicked off on National Wear Red Day (Friday, Feb. 5, 2010), the American Heart Association and its Go Red For Women movement urge everyone to support the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red that day.

REASONS TO BELIEVE

  1. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women age 20 and over, but it is largely preventable. In fact, up to 80% of cardiac events in women may be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, including diet, exercise and not smoking.

  1. Go Red BetterU is a FREE 12-week online nutrition and fitness program that can makeover your heart. Each week will focus on a different area and provide step-by-step guidance. You'll have access to everything from daily expert tips and an online journal to a downloadable BetterMe coaching tool.  Visit www.GoRedforWomen.org for more information.

  1. While 1 in 30 American women die of breast cancer, 1 in 3 women die from cardiovascular disease.

  1. Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 450,000 women each year, which is about one each minute.

  1. FEBRUARY 5th: Today is National Wear Red Day! Join dozens of women, as well as companies and organizations in Iowa and cities across America by wearing red today. It's a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke.

  1. Overweight children are more likely to have abnormally thick heart muscle tissue when they become an adult, which increases the risk of heart attack and heart failure. Learn how to get your kids on the right track at www.heart.org.

  1. Visit www.GoRedForWomen.org and join the online discussion about heart health.

  1. If you or someone you know shows signs of heart attack or stroke, call 9-1-1 right away. An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team can begin treatment when it arrives. That means treatment can begin sooner than it would if the patient arrived at the hospital by car. What's more, the EMS team is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped, which can save hundreds of lives each year.

  1. Children of mothers who smoke during pregnancy have more damage to their arteries in young adulthood than offspring of non-smokers and the association is even stronger if both parents smoke.

 

  1. Choose to speak up, not remain silent. Support legislation that would improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and stroke in women at www.yourethecure.org.

  1. Too many lives have and will be cut short from heart disease and its risk factors; however, early detection, lifestyle changes, and other intervention can improve certain conditions.

  1. Plan meals in advance - visit www.heart.org for recipes from a number of heart-healthy cookbooks and use the online grocery list builder to quickly identify heart-healthy products to add to your grocery list.

13. Schedule a doctor's appointment each year and get a complete blood screen. Visit www.GoRedForWomen.org and download "What to Know BEFORE Your Doctor Visit." Only 1 in 5 women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat.

  1. This year about 1.2 million Americans will have a first or repeat coronary attack. About 452,000 of them will die. Coronary heart disease is our nation's leading cause of death.

  1. Nearly 8 million Americans age 20 and older have survived a heart attack (myocardial infarction). About 8.9 million have angina pectoris (chest pain or discomfort due to reduced blood supply to the heart).

  1. An estimated 25.1 million men and 20.9 million women increase their risk of heart attack and stroke by smoking cigarettes.

  1. One of the best ways to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease is to start getting regular, moderate exercise, at least 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.

  1. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, causing someone to gasp dramatically, clutch her heart and drop to the ground. No one has any doubts about what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often the people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help.

  1. The American Heart Association dedicates more monies to research than any

other voluntary health organization. Only the federal government funds more cardiovascular research.

  1. Start thinking about your heart. By adding one hour of regular, vigorous physical activity, adults may gain up to two hours of life expectancy. Start by including more physical activity into your daily routine. Take a walk, ride a bike or take the stairs.  Visit www.StartWalkingNow.org for some free tools and tips.

  1. About 36.6 million American adults have cholesterol levels of 240 or higher ? the point at which it becomes a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Your total cholesterol should be below 200, and your HDL (good) cholesterol should be 40 or higher.

  1. Americans think they are in better heart health than they really are. According to a recent American Heart Association survey, nearly 40 percent thought they were in ideal heart health, when in reality less than 1 percent of Americans have an ideal profile.

 

  1. To find out how healthy you are, the American Heart Association developed a new health assessment tool, called My Life Check, at www.heart.org/mylifecheck. It will give you an overall health score and create an action plan to move you closer to your individual health goals. No matter what you score, any healthy change can help you live a longer, better life.

  1. During a heart check up, your doctor takes a careful look at your "numbers," including your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, your blood pressure and more. Knowing your numbers is an important part of keeping your heart-healthy. It can help you and your doctor know your risks and mark the progress you're making toward a healthier you.

  1. Smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death in the United States. If you smoke cigarettes (or cigars), you have a higher risk of illness and death from heart attack, stroke and other diseases. So if you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, love your heart and quit today. Need more motivation? Visit www.heart.org for help quitting smoking.

  1. Uncovering family history can help you to better understand your risk for heart disease. If you have a blood relative with heart disease or a risk factor for genetic heart disease, your risk for developing it significantly increases.

  1. More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.

  1. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.  Learn about your risk factors and how to reduce them at www.GoRedForWomen.org.

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that Iowa has received a $2,248,320 competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through the State Veterans Home Grant program.  The program provides up to 65 percent of the cost of construction or acquisition of state nursing homes or domiciliaries or for renovations to existing state veterans homes.

"The Iowa Veterans Home improves the quality of life for those who have proudly served our country," Grassley said.  "These funds will expand the facilities for our veterans and help the Iowa Veterans Home continue to provide the services our veterans need in a way both deserving and honoring of our nation's finest."

The money will help expand the dining and activity room at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

The Iowa Veterans Home is one of the three largest state-owned facilities for veterans in the country.  It is home to more than 720 residents.

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Iowa native and Super Bowl Champion Dallas Clark will return to Iowa in April to receive the Ray Pillar of Character Award.  Character Counts In Iowa annually presents the Ray Award to an Iowan who has demonstrated a commitment to being a person of good character.

"Dallas has been an extraordinary model of good character.  He has been an outstanding representative of our state throughout his football career." said Character Counts In Iowa Chairman, former Gov. Robert D. Ray.  Past award recipients include Norman Borlaug, Hayden Fry, Shawn Johnson and former Governor Robert D. Ray, for whom the award was named.

After playing for the University of Iowa, Clark was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2003.  In 1997 he helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI.  He was recently named to the 2009 Pro Bowl team and will be playing in Super Bowl XLIV on February 7.

Dallas will be presented with the Ray Award at Hy-Vee's All Star Evening to benefit Character Counts In Iowa on April 16, 2010.  Event chairpersons are Randy Edeker (President, Hy-Vee) and his wife, Dawn Edeker and Suku Radia (President & CEO, Bankers Trust) and his wife, Dr. Mary Radia.  Gary Palmer (President & CEO, Prairie Meadows) and his wife, Ginger Palmer will serve as chairpersons of the event reception.

To learn more about An All-Star Evening or Character Counts In Iowa, visit CharacterCountsInIowa.org.

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WASHINGTON --- Senator Chuck Grassley today joined Senator Mary Landrieu and other senators to highlight their support for short- and long-term efforts to aid orphans in Haiti.

During a news conference on Capitol Hill, the bipartisan group emphasized their commitment to continued oversight of the federal agencies responsible for completing already approved adoptions in Haiti and to facilitate adoptions for children orphaned by this month's earthquake in Haiti.  Click here to view the video of Senator Grassley's statement at the news conference.

Last week, Grassley, Landrieu and others wrote to top U.S. government officials to urge more effective collaboration in the effort to evacuate the 600 to 700 orphans in Haiti who have adoptive families waiting for them in the United States.  Their letter said that a lot of the chaos that surrounds efforts to get these orphans safely to their adoptive families in the United States is a direct result of a lack of logistical inter-agency coordination, a lack of communication to the public and ad-hoc processing of travel documents by the U.S. Embassy.  Grassley, Landrieu and the others asked for a commitment that these orphans be safely and efficiently evacuated within the next ten days.

Today, Grassley said that the stories of children from Haiti joining adoptive parents in the United States and receiving the love and care they need "are heartwarming and inspirational.  There are many more children in Haiti who need that kind of help and everything possible should be done to facilitate adoptions and match true orphans with families who can give them a home.  It will take extensive cooperation with the government of Haiti and strong leadership on the part of the U.S. government."

Grassley is a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, which Landrieu co-chairs.  Last month, the two senators established a Senate Caucus on Foster Youth.  They have worked together and won passage of legislation to help more children move from foster care to permanent, loving homes.

Gordon Hester - Business and Financial Management Specialist

Monday February 1st at 6:45PM
3841 Utica Ridge Road @ Healing Heart Center, Inc.

Bettendorf, IA

You are welcome to a Nutritional Educational Experience

This session is geared to inform you and make available to you a wellness solution to improve your life.

For more information contact:

Byron ( B+...) Gaskins

www.beplusforjuiceplus.com

(309)236-0293

Or

Rochel Rittgers

www.rrrsharesjuiceplus.com

(309)269-6989

 

Always 24/7: 1-800-942-1260 Listen and Learn

The Next-Generation Ford Explorer to be Made in Chicago

CHICAGO - January 26, 2010. Governor Quinn today joined with Ford Motor Company to announce the addition of 1,200 new jobs at Chicago-based manufacturing facilities to produce the next-generation Ford Explorer SUV. The auto maker will invest $400 million to launch the project.

"The production of the new Ford Explorer will create 1,200 new jobs in Illinois and make way for a brighter economic future," said Governor Quinn. "I want to commend Ford for investing nearly $400 million in its Chicago-area manufacturing facilities to increase production and staff."

Ford's $400 million investment includes approximately $180 million in manufacturing investment at the site and approximately $220 million for launch and engineering costs. In addition, Ford will be making significant investment in supplier tooling to support next-generation Explorer production.

The auto company is benefiting from Governor Quinn continuing effort to create and maintain jobs in Illinois. On December 14, Governor Quinn sign into law the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit for auto manufacturers. That EDGE tax credit enables the auto industry, which is among Illinois' largest employers, to retain employee income tax withholdings as an alternative to current EDGE corporate tax credit and reinvest those funds into operations that generate greater employment.

"Governor Quinn immediately understood the importance of helping Ford by proposing and passing legislation that provides us with an alternative way to claim and secure these important tax credits," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "We are grateful for his support of Ford and auto manufacturing in Illinois and want to thank him for his leadership in this area."

"The Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit that I put the full weight of my Administration behind and signed into law will provide much-needed relief to our State's ailing automotive industry and prove to be a necessary incentive for one of our nation's leading car companies to stay and thrive in the Land of Lincoln," said Governor Quinn.

The new Explorer will deliver at least 25 percent better fuel economy than the current model.  The vehicle will feature unibody construction, Ford's EcoBoost engine technology, a six-speed transmission and lightweight materials. Ford will unveil the new Explorer later this year.

Since taking office, the Quinn Administration has assisted in putting together more than 55 business investment packages, which have led to companies expanding and creating and retaining jobs in Illinois. In total, these projects will create more than 3,000 jobs, retain more than 8,800 jobs and leverage nearly $1.32 billion in private investment.

For the complete "Illinois Economic Recovery Plan: Jobs for Today and Tomorrow," please visit: Illinois.gov/gov.

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Call for Entries

Stuttering Foundation's 19th Annual Media Awards Competition; New Category Recognizes Internet Media

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Stuttering Foundation announces it will recognize journalists for the 19th consecutive year for excellence in reporting that furthers the understanding of this complex disorder.

"We are happy to announce these awards to further public awareness of stuttering," said Jane Fraser. "Media coverage has grown substantially in volume and sensitivity in recent years. We want to continue recognizing outstanding reporters."

The 19th annual Stuttering Foundation Awards will be given to journalists in three categories: print, electronic media (radio and TV), and Internet (Web sites, blogs, and electronic publications). They will recognize news stories that:

• Advanced the public`s understanding of stuttering;

• Introduced information on stuttering to a significant new audience.

Journalists are invited to submit copies, DVDs, and printed Web/blog pages of their news items to the Stuttering Foundation, P.O. Box 11749, Memphis, TN 38111-0749. All entries must have been published or aired between Jan. 1, 2009, and April 20, 2010. All entries must be received by April 30, 2010. There is no charge to enter this competition.

In addition to a public announcement of the Award recipients, each honoree will receive a cash award of $250.00 from the Foundation.

The nonprofit Stuttering Foundation that has worked toward the prevention and improved treatment of stuttering since 1947.  For more information, call 800-992-9392 or visit www.stutteringhelp.org.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is developing plans to stock Flathead catfish and channel catfish in the Rock River later this year as part of a continuing effort to speed the recovery of the river's fishery in the aftermath of a June 2009 fish kill.

Tens of thousands of sport fish were lost in the Rock River fish kill event first reported on June 20-21, 2009. At that time, dead fish were discovered in the Rock River in an area from two miles north of Grand Detour to 50 miles downstream at Prophetstown.

The IDNR stocked the river with smallmouth bass and northern pike last Summer and channel catfish last fall in the aftermath of the fish kill.

"At a recent meeting of area anglers, we again heard loud and clear how important the Rock River fishery is to them and to all of those who enjoy fishing from throughout the region," said Dan Sallee, regional administrator for the IDNR Division of Fisheries. "The Rock River fishery is very important to the local anglers and to the communities along the river. Although the fishery is expected to fully recover, the public would like to see all possible efforts made to speed this recovery."

IDNR fisheries biologists this Spring plan to collect and relocate up to 100 pairs of Flathead catfish into areas of the Rock River that were affected by the fish kill. At the same time, IDNR personnel will relocate pre-spawn channel catfish to the same area of the Rock River, and further supplement the channel catfish population by stocking small fish from state hatcheries.

"Individual female Flathead catfish may lay 100,000 eggs or more. If only one in 1,000 of these eggs survives and thrives, this stocking level would result in an increase of up to 10,000 Flathead catfish in the population," Sallee said. "This number of spawning pairs should speed the recovery of the fish kill zone. The channel catfish stocking will also be beneficial."

Anglers with questions about the Rock River fishery can contact IDNR District Fisheries Biologist Ken Clodfelter at 815-454-2759.

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Rock Island, IL? Augustana College will begin a multi-phase restoration project to Old Main this year, the 150th anniversary of the college's founding. The historic academic building usually catches the eye of visitors and the Quad-Cities community because of the its dome located along Seventh Avenue and overlooking the Mississippi River.

The goal of the phased project will be to enhance the learning and teaching environment for students and faculty through renovations to both the exterior and interior of the building. The exterior work, which is expected to start in the spring of 2010, will include repairing the dome, replacing the roof, stone repair, tuckpointing and replacing windows.

"As we celebrate the college's sesquicentennial year, all of us have gained a deeper appreciation for the important work of our forerunners in building Augustana into the national liberal arts college it is today," said President Steven Bahls. "Old Main is a symbol of the vision and dedication not just of our founders, but also of generations of students, professors and all those who have maintained a stalwart devotion to the vital role of higher education in transforming lives."

The family of Dr. Peter Wallenberg, Sr., and Modern Woodmen of America fraternal benefit society?both devoted friends of the college?will provide their financial support. for the project.

The three Wallenberg family foundations?Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation and Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation?will together contribute approximately $1.1 million in support. The family is one of Sweden's leading industrialist families and among Augustana's oldest friends. Wallenberg recital and lecture hall in the Denkmann Memorial Building is named for the family.

Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal benefit society, granted $100,000 for the project. The organization provides life insurance, annuity, investment and banking products to its more than 75,000 members. It was established in Rock Island in 1897 and has since become a valuable corporate citizen, donating nearly $24 million back to the community each year through projects like the Old Main renovations. To honor its generosity, the first floor commons area will be named for Modern Woodmen.

"Augustana is a wonderful college with a long history of benefitting the Quad-Cities community," said W. Kenny Massey, President and CEO of Modern Woodmen of America. "Our financial support of the Old Main project is yet another way Modern Woodmen strives to improve the quality of life in the community and shows its commitment to the Quad Cities and its educational institutions."

Old Main was built from 1882-1889 and was modeled after the main building at Uppsala University, Sweden. A farmer on the building committee suggested adding a dome to give the building an American appearance and help establish it among the greatest structures built by first-generation Swedish immigrants in America. Today, the building houses many departments linked to the humanities, including classics, English, history, philosophy, political science, religion, sociology, anthropology, communication studies, and women's and gender studies.

For more information, contact Kamy Beattie at kamybeattie@augustana.edu or 309-794-7721.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 226 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it always has done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

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