Is your computer sluggish?  Do you wonder why it doesn't seem to run the way it used to?  The Rivermont Collegiate Computer Club invites you to bring your computer to campus between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 14th for much-needed optimization.  Students in the Computer Club, ranging from ninth through twelfth grade, will provide a range of computer services including repairs, upgrades, and replacements to software and hardware.  The Director of Technology will be on hand to supervise and prices will be more than fair!

Basic optimization services are very thorough and include removing spyware/malware and viruses, verifying anti-virus is installed and up-to-date, cleaning the registry, and completing numerous other tasks to improve performance.  This basic optimization service is $25.00; other services will be quoted.  Similar services can cost hundreds of dollars at computer repair stores!  Computers are optimized on a first come, first serve basis.  This event has become very popular, so if you would like to pick your computer up the same day, be sure and come early.  Don't wait until you have a serious computer problem - perform preventative maintenance now!

Rivermont Collegiate is located at 1821 Sunset Drive (directly off 18th Street behind K&K Hardware in Bettendorf).  The event will be held in the Bettendorf Mansion on the Rivermont Campus, on the basement level.  Computer Optimization Day is a proud tradition at Rivermont Collegiate and provides excellent experience to computer-savvy students. As a school, Rivermont Collegiate provides a broad range of activities to challenge students and prepare them to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate contact Adam Douglas, Director of Technology, at (563) 359-1366 ext. 346 or douglas@rvmt.org

Funding included in Agriculture Appropriations bill, along with additional money for agriculture development in the First District

Washington, DC–Today, funding secured by Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) for a USDA grant program was signed into law by the president. Braley announced that he secured $875,000 to continue the New Era Rural Technology Program he established. This program allows community colleges and advanced training facilities to train the next generation of agriculture-based energy professionals.

"This funding for the New Era Program allows us to keep Iowa at the forefront of the bio-energy industry," Braley said. "As our economy shifts to a culture of renewable energy, it's crucial that we provide education for the emerging professionals in Iowa. I'm proud to have introduced, passed into law and funded legislation that does just that."

Additionally, the bill signed into law included $350 million in emergency assistance for dairy farmers. The language provides $290 million for direct assistance to dairy farmers and another $60 million for a large cheese purchase.

"I understand the struggle Iowa dairy farmers are going through as they deal with low dairy prices combined with high input costs. I'm hopeful that the assistance provided in the Agriculture Appropriations bill will help them get through this difficult period."

Braley also secured funding for the National Education Center for Agriculture Safety in Peosta, the National Ag Based Lubricants Center (NABL) at University of Northern Iowa and for UNI's Tallgrass Prairie Center to research floodplain restoration.

The $170,000 for the National Center for Agriculture Safety will provide interactive health and safety education to Iowa farmers, volunteer firefighters, EMS providers and agricultural businesses. The program will also provide youth safety training to over 300 young people in the First District.

The $405,000 for the UNI-NABL will fund research and testing of bio-renewable lubricants and greases. The goal is to create commercial, bio-based lubricant products which are bio-degradable and more environmentally friendly than petroleum based products.

The $134,000 for UNI's Blackhawk County's Tallgrass Prairie Center will fund a study of wetland communities to determine which species best aid in floodplain recovery. This will provide direct impact on restoration of wetlands in Eastern Iowa and across the country.

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On Thursday, October 22nd, at 10:30AM, Whitey Ice Cream will begin packaging their new camouflage colored cartons with Sgt Camo Ice Cream and deploying them to all Hy Vee stores.

Media representatives are invited to witness this event and also taste how different and delicious Sgt Camo Ice Cream really is.

Special Forces will begin filling the new green & brown cartons w/ Sgt Camo at 10:30am at the Whitey's Manufacturing Plant, 2525 41st St., Moline, IL. (Entrance at door with American flag).

Sgt Camo is their newest camouflaged tinted, s'more tasting ice-cream that has been very popular and only available, in the past, at Whitey's 11 stores in the Quad Cities area. Whitey's owner, Jeff Tunberg, describes Sgt Camo as, "It's more than a new flavor...it's a new creation."

Sunday, October 25th, is D-Day for Hy Vee to begin selling Sgt Camo at their 13 stores in the Quad Cities.

The historical execution will be the first time Whitey's has used camouflaged colored cartons instead of their familiar red & white half-gallon containers. The Tunberg's are hoping the new non-traditional camouflaged cartons will act like a radar beacon to ice cream lovers and those who support the military.

In August, Whitey's designated that all profits from Sgt Camo would be allocated to veterans organizations. The Military Warriors Support Foundation, which sponsored "A Night to Honor Our Heroes" on Sept 5th at LeClaire Park, Davenport, was the first recipient of proceeds from Sgt Camo which will continue until December 31st.

Sgt Camo has been sent to the Pentagon and on October 9th & 10th, the Tunbergs handed out the ice-cream to WWII vets and their guardians, departing the Honor Flight plane from Washington, DC. On November 20th the Tunbergs will travel to Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX to deliver 3,500 scoops of Sgt Camo to military and their families before troops are deployed to Iraq & Afghanistan.

Recently the Tunberg's committed to sending their ice cream to Iraq and Afghanistan and say they will continue to support other military opportunities in the Quad Cities.

For more information contact: Jeff Tunberg @ 309-235-2600.