WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - July 2, 2009 - Some Iowans may save a few dollars on their July 4th picnics this year by serving meat and dairy products produced by Iowa's farmers. According to American Farm Bureau's second quarter Marketbasket Survey, the total cost of 16 popular food items has decreased by two percent over the last quarter and approximately six percent in the last year.
Boneless chicken breasts, eggs, sliced deli ham, whole milk, ground chuck, sirloin tip roast and bacon were among the Iowa-produced food products that dropped in price this quarter. This is the third consecutive quarter food prices have declined, the first time since 1991.

"Consumers will find some real values shopping for meat, eggs, and dairy this summer," said Sterling Liddell, Iowa Farm Bureau's senior research and development analyst. "Last year we saw a dramatic increase in food prices, and some blamed those increases directly on ethanol. This year ethanol production remains strong, while commodity prices are declining. We can clearly see that the price of food is more directly linked to fluctuations in energy costs and global demand rather than ethanol production."

Over the last year, the retail price of eggs is down 26 percent, milk has fallen 22 percent, chicken has declined 19 percent and bacon is 11 percent lower. Iowa leads the nation in hog and egg production. The state ranks 7th in cattle, 12th in milk production and 26th in broiler and meat chickens.

To read more about American Farm Bureau's second quarter Marketbasket Survey, visit: http://fb.org.twi.bz/a.

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When: Saturday, July 4th at 1:00pm

Where: Downtown East Moline, 3rd Street to 15th Street, along 15th Avenue.

The Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and the City of East Moline are proud to present the 51st Annual AMVETS 4th of July Parade to take place this Saturday, July 4th at 1:00pm in downtown East Moline. This year's theme is "Star Spangled Spectacular".

Over 15,000 people are expected to line 15th Avenue in East Moline to watch this salute to our country and our community. The parade will begin at 3rd Street and 15th Avenue, go down 15th Avenue and end at 13th Street.

Command Sergeant Major Blake will serve as the Grand Marshall for this year's 51st Annual celebration. Jim Mertens of WQAD will once again serve as the Parade Emcee.

For more information on the parade, contact Anne Spoden at (309)757-5416 or email intern@quadcitychamber.com.

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Rock Island, Illinois - The University of Iowa School of Social Work, in cooperation with the GradCenter, is providing an information session for those interested in applying to the next cohort or students interested in taking elective courses prior to admission. The information session will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at the GradCenter, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, IL from 5:00-6:00 p.m. The information session will be conducted by Bob Jackson, Distance Education Coordinator, and Mary Newcomb, Quad City Practicum Administrator. For more information contact Bob Jackson at 319-335-1331 (robert-jackson@uiowa.edu), Mary Newcomb at 309-794-7619 (mary-newcomb@uiowa.edu), visit the web site at http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialwk, contact the GradCenter at (309) 794-7376, or visit the website at www.gradcenter.org.

The University of Iowa School of Social Work had been offering the MSW in the Quad-Cities for over 35 years. Since 1988, the Quad Cities program has been a part-time program for a cohort that is admitted once every three years. Students can complete all the requirements for the degree through the University of Iowa Quad City program.

The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center, through its member institutions, facilitates access to local graduate degree and certificate programs. Students are able to choose from a diverse selection of over 150 graduate degree programs and certificate programs offered in convenient locations during evening and weekend hours and via the Internet. For more information, visit the website at www.gradcenter.org.

From the QC area, this includes:

Martha Ade from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Timothy Ade from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in biology and pre-medical .

Rihana Al-Ghalayini from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in biology and French .

Bailey Albrecht from Milan , IL , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

Crystal Aldeman from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in elementary education .

Drew Allen from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in business administration .

Samuel Anderson from Rock Island , IL , a sophomore student majoring in math and computer science .

Caleb Arringdale from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in accounting .

Carrie Bestian from Taylor Ridge , IL , a junior student majoring in elementary education .

David Brickner from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in accounting and business administration .

Courtney Brown from Port Byron , IL , a first-year student majoring in biology and pre-medical .

Nicholas Camlin from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in political science .

Kevin Carton from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in communication studies and French .

Robin Castro from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in biology .

Kerry Cheeney from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in accounting and business finance .

Austin De Porter from Orion , IL , a junior student majoring in biology .

Adelle DeVolder from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in business administration .

Nicholas Dee from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in history and classics .

Linsy Depooter from Milan , IL , a senior student majoring in accounting and music performance .

Brianna Dyer from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in English/language arts education .

Jacob Favre from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in business marketing .

Megan Ferris from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in elementary education .

Melissa Fobert from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in accounting and business finance .

Kristin Friedrich from Port Byron , IL , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Andrew Fritch from East Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in accounting and business finance .

Jeremy Gerlach from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in communication sciences and disorders .

Lauren Godlewski from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in biology .

Melissa Goode from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in music .

Scott Griffith from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in sociology and psychology .

Alyssa Harmon from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in business administration .

Kelly Helmich from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in instrumental music education .

Clayton Holst from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in biology .

Olivia Husman from East Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in communication studies .

Mohammed Hussain from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

Meckenzie Husske from Princeton , IA , a senior student majoring in communication sciences and disorders .

Gaetano Iaccarino from Davenport , IA , a first-year student majoring in .instrumental music education and instrumental music performance

Ross Jallo from Long Grove , IA , a senior student majoring in music .

Danielle Jennings from Port Byron , IL , a senior student majoring in business management .

Nicole Johnson from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in English/language arts education .

Stephen Jones from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in business administration .

Krystal Keith from Bettendorf , IA , a junior student majoring in English .

M. Colleen Kilbride from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in Spanish .

Paul Lambrecht from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in history education .

Jasmin Landeros from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in elementary education .

Thomas Larrison from Davenport , IA , a junior student majoring in religion .

Megan Lecander from Sherrard , IL , a sophomore student majoring in business administration .

Thomas Lemon from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in history and business management .

Amy Malmstead from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in business administration .

Benjamin Marine from Coal Valley , IL , a junior student majoring in biology, pre-medical and business administration .

Crystina Mayfield from Coal Valley , IL , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Melissa McKenna from Eldridge , IA , a senior student majoring in psychology and sociology with social welfare .

Ted McMillan from Cordova , IL , a senior student majoring in chemistry and math .

Ryan Mendoza from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in business finance .

Sarah Miers from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in English/language arts education .

Jennifer Mirocha from East Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in business marketing and economics .

Courtney Mitten from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in psychology .

Allison Mulherin from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in biology .

Justine Nuguid from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in biology and pre-medical .

Megan O'Connor from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in art history and psychology .

Danielle Oester from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in music and sociology .

Luke Osborne from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in pre-medical and classics with Latin emphasis .

Kayla Papish from East Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in math education .

Aubree Payne from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in psychology .

Michael Pettis from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in business finance and communication studies .

Srividya Prabhu from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in biology and pre-medical .

Kristen Quinn from Bettendorf , IA , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Andrew Randone from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in political science .

Michael Reeves from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in accounting .

Bridget Reich from Bettendorf , IA , a junior student majoring in psychology .

Lauren Reid from Sherrard , IL , a first-year student majoring in psychology .

Kelli Schledewitz from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in English/language arts education .

Geoffrey Schoon from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in accounting and business finance .

Aaron Schroeder from Long Grove , IA , a senior student majoring in English and philosophy .

Alyssa Schroeder from Coal Valley , IL , a junior student majoring in business finance and accounting .

Kalin Showers from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in political science .

Meghan Showers from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in Asian studies .

Alex Sieg from Bettendorf , IA , a junior student majoring in biochemistry .

Michael Skelley from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in pre-medical .

Anna Smith from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in biology .

Darla Smith from Port Byron , IL , a junior student majoring in elementary education .

Amber Soike from Rock Island , IL , a first-year student majoring in elementary education .

Steven Stern from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in business management .

Mark Stumphy from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

Josephine Swanson from Rock Island , IL , a sophomore student majoring in biology .

Audrey Taylor from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in biology education .

Theodore Teros from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

Jeffrey Trask from Eldridge , IA , a senior student majoring in Spanish education .

Courtney Vandewiele from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in political science and accounting .

Felipe Villagomez from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in anthropology and biology .

Jordan Voigt from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in political science and business management .

Katherine Voigt from Bettendorf , IA , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

John Wagle from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in physics and business administration .

Audrey Waner from Davenport , IA , a junior student majoring in art .

Emily Weller from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in art education .

Peter Wessels from Bettendorf , IA , a first-year student majoring in business administration .

Lauren White from East Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in accounting .

Margaret Wiborg from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in general studies .

Eric Wigand from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in business administration .

Nicholas Wilczynski from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in biology, pre-medical, and biochemistry .

Ian Williams from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Alyssa Wilson from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in communication science and disorders .

Joshua Woodham from Bettendorf , IA , a junior student majoring in biology .

Kory Woolfolk from Silvis , IL , a senior student majoring in business management .

Louis Young from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in art history .

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 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and 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.