28 Feb 2013

Governor Quinn Makes Executive Appointments

By Leslie Wertheimer

Fills Key Positions at Three Universities, Illinois Commerce Commission,

Housing Development Authority and Health Information Exchange Authority

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today made a number of key appointments to the state's boards and commissions. In addition to three university boards, the governor filled positions on the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Health Information Exchange Authority and the Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission, and several other boards and commissions. Today's announcement continues his commitment to making Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.

"I'm pleased to announce the appointment of talented, qualified individuals to these important state boards and commissions," Governor Quinn said. "Their fresh perspectives, energy and commitment to public service will help move Illinois forward."

As a result of Governor Quinn's unprecedented efforts to make the executive appointment process more accessible and transparent, citizens who are interested in serving on boards and commissions can now apply online.

The governor's appointments are as follows:

Blind Services Planning Council:

Alyson Slaughter, of Alton, is an attorney and is president of the Illinois Association of Blind Students. She holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications and Sociology from St. Mary's College and a JD with a certificate in Health Law Studies from the St. Louis University School of Law.

Board of Credit Union Advisors:

Keith Burton, of Granite City, is executive vice president of GCS Credit Union, where he has worked since 1986. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Carnival-Amusement Safety Board:

William Sparks (reappointed), of New Douglas, is a former assistant bureau chief for the Illinois State Police, where he worked for more than 30 years. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Illinois National Guard and is a certified amusement ride safety inspector and a former owner of his own amusement company. He was first appointed in 2011.

East St. Louis Financial Advisory Authority:

Clarence Ellis Sr. (reappointed), of East St. Louis, has served on the authority since 2010 and is a longtime community leader with experience as education instructor and administrator and non-profit director. Ellis is also the former chairman of the East St. Louis Planning Commission and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Governor's State University:

Bruce Friefeld (reappointed) is the Chief of Staff for the Will County Board and has served as a Governor's State trustee since 1996. Friefeld earned a JD from the DePaul University College of Law and is a longtime public servant and a veteran of the United States Naval Reserves.

Anibal Taboas, of Woodridge, is the president and CEO of Aspira Inc., a not-for-profit organization supporting the education of underserved populations in Chicago. Taboas earned master's degrees in Mechanical/Nuclear Engineering from Northwestern University and in Physics from Indiana State University.

Lorraine Tyson, of Chicago, is a partner at the Pugh, Jones & Johnson law firm, where she specializes in public finance and tax law. Tyson earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and a JD from the University Of Illinois College Of Law.

Illinois Commerce Commission:

Sherina Maye is an associate in the Chicago office of Locke Lord LLP where she has focused on consumer finance litigation. She earned her undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta and graduated from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. Sherina is a mentor at the Young Women's Leadership Charter School, member of the National Executive Board of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a Founding Board Member of the Great Lakes Academy Charter School, and serves as an Associate Board Member for the Chicago Committee for Minorities in Large Law Firms. Maye's strong background in business and consumer finance litigation will be invaluable to the ICC as it continues to serve as a watchdog for Illinois consumers.

Illinois Finance Authority:

Roger Poole, of Smithton, worked as a business representative for the Machinists District #9 for 30 years before retiring in 2009. He also works on economic development and job creation strategy as a member of the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority, where he has served since 2008. He and his wife Rosalie have two sons and two grandchildren.

Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority:

Bechara Choucair (reappointed) has served as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. Under his leadership the department unveiled the first citywide comprehensive health agenda, "Healthy Chicago." Dr. Choucair received his MD from American University of Beirut-Lebanon.

Robert Wellman (reappointed) has been affiliated with the Carle Foundation for nearly 30 years and currently works for the Carle Foundation Hospital, a teaching hospital for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Medicine. Dr. Wellman received his MD from the University of Michigan.

Mark Neaman (reappointed) is the president and CEO of NorthShore University Health System, a $1.6 billion integrated health system, which includes four hospitals, a 650-physician multispecialty group practice, and a Research Institute. Northshore is also an academic affiliate of The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where Mr. Neaman holds a faculty appointment of BioMedicine Fellow. Neaman received his undergraduate and master's degrees in Business/Healthcare Administration from Ohio State University.

Illinois Housing Development Authority:

Cristina Castro, of Elgin, is a member of the Kane County Board, where she serves on the Executive, Finance and Budget and Human Services committees. She earned an MBA from Northern Illinois University and is currently employed as a Marketing and Public Relations Specialist at Elgin Community College.

Salvatore (Sam) Tornatore, of Roselle, is a graduate of the John Marshall Law School and DePaul University in Chicago. He is a principal in the Tornatore Law Office located in Bloomingdale and Roselle. He has served on the DuPage County Board, the Roselle Village Board, the Roselle Zoning Board of Appeals and he is currently serving as a Bloomingdale Township Trustee.

Maternal and Child Health Advisory Board:

Elizabeth SA Patton-Whiteside (reappointed), of East St. Louis, has been a registered nurse in Illinois and Missouri for more than 35 years and currently works for the East St. Louis Department of Public Health. She has served on numerous state and local boards.

Public Guardian, Adams County:

Chris Scholz, of Quincy, is an attorney and partner at Scholz, Loos, Palmer, Siebers and Duesterhaus law firm in Quincy. He is a former Illinois Assistant Attorney General and Assistant State's Attorney for Adams County. Since 1993, he has served as assistant or chief corporation counsel for the city of Quincy. He is an active member of the community, holding a variety of positions including past president of the Adams County Bar Association. He holds a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University and a JD from Mercer University.

Public Guardian, Brown County:

Janet Miley, of Mount Sterling, has managed operations at Brown County High School for 20 years. She and her husband formerly owned and operated their own memorial business. She holds a business degree from Gem City College in Quincy.

Public Guardian, Jackson County:

Shannon Rieckenberg, of Ava, is an attorney at Arbeiter Law Offices specializing in family law and estate planning. She previously completed externships in the Office of the William County State's Attorney and with the First Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois. She earned a bachelor's degree and a JD from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees:

Sandra Cook, of Collinsville, is a retired Master Sergeant who served the United States Marine Corps from 1979 until 2001. Following her military career, she earned her undergraduate degree and JD from SIU-Carbondale. She is a senior associate at the Belleville office of Brown & James Law Firm, and the proud mother of two U.S. Army combat veterans.

Dr. Melvin Terrell, of Chicago, served from 1988-2008 as vice president for Student Affairs and professor of Counselor Education at Northeastern Illinois University, where he founded the minority mentorship program, which was designed to improve the persistence and academic goals of Hispanic and African American students. Dr. Terrell is past president of the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals (NASAP) and served as editor of the NASAP Journal for eleven years. He earned his PhD in Higher Education and Black Studies from Southern Illinois University in 1978.

Lee Milner, of Springfield, is the manager of Public Affairs for the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. He is a U.S. Army veteran and served at the Illinois State Board of Education for nearly 25 years, where he spent time as manager of the Communications division and as a member of the executive cabinet for the State Superintendent of Education. Lee earned his bachelor's degree from SIU-Carbondale and his master's in Public Administration from what is now the University of Illinois Springfield. He is currently on the Board for the Lincoln Land Community College Foundation and serves as president of the FBI Springfield Citizens Academy Alumni Association. Milner's father, four siblings and his two children also attended SIUC.

Southwestern Illinois Development Authority:

Gregory Kuehnel, of Bethalto, is a manufacturing representative for AC Systems and spent 20 years at Amoco Oil, where he rose to senior contract coordinator. He is a former director of facilities for the East Alton Elementary School District and is a veteran of the United States Navy.

Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission:

Craig Futterman, of Chicago, is a law professor at the University of Chicago Law School and was formerly the director of Public Interest Programs at Stanford Law School, where he also earned his JD. He is a former Cook County Public Defender and federal civil rights litigator. He founded the Civil Rights and Police Accountability Project at the University of Chicago's Mandel Legal Aid Clinic.

Neil Toppel (reappointed) of Chicago, is a former public defender and received his JD from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Leonard Cavise (reappointed) is a professor at DePaul University College of Law and alumnus of Georgetown Law.

Tri-City Regional Port District

Andy Economy (reappointed), of Madison, is the Venice Township Supervisor and has served on the Tri-City Regional Port District since 2005. He also owns his own auto body repair and towing business.

Western Illinois University Board of Trustees:

Yvonne Savala, of Moline, is currently the operations director at the Midwest Intellectual Property Management Institute. She received a bachelor's degree in Business Management and Technology from St. Ambrose University and an MPA with an Executive Development emphasis from Drake University.

Roger Clawson, of Moline, is a past president of the Western Illinois Alumni Association and earned his bachelor's degree in Business and Finance from WIU-Macomb in 1977. He was a member of a task force to create the Moline WIU campus and currently works as a State Farm Insurance Agent. He is active in the community, where he has served as president of the Moline Park Board and as director of the Moline Little League.

Carolyn Ehlert Fuller (reappointed) of Milan, has served on the WIU board since 1998, where she has been president twice. She recently retired from Deere & Company as director of Public Affairs & Program Support, Public Affairs Worldwide. Having worked at Deere & Company since 1979, she also served as manager of Illinois Government Affairs and manager of Public Policy Planning. She received her MBA from St. Ambrose University and her bachelor's from Marycrest College.

Of Illinois' more than 320 boards and commissions, 23 are compensated: six of which are full-time, paid positions while the remaining 14 are part-time or per diem. The remaining more than 290 boards are unpaid, volunteer boards. Board salaries are set by Illinois statute. Governor Quinn is conducting a top-to-bottom review of Illinois' boards and commissions to seek out ways to increase efficiency while protecting essential boards in place that are needed.

For more information on all of the state's boards and commissions, or to apply to serve on a board, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.

###
28 Feb 2013

Lt. Governor Simon statement on passing of Justice Mary Ann McMorrow

By Kara Beach
?CARBONDALE - February 25, 2013. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon issued the following statement in response to the passing of her friend and mentor, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Justice McMorrow, someone I have been fortunate to call a friend and hero. I met Justice McMorrow many years ago, because she and my mother, Jeanne Hurley Simon, were the first two women to serve as assistant state's attorneys in Cook County. They remained lifetime friends.

"As a woman and a lawyer, I am inspired by Justice McMorrow's fearlessness in tearing down gender barriers to become the first woman to be an Illinois Supreme Court justice and later the first woman to serve as the court's chief justice. It was truly an honor when Justice McMorrow swore me in as our state's Lt. Governor.

"Illinois has lost a trailblazer and a great leader, but her legacy will live on for years to come."


26 Feb 2013

Leading Small Town Specialty Store Joins Celebration of American Style

By Monica Hendrickson
Duluth, Minn. - Today, maurices announced their participation in Cotton's 24 Hour Runway Show taking place in South Beach, Miami from 8 p.m. EST on March 1 to 8 p.m. EST on March 2. The 2nd annual event is a celebration of the diverse fashion trends across America and maurices will style 10 special cotton looks as part of the 1,440 looks being featured on the runway during the show.

During the 1-2 p.m. EST hour on Saturday, March 2, maurices will showcase various styles that highlight the savvy, fashion conscious attitudes of their consumers, from cotton maxi skirts and denim vests to pinstripe shorts and tie-dye sweaters.

"Cotton's 24 Hour Runway Show is the first national fashion event that maurices is participating in, and we're thrilled to be a part of it," says Lisa Bartlett, Associate Vice President of Marketing at maurices. "We'll be sharing our style inspirations for the maurices girl throughout the show - whether she's enjoying a night out with friends or creating memories through travels across the country."

Other pieces being highlighted in the show include destroyed denim jeans, cotton dresses and ruffled tops. Fashion lovers everywhere will be able view the entire maurices' collection by tuning into http://cotton24hours.thefabricofourlives.com/ where the show will be streamed live for the entire 24 hours. Consumers can also visit maurices.com to purchase select items featuring a cotton content of 60% or more at a 24% discount between March 1-2.

Fashionistas can obtain more information about where to purchase their favorite maurices clothing from the show by visiting http://cotton24hours.thefabricofourlives.com/ or www.maurices.com.

About maurices
maurices, a brand of Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (NASDAQ - ASNA), is the leading hometown specialty store and authority for the savvy, fashion-conscious girl with a twenty-something attitude. Today, maurices operates 850 stores in 46 states and Canada. maurices stands for fashion, quality, value and customer service. Offering sizes 1-24, styles are inspired by the girl in everyone, in every size. For store information and to shop online, visit maurices.com.

# # #

26 Feb 2013

Prepare Now for Natural Disasters

By Steve Burke

By Jason Alderman

Natural disasters are inevitable, unpreventable and often come without warning. No part of the world seems to be spared, whether it's a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, drought or flood. Even though such catastrophes can't always be predicted, their likely aftermaths often can, including property loss, power or water service disruption, scarcity of food and supplies or overtaxed relief organizations.

Superstorm Sandy was a powerful reminder of why it's vital to develop a family disaster plan. By planning ahead and knowing what you might need under dire circumstances, you can save yourselves a lot of time, money and grief.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers great suggestions for developing a family emergency plan, building an emergency supply kit, and learning what to do before, during and after emergencies - even a plan for family pets (www.fema.gov).

Once your physical safety has been assured, you'll inevitably need to access important financial and legal records, whether to file insurance claims, apply for loans or simply withdraw cash. Taking these few steps now will make accessing such information much easier when the time comes:

Create a log of all account numbers, toll-free emergency numbers, contact information and passwords for your bank and credit card accounts, loans, insurance policies, utilities and other important accounts. Update it regularly and save copies in secure, offsite locations such as a safety deposit box or with a trusted friend living in another area. You can also email the list to yourself in an encrypted, password-protected file, save it on a CD or USB drive, or use a cloud-based storage service like Dropbox that will let you access it from any Internet connection.

Make PDF copies of tax returns, insurance policies and legal documents and save offsite in the same manner as above, in case your files or computer are destroyed by fire or flood. Also make digital copies of invaluable family photos, documents and memorabilia that money can't replace.

Document your possessions. If you should ever need to file an insurance claim or claim a tax deduction for lost, stolen or damaged property, it'll be much easier if you have an inventory of everything you own - photos or videotape are even better. A few available tools:

  • The IRS' Casualty, Theft and Loss Workbook (IRS Publication 584) includes a worksheet for cataloging and estimating the value of your possessions.
  • The Insurance Information Institute maintains a free, secure online home inventory software application that lets you access your home inventory, anywhere, anytime (www.iii.org).
  • Your insurance company's website likely contains a downloadable inventory form.

Make sure you fully understand what is and isn't covered by your insurance policies for natural disasters. You may need additional coverage for damage associated with hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes and other weather conditions. Also:

  • Document any damage with photos or video before you start cleanup or repairs.
  • Keep track of expenses you incur to prevent further damage, for temporary housing or to move your possessions for safekeeping, as they may be reimbursable under your insurance claim.
  • Don't delay submitting your claim, since insurers often settle claims in the order filed.

FEMA provides information on how you might be able to get government assistance before, during and after a disaster at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Bottom line: Develop a family emergency plan now and make sure everyone knows what to do when disaster strikes.

26 Feb 2013

Peace Soup supper with Maggie Tinsman on Tuesday

By Sallyann McCarthy

Due to Winter weather conditions, this event has been postponed.  --- Editor, Tuesday Feb 26 2pm

"Peace Soup" - the annual supper and discussion series held on Tuesday evenings throughout Lent will feature former Iowa State Senator Maggie Tinsman on Tuesday, February 26th, at 6 pm in St. Boniface Hall, 2520 Pershing Blvd., Clinton.

On February 26th, former Iowa State Senator, Maggie Tinsman will lead a discussion on "Human Trafficking" which is among the largest and fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world.  While active in the State Senate, Ms. Tinsman introduced the legislation that made human trafficking a felony in Iowa.

Tinsman, currently operates a consultant business, "Maggie Tinsman, LLC", specializing in early childhood education development, lobbying for health and human services issues, and promoting elected public service for women.  She and Jean Lloyd-Jones, also a former Iowa State Senator, founded an organization called 50/50 in 2020 to recruit, train, and mentor women for elected positions.  Currently, Tinsman has become a major speaker on the "Global and Local Problems of Human Trafficking".

Tinsman's past experiences include serving as an elected official for the Scott County Board of Supervisors for eleven years and then going on to serve as an Iowa State Senator for 18 years.  Honors include recognition as Quad Cities Woman of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Iowa Social Worker of the Year, Child Abuse Council Priorities Award, and Coalition of Family and Children Services Award, among others.

Tinsman earned her BA in Sociology from the University of Colorado, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and later received her Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Iowa.  In 2008, she received an Honorary Doctor of Public Service Degree from St. Ambrose University. Currently, she serves on the Boards of Iowa Public Health, Prevention of Disabilities Policy Council, American Lung Association of Iowa, Iowa Legal Aid Foundation, SAL Families and Community Services, and Scott County KIDS Board.

For the 7th year, Prince of Peace Parish Pax Christi and the Clinton Franciscan Center for Active Nonviolence and Peacemaking are co-sponsoring the free series which includes a simple supper of homemade soup and bread followed by a program and discussion.  This year the programs center on the topic of faith's response to violence.  And this year, the series is being held on Tuesday evenings.

"Everyone is welcome," said Pax Christi chair, Gabriela Egging, "All anyone need bring is an appetite for good conversation and for good soup."

Details on the 2013 Peace Soup series are available at www.jcpop.org and at www.clintonfranciscans.com or by calling Prince of Peace Parish at 563-242-3311 or Sisters of St. Francis, 563-242-7611.  The series is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

###
26 Feb 2013

Foreign Service and Diplomacy

By Ginny Grimsley
Diplomacy By Osmosis
Lack Of Training In Foreign Service Hurts National Security, Expert Says

Imagine the following scenario: A 29-year-old restaurant manager becomes a U.S. diplomat. Five years later, he is appointed the founding director of the Arabian Peninsula office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a major State Department program aimed at creating and strengthening civil society in a region vital to global stability.

The young diplomat has little idea how to do his new job. He speaks no Arabic, he has never managed people or a budget outside a restaurant, let alone $2 million of taxpayers' money. He knows almost nothing about democracy promotion and institution-building, and even less about grant-making -- and he is supposed to find non-governmental organizations in eight countries and award them grants to build an alternative to the authoritarian regimes across the Middle East.

Despite the diplomat's obvious inexperience, he is sent to his new post in Abu Dhabi without a day of training. The State Department expects him to learn how to do his job by osmosis, to watch colleagues, figure things out on his own and improvise.

There is no need to imagine this scenario -- it actually happened in 2004 to Hans Wechsel, an American diplomat or, to use his official title, a Foreign Service officer. Wechsel, who has an undergraduate degree in secondary education and managed restaurants in Montana and Oregon before joining the service in 1999, is the first to admit that his performance in Abu Dhabi suffered from the lack of training.

Wechsel is one of 600 diplomats interviewed at 52 U.S. embassies around the world by Nicholas Kralev for his new book, "America's Other Army: The U.S. Foreign Service and 21st Century Diplomacy," www.americasotherarmy.com.

So why did the State Department send a diplomat without the necessary skills -- and more importantly, without any training -- to a critical posting in the most volatile of regions that was about to experience the monumental changes of what later became known as the Arab Spring?

"Wechsel's experience is actually very common in the Foreign Service, if not the norm," says Kralev, who covered the State Department for 10 years for the Financial Times and the Washington Times.

"Wechsel did quite well in Abu Dhabi given the circumstances, but he wishes he had arrived there with at least some of the knowledge and experience he acquired on the job. The big question is: Could the U.S. response to the Arab Spring have been more effective had American diplomats there been better trained?"

As made clear in the National Security Strategy, the White House has charged the Foreign Service with nothing short of changing the world. It has decided that the only way for the United States to be truly secure and prosperous is for the entire world to be secure and prosperous -- and it's the Foreign Service's job to help bring that world about.

"So if our very security and prosperity depend on how well American diplomats do their job, why doesn't the United States invest in diplomats' professional development?'' Kralev asks. "There are many talented, capable and downright heroic Foreign Service officers, but how many of them would have done even better than they have if only they had received proper training?

"Hopefully, Secretary of State-designate John Kerry, President Obama and Congress are all asking these questions."

About Nicholas Kralev

Nicholas Kralev is an author, journalist and lecturer on international affairs, diplomacy and global travel. A former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent, he has traveled around the world with four U.S. secretaries of state - Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and Madeleine Albright -- and visited more than 80 countries. He is the author of "America's Other Army: The U.S. Foreign Service and 21st Century Diplomacy" and "Decoding Air Travel: A Guide to Saving on Airfare and Flying in Luxury." He is also the founder and CEO of Kralev International LLC, an air travel consulting and training company. He holds a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

26 Feb 2013

President Obama reappoints Gov. Branstad Co-Chair of Council of Governors

By Randy Stalsberg

Branstad to continue serving on national council tasked with finding effective homeland security, emergency response and National Guard measures and incorporating the state perspective into national policy discussions 

(DES MOINES) - President Barack Obama today reappointed Gov. Terry E. Branstad co-chair of the ten-governor Council of Governors. Branstad was first named to the Council as co-chair by President Obama in March 2011.

"It has been an honor to serve as co-chairman of the Council of Governors for the past two years," said Branstad. "I want to thank President Obama for having the confidence in me to continue serving on the Council to find effective and efficient solutions to enhance the preparedness and security of our great country. In addition, I want to thank General Orr, and his fellow Adjutants General, who have been integral in their support to help drive collaboration between the Federal government and the states"

The Council of Governors was established by the National Defense Authorization Act in 2008 to strengthen further partnership between the Federal and State governments as it pertains to national security. The council is balanced by political party and serves the nation as a whole. The governors serve two-year terms and are appointed by the President. The President designates two members of different political affiliations to serve as co-chairs of the Council.

The Council is considered a premier opportunity for governors to serve at a national level.

###
25 Feb 2013

Referendum to Increase the Sheep Assessment to be held Feb. 25 Through March 15

By Amanda Heitz
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Sheep Industry Association have announced plans to conduct a referendum from February 25 to March 15, 2013.

As part of the referendum, all eligible producers will be able to vote on two questions, the first is whether the $.10 per head assessment on all sheep sold should be increased to $.25. The second question would allow the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board, beginning in 2016, to change the assessment rate by $.05 every three years. The Board would only be granted this authority if producers approve increasing the assessment to $.25 and the board could only make such changes by resolution only following a producer comment period.

Any producer who is actively engaged within this state in the business of producing or marketing sheep or wool and who receives income from the production of sheep or wool is eligible to participate in the referendum and is entitled to one vote.

Farmers may vote in the Iowa State University Extension office in the county in which they live. When voting each farmer will have to sign an affidavit stating they are a producer eligible to vote or provide proof of their county of residence and a sheep or wool sales receipt from the previous 12 months.

The current Sheep and Wool assessment is $.10 per head on each sheep sold by a producer and $.02 per pound of wool sold by a producer. The Iowa Sheep and Wool promotion board is governed by Iowa Code Chapter 182, which was initially passed in 1985 and was updated last year to allow for the current referendum to increase the assessment rate.

Producers with questions about the procedures or eligibility for voting in this referendum can contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5321 or by e-mail to sheepvote@iowaagriculture.gov.

For more information on how funds generated by the assessment are used, Iowans can contact the Iowa Sheep Industry Association at 712-790-6303 or via email at info@iowasheep.com or find out more online at www.iowasheep.com.

In accordance with Iowa Code, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responsible for holding referendum votes and all costs incurred by the Department will be reimbursed by the Iowa Sheep Industry Association.

- 30 -
25 Feb 2013

ISU Scott County Extension & Outreach Master Gardeners Available as Speakers

By Amanda Heitz
ISU Scott County Extension and Outreach Master Gardeners are available as speakers for your church, civic, or community organization. Practicing gardeners who are knowledgeable and experienced on topics such as water, butterfly or rain gardens, shade gardening, vegetables, roses, native plants, tree and lawn care, and many other topics are eager to share their expertise with others interested in gardening.

Speakers are available at no cost. Call ISU Scott County Extension & Outreach at least two weeks in advance at (563) 359-7577 to schedule a talk on a gardening topic of your group's choice. Speakers are sponsored by the Adult and Children's Education Committees and the Garden Growers of Iowa State's Scott County Extension and Outreach.
22 Feb 2013

Iowa Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Sioux City

By Iowa Judical Branch

Des Moines, February 20, 2013?On Tuesday, March 12, the Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Sioux City, Iowa. The proceeding will take place in Morningside College Eppley Auditorium, 3625 Garretson Avenue. The session will begin at 7 p.m.

The court will hear lawyers argue in two cases:

In the Matter of the Estate of Lois L. Hord

In this case the Iowa Supreme Court will settle the law on issues arising from the transfer of real property subject to a spendthrift trust. Iowa law recognizes the validity of spendthrift trusts, which "restrain both voluntary and involuntary transfer, assignment, and encumbrance of the beneficiary's interest" in the trust. Appellants seek to invalidate transfers they made of their future interests in farm land to their aunt, who held a life estate interest in the land under her husband's will.

State v. Kooima

In this case the Iowa Supreme Court will consider whether an anonymous citizen's tip called into the 911 dispatcher was sufficient for a law officer's investigatory stop of appellant's vehicle. The stop resulted in a second offense OWI conviction. Appellant argues the court should have allowed him to present evidence on the unreliability of the anonymous tip.

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

    

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.