15 Feb 2013

AAUS Boards Approve Merger: Benefits Insufficient To Offset Consumer Harms

By Kevin Mitchell
American Airlines - US Airways Proposed Merger Problematic; Benefits insufficient to offset consumer harms

February 13, 2013, WASHINGTON, DC - Business Travel Coalition (BTC) today responded with concern regarding the news of board approvals of an eleven billion dollar proposal from American Airlines' parent AMR Corporation and US Airways Group Inc. to merge their third and fifth largest U.S. airlines respectively. The transaction would create the country's and world's largest carrier by passenger traffic and would require various approvals from the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Transportation (DOT) as well the EC's DG COMP. If governmental analyses don't force a regulatory tarmac delay, then decisions could be expected in some four to six months.

"From a consumer standpoint - individual traveler or corporate travel department - there are few benefits to offset the negative impacts of this proposed merger that include reduced competition, higher fares and fees and diminished service to small and mid-size communities," stated BTC Chairman Kevin Mitchell. "To be clear, there is benefit in a financially viable air transportation system. However, previous mergers have already enabled seat capacity cuts, higher fares and billions of dollars in fees for ancillary services resulting in a financially strengthening industry. As such, consumer harms from this merger are indeed exacerbated, as there are no substantial countervailing consumer benefits," added Mitchell.

BTC has just published an Industry Analysis of the proposed merger at http://bit.ly/VfUnMK. The analysis includes the following section titles:

- Introduction

- Summary Analysis

- The Right Regulatory Review Construct

- Coordinated Effects A Big Problem

- The Problem Of Monopsony Power

- No Failing Firms Here

- The Diminishing Influence Of Low Cost Carriers

- A Need To Forensically Analyze Past Merger Projections And Promises

- Anti-Consumer Elephant In The Room

The American Antitrust Institute and BTC in the coming weeks will be updating their August 2012 White Paper on the proposed American Airlines - US Airways merger. This paper titled: "The Proposed Merger of US Airways and American Airlines: The Rush to Closed Airline Systems," can be found at http://bit.ly/YKbshf

BTC's 2008 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the Delta Air Lines - Northwest Airlines merger can be found at http://bit.ly/12yyuYP

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About BTC
Founded in 1994, the mission of Business Travel Coalition is to interpret industry and government policies and practices and provide a platform so that the managed travel community can influence issues of strategic importance to their organizations.
04 Feb 2013

Iowa Travel Guide cover to feature Jessica Rilling's photo of a kayaker on the Turkey River

By Rick Martin

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today unveiled the winning cover photo for the 2013 Iowa Travel Guide.  The next edition will feature a photo of a kayaker on the Turkey River on its cover. Facebook fans of the Iowa Tourism Office voted for their favorite of three cover options during a 10-day period ending February 1.

VIEW THE WINNING PHOTO

In December, the Iowa Tourism Office asked amateur and professional photographers to submit photos from their Iowa travels for consideration on the cover. More than 600 submissions were narrowed down to three cover options. The winning image was shot by Jessica Rilling of Cedar Rapids.

The four-color guide is Iowa's comprehensive trip-planning publication, with listings from more than 700 attractions, 550 hotels, 160 bed and breakfasts and 400 campgrounds in addition to information on state parks, trails and scenic byways. The Iowa Tourism Office distributes more than 100,000 copies of the Iowa Travel Guide annually to travelers from every state and around the world. The new guide will be available in the spring of 2013. A digital version will also be available at traveliowa.com.

"Tourism is an important industry in Iowa - it affects all 99 counties and generates $328 million in state taxes annually," said Gov.  Branstad.  "One of the best ways we have to showcase all that Iowa has to offer is the Iowa Travel Guide."

The other finalists were boaters having fun on an Okoboji lake entered by Brock Bringle of Storm Lake and a family hiking at Maquoketa Caves State Park submitted by Kelsey Delperdang of Cedar Rapids.

"People value vacations and their time away from the daily grind," said Lt. Gov. Reynolds. "The three destinations captured among the finalist cover options are representative of the thousands of great Iowa places you can choose for your next getaway."

People can get more information on Iowa travel destinations via www.traveliowa.com, the Iowa Tourism Office's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/iowatourism), Twitter account (www.twitter.com/Travel_Iowa), blog (www.traveliowa.blogspot.com) or Pinterest account (www.pinterest.com/iowatourism). Travelers can share their Iowa vacation photos in the Travel Iowa Flickr Pool (www.flickr.com/groups/traveliowa).

Tourism in Iowa generates more than $7 billion in expenditures and employs 63,400 people statewide. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

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04 Feb 2013

LeClaire is Truly the Coolest Small Town in America

By Cindy Bruhn
LeClaire, Iowa's town motto "It's all there... In LeClaire" appears to hold true. With increasing growth in retail, attractions and housing, LeClaire has gained national attention and become a model community for many other small towns throughout the Midwest. With an increase in visitors to LeClaire, hotel/motel tax collections increased approximately 18% from 2011 to 2012. With growth and diversity of many new retail stores, attractions and restaurants, retail sales tax increased approximately 25% during the same time frame. As a small town with no large industrial base for tax support, LeClaire has managed to be successful with tourism as their cornerstone of growth in a down economy.

City Administrator, Ed Choate, attributes this success to "creating a business friendly atmosphere that encourages entrepreneurship and risk taking."

A new business that was launched during the down economy in 2010, Mississippi River Distilling Co., owned by brothers Ryan and Garrett Burchett is thriving and already expanding. Ryan says their growth has been spurred by "a genuine entrepreneurial spirit that is encouraged and supported by the community and its leaders."

Former LeClaire Chamber President and revitalization expert, Dr. Rick Reed, attributes LeClaire's success to its spirit of community and strength in volunteers. "LeClaire's rich history and recent downtown revitalization in 2007 helped lay the foundation for future growth and expansion. In many small communities, the downtown is the location for important human interaction, business development, culture, and history. The identity of a small community is closely tied to the sustained development of commercial area revitalization. This always stimulates the local economy through planned economic development and growth. In LeClaire, the success of the historic downtown area is a vital link to its future".

For more information, please contact Cindy Bruhn at info@visitleclaire.com.
31 Jan 2013

Black History Month - Explore Missouri's Rich Heritage

By Tom Uhlenbrock
Jefferson City, Mo. ? The Duck Room is a basement nightclub at Blueberry Hill restaurant in the Delmar Loop area of St. Louis. But one night each month, it becomes a living history museum with a performance by rock music pioneer Chuck Berry.

"He's by far our most famous citizen," says Joe Edwards, owner of the restaurant and music club that anchors the six-block entertainment and shopping district. "He was the first poet laureate of rock 'n' roll. Not only did he write his own songs, but he was a heckuva guitar player. Still is."

February marks Black History Month, and Missouri has its share of important figures, from Dred Scott and George Washington Carver to jazz and ragtime musicians and Negro League baseball players. Their museums create an interesting itinerary for observing the special month. But you might also consider a stop at the Duck Room.

At age 86, Berry still performs his signature hits, and does the impromptu duck walk across the stage. His daughter, Ingrid, and son, Charles Berry Jr., perform in the band and help out when Dad sometimes misses a lick. The adoring audience doesn't mind, greeting those senior moments with shouts of "We love you Chuck!"

While music critics disagree on the first rock 'n' roll record, Berry gets unanimous credit for being the entertainer who took the music worldwide, starting with "Maybellene," his first single released in 1955. Berry was the first inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, and recently received its American Music Masters Award at a tribute concert.

"He not only changed music, he helped change culture," said Edwards, Berry's long-time friend and part-time manager. "His music reached across the dividing line between blacks and whites. It also helped bring down the Iron Curtain. The Hungarian ambassador visited Blueberry Hill and said eastern and western Europeans listened to Chuck on their transistor radios. It did more to bring them together than any military threat."

Scientist Carl Sagan paid homage to Berry in the late 1970s, when he chose the recorded sounds that would be aboard the Voyager space probes headed outside the solar system. "He included samplings of some of the best of what was on Earth," Edwards said. "There were sounds of Brazilian jungles, some classical music and, for the 20th century, it was 'Johnny B. Goode' by Chuck Berry."

Admission to the Berry concerts at Blueberry Hill is $35. Visit BlueberryHill.com for a schedule.

While a trip to Blueberry Hill to see Chuck Berry represents a pop-culture focused experience, there are plenty of sites in Missouri for more traditional exploration during Black History month (and year-round, for that matter). Here's a quick sampling:

George Washington Carver National Monument, in Diamond: Tucked away in the southwest corner of the state, the national monument is at the site of the Moses Carver farm, where George Washington Carver was born to a slave girl in 1864. As an infant, he and his mother were kidnapped by Civil War guerillas. George was returned; his mother was never found.

The monument includes a state-of-the-art visitors center that tells the inspirational story of Carver's arduous struggle to rise from his humble beginnings to become an artist, scientist, educator and humanitarian. His research showed that rotating crops of peanuts and soybeans with cotton could revive Southern soil. To encourage the practice, he developed more than 300 uses for peanuts.

The 240-acre site includes a short walk through woods near a spring-fed stream where young George discovered his love for botany. Later, George wrote of the experience: "Day after day, I spent in the woods alone in order to collect my floral beauties and put them in my little garden I had hidden in the brush not far from the house, as it was considered foolishness in that neighborhood to waste time on flowers."

George Washington Carver National Monument is the first national monument to mark the birthplace of anyone other than a U.S. president, and the first to honor an African American. For details, visit www.nps.gov/gwca.

Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site, near Butler: Dedicated in October 2012, the plot of rolling prairie near the Kansas border is Missouri's newest state historic site. It honors the African-American soldiers who fought a small but important Civil War battle.

The 240 soldiers, many of them escaped slaves, were members of the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry. In October 1862, they won a battle against a larger force of Confederate guerillas, marking the first time black troops were used in Civil War combat.

At the time, there was a national discussion about whether black soldiers would fight against whites. This skirmish, known as the Battle of Island Mound, answered that question, and made headlines as far away as New York City.

A white officer assigned to the unit wrote: "We have demonstrated that the Negro is anxious to serve his country, himself and race."

The state historic site, south of Butler, has a circular gravel path that leads around some 40 acres of reclaimed prairie. Interpretative panels along the way explain what happened, and the significance of those events. Visit MoStateParks.com for more information.

The 18th and Vine Historic District, in Kansas City: A magical musical trip across Missouri could start at the Duck Room, in St. Louis, and end at the Blue Room, in Kansas City.

The 18th and Vine area was the center for black culture and life in Kansas City from the late 1800s to the 1960s. The Negro National League was founded near the district in 1920.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum opened in the early 1990s, and the complex was expanded in 1997 with the addition of the American Jazz Museum, which showcases the city's musical heritage. The two first-class museums contain hundreds of photographs, artifacts and film exhibits that tell their stories.

The baseball museum profiles the league's great players, including Satchel Paige, Buck O'Neil and Jackie Robinson, who played for the Kansas City Monarchs and was recruited in 1945 by the Brooklyn Dodgers to become the first African-American in the modern era to play in the major leagues.

The jazz museum describes the careers of such artists as Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. But the museum doesn't stop at past greats. The Blue Room is an adjoining jazz club that showcases the best local and national jazz talent, in an intimate setting.

Visit AmericanJazzMuseum.com and NLBM.com for schedules and more information.

Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, in St. Louis: Like jazz, gospel, blues and rock, African Americans played a dominant role in creating yet another genre of music. Scott Joplin combined the structure of classical music with the free-flowing expression in jazz and gave the world the tinkling sounds of ragtime.

Born in Texas, Joplin took formal music classes in Sedalia, where he wrote "Maple Leaf Rag," earning him the title of "King of Ragtime."

He moved to St. Louis in the spring of 1900 to become a teacher and composer. His time in the city was his most productive and successful period. He wrote his first opera, "A Guest of Honor," and "The Entertainer," which was used as the theme song for the 1973 movie, "The Sting." The classic piano rag is still played on ice-cream trucks throughout the area.

Joplin later moved to New York, where a string of personal disappointments took its toll. He died April 1, 1917. He was 49.

The second-story flat in a large brick house at 2658A Delmar Blvd., where Joplin lived in St. Louis, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. In 1984, the house and adjacent row buildings were acquired by the Department of Natural Resources and underwent an extensive restoration to become the first state historic site dedicated to an African American.

The second floor has been furnished with the décor and artifacts of Joplin's era. Exhibits on the first floor interpret his life and work and include a music room where ragtime is played on a player piano. For more information, visit MoStateParks.com.

The Old Courthouse, in St. Louis: Now part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial that includes the Gateway Arch, the majestic Old Courthouse has a 150-year history, highlighted by the landmark Dred Scott case.

The courthouse was the site of the first two trials of the pivotal case in 1847 and 1850. Scott and his wife, Harriett, were slaves who sued for their freedom, arguing that they had lived in free territory with their owners.

The Scotts won in St. Louis, but their owner, Irene Harrison, appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court, which overturned the lower-court decision. The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which agreed Scott and his family should remain in slavery. Although the Scotts later were freed, the decision hastened the divided country into the Civil War.

"The Legacy of Courage: Dred Scott & the Quest for Freedom" is a display in the courthouse on the first floor in the area where the original cases were heard. A bronze statute outside depicts Dred and Harriett Scott. Dred Scott's grave is in Calvary Cemetery, in north St. Louis. For more information, visit nps.gov/jeff.

If you're ready for a history-themed road trip, VisitMO has plotted your course, with the multi-day Trip Idea found here.

Tom Uhlenbrock is a staff writer for the Division of Tourism.

About the Missouri Division of Tourism
The Missouri Division of Tourism (MDT) is the official tourism office for the state of Missouri dedicated to marketing Missouri as a premier travel destination. Established in 1967, the Missouri Division of Tourism has worked hard to develop the tourism industry in Missouri to what it is today, an $11.2 billion industry supporting more than 279,000 jobs and generating $627 million in state taxes in Fiscal Year 2011. For every dollar spent on marketing Missouri as a travel destination in FY11, $57.76 was returned in visitor expenditures. For more information on Missouri tourism, go to http://www.visitmo.com/.

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28 Jan 2013

Galena/Jo Daviess County CVB - Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend set for March 22-24, 2013

By Celestino Ruffini

GALENA, Ill. - Tickets are available online now for Galena's extremely popular Grand Tastings during Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend. This year's event is slated for March 22-24, with Grand Tastings being offered on Friday, March 22 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 23 from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Galena Convention Center, 900 Galena Square Dr., in Galena, Illinois.

"This year's Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend promises to be even more fun-filled," said event sponsor Tim Althaus, owner of Family Beer & Liquor. "We do highly recommend early purchase for Grand Tasting tickets as we have sold out quickly in past years."

After selling out three weeks before the event in 2009, the committee expanded to offering two Grand Tastings in 2010, both of which have also sold out in the past two years. Tickets are $35 in advance and must be purchased online at www.wineloversweekend.com. There will be no at-the-door ticket sales this year.

Why are the Grand Tastings so popular? They provide epicureans of all levels the opportunity to choose from more than 300 varieties of hand-picked wines and spirits to sample. Admission also provides you with a keepsake wine glass and an opportunity to win a wine-themed trip to San Francisco (including round trip airfare for two through American Airlines in the continental 48 states). Additional trip chances may be purchased for $15 each. The wine silent auction includes items such as vintage wines, artwork, large format wine bottles and related items of interest.

Now in its eighth year running, Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend is a community-wide celebration of good wine, good food and good friends. Wine lovers of all sorts are invited to enjoy three event-filled days of fine wine, culinary delight, celebrity chefs, wine makers, pampering packages and all of the stops Galena can possibly pull out.

Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend is a spirited way to warm the winter and add romance?whether it is for vino, gourmet cuisine or the love for a town with history and charm all on its own. Wine-inspired dinners, spirit tastings, spa experiences, history tours, cooking demonstrations and shopping welcome and enchant visitors.

Lodging specials and package deals fuel the passion. From dining packages to pampering in luxurious accommodations and the warmest of hospitality, Galena's finest provide a variety of options to cater to every taste and budget.

Visit www.wineloversweekend.com for a detailed listing of extended-weekend activities, links to lodging, and an opportunity to purchase tickets online. For information about room availability, shopping, dining, attractions, events and more, please go to galena.org, the Web site of the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, or call toll-free 877.464.2536.

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25 Jan 2013

U.S. Department of Transportation Gives Final Approval for Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project

By Rick Martin

'Move Illinois' Project will Reduce Traffic Congestion, Create 65,000 New Jobs by 2040 

CHICAGO - January 24, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois Tollway today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has approved the final agreement that will allow the Illinois Tollway to construct the Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project.  This sign off completes the last step in the federal review and approval process.

At the direction of Governor Quinn, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have been working with federal officials to secure the final authorization for the $3.4 billion project as part of the Illinois Tollway's 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.  The project will boost long-term economic development in northeastern Illinois and provide congestion relief that is projected to save drivers $145 million a year in time and fuel costs.

"This critical step towards construction of the Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project is a testament to the strong support from Illinois to Washington D.C. to improve mobility throughout the region," Governor Pat Quinn said. "I spoke with Secretary LaHood last night about the tremendous economic benefits that will result from this project, which will put thousands of Illinois men and women to work."

The Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project has been in the works for decades and is considered a "Project of National and Regional Significance" by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

"I am pleased that we found a solution, so that when built, this project can provide mobility for the people of Illinois for generations to come," said U.S Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. "I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Quinn on this critical project."

"With this milestone, Illinois is well-positioned to implement this historic project, setting the stage for economic growth for decades to come," said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur.

The Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project will include construction of a new, all-electronic toll road around the western border of O'Hare International Airport linking the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), the extension of the Elgin O'Hare Expressway east along Thorndale Avenue to O'Hare and the rehabilitation and widening of the existing Elgin O'Hare Expressway.  The project is also expected to create as many as 65,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2040 when combined with completion of the western terminal at O'Hare Airport.

"The quick federal approval for this critically important project is a testament to the leadership of Governor Quinn and the close partnership of the Illinois Tollway and IDOT," said IDOT Secretary Ann Schneider. "It will create thousands of good jobs, strengthen the state's position as the transportation hub for the nation and lay the foundation for the continued long-term economic development of northeastern Illinois."

The Tollway is planning to spend $95.6 million in 2013 for work on the Elgin O'Hare Western Access Project.  Potential 2013 construction includes noise walls along the existing Elgin O'Hare Expressway, Rohlwing Road (Illinois Route 53) grade separation and the southbound Elmhurst Road over I-90 bridge. The actual location and schedule of construction will depend on land acquisition, permits, agreements and utility relocations.

The 2013-2025 implementation plan is broadly supported by local governments and represents a fiscally responsible approach to address the area's diverse travel needs - improving travel efficiency, providing western access to O'Hare, enhancing multi-modal connections and reducing congestion.

About Move Illinois

The Illinois Tollway's $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will improve mobility, relieve congestion, reduce pollution, create as many as 120,000 jobs and link economies across the Midwest region. Move Illinois will address the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system; rebuild and widen the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-the-art 21st century corridor; construct a new interchange to connect the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57; build a new, all-electronic Elgin O'Hare Western Access and fund planning studies for the Illinois Route 53/120 Extension and the Illiana Expressway.

About the Illinois Tollway

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).

 

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24 Jan 2013

Governor Quinn Announces $9 Million Capital Investment in Airports Across Illinois

By Erin Wilson
Program Will Create Hundreds of Jobs, Improve19 Airports and Increase Public Safety

CHICAGO - January 23, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider today announced a $9 million investment that will create hundreds of construction jobs while improving 19 airports across the state. Illinois' State-Local Airport Improvement Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 will rehabilitate aging infrastructure, improve accessibility for travelers and businesses and maximize economic development opportunities at Illinois airports from Cairo to Moline. The program is funded by $7.3 million from Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital program and a local match of $1.6 million.

"Maintaining and improving Illinois' aviation infrastructure is vitally important to meeting the needs of travelers and small businesses, and ensuring the safety of airport workers," Governor Quinn said. "Airports are a local economic engine for communities, regional trades and professional services, and are essential to making sure Illinois remains competitive in today's growing economy. This major investment will generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, improve accessibility and further strengthen Illinois' position as a national leader in infrastructure."

The wide variety of airport improvement projects include the rehabilitation of a terminal and a number of taxiways, aircraft parking ramps and entrance roads and the modification of major parking lots. In addition, the construction of an automatic weather observation system in Mt. Sterling will significantly improve safety for the flying public.

"We are extremely proud to announce the FY13 State-Local Airport Improvement Program, and remain committed to making the financial investments needed to maintain and improve our existing aviation infrastructure," Secretary Schneider said. "This critically important maintenance program for airports statewide would not have been possible without Governor Quinn's leadership and his Illinois Jobs Now! plan."

Illinois' aviation system is comprised of nearly 80 publicly-owned airports and is vital to a healthy economy. A recent economic impact study reported that Illinois airports contribute more than $40 billion to local economies: http://illinoisairportsmeanbusiness.com/IL-Econ_TechnicalReport.pdf

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21 Jan 2013

Make Plans to Attend the 2013 Iowa State Fair

By Lori Chappell

DES MOINES, IA (01/18/2013)(readMedia)-- Plans are underway for the 2013 Iowa State Fair, including over $600,000 in family-friendly entertainment, all free with gate admission. Mark your calendars - August 8-18 - and experience for yourself why "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair.

Buy your tickets now and save nearly 40 percent off admission to the 2013 Iowa State Fair. Through February 28, advance admission tickets are just $7 for adults (ages 12+) and $3 for children (ages 6-11). Fairgoers ages 5 and under are admitted free every Fair day.

Tickets are available now at iowastatefair.org. Choose our convenient print-at-home option and enjoy immediate delivery of your tickets, or, through February 28, opt to have them mailed to you directly for free. Tickets can also be purchased at the Administration Building on the Fairgrounds between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Monday - Friday). Act now to take advantage of the 2012 pricing.

Effective March 1, the price of gate admission will increase by $1 per ticket. This increase will apply to all gate admission including day-of and advanced admission tickets. The price of Fair Play Packs for adults (ages 12+) and children (ages 6-11) and punch cards, good for 11 days of adult admission, will increase $1 per ticket per day.

More details about Grandstand and free stage acts will be available on the Fair's website in the spring.

Nothing Compares to the 2013 Iowa State Fair August 8-18. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or check out www.iowastatefair.org.

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18 Jan 2013

Show Your Love for the Iowa State Fair!

By Jenna Beary

DES MOINES, IA (01/18/2013)(readMedia)-- What's not to love about the great Iowa State Fair? From funnel cakes, ferris wheels, food on a stick and free entertainment, to premier livestock events, expansive art exhibits and the country's largest state fair food department, the Iowa State Fair has something for everyone. This year, Iowans can show their love for the Fair on their tax returns and help the Fair continue on the path of preserving the historic Fairgrounds.

Look for the State Fairgrounds Renovation Check Off on line 58b of Iowa Tax Form 1040 or on line 14 of Iowa Tax Form 1040A and check off $1 (or more!) to help preserve the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds. Your gift is either deducted from your refund or added to the amount due. Contributions to the Corndog Checkoff are fully tax-deductible.

"Participating in the Corndog Checkoff is just one more way Iowans have shown their love for the Iowa State Fair. Funds raised through this program are an important part of the preservation of this great institution for future generations," said Blue Ribbon Foundation Executive Director John Putney.

Every dollar donated to the Checkoff is directly allocated to capital improvements. The Corndog Checkoff has raised over $1.7 million, and has supplemented restoration projects from the Grandstand to Ye Old Mill. In addition, funds generated by the Checkoff have helped improve the campgrounds, parking areas, sidewalks and restrooms.

The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated over $95 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. For more information on the Corndog Tax Checkoff, please contact the Blue Ribbon Foundation at (800) 450-3732 or email info@blueribbonfoundation.org.

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16 Jan 2013

Enjoy Winter Outdoors In Missouri

By Stephen Foutes

Enjoy Winter Outdoors In Missouri

Jefferson City, Mo. ? We know it is tempting to just sit in your living room and wait for spring; after all, it is warm and dry in there. As winter tightens its grip, a person's fancy often turns to thoughts of . . . skiing (snow, not water) and canoeing.

You can do both right here, in Missouri. No need for a 12-hour road trip through treacherous mountain terrain, or to endure the long, demanding lines of airport security. Missouri's tourism website, VisitMO, has listings for everything you need to get out and experience nature, even in winter.

Missouri has two venues for swishing down the slopes: Snow Creek, north of Kansas City, and Hidden Valley, on the western fringe of St. Louis. Both are perfect for an exhilarating afternoon, regardless of your skill level. Just pick your ride of choice, from downhill or cross-country skis, to snowboards, to tubes, and enjoy a refreshing day outdoors. Yes, both offer professional instructors.

Snow Creek is about 10 minutes north of Weston; a half hour south of St. Joseph. Their state-of-the-art snowmaking machines can blanket the hillside with 12 inches of snow. The venue has a total vertical drop of 300 feet; a 700-foot long tube area; and a terrain section for snowboards. One-day, two-day and season tickets are offered.

The lodge at Snow Creek includes a bar, cafeteria, picnic and barbecue area, a bonfire pit, equipment rentals, souvenir and gift shop, an award-winning ski school, and (just in case) a first-aid station. They hold nighttime sessions some weekends. Watch their website for details.

To make a weekend of it, stay just down the road, in Weston ? voted Missouri's No. 1 Day Trip by Ingram's Magazine, and the No. 1 Best Overnight Destination by VisitKC.com.

  • Weston Bend State Park has hiking trails that meander through the woods and along a bluff with great views of the Missouri river. Picnic sites and camping are available if the weather is good.
  • Visit Pirtle Winery, known for their fine Missouri wines and meads (mead is wine made from honey).
  • Unwind at O'Malley's Pub, an Irish microbrewery and restaurant.
  • The American Bistro-style cuisine at the Avalon Cafe, situated in an 1847 home, has dishes ranging from pizza to wild boar, pasta to beef steaks, elk loin to chicken.
  • For a down-home meal and scrumptious breakfast, try the Weston Cafe.
  • Spend a relaxing night at the Inn at Weston Landing, a four-guestroom bed and breakfast, built in 1842.
  • The 26-guestroom Saint George Hotel opened its doors in 1845. The hotel has been renovated with modern conveniences, while maintaining its original architectural style and beauty.

Across the state, in Wildwood (a western suburb of St. Louis), the skiing hot spot is Hidden Valley ski resort. Their snowmaking system can provide all the snow necessary for skiing, tubing and snowboarding, on 30 acres with an overall 310-foot vertical drop. The ski lodge holds a bar, cafeteria, equipment rentals, and (just in case) a first-aid station. Certified instructors offer skiing and snowboarding instructions (all levels and ages; private and group). Trails at Hidden Valley are lighted for night skiing and special moonlight sessions, some of which last until 3 a.m. Day tickets, group and senior rates, and season passes are available.

After a day on the slopes, it's about 10 minutes to Eureka, where you can relax, dine and spend the night.

  • A highlight of the Eureka area, Route 66 State Park features an original section of old Route 66, plus a visitor center with Route 66 and Times Beach exhibits, Meramec River access, picnic areas and shelters, and trails for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding.
  • Plan ahead and make reservations to tour the Endangered Wolf Center. This internationally recognized captive breeding facility raises endangered wolves and releases them into the wild. This is a fascinating attraction you'll never forget.
  • The Holiday Inn at Six Flags features a heated indoor pool, arcade games, a bar and a restaurant (kids eat free).
  • Chow down on some of the best barbecue in America at Super Smokers Barbecue Restaurant. This is the home of the St. Louis area's only World Champion BBQ team; their award-winning barbecue sauce is available on-site and at grocery stores throughout the Midwest.
  • If barbecue isn't your thing, try Poor Richard's Restaurant, where they serve two tons of chicken wings every week, in addition to fish, steaks and daily specials.

Not into snow skiing? How about floating a cool Missouri stream? Yes, in winter. This is a swell season to enjoy the solitude, while drifting along in a canoe . . . and it isn't crowded. The water this time of year is especially clear; the winter views give you a different perspective of the Missouri countryside; fishing is always good; and there is an abundance of camping and cooking spots on gravel bars. Caution: take extra clothes in a dry-bag, just in case.

About 10 miles east of Steelville, the folks at Bass' River Resort can set you up for a trip on three rivers: the Courtois, the Huzzah and the Meramec. Their facilities include tent camping sites, RV sites and cabins. In January, they offer one free canoe rental with the rental of a log cabin; other specials apply in February and March.

  • Seven miles southeast of Steelville, unwind and refresh at Westover Farms, on 475 acres adjacent to the Mark Twain National Forest. Stay the weekend, or longer, in one of their hand-hewn log and stone cabins, equipped with modern conveniences, a wood-burning fire place, and a full kitchen; just take your own food. Hike and bike the trails; fish for rainbow trout year-round; and visit the on-site fish hatchery. Do not take your own firewood.
  • While you are in the area, visit Peaceful Bend Winery and try some outstanding Missouri wine. From the coziness of the tasting room, it is a short hike to the banks of the Meramec River, where the wintertime views are worth the walk.

Outdoor and nature enthusiasts are sure to enjoy Missouri's wintering eagle population. America's symbolic bald eagles can be spotted along open waterways and lakes throughout Missouri. In winter, Missouri's resident eagle population is supplemented by migrating birds from the north, with numbers reaching more than 2,500 eagles, the second-largest number of wintering eagles in the lower 48 states.

Several organized "Eagle Days" are held, giving you the opportunity to witness these magnificent birds in their natural habitat. These events include discussions by professional naturalists; spotting scopes for an up-close-and-personal view and refreshments are usually available.

For eagle viewing on your own, try:

Missouri has an abundance of outdoor winter activities; these are but a few ideas. The key is . . . get outside and experience this diverse and fascinating season. There is no need to get the winter blahs.

To find more exciting things to do, information about lodging, attractions, events and dining across Missouri, check out VisitMO.com.

About the Missouri Division of Tourism
The Missouri Division of Tourism (MDT) is the official tourism office for the state of Missouri dedicated to marketing Missouri as a premier travel destination. Established in 1967, the Missouri Division of Tourism has worked hard to develop the tourism industry in Missouri to what it is today, an $11.2 billion industry supporting more than 279,000 jobs and generating $627 million in state taxes in Fiscal Year 2011. For every dollar spent on marketing Missouri as a travel destination in FY11, $57.76 was returned in visitor expenditures. For more information on Missouri tourism, go to http://www.visitmo.com/.

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