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Iowa blogs (US-IA), 05/19/2012
17:33
sale...stuff...
» simply iowa

buttery...or canning shelf from a central Iowa farm house

late 1700's or early 1800's chest

early 1960's set in excellent condition

simply beautiful...

one of two carts from the Norway, Iowa grocery store... I have several smaller ones...that will be on the sale as well...

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15:18
There Might Be Hope For This Mom And Her Kitchen Table
» All In an Iowa Mom's Day!

OK~ I cleared my kitchen table off. I removed all the papers, notebooks, and clutter that had landed its way onto it. Within four hours, I had two dozen golf balls and a shotgun shell reloader on top of it. Yep, this is what it looks like. Beautiful, huh? Tis the season for lots of outdoor activity in Iowa.

I am pleased to announce that the golf balls are marching their way into a golf bag and the shotgun shell reloader has a new home in the basement. With a house full of guys that love the outdoors, I guess I should not expect anything different from this. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

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09:09
It's Beginning to Look Like Sale Time!
» simply iowa

Well...It's Begun! The first to go out on the Lawn...Last Night! Our Neighbor...Akio, brought this Lovely Vintage Wicker Set! John and I got the Beautiful...Four Piece Cast Iron Victorian Urn...set up! One tent is UP! Thanks to the Boys and John...{They had an...ugly...ugly time with it...oh dear!} Then John and I unloaded the truck...and just put everything under cover last night.... Had several calls...from friends..and neighbors...who are bringing things! Sounds Grrrreat! I went and helped neighbors...yesterday....who needed a hand...and didn't get as much done here...as I would have liked...but...I'll get'er done! also...hadn't got groceries...for weeks...so did that last night...the cupboards...were Bare! Today.... I'm working in the Rabbit Hole! Once it is done...I can move on, to the buildings....and other tents! Sounds like there is going to be some wonderful things...coming in! Farm Tables...and Stands...Cupboards...Planters...Farm Fragments...Victorian Pieces... an Amazing...Late 1700's Chest.... {wait 'til ya see the Awesome Hinges....holy smokes!} Several...Industrial Items...Concrete....I'll have more images..as things get put together.... Had a Wonderful Visit...from Jean S. yesterday... {no worries...no early sales.... if it's posted...it will be here...for the Sale...} She brought her Darling friends...from Texas.... we had such a Lovely visit.... she is such an Angel... I'm going to try and get the back greenhouse...flipped around...today...or tomorrow...it needs a 'face lift! So much coming in...I'm going to really have to be...'creative'! Oh Dear!!! Love to Ya! Barb C.

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03:00
Common Pochard
» Iowa Voice

Common Pochard- Aythya ferina - also known as Die Tafelente (German), El porrón europeo o porrón común (Spanish), Le Fuligule milouin (French), Il Moriglione (Italian), and Brunand (Swedish).

Not native to Iowa. I did not see any evidence that the Common Pochard even makes it to North America. The bird does not have a page at the Cornell site. Pochards are superficially similar to the closely related North American Redhead and Canvasback.

Photo taken with the Canon Digital Rebel XT and a Sigma 150-500mm Lens on April 8, 2012, in Malmö, Sweden (Slottsparken).
Bookmark to:

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01:39
Indianola woman sentence in prison identity theft case
» Radio Iowa

An Indianola woman who stole the identities of volunteers at a state prison will find out what it’s like on the other side of the bars. A U.S. District Court judge sentenced 37-year-old Shelley Ann Bridges to 48 months in prison on one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of credit card fraud. [...]

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01:36
Volunteers needed at Veterans Affairs facilities in western Iowa
» Radio Iowa

There’s a dire need for volunteers to help out at several Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Will Ackerman, spokesman for the V-A’s Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, says the vital corps of hundreds of volunteers absolutely help to keep the system running. “We’re seeing a lot of our volunteers [...]

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01:00
Free viewing sites are available for Sunday’s eclipse
» Radio Iowa

Astronomers and others who like to study the things beyond earth will get a treat Sunday when the moon passes between the earth and sun. Richard Miles of the Science Center of Iowa says they have set up a special event to watch the eclipse. “This is going to be visible for us here in [...]

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00:58
Postcard #13 (Willmar, MN)
» Screenwriting from Iowa

“The auction industry pushes almost twice the revenue through every year as the fast food industry does. It’s close to half a trillion dollars of merchandise that is sold at auctions..It’s a huge chunk of our economy.” Rich Penn Speaking of Jessica Lange (see yesterday’s post) have you ever seen the movie Country? Lange was nominated for [...]

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Iowa blogs (US-IA), 05/18/2012
15:27
Mass Time Change at St. Patrick Church Iowa City
» Iowa City Catholic Community

Beginning Sunday, June 3, 2012, St. Patrick Church will change its 7:30am Mass time to 7:00am. The regular weekend Mass schedule of 4:30pm-Saturday, and Sunday at 10am and Noon-Spanish will remain the same. The parish is located at 4330 St. Patrick Drive, Iowa City, which is east off Scott Boulevard and then north off Lower [...]

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15:20
Information on ongoing and upcoming study opportunities are as follows;
» Iowa City Catholic Community

Fr. Bob Barron’s Catholicism Project St. Mary Catholic Church 220 E. Jefferson Street Iowa City 7-8:30pm in the parish hall (steps going down from the Linn Street side of the church, wheelchair lift on opposite [west] side of the church) Sundays from April 15th-June 24th (no session on Memorial Day Weekend) or Mondays from September [...]

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15:16
Two names added to Iowa Peace Officer Memorial (video)
» Radio Iowa

A couple of law enforcement officers who died while on duty were honored today with a somber ceremony on the state capitol grounds. Report from Radio Iowa’s Pat Curtis: Des Moines Police Officer Roger Hildreth and State Trooper Mark Toney had their names engraved on a large memorial plaque, which now includes the names [...]

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14:22
You’ll be swept up in an Iowa adventure!
» Travel Iowa

Channel your inner flying squirrel near Dubuque at historic Union Park. Sky Tours features seven ziplines that soar above treetops and ridges. The unique history and natural beauty of this century-old park combine to make for a fascinating tour as you hike from one zipline to the next. But you’ll forget all that when you strap in and step off the 45-foot tower into thin air! (Check out coverage of the course via Iowa Public Television’s Iowa Outdoors.)

Spelunkers rejoice! The famous caves of Maquoketa Caves State Park are open again. When you visit, you’ll learn about our friends the bats and how to protect them. Enjoy caves, limestone formations and rugged bluffs – visit the interpretive center to learn more about the caves. Come for a day trip or pitch a tent in wooded campground.

Iowa’s oldest state park, Backbone State Park near Strawberry Point, is named for the rugged bedrock formation that twists and turns through the area. Rock climbers enjoy steep bluffs; boaters enjoy the lazy Maquoketa River. Bring your banjo and jam at the Backbone Bluegrass Festival in late July.

Try your hand at whitewater rafting without traveling to the Rockies. It’s just a short trip to the Charles City WhiteWater at Riverfront Park, where the Cedar River flows through the middle of town and provides exciting recreation for paddlers and tubers of any experience level. Be sure to mark your calendars for the first annual Charles City Challenge: WhiteWater Weekend June 15-17, and see stand-up paddling make a splash!

One of Iowa’s longest trails, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail stretches more than 62 miles through southwest Iowa on a converted railroad bed. An annual trail pass will grant you unlimited access to this multi-use trail – see bikers, hikers, even horseback riders enjoying Iowa’s wide-open scenery and friendly little towns. Ask locally about the Taco Ride… we dare you.

Can you ride a mountain bike without a mountain? Of course! Hundreds of mountain bikers will gather June 22-24, 2012, at Scott County Park in eastern Iowa for the 2012 Midwest Mountain Bike Festival.

Look for more ideas to paddle, bike, run and swim across Iowa at [www.traveliowa.com] .

Kathy Bowermaster, Iowa Tourism Office

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14:12
Women drinking alcohol and riding horses have accident with bicycles
» Radio Iowa

We hear about car-deer collisions all the time but last night’s bicycle-horse mishap is a new twist. Sergeant Dwayne Riche, of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department, says the accident happened about seven miles south of Council Bluffs on the Wabash Trail about 9:30 P.M. “Deputies observed two females on horses that were consuming alcohol in [...]

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13:32
Winnebago suitor says the company could assemble cars and trucks
» Radio Iowa

The managing partner for a Connecticut-based private equity and hedge fund company says their offer to buy Winnebago Industries would allow the company to diversify into assembling cars and trucks. North Street Capital LP has offered to purchase the Forest City-based recreational vehicle manufacturer for $11 a share in cash after Winnebago declined a previous [...]

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13:20
Governor: “next year’s the year” to raise state gas tax
» Radio Iowa

Governor Terry Branstad says raising the state’s gas tax or “user fee” for the state’s transportation system should be on the legislature’s agenda in 2013. “I think next year’s the year to do it. Now, already since the (2012) legislature adjourned we’ve seen the price of gas drop significantly,” Branstad says. “The biggest problem with doing [...]

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12:05
Update: two now charged in Des Moines murders
» Radio Iowa

Des Moines Police say a second suspect has been arrested in a double murder of two men Thursday evening. The shooting happened at Seibert Trucking. Police say 30-year-old Serif Hidic and 49-year-old Robert Smoot were both found dead at the southeast Des Moines property. It’s unclear what led to the shooting , although the dispatcher [...]

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11:49
Unemployment rate moves down again in April
» Radio Iowa

The unemployment rate has dropped every month this year and April was no exception. Iowa Workforce Development spokesperson Kerry Koonce, says,”We’re down to 5.1%, and that makes Iowa 3 percentage points below the national average which is at 8.1% for April. We were at 5.9% this time last year, so we’ve seen a significant drop [...]

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10:16
One man charged in Des Moines double murder
» Radio Iowa

A suspect is in custody after a double-murder at a Des Moines trucking firm on Thursday night. Someone called 911 shortly after 5 P.M. and all the dispatcher was able to hear was an argument, then, what sounded like gunshots, and the voices were silenced. The call was traced to Seibert Trucking where, within minutes, [...]

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10:15
Bettendorf police say texting involved in I-74 accident
» Radio Iowa

The driver hurt earlier this week in an eastern Iowa car wreck was texting. Bettendorf police say 24-year-old Jennifer DeClerck of Moline, Illinois, admitted to texting on her cell phone just before the crash on Interstate 74. At last report, DeClerck was in fair condition at a Davenport hospital. She’d been airlifted there with serious [...]

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10:13
Connecticut company makes a purchase offer for Winnebago
» Radio Iowa

Forest City-based Winnebago Industries has confirmed that it has received a buyout offer from a private equity company in Connecticut. Winnebago officials issued a news release saying North Street Capital has proposed to buyout the recreational vehicle maker for $11 a share. The release says Winnebago management has reviewed the offer with its board of [...]

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10:10
Shoplet.Com: Swingline EX10-05 Light-Duty Cross-Cut Shredder Review
» All In an Iowa Mom's Day!

OK~ I have tried a couple paper shredders through the years and have had not had any luck with them. When Shoplet.com offered me the opportunity to review the Swingline EX10-05 Light-Duty Cross-Cut Shredder, I jumped on the opportunity.

Swingline EX10-05 Light-Duty Cross-Cut Shredder

I will say I was pleasantly surprised on how well it functioned. When sliding papers and CDs in, there were no issues. Shopping for paper shredders can be overwhelming, as the first thing a person wonders is how many sheets of paper will shred through at once. This one lived up to my expectations, as I had no problem shredding several sheets of paper at a time.

Document shredders are often super noisy, which was not the case with this particular one. I was rather surprised at how quiet the Swingline EX10-05 Light-Duty Cross-Cut Shredder ran. I expected the shredder to be louder than it was. I have to say that I did appreciate the quietness, but I also appreciated the fact that this was a cross shredder. Identity theft seems to be running rampant, and this is a fabulous solution. Look at how fine this paper is shredded.

Cross Shredded Paper-The View Through The Window On The Machine

This paper shredder also shreds credit cards, CDs, and staples. I have shredded numerous items over the past few days and I can honestly state that I have not had one paper jam; which was a welcome change. Any paper shredders that I have owned in the past have had issues with the paper not flowing through. I also loved the fact that there is a little window that allows users to see when the bin is full.

The buttons are easy to use and I found the instructions helpful. The shredder itself was easy to set up and the design is fabulous. It looks sleek, not like a trash can. Often times shredders are machines that people like to hide, as they look ancient. This shredder is one that you won't feel like you have to hide. When you have a machine like this in your office, your office supplies will all look up to date. It looks like a lot of the unwanted mail that continues to arrive for our 21 year old son, now has a new home. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

*I was sent a Swingline EX10-05 Light -Duty Cross-Cut Shredder for review purposes. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed here are mine and nobody else's.

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09:57
Build-Your-Own Nest Activity
» The Iowa Farmer's Wife

As I said in our Muffin Tin Monday post, last week we learned about letter N and talked a lot about nests. I was trying to think of a way to make a nest when I came up with the idea to create one out of things we found outside. I thought we might glue the pieces on a piece of paper, but then realized if it looked like a real nest it'd be a whole lot more fun!
I found a small box, told Sweet P what we were going to do with it and we set out to collect supplies in the backyard. Sweet P wasn't too interested in collecting items (she was too busy eating parsley and sage flowers from the garden) so I led her around the yard asking "Do you think we need this for our nest?" Some items made it into the nest while others were deemed unworthy for nest building. We ended up with a lot of grass, yellow flowers (from weeds), a few sticks and some leaves.
It was close to naptime when we finished collecting supplies so we put nest building off until she woke up. Sadly, the yellow flowers closed!

Sweet P lined the box with glue, but I realized we didn't really need glue since it was a box and the stuff would have sat neatly inside. Oh well. She loved squeezing the glue into the box and spreading it around with her finger.
After it was finished she asked me if we had any birds for it. We did, but they were in the Easter decorations so she waited patiently while I dug through our holiday stuff to find 2 tiny Easter eggs and 2 fluffy birds. I was excited (and so was she) to find that the birds fit perfectly into the eggs. I put them in before I came back to the table so she could "hatch" them.
Sweet P named them Anna and Chickadee and in true Sweet P fashion, they are both girls.

She also decided we needed to feed the birds and since we just so happened to be having spaghetti we had the perfect worms for them! She fed them and I threw out the spaghetti when she went to bed. In the morning, she asked me where the worms went and I said, "They ate them," but Sweet P's too smart for that. She was a little annoyed that I threw them away until I explained that spaghetti gets hard when you leave it out.
She loves to check on her little birds (and often asks to stall when I ask her to do something!). Have you ever made a nest? Please share yours in the comment section!

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09:30
Harrington wants to end high school competition with championships
» Radio Iowa

Cedar Falls sprinter James Harrington is writing the final chapter of a storied high school career this weekend at the State Track Championships in Des Moines. Harrington won four gold medals last year to help Cedar Falls to a team title, and he says that is their goal again this weekend, despite strong competition from [...]

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09:24
Beef Month comes amid challenges for industry
» Radio Iowa

May is National Beef month, a time to promote the industry in the midst of some of its greatest challenges. A controversy over lean, finely textured beef has led by layoffs at beef processing plants in Iowa and elsewhere. “It certainly is unfortunate what has happened, you know, to the lean finely textured beef and [...]

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08:53
Former funeral home in Atlantic heavily damaged by fire
» Radio Iowa

A large house that had been a mortuary for decades in southwest Iowa was heavily damaged by fire early this morning. The former Hockenberry-Mullen Funeral Home in Atlantic was vacant but investigators say there may’ve been people inside, either youth or vagrants. Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees says it was a challenging blaze to fight. [...]

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08:45
Victim identified in fatal Scott County accident
» Radio Iowa

A motorist killed Thursday morning in an eastern Iowa car crash has been identified. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office says 40-year-old Kristine Witcraft of Bettendorf was killed in the single-car accident north of Davenport in rural Scott County. Witcraft was driving a mini-van when she lost control on a gravel road. The van rolled and [...]

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08:44
Bill waiting for governor’s approval would crack down on “storm chasers”
» Radio Iowa

A bill awaiting Governor Branstad’s review would establish new requirements in hopes of cracking down on so-called “storm chasers.” Consumer complaints about contractors who ride into town after a tornado or other disaster, but provide substandard or no repairs at all prompted legislators to draft the bill. Senator Matt McCoy, a Democrat from Des Moines, [...]

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08:43
Buffalo break away, roam around northwest Iowa
» Radio Iowa

Authorities in northwest Iowa have been spending much of this week helping round up some large animals that escaped from a ranch. About 200 buffalo broke out of their pen at a ranch in Sibley on Sunday. Chief Deputy Kevin Wollmuth, with the Osceola County Sheriff’s office, says they’ve proven hard to catch. “They’re a [...]

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07:59

The Race is On!!! Sale...One Week...from...NOW!!!!

» simply iowa

01:59
Long term forecast raises some worries for the growing season
» Radio Iowa

The National Weather Service is predicting Iowa’s early summer temperatures and rainfall will be near normal, but two Iowa-based climatologists say they’re somewhat concerned about the weather impact on Iowa’s crop-growing season. The NWS forecast predicts warmer than normal temperatures south of Iowa and Illinois in the extreme southern cornbelt. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says [...]

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00:43
Three States...and 17 hours...on the Road... I Have a Load...
» simply iowa

Thank God... For the New Air Shocks.... and Mark...for talking to me...{about...anything...and everything....} the last 100 miles... Holy Smokes.... I have a Load.... Everything...from Late 1700's Pieces...to 1960's.... Furniture....on this load.... all sorts of odds and ends.... It was a Good Day.... Sorry if I missed your calls... for most of the day... I had no phone....{God's Country....Beautiful...} I'll get images...sometime tomorrow... I have to be up early.... all sorts of appointments.... oh dear... Nite... {guess I'd better get the toothpicks...out of my eyes.... ahhhh....Sleeeeep.... : ) } Love...to ya.... Barb C. {ahhh...John has supper on the stove...bless his heart....: )... too tired to eat.... it'll be good for breakfast........in...5 hours...oh my....so glad...this job...really isn't...work....: ) }

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Iowa blogs (US-IA), 05/17/2012
23:03
Postcard #12 (Little Falls, MN)
» Screenwriting from Iowa

On Monday I did a shoot in Little Falls, Minnesota and met a fellow who said he gave a bike ride to future actress Jessica Lange when she lived there in ninth grade. But the two-time Oscar-winning actress is not the most famous resident to have ever lived in Little Falls. That honor would go [...]

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22:43
Rotary Club of Des Moines Awards $2,000 in Scholarships
» Des Moines Rotary Blog

On Wednesday, May 16th, the Des Moines Yacht Club hosted the 2012 Dollars for Scholars awards reception.This annual event is the culmination of a process that matches local college-bound students with Des Moines-area organizations that provide scholarships.

Rotary Club members gather around the two scholarship recipients

Each year, the Rotary Club of Des Moines participates by selecting a student who is a graduate of Mt. Rainer High School and has demonstrated a commitment to community service. This year, the club chose two very deserving recipients.

Rotarian, Dr. Bonnie Verhunce
and Natasha Batby

Natasha Batby, of Normandy Park, is graduating this year from Mt. Rainier High School, but has been working on her Associates of Arts degree at Highline Community College over the past two years through the Running Start program. She has been accepted to Oregon State University for the Fall of 2012. Natasha received a check for $1,000 towards her tuition from the Rotary Club of Des Moines.

Molley Alvardo says a
few words

Molley Alvardo, of Des Moines, graduated from Mt. Rainier in 1993 and is completing her Associates of Arts degree at Highline Community College this summer. She has been accepted to Evergreen College and will work on her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and Social Science. Molley received a check for $1,000 towards her tuition, as well.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Des Moines, please visit our website at www.dmrotary.org.
Photos courtesy of Photograhper Michael Brunk of the Waterland Blog.

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15:28
South Hardin suspends varsity football for one season
» Radio Iowa

The South Hardin School Board of Education this week decided to suspend the School’s varsity football program for this fall only. Superintendent Randall Nichols explains the Boards decision. “The school board decided to suspend the varsity program only for one year and to focus the attention on the junior varsity and freshman programs for this [...]

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15:27
Cornell ready to move to new conference
» Radio Iowa

As the college sports season draws to a close so does Cornell College’s membership in the Iowa Conference. The Mount Vernon school is leaving the league after 15 years to return to the Midwest Conference. Athletic director John Cochrane says they are excited by the move, but at the same time there is some anxiety [...]

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15:25
Luther opens softball tourney in Virginia
» Radio Iowa

The Luther College softball team opens the division three softball championships in Salem, Virginia on Friday against Pacific Lutheran. It is Luther’s third straight trip to the nationals. Luther coach Renae Hartl says six of the eight teams are new, and she says having all or her starters back lets them go in with the [...]

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14:56
Iowa orchards confirm heavy toll from frost damage
» Radio Iowa

Apple orchard operators are beginning to get a better handle on the impact freezing temperature one month ago had on their crop. Maury Wills, with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, says apple orchards in roughly the middle third of Iowa were hit the hardest. “Perhaps from about Highway 20 south to Highway [...]

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14:52
Tinker v. Des Moines: Student Rights
» Des Moines Local History

In 1965, five students at public schools in Des Moines wore black armbands to school to protest the war in Vietnam. They were subsequently suspended from school. John Tinker, Mary Beth Tinker, and Christopher Eckhardt challenged the suspension in court as a violation of a student’s right to free speech. In a landmark decision in [...]

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14:51
State issues another warning about dangers of passing stopped school bus
» Radio Iowa

Iowa motorists are being warned about the deadly risks, and the increased fines, if they pass a stopped school bus. In north-central Iowa, the West Fork school district reports three instances of drivers passing stopped school buses near Rockwell in the past week. Iowa State Patrol safety education officer Mark Domino says it’s illegal to [...]

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12:26
Garden hose causes significant damage in Urbandale home
» Radio Iowa

A top city administrator in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale is dealing with thousands of dollars in water damage to his home. Randy Peterson of the Urbandale Police Department says it’s “clearly” a case of vandalism. “Absolutely — there’s no accident involved in this,” Peterson says. “In my seven years of being with the [...]

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11:41
Cedar Falls looks to defend track title, Hudson girls want to step up to top spot
» Radio Iowa

The Cedar Falls boys head into the State Track meet as the defending champions, but not one of the favorites to win the 4A team title this weekend. Tiger Coach Jeff Hartman says the way the numbers break down, Cedar Falls is likely looking at a top five finish. “It’s gonna be really tough, I [...]

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11:31
128 pounds of pot recovered in western Iowa traffic stop
» Radio Iowa

A traffic stop on Interstate-80 in western Iowa on Wednesday afternoon resulted in a large haul of marijuana and the arrest of a Colorado man. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department reports Deputy Brian Miller stopped a pickup for traveling at excessive speed at around 3:30 P.M. near Council Bluffs. During an interview with the driver, [...]

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10:55
Bill makes “good start” at limiting city, county taxing districts
» Radio Iowa

A retired University of Iowa professor who’s taught classes about how governments finance infrastructure projects says a bill that cleared the 2012 Iowa legislature is merely a start at controlling special taxing districts that critics say cities and counties are abusing. Economist Peter Fisher says there are “some good parts” to the legislation which addresses what [...]

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10:08
Attorney files appeal of ruling in state discrimination case
» Radio Iowa

The lawyer representing the African-Americans who sued the state has filed an appeal of the Polk County District Court ruling that said they failed to prove they were discriminated against in hiring and promotions for state jobs. Thomas Newkirk of Des Moines said immediately after the April 17th ruling that he would appeal, and now [...]

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10:04
Senators Harkin and Grassley disagree on student loan interest issue
» Radio Iowa

Partisan bickering is dooming efforts to stop college student loan interest rates from doubling in about six weeks, even though members of both parties say they want to block the rate hike. Democrat Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says his bill that would freeze the interest rate is being filibustered by Republicans. If they keep it [...]

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10:01
Search for Manchester murder suspect covered 3 counties
» Radio Iowa

The search for a teenage double murder suspect covered three counties over two days. A dog is credited with helping police finally apprehend 17-year-old Isaiah Sweet of Manchester. Marco is a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois. He’s one of seven Cedar Rapids Police dogs. Marco’s handler, officer Al Fear, says Isaiah Sweet was armed with a knife [...]

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09:13
Low Tires And Bats Make This Mom's Life Interesting
» All In an Iowa Mom's Day!

OK~ Here's a glimpse into my life the past 24 hours. My seventeen year old son informs me that his car has a low tire and a head light is burned out. And to make things even more interesting, my 21 year old son knocks on my bedroom door at 1:18 a.m. and says, "Mom, there's a bat in the entryway." My response, "So?" Yep, I was tired. I then awoke again at 3:00 a.m. and it sunk in that he had told me there was a bat in the entryway. I got out of bed to be sure the door to the main part of the house was closed and thankfully it was. So for the time being, we may or may not have a bat somewhere in the house. Quite honestly, I hope that lovely creature has moved out and is enjoying every mosquito he comes in contact with. I'm praying for a peaceful, enjoyable day today without any encounter with a bat. Garrett's car has a new headlight and the tire has air, so all should be well with his car. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

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09:00
{Weekly Kid's Co-op} Features & Link-Up
» The Iowa Farmer's Wife

Welcome back to another awesome week of the Weekly Kid's Co-op! Missed last week? Check it out here (don't forget to check out my features!). It was full of awesome ideas for kiddos. Here are my 3 favorites from last week:

How super duper is this Goodnight Moon Tot Bag from Living Worlds Apart? What a fun way to talk about shapes and colors while patterning, developing fine motor skills and playing! This book is a fav at our house and I think Sweet P would love these activities!
I've been collecting things to use for an emotions unit for awhile and will be adding Tutus and Tea Parties' Emotions Unit to our list! Great ideas like painting emotions, paper plate emotions and fun songs to sing!
We're all about new ways to paint and create so I loved this Salt Painting post from Juggling with Kids. Check out her post for the fun her son had making these!
Were you featured? Don't forget to grab a button!

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08:53
Algona, Janesville, Bettendorf win Vision Iowa grants
» Radio Iowa

The Vision Iowa Board on Wednesday awarded grants totaling $443,000 to three communities. A $100,000 award will help finance the building of the Kossuth County Agriculture and Motorsports Museum in Algona. Ralph Savoy is a consultant who’s helped with the fundraising effort for the project. He says the museum will also include a model train [...]

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08:51
Investigators still looking for cause of explosion at Mason City plant
» Radio Iowa

A Mason City biodiesel plant will remain closed for now after an explosion on Tuesday night. The blast at Soy Energy did cause some damage but no injuries have been reported. President and general manager Jeff Oestmann says they’re grateful that nobody was injured in the fire. He says they’re still investigating the exact cause, [...]

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08:49
Report says food insecurity rising faster in rural areas
» Radio Iowa

Despite being the breadbasket of the world, a new report shows poverty and food insecurity are rising faster in rural areas of the midwest than in urban areas. The report from the Center for Rural Affairs covers Iowa and nine other states. Report author Jon Bailey, the center’s research director, says the poverty comes from [...]

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08:47
Orange City Tulip Festival opens without tulips
» Radio Iowa

A 72-year-old festival gets underway in northwest Iowa today with one of its key features missing. Warm weather caused the tulips in Orange City to pop out early and spokesperson Ashley Saras says you’ll have to look hard to find the signature flower as the tulip festival gets underway. “I think there’s probably about five [...]

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20:49
tempeh reubens
» Life {and running} in Iowa
A new favorite sandwich in the PS house, these tempeh reubens are a bit messy, but so worth it.

The few steps it takes to prepare these take a bit of time, but you are rewarded in the end with a satisfying sandwich that even Nic said wasn't missing anything (ie - corned beef).

Reubens used to be my dad's favorite thing to order when we ate at diners and I always turned my nose up at them. Sauerkraut? Thousand island dressing? Gross. Sure, I might still turn my nose up at a traditional reuben, but this vegan version - I think even Dad would have liked it.

Quick pickled red cabbage::
- 2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- pinch salt and pepper
In a medium pan, saute cabbage and apple cider vinegar until bright purple and slightly wilted - about three minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool in the fridge while you prepare everything else.
Thousand island dressing::
- 1/4 cup full fat coconut milk
- 1/4 cup grape seed oil
- 1 tablespoon sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
- salt and pepper
Measure all ingredients into a blender except the salt and pepper, and blend until creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Tempeh
- 1 block tempeh, cut into 6 triangles
- 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons tamari
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)
- 2 cloves garlic - roughly chopped
In a medium saucepan, bring a few cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, add tempeh and boil for 10 minutes.
In the meantime, prepare the marinade by combining 3/4 cup water, tamari, vinegar, olive oil, honey and garlic.
After 10 minutes, remove tempeh from pan and dump out the water. Place tempeh back into the pan and cover with the marinade. Simmer for 10 minutes, flipping once if the marinade doesn't totally cover the tempeh.
Preheat the broiler.
Once tempeh is done simmering in the marinade (alternatively, if you plan ahead, you could let it sit overnight in the marinade), transfer to a cookie sheet and spoon some of the marinade over the top. Broil for 4-5 minutes, or until the tempeh begins to turn golden brown. Flip, spoon over some more marinade and broil another 4-5 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool a few minutes.
To prepare the sandwiches:
- sliced avocado
- sprouts
Toast some good quality bread, but not enough to make it crunchy - this will make for a very messy dining experience.
Spoon some of the thousand island dressing onto each slice of toast.
Top the bottom slice with some cabbage, then two slices of tempeh followed by sprouts, avocado, another drizzle of dressing and top with the other piece of toast.
Dig in.
Make sure to have a napkin handy.

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20:19

A Few Gatherings...for The Memorial Day Weekend Sale!

» simply iowa

18:47
Birds, Turtle
» Buddy Burton Photography

Seen this bird on a limb waiting on the northbound CN graintrain north of Robins, IA. Click here to see the update oneastern iowa railpics.
The Bald Eagle still hanging around near Ellis Boat Harbor.

A family of Geese feeding at Ellis Park.
Another family of Geese takes a swim in the harbor.
Even some ducklings follow Mom in the harbor.
Another family of Geese on the shore.
Another family.

Even a turtle gets a little sun near Ellis Harbor.

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18:31
CN, The Bird and The "J"
» eastern iowa railpics

Met this train at Blairs Ferry Rd NE so the chase was on.Here is the 75-car grain train with CN 5747 leading atCounty Home Rd, north of Robins, IA.

Making the turn at Alburnett, IA.
Coming into Central City, IA.
Getting a little artsy-fartsy north of Coggon, IA
The grain train north of Coggon, IA.
Grain train at Ryan, IA.
Coming to the end of the Cedar Rapids branch at Manchester.The train takes the west leg of the wye to continue to Waterloo, IA.
Here comes "the Bird" west of Bertram, IA.
CN's L563 departs Cedar Rapids with 11 cars and EJE 673.
L563 at Hiawatha.

L563 at Robins, IA.
See ya next time!!!

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15:30
Hawkeye coach getting lots of questions about new staff
» Radio Iowa

As Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz tours the state on the I-Club circuit he is constantly being asked about changes on his staff. Known for its stability the staff saw several changes following the past season. Defensive coordinator Norm Parker retired, offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe left for the Miami Dolphins, and the entire staff was [...]

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15:28
William Penn and Morningside softball teams ready for NAIA championship play
» Radio Iowa

The William Penn and Morningside softball teams are in Golf Shores, Alabama, for Thursday’s start of the NAIA softball championships. It will be the first of three days of pool play and Penn opens against Azusa Pacific of California. Penn coach Mike Christner says in a national tournament there are so many close games it [...]

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15:16
Climate group says extreme storms are happening more often
» Radio Iowa

A report from a non-profit environmental group says extreme storms are hitting the Midwest more frequently and the flood damage they’re causing is getting worse. Stephen Saunders, president of the Denver-based Rocky Mountain Climate Organization, says their research covered records from more than 200 weather stations in Iowa and seven other Midwestern states from the [...]

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15:13
Medical examiner’s report says Manchester couple shot to death
» Radio Iowa

Autopsy results have been released in the case of a northeast Iowa teenager accused of killing his grandparents. The Delaware County Attorney says the Manchester couple found dead in their home Sunday afternoon were shot to death. County attorney John Bernau revealed Wednesday afternoon that an autopsy shows Richard Sweet and his wife, Janet Sweet, [...]

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15:12
Sheriff says Tama teen firefighter could be linked to more arson cases
» Radio Iowa

Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera says more charges could be coming against a teenage volunteer firefighter. Investigators had believed a series of grass fires and fires that damaged three vacant buildings in Tama County were arson. The sheriff says they kept working to tie the fires to a suspect. “Then Sunday night the latest one [...]

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15:10
Congressman Braley: Obama didn’t start the debt fire, it was already burning
» Radio Iowa

Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, has signed on to legislation that would amend the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced federal budget. Braley was asked if the legislation isn’t premature since congress has not passed a budget in three years. “One of the reasons why we haven’t been able to pass a budget [...]

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11:03
Teenage firefighter charged with arson in Tama County
» Radio Iowa

A young volunteer firefighter is facing arson charges for multiple fires across Tama County. A series of grass fires and fires that damaged three vacant buildings had baffled investigators for months. They suspected arson, but were no doubt surprised to discover the person suspected of starting the fires is a volunteer firefighter in Tama. Eighteen-year-old [...]

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11:02
Cancer Society encourages women to choose to be more active
» Radio Iowa

The American Cancer Society is urging women to get more active to improve their health, as a survey finds women are 10-percent less likely than men to make time for physical activities. Theresa Allen with the society’s Iowa chapter says they’ve got a program to help called “Choose You.” “Choose You is really a movement [...]

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09:47

Friends...and Cupboards...

» simply iowa

09:02
Deere posts record $1.56 billion profit
» Radio Iowa

Quad Cities-based Deere & Company is posting record second-quarter earnings. One-point-five-six billion dollars, or $2.61 per share — that’s how much Deere & Company earned in the second quarter ended April 30, and that boosts the full-year earnings forecast to more than three and a third billion bucks. Worldwide net sales and revenues increased 12 [...]

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09:00
Waterloo man accused of stealing historical items from museum
» Radio Iowa

Authorities say they’ve caught the man responsible for stealing historical items from a museum in northeast Iowa. A 58-year old Waterloo man has been arrested and charged with theft for stealing some valuable artifacts from the Cedar Falls Historical Society. David Arnold was charged with first degree theft after numerous artifacts were taken, including antique [...]

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08:49
Fort Dodge man dies in motorcycle accident
» Radio Iowa

A 75-year-old Fort Dodge man was killed Tuesday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with a car on U.S. Highway 20 near Fort Dodge. The Iowa State Patrol identified the victim as Gary Trickey. Reportedly an eastbound 2008 Chrysler 300 driven by 55-year-old Roger Macy of Iowa Falls struck the rear end of a 2007 Kawasaki [...]

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08:47
Missouri River near top of “most endangered” list
» Radio Iowa

The Missouri River is number-four on the new list of the country’s “most endangered” waterways, according to an environmental conservation group. Eileen Fretz, spokeswoman for American Rivers, says last year’s historic, months-long flooding of the Missouri showed how management of the river is at a crossroads. Fretz says, “We can either keep going on levees [...]

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08:45
Bike ride pays tribute to those who have died
» Radio Iowa

Hundreds of bicyclists in at least a half-dozen Iowa cities will gather and ride their two-wheelers in a slow line tonight as part of the Ride of Silence. Scott Sumpter, organizer of the Des Moines ride and founder of BikeIowa.com, says it’s a solemn tribute. “The ride exists so we can ride in honor and [...]

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08:43
Firefighters investigating explosion at Mason City biodiesel plant
» Radio Iowa

No injuries are reported after an explosion at a Mason City biodiesel plant. The Mason City Fire Department was called shortly before 6 o’clock last night to the Soy Energy plant at 4172 19th Southwest. No damage or smoke was visible at the plant with fire trucks and firefighters being situated on the west side [...]

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07:28
My 116th Wordless Wednesday Post
» All In an Iowa Mom's Day!

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03:15
Microbiology & Screenwriting
» Screenwriting from Iowa

“I believe luck favors those who are prepared.” Screenwriter Marc Maurino “Dans les champs de l’observation le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés.” Louis Pasteur French chemist & microbiologist I know very little French and even less about microbiology, but I think you’ll find the above quote in French helpful in your screenwriting and filmmaking [...]

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03:00
Tufted Duck
» Iowa Voice

Tufted Duck- Aythya fuligula - also known as Die Reiherente (German), El porrón moñudo (Spanish), Le fuligule morillon (French), La Moretta (Italian), and Vigg (Swedish).

Not native to Iowa, and only a rare, winter visitor to parts of North America. Top picture depicts the female in the middle, flanked by males.

Photo taken with the Canon Digital Rebel XT and a Sigma 150-500mm Lens on April 5, 2012, in Malmö, Sweden (Västra Hamnen).
Bookmark to:

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01:22
ISU researcher says ethanol makes gas cheaper at the pump
» Radio Iowa

An Iowa State University Economist has released research showing that mixing ethanol in with gas has had a significant impact on gas prices. I.S.U. economist Dermot Hayes studied ethanol’s impact on gasoline prices over a 11-years beginning in 2000. During that time, Hays says adding ethanol to gas inventories led to a 29-cent-a-gallon drop in [...]

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Iowa blogs (US-IA), 05/15/2012

19:17

Memorial Day Weekend Sale.... 10 days...away...

» simply iowa

18:36
Three Reasons Why Universal Studios Orlando Is A Thumbs Up
» All In an Iowa Mom's Day!

OK~ Universal Resort Orlando, Florida partnered up with us on the Iowa to Florida road trip. This clean, family fun theme park brought smiles and laughter unlike no other. Kids of all ages will love Universal Resort Orlando. I am sharing three marvelous attractions to motivate you to book your family vacation at Universal Resort Orlando, Florida today! With two fabulous theme parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, you and your family will have the time of your life.

Reason #1

The perfect way to view Seuss Landing

Located in Islands of Adventure, The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride offers a bird's eye view of Seuss Landing on two separate tracks. Fun for kids of all ages- Keep in mind that kids 34-48" tall must be accompanied by a supervising companion.

Reason #2

Corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, located in Islands of Adventure is home to Harry Potter's World. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is truly an adventure all of its own. The attraction itself is designed for guests over 48" tall. The cool part of this adventure is that the castle itself is home to some amazing architecture, and anyone of any size or age can check it out. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a high speed attraction, the signs that are posted are meant to be taken seriously. I would not recommend this attraction for kids that are afraid of the dark. For kids and adults that love a high speed adventure, this attraction is for you! Plan to spend a lot of time in this area of the park, as it is crowded, but well worth your time.

Reason #3

Join Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie

The Simpsons Ride located in Universal Studios is one of our favorite attractions. Guests must be at least 40" tall. Kids that are between 40"-48" tall must be accompanied by a supervising companion. Once you slide into your seat you will want to hold on. You will embark on an over-the top ride; as you will feel as though you are flying, floating, and crashing through Krustyland's kiddie attractions.

Book your summer vacation here at Universal Resort Orlando. There are unique vacation packages designed for your family. Summer of 2012 bring 100 years of Movie Memories at Universal Studios Florida. Sundown brings live music and hula dancing. There is truly something for everyone at Universal Orlando Resort for Summer 2012. Our family enjoyed our day at Universal Orlando Resort and we know you will enjoy yours too.

*My family and I were guests in the park for one day in March of 2012. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed here are mine and nobody else's.

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16:19
The Myth of “Breaking-in” (Tip #58)
» Screenwriting from Iowa

“The question about breaking in seems perfectly legit, but really it’s not. A writer must create compelling work, and then try to sell it. Once sold, the writer has to do the same thing again. It’s really not true that the writer ‘breaks in’—that’s an artifact of the belief that the person is being judged, [...]

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15:28
Biking with a twist - and five major turns
» Travel Iowa
Looking back on my childhood, I can remember every nook and cranny of our yard. I spent all the time my mother would allow gallivanting around our yard dressed as Wonder Woman and frequently rolling down the hill in our front yard. I still love to be outside and the rolling hills of southeast Iowa are a calling card for adventure seekers like me.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not named Snake Alley in Burlington the world's crookedest street. Biking enthusiasts should check out the 30th annual Snake Alley Criterium, slated for Saturday, May 26. It tests the skills of even the most seasoned of cyclists as they maneuver the five major turns while they ascend 60-feet on the 276-foot-long alley. I’m more of a runner then a biker, but every time I see Snake Alley, the kid in me imagines rolling down it.

The area has other great outdoor adventures like Starr’s Cave Park and Preserve with its massive limestone bluffs rising from the creek, and, of course, the Mighty Mississippi River. There are several great restaurants with picture perfect river views.

If you are traveling with kids, you may want to pay a visit to FunCity. The complex includes indoor/outdoor water parks, bowling, go-karts, laser tag, restaurants and a hotel all under one roof. Not far from FunCity, you can sit back and enjoy America’s favorite pastime as you watch the Burlington Bees, a Class A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Every game features a fun promotional event like Dollar Mondays to Community Basket Day, with this year’s basket including a $10,000 prize!

Want to see more in southeast Iowa? Check out these nearby destinations:
- Old Fort Madison, Fort Madison – Rebuilt in the likeness of the 1808 original, Old Fort Madison features living history demonstrations and costumed interpreters.
- George M. Verity Riverboat Museum, Keokuk – Check out a retired paddlewheel steamboat that was built in 1927 along with photos of 19th century riverboats and artifacts of the steamboat era.
- Villages of Van Buren – A unique cluster of towns offering antiques, historic lodging, bed-and-breakfast inns, wineries and specialty shops.
Colleen Murphy, Iowa Tourism Office

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15:14
Iowa State athletic director says FSU not being discussed for Big 12
» Radio Iowa

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard says there have been no discussions in the Big-12 Conference about the possibility of adding Florida State. Speculation began last week that the Seminoles may be considering a move after officials expressed disappointment in a new television package negotiated by the Atlantic Coast Conference. “It’s fun to watch all [...]

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15:11
DMACC softball team quickly gets back into the mix
» Radio Iowa

It did not take long for the Des Moines Area Community College softball program to reach a milestone. After a 32-year hiatus the program was restarted by coach Bob Ligouri and the Bears take a 40-19 record to Clinton, Mississippi this week for the division two Junior College National Championship tournament. Ligouri admits the first [...]

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15:10
Romney says Obama’s policies are “old” rather than “bold” (audio)
» Radio Iowa

Enclosure: [download]

Mitt Romney, the Republican Party’s likely presidential nominee this fall, used a speech this afternoon in Iowa to blast President Obama as an “old-school liberal” whose economic polices are damaging the country. “What President Obama is doing is not bold,” Romney said. “It’s old.” AUDIO of Romney’s 20-minute speech in Des Moines. Romney suggested Obama [...]

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15:09
Manchester teen makes first appearance on murder charges
» Radio Iowa

A northeast Iowa teenager, accused in the weekend deaths of his grandparents, made his first court appearance this afternoon. Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Sweet was arrested last night in Cedar Rapids. Reporter Mike Johnson was on hand for Sweet’s initial court appearance in Clayton County. He says Sweet was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder [...]

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14:59
Osage man hospitalized after hitting a deer with his motorcycle
» Radio Iowa

An motorcyclist from the northeast Iowa town of Osage is recovering after hitting a deer Monday night. The Iowa State Patrol says 55-year-old James Rolland was eastbound on State Highway nine about three miles west of Manly at about 9 o’clock Monday night when he didn’t see a deer come out of the ditch. Rolland [...]

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14:58
Arkansas man arrested by U.S. Marshals in Mason City
» Radio Iowa

Arkansas authorities say they’ve arrested a man wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service in north-central Iowa. Twenty-three-year-old David Wever of Mason City was arrested on Sunday after allegedly leading Fayetteville Arkansas police on a chase and nearly running over an officer. Police say after Wever’s arrest they found in his truck a black cap that [...]

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13:09
Communication Breakdown
» iowas newz liter

For 163 years and tens of thousands of editions, The Des Moines Register has delivered the news that Iowa depends upon.

Now you can depend on them to just deliver faux pas and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The latest case in point is in the online edition

(Live) Romney speaks at Drake University in Des Moines

Complete with the caption under this picture.

Attendees to a Mitt Romney speech at Drake University in Des Moines wait for the likely 2012 GOP presidential candidate to take the stage. / Bryon Houlgrave/The RegisterThe problem is that Romney, as correctly reported in the story but incorrect in the stories URL, is speaking at the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

Somebody should be embarrassed, but the Register won't be.

As a matter of fact, you'll have to start paying for errors like that.

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12:54
Union leaders attack Romney’s record in advance of his Iowa visit (audio)
» Radio Iowa

Enclosure: [download]

A coalition of groups blasted Mitt Romney’s business record in a press conference this morning in Des Moines. Iowa AFL-CIO President Ken Sager said Romney, as an executive at Bain Capital, turned a hefty profit by raiding companies, laying off workers and forcing them into bankruptcy. Sager said Bain purchased the clothing store chain Stage [...]

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12:38
Party official warns without “media buy-in” Iowa Caucuses a non-event (audio)
» Radio Iowa

Enclosure: [download]

A member of the Iowa Republican Party’s state central committee suggests party officials need to ensure the results of the party’s presidential caucuses are shared equally with all media. The former chairman of the party decided in January to release the certified Caucus results to The Des Moines Register a day before releasing the results [...]

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11:31
May 20, 2012 Ascension of the Lord
» Iowa City Catholic Community

Call to prayer: God of all creation, as we prepare to celebrate the feast of the Ascension, help us to be ever mindful that you are present here as we gather and you are with us always. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you world without end. Amen. [...]

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09:58
7 Reasons a Journalism Major Will Make You Successful in PR
» University of Iowa PRSSA

By Colleen Kennedy When I started college, I knew journalism was the major for me – I wanted to work at a newspaper. However, after taking one of the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s public relations … Continue reading →

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09:40
Monster Crayon Roll
» The Iowa Farmer's Wife

These were the original plan for party favors for Sweet P's birthday party, but Gammie's sewing machine was not working to my liking and this one ended up taking longer than I wanted it to so I finished this one for Sweet P and decided on something else for the kiddos. Actually I asked Sweet P if she'd rather have the crayon roll or what I ended up giving as the party favor and she picked the latter so all was well.

What's it made out of? Felt, of course!

For the front, I used 1/2 of a rectangle sheet of felt (the ones you buy at Hobby Lobby or Joann's) and folded it. I used it as a template to cut the orange piece for the back.

The eye is simply white and black felt sewn onto the green felt by hand.

I've always wanted to make a crayon roll so I was pretty excited when this project was complete! I keep it in the diaper bag and she's always excited to see it come out at restaurants, dr. offices, etc.

Inspiration for this project came from this post at Hideous Dreadful Stinky.

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09:37
Grassley expects Romney’s visit to be the first of many in the campaign
» Radio Iowa

The likely Republican nominee for president will make his first stop in Iowa today since the January Caucuses. Mitt Romney will be speaking in Des Moines this afternoon. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, says Romney is expected to focus on the president’s handling of the federal debt. “I don’t think he has to communicate [...]

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08:57
Special Olympics torch run underway
» Radio Iowa

Hundreds of law officers from across Iowa are making their way — on foot — across the state this week, heading for central Iowa. It’s the 26th annual Special Olympics Torch Run and it’ll kick off the Summer Games in Ames for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Jeanette Steinfeldt is director of the Torch Run and [...]

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08:51
Manchester teen arrested, charged with murdering grandparents
» Radio Iowa

A Manchester teen, wanted for murder in the deaths of his grandparents, was apprehended in Cedar Rapids. Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Sweet was captured shortly after 7 p.m. Monday evening in the 51st Street area near a Theisen’s store. Earlier in the day, officials issued a warrant charging Sweet as an adult with two counts of first-degree [...]

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08:49
Average price of homes sold in April up 8.2%
» Radio Iowa

The number of homes sold in Iowa increased again in April. The Iowa Association of Realtors (IAR) reports 2,606 homes were sold last month. That’s just 22 more than in April of 2011, but association president Dale Gross says it marks the “eighth or ninth” consecutive month of increased sales. “It’s not up much, but [...]

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08:40
Burst Your Thirst Challenge taking sign ups
» Radio Iowa

Registration is now open for Live Healthy Iowa’s third annual “Burst Your Thirst Challenge.” Spokesperson Sara Wesslemann says this water challenge goes along with some of the other Live Healthy events. “Any Iowan can sign up on a team of two to 10, and they’ll just track their water consumption and their physical activity for [...]

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01:00
Paul shifts focus, to ensure his backers elected as delegates to RNC
» Radio Iowa

Texas Congressman Ron Paul — the third-place finisher in Iowa’s Caucuses this past January — will no longer campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in states that have yet to hold primaries. Campaign aide Jesse Benton says their focus is on getting Ron Paul delegates to the Republican National Convention this summer. The Iowa Republican [...]

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Iowa blogs (US-IA), 05/14/2012
22:44
Time To Plant The Garden
» All In an Iowa Mom's Day!

OK~ We finally had a nice day to plant our garden last week. We planted some of this and some of that. Our garden is a family affair. Grandpa, Dad, and Grandson were all actively planting seeds.

And we have several rows that look like this.

It will be interesting to watch these tomato and pepper plants grow. Last year we had an abundant amount of tomatoes and peppers.

And then we had this assistant nearby.

For now we wait. Spring has taken a turn for sunshine and mild temps here in Iowa. Our apple trees got hit with a fairly hard freeze in April, so I'm not sure what we will get off of them in a few months. From radishes, to carrots, to onions; our Iowa garden will hopefully be full of color and in a few weeks. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

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21:03
I'm so Lonesome...I could Cry....
» simply iowa

I noticed... today...something...hanging...just outside...the Birdhouse...Peg had made me...so many years ago... Sparrows...had nested there....to start a family...before I left for Gold Rush.... It was the Mama...They had built a nest... with string...and she had gotten...caught in it....and had died.... My Heart...was broken.... I had John cut her down.... and I buried her... The Male...sat on the bird house...all day...calling for her... It broke my heart... I took this image...as Polly and I walked to the Rabbit Hole.... I watched throughout the day...Other Sparrows....attempted to console him...but.....he wouldn't leave the House...kept peeking inside.....and calling for her... I climbed up...on a ladder...to see if there were Babies.... I didn't see any.... I would have traded....Everything....over the weekend...to have been here....and save her.... a Heart Break.... { I heard...his cry...over all of the other birds....today...and that's what drew me to this house....Somehow...it was different.... I knew...something was wrong....I had to get close...to see her.... I wanted to...weep...and did...a...Heart Break...} There are those...who will say..."It's Just a Sparrow".... yes...and we... are just...humans... and...I know Heart Break... and...so does...a Sparrow...

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