Et Cetera

    Class 18 Team Leaders began arriving last Wednesday in Vinton. The campus welcomed six Support Team Leaders on Wednesday, January 4 and 21 Field Team Leaders arrive today. For the next four weeks the 27 Team Leaders are going through an intense training to prepare them to lead a team of 10-12 Corps Members for 10 months. They are participating in trainings such as supervisory training, financial management, campus policies, media training, nutrition and cooking, role of the Team Leader just to name a few.

  State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced today that the deduction amount for College Savings Iowa has once again been raised. "Iowa taxpayers can now deduct the first $2,975 they contribute to each College Savings Iowa beneficiary account from their state taxable income," said Fitzgerald. "This means that a married couple with two children will be able to deduct up to $11,900 in contributions on their 2012 state taxes.

  Ultrasound has been used in the livestock industry for over 25 years, however its use for pregnancy examinations has grown recently.  A 20-28 day-old embryo can be visible to a trained veterinarian, however most prefer to wait a little longer to be able to both age the fetus and determine the sex.    For the average commercial cattleman raising his own replacement heifers, just knowing the heifer is bred may be enough, but for those producers selling bred females knowing the age, sire and sex of the developing fetus is important information that can result in increased sale value.

  Erin Hodgson, ISU Extension Entomologist, is the keynote speaker to discuss corn rootworm resistance at the Iowa State University Extension Crop Advantage Conference on January 25 at the Hawkeye Community College – Tama Hall, Waterloo, IA. Also featured is Elwynn Taylor on crop weather for 2012, Mike Owen on herbicide resistant weeds, and Alison Robertson on Goss’s wilt.

  Alliant Energy promotes Iowa Pipeline Association awareness training Emergency Responders and Public Officials are encouraged to attend educational event   CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – January 4, 2012 – Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), an Alliant Energy company, is participating in the Iowa Pipeline Association’s 2012 Pipeline Awareness and Education training offered at locations throughout the state.

  Elwynn Taylor, ISU Extension Climatologist, will be the lead-off speaker at the Iowa State University Extension Crop Advantage Series at 9:00 a.m. on January 26 at the Highlander Conference Center in Iowa City. Also featured at the conference are topics on a new corn disease in eastern Iowa, and increasing problems with glyphosate resistant weeds in Iowa.

  John R. Whitaker, State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Iowa reminds landowners and operators that in order to receive payments from USDA, compliance with Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions are required. “High grain prices have caused many operators to break out new land, clear trees, and other activities to bring land into crop production, including what was Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage” said Whitaker.

  State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald has a New Year's resolution for everyone – prevent your money from becoming unclaimed property. "The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt has become a very successful program," said Fitzgerald. "Each year, we return millions of dollars in unclaimed property to the rightful owners. As Iowans make resolutions to lose weight, spend more time with family, and travel more, they should also make financial resolutions.

  A card shower for my dad, Larry Woolison is taking place for his 65th birthday on January 1st. It is also a SURPRISE. Please send cards to my dad in c/o Robert Woolison, 3817 Spruce Wood Ct. NE, Cedar Rapids,52402 Thanks so much!! 

VFW Post 8884 accompanied 55 students from the North Linn High School to the VA Medical Center in Iowa City on December 21st. The students visited the Dental Lab, the Chemo/Dialysis Departments, X-Ray, Lab, and Mortuary.  Accompanying the students were Dale Henry, commander of the 8884th, Ron Geiger, Quartermaster, John Gualtier, Service Officer, Otto Bush, Mike Foster, Volunteer Officer, and Anne Ackerman, Volunteer Service Assistant who welcomed the students and gave an overview of the VA hospital's operations.