Name: Paolo Baltar Hometown: Sunnyvale, California   Paolo is serving with the Vinton campus as the Class 18 Operations Support Team Leader where he is assisting Support Services Specialist John England with supporting teams with uniforms, tools and other supplies as well as leading teams when needed.

  Name: Rachel Lebeaux Hometown: Merrick, New York   Rachel served as a Corps Member of Maple 5 at the Vinton campus as part of Class 17 in 2011.

  At its Jan 5 meeting the Center Point Friends of the Library reviewed the Barnes & Noble Bookfair they had in December and decided to sign up for Easter and Christmas 2012 Bookfairs.

    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Universityof Nebraskawill be teaming up to offer a Feedlot Roundtable session at Manchester, Nashua, and Garner on Feb.

  Feb. 7 - Postville Vet Clinic, noon to 4 pm Feb. 9 -Jackson County Extension, noon to 4 pm Discussion Topics - Introduction, why retain heifers in 2012?   Heifer development recommendations Health protocols, pelvic measurements and reproductive scoring Ration recommendations, heifer development budgets Ultrasound fetal examination demonstration Good AI practices and synchronization recommendations Reducing calving difficulty with proven calving ease sires Question and answer There will be a meal served at each site Sponsors – Iowa Beef Center/ISU Extension and Outreach          IowaCattlemen’s Association Postville Vet Clinic                                                      Maquoketa Embryos ABS Global                                                                  Accelerated Genetics    Genex Cooperative                                                      Select Sires Land of Lakes/Purina   Registration fee - $15 payable at the door (please pre-register by Feb 1 for arrangements) To pre-register contact Denise Schwab 319-721-9624, or e-mail dschwab@iastate.

  By: Angela Sarrels   Name: Amanda Trontell Hometown: Pueblo, Colorado   Amanda served as a Corps Member at the Perry Point campus as part of Class 16 in 2010.

  Name: Monica Hodges Hometown: Seattle, Washington   Monica is serving a second year with AmeriCorps NCCC. She was a Corps Member last year at the Vinton campus.

    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.

  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.

  Ultrasound has been used in the livestock industry for over 25 years, however its use for pregnancy examinations has grown recently.