14 Aug 2012

Use a Gasoline-Powered ATV Wheelchair to go into the Outdoors

By John Phillips

When Chet Dyreson crashed his motorcycle in a motocross race and injured his T1 through T5 vertebrae in his spinal cord, he became paralyzed. Once he realized he would have to spend the rest of his life in wheelchair, he was devastated. However, Dyreson was not a man made for self pity. Little did he know then that his accident would enable him to free many outdoor enthusiasts from their wheelchairs and give them the ability to take themselves into the outdoors and participate in outdoor sports.
After his injury, Dyreson began to build gasoline-powered all-terrain vehicle (ATV) wheelchairs that would cross creeks, climb mountains, travel through mud and snow and take a wheelchair outdoor enthusiast into the back country to hunt and fish. Dyreson explains, "Because I'd been riding motocross bikes most of my life, I understood how much power and speed small gasoline engines could deliver. When I built my first ATV wheelchair, I used a 250cc Kawasaki engine designed and built for a John Deere ATV to power it."

But, what Dyreson didn't know was how-much gas mileage he could get out of the engine, how reliable these small engines could be, and how fast they could push a wheelchair. "Reliability is the first priority a person in a wheelchair needs to consider if they're planning to go off-road," Dyreson says. "We can't just hop out of our wheelchairs and walk back to camp.

To test the dependability of the ATV wheelchair with all-terrain tires, Dyreson decided to take a road trip from Perris, California, to Washington D.C. and learned:

  • his ATV wheelchair would get 100 miles per gallon with a range of 350 miles;
  • his ATV wheelchair could run-up to 55-miles per hour on the highway. "That's the speed a highway patrolman clocked me at, before he pulled me over," Dyreson says.
  • a gasoline-powered wheelchair running on major interstates and highways was not illegal; and
  • he could make a 4,000-mile trip in his ATV wheelchair without a single breakdown.

 

 

To learn more about this amazing man and the ATV wheelchairs he creates for adventures in the outdoors, go to Chet Dyreson's website at  www.wheelingtocuresci.org.

To read more stories about amazing people who have overcome their injuries, get the new Kindle eBooks, "Moving Forward: The Stories of Hometown Heroes" and "Courage: The Stories of Hometown Heroes," both by John E. Phillips. Go to http://www.amazon.com/kindle-ebooks, type in the names of these books, and download them to your Kindle and/or download a Kindle app for your iPad, Smartphone or computer.

 


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14 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action Monday, August 13, 2012

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - August 13, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 4029

An Act Concerning: Education

Expands the selection criteria for school boards in order to enable them to consider factors such as student safety and comfort, rather than just cost, when awarding transportation contracts.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4615

An Act Concerning: Housing

Clarifies that existing caps on operating expenses for distributing Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) grants are annual caps, and establishes caps on operating expenses if grants are awarded for multiple years.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 4665

An Act Concerning: Residential Construction

Creates the Radon Resistant Construction Act to mandate that all new residential construction in Illinois include passive radon resistant construction. The law also changes reporting requirements for the Task Force on Radon-Resistant Building Codes as outlined in the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: June 1

Bill No.: HB 4689

An Act Concerning: Business

Changes the definition of "gift certificate" to include credit slips issued for returns.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

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14 Aug 2012

Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz to Address Board of Supervisors About Plans to Investigate Voting Fraud Allegations from Secretary of State

By Roland Caldwell
Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz will inform Supervisors about the status-to-date of the recent allegations of possible voter fraud made by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz. She has requested that Secretary Schultz release the names of up to 180 individuals from Scott County who are under state investigation so that her staff can begin the process of locally investigating the named individuals and retrieving voting records out of storage. As of Monday afternoon the Auditor's Office had not received any records from the Secretary's Office.

Moritz will also review the efforts of her office for maintaining accurate voting records and registration lists. She will highlight the balance between ensuring the right to vote and guaranteeing only those eligible to vote have access to the ballot.

Following her report to the Board of Supervisors she will be available for questions from the news media in the lobby of the Scott County Administrative Center.
13 Aug 2012

Durant's Keppy Snags Double Honors in FFA Market Swine Competition

By Lori Chappell

DES MOINES, IA (08/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Jake Keppy of Durant captured the Grand Champion Market in the FFA Market Swine Show judged Thursday and Friday at the 2012 Iowa State Fair. Keppy's hog first won the Champion Purebred Market Pig banner on the drive to the championship.

Earning the Reserve Grand Champion title this year was Chelsea Schminke of Van Horne.

Alexis Delaney of DeWitt claimed the Reserve Champion Purebred Market Swine award.

The judge had his hands full selecting champions out of 547 hogs brought by 266 exhibitors vying for the Grand Champion banner.

Division winners in the FFA Market Swine Show included:

Light Weight Barrow Champion: Jacklyn Keninger, Ackley

Light Weight Barrow Reserve Champion: Kole Wilson, Newton

Medium Weight Barrow Champion: Austin Lane, Spragueville

Medium Weight Barrow Reserve Champion: Ben Jacobsen, Dows

Heavy Weight Barrow Champion: Chelsea Schminke, Van Horne

Heavy Weight Barrow Reserve Champion: Jacklyn Keninger, Ackley

Light Weight Gilt Champion: Callie Greiner, Keota

Light Weight Gilt Reserve Champion: Kolton Greiner, Keota

Medium Weight Gilt Champion: Ryan Schneider, Riverside

Medium Weight Gilt Reserve Champion: Chelsea Keninger, Ackley

Heavy Weight Gilt Champion: Jacklyn Keninger, Ackley

Heavy Weight Gilt Reserve Champion: Amanda Anderson, Algona

Bershire Champion: Brandon Reedy, Ottumwa

Bershire Reserve Champion: Austin Lane, Spragueville

Chester White Champion: Brandon Reed, Ottumwa

Chester White Reserve Champion: Brandon Reed, Ottumwa

Duroc Champion: Samuel Bair, Elkhart

Duroc Reserve Champion: Maggie Miller, Ames

Hampshire Champion: Kelsey Brecht, Marengo

Hampshire Reserve Champion: Kelsey Brecht, Marengo

Spotted Poland China Champion: Alex Umbaugh, Adair

Spotted Poland China Reserve Champion: Clara Goddard, Letts

Yorkshire Champion: Jake Keppy, Durant

Yorkshire Reserve Champion: Alexis Delaney, DeWitt

All Other Breeds Champion: Zach Caslavka, Muscatine

All Other Breeds Reserve Champion: Ashley Olson, Atkins

Keppy's and Schminke's title holders, as well as 12 other livestock champions, will be auctioned in the prestigious Sale of Champions on Saturday, August 18, at 2 p.m. in the Penningroth Media Center of the Cattle Barn. The event is sponsored by the Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement, a non-profit organization established to encourage the pursuit of agriculture-related careers by Iowa's youth.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

* * *

13 Aug 2012

Matthew West's Into the Light Tour Coming to the Adler!

By Adler Theatre
Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Matthew West, with special guests MIKESCHAIR, Lindsay McCaul and Everfound, will perform at the Adler Theatre on Saturday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m.  You are invited to purchase your tickets before the general public beginning on Tuesday, August 14 at 10:00 a.m. until Thursday, August 16 at 10:00 p.m.  Click on the orange "Find Tickets" button below and enter in the pre-sale password LIGHT.  Reserved tickets ($19 & $30 Artist Circle) go on sale to the public this Friday, August 17 at 10:00 a.m.  MatthewWest.com
13 Aug 2012

Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit slated for Detroit

By Lorraine Carli

NFPA and SAE International team up to advance discussions on EV safety

 

August 13, 2012 - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and SAE International are co-hosting the 3rd Annual Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit to be held October 18, 2012 at the COBO Center in Detroit. The program addresses electric vehicle safety issues related to codes and standards and is aimed at planning for improved safety as the number of these vehicles continues to increase on roadways. A reception will take place on the evening of October 17th which includes admission to the SAE Convergence 2012 Exhibition.

"Stakeholders have made significant progress in addressing safety issues and making improvements based on discussion points of the two previous summits, but there is still more work to be done," said Christian Dubay, P.E., NFPA vice president of codes and standards, and chief engineer. "The collaborative efforts expected at this year's forum and the follow up from it will once again move the needle in the direction of safer implementation of electrical vehicles."

Speakers and attendees with a shared interest in improving safety attend this event, including vehicle manufacturers, governmental agencies, standards developing organizations, and first and second responders. The program focuses on safety codes and standards and other key areas aimed at improving awareness and knowledge of electric vehicles and supporting their successful integration into society.

"In today's world of advanced technology, much quicker progress can be achieved by collaborative efforts. We look forward to this next Summit and continuing cooperative work with NFPA in the area of battery safety by engaging a wealth of SAE engineering expertise," said Jack Pokrzywa, director of ground vehicle standards for SAE International.

NFPA has a long history of commitment to electrical safety as developer and publisher of the National Electrical Code® (NEC®) since 1911. The NEC sets the standard for the safe use of electricity and electrical installations. NFPA also coordinates the Electric Vehicle Safety Training project, a nationwide program to help firefighters and other first responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the road in the United States.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.sae.org/events/nevss/ or www.EVsafetytraining.org/summit. (NFPA page being updated.)

About SAE

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series. Visit SAE International's website for additional information.

 

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA's website at www.nfpa.org for more information.

13 Aug 2012

Speaker on redevelopment coming to Davenport

By Scott Tunnicliff

MAIN STREET IOWA and HILLTOP CAMPUS VILLAGE PRESENT NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RETAIL DEVELOPMENT EXPERT

 

Ms. Hilary Greenberg will speak at a luncheon on Thursday August 23 at the Fellows Room in the Vickie Anne Palmer Hall, 115 West 7th Street in Davenport. Her presentation topic will be Powering Up Your Downtown Business Mix: Business Retention and Recruitment Strategies.

greenberg work

Ms Greenberg is the president of Greenberg Development Services (GDS), a Charlotte North Carolina-based planning and economic development consulting firm. Ms. Greenberg is nationally recognized as a downtown development expert in the area of retail leasing and business development training programs for community volunteers. Her specific fields of consultation include market analyses, downtown plans, retail leasing strategies and development plans for downtown or neighborhood commercial districts. She has worked with various state and local governments as well as both private and non-profit organizations. She has been a consultant to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center for over 20 years and has worked with over 30 State-affiliated Main Street programs.

"We are very fortunate to have a presenter of Ms. Greenberg's caliber to provide perspective and direction on this timely topic", acknowledged Hilltop Campus Village Board President Robert Lee. "With all the interest in downtown and commercial district activity we wanted to make this available to interested parties throughout the region."

Ms. Greenberg is a popular speaker on the topic of commercial redevelopment and has been the keynote speaker at conferences sponsored by the International Economic Development Council, the National League of Cities, the International Downtown Association and the National Main Street Center.

There is a $10.00 charge for each attendee to cover the cost of the lunch, and space is limited. People are asked to RSVP before August 21 by contacting the Hilltop Campus Village offices at 563-322-8293, or by emailing scott.tunnicliff@mchsi.com.

13 Aug 2012

Quinn Administration Releases Study Showing Impact of Pension Inaction on Higher Education

By Leslie Wertheimer

Governor Meets with Business Leaders to Discuss Impact of Pension Inaction on Universities, Community Colleges and MAP Grants

CHICAGO - August 13, 2012. In a meeting today with the Executives' Club of Chicago, Governor Pat Quinn shared new data showing that higher education in Illinois is likely to receive more significant funding reductions in the coming years if comprehensive pension reform is not enacted. According to an analysis conducted by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (OMB), approximately 26,000 students may not have the needed resources to go to college in five years due to projected reductions to MAP grant funding.

The governor discussed the need for pension reform today with business leaders and CEOs who often stress their need for a stable business climate and a strong, well-trained workforce. Governor Quinn is urging legislators to restore fiscal stability to Illinois and pass comprehensive pension reform during special session on August 17.

"A strong higher education system drives economic development and is essential to moving Illinois forward," Governor Quinn said. "We must rise to the occasion, act responsibly and get the job done on pension reform for the people of Illinois."

If comprehensive pension reform is not enacted, funding for state universities, community colleges and college scholarships for needy students with merit could be reduced by more than $280 million by FY 2018. Higher education has seen steady reductions in recent years as fast-rising pension costs continue to squeeze out critical services.

Pension reform that includes a gradual normal cost realignment will alleviate funding pressure for state universities and community colleges, who have also written in support of a phased-in cost realignment. According to the data, universities and community colleges will face reductions that greatly exceed any normal cost expenses they would gradually assume under the governor's pension reform plan.

For example, under the governor's plan, state universities and community colleges are projected to assume $21.3 million in new normal pension costs in FY 2014. If comprehensive pension reform with a normal cost realignment is not enacted, the analysis shows that state universities and community colleges could see more than $60 million in reductions in FY 2014.

Currently, Illinois' pension system faces $83 billion in unfunded liability - the worst in the nation. This deficit is expected to grow to more than $92 billion by the end of FY 2013 unless major reforms are enacted. Governor Quinn has proposed a comprehensive pension reform plan that will eliminate the unfunded liability over the next 30 years.

State universities and community colleges help shape the future of Illinois by fostering innovation and economic growth. Illinois' higher education institutions provide students with more opportunities and prepare them for the workforce, to ensure that businesses have access to strong workforce talent.

The analysis is attached. For more information on the need for pension reform and to contact your legislator, please visit SaveOurState.Illinois.gov.

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13 Aug 2012

BVU partners with online consortium of Iowa community colleges

By Buena Vista University

STORM LAKE, IA (08/13/2012)(readMedia)-- Buena Vista University (BVU) recently signed a cooperative agreement with the Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC) as a way to enhance degree completion opportunities for undergraduate students.

The ICCOC (www.iowacconline.org) is an online platform comprising seven Iowa community colleges that provide online educational opportunities and courses for students looking to earn associate's degrees. The community colleges include Eastern Iowa, Iowa Lakes, Iowa Western, Northwest Iowa, Southeastern, Southwestern and Western Iowa Tech.

The agreement between BVU and the ICCOC gives community college students the opportunity to transfer to BVU and pursue a bachelor's degree entirely online or through a BVU Graduate & Professional Studies (GPS) location.

As part of the consortium agreement, the ICCOC will post BVU transfer information and program offerings on its Web site. BVU will reciprocate by providing information on its Web site about the ICCOC.

Stacy Gibbs, the south regional director for BVU's GPS program, played an instrumental role in finalizing the agreement between BVU and ICCOC. Gibbs also worked closely with other BVU staff including Laura Newhouse, director of online programs, and Sibyl McIntire, GPS admissions counselor/recruiter, to cement the partnership.

"This is a marketing and growth opportunity for both BVU's online and GPS programs," says Gibbs. "The main advantage to the partnership is that the ICCOC will function as a gateway for students who are looking to advance their degrees. These students will be able to access our information and seamlessly transfer and obtain their bachelor's degree through BVU."

"I'm very excited about this partnership," says Dr. Suzi Kalsow, associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of GPS at BVU. "It is a natural progression for students who have earned their associate's degree to go on and pursue a bachelor's degree. Having a connection with the ICCOC and being easily accessible through the consortium is the perfect next step for BVU's online and GPS programs."

13 Aug 2012

Freedom Seminar

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