27
Jan
2004
• Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has released his budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2005. The governor is recommending a $4.771-billion budget for next year, an increase of 5.8 percent or $260 million over the current fiscal year. Under the Fiscal Year 2005 budget proposal, the state would have a $74.8 million ending balance, Vilsack's staff has calculated. The governor is proposing to raise $283 million in additional revenues. Most of the revenues will come from expanding the sales tax to new areas and raising the cigarette tax by 60 cents. The governor recommends implementing the cigarette increase on March 1, which would raise an estimated $36 million this fiscal year and $108 million next year.
• New Ground Theatre has been accepted as a constituent theatre with the national organization for not-for-profit professional theatre, the Theatre Communications Group. It becomes the second Iowa theatre group to be granted admission; the other is Riverside Theatre in Iowa City. For more information on New Ground Theatre, visit (http://www.newgroundtheatre.org).
• At their state convention in Hotel Fort Des Moines on January 17, Libertarian Party members selected 14 delegates to represent them at their national convention, which will be held May 27 to 31 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first seat in the delegation is reserved for the state chair, Mark Nelson of Davenport. Party members selected 13 other delegates and six alternates. Delegates at the convention will cast their votes to choose presidential and vice-presidential candidates, officers, and members of the Libertarian National Committee, and act on proposals to amend the party's constitution and bylaws. For more information, look at the Libertarian Party of Iowa Web site at (http://www.lpia.org) and the Libertarian Party site at (http://www.lp.org).
• The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County, operating the Quad City International Airport, has announced that it reached its internal goal of boarding 400,000 passengers in the 2003 calendar year. The official number of enplanements was 407,769 passengers, the best year in the airport's history. The only months in 2003 without record enplanements were March, April, November, and December.
• The Trinity at Terrace Park Auxiliary has begun selling "Dragonfly - Wings of Wonder," a commemorative glass sculpture by Rock Island artist Mark Fowler in honor of the opening of the new Trinity at Terrace Park campus slated for February 18. The six-inch-by-six-inch glass sculpture includes the impression of a dragonfly in its center. The piece is available in either green or blue for $45. Proceeds will benefit enhancement of the medical center's healing garden, special projects, and patient care. The artwork will also be available for sale in the Terrace Park gift shop once the hospital opens. Certain Native American cultures believe dragonflies symbolize dreams, change, and enlightenment. In Japan, dragonflies symbolize victory in battle. Dragonflies are believed to bring luck, harmony, and serendipity. They also are symbols of immortality and regeneration. In India, the dragonfly is a symbol of the magic of potential. For more information, to see a sample of the art, or to order your own, contact Deb Roski at 445-4467.
• The Iowa Soybean Association was awarded first place in two categories at the National Agri-Marketing Association's (NAMA) Annual Region III awards ceremony held in Fargo, North Dakota, on January 15. First place went to Kelly Mescher in the "news or feature article" category. First place also went to Ann Clinton Millsap for the "communications directed to farmers, ranchers, and growers" category, honoring the Iowa Soybean Review magazine. NAMA is an organization bringing together professionals who market products and services to the agriculture industry. Nearly 400 entries were submitted for competition. For more information on NAMA, visit (http://www.nama.org). For more information about Iowa soybeans and to view the award-winning materials, visit (http://www.iasoybeans.com).
• Students interested in financial assistance to attend an Iowa private college should begin the application process for an Iowa Tuition Grant (ITG) as soon as possible. Developed in 1969, the ITG has helped more than 374,000 students attend the Iowa private college of their choice. The number of grants awarded is limited, but each qualified full-time undergraduate student is eligible for $3,600 annually for up to four years. Part-time students' grants are pro-rated according to credit hours. The earlier students apply, the more likely they are to receive a grant. To be eligible to apply for an ITG, students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to the U.S. Department of Education. Prospective students can link to the online FAFSA form at the Iowa College Student Aid Commission's Web site (http://www.iowacollegeaid.org). After submitting a completed FAFSA form, students receive federal Student Aid Reports for verification of information. Students with a demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply for the Iowa Tuition Grant.
• New Ground Theatre has been accepted as a constituent theatre with the national organization for not-for-profit professional theatre, the Theatre Communications Group. It becomes the second Iowa theatre group to be granted admission; the other is Riverside Theatre in Iowa City. For more information on New Ground Theatre, visit (http://www.newgroundtheatre.org).
• At their state convention in Hotel Fort Des Moines on January 17, Libertarian Party members selected 14 delegates to represent them at their national convention, which will be held May 27 to 31 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first seat in the delegation is reserved for the state chair, Mark Nelson of Davenport. Party members selected 13 other delegates and six alternates. Delegates at the convention will cast their votes to choose presidential and vice-presidential candidates, officers, and members of the Libertarian National Committee, and act on proposals to amend the party's constitution and bylaws. For more information, look at the Libertarian Party of Iowa Web site at (http://www.lpia.org) and the Libertarian Party site at (http://www.lp.org).
• The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County, operating the Quad City International Airport, has announced that it reached its internal goal of boarding 400,000 passengers in the 2003 calendar year. The official number of enplanements was 407,769 passengers, the best year in the airport's history. The only months in 2003 without record enplanements were March, April, November, and December.
• The Trinity at Terrace Park Auxiliary has begun selling "Dragonfly - Wings of Wonder," a commemorative glass sculpture by Rock Island artist Mark Fowler in honor of the opening of the new Trinity at Terrace Park campus slated for February 18. The six-inch-by-six-inch glass sculpture includes the impression of a dragonfly in its center. The piece is available in either green or blue for $45. Proceeds will benefit enhancement of the medical center's healing garden, special projects, and patient care. The artwork will also be available for sale in the Terrace Park gift shop once the hospital opens. Certain Native American cultures believe dragonflies symbolize dreams, change, and enlightenment. In Japan, dragonflies symbolize victory in battle. Dragonflies are believed to bring luck, harmony, and serendipity. They also are symbols of immortality and regeneration. In India, the dragonfly is a symbol of the magic of potential. For more information, to see a sample of the art, or to order your own, contact Deb Roski at 445-4467.
• The Iowa Soybean Association was awarded first place in two categories at the National Agri-Marketing Association's (NAMA) Annual Region III awards ceremony held in Fargo, North Dakota, on January 15. First place went to Kelly Mescher in the "news or feature article" category. First place also went to Ann Clinton Millsap for the "communications directed to farmers, ranchers, and growers" category, honoring the Iowa Soybean Review magazine. NAMA is an organization bringing together professionals who market products and services to the agriculture industry. Nearly 400 entries were submitted for competition. For more information on NAMA, visit (http://www.nama.org). For more information about Iowa soybeans and to view the award-winning materials, visit (http://www.iasoybeans.com).
• Students interested in financial assistance to attend an Iowa private college should begin the application process for an Iowa Tuition Grant (ITG) as soon as possible. Developed in 1969, the ITG has helped more than 374,000 students attend the Iowa private college of their choice. The number of grants awarded is limited, but each qualified full-time undergraduate student is eligible for $3,600 annually for up to four years. Part-time students' grants are pro-rated according to credit hours. The earlier students apply, the more likely they are to receive a grant. To be eligible to apply for an ITG, students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to the U.S. Department of Education. Prospective students can link to the online FAFSA form at the Iowa College Student Aid Commission's Web site (http://www.iowacollegeaid.org). After submitting a completed FAFSA form, students receive federal Student Aid Reports for verification of information. Students with a demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply for the Iowa Tuition Grant.
