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DNR says disaster tab at least 12 million

August 23, 2008 By

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says damage that can be totaled right now runs in the millions for parks and wildlife. The D.N.R.’s Dianne Ford-Shivers says there are a still lot of unknowns. She says the current total impact estimate now is 12-million dollars, but they don’t know what the total impact on revenue will be, and some of the water hasn’t gone down yet.

The storms and flooding spread out across the state, and Ford-Shivers says the damage reflects that. Ford-Shivers says it’s a toss up between the state parks and the wildlife areas over which one was hit the hardest. She says the state has about 35-thousand acres of crop lands that lost about one million dollars in revenue for the coming year. There was a big hit in lost income from those who visit state parks.

Ford-Shivers says they had about one million dollars in refunds from the camps and lodges, and the fisheries bureau also took a hit, as people weren’t fishing in the early part of the year. She says the lost revenue from fishing licenses is around $700,000, and it’s hard to know if they will make any of that money up.

Ford-Shivers says the state will get help with some of the physical damage. She says they’re working closely with FEMA to assess the damage and will cost-share the infrastructure rebuilding on a 75% federal and 25% state cost basis. Ford-Shivers says the lost revenue from lost camping days due to the disasters can’t be made up. 

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation Tagged With:

Celtic Games take place in Davenport

August 23, 2008 By

Today’s Celtic Highland Games in Davenport will feature feats of physical strength and traditional foods from Ireland and Scotland, but there’s also a host of entertaining, educational workshops. Linda Shoesmith, the festival’s workshop coordinator, says many of the mini-seminars focus on making Celtic music.

Shoesmith says, "We have several hands-on workshop, beginning tin whistle, Irish flute, beginning Irish fiddle, bodhran, mandolin and we have a singing workshop for Irish singing." Other workshops include genealogy, a special focus on the Scots-Irish and learning the art of clogging.

One workshop, called the Invasion of the Vikings, will focus entirely on the Vikings influence on the Celts. Shoesmith says another featured workshop is called: "Beyond Danny Boy – Maintaining the Minstrel Tradition." She says it will be a musical discussion, with performances, of playing Celtic and Celtic-influenced music in modern times — all of it tracing back to the bards.

She says the bards had the task of transferring the history, culture, laws and customs of all the Irish people, making them more important and respected than the king. The tenth annual Scottish and Irish fair takes place at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, with workshops and other day events running from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. and an evening music and dance party from 6 P.M. to midnight. For more details, visit the Celtic Games website .

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment