The junior forward averaged 13 points and nine rebounds in two games. Camp scored 21 points, including eight-of-10 from the field, collected nine rebounds and had two steals in a win over Union (LaPorte City). She connected on 77 percent of her shots on the week.
Class 3A: Ally Mahrt, Spencer
February 24, 2010 By
The senior guard averaged 22 points, more than four rebounds and three steals in two wins. Mahrt scored 23 points, including three-of-four from three point range, grabbed four rebounds and had four steals in a victory over Humboldt. She also scored 21 points in a win over MOC/Floyd Valley.
Class 4A: Laura Johnson, Cedar Falls
February 24, 2010 By
The senior forward scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a victory over Marshalltown. Johnson also recorded three steals, blocked two shots and finished five-of-six from the foul line.
Senate approves statue of Borlaug for U.S. Capitol
February 24, 2010 By
The Iowa Senate has voted unanimously to remove one of the two Iowa statues in “Statuary Hall” in the capitol building in Washington D.C. The likeness of a Civil War era senator would be replaced with a statue of Iowa native Norman Borlaug, winner of the 1970 Nobel Prize. Each state is allowed two statues. Iowa’s honorees are two Civil War-era heroes.
The modern-day hero Norman Borlaug grew up near Cresco and went on to a world-wide career in plant breeding. He died this past fall. State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco offered the resolution to honor the man known as the father of the “green revolution.”
“Dr. Borlaugh conducted groundbreaking work in bringing varieties of wheat to feed starving populations across the globe,” Wilhelm said Tuesday on the Iowa Senate floor. In 1864, congress passed a law which allows each state to have statues of two “notable citizens” on display in the U.S. Capitol.
One is a statue of Samuel Kirkwood who served as governor of Iowa during the Civil War. The other honors James Harlan, a former U.S. Senator whose daughter married Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert, and his likeness would be removed from the U.S. Capitol displayed at the state capitol in Des Moines under the plan state senators endorsed. State Senator Dennis Black of Grinnell says he’s a bit sad to think one of those men will no longer be seen by visitors at the U.S. Capitol.
“With Kirkwood and with Harlan being such integral parts of the decision at that particular time,” Black says. About a decade ago Congress passed a law allowing states to replace the figures in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol Building. But the switch can only be made if a state’s legislature and governor approve a resolution endorsing the switch.
Governor signs bill requiring coverage of experimental drugs
February 24, 2010 By
Governor Culver has signed legislation backed by doctors and cancer survivors who believe it will encourage more Iowans to participate in clinical trials. The new law requires state regulated insurance policies to continue covering routine medical care for patients who agree to try experimental medications.
Doctor Richard Deming, medical director of Mercy Cancer Center in Des Moines, says even though many clinical trials are privately funded, patients are afraid to enroll for fear of being dropped by their insurance carrier.
“Cancer is still the number one killer of Iowans and the only way we can make improvements in cancer treatment is doing cancer clinical trials, but millions of cancer patients are afraid, especially nowadays, to do something that may cause them to lose healthcare coverage,” Deming said. While most Iowans are covered under federally regulated insurance plans, supporters of the bill say it still sends an important message to cancer patients.
“Most patients are not fearful of the actual treatment, they are very fearful of what the consequences might be if they were to lose coverage,” Deming said. Healthcare advocacy groups have been pushing for the legislation for three years. Deming says the new law does not require insurance carriers to cover the cost of the clinical trial itself – only the routine medical care the patient needs.
Book highlights things to do in Iowa
February 24, 2010 By
Iowans who are sick of winter might find a little solitude in a new book that highlights some of the many wonderful things the Hawkeye State has to offer. Lauren Rice, of Des Moines, is the author of “Iowa: An Explorer’s Guide.” Rice says it’s great for visitors, newcomers and longtime residents.
Rice says she spent four months traveling some 6,000 miles across Iowa for the book, keeping her eyes open for new places to explore or familiar sights that needed a fresh look. The 408-page book features a list of unique attractions all over Iowa. She says there was plenty of eating during her journey.
On the trips, she tried to find the best pork tenderloin in Iowa, but says it’s difficult to name a favorite. A restaurant in St. Olaf offered a one-pounder, which was the largest tenderloin she encountered. Rice has a few suggestions for travelers exploring the state.
Get off the interstates and visit small towns, ideally staying in bed and breakfasts. “Bed and breakfast owners themselves are treasure troves of information,” Rice says.
“They have so much knowledge and they can really send you to spots that regular people aren’t going to.” Those spots include attractions and great food, in addition, the B-and-B owners can fill you in on juicy local gossip and legends. Find Rice’s book at: “www.countrymanpress.com” or hear her talk Friday at 7 P.M. at the Kendall Young Library in Webster City. She will also host a writing workshop Saturday at the library.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City
Seven inducted into Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame
February 24, 2010 By
Ray Strekal with First Lady Mari Culver
Seven people were inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame during a ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda Tuesday. Vince and Judy Else of Nodaway were recognized for their Share-a-Toy program, which provides toys to hundreds of children in southwest Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska every Christmas.
Vince says it all started around 50 years ago. He was teaching Sunday School when one of his students mentioned his family could not afford to buy him a Christmas present. “So I found an old toy tractor, cleaned it up and gave it to his dad. He came back to Sunday School the next Sunday and was just as excited as could be because he got a toy for Christmas,” Vince said.
Last year, the program provided 8,000 toys at no cost to 830 children. Judy says the program has become a “family affair” as the Else’s four children and five grandchildren help collect and deliver the toys. “It’s turned out to be a year-long project,” Judy said. “It used to be a month or two…but now, with 8,000 toys, it takes all year.”
Vince and Judy Else with First Lady Mari Culver
Ray Strekal of Perry was inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame for his 32 years of work for Special Olympics Iowa. Strekal is now retired, but started coaching Special Olympians when he worked at the Woodward Resource Center. “I love working with the athletes who are involved in Special Olympics…just their accomplishments and the joy they get from participating,” Strekal said.
Mary Avelleyra of Fort Dodge began her volunteer service 15 years ago by assisting a young Hispanic woman who couldn’t speak English and needed help finding a place to live. Today, the 85-year-old Avelleyra provides interpretation services for a growing Hispanic population in the area.
“You want to be needed, so my working with these people…they give me a fulfillment in my life,” Avelleyra said. The other new inductees include former AEGON Transamerica C.E.O. Rex Eno of Cedar Rapids, Ying Sa of Des Moines and Eric Wilson of West Des Moines. Iowa First Lady Mari Culver presented each of the inductees with an award.
