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Press Page |
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Barb and I enjoyed the view from Pike's Peak
after the McGregor parade on September 5. |
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Iowa’s nurses are an essential part of our health
care system. Experts say there are good reasons to be concerned
about a shortage of nurses in our rural communities.
On September 1, I visited the outstanding nursing program at
Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg to learn more about
what Iowa is doing to increase the number of nurses while
providing Iowans with good job opportunities. I talked with
nursing students and faculty about their desire to work in a
field where they really make a difference in the health of
Iowans.
At the state level, we are encouraging more Iowans to go into
nursing by improving and expanding student loan forgiveness
programs. You can learn more about state, federal and private
loan forgiveness programs for nurses at
www.iowacollegeaid.gov/commissioncentral
/loanforgiveness/nursing.html.
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On August 25, Governor Chet Culver, Senator Bill
Heckroth, Rep. Andrew Wenthe and I attended the groundbreaking
ceremony at Upper Iowa University in Fayette. The $75 million
project will include a new Student Center, suite-style housing
and Liberal Arts Center. Great education means economic
development, and this expansion proves that northeast Iowa is
moving forward.
To get a look at plans for the new facilities, go to
www.uiu.edu/general/alumni_friends/
buildingprojects.html. See more photos from the
groundbreaking event at
www.uiu.edu/marcom/photo_albums/
groundbreaking/index.html. |
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We had a great crown for Brandon's "Hillbilly Days" parade on August 8. |
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Thanks to my Lamont parade crew
for all their help. Pictured with
me are Rosie and Howard Bird, Renee Cantrell, and my daughter,
Ashley. It was a beautiful day and the community had a great
turn out for the festivities. |
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Representative Gene Ficken and my family
participated in the Rowley parade. We always enjoy the chance to
get out and talk with everybody... and get a little exercise
too! |
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I always enjoy my visits to Elkader and am proud
to see how well the community is rebounding after last year’s
flooding. |
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I enjoy getting out to all our local communities
in the summer for parades and festivals. I get a chance to meet
a lot of new people and see old friends, while getting some good
exercise. Pictured here are
Meteorologist Justin Roberts from KGAN, Representative Gene
Ficken of Independence,
Michelle Ficken, Barb, Randy Roberts and I. |
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Barb and I passed out candy and 2009 Iowa
Transportation maps at the Gilbertville parade. |
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I was accompanied at the Dunkerton parade by
Rex Jones and Rep. Ficken. |
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Rep. Ficken and I checked out the cool Dunkerton
Library float before the parade. |
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On June 13, I participated in the Strawberry
Point parade, along with my wife, Barb, and Representative Roger
Thomas and his wife, Rosie. This is just one of the many
community events I am attending this summer. I look forward to
seeing everyone during my travels around the district! |
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I and several of my colleagues in the Iowa Legislature took
questions from constituents at a recent meeting in Luana. The
event was hosted by the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning
Commission, which includes the five Northeast Iowa counties of
Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek. |
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The 6th grade students from Dunkerton Middle School toured the
Statehouse on April 24, one of the final days of the 2009
session. I brought the students
into a Senate committee room to show them what a committee
meeting is like. |
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St. John's D.A.R.E (4th, 5th, 6th grade)
students from Independence and St. Athanasius 4th and 5th
grade students from Jesup are pictured at the Statehouse
with Senator Brian Schoenjahn, Representative Gene Ficken
and Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Wolfgram.
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Representatives of the Northeast Iowa Community
Action Corporation were at the
Capitol April 13 to talk with legislators about their mission to
help meet the primary needs of people and create opportunities
for basic self-sufficiency through community partnership,
education and the provision of services. NEICAC provided 17,536
services to 13,202 persons and 5,436 households from October 1,
2007 through September 30, 2008. Left to right: Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm
of Cresco, Lisa Matthews, Billie Rael,
Lisa Lausier, Senator Brian Schoenjahn of Arlington. |
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Senator Brian Schoenjahn of Arlington hosted East
Buchanan D.A.R.E. students from Winthrop at the Statehouse on
April 14. The sixth-grade students quizzed the Senator on
legislative processes, the history of the Capitol building and
what they can do to help during tough economic times. |
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Senator Dennis Black of Grinnell introduced some
Chinese business people who are outstanding customers of Iowa
hog farmers. Fareast Leather Industrial Co. in Zhejiang, China,
purchases 28,000 Iowa pigskins daily. That is the equivalent to
180,000 pair of shoe lining per day and 72 million pair of shoes
per year. When you buy a pair of Puma, Nike or other name-brand
leather sports shoes, you're most likely buying leather from
Iowa hogs.
Iowa is the top supplier of pigskins. Fareast Leather is our
major single customer. Iowans know how important international
trade is to our economy. I am pleased to travel to China in June
to help promote Iowa exports and mutually rewarding trade and
exchanges.
Pictured are Xuegin Shi, her husband Wang Huai, board chairman
of Fareast Leather, Senator Brian Schoenjahn of Arlington,
Senator Black, Shi Xue Qin, sister of Xuegin Shi, who is
involved in the Wang family business in Ho Chi Mehn City,
Vietnam, May-May Ng from Waukee, owner and manager of CKI, the
major exporter of Iowa pigskins to China, Senator Daryl Beall of
Fort Dodge, and Senator Nancy Boettger of Harlan.
The Chinese are major customers of many Iowa agricultural
products. Besides the pigskins, China buys Iowa pork and
soybeans. |
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Senator Brian Schoenjahn shares the successes and
budget challenges of the 2009 legislative session with Buchanan
County residents at a recent gathering. |
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Donors of land in Clayton & Fayette counties were
honored by the Governor and Legislature Monday at the Iowa
Statehouse. The “Gift to Iowa’s Future Day” ceremony recognizes
those who have “donated land or a conservation easement to
benefit Iowa’s parks, trails, fish and wildlife habitat, natural
areas, open spaces, and public recreation areas and for other
public uses and benefits” during the last year.
Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg thanked the donors on
behalf of the State of Iowa and presented them with special
certificates. Later in the day, they were introduced to the Iowa
House and Senate.The generosity of
these donors will live on for generations. They are helping keep
our state beautiful and creating community assets that will
endure and grow in value.
The Nature Conservancy sold 167 acres in Clayton County at a
bargain price, donating a portion of its value, to the Iowa DNR
for an addition to Bixby State Preserve.
Eric and Linda Rehorst of Little Lake, Michigan; Jamie and Bruce
Adair of Decorah, Iowa; Suzon Ross of Oakland, Iowa donated 235
acres of the Clint & Ella Rush Prairie Wildlife Sanctuary for a
conservation easement to the Fayette County Conservation Board.
It preserves more than 90 acres of native prairie and protects
from parceling or building on the property. The land must be
farmed under conservation plans.
In 2008, the Iowa Legislature made donating or making a
conservation easement much more affordable and doable in Iowa.
The “Iowa Tax Credit for Charitable Contributions of
Conservation Lands” offers significant tax savings. Donors can
receive a tax credit of up to 50 percent of the fair market
value, with a maximum tax credit of $100,000 per donation. The
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation helps landowners consider their
options and make generous donations possible. More information
is available at
www.inhf.org/landowner. |
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Nursing students from Hawkeye Community College visited me in
the Senate chamber on April 1. We discussed the importance of
providing healthcare to all Iowans, Iowa’s shortage of health
care workers, and making higher education more accessible to
students. |
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