Tagged: Emphasis

Kahoka, MO – Jason Parrott's guest is Becki Krueger, who is the Vice President of the Clark County Mule Festival.

The Clark County Mule Festival got its start in 1986.

Krueger says a small group of people got together at a campsite along Highway 136.

She says there were just a few vendors, about a dozen mules, and no display arena.

Krueger hopes to see more than 150 mules, dozens of vendors, and close to 10,000 visitors from all across the United States this year.

Galesburg, IL – Rich Egger's guests are Galesburg Mayor Sal Garza and Ryan Lilly, Eric Dilts, and Gary Camarano of the Sustainable Business Center in Galesburg.

Lilly is the Entrepreneurship Center Manager, Dilts is the Business Incubator Director, and Camarano is the Global Strategies Manager.

Galesburg, IL – Rich Egger's guest is Dr Teresa Amott. She is the new president of Knox College.

Amott comes to Knox College from western New York state, which is where the founders of Knox and Galesburg began their journey to the Midwest 175 years ago.

Amott believes all college presidents today face an economically challenging environment for higher education. She hopes her background as an economist will help her lead the school through such times.

West Burlington, IA – Jason Parrott's guest is Beverly Simone, who is president of Southeastern Community College.

Dr. Simone says she is excited about the start of the new school year for SCC.

She points to the addition of a new program: Animation Technology.

She says the program had to be expanded from 20 to 28 positions due to initial interest.

Simone believes this will attract students from across Iowa and around the country.

Macomb, IL – Rich Egger's guest is Jack Thomas, who is beginning his first year as President of Western Illinois University.

Dr Thomas had been WIU's provost. He took office as the university's 11th president on July 1, replacing Dr Al Goldfarb.

There have been a lot of changes in administration at Western of late and a number of those positions are being filled on an interim basis. Thomas does not consider that a hindrance.

Macomb, IL – Rich Egger's guest is Tim Schroll of the Moses King Brick & Tile Works National Historic District near Colchester.

Commonly referred to as "The Brickyard," it was the site of a brick making operation for 90 years, beginning in 1878. It was bought by Dev in the early 1990s, and Schroll married into it a few years later.

Burlington, IA – Jason Parrott's guests are Dennis Hinkle and Matt Shinn, who are co-chairing the IMAGINE campaign in Des Moines County.

Hinkle says the visioning plan is the result of a group of residents who believe great things come through great vision.

The campaign has already collected hundreds of ideas for improving aspects of the county.

Shinn says the pool of ideas will be reduced to 100 by a special citizen's committee.

The public will then be able to vote on that list to narrow it down to 30.

Macomb, IL – Rich Egger's guest is Suzan Nash, who is Executive Director of the Western Illinois Regional Council. This summer she is celebrating 30 years in that position.

Nash started out at the WIRC as an intern, and then worked there for a couple years before taking the leadership role in 1981.

Nash said funding was especially tight during her first couple years as executive director. A couple times the organization was unable to make payroll.

Macomb, IL – Rich Egger's guests are Mindy Pheiffer, Program Coordinator at Horn Field Campus, and Mari Loehrlein, Professor of Horticulture at Western Illinois University. They talk about the Fourth Annual Sustainable Landscapes and Gardens Tour in Macomb.

The tour takes place 9:00am to Noon on Saturday, July 23. People can visit as many of the sites as they like.

Guided tours of Loehrlein's garden will be held at 10:00 and 10:30.

Keokuk, IA – Jason Parrott's guest is State Representative Jerry Kearns (D-Keokuk).

They discuss the Iowa Legislature's historic 2011 session.

Kearns says one of the most important pieces of legislation for Lee County involved the budget for Iowa Workforce Development.

He says lawmakers included enough money to reverse a plan to close 39 unemployment offices throughout the state, including one in Keokuk and one in Fort Madison.