Few were affected more than Wayne Viager, the father and husband of two of the victims.

“It just went by so quick,” Wayne says as he revisits the night. “Waking up to heavy smoke, can’t see nothing, and extreme heat.”

It was early on a Wednesday morning when Wayne Viager woke up to his house engulfed in smoke and flames.  His wife, daughter, three of her friends and his two sons were inside.

“The only thing I came out of there with was pajama bottoms – my top was melted to me – and my boys,” Wayne says.  “That’s the only thing I could get out of there that night.  But the only thing I was worried about was getting everyone else out.  I hate that.”

Click here for more of our coverage of the deadly fire.

Wayne says although he made it out, he lost his other half that night.

“She wasn’t just my wife, she was my best friend,” he says about his wife, Anna, who died in that fire.  “We did everything together.  You’re just lost.  Evenings are the worse, once it starts winding down, you have time to think.”

He says he will remember his wife, Anna, as a fighter who had recently beat breast cancer.

“We just got done with a six-month clean check up the day of the fire. She went all the way through that,” Wayne says.

Wayne says that fire is something he can’t stop thinking about, and that he often wonders why that day happened the way it did.

“I’d much rather been the one, and had them living.  But, they claim everything happens for a reason.  What reason? We will never know.  I don’t know why we have to deal with stuff like this. I don’t know why anybody has to.  I don’t think its right, but we aren’t the ones to decide that. There is a higher power to decide that for us.”

He says it is that understanding, and his boys, that keep him going every day to work to live and rebuild.

Wayne has started building a new home right next to where his mobile home once stood.

The three girls were all legally adopted by their aunt and uncle in a Scott County courtroom on Monday, June 17. Their biological mother is serving 30 years in prison for knowing they were being sexually abused by her boyfriend, and doing nothing to stop it.

“The final chapter is over. We finally got to adopt our three little princesses we’ve been caring for, for so long”, said Christie Rimkus, the girl’s now adoptive mother.

The girls wore dresses and tiaras and the family celebrated with ice cream and presents.

“This summer, we’re going to take a vacation, one with our grandpa and one with my mom and dad”, said the oldest girl, now 11. “It feels good to have a mom and dad”, she said.

When she was nine, the little girl refused to get on a Davenport school bus until she told a teacher that she was being abused by her mother’s boyfriend, and that he was now going after her little sisters.

He is now serving prison time.

“Just don’t be afraid to tell a parent or a teacher, even cops. Do something about it to get away from these people”, she said. “I’m really excited that the guy who did this to me, is out of my life”, she said.

The girls are all “doing fantastic” in school and are involved in student council, choir, and tumbling.

They’ve changed their first names and last name, to try and start over. They have all undergone extensive counseling and will continue therapy, but their new mom says, they are moving forward as a loving family.

“Abuse doesn’t have to be the end of a childhood”, she said.

Oh the glorious sounds of the ice cream truck.

Every time I hear the ice cream man drive by there’s a little 10 year old girl inside of me that gets really excited. I am reminded of the days when my neighborhood friends and I would be playing outside in the backyard on the swing set or in the sandbox and the moment we heard that distinctive jingle we jumped up, screamed “Mom! (or Dad!)” and ran straight for the brightly colored van. My favorite item was the cherry screwball. Yum! Those were the days.

It has been years since I bought anything from the truck. I’ve been told the prices have gone way up since the mid 90′s. Instead of grabbing a dollar you may need to grab five. It’s not like you’re eating the ice cream everyday (at least I hope not!) so a splurge here and there is fine. It’s ice cream!

There is a persistent driver who at times seems like he circles the TV station everyday. Hopefully it’s because we are located next to a park and not the fact that he knows how vulnerable I am. I will probably cave at some point this summer.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Google on Tuesday argued that the First Amendment gives it the right to share information about government surveillance programs with the public.

In a petition filed to the secretive U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, Google requested the ability to disclose when the government sends data requests like those in the newly discovered Prism program, as well as the number of user accounts associated with those requests. The company argued that a gag order barring such disclosure is a violation of its right to free speech.

The petition comes less than two weeks after The Guardian and The Washington Post revealed a National Security Agency surveillance program known as “Prism.” Leaked documents said the NSA has been monitoring data from nine major U.S. companies, including Google, Apple and Microsoft, in an effort to gather data on foreign intelligence targets.

Google claims that those and other reports about the government’s PRISM program mislead the public to believe that the government has carte blanche to snoop on its users. The company has publicly denied that the government has the ability to tap directly into its servers, and Google says it wants to clear the record about the scope of such requests.

“Google’s reputation and business has been harmed by the false or misleading reports in the media , and Google’s users are concerned by the allegations,” the company said in its filing. “Google must respond to such claims with more than generalities.”

The government recently ruled that companies can include the number of surveillance requests in aggregate with other government requests for data, including criminal requests from federal, state and local authorities. Several of Google’s competitors jumped at the chance, including Microsoft, Facebook, Apple and Yahoo.

Google already publishes a “transparency report” that includes the number of user data requests it receives from government agencies as a whole. But the company wants get more specific by breaking out “aggregate numbers of national security requests” separately.

“Lumping national security requests together with criminal requests would be a backward step for Google and our users,” a Google spokeswoman said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, Yahoo said it received between 12,000 and 13,000 requests for user data from U.S. law enforcement agencies over the last six months. Apple said Monday it had received as many as 5,000 requests, while Facebook received about 10,000 requests in the last half of 2012.

Some viewed Google’s petition as a ploy to win public opinion.

“Although I am delighted Google has challenged the FISA gag, the lawsuit is a cheap way to get some positive PR after 2 weeks of awful press,” tweeted Christopher Soghoian, a technologist and policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union.

Douglas Whalen, 45, of Davenport, was attending a wedding vows renewal ceremony at the park Thursday evening, June 13, 2013.  A family member the groom’s son became disruptive and, when Whalen tried to detain the son, the groom shoved Whalen.  Whalen fell and hit his head, and later died of his injuries.

Preliminary results of an autopsy released Tuesday, June 18, indicate the cause of Whalen’s death was “blunt force injury of the head.”

Police said the groom, 50-year-old Joseph “Little Joe” Van Hecke of Davenport, was arrested during their initial investigation.

Van Hecke was charged with disorderly conduct by fighting.  Jail and court records show Van Hecke was released from the Scott County Jail after he posted $300 bond.  Van Hecke has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

A spokesman for Davenport Police said detectives were continuing to interview witnesses in connection with the case.

State, federal and local law enforcement agencies plan to partner for the national Operation Dry Water campaign June 28-30, 2013.  The campaign is focuses on drawing attention to the hazards of boating under the influence.  Check points, breath tests and increased patrols are all part of Operation Dry Water.

“More than 70 percent of Iowa’s boating fatalities in 2012 involved alcohol and many of those victims were innocent bystanders,” said Susan Stocker, boating law administrator and education coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

“Operators may not think they are under the influence, but their judgment, reaction time, balance and vision indicate they are,” Stocker said.  “The effects of alcohol can be intensified when combined with wind and wave action and an extended time spent in the sun.”

The blood alcohol limit to be declared intoxicated in Iowa is the same for boaters as it is for drivers at .08.

The Iowa DNR issued 136 citations or warnings as part of Operation Dry Water in 2012.   The DNR listed the Mississippi River as the highest area for BWI arrests in 2012, with 32 of the state’s 55 BWI arrests.  Nineteen of the total 55 BWI arrests happened on the Mississippi River in 2011, and 10 of the state’s 40 BWI arrests were made on the Mississippi in 2010.

2012 top 5 highest areas for BWI arrests

Mississippi River: 32

Saylorville Lake: 16

Okoboji: 15

Coralville: 14

Clear Lake: 6

Total BWI: 95

2011 top 5 highest areas for BWI arrests:

Mississippi River: 19

Coralville Reservoir: 13

Saylorville Lake: 13

Okoboji: 4

Clear Lake: 3

Total BWI: 55

2010 top 5 highest areas for BWI arrests:

Mississippi River: 10

Saylorville Lake: 6

Coralville Reservoir: 5

Missouri River: 4

Clear Lake: 3

Total BWI: 40

2009 top 5 highest areas for BWI arrest:

Okoboji: 7

Missouri River: 6

Mississippi River: 5

Saylorville Lake: 5

Clear Lake: 2

Total BWI: 32

2008 top 5 highest areas for BWI arrests:

West Lake Okoboji: 10

Mississippi River: 5

Missouri River: 5

Saylorville Lake: 2

Clear Lake: 2

Total BWI: 35

Wellmark and its subsidiaries provide health coverage to more than two million members in Iowa and South Dakota.

The company expects to increase its 2014 rates to offset fees and taxes associated with the Affordable Care Act.  The increase is expected to be less than six percent.

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced Tuesday, June 18, 2013 that its 330,000 individual and small business group policyholders would not see base premiums increase in 2014 for medical or administrative reasons.

The company raised rates more than 12 percent in April 2013.  The increase hit approximately 150,000 individual policyholders, who buy health insurance on their own and not through an employer.  The 2013 increase followed a reported 9.4 percent rate hike in 2012, and 8.5 percent increase in 2011 and an 18 percent jump in 2010.

Wellmark is also offering individual members the option to extend their current health insurance coverage through December 30, 2014.  Small business groups are being provided the option to extend current coverage through November 30, 2014.

“The extension provides additional time to become more informed about what the changes in the market mean without losing the current coverage they know and trust, Said Wellmark Chariman and CEO John Forsyth.

Members and small business groups still also have the option to move to an Affordable Care Act-compliant plan with a January 1, 2014 effective date.

“I’ve been here since I was knee-high,” said Fair Board President Rick Dobbels.

During the first morning of the fair, which runs through Sunday in Cambridge, Dobbels greeted his nephew at the open barrow show.

“Took you a long time to get the pig ready?” he asked.

James Dobbels, 15, is the next generation to show pigs at the fair.

“This is like a lifestyle for me,” he said.

At one of the state’s oldest county fairs, it takes concentration and care to represent the community.

“Everybody loves the Henry County Fair,” James said.

Lemonade shakers represent the challenges facing fairs. Illinois communities are mixed up by state budget woes. This fair lost about two-thirds of its state funding.

“As the state cut us back, we had to cut people back,” Dobbels said.

That means stepping up with new ideas and volunteers to make up the difference. That includes everything from signs to water lines.

“We’re trying to pull together, work as a team, strive that everyone gets along and go for it,” he said.

That volunteer spirit keeps the Henry County Fair thriving during challenging times.

Familiar faces, like the Henry County Pork Producers, are grilling their signature chops. It’s helping to sell the sizzle.

The fair hopes to attract nearly 20,000 visitors. They’ll be coming for cotton candy, competitions and a variety of entertainment.

Back at the barn, there’s a solid second place finish for James.

“I thought the pig did very great,” he said. “I’m hoping maybe tomorrow we can improve.”

Thinking that’s just like the fair’s philosophy.

“We’re going strong now,” Dobbels concluded. “We’re going to keep going.”

With community and volunteer support, keep going for another 150 years in Cambridge.

Get more info about the Henry County Fair – click here.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — NASA has selected another generation of astronauts to travel to new destinations in the solar system, including an asteroid and Mars, and for the first time in its history half of the new candidates are women.

Four out of the eight candidates are women, “making this the highest percentage of female astronaut candidates ever selected for a class,” the US space agency said.

The new space explorers, drawn from among 6,000 applicants, are all in their 30s, according to NASA. New astronauts will begin with a two-year general orientation training and a flight mission to low-Earth orbit afterwards.

“We have great female candidates in the pool this year. The selection is about qualifications. It has nothing to do with their genders,” said Jay Bolden, public affairs officer at NASA.

Coming from combined backgrounds, the new astronauts will become full-time NASA employees. Some astronauts with military affiliations will retain their military status, and those who are not will quit their jobs, Bolden said.

NASA, which has recently stopped sending its own rockets into space, will instead outsource that work to privately held U.S. rocket maker SpaceX.

SpaceX, run by Elon Musk, the outspoken CEO of electric carmaker Tesla and chairman of solar panel outfitter SolarCity, will provide the spacecraft for several flight missions, according to NASA. Potential missions include a low-Earth orbit flight, planned soon, a flight to the International Space Station planned around 2020 to 2025, a mission to land on an asteroid and then the first human mission to Mars in the 2030s.

NASA has already been in a partnership with SpaceX for several years. The company is already flying cargo missions to the International Space Station for NASA, and delivering satellites into space for commercial customers.

“The astronauts could be the first to fly to the International Space Station with a commercial flight,” Bolden said.

The new astronaut candidates will begin training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in mid-August.

“These new space explorers asked to join NASA because they know we’re doing big, bold things here—developing missions to go farther into space than ever before,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement.

“They are excited about the science we are doing on the International Space Station and our plan to launch from U.S. soil to there on spacecraft built by American companies. And they are ready to help lead the first human mission to an asteroid and then on to Mars,” he said.

LONDON (CNNMoney) — Yahoo said Tuesday it received between 12,000 and 13,000 requests for user data from U.S. law enforcement agencies over the last six months.

The Web portal company followed other major tech companies in revealing the extent of its involvement in the government’s web surveillance program. Its report indicates it has had more requests than Facebook, Microsoft or Apple.

As with other companies reporting data requests, Yahoo said most of the orders concerned criminal investigations.

In a blog post headlined “Our Commitment to Our Users’ Privacy,” CEO Marissa Mayer and Yahoo general counsel Ron Bell said they were prevented from breaking out the numbers of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act requests because they are classified.

“We strongly urge the federal government to reconsider its stance on this issue,” they wrote.

Tech and telecom companies have been under pressure to clarify their involvement in cyber-snooping since American computer analyst Edward Snowden leaked details of the government system for monitoring millions of e-mails, photos, search histories and other data earlier this month.

Snowden’s leaks have sparked a furious debate about the scale and scope of the National Security Agency surveillance program — known as Prism — which dates back to the days after the 2001 al Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington.

Apple said Monday it had received as many as 5,000 requests covering up to 10,000 user accounts since December 2012.

Facebook received between 9,000 and 10,000 requests in the last half of 2012, targeting between 18,000 and 19,000 accounts. Over the same period, Microsoft received between 6,000 and 7,000 criminal and security warrants, subpoenas and orders affecting as many as 32,000 customer accounts.

Yahoo said it would publish a global law enforcement transparency report later this summer covering the first half of 2013. That report will be updated twice a year.

“We will continually evaluate whether further actions can be taken to protect the privacy of our users and our ability to defend it,” it said.

A series of blog posts on Monday purportedly by Snowden said he leaked classified details about U.S. surveillance programs because President Obama worsened “abusive” practices instead of curtailing them as he promised as a candidate.

In 90 minutes of live online chatting, the person identified as Snowden by Britain’s Guardian newspaper and website insisted that U.S. authorities have access to phone calls, e-mails and other communications far beyond constitutional bounds.

(CNN) — A new Florida law prevents cities and counties from requiring businesses to pay employees for sick days.

Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill into law Friday, saying it “fosters statewide uniformity, consistency and predictability in Florida’s employer-employee relationships.”

He added the law was business friendly and supports job creation.

The move puts the state in charge of laws concerning employee benefits. It comes as Orange County was considering letting voters decide on a measure that would require most companies pay workers who are ill or caring for a sick relative.

CNN affiliate WESH said Scott, a Republican, sided with Walt Disney World and the restaurant chain that operates LongHorn Steakhouses, Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

The bill’s sponsor in the Florida Senate, David Simmons, told WESH that the law signals that cities and counties cannot “create their own patchwork of regulations” in regards to employee benefits.

Orlando-based Organize Now had petitioned Scott to veto the bill.

“The fight for earned sick time will continue,” it said on its Facebook page. “Floridians believe in earned sick time for hardworking families and we don’t give up when we believe in something. … and we won’t forget.”

The law takes effect July 1.

(CNN) — Venezuelan lawmakers are weighing whether to ban the use of baby bottles as part of a push to promote breast-feeding, state media reported.

The proposed measure will be up for debate in the South American country’s National Assembly on Tuesday, lawmaker Odalis Monzon said in an interview with state-run VTV.

“Every baby has the right to breast-feeding,” said Monzon, a lawmaker from the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

In addition to banning bottle-feeding, the proposed revisions to Venezuela’s Law of Promotion and Protection of Breastfeeding also include plans to penalize those who advertise baby formula, she said.

Transnational companies that market formula, she said, have interfered with a crucial bond between mother and child.

“The most important is the love, the connection between mother and child, that sometimes is lost because they do not give them the warmth that nursing a baby provides,” Monzon told VTV.

The proposal includes exceptions for mothers who cannot breast-feed due to illness, Monzon said. It would also provide for the creation of more breast-milk banks and require companies to set aside space for mothers to nurse.

She did not provide details about how authorities would enforce the measure if it passes, or what sorts of punishments violators would face.

The measure has drawn sharp criticism from some lawmakers, who argue that the government can promote breast-feeding without prohibiting anything, CNN affiliate Globovision reported.

“This is unacceptable and alarming,” said Eduardo Marin, a lawmaker for the opposition Justice First party.

The 2007 law that Monzon is pushing to amend was aimed at promoting breast-feeding, Marin said, not “questioning, stigmatizing and practically criminalizing those who have opted for (other methods) of feeding.”

Earlier this month, Venezuela’s Health Ministry said that 27.1% of mothers in the country who are able to breast-feed actually do so and that officials aimed to increase that number to 70% by 2019, VTV reported.

The change was announced in a statement from the district June 18, 2013.

Eisenhower Elementary School principal Steve Mielenhausen will become principal at Madison Elementary School.  Madison principal Sara Gott will move to Hayes Elementary School and Dr. Jake Klipsch will move from Hayes to Eisenhower.

District spokesperson Dawn Saul said the superintendent does not discuss specifics regarding personnel decisions but that he makes those choices based on what he thinks is best for student achievement.

“It’s just not something that’s unusual at all,” Saul said.

Saul said leadership changes were expected at other Davenport schools because of promotions and retirements.

Some Eisenhower students faced the possibility of being moved to another school as district officials consider changes to some school boundaries, but that move was not expected to materialize when the school board votes on final boundaries at its June 24, 2013 meeting.

Madison Elementary came under scrutiny after the district self-reported a high number of erasures and corrected answers on standardized tests administered to third- through fifth-grade students.  Madison was recognized in November 2012 as one of five Iowa schools making significant progress to close gaps in student achievement.

The Iowa Utilities Board website says the company’s request is for a rate increase of more than 10 percent for residential customers, to be phased in over three separate increases in August 2013, January 2015 and January 2016. 

“Under MidAmerican’s full rate increase application, the average residential monthly bill increase would be about $2.73 (3.6 percent) for temporary rates in 2013 and 2014, $2.75 (3.5 percent) in 2015, and $2.68 (3.3 percent) in 2016,” according to information on the Iowa Utilities Board website.

MidAmerican Energy also wants to implement a 10-year plan to consolidate rates in various service zones, which could have a more significant impact on what some customers pay. 

Eight public meetings were planned for customers to comment on the proposed rate increases:

• Iowa City:  Thursday, June 13, 2013, 5:30 p.m. – Iowa City Public Library, Room A, 123 S. Linn Street.
• Des Moines:  Monday, June 17, 2013, 5:30 p.m. – Iowa Utilities Board/Office of Consumer Advocate Building, Hearing Room, 1375 E. Court Avenue.
• Storm Lake:  Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 5:30 p.m. – King’s Pointe Resort, Rooms A and B, 1520 E. Lakeshore Drive.
• Council Bluffs:  Monday, June 24, 2013, 5:30 p.m. – Council Bluffs Public Library, Room B, 400 Willow Avenue.
• Sioux City:  Tuesday, June 25, 2013, 5:30 p.m. – Briar Cliff University, Stark Student Center, Clare Room, 3303 Rebecca Street.
• Davenport:  Wednesday, June 26, 2013, 5:30 p.m. – Modern Woodmen Park, 3rd Floor Suite Level, 209 S. Gaines Street.
• Waterloo:  Thursday, June 27, 2013, 5:30 p.m. – Petersen Town Hall, Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial Street.
• Fort Dodge:  Tuesday, July 2, 2013, 5:30 p.m. – Best Western Starlite Village Inn and Suites, 1518 3rd Avenue NW. 

The Iowa Utilities Board is also accepting written comments from the public via their electronic comment form or by email at customer@iub.iowa.gov.  Written comments can also be mailed to Iowa Utilities Board, Executive Secretary, Docket No. RPU-2013-0002, 1375 E. Court Avenue, Room 69, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0069. 

“When you look at the world through the eyes of a child, it’s a truly wonderful place,” says the post that accompanies the video from YouTuber Adalrich William. 

The rubber bands might not see so hilarious to you, but the belly laughs from these two toddlers are sure to be contagious!

The shutdown is for maintenance and repairs, which city officials said could take up to 45 work days.

Some Coal Valley residents in the area from 19^th Avenue to 4^th Avenue could experience reduced water pressure while work is performed on the well.

The affected area includes the east and west sides of the Village of Coal Valley.

(CNN) — Scientists may be able to predict throat cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) more than 10 years before patients get diagnosed, according to research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Using a blood test that is still in the research stage, experts were able to detect blood markers indicating early signs of the disease.

Actor Michael Douglas recently made headlines when The Guardian reported he said his throat cancer may have been caused in part by HPV transmitted through oral sex. Douglas later said he simply was stating that oral sex can lead to cancer.

HPV: What you need to know

HPV is the most common type of sexually transmitted virus in the United States and is passed on through sexual contact — genital or oral. There are more than 40 types of HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and nearly all sexually active men and women will get at least one type of HPV during their lifetime.

Most infections are fought off by the immune system and don’t lead to any health problems. But some people go on to develop cancer from the virus. Doctors aren’t sure why.

Most people associate HPV with cervical cancer because virtually all of these cancers are caused by this virus. But HPV can also trigger oropharyngeal or throat cancer, especially in men. By 2020, it is estimated HPV will cause more throat cancers than cervical cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The study

Researchers looked at the results of blood tests taken from 135 throat cancer patients who were part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study.

About a third of the throat cancer patients were found to have HPV antibodies in their blood a full decade before doctors detected any outward signs of the disease. Our immune systems make antibodies to fight infections. Globally, about a third of throat cancers are said to be HPV-related, according to the study.

The researchers say they are extremely encouraged by the study findings.

“Until now, there were no accurate markers for early detection of this cancer,” said study author Paul Brennan with the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France.

Though the test is likely years away from being available at the doctor’s office, it has other scientists – not related to the study – intrigued.

“Perhaps these types of patients could be under closer surveillance, so this potentially allows for more regular screening, early detection, earlier diagnosis and earlier intervention,” says Dr. Ellie Maghami, chief of the Division of Head and Neck Surgery at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California.

Further studies need to be done, Maghami says, perhaps in the United States where the rate of HPV-related throat cancers are about twice as high as in Europe.

The takeaway

If caught early, about 90% of HPV-related throat cancers can be treated effectively or cured, according to Maghami. Because the blood test used in this new study is still in development, she suggests education may be one of the best weapon for prevention and early detection of this cancer. People at high risk are those who engage in sex at a young age, have multiple partners and are liberal in their sexual practices. Maghami encourages parents to talk to their children about these risks.

There are currently two vaccines available to help prevent HPV. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend both boys and girls get their shots between the ages of 11 and 12. Doctors say the vaccine is most effective if given before a child becomes sexually active.

The list was published the day after awards were presented by the National Civic League at a ceremony on Sunday, June 16, 2013.

Some consider the All-America City designation to be the “Nobel Prize” for civic accomplishment.  All-America Cities are recognized for civic engagement and problem-solving initiatives that combine efforts of public, private and non-profit sectors.

City officials apply for the designation by listing three examples of successful community change, describing the role collaboration, innovation and civic engagement played in that change.

The designation can help cities get community improvement grants, and All-America Cities use the designation to help recruit new businesses to their area.

“AAC is more than an awards program,” noted NCL Interim Chair Liz Hollander. “It gives communities a unique opportunity to celebrate their successes, but also to take a clear-eyed look at their civic capacities.”

Dubuque and Peoria are the only Iowa and Illinois cities to make the list of 20 finalists for the 2013 designation.  Dubuque also won the designation in 2012.

Ten cities were named All-America Cities for 2013:  Birmingham, Alabama; Downey, California; Montrose, Colorado; Peoria, Illinois; Dubuque, Iowa; Owensboro, Kentucky; Dunn, North Carolina; Garner, North Carolina; Thomasville, North Carolina and Norfolk, Virginia.

River Bend School District Superintendent, Dr. Chuck Holliday, says the focus of the policy is to make sure there is a district policy in place for everyone to follow.  The policy prohibits all staff from contacting a student on an individual basis.

That goes for sports as well.  If a practice is changed or a game is cancelled, the coach has two choices.  They can contact the parents directly or contact the student athletes through a mass messaging system.

Fulton student athlete Averi Leitzen says that is best.

“I like it going through the parents so they know where I have to be as well to remind me,” Averi says.

Averi’s father, Jeremy Leitzen agrees that all communication should be monitored.

“People that are in command that could do something bad, it is always better to have some sort of control and know what is going on,” the father tells us.

The rules would apply to social media as well.  Teachers, staff and coaches are not allowed to “friend” a student on Facebook or any other social media sites.

“We want to maintain that professional relationship,” Holliday said.

Holliday said there is a similar policy in place and most of the rules are already being practiced, but the amendments are to make sure everyone is on the same page.

“We don’t want anyone to need to say ‘What can I do?’  We want to do everything we can to protect our students and our employees,” Holliday said.

The first reading of the revised policy was on the agenda for the school district meeting Monday, June 17.  If adopted, the policy will be approved in July.