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US Postal Services tells Group Home in Adel Iowa No Mail See this link for the story as shown on TV8 KCCI news tonight 04-16-2009 http://www.kcci.com/video/19202382/index.html Fw: Shelby VanMeer Letter to Political Figures october 2005Dear Peter,
Thank you for your response and inquiry as to my situation. Being that I have been in contact with Represenative Watts , I am sending him this information as well.
In regard to my situation and concerns I am writing this freehand but will do my best to explain my cause and my concerns. Please bear with me as I write this letter to you. My daughter, Kristin, who has turned 18 on April 04-2005, suffers from severe to profound mental retardation ( meaning that she is a 18 yer old adult child with skills equilivent to those of a 3-5 year old ) , epilepsy and borderline cerebral palsy.
Federal and state laws state that I can seek child and medical support from the absent parent past the age of majority. However Iowa Rules and Regulations state that child support past the age of majority is based on the cost to raise the child. We actually served papers in Feb 2005 and went to court in October 2005.
This last January 2005 I lost employment which, in effect, lowered the cost to raise the child. In other words, I could not show the actual costs that I would normally have for child care, days missed off work for medical appointments, things in that nature that all add to the cost to raise the child for an employed single parent. Therefore in court, since I was not able to show those kind of costs that I have when I am employed, I was advised to accept a settlement. The courts do not like to look at estimated or anticipated costs. Unfortunately this happened at a bad time in my life. I had worked for the State of Iowa as a Department of Human Services income maintenance worker but all that changed in Jan 2005.
I understand, from research about child support for adult children with disabilities, some states opt to use the child support guidelines and some states opt to use the cost to raise the child. My personal experience leaves me with this: we as custodial parents are busy enough without having to do the recordkeeping to be able to show the cost to raise the child. We have to keep track of every stick of gum, every soda, every gift, every receipt for groceries, and try to prove what part of the cost is for the child for utilities, rent , etc. I kept records of expenses paid out, as most of my spending is done through debit card or on line banking. Had I been smarter a year ago, I would have opened a separate account for her and run every thing that I purchased for her through that account. And this kind of recordkeeping is on top of dealing with the doctors, nurses, physical therapists, school superintendent, principal, teachers, teachers’ aides, bus drivers, child care providers, case managers, case workers, respite and Supported Community Living providers, vocational staff etc. I don't understand why, if the state can use the child support guidelines, the burdens of establishing the cost to raise the child is put again on the custodial parent.
It is not like our children go to bed at age 17 and wake up at age 18 and their needs have changed so much. The child support guidelines are based on some formula that is to be fair and just to both parents based on availability to pay. If anything the older she gets , the harder it is to get child care providers, and living in rural area is also a thing that we face, life is difficult. Her needs have not changed. Her functional ability has progressed over the years, however progress is slow.
She is a very loving young woman , who will reasonably reach the ability to become self sufficient. She can not read, Although we work on educational skills , the main goal is to help her to become as self sufficeint as she can be. The force of my goal with her is on daily living skills. Appropriate behaviors, Although we are persuing job assessments those are not completed to date. It is anticipated that they will be completed by this winter , I am hoping by January 2006.
So, this is one issue: I want to see the law changed so that Iowa uses the child support guidelines and stays consistent in the support of a disabled child to allow the child support guidelines to be consistant with the needs of the child. Taking into consideration disability related school children and raising the age to 21 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The other issue is that, when looking at child support for non-disabled children, child support continues to age 18 or to age 19 if the child is still in school. The Americans with Disabilities Act, allows that a child with disabilities can stay in school till the age of 21, but, as Iowa law is, child support stops automatically at age 18. There is another assumed law, of which I can not find or get clarification on from my attorney and maybe you can research this for me: In court upon the settlement, I specifically asked my attorney if taking this settlement now would that allow me to take the absent parent back to court later. The answer was, “Yes, as long as there was a substantial change in circumstances, I can.” Well lets face it , at the moment I can’t show costs, I can’t show income, so my intent was to go back to court when I could better prove our case.
This past Monday, 3 days after court, I learned there is some law that states that child support has to be pursued before the age of majority , specifically meaning before the age of 18. I need to know, since if this is true to be the law, I was misinformed by my attorney in court last Friday and will need to appeal.
I would highly doubt he knew of this law, so rather then say he misinformed me, let’s call it lack of knowledge to appropriately represent me and advise me to make this decision in court. If indeed it is state law that this needs to be pursued before the age of majority, this is highly unfortunate and a bit discriminatory for individuals, first because it is not well known that this can be pursued, and secondly, this flip-flopped so much in congress for years , individuals who could benefit from parental support at any age after the age of 18 would not be able to pursue this today. If there is such a law that inhibits us from seeking child support for a adult disabled child after the age of 18, this needs to be looked at and changed.
Kristin is my daughter, Randy is her father. Please note, he paid child support well for 17 years, but this is all he did. He never once attended a staffing, doctors appointment, missed a day of work for illness or seizures. He did not even see her for a period of 14 years. He lives 12-13 miles from us and the times we do see him, Kristin has no idea he is her father. Per his choice, none of this was taken into consideration, in the child support considerations. These are all things that need to be considered in my life on a daily basis, while the absent parent is allowed to write a check for a few years and wipe his hands of the needs of his child, while we as custodial parents do all that we can to help our children in our homes and keep them out of institutions.
Society's view is to slap ‘em in a institutional setting and let the government take care of them. This is what the absent parent tried in court on the 21st day of October 2005. He tried to have a judge order her to be institutionalized so he could avoid his responsibilities as her father.
The last issue that I can remember, without going through my records and notes from the conversation with Representative Behn, is how the states view SSI income. It is considered if SSI can meet the needs of the child, the parent(s) have no responsibility to the said child. We hear every day about how Social Security is in trouble, yet we have rules and guidelines that specifically state, if the needs are met by this source , then let the government funds take care of the child's needs, while at the same time, Social Security laws state that SSI should not be counted as income in determining child support.
Although I can not find this law in our states regulations, my attorney is supposed to be sending me documents of case(s) in Iowa where the Supreme Court has ruled that if a person's needs are being met through SSI income, let that take care of the needs. (The documents were presented in court by my ex husband , and the basis in which my attorney advised that we settle this , that getting something may be better then nothing , and we can not prove cost of care at this time.)
Income from this source was meant to be resources of last resort. To change this law, seems to be politically correct, a means tested federal and state programs are programs of last resort, income that is provided for support of the people who need it , other income received reduces the level of payment , and therefore leaving that income source for those who don't have any other source of income. Either way, it is not appropriate for the courts to count SSI as income for child support in determining the amount of support from the absent parent or if support from the absent parent is appropriate.
It seems a bit contradictory to use my income to disqualify her for benefits as the custodial parent , and then to allow that this source of income alleve the non custodial parent of his parental responsibility for the child in which he brought into this world. It is not that her father can not afford to pay support, it is that the government has made it so incredibly hard to prove burden of need that it is in the non custodial parents benefit to contest these actions , wether for and in the best interest of their child or not.
If the government will not help us to protect our children , and the parent will not do it voluntairly , what is this telling society as a whole. To say it in a easy statement, while the government and some of its agencies still maintain to be against institutional settings and helping us to keep out children at home, its rules and policies tell me differently and add burden to those of us who are left to justify ourselves in a court setting.
I am deeply saddened by the events of court proceedings on the 21st day of October 2005 and ask for your consideration as a constituient to help change this policy. There is nothing that can be done now to retract the events in court, but there are things that can happen to help others in the same or similar situation in the future for and in the best interest of Iowa's Child(ren). If you have any questions , please feel free to contact me via email or home phone number . Sincerely Shelby VanMeer Response from State SenateThis is a copy of the bill that was submitted to Senate. There is still a ways to go , but its a great start. I got really good reaction from both State Senate and US Senate and Congress from Represenatives. Its amazing what a difference one person can make for the good of many .
Senate File 2032
SENATE FILE
BY BEHN Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the provision of support for adult children
2 who are dependent because of a physical or mental disability, 3 providing an effective date, and providing for retroactive 4 applicability. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 5495SS 81 7 pf/gg/14 PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 598.1, subsection 9, Code 2005, is
1 2 amended to read as follows: 1 3 9. "Support" or "support payments" means an amount which 1 4 the court may require either of the parties to pay under a 1 5 temporary order or a final judgment or decree, and may include 1 6 alimony, child support, maintenance, and any other term used 1 7 to describe these obligations. For orders entered on or after 1 8 July 1, 1990, unless the court specifically orders otherwise, 1 9 medical support is not included in the monetary amount of 1 10 child support. The obligations shall include support for a 1 11 child who is between the ages of eighteen and nineteen years 1 12 who is engaged full=time in completing high school graduation 1 13 or equivalency requirements in a manner which is reasonably 1 14 expected to result in completion of the requirements prior to 1 15 the person reaching nineteen years of age; a child who is 1 16 between the ages of eighteen and twenty=one years who is 1 17 dependent on the parties to the dissolution proceedings 1 18 because of physical or mental disability and who is engaged 1 19 full=time in completing high school graduation or equivalency 1 20 requirements in a manner which is reasonably expected to 1 21 result in completion of the requirements prior to the person 1 22 reaching twenty=one years of age; and may include support for 1 23 a child of any age who is dependent on the parties to the 1 24 dissolution proceedings because of physical or mental 1 25 disability. 1 26 Sec. 2. Section 598.21B, Code Supplement 2005, is amended 1 27 by adding the following new subsection: 1 28 NEW SUBSECTION. 2A. SUPPORT ORDER == CHILD DEPENDENT ON 1 29 PARTIES BECAUSE OF DISABILITY. In calculating support for a 1 30 child of any age dependent on the parties because of physical 1 31 or mental disability, the court shall apply the child support 1 32 guidelines and calculate the amount of support in the same 1 33 manner as that provided under this section for calculation of 1 34 support for a minor child. The determination of the support 1 35 amount shall not include consideration of any supplemental 2 1 security income received by the adult child. 2 2 Sec. 3. Section 598.21C, Code Supplement 2005, is amended 2 3 by adding the following new subsection: 2 4 NEW SUBSECTION. 9. MODIFICATION FOR SUPPORT OF DISABLED 2 5 CHILD. Modification of a support order for a child of any age 2 6 who is dependent on the parties to the original dissolution 2 7 proceedings because of physical or mental disability shall be 2 8 subject to the modification provisions applicable to a child 2 9 support order. 2 10 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE == RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY. This 2 11 Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon 2 12 enactment and is retroactively applicable to orders, decrees, 2 13 or judgments entered or pending before July 1, 2006, that 2 14 provide for support for a child of any age who is dependent on 2 15 the parties to the original dissolution proceedings because of 2 16 physical or mental disability. 2 17 EXPLANATION 2 18 This bill relates to support of a child of any age who is 2 19 dependent on the parties to a dissolution proceeding because 2 20 of physical or mental disability. The bill provides in the 2 21 definition of "support" that support obligations shall include 2 22 the provision of support to a child who is between the ages of 2 23 18 and 21 years who is dependent on the parties to the 2 24 dissolution proceedings because of physical or mental 2 25 disability and who is engaged full=time in completing high 2 26 school graduation or equivalency requirements in a manner 2 27 which is reasonably expected to result in completion of the 2 28 requirements prior to the person reaching 21 years of age. 2 29 The bill also provides that the court, in calculating 2 30 support for a child of any age dependent on the parties 2 31 because of physical or mental disability, shall apply the 2 32 child support guidelines and calculate the amount of support 2 33 in the same manner as that provided for calculation of support 2 34 for a minor child. Additionally, in calculating the support 2 35 amount, the court is not to consider any supplemental security 3 1 income received by the adult child. The bill also provides 3 2 that modification of a support order for a child of any age 3 3 who is dependent on the parties to the original dissolution 3 4 proceedings because of physical or mental disability is 3 5 subject to the modification provisions applicable to a child 3 6 support order. 3 7 The bill takes effect upon enactment and is retroactively 3 8 applicable to orders, decrees, or judgments entered or pending 3 9 before July 1, 2006, that provide for support for a child of 3 10 any age who is dependent on the parties to the original 3 11 dissolution proceedings because of physical or mental 3 12 disability. 3 13 LSB 5495SS 81 3 14 pf:nh/gg/14 "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt "Citizenship in a Republic," Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910 Talking about This Blog Site
Quote This Blog Site ReUseIt in Iowa Recycling as printed in the Des Moines Register 09-20-2008IOWA REUSEIT RECYCLING / ONE MANS TRASH IS ANOTHERS TREASURE SEE BELOW FOR ARTICLE IN DES MOINES REGISTER - DES MOINES IA 09-20-2008LIVE IN IOWA / CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE TO CHECK OUT REUSEIT OR START A GROUP OF YOUR OWN IN YOUR AREA SINCE THE ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED BETWEEN DES MOINES METRO AREA AND DALLAS CO WE RECEIVED OVER 200 REQUESTS FOR MEMBERSHIPS TO RECYCLE ITEMS. GROUPS ARE NATIONWIDE TO FIND YOUR GROUP PLEASE VISIT http://www.reuseitnetwork.org/ *****************************************************************************************************************************************Take my stuff - please
By MARY CHALLENDER • mchallen@dmreg.com • September 20, 2008 The world is full of give and take. "I would have to say the most humorous and offbeat item - and it was rejected, by the way - was someone tried to post condoms," noted ReUseIt moderator Jane Jacobson of Urbandale. "He broke up with his girlfriend and was swearing off girls." ReUseIt is a relative newcomer to the network of free-sharing sites found on the Internet, which include Freecycle, SharingisGiving and FreeSharing. All believe in the same basic principle: Nothing wanted by someone else should ever end up in a landfill. She said her family of reformed packrats has given away everything from plants to car parts to shampoo that made their skin break out. Jacobson even managed to find new homes for more than 400 binders and 60 computer monitors from her job as an administrative assistant at Compressor Controls Corp. She estimates ReUseIt members in Iowa have saved more than 20 tons of items from landfills over the past year. No used underwearThe groups in each community are run by volunteer monitors who spend an average of an hour a day sorting through 35 to 50 messages to make sure they include a general location, don't include an address, and that the item offered or wanted is within the guidelines (firearms, prescription drugs and used underwear are a few items on the no-no list.) Although many of the items are the sort you might find at a garage sale, there are some surprises. Jacobson said she's seen everything from hot tubs to big screen TVs posted. In fact, when she wanted to give her husband a smoker for Father's Day, she asked for one on the site - and got it. Growing trendErin Ibricic, 25, of Des Moines estimates she's saved an "astronomical amount" this past year on kids' clothes thanks to ReUseIt. With three children under the age of 6, she said, each growth spurt or change of season means all new sets of clothes. A stay-at-home mom married to a construction worker, Ibricic said she also turns to ReUseIt for cookbooks she can pick through for interesting recipes, and even food. She said she jumped on a recent post offering fresh apples - hers for the picking. Insight into human natureMike Gorski, a 34-year-old software developer in Des Moines, said just reading the flood of daily ReUseIt posts in his e-mail every day offers fascinating insight into human nature. Gorski, the father of three children, ages 6, 4, and 1, said he primarily uses ReUseIt to get rid of things, among them a bed, a cedar chest and a "coffee table/bookshelf thing." The winner is ...The hardest part, he said, is when several people respond and he has to decide who to give something to. Some ReUseIt members stick with a strict first-come-first-served policy. Gorski admits he's in the camp who tries to give his things away to the person who seems they'll get the most use out of them. IOWA REUSEIT GROUPSAdair County — http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AdairCountyIAReUseIt PLANT EXCHANGESCentral Iowa Plant Exchange — http://groups.yahoo.com/group/centraliowaplantexchange START ONE UPDon't have a ReUseIt group in your area? E-mail helpdesk@reuseitnetwork.org to start or add one. You will need to be able to spare about an hour each day to moderate your group. TIPS ON USING FREE-SHARING SITESIs there a cost to join? No Talking about Unspoken Truths (Shels Poem)
Quote Unspoken Truths (Shels Poem) TITLE FIGHT TONIGHT MIKE MINIVAN VANMEER VS BRAIN GREENTITLE FIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MOVES PRO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS TO THE HISTORICAL VAL AIR BALLROOM (INFORMATION CAN BE SEEN HERE ! http://titlefightchampionship.com/upcoming.htm
Des Moines, IA- December 14, 2007 - Midwest Sports Entertainment Group (MSEG), the parent company of Title Fight Championship (TFC) announced an agreement today to produce mixed martial arts (MMA) shows at West Des Moines Val Air Ballroom. Previous TFC venues include Wells Fargo Arena, Vets Memorial Auditorium, Prairie Meadows Casino, and Seven Flags. The Val Air, built in 1939, has just completed $1.3 million dollars in improvements, including paved parking. "The Val Air is part of Iowa history, and MMA is making Iowa history" commented Scott Casber, TFC founder. "Big bands were the rage when it opened, and based on everything we're seeing, MMA is much the rage now" Casber continued. The first TFC event at the Val Air is on January 26, 2008 with "The Awakenin Among the ten total bouts, the evening's main event can be considered a grudge match, when MCC Champion Mike Van Meer meets Brian Green. Other confirmed fights include Jeff Carstens vs. TJ O' Brien, Cole Jennet vs. Jason Purcell, and Josh Atwell vs. Eric Houser. Local fighting legends Ronnie Britt and Roman "Primetime" Hellums are featured as well. The event will be filmed for broadcast on Mediacom, as well as being featured on the national broadcast of HD-Net's Inside MMA program. "We're thrilled to include TFC along with the increasing roster of top shelf entertainment we offer" responded Chris Cardani, Val Airs General Manager. "We know the promoters, and have followed the sport from the start. Combined with our experience with other fight promotions over the years, we purely will hit the ground running" Cardani added. TFC has announced a number of corporate sponsors, including All Iowa Products, Budweiser, Castle Concrete, Color Works, Crush, Graffiti Graffics, iowanightlife.com, Kaldenbergs PBS Landscaping, Kubed Fightgear, Lomax Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Mediacom, Morrissey Fine Jewelers, and Twisted Parrot. Completion of the Val Air agreement makes tickets available to consumers through Tickmaster on-line (ticketmaster.com), by phone, and at Younkers, Hy-Vee, and Des Moines Civic Center . Tickets are also available at the Val Air Box office or by calling them at 223-6152. Doors for the event will open at 6:30 PM, with fights beginning at 7:30 PM. Continuous updates regarding the event and fight card can be found at titlefightchampionship.com. CALL CENTER TO COUNCIL BLUFFS IOWA
CHESTER J. CULVER, GOVERNOR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
PATTY JUDGE, LT. GOVERNOR KEVIN W. CONCANNON, DIRECTOR
For Release Oct. 26 For More Information Contact:
Roger Munns (515) 281-4848
Council Bluffs Wins DHS Call Center
DES MOINES, Iowa—Iowa Department of Human Services Director Kevin Concannon announced Friday (Oct. 26, 2007) that Council Bluffs has been selected for the proposed location of the agency’s new customer call center.
“This is obviously good news for Council Bluffs, since there was keen competition for these jobs, but it is also good news for our own employees and especially for the many thousands of Iowans who are eligible for our state’s assistance programs,” Concannon said.
The call center will employ 48 “income maintenance” specialists who will be able to answer questions about food stamps (known as food assistance in Iowa), Medicaid, childcare assistance, and other programs.
The primary role, however, will be to provide assistance in filling out applications, prepare applicants for interviews with DHS staff, and process changes to existing cases. Updates include a change of income or other changes that could have an impact on benefit levels.
Under the current system, these calls and updates are now primarily handled by income maintenance workers in the department’s offices in all 99 counties.
Concannon said the call center will provide long-needed relief.
“Caseloads are growing and workers now carry an average of nearly 450 cases. It has been obvious for some time that we are under-resourced to adequately serve these cases, and to keep up with changes,” he said.
In addition to the call specialists, the call center will include a number of supervisors, trainers, and mentors. The expanded operation will be available from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m., with Spanish speakers available at all times.
Concannon said the call center will not replace any current positions. It will include the four positions currently used for the food assistance call center based in Des Moines.
In a note to DHS employees, he said, “I want to stress that the call center is not displacing any of our current employees, neither now nor in the foreseeable future. All of our county DHS offices will remain open, including the less-than-full-time operations in some of our more rural counties.”
Numerous cities and regions competed for the call center.
“It goes without saying that we had several excellent proposals, and it was no easy task for our staff—plus officials from Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Communications Network, and the Department of Administrative Services—to make a selection.
The announcement Friday is the department’s intent to negotiate a lease with officials in Council Bluffs.
It will take several months to hire and train the specialists, and no opening date has been selected.
# # #
Editors note: Organizations in eight additional cities competed for the call center, including those in Rock Rapids, Marshalltown, Atlantic, Dubuque, Grinnell, Muscatine, Des Moines, and Sioux City. The starting pay for the 48 income maintenance workers is $34,590.
Mike VanMeer "Minivan" Fights in Oklahoma 09-28-2007 available for viewing online on fight nightlink to event, more information to come on onine viewing soon!
Wedding Gowns for Angels
A friend was telling me about this site , you can donate your wedding gown for a good cause. They take the dress and make items for a child lost , the fabric can be used to make gowns , beads can be made to bracelets for families who otherwise could not afford to lay their child to rest in adequate clothing. What a great thing to do for one less fortunate.
http://www.freewebs.com/weddinggowns4angels/ minivan takes middleweight belt in mma at KGGO arena in des moines iowaMCC Heatwave ResultsPosted by: "Ryan Christensen" chritenen@yahoo.com chritenenSat Jul 28, 2007 9:16 pm (PST)Elvis Musicac vs Pablo Lara (185) Lara via RNC 4:18 Rd 1 Justin Guthrie vs Nick Cash (205) Cash via TKO (strikes) 4:22 Rd 1 Billy Sturdvant vs Mateo Young (145) Young via Triangle Choke 2:08 Rd 1 Jason Hutchcraft vs Joe Lawyer Hutchcraft via RNC 1:32 Rd 2 (Lawyer took the first round spending most of it on top while Hutchcraft stayed busy with sub attempts from bottom) Adam Cunningham vs TJ O'Brien (155) O'Brien via Triangle Choke 1:19 Rd 1 Jake Brown vs Jeff Carstens (155) Carstens via Triangle Choke 1:20 Rd 1 Justin Grizard vs Jesse Lund (HW) Lund via Armbar 4:33 Rd 1 JD Albright vs Corey Simpson (185) Albright via Triangle Choke 3:06 Rd 1 Chuck Grigsby vs Josh Christensen (205) Grigsby via Tap from Strikes 0:46 Rd 1 (Grigsby looked very impressive and is the new LHW MCC Champ) Nick Walker vs Jeremy Stephens (155) Stephens via Ref Stoppage (strikes) 4:45 Rd 1 Jason Louck vs Mike Van Meer (185) Van Meer via Verbal Tap 5:00 Rd 2 (Van Meer seemed in control in both rounds with solid takedowns and GNP with nice elbows to the body. Louck did not answer the bell and apparently was trying to get his blood sugar level in check) Very good fights tonight. Thanks from myself and Judy for the opportunity to cover the event. On Saturday, July 28, Midwest Cage Championship, (MCC) returns to the Bucaneers/95 KGGO Arena for MCC IX "Heatwave".On Saturday, July 28, Midwest Cage Championship,
(MCC) returns to the Bucaneers/95 KGGO Arena for MCC IX "Heatwave". Fellow UFC alum Jeremy "lil Heathen" Stephens brings his hard-hitting style back to the city that made him famous, to take on Nick Walker. Also on the card, Des Moines native Mike "Mini Van" Van Meer faces Jason Loucke. Loucke, the reigning MCC Middleweight Champion and Miletich Fighting Systems trained fighter not only won his title bout by knockout last year, he recently defended his belt in the same fashion. Mini Van, who is on a three-win streak promised to bring the belt back to Des Moines, but the Champion has other plans- which include wrecking the Mini Van. After the move from Heavyweight to Light Heavyweight, Chuck "The Reverand" Grigsby has asked for a title shot and the chance to make MCC his home. And, we are happy to give him the opportunity, as he faces Tyler Lane, an exciting up and comer who says that muscle and hype will only get you so far. These two warriors will battle it out for the vacant MCC Light Heavyweight belt. Other fighters on the card include, Cory Simpson, Jeff Carstens, Jake Brown, Josh Christensen, TJ O'Brien, Adam Cunningham, Billy Sturdavant, Mateo Young, Matt Delanoit, and many more exciting fighters. Public Weigh-in will take place at Twisted Parrot. Fighters will be present to weigh-in at 6pm, and then face off at 7pm. Twisted Parrot will have 25 cent beer and other great drink specials. So come out and watch all the drama kick off and drink cheap. Twisted Parrot is located just to the east on hickman rd from the Bucs Arena. 6500 Hickman rd On Saturday, the doors open at 95KGGO/ Bucs Arena, at 6:30pm and fights WILL begin promptly at 7:30. 95KGGO/ Bucs Arena is located at 7201 Hickman rd in Urbandale. Call 515-278-9757 for more information. Midwest Cage Championship IX: "Heatwave" Tickets available on-line at www.midwestcagechampionship.com, at the 95 KGGO/ Bucs Arena box office, or by phone at 515-278-9757. Ticket prices are $25.00- $50.00. VIP tables are available by calling 515-229-8566. As always, the After-Party will be at Crush Night Club. Crush is located to the west of the Arena on Hickman, on the corner of 86th & Hickman. So make it to Crush to party & mingle with all of the fighters & fans. "If it ain't MCC….it ain't real!" INFORMATIONAL THINGS SHELLiability under Other Federal and State Employment Laws Several other federal and state employment laws do allow for personal liability for violations. Federal laws that have been interpreted to hold HR decision-makers personally responsible include the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Therefore, every time you make a decision involving wage and hour, leaves of absence, equal pay, safety, I-9 forms, and benefit plan issues, you may be personally at risk. Penalties under these laws range from administrative fines all the way to imprisonment. State courts have been particularly active recently in finding personal liability for violations of state discrimination laws. These courts generally have interpreted their state employment discrimination statutes more broadly than federal discrimination laws to find supervisors and other HR decisionmakers personally liable for discriminatory actions. In the last year, courts in Iowa, Massachusetts, and Washington determined that individuals can be personally responsible for their discriminatory employment decisions. Many state courts also have found supervisors liable for tort claims (wrongful acts) such as defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, negligent training, fraud, and misrepresentation. These claims often arise in the context of employee discipline or termination.
Why
Employees Sue You Personally The threat of personal liability has heated up over the years as several federal and state courts have reinforced that HR decisionmakers can be personally responsible for their employment actions. Protect yourself from exposure to lawsuits by following the six steps below. Trends in court decisions underscore a disturbing fact: HR practitioners, supervisors, business owners, and other decisionmakers are being held personally liable for their actions under several employment laws. In other words, the normal corporate wall limiting personal liability does not totally protect you. Several state and federal courts have issued new decisions finding HR professionals, and other managers, personally responsible for their employment actions. This liability has been both expensive and time consuming. Some of the cases involved six-figure judgments, and almost all of them have taken years to wind their way through the court system. This exposure is hard to ignore, and HR professionals are rightly concerned about the trend. But there is some good news to report, too. You can make yourself a less attractive target for legal action by following the six steps suggested below. Why Employees Sue You Personally The reasons employees may target you personally have not changed. First, plaintiffs’ attorneys representing disgruntled employees pursue HR decisionmakers as a way to pressure the employer to settle a case. Second, the individual becomes another source of income for damages. Third, the employee may want to penalize the manager who carried out the adverse employment action, even if the manager did not have much input in the actual decision. Finally, in a few cases, the manager’s actions may have been so outrageous or offensive that the employee seeks revenge by suing the manager personally. A Quick Review: No Liability under Federal Discrimination Laws Fortunately, you are not liable under every employment law. HR decision-makers generally have not been held liable for decisions under federal discrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Every Circuit Court of Appeals that has addressed this issue has ruled that individual supervisors are not personally liable under those statutes. Therefore, if you are named as a defendant in a discrimination case involving claims in federal court of race, sex, disability, age, or other type of discrimination, you probably will not be found personally responsible for your actions. Public Employers Beware: You May Still Be Liable Managers and supervisors of federal, state, or local government entities, however, may be personally liable for claims under Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act of 1871. Section 1983 prohibits “persons” acting under the “color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom or usage” of any state from depriving any individual of “any rights, privileges, or immunities” provided by the U.S. Constitution or law. Discrimination claims involving public officials often allege the officials violated this law. Typically, if a public official (including an HR professional or manager) has the authority to administer the public employer’s policies and make decisions consistent with applicable laws, the official may be personally liable for those decisions if they have a discriminatory effect on an employee. Two federal court decisions underscore just how expensive this liability can be. In Knussman v. Maryland, 65 F. Supp.2d 353 (D. Md. 1999), the court upheld a jury’s finding that the state personnel officer was personally liable for $375,000 in emotional damages caused by her failure to grant leave to a male employee because of his gender. Similarly, in Alexander v. Fulton County, 207 F.3d 1303, (11th Cir. 2000), the Eleventh Circuit upheld a jury’s finding that a sheriff was personally liable for intentionally making racially based employment decisions and assessed over $500,000 in punitive damages against her and the county employer. Liability under Other Federal and State Employment Laws Several other federal and state employment laws do allow for personal liability for violations. Federal laws that have been interpreted to hold HR decision-makers personally responsible include the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Therefore, every time you make a decision involving wage and hour, leaves of absence, equal pay, safety, I-9 forms, and benefit plan issues, you may be personally at risk. Penalties under these laws range from administrative fines all the way to imprisonment. State courts have been particularly active recently in finding personal liability for violations of state discrimination laws. These courts generally have interpreted their state employment discrimination statutes more broadly than federal discrimination laws to find supervisors and other HR decisionmakers personally liable for discriminatory actions. In the last year, courts in Iowa, Massachusetts, and Washington determined that individuals can be personally responsible for their discriminatory employment decisions. Many state courts also have found supervisors liable for tort claims (wrongful acts) such as defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, negligent training, fraud, and misrepresentation. These claims often arise in the context of employee discipline or termination. Risk of Suit May Be Worse Than Actual Liability As a practical point, your risk of being sued is greater than your risk of being found liable by a court or agency. If your name is on any employment document or if an angry employee mentions that you were involved in a decision, you may be named in a lawsuit. The worst part of this risk often is the actual defense process itself. The reality is that even if you ultimately are not found liable, you could spend several years – and thousands of dollars – defending yourself. for peanut butter lovers , check out this site www.pbloco.com
P.B.Loco - Franchise Opportunities
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P.B.Loco Cafes | Franchise Opportunities | The
Adult Peanut Butter | Concoctions/Peanut Butter
Recipes
Home | About | Spreading the News | Buy Online | Contact | Site Map © 2006 P.B.Loco Holdings Inc. - 800.606.1828 - contact@pbloco.com  Hot n Sour SoupHot N Sour Sauce
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried red pepper flakes
Bring the vinegar to a boil in a small
pot and mix in sugar until dissolved. Reduce heat to low, simmer 5 minutes,
and remove from heat. Mash the garlic and salt into a smooth paste, and mix into
the pot. Stir in the red pepper flakes. Cool to room temperature before
using.
Sweet N Sour
Sauce
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
In a saucepan combine vinegar, sugar, tomato sauce, pineapple juice and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring. Whisk cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to a slurry and drizzle into sauce, whisking, until it thickens. Pour into a pretty bowl for serving. Hot Mustard
Sauce
1/4 cup Chinese mustard powder 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon water 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil 1/2 lime, juiced 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon grated ginger 3/4 cup peanut oil Whisk together mustard, vinegar, water, sesame oil, lime juice, honey, and ginger. While whisking, drizzle in the peanut oil. WANDA YVONNE STEVENSON OBITITUARY
COLISEUM CARNAGE LIVES UP TO ITS NAME!!The fight of the evening had to be Mike “Mini Van” Van Meer’s gutsy and gritty display of fighting against journeyman fighter Kyle Olsen. Coming into the match super confident and way more chiseled than the round-bellied Van Meer, Olsen quickly realized that you can’t assess any fighter based on appearances. Van Meer put himself through a rigorous cardio-vascular exercise routine in preparation for the bout, and it certainly showed in his incredible stamina. Olsen tried a few kicks early, only to end up grappling with Van Meer until they both crashed to the ground and Van Meer wound up on top. “Mini Van” proceeded to land a series of hammering shots until Olsen squirmed out and escaped back to his feet. Finally given an opportunity to attack and maybe score some late points, Olsen went right after Van Meer. He slammed his opponent against the cage door and leaned into him as the final seconds of the first frame ticked away. Suddenly the cage door flew open, sending both men tumbling onto the concrete floor of the coliseum. As the crowd reacted to the bizarre turn of events that left Van Meer lying incapacitated on his back for a few uneasy moments, the round-ending buzzer sounded. The freak accident resulted in a long time between rounds as Van Meer turned out to be alright and able to continue. Not only was he capable of going on, he also had enough left in the tank to dominate the remainder of the fight. There were several even exchanges through the opening minute of the second round, and Olsen found his own burst of energy and aggression early. Van Meer bulled through it, though, taking several well-targeted hooks to the face with no sign of withering. He came back with roundhouse rights and lefts, leaving Olsen bleeding heavily from the nose by the end of the second round. Round three started slow, with both men choosing to play a more defensive role and waited a long time to engage. They traded leg kicks and not much else until they wound up in close combat where Van Meer inadvertently booted Olsen in the groin. Coming off the break, Van Meer connected with a nice right hand and then took a few shots of his own after Olsen connected with a kick. Rather than take his chances standing up with a suddenly inspired Olsen, Van Meer worked for the takedown and secured it, going back to what he knows best: the ground and pound. He closed out the round in control and won 30-27 on all judges’ cards.
FULL STORY(IES) FOUND AT http://unlimitedfightnews.com/wordpress/?p=107 |
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