County parks open for season; Iowa 92 closed west of Sigourney; more

County parks open for season

Jefferson County Park?s campground will open for the season Friday.

Jefferson County?s two other campgrounds, MacCoon Access and Round Prairie Park, opened earlier in April.

Iowa 92 closed west of Sigourney

Iowa 92 is closed just west of Sigourney in Keokuk County to traffic in both directions due to bridge deck damage, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation?s District 5 Office in Fairfield.

Traffic will follow a signed detour using Iowa 149, Iowa 78 and Iowa 21. See a map on the website at www.511ia.org for the detour.

The road is closed as a precautionary measure pending bridge deck inspection and repair. The duration of the closure is unknown at this time. The public will be informed as additional information becomes available.

Live Healthy Iowa to launch blog

AMES ? Live Healthy Iowa, a health and wellness program targeting Iowans to get active and healthy, will introduce a blog launching in May.

The blog will feature dialogue, stories and information about what makes up the meaning of Live Healthy Iowa in an effort to spark the discussion about health and wellness in Iowa and across America.

Written by Live Healthy Iowa participants, staff, sponsors, board of directors and more, the blog will share the experiences and influence of Live Healthy Iowa, as well as perspectives on issues that surround the topic of health.

The debut of the new blog will feature several aspects of Live Healthy Iowa programming, including: Live Healthy Iowa challenges and events; Live Healthy Iowa Kids challenges and events; and Live Healthy Iowa?s Dream Team.

The blog also will feature commentary from participants, team captains, group administrators, supporting community and business leaders and others. In addition, Live Healthy Iowa is using the blog as a forum to share views and on the future of health and wellness in Iowa and America.

The public is invited to visit the blog daily or subscribe to its RSS feed. Look for the blog at www.livehealthyiowa.wordpress.com. Comments are welcomed.

For information about Live Healthy Iowa, visit www.LiveHealthyIowa.org.

Workers Memorial Day set Friday

DES MOINES ? Iowans will gather Friday to pay tribute and to reflect upon Iowa workers who lost their lives while working in 2011. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at Iowa Workforce Development in Des Moines. In case of rain, the ceremony will be in the Wallace Building Auditorium west of the Iowa Workforce Building.

?Workers Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember Iowans who in the past year have died in Iowa?s workplaces and serving in our military,? said Iowa Labor Commissioner Michael A. Mauro. ?This is also a day to reflect on the lives that were lost and to renew our commitment to safe and healthy workplaces for all Iowans.?

During calendar year 2011, 43 Iowans died from injuries sustained while working, and 10 Iowans lost their lives while serving their country in the military. Additionally, untold numbers of Iowans are injured from exposures in the workplace.

Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Mauro will be joined by representatives of the Iowa Federation of Labor, ALF-CIO and representatives from various labor organizations and state and local dignitaries.

Family and friends of the deceased are invited to attend.