Headlines:
   --- Small towns suffer big losses as rivers rise - In Iowa, aAs floodwaters take aim at the tiny towns lining the Mississippi River, the heartland ethic of neighbors helping neighbors is proving to be a potent force against the rising water.
   --- TOMATOES RETURNING: Fast food chains like Wendy’s, Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W and Long John Silver have begun restocking tomatoes not linked to the salmonella scare. Burger King started adding tomatoes last week. McDonald’s is still holding off.
   --- Home buying practices adjust to high gas prices - Real estate agents, transportation officials and industry surveys indicate that home buyers are placing more importance on cutting their gas bills and commute times than they have since the oil shocks of the 1970s.
   --- The government sent letters to the makers of 25 bogus cancer cures sold on the Internet, telling them to drop their unproven claims. Some of the products contain shark cartilage, coral calcium and a variety of mushrooms...
   --- The FDA scolded the maker of “Icy Hot” because it failed to warn that the therapeutic patches can cause burns and other irritations.
   --- Driving While Distracted. (DWD) A new Nationwide Insurance study found 75% of drivers have talked on a cell, typed or read a text message, daydreamed, adjusted music, eaten or drank while behind the wheel. About 80% have been in a car where this has happened. And 40% say they were hit or almost hit by another driver who was talking on their phone.
   --- Chris Coleson, 42, of Richmond, VA was tired of weighing 300-pounds, so he dieted on nothing but McDonald’s food. He lost 79 pounds in 6 months. How? He kept his calorie count to 1200-1400 with mostly salads, wraps and apple dippers (without the caramel sauce).

Aspen Power preparing to kick off construction on Lufkin biomass plant: The company has received almost all of the necessary permits and contracts, but is still waiting on the final air permit from the state. The permit was placed on the executive director's desk for signature on June 11. Danny Vines, with Aspen Power, said it can take anywhere from a few days to as much as 30 days to get the signature. Once the plant opens an expected 150 to 160 jobs will be created.

HIS AND HERS? Many married couples have joint checking and one savings accounts. Others keep things separate. Still some have a mixture of the two philosophies. Here are some pros and cons of both:
   *Joint account pros: Pooling all funds together encourages a couple to talk more about savings goals and budgeting.
   *Joint account cons: If you have very different spending habits or ideas it could cause trouble.

   *Joint+separate pros: It's also a good approach for people who feel strongly about their independence.
   *Joint+separate cons: It will take more coordinating.

   *Separate account pros: Good for people who really, really need their independence. Or, remarried with child support or alimony.
   *Separate account cons: With so many common bills to pay when you are a couple, it can get kind of tiresome.
Phoner: How do you work out your finances?

RECESSION PROOF With a souring economy and rising food and gas prices, you may be worried about a layoff. But what if you worked in an industry immune from economic downturns?
   According to many economists, industries that may keep workers out of the unemployment office include health care, education, environment, security and energy.
   *Government jobs - The federal government out sources a lot of its jobs, including food provision, waste removal, security and call centers. While tax revenues may be down and hiring limited for state and municipal positions, there will always be a demand for public safety officers, court clerks, administrative service managers and the like. Average pay: $68,000.
   *Health care - A bad economy may limit what people spend but probably won't keep them from seeking medical attention. Health care is one of the fastest-growing job sectors. Average pay: $58,500.
   *Security - A recession won't stop crime. In fact, as funds are limited more crimes may occur. The demand for police officers, port security specialists and security experts will increase. Average pay: $41,470.
   *Environment - Many Americans are thinking green to help combat global warming. As companies try to develop "green" technology, demand for engineers and scientists will grow. Average pay: $47,960.
   *Energy - As gas prices rise, those discovering new means of developing fossil and alternative fuels will be needed. About 80 percent of oil industry employees will reach retirement age in the next decade. Average pay: $72,910.

TO THE MOON Here's a chance to head to the moon without even leaving home. Sign up at NASA's "Send Your Name to the Moon" Web site by June 27 and your name will be stamped on a microchip installed on a lunar spacecraft that will explore the moon for years. The site has logged more than 830,000 names so far. NASA's goal is 1 million.
   **FYI: The chip will be placed on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter that will map the moon's surface and eventually help pick out sites for a lunar outpost. NASA plans to launch the orbiter no earlier than Nov. 24.
   **On the web: Go here for more information || or go here for more information

COFFEE HEALTHY I'm sure the folks at Starbucks are rejoicing at headlines announcing that "coffee drinkers might live longer." Women who drank more than six cups of coffee a day were found to have a 17% lower risk of dying from heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses compared to those who drank less than one cup a month. Women who drank four to five cups per day have better protection: a 26% lower risk of dying.
   The researchers carefully phrased their conclusion that "regular coffee consumption was not associated with an increased mortality rate" and that evidence needs to be studied further. Certainly, women shouldn't add coffee to their list of nutritious foods.
   Male coffee drinkers in the study didn't enjoy a lower death rate, and too much caffeine can cause temporary increases in blood pressure—not good for those with hypertension or heart disease.
   The bottom line is that coffee is not harmful to health and may even have some health benefits. For those who are regular coffee drinkers, that's good to know.

Boost Your Career With a Hobby By definition, hobbies are activities that yield pleasure or relaxation outside of your occupation. A great hobby can make you forget about the fires at work that may require attention when you return to the office.
   At first thought, hobbies might not seem appropriate in the workplace. However, the right hobby can be integrated into your career, causing greater job satisfaction. The benefits for you are easy to recognize—you get paid to do something you usually enjoy doing on your own time. You may also gain a positive reputation for being good at your hobby and successfully meshing it with your career.
   But, it's important to find the right balance when integrating a hobby with your work routine. First and foremost, your primary job responsibilities should still be your main focus area. Getting to perform your hobby while on the job is a perk, not a right.
  Some hobbies that could help you at work:
   If you are great with computers, you might create or maintain a company website or blog, build digital work flows to improve business efficiency, train others, or share tips and tricks with standard office software.
   If you are great with a camera, you might take pictures at work events, and more.
   If you are great at public speaking, you might improve internal and external communications and relations.
   If you are great at writing, you could write articles, newsletters, press releases, or blogs for your company.

Good Morning America’s Sara Moulton's Recipes to Save Big - Delicious Recipes That Also Save You Money Rising food prices have forced consumers to become creative when it comes to making meals. But increased food costs don't mean you have to compromise on healthy meals. For recipes click here...
   Here are 5 truly creative ways to save money on your food budget:
   Tip 1: Less Protein, More Profit – use smaller amounts – stretch with more veggies, and/or use cheaper cuts, learn ways to cut thinner or cook longer to prevent toughness
   Tip 2: Don't Diss Canned Fish – rich in omega-3
   Tip 3: Multi-Tasking Meals, What a Deal! – make something with Bonus Leftovers
   Tip 4: Keep the Butcher at Bay – Cut your own chicken
   Tip 5: Veg Out! Go Vegetarian at Least One Night a Week

Here's a link to the previous day(s) stuff...

8 Ways To Cut Your Power Bill This Summer: Don’t lose your cool over rising costs. These easy-to-follow tips will help you save money without making major sacrifices in your lifestyle.
   The good news: Here are eight easy ways to save this summer.

Ten Bad Habits That Lead To Debt In A Hurry Sometimes the only way to stop a snowballing problem is to go back to the top of the hill and find out what started it.
   If you're up to your eyeballs in credit card debt, take a step back and recount your money missteps. Knowing your weaknesses could help prevent you from falling back into the bad credit pit and show you a way out. Go here for the Ten Bad Habits.

Four Money Mistakes Single-Income Families Make Four things to avoid doing, or to at least think twice about.

Steven Curtis Chapman Returns To Stage: The beloved Christian artist has decided to re-start his tour put on hold after the loss of his young daughter. Though the family is continuing to walk through this very difficult time, and some unforeseen additional issue might cause a change at a later time, as of today we fully expect and plan to play Chapman's previously scheduled US dates. All international dates are canceled at this time.
  For Dates and Information go here.

 
Memory of Maria page. Please stay in touch by passing this e-mail on, asking all to sign-up for this blast to receive additional updates, click here, and by visiting the blogs click here.
   Again, we're so grateful for your prayers for the Chapman family, may God be Glorified,
   Jim Houser, (Manager)

Well this summer it's important to keep kids safe and now there is a new web site that offers safety tips. It's called the Safety Mom dot com. There is advice from installing child safety seats to the kind of swimming pool fences that are best... Plus, how you can take precautions to protect your unborn child from illness and accidents and a whole lot more.

Get Your Exact Tax Rebate Date: This online tool will give you the exact date your federal tax rebate should be coming.

Calculator: How Much Will You Get From Uncle Sam?: The rebate checks began going out in April... Go to this link to calculate approxiamately how much you may get. Have your tax return ready. You will need information.

Calculator: How To Pay Off My Balance on Credit - A great calculator designed to show how much and how long you need to pay to kick that debt balance.

Archived Morning Show Prep - Click for the previous days information