Homers -- What's going right

STUDY THE YOUTH LEAGUES: From the NFL to the high school ranks, concern and studies about concussions and other football-related injuries has increased in recent years. But there's a dearth of data about very young players - half of the nation's 4.2 million kids in grades 3-6 playing organized football are in tackle leagues. So we welcome a new study launched by University of Iowa Sports Medicine researchers to study injury rates among those young players, comparing results of tackle and flag (lower-contact) play.

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THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE: When your life is hanging in the balance, it's great to have competent co-workers. Paul Phillips, a public works employee in Cedar Rapids, was severely jolted when he accidentally contacted a power line in August. Members of the city's police, fire and public works departments, and Area Ambulance medical personnel, quickly came to his rescue and saved the young family man's life. He thanked them during a ceremony last week.

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BRIDGE OPEN: The new bridge across the Wapsipinicon River in Quasqueton opened Oct. 25, ahead of schedule, restoring a key transportation link in Buchanan County that was closed for 103 days.