18
Oct
2001
• A mere one in six registered voters in Davenport bothered to cast ballots in last week's municipal primary election. Of the 64,361 registered Davenport voters, only 10,793 voted. This means that the 17 percent who voted determined which candidates moved on to the general election in the mayor and aldermanic races, thus determining the course city government will take. Those who didn't vote can redeem themselves by registering to vote and casting a ballot on October 23 on the River Renaissance bond issue, or in the November 6 general election.
• Mediacom, the company that took over AT&T Broadband's Iowa cable-television and Internet operations in July, is irking some customers with a price increase for cable-modem service. The cost of @home Internet service has increased from $45.95 a month to $55.95 a month, regardless of whether a subscriber gets basic cable-television service. The Iowa Attorney General's office has received a number of complaints about the increase. Mediacom says it wants Internet-only customers to subscribe to cable TV, and the price increase covers basic-cable service. The company also says that the increase brings the price in-line with the company's other markets and the cost of providing high-speed Internet service.
• The Quad City Radio Group (WLLR, Q106, All Hit 98-9, WOC Mix 96, KUUL, and WKBF) is planning "sticker stop" appearances throughout the Quad Cities, at which free American-flag static stickers will be distributed. The dates, times, and locations of these "sticker stops" will be announced on the air, or people can pick one up at the group's office at 3535 East Kimberly Road in Davenport. Cash donations to the Clear Channel Relief Fund will be also accepted at these "sticker stops." The fund has raised more than $9 million, with 100 percent of the donations benefiting New York-area police and firefighters; Washington, D.C., area firefighters; police and military personnel; and Pennsylvania State Police, firefighters, and National Guard.
• In light of the use of airplanes as flying bombs on September 11, Project Safe Skies is seeking to change the laws banning individuals from carrying weapons - especially firearms - on any domestic flight. The group's Web site at (http://www.projectsafeskies.org) is still a little rough, but it makes for interesting reading. By the way, FAA regulations (Title 14, Chapter I, Section 108.11) allow any government agent to carry a gun on an airplane. An airline can also authorize anyone it wants to carry firearms on a plane, providing the passenger or crew member demonstrates that he or she has passed a gun-safety course that is "acceptable to the administrator."
• The Mississippi Valley Neighborhood Housing Services (NVNHS) has announced an agreement to purchase the former First Federal Bank building at 131 West 3rd Street, Davenport. The 53,000-square-foot building will be the site of both a home-ownership and financial-literacy center and will house a regional community-development center that will offer housing- and development-related services to residents of Davenport, Scott County, and eastern Iowa.
• Want to help during the holidays? Consider volunteering to deliver meals to seniors. The Area Agency on Aging, a not-for-profit organization serving older persons in Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties, is seeking volunteer drivers to deliver holiday meals to shut-ins on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day in Scott County. Nearly 90 seniors, many of whom do not have families to share the holidays with, depend on these hot, delivered meals. Many seniors cannot leave their homes because of health problems. The meals are provided at no cost to the seniors. Those unable to volunteer their time can contribute to help offset food costs. A donation of $16 will provide a holiday meal for four people. Businesses are also encouraged to sponsor meals during the holidays. To volunteer or to donate, please call Nancy Kay Cerny, Area Agency on Aging program and resource developer, at (563)324-9085.
• Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has proposed a tax credit for those who graduate from an Iowa college after January 1, 2003, and stay in Iowa. Those who qualify would get 10 years of tax credits of up to $600 per year for remaining in the state. The idea is to reduce Iowa's "brain drain," in which graduates from colleges and universities flock to other states after completing their educations. The plan would cost $9 million the first year and more in future years.
• Residents of Scott County with Internet access have no excuse for not visiting (http://www.scottcountyiowa.com). It's a very well-laid-out, informative site containing election information, Web cams, tax levies, vital records, licenses and titles, job openings, and more. Coming soon will be restaurant-inspection reports, online job applications, visitor and tourist information, county maps and demographics, and a lot more.
• Charles Benton-Bey of Davenport fought an Illinois traffic ticket received in Rock Island for not having liability insurance on his vehicle, and he won. The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld lower-court rulings supporting dismissal of the ticket. The court battle started when Rock Island Circuit Court Judge Dennis DePorter threw out Benton-Bey's ticket, ruling that Illinois law did not apply to Benton-Bey and other out-of-state drivers. Rock Island County State's Attorney Marshall Douglas disagreed, but the state Supreme Court denied his appeal this month.
• Mediacom, the company that took over AT&T Broadband's Iowa cable-television and Internet operations in July, is irking some customers with a price increase for cable-modem service. The cost of @home Internet service has increased from $45.95 a month to $55.95 a month, regardless of whether a subscriber gets basic cable-television service. The Iowa Attorney General's office has received a number of complaints about the increase. Mediacom says it wants Internet-only customers to subscribe to cable TV, and the price increase covers basic-cable service. The company also says that the increase brings the price in-line with the company's other markets and the cost of providing high-speed Internet service.
• The Quad City Radio Group (WLLR, Q106, All Hit 98-9, WOC Mix 96, KUUL, and WKBF) is planning "sticker stop" appearances throughout the Quad Cities, at which free American-flag static stickers will be distributed. The dates, times, and locations of these "sticker stops" will be announced on the air, or people can pick one up at the group's office at 3535 East Kimberly Road in Davenport. Cash donations to the Clear Channel Relief Fund will be also accepted at these "sticker stops." The fund has raised more than $9 million, with 100 percent of the donations benefiting New York-area police and firefighters; Washington, D.C., area firefighters; police and military personnel; and Pennsylvania State Police, firefighters, and National Guard.
• In light of the use of airplanes as flying bombs on September 11, Project Safe Skies is seeking to change the laws banning individuals from carrying weapons - especially firearms - on any domestic flight. The group's Web site at (http://www.projectsafeskies.org) is still a little rough, but it makes for interesting reading. By the way, FAA regulations (Title 14, Chapter I, Section 108.11) allow any government agent to carry a gun on an airplane. An airline can also authorize anyone it wants to carry firearms on a plane, providing the passenger or crew member demonstrates that he or she has passed a gun-safety course that is "acceptable to the administrator."
• The Mississippi Valley Neighborhood Housing Services (NVNHS) has announced an agreement to purchase the former First Federal Bank building at 131 West 3rd Street, Davenport. The 53,000-square-foot building will be the site of both a home-ownership and financial-literacy center and will house a regional community-development center that will offer housing- and development-related services to residents of Davenport, Scott County, and eastern Iowa.
• Want to help during the holidays? Consider volunteering to deliver meals to seniors. The Area Agency on Aging, a not-for-profit organization serving older persons in Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties, is seeking volunteer drivers to deliver holiday meals to shut-ins on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day in Scott County. Nearly 90 seniors, many of whom do not have families to share the holidays with, depend on these hot, delivered meals. Many seniors cannot leave their homes because of health problems. The meals are provided at no cost to the seniors. Those unable to volunteer their time can contribute to help offset food costs. A donation of $16 will provide a holiday meal for four people. Businesses are also encouraged to sponsor meals during the holidays. To volunteer or to donate, please call Nancy Kay Cerny, Area Agency on Aging program and resource developer, at (563)324-9085.
• Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has proposed a tax credit for those who graduate from an Iowa college after January 1, 2003, and stay in Iowa. Those who qualify would get 10 years of tax credits of up to $600 per year for remaining in the state. The idea is to reduce Iowa's "brain drain," in which graduates from colleges and universities flock to other states after completing their educations. The plan would cost $9 million the first year and more in future years.
• Residents of Scott County with Internet access have no excuse for not visiting (http://www.scottcountyiowa.com). It's a very well-laid-out, informative site containing election information, Web cams, tax levies, vital records, licenses and titles, job openings, and more. Coming soon will be restaurant-inspection reports, online job applications, visitor and tourist information, county maps and demographics, and a lot more.
• Charles Benton-Bey of Davenport fought an Illinois traffic ticket received in Rock Island for not having liability insurance on his vehicle, and he won. The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld lower-court rulings supporting dismissal of the ticket. The court battle started when Rock Island Circuit Court Judge Dennis DePorter threw out Benton-Bey's ticket, ruling that Illinois law did not apply to Benton-Bey and other out-of-state drivers. Rock Island County State's Attorney Marshall Douglas disagreed, but the state Supreme Court denied his appeal this month.
