• In June, 42,112 passengers boarded planes at the Quad City International Airport (QCIA), the first time more than 40,000 people boarded planes at the facility in one month. The new record replaced one set only a few months earlier; in March, the airport had 37,910 boardings. It also marked the fourth time this year the airport has set a new monthly record, joining March, April, and May. Two of the airport's major airlines - Northwest Airlink and AirTran Airways - helped boost the June results with record showings. Northwest, which now has a total of 11 daily flights to its major hubs in Detroit, Memphis, and Minneapolis, hit 10,970 enplanements. AirTran, one of the airport's two low-cost carriers and its direct gateway to Florida, hit a record 8,192 enplanements for the month. Both airlines had set new all-time records in March. With service to 10 different nonstop hubs from the Quad Cities, the airport continues to expand its reach across eastern Iowa and western Illinois. A recently conducted parking-lot survey indicated that passengers are traveling from the Iowa counties of Black Hawk, Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Henry, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine, Polk, and Washington in addition to Scott County and Illinois.
• The American Hospital Association (AHA) has honored Genesis Health System and Trinity Regional Health System with the 2004 NOVA award for their collaborative impact on community health. The two health systems were recognized for their joint support of the Quad-City Health Initiative in a morning celebration last week at John O'Donnell Stadium in Davenport. The NOVA Award is one of the highest honors given by the American Hospital Association, with only five presented throughout the nation in 2004. The Quad-City Health Initiative is a community partnership - formed in 1999 - in active pursuit of a healthier community. The term "healthy community" encompasses all aspects of the region's physical, mental, economic, social, and environmental health, including issues of access, affordability, and quality. Representatives from Trinity and Genesis traveled to San Diego, California, for the official award presentation at the association's annual Health Forum Leadership Summit on July 27.
• Iowa State Representative Cindy Winckler of Davenport was among 36 lawmakers chosen to participate in a training program that annually identifies and assists promising state leaders in the Midwest. Winckler will meet with fellow lawmakers from 11 Midwestern states and several Canadian provinces from July 30 to August 3 in Madison, Wisconsin, for The Council of State Governments' 10th Annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD). State legislators from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin were chosen to participate during the competitive, nonpartisan selection process. BILLD was founded in 1995 to help new legislators meet the demands of program devolution and, in many states, term limits.
• Capital Blue, one of the oldest news sites on the Internet, works under the slogan "Because nobody's life, liberty, or property is safe while Congress is in session" and provides an alternative to the usual media. Take a look for yourself at (http://www.capitolhillblue.com).
• River Action is celebrating the completion of its newest project: Native plants and decorative limestone now grace the entrance of lower Lindsay Park. The site, located at the southeast corner of Mound Street and the RiverWay/Mississippi River Trail, also sports a RiverWay interpretive marker explaining the concept and design of bioswales. The project was a cooperative effort between River Action, the City of Davenport, and the Tri City Garden Club. Aunt Rhodie's Landscaping & Design Studio did the design. In conjunction with the demolition contractor of Judy's Antiques building, River Action obtained portions of the limestone foundation from that historic building, incorporating them as decorative elements. The building was constructed in 1892 and housed a variety of businesses until its recent demolition. The site of the former building, near the intersection of Second and Iowa Streets, is owned by the City of Davenport and has been converted into open space. River Action would like to someday produce and install at the Lindsay site a commemorative plaque detailing the history of Judy's Antiques building.
• The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center will be dedicating its new facility on Thursday, July 29. The 72,750-square-foot headquarters is located at 5500 Lakeview Parkway in Davenport. An open house will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting and dedication at 11 a.m. For more information, call (563)359-5401 or visit (http://www.bloodcenter.org).
• Scott County Treasurer Bill Fennelly has announced that the Scott County Administrative Center will not offer driver's license renewal after July 30. Scott County has been one of six counties that placed a treasurer's office motor-vehicle clerk in driver's license facilities while the Iowa Department of Transportation placed a driver's license clerk in the treasurer's office. Fennelly said clerks from his office will continue to staff the driver's license station at 2162 West Kimberly Road.
• Thirteen communities of Catholic sisters in the Midwest value the gifts of the land and rivers and have created a 16-page booklet, "Sharing Sacred Spaces." The booklet invites the public to visit and celebrate creation with the sisters at their motherhouses, retreat and spirituality centers, prairies and woodlands. "Sharing Sacred Spaces" is being placed in city and state welcome centers and other visitor venues and businesses. To receive a copy of "Sharing Sacred Spaces," contact Lisa Bellomy at the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, (563)336-8404.
• The American Hospital Association (AHA) has honored Genesis Health System and Trinity Regional Health System with the 2004 NOVA award for their collaborative impact on community health. The two health systems were recognized for their joint support of the Quad-City Health Initiative in a morning celebration last week at John O'Donnell Stadium in Davenport. The NOVA Award is one of the highest honors given by the American Hospital Association, with only five presented throughout the nation in 2004. The Quad-City Health Initiative is a community partnership - formed in 1999 - in active pursuit of a healthier community. The term "healthy community" encompasses all aspects of the region's physical, mental, economic, social, and environmental health, including issues of access, affordability, and quality. Representatives from Trinity and Genesis traveled to San Diego, California, for the official award presentation at the association's annual Health Forum Leadership Summit on July 27.
• Iowa State Representative Cindy Winckler of Davenport was among 36 lawmakers chosen to participate in a training program that annually identifies and assists promising state leaders in the Midwest. Winckler will meet with fellow lawmakers from 11 Midwestern states and several Canadian provinces from July 30 to August 3 in Madison, Wisconsin, for The Council of State Governments' 10th Annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD). State legislators from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin were chosen to participate during the competitive, nonpartisan selection process. BILLD was founded in 1995 to help new legislators meet the demands of program devolution and, in many states, term limits.
• Capital Blue, one of the oldest news sites on the Internet, works under the slogan "Because nobody's life, liberty, or property is safe while Congress is in session" and provides an alternative to the usual media. Take a look for yourself at (http://www.capitolhillblue.com).
• River Action is celebrating the completion of its newest project: Native plants and decorative limestone now grace the entrance of lower Lindsay Park. The site, located at the southeast corner of Mound Street and the RiverWay/Mississippi River Trail, also sports a RiverWay interpretive marker explaining the concept and design of bioswales. The project was a cooperative effort between River Action, the City of Davenport, and the Tri City Garden Club. Aunt Rhodie's Landscaping & Design Studio did the design. In conjunction with the demolition contractor of Judy's Antiques building, River Action obtained portions of the limestone foundation from that historic building, incorporating them as decorative elements. The building was constructed in 1892 and housed a variety of businesses until its recent demolition. The site of the former building, near the intersection of Second and Iowa Streets, is owned by the City of Davenport and has been converted into open space. River Action would like to someday produce and install at the Lindsay site a commemorative plaque detailing the history of Judy's Antiques building.
• The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center will be dedicating its new facility on Thursday, July 29. The 72,750-square-foot headquarters is located at 5500 Lakeview Parkway in Davenport. An open house will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting and dedication at 11 a.m. For more information, call (563)359-5401 or visit (http://www.bloodcenter.org).
• Scott County Treasurer Bill Fennelly has announced that the Scott County Administrative Center will not offer driver's license renewal after July 30. Scott County has been one of six counties that placed a treasurer's office motor-vehicle clerk in driver's license facilities while the Iowa Department of Transportation placed a driver's license clerk in the treasurer's office. Fennelly said clerks from his office will continue to staff the driver's license station at 2162 West Kimberly Road.
• Thirteen communities of Catholic sisters in the Midwest value the gifts of the land and rivers and have created a 16-page booklet, "Sharing Sacred Spaces." The booklet invites the public to visit and celebrate creation with the sisters at their motherhouses, retreat and spirituality centers, prairies and woodlands. "Sharing Sacred Spaces" is being placed in city and state welcome centers and other visitor venues and businesses. To receive a copy of "Sharing Sacred Spaces," contact Lisa Bellomy at the Congregation of the Humility of Mary, (563)336-8404.
