St. Ambrose University, the Davenport Civil Rights Commission, and the Putnam Museum are joining together to chronicle the civil-rights movement in the Quad Cities between 1940 and 1984, and its impact on the community. To create an archive of materials for future generations, the Civil Rights History Committee is conducting interviews and gathering archival materials such as photos, film, letters, audiotapes, diaries, other documents, and memorabilia. Additionally, the committee will create an exhibit at the Putnam. Anyone who played a role in the history of the Quad Cities civil-rights movement, or who is in possession of artifacts related to the movement, is encouraged to contact Arthur Pitz at (309) 736-0840 or (artpitz@hotmail.com) or Judith Morrell at (563) 326-7888.

The slate of candidates for Davenport's 2008-9 city council has been decided.

Davenport residents were fairly deceived, during the last campaign, by several of the elected officials currently serving, so this time it is "voter beware."

It is important to know the professional backgrounds of those running, as well as the inspiration, incentive, or both, to vie for a council seat.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) last week named Davenport one of Iowa's "Great Places." The announcement came after the Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board concluded a four-day tour of seven finalist locations and made its recommendations to DCA Director Cyndi Pederson, who approved the advisory board's recommendations. The program asks communities to develop proposals that address seven dimensions that make places special: engaging experiences; rich, diverse populations and cultures; a vital, creative economy; clean and accessible natural and built environments; well-designed infrastructure; a shared attitude of optimism that welcomes new ideas; and a diverse and inclusive cultural mosaic. For more information, look at (http://www.culturalaffairs.org).

On "Puttin' People on the Moon," the Driver-By Truckers' Patterson Hood sings a litany of tragedies personal and regional: "Mary Alice got cancer just like everybody here / Seems everyone I know is gettin' cancer every year / And we can't afford no insurance, I been 10 years unemployed / So she didn't get no chemo so our lives was destroyed / And nothin' ever changes, the cemetery gets more full / And now over there in Huntsville, even NASA's shut down too."