02 Sep 2015

WASTE COMMISSION FACILITIES CLOSED LABOR DAY

By Brandy Welvaert

DAVENPORT, IA–Waste Commission of Scott County facilities will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, 2015 in observance of Labor Day. Normal hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015. Facilities closed include the following:

  • Scott Area Recycling Center, 5640 Carey Ave., Davenport
  • Scott Area Landfill, 11555 110th Ave., Davenport
  • Scott Area Household Hazardous Material Facilities, Davenport
  • Electronic Demanufacturing Facility, 1048 East 59th St., Davenport

Waste Commission of Scott County is an inter-governmental agency whose mission is to provide environmentally sound and economically feasible solid waste management for Scott County. For more information about the Commission, please call (563) 381-1300 or visit www.wastecom.com.

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02 Sep 2015

Smiddy-Backed Legislation Aimed at Stopping Sexual Assault on College Campuses Becomes Law

By Paul Ferrero
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Students starting college this fall will have more support and security to combat sexual assault thanks to a new law supported by state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale.
"A college education can be a great resource, and no one should have their safety at risk while they gain an education," Smiddy said. "Sexual violence affects far too many young people on campuses right here in Illinois, and by incorporating the ideas of organizations and advocates across the state, students will have more resources and help."
The new law that Smiddy backed, Public Act 99-0426, requires institutions of higher learning to offer victims and witnesses of sexual assault more options to report incidents confidentially. Schools must make confidential advisors available, have better systems in place to make students aware of their options, train students and employees to improve responsiveness to allegations, and adopt a uniform process for addressing and adjudicating sexual violence.
"As a father, I want my kids to have a safe, secure place to learn and grow," Smiddy. "This new law will help colleges create a community where sexual violence is not tolerated, and students feel protected, listened to, and supported."
Public Act 99-0426 was signed into law and took effect on August 21.
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02 Sep 2015

Governor Announces Appointments 8/28/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Illinois Workforce Investment Board, the State Employees' Retirement System, the State Board of Health and the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission.

 

Name: Julie Adkins
Position: Member - Illinois State Board of Health 

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Julie Adkins to the Illinois State Board of Health. She previously served on the board from 2011-2014.

 

Currently, Adkins is an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) and family nurse practitioner at SIMCA. She has been with the practice since 2012. Prior to her time at SIMCA, Adkins was a nurse practitioner with Charles Neal, MD from 2001-2012.

 

Akins also serves as a state representative for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is a past president of the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing.

 

Adkins earned an associate's degree in nursing from Kaskaskia College and a bachelor's degree in nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In 2011, she earned her doctorate in nursing from University of Alabama at Birmingham. She lives in West Frankfort.

 

 

Name: Melinda M. Rowe-Sullivan
Position: Arbitrator - Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission 

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Melinda M. Rowe-Sullivan an arbitrator for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. She brings 12 years of law experience to the commission.

 

Currently, Rowe-Sullivan is an associate attorney at Ganan & Shapiro. Her primary responsibilities surround case management of workers' compensation defense litigation. She has been with the firm since 2008. Her prior experience includes a year at Schweickert & Ganassin and four years with Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorius.

 

Rowe-Sullivan earned a bachelor's degree in community health and health administration and a law degree from Northern Illinois University. She also received an MBA from Lewis University. She lives in Peoria.

 

 

Name: Alicia Martin

Position: Board Member - Workforce Investment Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Alicia Martin to the Workforce Investment Board. Martin brings nearly eight years of experience in business development to the board, as well as an understanding of state government.

 

Martin is currently the President and CEO of the Illinois Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors. She provides top-level executives strategic operations planning to further business development. Previously she was the Vice President of Membership and Business Development.

 

Martin earned her bachelor's degree from Blackburn College. She lives in Jacksonville.

 

 

Name: Thomas Ashby

Position: Board Member - Workforce Investment Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed the Centralia Mayor Thomas Ashby to the Workforce Investment Board. He has been a member of this board since 2008.

 

In addition to his role as mayor, Ashby is the President of Coordinated Transportation Development where he manages the transit operations of Rock Island, Ill. He previously was the Director of the South Central Mass Transit District for 13 years.

 

Ashby attended Kansas Newman College and Eastern Illinois University, and earned an industry certification from the Transportation Association of America. He lives in Centralia.

 

 

Name: Carl Jenkins

Position: Member - State Employees' Retirement System

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Carl Jenkins to the State Employees Retirement System Board. Jenkins' has more than 20 years of experience in banking and investments making him well suited for the position.

 

Currently, Jenkins works for BMO Harris Bank in the corporate finance division serving as the Managing Director and Group Head of Community Invests. He has worked for the bank since 2000 and has held a number of roles in community development lending and capital markets.

 

Jenkins earned his bachelor's degree from Washington University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina. He lives in Chicago.

 

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02 Sep 2015

St. Alban's Autumn Daze Bazaar

By Laura Showers
St. Alban's Episcopal Church is having their "Autumn Daze" Bazaar from 9 AM until 4 PM, Sat., Oct. 3rd, 2015. Join us for a fun filled day of great bazaar shopping. A luncheon will be served from 11 AM - 1 PM. Many tables of crafts, books, and jewelry. There will be a bake sale and LOTS of raffle prizes.
St. Alban's Episcopal Church       563-386-4087
3510 W. Central Park Ave.
Davenport, IA 52804
02 Sep 2015

THE RAUCH FAMILY FOUNDATION I AWARDS GRANT TO CHURCHES UNITED

By Rhonda Johnson

The Rauch Family Foundation I has awarded a $3,500.00 grant to Churches United, in support of its Hunger Program the Quad City Area.  We are especially grateful for this very kind and generous grant.  This gift will greatly benefit those who hunger in our area.

Churches United has a 53-year history of reaching out to our community.  Its 134 member churches represent 50,000 people from the Quad City Area.  As well as 26 food pantries and 3 hot meal sites, Churches United also operates Winnie's Place, a shelter for women (with or without children) who are homeless and/or victims of domestic violence.  For information about services offered, or ways to support Churches United, call 563-332-5002, or visit our website at www.CUQCA.org.

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02 Sep 2015

Breast Cancer Screenings Coverage Required as Smiddy Bill Becomes Law

By Paul Ferrero
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.–To prevent instances of insurance companies excluding preventative breast cancer screenings, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, spearheaded a new law requiring all insurance plans to cover preventative testing which became law on August 21.
"As the husband of a breast cancer survivor, I know how important it is to detect this aggressive disease as early as possible, and I don't want any woman in Illinois to go without the testing they deserve," Smiddy said. "This new law makes sure insurance companies can't say no to proven life-saving screening."
Smiddy credits his wife's survival over breast cancer in large part due to early detection. He introduced House Bill 3673 to ensure all Illinois women in Illinois have access to the same resources. The bill requires every insurance plan in Illinois to include breast cancer screening for all women 35 years and older. Under the previous law, breast cancer screening was available for low-income families through the state. However, women not meeting the income requirements could have their testing left of their private plans. The new law requires preventative testing be available under every insurance plan serving Illinois residents. Additionally, a grant program is created to increase testing centers in rural, medically underserved areas.
"This law is an important step in the ongoing fight against breast cancer, and will help thousands of women across Illinois receive the testing they need," Smiddy said. "Our family had to face an enormous challenge when my wife was diagnosed, and no family should be without the lifesaving testing that we know saves lives because insurance companies want to save money."
House Bill 3673 received bipartisan support in both houses of the General Assembly and was signed by the governor on August 21. The legislation has an immediate effective date but residents are urged to contact their insurance providers to ensure their plans have been updated and include the new regulations.
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02 Sep 2015

ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD, IEMA CONDUCT MAJOR EARTHQUAKE EXERCISE

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/28/2015)(readMedia)-- The Illinois National Guard conducted a week-long, multi-agency exercise dubbed Prairie Assurance Aug. 24 to 28. The exercise trained elements of a task force of personnel from the Illinois Army and Air National Guard to rapidly respond to a major earthquake in southern Illinois.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) along with representatives from other state agencies, National Guard Bureau, US Northern Command, and the Polish Armed Forces participated in the exercise, providing incident management and emergency management teams, agency technical experts, and military personnel to support the military's training scenario.

"We gained a tremendous amount of insight by having IEMA, other civilian agencies, National Guard Bureau, US NORTHCOM, and Poland participate in this event," said Col. Rick G. Yoder, commander of the joint task force. "It's critical to strengthen partnerships with local, state, and federal partners before a disaster happens."

The exercise simulated a 7.2 magnitude earthquake centered on the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The event took place at the 183rd Fighter Wing and the Joint Forces Headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.

The National Guard has a standing mission to provide support to civil authorities during natural disasters. The joint task force provides command and control of military personnel and equipment in support of civil authorities during a complex catastrophe like an earthquake.

"We want to be able to respond rapidly and efficiently and training together supports that goal," said Yoder. "We train the force to anticipate need. It's ultimately about saving lives and property."

Approximately 220 Army and Air National Guard members and more than 100 civilian emergency management personnel participated in.

02 Sep 2015

THE MOLINE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES DEADLINE FOR GRANTS SUBMISSION

By Linda Martin

A grants submission deadline has been announced by the Moline Foundation. Non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply if they serve the citizens of Moline and the surrounding region, including the Quad Cities.

All materials necessary to receive funds are due in The Moline Foundation offices by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 or must be postmarked by or on Wednesday, September 30, 2015.

Any non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, including those who have never received Moline Foundation funding in the past, is welcome to apply.

An application should consist of eleven copies of a written request stating the name and address of the organization, its mission, names and addresses of Board members, income and expense statement, balance sheet, and the specific purpose for which any money received would be used including a project budget.  The name, telephone number, and email of a contact person must also be included.  The requested materials should be mailed according to the above deadline.  If you need further information, please call Linda Martin at the Moline Foundation at (309) 764-4193 or visit the website at www.molinefoundation.org.

The Moline Foundation offices are located at the Deere-Wiman House, 817 11th Avenue, Moline, Illinois.

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides grants to health, human services, education, workforce development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area, including the Quad Cities region in both Iowa and Illinois. Counties served by the Moline Foundation include Scott County in Iowa and Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Warren, Henderson, and McDonough Counties in Illinois. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and works with citizens to achieve their goals to improve the community.
02 Sep 2015

GOMB Director Issues Statement

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Tim Nuding, Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, issued the following statement regarding the departure of advisor Donna Arduin:

"As a key leader in the new Administration, Donna played an instrumental role in re-establishing sound economic and fiscal principles at GOMB, the Department of Revenue and throughout state government. She helped engineer the elimination of an inherited $1.5 billion budget deficit without a tax increase and produced an on-time budget proposal for the governor to present barely more than one month after taking office. She has been an invaluable advisor to me, and I look forward to her continued advice as we work to reach a pro-growth economic and fiscal agreement for the state."

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02 Sep 2015

Conservative Think Tank for Iowa Launched

By Ron Corbett
Cedar Rapids, IA - Current Cedar Rapids Mayor and former Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives Ron Corbett today announced the formation of a new conservative Iowa think tank to be called "Engage Iowa".
"For too long liberal think tanks have dominated Iowa's public policy debate.  This creates the mistaken impression that liberals are the only group with new ideas," Corbett said.  It's time for another voice in the choir of good ideas in Iowa."
Engage Iowa will craft research based, pragmatic, common sense solutions that will move our state forward by bringing rural and urban Iowans together to modernize the tax code, build great schools and protect our environment.
"Iowa is on the right track," Corbett said, but we need to get on the fast track."  "A strong, research and Iowa-based idea organization can help propel Iowa forward to a new era of growth, development and an unmatched quality of life," Corbett remarked.
Corbett added, "Engage Iowa will do just that.  We will engage Iowans throughout the State in a series of conversations to help find solutions to the challenges facing Iowa."
Liberals in Iowa, and across the nation, have continued to repackage and roll out the same Big Government schemes that have been failing us for decades.  It is time for some fresh new ideas in Iowa.
Corbett said that the think tank will be overseen and funded by Iowans committed to making the state better.  Corbett will lead it and direct the research.  He indicated that $1.5 million had already been raised and pledged by Iowans to make sure this conservative think tank is successful.
The first policy report dealing with our tax system and the environment is expected to be released this fall.

About Engage Iowa:
Engage Iowa is led by former Speaker of the Iowa House Ron Corbett, an innovative entrepreneur and business leader who, as Mayor, led Cedar Rapids' recovery from one of the worst natural disasters in Iowa's history.  More information can be found at www.EngageIowa.org.

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