LECLAIRE, Iowa - The Mid-West Corvette Club is hosting "Vettes on the River - Vettes Supporting Vets" in LeClaire, Iowa with all proceeds benefitting Local Veterans' Chapter 669.
The event is Saturday, August 29, 2015, on the LeClaire, Iowa Levee from 8am until 4pm. Most cars should be in attendance by noon that day. A flag raising ceremony by Vietnam Veterans will take place at 11am to salute all veterans and active military.
250-300 Corvettes from across the Midwest are expected to attend this event on the LeClaire Levee for a fun car show highlighting Corvettes old and new. If you own a Corvette, this is a great event to show fellow Corvette enthusiasts your "pride & joy" along the beautiful Mississippi River. There will be a LeClaire's choice award and trophies for each "C" generation. There will also be live music by "Cosmic" and a NASCAR Racing Simulator to challenge your driving skills. Admission is FREE for spectators.
Enjoy shopping, dining, touring and all LeClaire has to offer while showing off or admiring the Corvettes.
Contact Randy Huber at 563-340-0460 or graphicworks@wildblue.net for more information. Also find updates at: www.facebook.com/VettesontheRiver2015
Situated at the intersection of I-80 and Hwy. 67, just north of the Quad Cities, LeClaire offers a complete shopping, dining, and touring experience. Relax along the scenic streets of this historic river town that exudes turn-of-the-century charm. LeClaire has great events including a monthly First Friday event, weekly Farmer's Market, car shows, Tug Fest in August, Apple Fest in October, and Christmas in LeClaire in early December. Attractions include the Buffalo Bill Museum, Antique Archaeology - "Home of the American Pickers", Wide River Winery, the Mississippi River Distilling Co., and the Green Tree Brewery. Nature lovers enjoy the scenery at Lock and Dam #14 - bald eagles in the winter and pelicans during the spring and fall. For more information: http://www.visitleclaire.com/index2.html

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Rock Island, IL: The front 19th Street stairs at the Rock Island Main Library location, 401 19th Street, will be closed for approximately three weeks as part of an ongoing stone restoration project. Alternate access to the building is available around the corner, via the South (alley-side) entrance. The Ground Floor entrance is accessible to persons with mobility issues.

Work is expected to last, weather permitting, to sometime around the second week of September. For updates, call the Rock Island Library at 309-732-READ, follow the library's Facebook feed or go to www.rockislandlibrary.org.

The project is included in the City's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which is primarily funded through gaming dollars.

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Senate to vote on override of Governor's veto of SB 1229

 

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Senators will have their chance today to show if they support taxpayers or special interests. The Senate is going to hold an override vote on the Governor's veto of SB 1229. Voting to override the veto will be voting for special interest over taxpayers.

SB 1229 is an unprecedented piece of legislation that will strip the Governor of his ability to negotiate with public-sector unions on behalf of the taxpayers. The bill puts the decision solely in the hands of an unelected, pro-union arbitrator, and will cost the state billions. It is a vote to pave the way for a massive tax hike. The bill is directed specifically at Govenor Rauner because it only lasts four years, only applying to this governor.

Editorial boards from newspapers across the state have urged lawmakers to sustain the Governor's veto of SB 1229.

DES MOINES, IA (08/18/2015)(readMedia)-- The Ultimate Bacon Brisket Bomb took top honors in the New Food Contest at the 2015 Iowa State Fair. The tasty new treat bested two other delicious finalists after receiving 117 votes. The winning food will be available throughout the Fair, August 13-23.

The champion treat is just $7 and features 8 oz. of fresh brisket trimmings infused with a light jalapeno cheese, blended with seasonings, and then wrapped in bacon. It is then smoked and lightly sauced in a homemade Sweet Chili BBQ Sauce. It is located at The Rib Shack in Walnut Square behind Anne & Bill Riley Stage. Joni Bell of The Rib Shack received an official Iowa State Fair plaque.

The two other foods will also remain available throughout the Fair at their respective locations:

• Corn in a Cup: available at The Corn Stand south of the Service Center.

• Toasted Coconut Caramel Cluster: available at Dipped in Chocolate at the outer perimeter of the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion.

There are 15 new foods at the Fair this year, and twelve of them were entered into the New Food Contest. For more information on all of our new foods, please visit http://www.iowastatefair.org/fair-attractions/food/.

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Please join us this Wednesday, August 19, for the opening reception of Davenport artist Dean Kugler's exhibition, "It Figures," a beautiful series of drawings, paintings and sculptures that explore the human form. This is Dean's first solo exhibition since 1998 and takes him back to the college where he began to explore his love for the figure.  In addition, he will be discussing his newest monumental sculpture that is headed to ARTPRIZE 2015 in Grand Rapids, MI titled "The Desecration of Adam".  Light refreshments will be served and Dean will talk about his work and answer questions at 4:30 pm. This event will be held at ArtSpace Gallery Quad Cities Campus, Bldg. 4 Black Hawk College 6600 34th Ave. Moline.

Bereskin Fine Art Gallery & Studio | bereskinart.com | bereskinart@gmail.com

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 363

An Act Concerning Business

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto Message Below

Bill No.: HB 3101

An Act Concerning Business

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 3159

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: HB 3324

An Act Concerning Public Aid

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto message below.

Bill No.: HB 3457

An Act Concerning Finance

Action: Signed

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 44

An Act Concerning Wildlife

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 903

An Act Concerning State Government

Action: Signed

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 936

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 1457

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 1590

An Act Concerning Safety

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 1595

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

Bill No.: SB 1717

An Act Concerning the Prairie Wind Trail

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 1726

An Act Concerning Utilities

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 1803

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 1885

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto message below.

Bill No.: SB 1899

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Signed

Effective Date: January 1, 2016

 

Veto Message HB 363

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois House of Representatives, 99th General Assembly:

Today I veto House Bill 363 from the 99th General Assembly, which amends the Limited Liability Act to, among other things, prohibit a limited liability company or foreign liability company from using including the term "company" in its name except as the final word in the complete phrase "limited liability company".

This bill is an example of unnecessary regulation on business without a substantiated need.  Currently, there are more than 3,000 limited liability companies in Illinois that use the term "company" in their names. While presented as a consumer protection initiative, the proponents of this bill have not offered evidence as to why this practice - which is quite common - is harmful or confusing to consumers. Instead of seeking out solutions for problems that do not exist, we should focus on the very real problem of attracting and maintaining business in Illinois.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 363, "AN ACT concerning business", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

Veto Message HB 3324

To the Honorable Members of The Illinois House of Representatives, 99th General Assembly:

Today I return House Bill 3324 with specific recommendations for change in order to clarify the obligations imposed on the Department of Human Services.

The Department distributes benefits to Illinoisans under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid assistance. Residents rely on these benefits every day in order to provide for their families.

This bill proposes that the Department collect "employment information" from applicants in their application for benefits and then compile this information into an annual report submitted to the General Assembly. The bill leaves "employment information" undefined; it is entirely unclear what that this information may be. The Department already compiles data on each applicant's employment income. It is not clear how collecting employers' names or other information will improve the Department's ability to distribute benefits.

The bill also does not articulate how this sort of data collection might improve the Department's services or Illinoisans' wellbeing. Because the bill would impose a significant burden on the Department, it is necessary to address this threshold issue. It is clear that the Department would need to gather a massive amount of data and create a special program to capture this new data. This will take away time and resources from implementation of SNAP and Medicaid benefits and would also impose additional costs on the State.

Therefore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 3324, entitled "AN ACT concerning public aid", with the following specific recommendations for change:

On page 1, line 9, by replacing "employment information", to "amount of employment income"; and

On page 1, line 13, by replacing "employment information", to "amount of employment income".

With these changes, House Bill 3324 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, along with industry stakeholders, will hold media availability on Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. at the Turkey Grill at the Iowa State Fair on the highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Live bird exhibitions were canceled at Iowa's county and state fairs this year to prevent the spread of HPAI, a precaution recommended by both the Iowa Turkey Federation and Iowa Poultry Association. Iowa leads the nation in egg production and is in the top ten in the nation for turkey production.

The speakers at the media availability are as follows:

  • Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad
  • Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds
  • Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey
  • Dave Rettig, President, Rembrandt Foods
  • Ross Thoreson, Board President, Iowa Turkey Federation
  • Randy Olson, Executive Director of the Iowa Poultry Association and Iowa Egg Council

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

 

2:30 p.m. Iowa leaders and industry stakeholders hold media avail on avian flu

Iowa State Fairgrounds

Turkey Grill

Des Moines, IA

Note: The Turkey Grill is east of the Varied Industries Building and next to the Ruan Plaza. The Varied Industries Building is #16 on this map, and the Ruan Plaza is the green space to the east of it. A mult-box will be provided for this press conference.

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Former Olympian wrestler inspires community

 

DAVENPORT, IA (August 18, 2015) -Senior Star at Elmore Place will host legendary athlete Dan Gable at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25 at 4500 Elmore Avenue, Davenport.

With a dynamic and entertaining speaking style, Gable relates personal life experiences and reveals his formula for success.  He is a renowned speaker on the topics of overcoming adversity, team building, performance enhancement and motivation.  His diverse audiences, from high school students to Fortune 500 executives, can apply his lessons to their everyday lives.

Gable, a former champion wrestler, is recognized as one of the top 100 Olympians of all time.  As an athlete, he was a prize-winning wrestler at every level.  Gable was a three-time Iowa high school state champion at Waterloo West and a two-time NCAA champion at Iowa State University.  His career as an athlete culminated in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich where he won the Gold Medal without surrendering a single point to any of his opponents.  As a coach Gable was even more dominant in leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to an unprecedented 15 National Championships in 21 seasons.  In 1999, he was named Sports Figure of the Century in Iowa by "Sports Illustrated."

"We are thrilled to be able to host this legendary sports figure and look forward to having the Greater Quad Cities community join us for an exciting evening," said Marc Strohschein, executive director of Senior Star at Elmore Place.

Join Senior Star on August 25 for this uplifting presentation.  Seats are limited.  Please RSVP by August 24 at 563.359.0100 to reserve your spot today.  Light refreshments with be served.

For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place or to schedule a tour, call 563.359.0100 or visit the website at www.seniorstar.com.

About Senior Star at Elmore Place

Senior Star at Elmore Place, a Senior Star community, features 236 modernly decorated apartments spanning across 20 acres of beautifully landscaped property with many customized amenities to offer its residents three distinctive living experiences:  independent living, assisted living and memory care.  For more information, visit www.seniorstar.com.

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South Bend, IN (8/18/15) --- The Sports Business Journal, one of the most well recognized publications chronicling sports business issues, has released its biennial report on the top Minor League markets.

  • Fourteen (14) of Sixteen (16) Midwest League markets were ranked
  • Quad Cities Ranked No.1
  • Fort Wayne, IN, three (3) and Grand Rapids, MI, ten (10) helped make the Midwest League with the most Clubs in the Top Ten (10 ).
  • 20 % of the Teams in the Top 25 markets are Midwest League teams including Peoria, IL (18) and Appleton, WI (21)
  • 100% of the Midwest League States were named

Midwest League President Dick Nussbaum stated, "It is no surprise so many of our Clubs are mentioned in the Sports Business Journal list.  Our fans are going to our ballparks in record numbers this year. We hope as the summer comes to a close everyone will take advantage watching of Midwest League baseball."

http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2015/08/17/Research-and-Ratings/Minors-Quad-Cities.aspx

Carlton Wills has announced he will once again run for 3rd Ward Alderman in Davenport in the General Election November 3rd, 2015.

Previously, Carlton Wills ran against two other candidates in the 2013 Primary Election for the 3rd Ward seat, but then lost to current 3rd Ward Alderman Bill Boom in the General Election.

Carlton has lived in Davenport his entire life. He has been married to Susan Wills for 30 years, and they have one son.  Carlton Wills is a graduate of Davenport West High School and the NJATC Electrician Apprenticeship Program, and he has been an electrician for 37 years.

Carlton has been involved in politics for the past 25 years, working on multiple campaigns for other candidates at the local, state, and congressional levels. He has also extensively lobbied at the municipal and state levels on issues related to electrical safety standards. Carlton currently serves on the Electrical Board for the City of Davenport and the Workforce Development Board for the State of Iowa.

Carlton Wills' Platform:

 

Infrastructure

The existing sewers and streets are in dire need of improvement. Despite the fact that the sewer tax has increased, very few neighborhood sewers have been updated. This is inexcusable.

Public Safety

Violent crime is increasing in the 3rd Ward and across the City.  We need to fully support our public safety officers to ensure that they are fully trained and equipped to deal with crime. However, we also need to create jobs and opportunities for the people of Davenport.

Transparency

When I ran in 2013, I said that the City Manager, "needs to be more accountable and transparent to Davenport's city council and Davenport residents." Unfortunately, this didn't happen, and Craig Malin's lack of transparency has cost the taxpayers millions of dollars. In the midst of these events, my opponent voted to extend Mr. Malin's contract.

"The City Council will have to make serious decisions in the next few years. I look forward to listening and learning from 3rd Ward residents about solutions to creating economic opportunity for the people of Davenport," said Carlton Wills.

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