Join your favorite characters by dressing up, and enjoying a night of interactive creeps, mystery, fantasy & adventure. Fright Night in The District, a safe Halloween event, will be held Thursday,
October 29, 2015 from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown Rock Island. Rock Island Parks and Recreation, Rock Island County Area Project, Martin Luther King, Jr. Center and The District are proud to
present this annual children's event.

Attendees will have the chance to trick or treat, parade in their costumes, check out some spooky interactive Halloween windows, play games, and much more! The first 600 children will each receive a free bag of goodies from the welcome table on Daiquiri Factory's deck. Fright Night is free to the public. Jeff James will be the live DJ, and there will be plenty of fun dance music from 5 to 8 p.m. There will also be a performance by the Metropolitan Youth Program Drum Corps & Drill Team at 5:30 p.m. Keep an eye out for many suspenseful surprises throughout the evening! If you are looking for dinner options Huckleberry's Pizza will be selling pizza by the slice, and all other downtown restaurants will offer full menu items.

Fright Night has a new and improved costume contest that means no registration and no lines. This change means there is more time for candy and fun. Surprise costume judging will take place on 2nd Avenue between the hours of 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. Judges will be looking for event participation, effort into costume and enthusiasm, positive attitude, and most of all...if you are having fun. Winners will be picked out of the crowd at random for prizes. Be prepared, you never know who is watching! Everyone is invited to participate in the Costume Parade starting at 6 p.m. The parade will begin at the Plaza Stage and continue down 2nd Avenue. All participants of the parade will receive a raffle ticket for prize bags, with raffle winners being announced at 6:30 p.m.

Several community agencies and downtown businesses will host activities and/or trick or treating. Children will receive an activity sheet that includes a map of the trick or treat locations at downtown businesses and other activities. The activity sheet will include a pumpkin scavenger hunt game. Participants may return their completed sheet at the goodie bag table and a special prize winner will be drawn from all the completed entries. All entries must be received by 7:30 p.m. and the lucky winner must be present to win.

Fright Night is made possible by the help of our contributors: WHBF, the Family Museum, Spellbound, & Hy-Vee.

For more information, please call The District at 309.788.6311 or visit www.ridistrict.com.

The Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District (The District) is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization established in 1992 by local downtown merchants. The District's mission is to establish and manage downtown Rock Island as a creative and innovative experience by focusing on the development of the arts and quality special event management. It features retail shops, excellent restaurants, live entertainment, dinner theater, art galleries and several entertainment venues. Rock Island is located on the Mississippi River, three hours west of Chicago in an area known as the Quad-Cities which straddles the river and the Illinois/Iowa border. It is at the intersection of Interstate highways 74, 88 and 80 and is served by Quad City International Airport in Moline, IL.

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(Oct. 19, 2015) - The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood before the holiday season is in full swing.

Blood donations often decline from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day when holiday festivities pull people away from their donation appointments. This often causes a drop in the blood available for patients. Donations are needed in the weeks leading up to the holidays to help offset this seasonal decline.

Blood donor Kathy Steckly Neuschwander's father gave blood for years. She always saw him wear his pin when he reached his next gallon - about 12 gallons total. When he was diagnosed with leukemia, she and her family learned firsthand how important blood donations could be around the holidays.

"He passed away in 1994 from leukemia and needed a blood transfusion so we could have one more Thanksgiving together," she said. "My brother and sister were able to come home from the East Coast for this. I can now say I am wearing his three-gallon pin."

Donors with all blood types are needed, and especially those with types O negative, B negative, A negative and AB blood. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can now use the Blood Donor App to access their donor card and view vital signs from previous donations.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Carroll County

Savanna

11/4/2015: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., West Carroll High School, 500 Cragmoor Dr

Henry County

Cambridge

11/12/2015: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., St John's Vianney Church, 313 S West St.

Geneseo

11/5/2015: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church, 318 N Center St

Kewanee

11/11/2015: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 105 Dwight St.

Lee County

Amboy

11/6/2015: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Amboy High School, 11 E. Hawley St.

Mercer County

Alexis

11/3/2015: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Alexis Community Center, 204 W. Palmer Ave.

Sherrard

11/13/2015: 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Sherrard High School, 4701 176th

Scott County

Davenport

11/2/2015: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Christ's Family Church, 4601 Utica Ridge Rd.

Whiteside County

Fulton

11/10/2015: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 4th St.

Prophetstown

11/2/2015: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Prophetstown High School, 310 Riverside

Rock Falls

11/4/2015: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.

11/11/2015: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St.

Tampico

11/12/2015: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Tampico United Methodist Church, 202 Lincoln Ave

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $12.5 million in loans and grants for 39 projects that will help rural businesses in 21 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

"Supporting small, rural businesses helps create jobs and helps promote entrepreneurship," Vilsack said. "USDA Rural Development's field structure enables our community-based staff to engage with local partners and, in turn, enables these partners to provide their local small businesses and start-ups access to the capital and technical assistance they need to be competitive in today's global economy."

USDA is awarding $12.5 million in loans and grants through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program, the Intermediary Relending Program (IRP), the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program, and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) program.

The Norris Electric Cooperative in Newton, Ill., will receive a $102,845 Rural Economic Development loan to finance the construction of an office and warehouse for a seed and chemical sales business. Building the 9,600-square-foot facility will enable the business to begin hiring now and plan for future job creation over the next five years.

Community Works, Inc. in Greenville, S.C., will receive a $400,000 RMAP loan and a $100,000 RMAP grant to capitalize a microloan revolving fund, and to provide technical assistance to microentrepreneurs.

The Southeast Economic Development Fund, Inc. in Park Hills, Mo., will use a $75,519 Rural Business Development Grant to provide financial and technical assistance to start-up small businesses and entrepreneurs in low-income communities in the southeast part of the state.

Sixteen economic development groups will receive $8.4 million through the IRP program to capitalize low-interest loan funds for business projects in rural communities.

Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.

USDA Rural Development has a strong track record of strengthening rural businesses and economies through its Rural Business-Cooperative Service, which has helped 85,000 rural businesses since the start of the Obama administration.

For example, Rural Development awarded the Hancock County Senior Services Association a $1 million Rural Economic Development loan, a $300,000 Rural Economic Development grant and a $2.2 million Community Facilities loan to build an assisted-living facility that uses the new "small house" model. The Carthage, Ill., facility, referred to as Maple Grove Apartments, gives patients with dementia and other cognitive issues a home-like and family-oriented environment with a small number of residents per building and central common areas for socializing and meals. This critical Rural Development investment provided the residents of rural Illinois with access to a top-quality facility that will enhance residents' quality of life and create jobs for years to come.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities.

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Col. Michael J. Glisson will be promoted to brigadier general

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced that The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr., has appointed Col. Michael J. Glisson, as the Illinois National Guard's Director of the Joint Staff. As a result of the appointment, Col. Glisson will be promoted to brigadier general.

Glisson will replace Brig. Gen. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, who is being appointed as the Assistant Adjutant General - Army. Both Glisson and Tate-Nadeau are traditional Army National Guard Soldiers who will continue their civilian full-time employment outside of the Illinois National Guard. Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia, the full-time Assistant Adjutant General - Army and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard is in a two-star position and is eligible to be promoted to major general.

"I'm pleased to announce this key appointment within the Illinois National Guard and congratulate Col. Glisson on his pending promotion," Governor Rauner said. "The Director of the Illinois National Guard Joint Staff works with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and a multitude of other agencies to ensure we are ready to respond to any of a multitude of emergencies that could occur within Illinois."

The Director of the Joint Staff oversees all Illinois National Guard planning for domestic emergencies as well as the Illinois National Guard Counterdrug Program and the Illinois National Guard's State Partnership Program with Poland. In addition, the director administers the Department of Defense's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve within Illinois.

"Mike Glisson has extensive experience working in both domestic and international operations and has worked with all other U.S. military services as well as a great many international militaries," Maj. Gen. Hayes said. "He has also worked extensively with Illinois community leaders as well as with communities as far away as Poland and Afghanistan. He will do exceptionally well as the Director of the Joint Staff."

Glisson previously served as the Commander of the 65^th Troop Command Brigade, a position he served in since June 2013. Glisson earned his commission in May 1988 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He joined the Illinois Army National Guard in February 1990 as a fire support team chief assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment and was attached to the 3rd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment in East St. Louis, Illinois. He has since held command positions at every level up to brigade as well as several key Army and Joint staff positions.

He has deployed to Afghanistan from 2008 to 2009 as the director of Afghan National Security Forces Development for Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VIII and previously deployed in support of Operation Noble Eagle as the Chief, Army Liaison Section, Air Mobility Command, U.S. Air Force. He has also supported multiple state active duty mobilizations and overseas training missions. As the plans branch chief for the Illinois Army National Guard, he was a key leader in the success of the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago.

"Being selected as the Director of the Joint Staff and for promotion to brigadier general is a true honor and privilege," Glisson said. "I'm looking forward to working as a team with leaders both within the Illinois National Guard and outside our ranks. A great number of challenges lie ahead, but I'm confident that by working as a team we can overcome any obstacles and protect our state and defend our nation."

Glisson's professional education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in metalsmithing from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. He graduated from multiple military courses including the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Staff Services School, Infantry Captains Career Course, Joint Firepower Course, Joint Operation Fires and Effects Course, Air Mobility Operations Course, Command and General Staff Officer Course and the Reserve Component National Security Course.

Glisson's awards include a Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Afghan Campaign Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Illinois Medal of Merit, Illinois State Active Duty Ribbon and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.