SAN DIEGO - The U.S. Coast Guard will announce record drug seizure rates in San Diego Monday at 8:30 a.m. as the crew of the Cutter Stratton offloads more than 66,000 pounds of cocaine worth $1.01 billion wholesale seized in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Paul Zukunft, will announce Coast Guard and partner agencies have seized more cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in the last 10 months than in fiscal years 2012 through 2014 combined. U.S. and allied forces operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean near Central and South America have seized more than 119,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $1.8 billion and apprehended more than 215 suspected smugglers. Fiscal year 2015, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, is already the most successful year in U.S. counter drug operations in the Eastern Pacific since 2009.

"This is about more than just trying to keep drugs off U.S. streets," said Zukunft. "The cultivation, trafficking and distribution of narcotics fuels violence and instability throughout the Western Hemisphere, leaving a path of destruction directly to the door step of the U.S. We must continue to make progress in our effort to combat transnational organized crime networks to ensure safety and security in our hemisphere."

Transnational organized crime groups are vying for control of illicit trafficking routes and power in numerous Latin American countries, resulting in increased violence and instability. This has led to record high homicide rates in Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean; 8 of the 10 countries with the highest homicide rates in the world are in this region. More than half of the unaccompanied children that crossed the U.S. southern border last year suffered or faced harm from organized crime groups, qualifying for international protection,.

Bruce G. Ohr, Associate Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice/Director, Attorney General's Organized Crime Council Director, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, and Mr. George Russell, Chief of International Interdiction at Office of National Drug Control Policy/Executive Director, U.S. Interdiction Committee are also scheduled to attend the announcement.

"There is still work to be done. We can only act on 30 percent of known drug shipments in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean," Zukunft said. "We must increase already hard earned momentum to curb the rising tide of crime, violence and instability in our hemisphere."

The more than 66,000 pounds of cocaine is equal to about 33 million lines of cocaine or 336 million hits of crack, according to DEA estimates. Illicit drugs remain a serious threat to the health, safety, security and financial well-being of Americans, costing the U.S. $193 billion annually.

This will be the largest known cocaine offload in Coast Guard history with an estimated street value of more than of $1.01 billion. The drugs were seized in 23 separate interdictions by U.S. Coast Guard cutters and Coast Guard law enforcement teams operating from U.S. Navy vessels in known drug transit zones near Central and South America. As part of the offload, Coast Guardsmen will turn over 21,000 pounds of cocaine seized by the crew of Stratton during the interdiction of two different self-propelled semi-submersibles. Stratton's July 18 SPSS interdiction is considered the largest in Coast Guard history. Read More: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2575910/.

Numerous U.S. agencies from the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security are involved in the effort to combat transnational organized crime including the Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, DEA, ICE, U.S. Attorney's Offices in California, New York, Florida and Puerto Rico, and U.S. intelligence agencies. Allied and international partner agencies play an important role in counter drug operations. The fight against transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific requires unity of effort in all phases from intelligence to detection and monitoring to interdiction and to prosecution.

During at-sea interdictions in international waters, a suspect vessel is initially located and tracked by allied military or law enforcement aircraft or vessels. The actual interdictions, including the boarding, search, seizures and arrests, are led and conducted by U.S. Coast Guardsmen.

The Coast Guard has increased U.S. and allied presence in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Basin, which are known drug transit zones off of Central and South America, as part of its Western Hemisphere Strategy.

The Coast Guard Cutter Stratton is a 418-foot national security cutter on a 116-day deployment. Cutters like Stratton routinely conduct operations from South America to the Arctic where their unmatched combination of range, speed, and ability to operate in extreme weather provides the mission flexibility necessary to conduct counter-narcotics, homeland security, and alien migrant interdiction operations, domestic fisheries protection, search and rescue, and other Coast Guard missions at great distances from shore keeping threats far from the U.S. mainland.

###

Spellbound, a new shop unlike any other in the Quad Cities, has generated great anticipation leading up to its Grand Opening, set for Saturday, August 15, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., in the Shoppes on 2^nd in the District of Rock Island.

Because of the unique nature of Spellbound, it has already generated quite a bit of "buzz" in social media. Its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/spellboundqc, has received many messages and more than 170 "likes" prior to opening.

According to owner/operator Sarah Jacoby, "Spellbound will offer a number of gifts and New Age items, including jewelry, crystals, books, incense and herbs, dragons, candles, fairies, figurines, wind chimes, and much more."

Customers at the Grand Opening, taking place during Ya Maka My Weekend in The District, will be treated to unique free gift bags and refreshments, while supplies last.

Spellbound will open its doors to the public on Tuesday, August 11, with the Grand Opening on Saturday, August 15. The address is 1700 2^nd Avenue, Suite 5, Rock Island, IL 61201. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Spellbound will also offer personal dream analysis, with both appointments and walk-ins welcome.

Fun Fact: The name "Spellbound" comes from a line in the song Witchy Woman by the Eagles: "She held me spellbound in the night, dancing shadows and firelight."

-0-

BANDITS ACHIEVE 2ND 12-GAME WINNING STREAK

Quad Cities whitewashes Dayton, 10-0, for fourth shutout in seven games, moves to baseball-best 74-36

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 8, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits right hander Joshua James matched a career high with seven strikeouts in six shutout innings, and his teammates scored nine runs in the sixth through eighth innings to seal a 10-0 victory over the Dayton Dragons, tying the River Bandits' season high of 12 straight wins in front of 5,211 at Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night.

Pitching their fourth shutout in seven games and 14th of the season - their most since 2001 - the River Bandits (29-13 second half, 74-36 overall) tied their longest winning streak of the season, set April 29-May 11, when their 12 straight wins were the most for a Quad Cities Midwest League team since a franchise-record 13-game winning streak by the Quad City Cubs to close the 1979 season. The River Bandits also won their 10th straight home game since July 19, tying a 2013 home winning streak that was the club's longest since at least 2001.

Dayton right-hander Wyatt Strahan (6-9) did not allow a hit until two outs in the fifth inning, but Quad Cities took the lead without the help of a hit in the third inning. Third baseman Luis Reynoso led off the third by reaching second base when Strahan fielded a ground ball and overthrew first base. Shortstop Kristian Trompiz sacrificed Reynoso to third base, before left fielder Jason Martin drew a walk. Center fielder Bobby Boyd then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Reynoso for a 1-0 lead.

While James (5-2) held Dayton (18-24, 57-55) to one runner in scoring position in the first six innings, the River Bandits added another run against Strahan in the bottom of the sixth inning. Leading off the inning, Boyd extended his eight-game hitting streak with an infield single to shortstop Luis Gonzalez. Strahan's wild pitch moved Boyd to second base, and second baseman Nick Tanielu chopped an infield single to second baseman Cory Thompson. With runners at first and third bases, designated hitter Bryan Muñiz grounded into a double play that scored Boyd. Strahan finished six innings, allowing two runs - one earned - on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

With a 2-0 lead starting the seventh inning, James allowed a leadoff double to Dragons third baseman Gavin LaValley and single by left fielder Argenis Aldazoro to put runners at first and third bases with no outs. Right-hander Eric Peterson relieved James by walking center fielder Narciso Crook to load the bases. With the tying runs in scoring position, Peterson struck out catcher Garrett Boulware looking and got Gonzalez to ground to Tanielu, who threw to Trompiz to begin an inning-ending double play that preserved the shutout. After Peterson worked two hitless innings with one walk and two strikeouts, left-hander Steve Naemark walked one and struck out one in the ninth inning.

After escaping a bases-loaded jam defensively in the top of the seventh inning, the River Bandits capitalized offensively with loaded bases in the bottom of the inning against left-hander Jacob Moody. Catcher Garrett Stubbs drew a leadoff walk, Reynoso reached on a one-out infield single, and Moody issued three straight two-out walks to Martin, Boyd and Tanielu, forcing in two runs for a 4-0 Quad Cities lead.

Dragons right-hander Jake Ehret recorded the final out in the seventh inning but allowed the largest inning of the night in the bottom of the eighth. He began by hitting right fielder Ramon Laureano with a pitch and walking Stubbs and Bottger to load the bases, before Reynoso's RBI single to left field. Trompiz brought in another run by grounding into a fielder's choice, but Gonzalez's throwing error scored another run and put Trompiz at second base. Boyd hit a two-out RBI single to right field for his sixth straight multi-hit game, and Tanielu capped the six-run inning with his fifth home run of the year on a two-run blast to the Modern Woodmen Berm for a 10-0 River Bandits advantage.

Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Secure Choice Savings Plan Board, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and the State Board of Health.

Name: Miriam Martinez

Position: Member - Secure Choice Savings Plan Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Miriam Martinez to the Secure Choice Savings Plan Board. Martinez is currently the Deputy Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer at the Chicago Treasurer's Office and brings more than 30 years of experience to the position.

In the Chicago Treasurer's Office, Martinez oversees the day-to-day activities of the City Treasurer's portfolio and is responsible for ensuring the city's various portfolios achieve the highest returns while meeting established liquidity needs and investment policy standards. Prior to coming to Chicago, Martinez worked for the New York State Insurance Fund as its Director of Investments. In that position she oversaw a diversified $16 billion portfolio.

Martinez earned her bachelor's degree in economics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. She lives in Chicago.

Name: Maureen Josh

Position: Member - Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed DeKalb County Circuit Clerk Maureen Josh to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Her years of experience in managing court records will provide the board with valuable insight. She also previously served on the ICJIA from 2000-2006.

Josh has been the DeKalb County Circuit Clerk for the past 31 years, where she is the keeper of court records. She manages a team of 35 other clerks, while working with members and agencies of the court system, as well as the general public. Prior to becoming clerk, she worked as a secretary for the DeKalb County State's Attorney.

Josh earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. She lives in Sycamore.

Name: Jose Sanchez

Position: Member - State Board of Health

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Jose Sanchez to the State Board of Health. Sanchez' 30 years of experience as a hospital administrator and healthcare executive make him an excellent addition to the board.

Sanchez is currently the President and CEO of the Norwegian American Hospital. He oversees the hospital's operation that covers 200 beds and more than 1,000 employees and doctors. In four years, he turned the hospital's net margin from a loss of $4.5 million to a profit of $1 million.

Prior to this, Sanchez worked for Generations+/Northern Manhattan Health Network as its Senior Vice President. The company is one of the largest healthcare networks in the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Sanchez earned his bachelor's degree from City College of New York and his master's degree in social work from Adelphi University. He lives in Chicago.

Name: David Banaszynski

Position: Member - State Board of Health

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed David Banaszynski to the State Board of Health. He has served on this board since 2012, and brings 18 years of experience in public health to the board.

Banaszynski has worked for the Village of Hoffman Estates since 1997 and is currently a Health Officer. In this role, he inspects a number of establishments and businesses to ensure they're safe for patrons including: child care centers, pools and spas, tanning establishments, and massage therapy centers. He also responds to questions and complaints about common public health issues like lead, radon, mold and West Nile virus.

Banaszynski earned his bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University. He lives in Huntley.

Name: Beth Fiorini

Position: Member - State Board of Health

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Beth Fiorini to the State Board of Health. In addition to her experience as a healthcare administrator and nurse, Fiorini has served on this board since 2014.

Fiorini is currently the Public Health Administrator and CEO of the Whiteside County Health Department. In this role, she is responsible for all areas of the public health department and community health center. Prior to this, she was the Director of Nursing.

In addition to her prior service on this board, Fiorini also serves on the Ebola Task Force. She also previously served on the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Board.

Fiorini earned her bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University and her master's degree in hospital administration from the College of St. Francis. She lives in Rock Falls.