MARSEILLES, IL (07/29/2015)(readMedia)-- Members of Illinois Joining Forces and Illinois communities participated in "Military Immersion" training, July 17 at Marseilles Training Center, Marseilles, Illinois.

The participants stayed overnight at a MTC and experienced military life, interacted with service members and learned about the military. They were also shown military equipment, military vehicles and given new insight into how to best help and support service members, veterans, and their families.

"We wanted to give the civilians a chance to actually stay in military barracks and get to do the training that Soldiers go through," said Lt. Col. Maurice Rochelle of Chatham, Illinois with Joint Force Headquarters based in Springfield, Illinois, Illinois National Guard. "Normally training events only allow for observing, but with this one we wanted to give our participants a chance to 'walk in a Soldiers boots' for the day."

Twenty-seven civilians in professions ranging from lawyers to health care providers along with Kenneth Barber, Executive Director of Illinois Joining Forces, Erica Jeffries, Director of Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and Ron Bacci, Chair of Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve participated in the two day event.

"This is the second year we have had a successful event, and it looks like it will continue," said Rochelle.

Brandon Woodenburg, a student at SIU School of Law and volunteer at the SIU veterans' rural pro bono initiative, a first timer for immersion training said he respects veterans even more than he did before because of what he experienced on this trip.

"This visit was very insightful and I was able to get a point of view that a civilian wouldn't normally get to see," said Woodenburg. "It was exciting to see a small fraction of what a veteran or active member goes through on a frequent basis."

Woodenburg said he came on this trip hoping to get more insight on veterans and their lifestyle in order to help them more as a volunteer.

Woodenburg said his favorite part of the trip was being in the platoons, doing cadences and marching.

Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Nickels of Montgomery, Illinois, a training assistant for the Illinois Pre Mobilization Training Assistance Element took the civilians through an IED training lane and taught them how to use the decision making process to navigate past obstacles they encountered.

"This training exposes the general population to the complexity of the jobs in the Army," said Nickels. "We want to show the capabilities of our Soldiers to civilians that can make them more marketable for employment purposes."

Nickels said the feedback from the civilians throughout the training was positive.

"This was a great opportunity for us to show them what we do instead of just telling them what we do," said Nickels. "This is a great event and hopefully we can expand this in the years to come."

Quad Cities is 28 games above .500 overall for the first time in five seasons

BELOIT, Wis. (July 28, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Bobby Boyd hit his first professional home run, All-Star third baseman Nick Tanielu tied a career high with four RBIs, and right fielder Ramon Laureano added a three-run double to help the club reach its best overall record since the end of the 2010 season in an 11-4 win over the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field Tuesday night.

Playing their first game in Beloit since April 17 and their fifth game in 12 days with a chance to move a season-best 28 games above .500, the River Bandits (19-13 second half, 64-36 overall) held the lead after breaking a 2-2 tie with a five-run fifth inning. Quad Cities is 28 games above .500 overall for the first time since finishing the 2010 season 83-55.

Beloit (14-17, 40-61) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against River Bandits right-hander Christian Powell (3-1). Snappers third baseman Jose Brizuela hit a two-out double to right-center field, and All-Star first baseman Sandber Pimentel hit an RBI single through the shifted infield to right-center field for a 1-0 Snappers lead. Powell then retired the next eight Beloit batters.

The River Bandits rallied for the lead against Snappers right-hander Junior Mendez (3-8) in the third inning. Catcher Garrett Stubbs reached on an infield single to shortstop Mikey White, and when White's throw skipped past first base, Stubbs went to second. Shortstop Kristian Trompiz hit an 0-2 pitch for a game-tying double down the right-field line and went to third base on Boyd's sacrifice, before left fielder Jason Martin lined an RBI single through the middle of the diamond for a 2-1 Quad Cities lead. The Snappers gained a tie with an unearned run in the fourth inning. Powell walked Pimentel with one out, and designated hitter Max Kuhn hit a sharp ground ball for an infield single to Tanielu, who overthrew first base, sending Pimentel to third base. Catcher Iolana Akau then hit a game-tying sacrifice fly.

With a 2-2 tie beginning the fifth inning, Stubbs drew a leadoff walk from Mendez and went to second base on Boyd's one-out single to right field. Mendez skipped a wild pitch past Akau to move both runners into scoring position, before Martin walked to load the bases. Tanielu then flied to left field, scoring Stubbs for the go-ahead run. Designated hitter Drew Ferguson singled into center field - extending his career-best nine-game hitting streak - to bring in Boyd for a 4-2 lead. Mendez departed for right-hander Kevin Johnson, who began by walking second baseman Jose Fernandez, before Laureano grounded a bases-clearing, three-run double down the left field to match his career high of three RBIs in one swing for a 7-2 River Bandits lead. Mendez was charged with six earned runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout in 4 2/3 innings.

Boyd made the lead 8-2 with two outs in the sixth inning by driving a 2-0 offering from Johnson over the fence down the right-field line for a solo home run - his first in 146 professional games and 546 professional at-bats. The Snappers answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, as center fielder James Harris hit a leadoff double to right-center field, Pimentel drew a one-out walk and Kuhn lined an RBI double to left-center field for an 8-3 score. With runners at second and third bases, Powell struck out Akau and got right fielder Justin Higley for an inning-ending groundout. Powell went six innings, allowing three runs - two earned - on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

River Bandits left-hander Michael Freeman kept the lead by scattering four hits and one walk with one strikeout in two scoreless relief innings. The visitors reached their largest lead in the eighth inning, after right-hander Lee Sosa walked first baseman Ryan Bottger, Trompiz singled and Boyd walked to load the bases. With two outs, left-hander Mike Fagan allowed Tanielu's three-run double to right-center field for an 11-3 margin. Quad Cities right-hander Jorge Perez allowed a run on three walks and Kuhn's third hit in the ninth inning.

The River Bandits seek their first three-game winning streak since July 4 when they continue their series in Beloit at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

UP NEXT: Sunday is the Faith and Fellowship Night presented by Chick-fil-A and Moody Radio Quad Cities. Doors open at 3:15 p.m. for a special program on the suite level at 3:30 p.m., including music, speaker testimony and Baseball Chapel with the River Bandits. It is a Family Sunday, with the River Bandits signing autographs on the field at 4:30 p.m. before the 5:15 p.m. game. Kids Run the Bases postgame. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - On the eve of Grant Wood's 125th birthday and the 15th anniversary of the Overalls All Over public art project in Cedar Rapids, local organizations are working together to bring a public art parade to the Cedar Rapids area during the summer of 2016.

The Overalls All Over project will include approximately 30 life-sized 6' fiberglass statues depicting the farmer and daughter from the American Gothic painting. It is one of the most familiar images in 20th-century American art and painted at 5 Turner Alley in Cedar Rapids.

Overalls All Over is seeking artists to transform each American Gothic statue into something unique and beautiful. Artists are encouraged to submit unique and multiple designs for the statues. Iowa artists are especially encouraged to apply. A $1,500 stipend is available for each design selected. The deadline for submissions has been extended to August 7, 2015.

Additional information is available at http://croveralls.com/artists-application-form/ or by contacting croveralls@gmail.com.

Statues will be on parade from May through September 2016, culminating at the NewBo Arts Festival on Labor Day Weekend. The locations of these statues will be promoted as fun photo opportunities and both print and digital maps will direct visitors through the area.

Overalls All Over

The Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District, NewBo City Market and Black Earth Gallery are working together to celebrate Grant Wood's legacy utilizing the theme of the American Gothic portrait as a celebration of Grant Wood's 125th birthday by creating an engaging experience in which organizations, businesses, and attractions throughout the Cedar Rapids area can participate. This event will attract visitors from across the state, region and nation.  www.croveralls.com

SPRINGFIELD - The Governor's Office has issued the following statement, attributable to Lance Trover, Director of Communications:

"Governor Rauner appreciates today's action in the House and thanks all those members who showed leadership on this issue. We encourage President Cullerton to swiftly move this legislation to the governor's desk for his signature.  Governor Rauner is ready to work with Speaker Madigan, Leader Durkin and all members of the General Assembly to pass true structural reforms and a balanced budget."