15 Sep 2015

A Davenport couple, volunteer firefighters, were injured and have suffered a huge loss in a house fire; efforts are underway to help them

By Phil Roberts
Davenport, Iowa (Sept. 12, 2015) – Two longtime Speedway Fire-Rescue (SFR) volunteer firefighters, a husband and wife who have protected and aided hundreds of area racing competitors and Quad City Air Show participants over the years, now need some help themselves.
Scott Bohannan, SFR's president, and his wife Karry, SFR's treasurer, were hospitalized with smoke inhalation and suffered a huge loss when their portion of a duplex they lived in with their son Brent at 3rd and Oak in Davenport burned Sunday night, Sept. 6. The Bohannans, who have now been released from the hospital, were able to get out of the house with just the clothes on their backs.
Now their fellow SFR members and others are organizing some benefits for the Bohannans:
1) SFR members will sell 50-50 tickets and/or accept cash donations to benefit the couple at upcoming stock car races they cover.
2)  SFR and the Lil' Racer Car Club Inc. are jointly holding a benefit from 2-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Checkers Bar and Grill, 3120 6th St. S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There will be a live auction, silent auction, raffles, 50/50 drawings, a dunk tank and more. A live deejay, Tony Ginther's Code 3 Productions, will provide music. SFR is asking for donations of any kind, whether they be for the Bohannans personally or to be raffled or auctioned off at the benefit. Items could include autographed race car door skins, T-shirts, hats and koozies. You may contact the following individuals to donate:
Karri Coyne -- Davenport area (563) 370-6446
Sarah Slade -- Iowa City area (319) 331-5065
Jessica Jungling/Eric Jungling -- Cedar Rapids area (319) 210-3422/(319) 560-1156
Molly Ginther -- Dubuque area (563) 580-5790
3)  SFR and Mitch Swinton, with Lil' Racer Car Club, are making Yankee Dirt Track Classic hats to sell for $15 each at Farley Speedway during their 38th annual Yankee Dirt Track Classic. All of the proceeds from the hat sales will go to Scott and Karry Bohannan and their family. Hats will be available throughout the Yankee Dirt Track Classic. There are several different styles: farmer style with four panel vents and a plastic adjustable strap, all in navy blue; and baseball style with a cloth adjustable back, in black and red; and the fitted style S/M and L/XL, in black.
4) SFR has arranged for The Family Credit Union to accept monetary donations for the Bohannans by mail at any of the following locations:
1530 W. 53rd St., Davenport, Iowa 52806
1400 Rockingham Road, Davenport, Iowa 52802
2238 Jersey Ridge Road, Davenport, Iowa 52807
Please make all checks payable to the Bohannan Family Benefit or the Bohannan Family.
5) SFR is collecting clothing for the Bohannans and their son Brent. Sizes for Scott: men's XL or XXL shirts, 38x34 jeans and 2XL jogging pants; For Karry: women's medium or large shirts and size 7 pants; For Brent: men's large shirts and 32 pants (longs). Call Karri Coyne for more information: (563) 370-6446.
SFR is a non-profit 501C3 organization based in Davenport. Roughly 50 volunteers, who are trained in firefighting, vehicle extrication and emergency medical service, serve at a drag strip and more than half a dozen auto race tracks in eastern Iowa and western Illinois each year from April through October. They also work at the annual Quad City Air Show each year in Davenport.
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15 Sep 2015

Fraternal Order of Police encourages Illinoisans to participate in National Thank a Police Officer Day September 19

By David Blanchette

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is encouraging all Illinoisans to participate in National Thank a Police Officer Day on Saturday, September 19.

"A simple smile and a 'thank you' are all it takes to let police officers know their dangerous and demanding jobs are appreciated," said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. "We are humbly grateful for the thoughts, prayers, and encouragement you continue to give us as we protect and serve you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We care about our communities, and it warms our hearts to see that care returned."

The recent targeted attacks on law enforcement officers have focused attention on how dangerous the profession can be. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, law enforcement careers are consistently ranked among the ten most dangerous occupations in America, and they carry the second-highest injury rate of any line of work. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund reports that during the last decade an average of 58,930 assaults were made on law enforcement officers each year resulting in an average of 15,404 injuries. An average of 149 officers are killed in the line of duty each year across the country.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there are 31,230 law enforcement officers in Illinois, which ranks the state fifth behind California, Texas, New York and Florida. Nationwide there are more than 638,000 law enforcement officers. The Chicago Police Department is the nation's second largest municipal police force, with the New York City Police Department coming in first, and the Cook County Sheriff is America's second largest sheriff's office behind only the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

Newly designed FOP t-shirts, hoodies and decals featuring messages of support for police officers will be available for purchase starting September 17 at www.ilfop.org.

The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.

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15 Sep 2015

Ferris wheel open Saturdays through October (weather permitting), 10 a.m.-1 p.m. & 7-10 p.m.

By Marco LaNave
Giant Wheel - 5 coupons per rider

The Giant Wheel will take you up 110 feet in the air in an open-air gondola that seats up to 6 people. The wheel will spin slowly around offering views of the Mississippi River, Modern Woodmen Park, and downtown Davenport and Rock Island. The ride will be lit at light with an impressive LED light package with millions of color combinations which makes it an entirely different ride at night!

All guests below 42" must be accompanied by a supervising companion. The Giant Wheel requires five amusement coupons to ride.

Charitable Contributions

For every ride on the amusements at Modern Woodmen Park, the River Bandits and Main Street Amusements donate 50 cents to Genesis Health Services Foundation health initiatives for children, including the Flu-Free Quad Cities campaign, Camp Genesis for kids who have someone close to them with cancer and Genesis Neonatal Intensive Care services to help struggling newborn babies.

15 Sep 2015

Quad Cities Fall Pride announces the first annual fall Pride festival to be held in LeClaire Park on Friday, September 25th and Saturday, September 26th

By Jennifer Robb
DAVENPORT, Iowa, September 10, 2015- Festival organizer, Andrew Glasscock, and sponsors including Expert Global Solutions, Mary's Euchre Club, Crescent Lofts, Kimberly Car City, Bud Light, B-100, The Hawk, 97-X, Davenport Park and Recreation, Rex Roat Sound, Robb Designs, Queens for a Cause, Crane & Pelican Cafe, Eagleland Security, Mary's on 2nd and Connections will be your hosts for the ultimate pride party!! Located on the beautiful Mississippi River at LeClaire Park in Downtown Davenport, Iowa, the first annual Quad Cities Fall Pride will be held on September 25th & 26th, 2015. Gates will be open from 5pm - Midnight on the 25th and 10am-Midnight on the 26th. Admission for Friday night is $5.00 and $7.00 for all day on Saturday. Or plan to attend the entire two day festival for a special admission cost of only $10.00. Kids 12 and under are free!!

With some of the best vendors both local and from out-of-town, festival guests will enjoy a great variety of drinks, seasonal food, merchandise, art, local charities and over 20 hours of live entertainment. American Idol contestant Gina Venier and Nic Hawk from the Voice will take the stage on Saturday evening...a first for any pride event in the Quad Cities! The entertainment line-up also includes Belly Dancers; Hooping, Pyro and Poi performances; and the Quad Cities' best burlesque troupe, Bottoms Up Quad City Burlesque. The area's finest local talent will light up the stage with a series of drag shows throughout the festival weekend. Featured will be the talents of RuPaul's Drag Race Season One superstar, Jade Sotomayor, as well as the National club legend Zander Mander. Guests can also enjoy excellent beats provided by local musical talent. For the full schedule, go to www.quadcitiesfallpride.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
15 Sep 2015

Grassley Seeks Details on Administration's Refugee Announcements

By Rick Martin

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley today pressed Secretary of State John Kerry to clarify the administration's plans to increase the number of refugees allowed into the United States in fiscal 2016, including up to 10,000 additional refugees from the war torn country of Syria. Grassley raised questions about the administration's plans to admit additional refugees and whether adequate safeguards and background checks are in place to handle the influx.

While the administration proposed raising the refugee ceiling from 70,000 to 75,000, Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard admitted that administration officials are considering increasing the cap later in 2016. White House Spokesman Josh Earnest also said that the administration is considering allowing 10,000 refugees from Syria in 2016, an increase from earlier estimates.

In a letter to Kerry, Grassley asked how the administration will screen Syrian refugees to ensure they were not involved with terrorist organizations, whether the influx of refugees will strain the vetting process, and how the administration plans to respond in the event that refugees are determined to be involved in terrorist organizations after they have been admitted to the United States.  Further, Grassley asked Kerry to explain what the administration is doing to assess the willingness of other countries to admit Syrian refugees.

The letter follows a consultation earlier this week between Kerry and leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to discuss the proposed annual number of refugees to be admitted to the United States.  The State Department must consult with these congressional committees regarding the refugee cap each year as well as any time an increase in allowable refugees is proposed.

Following the consultation, Grassley emphasized that America's security must remain a top priority when admitting refugees, especially when violent terrorist groups like ISIS are committed to finding ways to enter the United States and harm Americans.

Full text of Grassley's letter
15 Sep 2015

Smiddy-backed Bill Increasing Numbers of Conservation Police Passes Committee

By Paul Ferrero

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Working to preserve the viability and safety of Illinois' outdoor spaces, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, introduced and helped advance legislation to increase the number of conservation officers in the state last week.

"Conservation officers help protect and secure Illinois' natural resources for everyone to enjoy," Smiddy said. "The security of our outdoor spaces must not be recklessly sacrificed if we want these resources to be available for our children to appreciate."

As of September 2015, Illinois had retained only 115 conservation police officers. However, 33 officers will be laid off effective September 30, leaving only 82 officers for the state. Smiddy introduced House Bill 4104 instructing the Illinois Department of Natural resources to begin the hiring process for more officers and maintain the recommended 175 sworn officers for their force.

The bill passed the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
15 Sep 2015

Living Well Into The Future: CASI's Jane's Place Celebrates Adult Day Services Week

By Cheryl Frame

Davenport, IA - When Rita and her brother realized their mother could no longer live at home safely; they struggled wondering how they would care for her while juggling their own family and job responsibilities.  Knowing how important it was for her to stay a part of her community without having to move into an assisted living center, they looked to CASI's Jane's Place.  The only Adult Day Service Center in the Iowa Quad Cities, Jane's Place gave Rita's mother a sense of belonging and purpose keeping her safe while they continued to work.

"Without Jane's Place, we simply could not have had Mom move in with us while we continued to work," said Rita P, a Jane's Place Family.  "Each time she went to Jane's Place, she would enter, turn around and wave with a big smile.  We knew we had found the right place at the right time for our mom," she added.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, every 60 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and one in three adults living with it will die from the disease.  Staggering statistics.  Yet, thousands of Quad City families deal with the challenge of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's each and every day.  Living well into the future - The Power of Adult Day Services will commence the week of September 14th honoring, recognizing and celebrating Adult Day Services around the country. Jane's Place Adult Day Services Center at CASI will host special events including an informational Open House Tuesday, September 15, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Jane's Place, Eastern Iowa's only adult day service center provides care to those with early-age and on-set Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.  Jane's Place serves older adults dealing with memory loss, confusion, effects from stroke and disabilities, as well as those who may need socialization or simply cannot be left home alone during the day.  Located at The Center for Active Seniors, Jane's Place provides a low-cost alternative to a nursing home or assisted living facility.  Offering a secure, structured home-like environment, Jane's Place encourages fun interaction through social and therapeutic group activities.

Living with Alzheimer's

Nearly 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's including 13% of Iowa adults age 65 and older.  "Feeling overwhelmed and as if they have few options, family members and caregivers often believe their only choice is to place their loved one in a nursing home," said Laura Kopp, CASI's CEO/President. "Adult day services are a cost effective alternative for older adults who cannot be left home alone while providing respite to caregivers who may still be working or simply need a break from their responsibilities," added Kopp.

According Genworth, a Fortune 500 Insurance company, the average care in an Iowa nursing home is just over $5300 per month compared to just $1300 at an adult day service center like Jane's Place.

The need for adult day services was first recognized by President Ronald Reagan on September 27, 1983 when he signed Proclamation 5107, recognizing the third week of September as National Adult Day Care Week, calling upon "every American community to consider the value of adult day care centers and to give appropriate recognition to centers offering these important services."   In 2004, former President Regan died from complications associated with Alzheimer's.

"Thank goodness for Jane's Place.  They always treated our mom with respect and kindness," said Rita P. "When asked how her day was each time we picked her up, mom would always respond 'It was a good day.  They're always good at Jane's Place'."

Jane's Place is celebrating Adult Day Services September 14th through the 24th with special events each day - culminating with Caring for the Caregiver, presented by Dr. Steven Kopp, Ph.D., LMFT, LMHC Genesis Psychology Associates, on Tuesday, September 24th.
15 Sep 2015

Subway Founder Fred DeLuca dies at 67

By Kelsey Nash

Subway cofounder and longtime CEO Fred DeLuca has died at age 67 on Monday, the company said Tuesday.

DeLuca had been diagnosed with leukemia two years ago but remained fairly active with the company. Earlier this year, he relinquished day-to-day control of Subway to his sister, Suzanne Greco, so he could focus on his health. 

DeLuca cofounded Subway in 1965, when he was 17 years old, eventually growing the business to become the industry's largest chain, with more than 44,000 locations worldwide.

He was also an active member of the International Franchise Association.

DeLuca leaves behind his wife, son and sister.

11 Sep 2015

Governor Announces Appointments 9/11/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Workers' Compensation Commission, the Illinois Finance Authority, the Illinois Workforce Investment Board and the Illinois Civil Service Commission.

Name: Christina Hemenway

Position: Arbitrator - Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Christina Hemenway to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission as an arbitrator. She has been an attorney specializing in workers' compensation claims for more than 20 years.

Currently, Hemenway works for COUNTRY Financial as a workers' compensation claims attorney where she manages catastrophic claims and employer liability and coverage lawsuits. In addition, she is a subject matter expert for the company Previously, she was the supervisor for the department.

Hemenway is a member of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Workers' Compensation Committee, the Property Casualty Insurers' Workers' Compensation and Medicare Committees, and is a member of the Illinois Advisory Committee for the Workers' Compensation Research Institute.

Hemenway is a graduate of Missouri State University and earned her law degree from the University of Missouri. She lives in Lincoln.

 

Name: Arlene A. Juracek

Position: Director - Illinois Finance Authority

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Arlene Juracek the Director of the Illinois Finance Authority. Juracek is currently the Mayor of Mt. Prospect and brings more than 40 years of experience in the private and public sectors to the position.

Juracek has been the Mayor of Mt. Prospect since 2013, prior to that she was a Village Trustee for six years. Most recently, she served as the Acting Director of the Illinois Power Agency where she was responsible for power and energy procurement, as well as the planning for Illinois' two major electric utilities, ComEd and Ameren.

Prior to her work for the State of Illinois, Juracek was the Vice President of Energy Acquisition at ComEd, where she worked for nearly 35 years.

Juracek is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology. She earned a master's degree from Northwestern University in management. She lives in Mt. Prospect.

 

Name: Adam Israelov

Position: Member - Illinois Finance Authority

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Adam Israelov to the Illinois Finance Authority. Israelov has a unique legal and financial background, as well as an international perspective that he brings to the position.

Israelov is currently an associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He oversees private equity funds as well as public and private companies in the U.S. and cross-border transactions. Prior to his work at Kirkland & Ellis, Israelov served as a Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Fellow for the United States Department of State in New Delhi, India. He conducted fieldwork on the topics of corporate fiduciary duties and corporate social responsibility.

Israelov holds a bachelor's degree in risk management and insurance from Georgia State University and a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. He lives in Chicago.

 

 

 

Name: Michael E. Massie

Position: Member - Illinois Workforce Investment Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Michael Massie to the Illinois Workforce Investment Board. He has served on the board since 2011 and brings more than 40 years of experience as an attorney to the position.

Currently, Massie is a partner at Massie & Quick, LLC. His area of practice includes agricultural issues, estate planning, business planning, real estate and wind energy. His energy and agriculture practice spans both the United States and international areas.

In addition to his service on the Illinois Workforce Investment Board, he serves on the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education and the Illinois Pathways Advisory Council. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Western Illinois University teaching agricultural law. He is also a veteran, having served in the Air Force from 1972-1973.

Massie earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Illinois. He lives in Dahinda.

 

Name: William Schroeder

Position: Member - Illinois Civil Service Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed William Schroeder to the Illinois Civil Service Commission. He brings regional diversity and experience as an attorney to the board.

Schroeder has been a licensed attorney since 1969. Most recently, he has been a law professor at a number of universities across the country including Southern Illinois University and Washington University in St. Louis.

In addition to his work as a professor, Schroeder worked in private practice and as a prosecutor at the state and county levels in Massachusetts.

Schroeder earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Illinois. He also earned a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University. He lives in Nashville, Illinois.

 

 

Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has also designated Southern Illinois University-Carbondale student Allen Shelton as the voting representative on the SIU Board of Trustees.

 

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11 Sep 2015

Announcing musical performance of COMPANY on Sept 20

By Nancy Mayfield

The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts will present a special performance of Stephen Sondheim's musical Company on Sunday, September 20 at 7:30 pm to benefit City Circle Acting Company of Coralville.

Produced by Chris Okiishi and Patrick DuLaney, the show centers around confirmed bachelor Robert on the night of his 35th birthday as he contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks, and even a wedding, his friends -- "those good and crazy people [his] married friends" -- explain the pro's and con's of taking on a spouse.

The production which was the brainchild of Okiishi and DuLaney was performed in early August at a party they hosted at Coralville's North Ridge Paviliion. Last spring they decided to throw a party  and put on a show featuring some of their favorite theatre people. The production is a one-of-a-kind immersive theater experience--combining a party with a performance and will be reprised on stage at the Performing Arts Center. Audience members will be seated on stage with the actors. Drinks and light refreshments will be served.

The cast includes Patrick DuLaney, Robyn Calhoun, Kristy Hartsgrove Mooers, Megan Gogerty, Ken Van Egdon, Joe Mosher, Rip Russell, Carrie Houchins-Witt, Mary Rinderspacher, Lindsay Raasch, Victoria Vaughn, Krista Neumann, Emil Rinderspacher, and Adam Kopfman. DuLaney directed the production and Carl Rowles provided music direction.

Matt Falduto wrote in the Iowa Theatre blog after seeing the show, "As you might imagine, the hand picked cast was excellent, easily navigating Stephen Sondheim's challenging score. At the heart of it, the show is about finding someone, a partner, and all the joys and heartbreaks that can come with it. While filled with laugh out loud moments, it can also be an incredibly moving show. This cast handled both sides of that coin wonderfully well."

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at coralvillearts.org or at the Performing Arts Center at 1301 5th Street in Coralville. Limited seating is available.

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