Clinton, IA (April 1, 2015) - Distinguished community members, business leaders and generous citizens will drop everything that they are doing on Tuesday, April 7 to read one of their favorite children's books to area school children.  The activity is part of the United Way of Clinton County, Iowa's Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) week.

Firefighters, public safety officers, mentors, business leaders and others will read a book to elementary students at Eagle Heights, Jefferson and Whittier Elementary schools in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of reading in everyone's lives.  Reading out loud at least 20 minutes a day cultivates listening skills, improves spelling, expands vocabulary, improves diction and expression, improves visual memory and is the best exercise you can do to improve your mind.

"Reading out loud is a great way to sharpen your focus and theirs," says Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clinton's Executive Director Kellie Hillis.  "We've got a handful of excited and eager readers lined-up and could always use more."  If you would like to volunteer a few minutes or an hour to read to children on April 7, please email director@bbbsclinton.org.

This activity is just one of the many activities planned through United Way of Clinton County, Iowa and its partner agencies during Drop Everything And Read Week April 6-12.  For more information on all the activities, please visit the United Way of Clinton County, Iowa's Facebook page.

CONWAY 28528, SC (04/01/2015)(readMedia)-- Kelsey Birdsell, of Moline, IL, has been elected Vice President of Public Relations of the Student Government Association at Coastal Carolina University for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Coastal Carolina University is a dynamic, public comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Conway, just minutes from the resort area of Myrtle Beach, S.C. The University offers 67 areas of study toward the baccalaureate degree and seven master's degree programs in accountancy, business administration, education, marine and wetland studies, and writing. The University is offering its first Ph.D. program, in marine science, in fall 2014.

More than 9,900 students from across the country and the world interact with a world-class faculty, and enjoy a nationally competitive NCAA I athletic program, an inspiring cultural calendar, and a tradition of community interaction that is fueled by more than 180 student clubs and organizations.

Coastal Carolina University was founded in 1954 as Coastal Carolina Junior College and became an independent state university in 1993.

Learn more: http://www.coastal.edu/

^{MOUNT CARROLL, IL -- Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional theatre company in Mount Carroll, in collaboration with Timber Lake Resort and Campground will present a one night only performance of the nationally renowned Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos Show at the playhouse on Saturday, May 9th. The performance will begin at 7:00 p.m., with cash bar opening at 6:30. Tickets are $20 and are available April 1st online and through the TLP box office.}

^{Henry's Double K in Mount Carroll will be taking separate reservations for a pre-show all you can eat buffet at the restaurant that evening. The $15 buffet will include roast pork, chicken breasts, cheesy potatoes, vegetable, salad bar, rolls and coffee. Contact Henry's Double K at 815-244-0810 for more information. Sievert's Steaks & Stuff in Mount Carroll will offer 10% off pizzas between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.}

^{Felix and Fingers began in 2010 when Dave Radford and Mike Potts came together to create their own unique take on dueling pianos. Dave have recently been a top ten male finalist on American Idol, and Mike had spent several years touring the world as a musician on cruise ships. Since 2010, they have grown from playing the Chicagoland area to playing venues throughout the entire country.}

^{Timber Lake Playhouse's 54th Summer Season officially begins June 4th with the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray. The Felix and Fingers show is part of a pre-season kick-off that also includes the Lena! Las Vegas Casino Night on Saturday, April 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.}

^{The Casino Night event will take place at The Rafters in Lena, IL. Tickets are $50 and include the Cheezer's Palace Mac & Cheese Bar, roving appetizers, a starting purse, chances to win prizes, and access to gaming tables. Table games are provided by U. S. Poker and Casino Parties of Bensonville and will include blackjack, craps, roulette and Texas hold'em.}

^{For tickets to either of the TLP kick-off events, contact the playhouse at 815-244-2035, visit the website at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org, or stop by our office at 8216 Black Oak Rd. in Mount Carroll Monday through Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Timber Lake Playhouse is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd. in Mount Carroll. The Rafters is located at 9426 W. Wagner Rd. in Lena.}

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$22.3 million waiting to be claimed by residents of Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside Counties

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Treasurer's Office is searching for tens of thousands of Northern Illinois residents who have unclaimed property. Through the I-Cash program, the treasurer's office safeguards more than $2.1 billion in unclaimed property belonging to millions of Illinois residents. Hundreds of thousands of new properties have been reported in recent months, including lost bank accounts, insurance policy proceeds, and utility refunds. Those new reports bring the total available to be claimed by residents of Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside counties to $22,353,481 from 114,077 properties as of January.

"We want to return this property to its rightful owners," Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said. "Whether it is a savings account someone started for you as a child, or U.S. savings bonds from World War II that your grandparents forgot about in a safe deposit box, the proper place for these items is with their rightful owners."

Starting April 5th, names of 78,895 individuals who have unclaimed property worth more than $100 or stock, bonds, mutual funds, or safe deposit box contents that was reported over the past six months will be featured in newspapers ads across Illinois. Those listings represent a fraction of the 14 million properties reported since the program began in 1962 that are waiting to be claimed. All Illinoisans are encouraged to visit illinoistreasurer.gov to search for property and initiate a claim in as little as three minutes. Once the claim is filed with proof of ownership, individuals will receive their property in as little as three weeks. Last year, the average amount returned was $1,000.