MOLINE, Ill. (November 11, 2014) - Quad City Mallards goaltender Parker Milner has been signed to a professional tryout agreement by the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Mallards announced today.

Milner, 24, has gone 2-2-0 with a 2.76 goals against average and .918 save percentage in four games with the Mallards this season.  Milner set a club season high (since surpassed) by making 43 saves in his last outing, a 7-2 Mallard road victory over the Brampton Beast last Friday.

Milner returns to the AHL with the Wild after going 4-2-0 and turning in a 2.95 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in eight AHL games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season.  The 6' 1", 197-pound Pittsburgh native spent the bulk of last season with the EHCL's Stockton Thunder, for whom he posted a 2.84 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and two shutouts while going 9-14-2 in 25 games.

Milner's is the second AHL call-up for a Mallard this season.  Defenseman Nicholas Rioux joined Iowa October 29 and played three games for the Wild before returning to the Mallards last Friday.

Milner turned professional last season after winning two national championships in four years at Boston College.  Milner went 64-20-5 while turning in a 2.23 goals against average, a .919 save percentage and six shutouts in 93 games over the course of his standout collegiate career.

Milner helped Boston College to the NCAA title as a freshman in 2010 and again as a junior in 2012.  He served as back-up netminder during BC's run to the 2010 championship before taking a leading role in the 2012 triumph.  Then a junior, Milner was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 NCAA tournament and also earned NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament honors after going 4-0 with a 0.50 goals against average, a .982 save percentage and two shutouts during the tournament.  Milner's goals against average was tied for the best in tournament history while his save percentage was the highest since the tournament expanded four teams in 1972.  He capped off his superb tournament effort by making 27 saves in BC's 4-1 victory over Ferris State in the national championship game.  The NCAA title was the crowning achievement of a season that also saw Milner and his teammates win the Hockey East regular season and tournament titles as well as the Beanpot and Icebreaker tournaments.

Over the 2011-12 campaign as a whole, Milner went 29-5-0 while registering a 1.66 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and three shutouts in 34 games.  His .853 winning percentage was the best in the nation.  He completed his college career in 2012-13 by playing in all but one of the Eagles' 38 games, going 22-11-4 and recording a 2.66 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and two shutouts.

During Milner's time in Chestnut Hill, BC not only claimed a pair of NCAA crowns but also secured three Hockey East postseason titles along with two conference regular season championships, made four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and won four straight Beanpots.

Before putting on the maroon and gold, Milner spent one season in the junior ranks with the United States Hockey League's Waterloo Black Hawks and one in prep school hockey at Avon Old Farms. 

The Mallards are next in action this Friday night when they meet the Beast in Brampton.  The Mallards next play at home Wednesday, November 19 at 7:05 p.m. against the Tulsa Oilers.  Fans can purchase four tickets to any Mallards Wednesday home game for just $20.  In addition, after each Wednesday home contest, fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's on River Drive in Moline- adjacent to the iWireless Center- for a postgame party.

Amana- A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol, opens November 20 and runs through December 14 on the Old Creamery's Main Stage, with shows on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 2:00 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm. There are three special matinees Friday, November 21, Saturday, December 6 and Saturday, December 13. All special matinees are at 2:00 pm.

It's Christmas Eve 1943 and listeners to WOV Radio out of Newark, New Jersey settle in for a one-of-a-kind telling of the classic Dicken's story A Christmas Carol. Come see what happens behind the scenes as the Feddington Players try to save the show from one disaster after another in this delightful holiday comedy filled with the music and the spirit of Christmas.  A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol is by Walton Jones, David Wohl and Faye Greenberg.

The cast includes Keegan Christopher, Katie Colletta, David Q. Combs, Tim Daugherty, Jeff Haffner, Joshua Jones, Carrie SaLoutos, Michael Sheridan, and Dion Stover. Sean McCall is the director.

Tickets are $28 for adults and $18.50 for students. Sponsored by Cottage Grove Place. Media Sponsor is WMT-AM. A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol is rated Theatre G. Call the box office for tickets and information 319-622-6262 or visit us online at www.oldcreamery.com.

The Old Creamery Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. In 2014, the company is celebrating 43 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.

Union bosses dumped more than $7.5 million into the Wisconsin and Michigan governor races only to see both states' labor-reforming incumbents re-elected.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, both Republicans, were two of the five governors publicly targeted by union coalition AFL-CIO in February. Last Tuesday, Walker defeated Democrat Mary Burke 52-47, and Snyder defeated Democrat Mark Schauer 51-47.

Big labor hates ? and in 2012 tried to recall ? Walker because of 2011's Act 10, a centerpiece of his agenda limiting the power of public-sector unions. Snyder signed two right-to-work laws in 2012, empowering most Michigan workers to opt out of paying labor union bosses and launching himself near the top of the union enemies list.

Without accounting for union contributions to Democratic Party committees or any of a laundry list of politically active "progressive" nonprofits, unions this year spent at least $4,387,631 against Walker and at least $3,276,973 against Snyder. These figures likely far understate unions' staff and monetary investments in both races.

Based on campaign finance reports filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, Burke's failed campaign received more than $650,000 of cash and in-kind support from labor unions.

The Washington, D.C., headquarters of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, United Food and Commercial Workers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and International Association of Fire Fighters each sent Burke donations of the maximum $43,128 allowed by state law.

National Education Association headquarters sent Burke $43,000 from D.C., and her campaign received max contributions from Wisconsin Professional Police Association, United Auto Workers Wisconsin and NEA-affiliate Wisconsin Education Association Council. Several WEAC locals gave Burke four- or five-figure donations.

Campaign finance reports submitted to the Michigan secretary of state show union contributions to Schauer exceeding $630,000. International Union of Painters and Allied Trades sent $50,000 from its national headquarters, IBEW headquarters donated $44,500, UFCW headquarters gave $44,300 and AFSCME headquarters gave $34,000.

Schauer received maximum $68,000 contributions from the Michigan affiliates of UAW and Communications Workers of America, and received $60,381 from Michigan Education Association.

Although labor bosses profess opposition to unlimited independent expenditures from "super PACs," most union spending against Walker and Snyder came from independent expenditures. Union fronts Greater Wisconsin Committee and We Are Wisconsin spent a combined total of more than $3.7 million in big labor's latest attempt to defeat Walker.

Greater Wisconsin Committee PAC spent $1,218,468 in the governor's race and received $1,298,000 from WEAC in the latest reporting period. AFSCME headquarters funneled $2,370,000 to We Are Wisconsin Political Fund and WEAC gave $500,000 during the latest reporting period, while the group spent $2,517,443 in the governor's race.

"Once again, Big Labor failed in its attempt to defeat Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the author of collective bargaining reform," Brett Healy, president of the Wisconsin-based, free-market MacIver Institute said in an email to Watchdog.org.

"One union boss even said they had 'a score to settle' with Walker," Healy added.

"Wisconsin taxpayers, on the other hand, are ecstatic that Act 10 has saved them almost $3 billion dollars over the last (four) years which has led Walker to cut taxes by $2 billion dollars, freeze property taxes at 2010 levels statewide and freeze tuition at the University of Wisconsin.

"The popularity of Act 10 with Wisconsinites is exactly the reason why Big Labor's decision to spend their members' hard-earned money on this wild-goose chase is so ridiculous and disappointing," Healy said. "It is clear the unions are more worried about yielding crass political power than the welfare of their members.

"Sounds to me like the taxpayers have settled the score, once and for all, with Big Labor," Healy said.

In Michigan, union super PACs sank more than $2.6 million into unseating Snyder. NEA Advocacy Fund spent $703,747, Service Employees International Union Community Alliance spent $689,270 and AFL-CIO's Workers' Voice spent $632,459.

Michigan For All spent $644,617 in the governor's race, fueled by donations of $300,000 from SEIU Community Alliance, over $700,000 from AFSCME, and more than $400,000 from NEA Advocacy Fund.

F. Vincent Vernuccio, labor policy director at Michigan's free-market Mackinac Center, told Watchdog.org the Nov. 4 election "was less a referendum and more a reaffirmation on labor reform."

"The referendums occurred in May and July, which were the two deadlines for unions to put right-to-work on the ballot in Michigan, either as an initiative or a constitutional amendment," Vernuccio said. "And it happened throughout the governor's race, where right-to-work was not even an issue used by Snyder's opponents against him."

DAVENPORT, Iowa (November 10, 2014) - The Ferris wheel at Modern Woodmen Park was a revolutionary success in its first season of operation, and on Monday Ballpark Digest named the Ferris wheel the Best Ballpark Improvement in all of baseball for the 2014 season. Ballpark Digest publisher Kevin Reichard made the announcement at Modern Woodmen Park during a Monday press conference with River Bandits owner Dave Heller and government officials from the City of Davenport. The publication has recognized the 83-year-old stadium in its annual award for best ballpark improvement in four of the past seven seasons.

On May 24, the Quad Cities River Bandits became the first team in Minor League Baseball to open a Ferris wheel inside its ballpark. It was part of the debut for a full lineup of amusements - including the Mediacom Drop'N Twist, Space Camp gyroscope and dual zip line - that opened every weekend, including non-game days, for the Quad Cities community to enjoy through November 1. The amusements welcomed more than 68,000 riders combined in 2014.

"The Ferris wheel has elevated family-friendly entertainment to a new level in the Quad Cities, both literally and figuratively, so we are pleased to accept this great award on behalf of this entire community," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "Ballpark Digest is widely respected and known as the industry standard, which makes this award that much more meaningful. Our great partnership with the City of Davenport has been critical to beautifying and enhancing Modern Woodmen Park, and our fans and community partners have bought into that vision to make this ballpark the best in America and the pride of the Quad Cities."

A year after Modern Woodmen Park was voted the Best Minor League Ballpark in America by readers of USA TODAY and 10Best.com, the ballpark drew its largest average attendance - 3,885 per game - in franchise history.

"We are humbled and grateful for the record support of our fans this season, and for the national recognition of the Best Ballpark Improvement award for the Ferris wheel," said River Bandits General Manager Andrew Chesser. "These achievements energize and propel us further toward our goal of making Modern Woodmen Park the central gathering place for the people throughout the Quad Cities region."

The Ferris wheel joins an award-winning lineup of several other improvements to Modern Woodmen Park under Main Street Baseball's ownership, including the iconic corn field, sports lounge, Pepsi Loge Boxes and Budweiser Champions Club - all previously recognized by Ballpark Digest.

"It's always a treat to return annually to Modern Woodmen Park ? there's always something new to see and experience," said Kevin Reichard, Ballpark Digest publisher. "Adding a Ferris wheel to the ballpark is a great move: the views of downtown Davenport and the ballpark are spectacular, and, besides, who doesn't love a ride on a Ferris wheel?"

The Ferris wheel stands atop the ballpark's left-field berm, 105 feet above the playing field, with 20 gondolas seating up to six adults or eight people including children. Riders from two months to 100 years - and four-generation families together - have enjoyed the unparalleled views of Modern Woodmen Park, the Centennial Bridge, the Mississippi River, and both the Iowa and Illinois sides of the waterway. With millions of color combinations from the LED lights on the ride, fans and riders have enjoyed an entirely different light show each night.

The success of the Ferris wheel and amusements at Modern Woodmen Park also made a tremendous impact in the local community. For each ride in 2014 on the Ferris wheel, Mediacom Drop'N Twist, Space Camp gyroscope, and zip line, 50 cents will be donated to Genesis Health Services Foundation, benefiting Camp Genesis, Genesis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Genesis Flu-Free Quad Cities. With ownership personally making up any difference, the River Bandits pledged a $50,000 cash donation to the Genesis Health Services Foundation. In addition, the Ferris wheel opened on May 24 with the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser. Proceeds from the pre-sold 300 tickets and the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event went to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation in the Quad Cities.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.