Branstad, Reynolds have held a combined 2,454 public events since taking office

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced they will complete their visit to all of Iowa's 99 counties for the fourth consecutive year today following a stop in Louisa County. Branstad and Reynolds committed to visiting every county, every year. Since taking office in 2011, the pair has held a combined 2,454 public events.

"Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I take great pride in visiting every county in Iowa each and every year," said Branstad. "We thoroughly enjoy meeting with Iowans, hearing their ideas and sharing our vision in cafes, diners, coffee shops and community centers. I believe being accessible to all Iowans, not just those at the Capitol, is a critically important."

Branstad's and Reynolds' final county to hit in 2014 is Louisa County. They'll visit a family-owned business, Simply Soothing, which makes natural bug repellant, today at 3:45 p.m.

"Though we've visited every county in 2014, Governor Branstad and I will continue traveling the state this year to listen and share our ideas to continue moving Iowa forward," said Reynolds. "We remain committed to visiting every Iowa county, every year. Iowans shouldn't have to travel to Des Moines to talk with their elected officials. Visiting every county, every year, provides citizens the opportunity to engage in the process and share their views."

Through the first three years in office, Branstad and Reynolds have averaged a combined 669 public events per year. Through today, Aug. 28, 2014, they have held a combined 447 events in 2014.

2014 Festival of Praise.....Comes to Pass

Despite recent flooding and limited funds.... the 2014 Festival of Praise is a go!

The Festival will take place on Saturday, August 30th at Le Claire Park in Davenport, Iowa, starting at 6:00 PM.

With less than a week of lead time, Kathryn Bohn of High Praise Unlimited made the surprise announcement to continue the tradition of having the Labor Day Christian concert event.

"For the last 15 years our young & old, sons & daughters have gathered by the river to celebrate a festival to the Lord....and so it shall continue to bless the Quad Cities," Bohn declared.

The night will include appearances by Christian recording artist Dennis Wilson backed up by area musicians from the QC Prayer Center. Wilson brings a special and powerful anointing to this year's event with music interwoven with his speaking.

Recording Artist Dennis Wilson

Opening the program at 6:00 PM will be the Celebrate Recovery Praise Band from the Celebrate Recovery ministry hosted by Edgewood Baptist, Rock Island.

Admission to this event is free!

(A free will offering will be taken during the event to support prayer & praise ministries in the Quad Cities.)

This event is planned to take place at the Le Claire Park Bandshell in downtown Davenport. But...

In case of rain out, the event will move indoors at the Quad Cities Prayer Center in North Park Mall, located next to Sears.

For more information call 563-209-5074

Who is Dennis Wilson?

Singer/ songwriter/ speaker Dennis Wilson will be the featured artist this year at the annual festival of praise. Put on by High Praise Unlimited , president of high praise Kathryn Bohn, relates, "Dennis Wilson brings a special and powerful anointing to this year's event  with his music interwoven with his speaking. Dennis has been experiencing a powerful supernatural move around the world.  Dennis is also a song writer with several well-known compositions. Formally sign with Bill Gaither, Gaither has called Dennis one of the greatest artist he knows, as well as saying that Dennis IS one of the  greatest lyricists in the world. Wilson has ministered in The Brooklyn tabernacle,  and Dr. Charles Stanley' s church in Atlanta GA. He has performed in Isreal and as across Europe. Dennis is the writer and singer of the well-known patriotic song CASTLES IN THE SAND. He has toured the Middle East to play for our troops, with other entertainers  such as Tony Orlando, actor Stephen Baldwin, the Gary Sinise Group, and with three former Miss America's. "

"More than all of this, it is Dennis' desire TO BRING GLORY TO GOD, AND TO IMPACT THIS WORLD WITH THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

JOIN US AS WE EXALT THE LORD  ON THIS SPECIAL NIGHT!"

Brought to you by High Praise Unlimited, New Anthem TM, and the Quad City Prayer Center.

Quad Cities moves within two games of Wisconsin for a second-half playoff spot with five to play

DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 27, 2014) - Quad Cities right-hander Kevin Comer posted career highs with six innings and 10 strikeouts Wednesday night, and second baseman Marc Wik had three of his team's eight hits, while third baseman J.D. Davis had a three-run home run and four RBIs in the River Bandits' 11-2 win over the Clinton LumberKings in front of 2,291 at Modern Woodmen Park.

With their sixth win in eight games, the River Bandits (32-33 second half, 67-67 overall) put themselves two games behind Wisconsin (34-31) for the final second half playoff spot with five games remaining. Peoria (32-33) also won Wednesday to tie Quad Cities.

After Comer (2-5) worked a perfect first inning, Quad Cities wasted no time against right-hander Carlos Misell (8-11). Wik hit a leadoff infield single. Left fielder Jose Fernandez grounded to third baseman Joe DeCarlo, who overthrew first base, allowing Wik to score and Fernandez to reach second. A wild pitch and throwing error by catcher Christian Carmichael allowed Fernandez to score for a 2-0 lead.

Clinton (28-37, 58-75) came back in the top of the second inning, as first baseman Jeff Zimmerman hit a leadoff double down the first-base line and scored after Carmichael's single and a fielder's choice. In the top of the third inning, LumberKings center fielder Aaron Barbosa hit a leadoff single to right field and went to second base on an error by first baseman Chase McDonald. With Barbosa stealing third base, Comer struck out right fielder Tyler O'Neill, and catcher Brian Holberton threw past third base, allowing Barbosa to score the tying run.

With the third-inning strikeout of O'Neill, Comer began a stretch in which he retired 11 batters in order - including seven on strikeouts. He allowed a two-out walk to DeCarlo in the sixth inning before retiring pinch hitter Martin Peguero on a groundout. In his first career six-inning outing, Comer earned his first home win by allowing two runs - one earned - on three hits that all came in the first three innings and two walks with 10 strikeouts to match the most by a River Bandits pitcher this season.

Meanwhile, the home team took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning. Misell issued a leadoff walk to shortstop Thomas Lindauer before a Wik put a bunt single between the pitcher's mound and the third-base line. After a wild pitch, Fernandez then lined a double down the first-base line to score both runners and extend his season-high eight-game hitting streak. Designated hitter A.J. Reed extended a five-game hitting streak with a single to right field, and Davis hit a pop fly to left field, but Brett Thomas could not find it, allowing a single to drop safely and Fernandez to score. After Misell's third wild pitch put Reed at third base, center fielder Ryan Bottger hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2. In the fifth inning, Misell walked McDonald and Davis, and after a fielder's choice, Holberton hit an RBI single to center field for a 7-2 lead. Misell allowed seven runs - five earned - on six hits and four walks with one strikeout in five innings.

After Misell, left-hander Cruz Pereira allowed a four-run sixth inning. Lindauer drew a leadoff walk, Wik doubled to left field and pinch hitter Brauly Mejia hit an RBI groundout. McDonald walked, and with two outs, Davis drove his fifth Midwest League home run - and foruth in 10 games - to right field for an 11-2 Quad Cities lead. The 11 runs were the team's most since June 29. Clinton went hitless after the third inning, as Comer was followed by left-hander Jordan Mills for two innings and right-hander Frederick Tiburcio for one inning.

Quad Cities continues its final home series with Clinton at 7 p.m. Thursday, when River Bandits right-hander Adrian Houser (5-5) is scheduled to face LumberKings right-hander Edwin Diaz (5-8). Quad Cities' final regular season home game is Friday.

UP NEXT: Fan Appreciation Week continues Thursday with all regular individual tickets being half-price on Modern Woodmen Half-Price Night with a River Bandits hat giveaway for the first 1,500 fans. Thirst-Day Thursday presented by the River Cities' Reader means $2 drink specials. Friday is Fan Appreciation Night with giveaways galore and postgame Friday Fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. Regular tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership recently 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. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.

*****

Quad Cities, USA - On Tuesday, September 16th from 9:00am - 3:30pm The Salvation Army will host a webinar on New Paradigms in Estate and Charitable Planning at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. This webinar will help Trust & Estate planning professionals keep up on estate planning changes over the last year.

The event is free to those who which to attend and will include lunch. To register, please contact Bruce Clark at 563-370-2145 or at bruce_clark@usc.salvationarmy.org. CLE credits are available for attendees. Special thanks to Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, Quad City Bank and Trust, and Wells Fargo Private Bank for sponsoring this event.

About the speakers:

Ann Burns is the Chair of the Trust, Estate and Charitable Planning group at Gray Plant Mooty. Her practice focuses on estate and charitable planning, business succession planning, estate and trust administration, and fiduciary and tax litigation.

Ann graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and clerked for the Honorable Donald R. Ross, on the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. She is a frequent lecturer at national estate planning conferences and has been quoted in the New York Times and Forbes magazine. She chairs the board of a private client family office and is a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the Board of Trustees of The Minneapolis Foundation

Samuel Donaldson [J.D. University of Arizona; LL.M. (Taxation) University of Florida] is a Professor of Law at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to joining the Georgia State faculty in 2012, he was on the faculty at the University of Washington School of Law for 13 years. During his tenure at the University of Washington, he was a five-time recipient of the Philip A. Trautman Professor of the Year award from the School of Law's Student Bar Association.

Professor Donaldson is an Academic Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and a member of the Bar in Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. Among his scholarly works, he is a co-author of the West casebook, Federal Income Tax: A Contemporary Approach, and a co-author of the Price on Contemporary Estate Planning treatise published by CCH.