NOTRE DAME, IN (06/30/2014)(readMedia)-- Katherine Kautz of Bettendorf, IA has graduated from Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN. Katherine, daughter of Gregory and Ann Kautz of Bettendorf, IA, received a BA in Communication Studies.

About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women's liberal arts college offering five bachelor's degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. The College's single-gender environment has been proven, in study after study, to foster confidence, ethical leadership, and strong academic success. Saint Mary's College ranks ranks 76 among the "Best National Liberal Arts Colleges" for 2014 published by U.S. News. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary's College's mission is to educate women and prepare them for postgraduate success whether it's a first job, graduate school, or postgraduate service.

PEORIA, Ill. (June 29, 2014) - The Quad Cities River Bandits exploded in an 11-3 win in Sunday's first game of a doubleheader before falling flat in a 4-2 loss to the Peoria Chiefs in the finale at Dozer Park. Mason Katz drilled a solo home run in each contest for the Chiefs.

James Ramsay led off game one with a single off Peoria (7-3 second half, 44-35 overall) starter Luis Perdomo and stole second before Marc Wik walked. Perdomo struck out Brett Phillips and got Chase McDonald to bounce into a 1-3 fielder's choice, but then Jon Kemmer laced a double down the left field line to score both runners and put Quad Cities (5-5 second half, 40-39 overall) on the board at 2-0. Perdomo (0-1), who allowed six runs, five earned on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 4.2 innings, issued a walk to Tyler White and yielded a single to Ronnie Mitchell to bring in Kemmer. Brett Booth then ripped a single to left to plate White to make it 4-0 just before Mitchell was thrown out trying to go to third to end the inning.

Already up 5-1, Quad Cities was able to add to their lead in the fifth. With one out and a runner on second, Kemmer greeted Peoria reliever Robert Stock with a single to score Phillips. After White singled, Mitchell did the same to bring in Kemmer before Booth added another base hit to score White and make it 8-1. Kemmer went 2-for-4 with a career-high three RBIs, one of six Bandits to have multiple hits. White, Mitchell and Booth each finished 2-for-4 while driving in two. Every Quad Cities player in the lineup contributed at least one hit.

Chris Lee (3-5) earned the victory, allowing only a run on three hits without walking a batter in five innings. He struck out four before yielding to Houston Astros right-hander Anthony Bass, who allowed two unearned runs in two innings on two hits with three punchouts.

In game two, the River Bandits once again struck first, using a Jake Rodriguez single in the second off of Peoria starter Kevin Herget to take a 1-0 lead. With the score the same in the fourth, McDonald rocketed a line drive over the wall in left-center for his fifth home run of the season to give Quad Cities the 2-0 advantage.

Katz homered with one out in the bottom half of the fourth to cut the Quad Cities lead in half. The shot was the second baseman's 14th of the year, which ties him at the top of the Midwest League with South Bend's Daniel Palka.

In the fifth, Quad Cities starter Andrew Thurman gave up a leadoff double to Richy Pedroza, who advanced to third on a wild pitch. With the infield in, Thurman (4-5), who surrendered three runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts, got Michael Schulze to groundout to second to keep Pedroza at bay. However, the right-hander walked Vaughn Bryan, who stole second and forced the infield to come back. C.J. McElroy, Jr. then hit a groundball to second, which allowed Pedroza to come home to tie the game on the out. Bryan came home when Justin Ringo lined a base hit to center to give the Chiefs the lead they would not relinquish.

Jhnonny Peralta (2-0) earned the win for Peoria in relief, retiring nine of the 11 men he faced. He struck out three, walked one and allowed one hit.

From the third inning on, Kemmer, who was 2-for-2 with a walk in game two, was the only Bandit to reach second base. However, Herget picked him off to end the fourth.

The rubber game of the five-game series comes tomorrow with the River Bandits scheduled to start Jandel Gustave (5-3, 3.94 ERA) against Peoria's Rob Kaminsky (3-1, 1.47).

UP NEXT: Back-to-back fireworks nights kick of the Fourth of July weekend at Modern Woodmen Park. The ballpark will open Thursday, July 3, for the annual Red, White and Boom Fireworks, and the River Bandits will have Fourth of July Fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD following the 7 p.m. game on Friday, July 4. Game tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

Perhaps one of the best known of all films, the 1939 musical fantasy The Wizard of Oz has become part of American popular culture. The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre will present its stage version of The Wizard of Oz beginning July 3^rd. Kansas farm girl Dorothy Gale dreams of what life might be like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and soon finds out when a tornado takes her to "The Merry Old Land of Oz".

The part of Dorothy will be played by Carly Ann Berg. In her second season aboard the Showboat, Carly has already performed in The Taffetas as Cheryl and as Winnie in Annie Get Your Gun. Robert Rice will bring the Scarecrow to life. A junior at Southeast Missouri State University, Robert is pursuing his B.A. in theatre with a dance minor. Caleb Jernigan, recently seen as Chief Sitting Bull in Annie Get Your Gun, will be the Tin Man. The role of Lion will be performed by Heather Baisley. Heather played Peggy in The Taffetas and Annie in Annie Get Your Gun. In his second season aboard the Showboat, Nathan McHenry, who was Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun and Jenna Haimes (Kaye in The Taffetas and Dolly in Annie Get Your Gun), will play major roles which won't be revealed in advance! Jalen Lee will be Uncle Henry, having just completed the role of Buffalo Bill.

A former 3-year intern at the Showboat, Carolyn Hopkins has returned to Clinton from Orange City, Iowa, after completing her first year as a theatre major at Northwestern College. She will play the roles of Auntie Em and Glinda. Returning for her second year as an intern, Hailey Goble is a 2014 graduate of Camanche High School. Hailey will perform as Miss Gulch and the East Witch.

The ensemble for The Wizard of Oz includes: Chris Bruhn (Clinton), Matt Espey (3rd year intern and senior at Clinton High), Clayton Melvin (freshman at Central DeWitt), Jake Hopson (freshman at Iowa State University), Alice Lind (3rd year intern and senior at Clinton High), Kate Struble (intern and freshman at Clinton High), Daxx Jayroe Wieser (musical theatre major at Oklahoma City University), and Kayla Zeimet (2nd year intern and junior at Central DeWitt).

No production of The Wizard of Oz would be complete without Munchkins. Ranging in age from 3 to 13 and from several area communities, the Munchkins include : Brittany Costello, Avery Lynn Davis, Avery Findlay, Ellanore Foltz, Hannah Guilinger, Nathan Hopkins, Paige Lower, Larissa Rose Lesniewski, Vanessa Lesniewski, Gabrielle Mooney, Kira Shaff, Addison Shaw, Marie Shaw, Abby Struble,and Kami Zeimet.

CAST's production of The Wizard of Oz is being directed by Producing Artistic Director Tommy Iafrate. Returning to the Showboat as Musical Director is Laurie Lewis. She has been the Director of Music at MacMurray College for three years. The talented creative team also includes: Choreographer Zachary D'antonio, Scenic Designer Steven P. House,
Lighting Designer Cassie Mings, Costume Designer Jenna Damberger, Stage Manager Nicole Frechette, Assistant Stage Manager Seth Kieser and Kayla McKay, Assistant Director/Dramaturg.

The Wizard of Oz opens at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre on July 3rd at 7:30pm, followed by a reception. On July 4th there will be a special performance at 6:30pm, ending before the fireworks display. Performances continue at 7:30pm on July 5,10,11,12,17 and 19. Afternoon performances at 3pm take place on July 6,9,13,16 and 20. Tickets cost $23, $20 for seniors and $16 for students and children. The CAST box office is open 11am to 4pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11am to 7pm on Thursdays through Saturdays and noon to 4pm on Sundays. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.clintonshowboat.org or by calling 563-242-6760.

The 2014 CAST season will continue with Wonderful Town (July 24-August 2) and Alice in Wonderland (August 8-17) .

There are still openings available in two theatre camps for children entering grades 1 to 8. Camp Oz is Monday through Friday, July 7 to 18 from 9am to noon, costing $85. Camp Wonderland is August 4-13th for just $75. Registration is available on line or at the box office. (Scholarships available).

Every Saturday at noon CAST's Intern Company offers Theatre for Children. This year's shows include : A Very Clinton Variety Show, The Beginning of Armadillos, and A Sour Study in Lemonade. Tickets are only $5 and are available at the door.

PARIS, IL (06/28/2014)(readMedia)--

WHO: • Illinois Army National Guard's 1544th Transportation Company in Paris, Ill.

WHAT: • Approximately 120 Soldiers with the 1544th Transportation Company in Paris, Illinois were prepared to mobilize in October 2014 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan.

• The unit's deployment has been cancelled roughly four months prior to the expected mobilization.

• The Illinois National Guard understands the added stress preparing for a mobilization puts on families and employers. The Illinois National Guard will help ensure the lives of Soldiers move forward with as little interruption as possible and will mitigate any issues Soldiers may have with employers, colleges, landlords or other such individuals notified about a possible mobilization.

• The 1544th Transportation Company has a long and well-documented history dating back to the Civil War. The unit originally organized in April of 1861 in Paris, Illinois, as Company E, 12th Illinois Volunteer Company, Illinois Militia. It has been activated for every major conflict since the Civil War including Operation Iraqi Freedom from November 2003 to June 2005.