04 Jun 2014

A community produced musical is trying to build bridges to end racism, classism and ageism

By Mary McNeil
(Rock Island, IL)  According to the director, Diana Allen, "Bridges:  The Polly Musical" is an adaptation of the made-for-TV Disney movie, Polly.  That movie was a remake of a movie that came out in the 1950's with Hayley Mills called Pollyanna, but it used African Americans.  Allen says it is a story about love and hope in a black community.  It portrays both sides of a community?the black and white cultures?and how to build bridges between them.  The show is this Friday and Saturday, June 6th and 7th at 7:00 pm at the Rock Island High School Auditorium.

Allen says the intent of the program is to encourage people of all ages and color to attend the show and learn how to change a bad situation into a god one.  Allen says there will be 6:45 Pre-Show that will showcase aspiring artists.  Tickets are $10.00 per person....under five is free.

Allen and cast members will be available for interviews and photographs tonight and tomorrow night at 5:15 pm in the auditorium.
04 Jun 2014

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Zukunft to participate in 70th anniversary D-Day events in Normandy

By U.S. Coast Guard HQ Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – When the Allied Forces landed on Normandy Beach, the U.S. Coast Guard took part in the greatest amphibious operation the world had ever seen. On June 6, 1944, the Coast Guard joined the other U.S. military branches and Allied Forces in the operation code-named Overlord. The Coast Guard played an integral part in Operation Neptune, the code name given to Overlord's amphibious assault and naval gunfire support operations.

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft is scheduled to join with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel this week in France for the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of D-Day. Adm. Zukunft assumed the duties of Coast Guard Commandant May 30, 2014.

A fact sheet about the Coast Guard and its participation in D-Day provides units, commands and statistics about the service's actions.

Read about the events of June 6, 1044, in "U.S. Coast Guard at Normandy" by Coast Guard historian Scott Price: http://www.uscg.mil/history/articles/h_normandy.asp.

For tweets from Normandy, link to the Commandant's Twitter account: www.twitter.com/admzukunft

The Commandant's Instagram account, www.instagram.com/admzukunft, will feature photos from Adm. Zukunft's trip to Normandy.

For media interested in arranging interviews with Adm. Zukunft while he is in Normandy, please contact Lt. Cmdr. Matt Moorlag at Matthew.J.Moorlag@uscg.mil.

Some facts about the Coast Guard and D-Day:

  • At least 97 Coast Guard cutters and Coast Guard-manned Navy vessels participated in Operation Neptune.
  • More Coast Guard vessels were lost or damaged that day than at any time in its history. Destroyed in action were LCI(L)-85, 91, 92 and 93. The latter three were lost on Omaha Beach while the 85 sank offshore. Their burning wrecks served as navigation markers that day.
  • Fifteen Coast Guardsmen died in the invasion on D-Day. Most were crewmen from the LCIs and landing craft that participated in the Omaha Beach assault. Six of those who were killed in action are buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France.
  • Coast Guardsmen who participated were awarded one Navy Cross, 11 Silver Stars and one British Distinguished Service Cross.

 

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04 Jun 2014

MODERN WOODMEN PARK WILL HOST FATHER'S DAY COOKOUT

By Rick Martin
Families can enjoy a buffet in the Budweiser Champions Club and post-game catch on the field June 15
DAVENPORT, Iowa (June 4, 2014) - Families in the Quad Cities will have a unique way to celebrate Father's Day at Modern Woodmen Park on June 15, when the Quad Cities River Bandits host their third annual Father's Day Cookout in the Budweiser Champions Club and a post-game catch in the outfield for the 1:15 p.m. Family Sunday game against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
The all-you-can-eat buffet in the Budweiser Champions Club will take place from 12:15-2:15 p.m. on Sunday, June 15. The fun-filled day at Modern Woodmen Park will also feature the River Bandits' first-ever Budweiser Mega Mini Fridge Giveaway, with nine being given away - one for each inning - as well as other giveaways and enter-to-win prizes for dad to take home. Individuals and families can now purchase ticket packages that include a game ticket and the cookout.
"This fun and affordable package offers families in the Quad Cities a special day to celebrate fathers and give Dad a memorable afternoon featuring a cookout and baseball game," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "This event combines so much of what people in the Quad Cities can enjoy at Modern Woodmen Park - a gorgeous venue, great hospitality, terrific food, and affordable family-friendly entertainment  (along with 9 chances to win a great prize) as we help make Dad feel like a king this Father's Day."
Reservations must be made by Wednesday, June 11, for the package, which includes the cookout and admission to the River Bandits' 1:15 p.m. game. Tickets are $20 for each adult and $10 for each child age 10 and younger. The cookout menu features all-you-can-eat hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, chips, cookies, lemonade and water, as well as a cash bar. Participants are welcome to enjoy the game from their seats or from the Budweiser Champions Club - a climate-controlled environment with large glass windows that offer spectacular views of the ballpark, downtown Davenport, the Centennial Bridge and the Mississippi River.
"The Father's Day Cookout is another fantastic part of the year-round special events lineup at Modern Woodmen Park," said General Manager Andrew Chesser. "The River Bandits are delighted to welcome families in the Quad Cities region to another memorable Father's Day celebration for the whole community."
As part of another Family Sunday presented by KWQC and B100, fans can receive player autographs on the field from 12:30 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Fans can also bring their dogs for Bark in the Park. Following the game, all kids will have the opportunity to run the bases after the game, and there will be the special Father's Day catch in the outfield.
, and returning it to the River Bandits front office or by email to Paul@RiverBandits.com.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park at 6 p.m. Saturday with a Craig Biggio Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Prairie Farms and FOX18 for the first 1,500 fans. 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.
04 Jun 2014

HOLBERTON, GUSTAVE WIN ASTROS' MAY HONORS

By Rick Martin
First career monthly honors awarded to catcher who hit .388, pitcher who won four straight outings
DAVENPORT, Iowa. (June 4, 2014) - Catcher Brian Holberton is the Quad Cities River Bandits Player of the Month for May, and right-handed pitcher Jandel Gustave is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Tuesday.
The Houston Astros Player Development Department named a Pitcher and Player of the Month at each of their four in-season minor league affiliates. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team. Former River Bandits infielder Carlos Correa and left-handed pitcher Josh Hader took home the honors at Class-A Advanced Lancaster.
Holberton, Houston's ninth-round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, hit .388 with nine doubles, three home runs, 15 RBIs, a .425 on-base percentage, .638 slugging percentage and 1.063 on-base-plus-slugging (OPS) in 21 May games. The 21-year-old Charlotte, N.C., native hit for the cycle in a 5-for-5, five-RBI performance at Kane County May 18, becoming the first Quad Cities player to do so since 2005. Holberton ranks second in the Midwest League with a .344 batting average (min. 100 plate appearances). For the season, Holberton has smacked 12 doubles and four home runs while driving in 22 runs. He has posted a .391 OBP, .557 SLG and .948 OPS.
Gustave, 21, went 4-0 with a 2.74 ERA in five May outings, allowing seven earned runs in 23 innings with 20 strikeouts. He won four straight outings May 12-28. A product of the Astros Dominican Academy who signed with the Astros in May 2010, the Santo Domingo native has registered a 5-2 record and 3.70 ERA while fanning 40 against 12 walks in his first year with a full-season club. Gustave began the season ranked as the Astros' No. 27 prospect according to Baseball America.
The River Bandits finished 18-13 in May to improve to 29-26 on the season. Each of the Houston Astros full-season minor league affiliates posted a winning record through the season's first two months.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park at 6 p.m. Saturday with a Craig Biggio Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Prairie Farms and FOX18 for the first 1,500 fans. Tickets are available at 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.
04 Jun 2014

MRDC Strawberry Vodka Back and First Friday!

By Ryan Burchette

Le Claire, Iowa, June 4, 2014 - You can almost taste summer with Mississippi River Distilling Company's latest seasonal release, Pride of the Wapsi Strawberry Vodka.  You can grab your bottle this Friday, June 6, at First Friday at the LeClaire distillery from 5:30-8:00 p.m.  This is a limited release of this popular summer seasonal with only 1,000 bottles available for distribution.  In an effort to get this awesome summer spirit in people's hands earlier, the gang at MRDC made extra last year and saved it back for this year in order to release it earlier.

First Friday will also feature a new series of cocktail glasses.  The first series of pint glasses was such a big hit, so this time a set of four cocktail glasses with classic whiskey quotes on them is being offered.  It's called the "Whiskey Wit" collection.  For every bottle of spirits purchased Friday night, you'll receive a free cocktail glass with a quote from Johnny Carson, "Happiness is having a rare steak, a bottle of whiskey, and a dog to eat the rare steak."  A new glass will be released at each First Friday with quotes from W.C. Fields and Compton McKenzie coming in July and August.  There are just a few of the May glasses left if you want to play catch up.  Realizing that not everyone can make every First Friday, extra glasses have been ordered that will be available for sale for $10 each in the distillery store after First Friday.  These will also be available online for ordering while supplies last starting on Friday.

There will also be some great summer themed cocktails to sample in the tasting room including a strawberry mojito with the new strawberry vodka and a strawberry bourbon lemonade cocktail!  In the kitchen, Chef Steph is featuring a spicy Cody Road Bourbon grilling sauce and a strawberry vodka rhubarb dessert sauce.

Coming up on June 27, MRDC will release the next new seasonal spirit, Big Peach Liqueur.  The official release will be at the July First Friday on Friday, July 4.

Mississippi River Distilling Company is open from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and from 12 to 5 PM Sundays.  Free tours are offered to the public daily on the hour from 12 to 4 PM or by appointment.  The tour takes visitors through the entire distilling process.  Tours end in the Grand Tasting Room with free samples of products for those patrons over 21 years of age.

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04 Jun 2014

Deputy Promotion

By Pamela Bennett
On Monday, June 9, 2014 at 9:00 a.m., the Scott County Sheriff's Office will hold a promotional ceremony on the second floor of the Scott County Courthouse in the Sheriff's Administration Conference room. Deputy Ryan Lage will be promoted to the rank of sergeant. Deputy Lage served in the United States Air Force from 1995 to 2000. He began his career with the Sheriff's Office as a correctional officer in the Scott County Jail from 2000 to 2005, where he was promoted to the rank of jail sergeant and has been a Scott County deputy sheriff from 2005 to present. Deputy Lage is a Standardized Field Sobriety Test instructor and a former instructor in ASP Baton, pepper spray and defensive tactics. Ryan and his wife have 2 children and reside in Eldridge.
04 Jun 2014

Governor Quinn Announces $1.4 Million for Construction Projects in Mercer and Whiteside Counties

By Dave Blanchette

VIOLA - Governor Pat Quinn today announced an investment of $1.4 million for road construction projects in Mercer and Whiteside Counties. Funded by his Illinois Jobs Now! construction program, the projects are part of Governor Quinn's commitment to creating jobs and driving Illinois' economy forward.

"These projects will make sure our Mercer and Whiteside County infrastructure is well-maintained to improve safety and longevity," Governor Quinn said. "The projects will also employ a number of construction workers, which will drive local economies forward."

The projects will be managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Mercer County

U.S. Route 67 will be resurfaced from Ridge Road north of Matherville to 10th Avenue in Viola for $1,246,243 by McCarthy Improvement Company of Davenport, Iowa, the lowest of four bidders.

Whiteside County

Pavement patching will be done on U.S. Route 30 from Hillandale Court to Bartlet Street in Morrison for $242,320 by G.M. Sipes Construction, Inc. of Rushville, the lowest of five bidders.

The projects are part of Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest construction programs in the nation.

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04 Jun 2014

Stephanie Wiegel of Illinois City, IL, named to BHSU spring 2014 dean's list

By Michelle Pawelski

SPEARFISH, SD (06/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Stephanie Wiegel, of Illinois City, IL, was named by the Office of Academic Affairs at Black Hills State University to the spring 2014 dean's list. A total of 734 students maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or above while taking at least 12 credit hours to be named to the list this semester.

Founded in 1883, Black Hills State University is a master's level University that promotes excellence in teaching and learning; supports research, creative and scholarly activities and provides service to the state, region, nation and global community. The third-largest University in South Dakota, BHSU enrolls nearly 4,500 students from each of the 66 counties in South Dakota, 44 states, and 29 different countries. Located in Spearfish, S.D., BHSU's location in the beautiful Black Hills offers students endless options for recreation, unique research opportunities and a vibrant community.

04 Jun 2014

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Deliver Remarks at World Pork Expo in Des Moines, IA

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2014 - TOMORROW, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver remarks at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, IA. There will be a media availability with the Secretary following his remarks.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

12:20-1:00 PM/CDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will host a media availability following remarks at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, IA.

 

WHERE: Iowa State Fairgrounds

Varied Industries Building

Des Moines, IA

 

#

04 Jun 2014

Williamsburg, Iowa, Team takes Runner-up at national LEGO contest

By Michelle Heard

The Robotic Raiders, a FIRST® LEGO® League team from Williamsburg, Iowa, earned runner-up prize for their invention, Cyclone Survivor Board Game, last night at the 2014 FIRST® LEGO® League Global Innovation Award ceremony, at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va. They received $5,000 from XPRIZE and support from Edison Nation to help them take their invention to store shelves.

RUNNER-UP - Cyclone Survivor Board Game by the Robotic Raiders of Williamsburg, Iowa

Cyclone Survivor is an educational board game that uses federal and local information to educate players on how to prepare for, survive and recover from a tornado. The object of the game is to collect miniature Emergency Gear to place in the player's Emergency Kit. The interactive tool can be customized to help educate students learn about other natural disasters such as ice storms, earthquakes or hurricanes.

As part of the 2013-2014 NATURE'S FURYSM Challenge, FIRST LEGO League teams (youths ages 9-16) in nearly 80 countries were asked to explore natural disasters and develop innovative ways to mitigate the effects of these often devastating events. Teams were then encouraged to submit their ideas for a chance to win the fourth annual FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award.

"These students continue to amaze me with their ideas and passion for helping others. When young people are given a platform and support for exploring answers to today's pressing social problems, they are able to create innovative solutions that will ultimately improve lives," said Kamen, who is also president of DEKA Research & Development. "Today, they have shown that solving problems together is a fun, rewarding adventure."

FIRST LEGO League partners with Award Sponsors to advance a common goal: fostering innovative problem-solvers. XPRIZE was Presenting Sponsor of the FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award for the fourth consecutive year. XPRIZE attracts the world's top innovators and supports them in tackling the grand challenges faced by society.

"XPRIZE is honored to be the Presenting Sponsor of the FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award," said Alan Zack, senior director, Marketing & Communications, XPRIZE. "All of the finalist teams here today have proven that through competition you can create great results. Each of you came together as a team to produce something, and this teamwork was vital to your success. You may go on to solve the grand challenges, whatever they may be - and when you do, you will be doing it as part of a team."

The FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award Partners in Innovation Sponsors include : Booz Allen Hamilton, John Deere, Rockwell Collins, International Association of Emergency Managers, and Qualcomm. Edison Nation is the Go-To Market Sponsor to help winning teams take their product from idea to store shelves. The FLL Global Innovation Award is presented in cooperation with the National Building Museum and the USPTO.

For more information about FIRST LEGO League and the Global Innovation Award, please visit http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/fllglobalinnovationaward.

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