SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The military often conjures images of combat boots, firearms and fatigues; hardly a scene of beauty. Yet for female veterans around the country, the Ms. Veteran America contest affords an opportunity to trade their uniforms for glamorous evening gowns. Now in its third year, the pageant features contestants who are all current or former military members.

The Ms. Veteran America contest sets itself apart in a unique way. In addition to awarding tiaras and sashes, the contest's organizers also raise money and awareness for the Final Salute organization. Final Salute is a fund-raising initiative that helps homeless female veterans get access to safe and suitable housing.

Staff Sgt. Katie Jo Williams, of Altamont, Illinois, a recruiter with the Illinois National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command, said she decided to compete when a friend brought the organization to her attention on Facebook.

"My friend sent me the link and I thought it was a good cause," said Williams. "I got to thinking, when most people think of homeless vets they think of men, not women. I'm not a big feminist, but I think women get downplayed a lot."

Williams said she didn't have very high hopes when she decided to compete.

"I've never really been a girly-girl, I was always a tomboy," said Williams. "I had never even really tried something like this but I thought the worst they would say is 'no'. I deal with a lot of young women in high school and I feel like they don't have enough confidence. I want to show them how. Even if I don't win, I can be a cross-fit competitor and a pageant competitor. Just getting the word out there will help those homeless female veterans," said Williams

Outside her military career Williams also practices competitive cross-fit. She placed 21st in her division at "The Event," a cross-fit competition at her gym in Bloomington, Illinois, in April.

Williams said it was family legacy and personal drive that convinced her to join the military seven years ago.

"My grandpa was in the Navy and then the Army. My father was in the Marine Corps. And now I am the only female in my family to be in the military," said Williams. "My grandpa told me stories when I was young about his time in Vietnam. Since I was ten I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to travel the world and have all those experiences."

After enlisting as a motor transport operator, Williams deployed with the 634th Brigade Support Battalion, out of Mattoon, Illinois, to Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan, from 2008 to 2009. It was in the 634th when she met Staff Sgt. John A. Howard of Champaign, Illinois

Howard, who is now the full-time readiness noncommissioned officer for the 1544th Transportation Company Detachment in Danville, Illinois, has given Williams many pointers throughout her career and has always helped her through tough situations.

Howard said he thinks Williams stands a solid chance of winning because of her work ethic and her reputation as a motivated Soldier.

"I wouldn't bet against her if she stays true to herself and continues to do what she has been doing and doesn't deviate from what she knows is right," said Howard.

Williams will compete not only for the title of Ms. Veteran America, but also for two additional awards. Williams elected to compete for the titles of "Social Butterfly," which requires the most "likes" on Facebook to win, and "Iron Princess," which is awarded to the competitor who best works fitness and healthy living into their lifestyle. Williams said she wants to compete for the Social Butterfly title because, as a recruiter, she likes to connect with people and make new friends.

Williams said Iron Princess was also a natural choice given her involvement in cross-fit and healthy life style.

So what is next for Williams? For now she is preparing for the regional competition in Arlington,Virgina, which will take place on June 8. Though that is right around the corner, Williams said she believes she is ready.

"I'm not nervous about the experience, but maybe I am anxious," said Williams. "This is something I have never done before, so I do have some stomach butterflies, but it is excitement and nervousness all at the same time."

Williams said she wants to wow the judges with her voice during the talent portion of the competition. She has chosen to sing "I see the Light" sung originally by Mandy Moore from Disney's 2010 animated musical "Tangled."

"My sister tells me I sound like Mandy Moore," said Williams. "My sister and my friends told me I should do that one. It's a nice simple song just to show the judges what I can do."

For now, Williams is keeping herself grounded but hopeful about the regionals contest in June.

"If I do win, that would be awesome," said Williams. "I wouldn't know what to say. I would be ecstatic about being able to represent female veterans everywhere. I don't think there's another title that can compare."

Only 300 tickets will be sold through Genesis for noon event Saturday, May 24, before 6 p.m. game

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 14, 2014) - The Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event and fundraiser is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 24, to kick off a Memorial Day Weekend grand opening for the new attraction. Ticket proceeds from the event at Modern Woodmen Park will go to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation in the Quad Cities.

Event tickets are available at Modern Woodmen Park or by calling the Genesis Foundation at 563-421-6865. Only 300 tickets will be sold for the inaugural ride event, and attendees have the chance to be among the 100 drawn to participate in the first ride of the Ferris Wheel.

May 24th, the doors will open for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event at noon, with appetizers, giveaways, music and a cash bar in the Budweiser Champions Club. The event is exclusively for the 300 advance ticket holders. From the 300 event tickets, 100 will be selected at 1 p.m. for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. Additional rides will be offered until 3 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Genesis Health Services Foundation, specifically Camp Genesis, Genesis NICU and Flu-Free QC. In addition, a portion of every Ferris wheel ride ticket sold this season will be donated to the Genesis Health Services Foundation for children's health and wellness.

"We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the Genesis Health Services Foundation for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride, which will begin an entire season of giving back to the Quad Cities community," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "The Ferris wheel is about gathering the people of the entire region to come to the Quad Cities, downtown Davenport, and Modern Woodmen Park for affordable, family-friendly entertainment, which is going to the next level with the Ferris wheel!"

"We're grateful to be the charity of choice to receive proceeds from the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride and throughout the season," said Melinda "Missy" Gowey, Genesis Health Services Foundation Executive Director. "What better way to support children's health and wellness than with an attraction that 'brings out the child' in all of us. Thanks to the River Bandits, this is going to be an exciting summer in support of our community's kids."

Following the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event, there will be a 3:30 p.m. ribbon cutting for the Ferris wheel. At 4:30 p.m., the gates of Modern Woodmen Park will open for the 6 p.m. River Bandits game, and fans in attendance may purchase tickets at the amusement areas to ride the Ferris wheel. The first 1,500 fans to the ballpark that night will also receive a free Carlos Correa bobblehead, courtesy of CBS4 WHBF and APAC Customer Services.

The amusements of Modern Woodmen Park will be open throughout Memorial Day weekend. While the River Bandits are on the road, the general public may still come to the ballpark to ride the Ferris wheel and enjoy the amusements. The amusement areas of Modern Woodmen Park will be open noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 25, which is also the rain date for the Inaugural Ferris Wheel Ride event. On Monday, May 26, the ballpark will be open noon to 6 p.m. on Memorial Day.

The amusement rides are scheduled to be open - weather permitting - to fans at every River Bandits home game, and will also be open on weekend non-game days: Fridays 6 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon and 6 p.m.-10 p.m., and Sundays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ferris wheel rides are $5 each (two for $8, four for $15), and Bounce QC Kids Zone access is $5 per child. An all-you-can-ride-and-bounce daily pass is $20, and a season pass for unlimited rides and play in the Bounce QC Kids Zone is $49.

UP NEXT: The official lighting of the Ferris Wheel will be a part of Markdown Monday when the River Bandits open their next homestand May 19 at Modern Woodmen Park. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and bleacher tickets, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, soda and beer are just $2 each for the 7 p.m. game. Tickets are available online at www.riverbandits.com. Don't miss the great light show that comes with the new Ferris Wheel! To order any of the 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.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, will open May 24, along with a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just 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.

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DAVENPORT, IA - Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart announced today that the Iowa Insurance Division (IID) is bringing the statewide "Iowa Fraud Fighters - Shield Your Savings" public education program to the RiverCenter in Davenport on June 5. The program will educate and empower Iowans to combat and report investment and insurance fraud.

"Con artists are targeting Americans age 60 and older, swindling more than 5 million Americans out of almost $3 billion each year," said Commissioner Gerhart. "Unfortunately, many smart Iowans have fallen victim to these very slick and sophisticated investment scammers, and some have lost their entire life savings."

Martha-Jo Ennis, a retired school teacher from Marion, Iowa, said she never understood how anyone could fall for an investment scheme until it happened to her?and she lost her retirement savings and the money she invested from the sale of her family farm.

According to Linn County District Court records, Ennis was one of numerous Iowa victims who lost millions of dollars in a Ponzi-type scheme orchestrated by Noah Aulwes, former owner of Covenant Advisors of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Aulwes pleaded guilty last year to theft in the first degree, securities fraud and money laundering, and received a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Victim impact statements read during the hearing stated Aulwes preyed on retirees, using charm and Christianity to get a foot in the door and gain victims' trust.

"Iowans need to take the time to double-check investment offers and verify with our agency whether the adviser and offer are legitimate," said Commissioner Gerhart. "Our goal is to educate Iowans on common scams and arm them with tools and tips to prevent fraud from happening to them. The Iowa Insurance Division and our partner government agencies are attacking this senior fraud problem at the forefront. We are coming to Davenport to help eastern Iowans prevent fraud."

Iowa Insurance Division Communications Director Tom Alger, Iowa Assistant Attorney General Kevin McCarty, Iowa Department on Aging Legal Assistant Director Paige Thorson and Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) Director Kris Gross will present the Iowa Fraud Fighters program and panel discussion.

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., lunch is served at noon and the program concludes at 1:30 p.m. Informational booths staffed by agency representatives, and Milestones Area Agency on Aging and AARP, forum assistance providers, close at 2 p.m. To RSVP for the presentation and complimentary luncheon, call toll-free at 866-559-7114, or fill out the online form at IowaFraudFighters.gov before noon on May 29. This free event is limited to the first 200 respondents and is funded partly from fines and settlements collected from scammers.

"This forum gives Iowans the opportunity to speak with several government agencies and learn about the state resources available to help prevent fraud from happening to them or a loved one," said Gerhart. "We also want Iowans to know we are here to help them take charge in the fight against fraud and the importance of reporting fraud to state and federal agencies when it occurs."

Iowans are encouraged to visit www.IowaFraudFighters.gov to learn about common investment and insurance scams and discover tips and tools to prevent fraud. The site includes answers to frequently asked questions and a checklist of information to gather from investment advisers to verify the legitimacy of the offer and the investment adviser.

In addition to the community forums and website, the public education program includes a TV and newspaper public service advertising campaign.

The Iowa Insurance Division has general control, supervision and direction over all insurance and securities business transacted in the state, and enforces Iowa's laws and regulations. The IID investigates consumer complaints and prosecutes companies, agents and brokers engaging in unfair trade practices. Consumers with insurance or investment questions or complaints may contact the IID toll-free at 877-955-1212, or visit the division on the Web at www.iid.state.ia.us.

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Joined by Other State and Federal Officials in Des Moines to Discuss Better Preparation and Response to Weather-Related Disasters

DES MOINES - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by local, state and federal officials for the Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, part of President Barack Obama's federal efforts to address disasters caused by climate change. This is the third of four meetings the group will hold before recommending ways the nation can be better prepared to meet weather-related events. Today's meeting is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to protect our natural resources and ensure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.

"Illinois has faced a record number of natural disasters in recent years, and I want to make sure our state is always prepared and equipped to do what is necessary to keep the public safe during weather emergencies," Governor Quinn said. "I look forward to continuing to work with President Obama to keep our state and nation at the forefront of the battle to stop the damaging effects of climate change."

The Des Moines event includes discussions about preparing urban, natural and agricultural areas for flooding, drought and other weather-related disasters. After four such meetings around the country, the group will recommend to President Obama ways to address disaster response and climate change.

The Illinois General Assembly recently passed an expansion of the Clean Water Initiative to include stormwater and green infrastructure projects, a key part of Governor Quinn's agenda. This $2 billion low-interest revolving loan program will help communities throughout Illinois be better prepared for heavy rains caused by climate change.

In the last five years, Illinois has been through 11 natural disasters, including a record drought in 2012; deadly tornadoes in 2012 and 2013; historic winter storms earlier this year; and floods, including the spring 2013 flooding in 49 counties that broke all-time records on four major river systems. Each of these disasters saw the mobilization of state resources at Governor Quinn's direction to clean up, repair damage, speed recovery and reduce the impact of future disasters. Governor Quinn announced a $45 million state relief package to help Illinois local governments recover from the deadly November tornadoes after FEMA denied federal disaster assistance for local governments. The Governor was also successful in securing more than $23.5 million in other forms of federal aid to assist with tornado recovery in the impacted Illinois communities.

Governor Quinn is leading the charge toward sustainable living to fight the root causes of climate change.

Since taking office, Governor Quinn has led Illinois on a path to sustainability. A new report found that Illinois leads the nation in the number of communities using renewable electricity. In February, the U.S. Green Building Council ranked Illinois number one among all 50 states in the sustainable building design movement with more than 29 million square feet of certified green buildings, or 2.29 square feet for every resident.

The Governor set a green example for all Illinois residents by transforming the 159-year old Illinois Executive Mansion, visited by Abraham Lincoln and six other of our nation's Presidents, into a model of sustainable living. The mansion features its own vegetable garden, rain barrels, a compost pile and solar panels. The recent addition of a chicken coop helps composting efforts and has the added benefit of producing fresh eggs for use in the mansion's kitchen.

In 2011, the Illinois Executive Mansion became the first in the nation to install a charging station for electric vehicles. In 2012, LED lighting was installed throughout the Executive Mansion. The new system consumes 90 percent less energy, lasts for 10 years and poses less of a threat to historic artifacts. Additionally, digital water meters were installed to better monitor usage; aging air conditioners were replaced with an energy efficient system.

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