First Organization With Six Domestic Playoff Teams Since 2003; Greeneville Advances To Appy League Finals With Win Tuesday Night

HOUSTON, TX ? When the Tri-City ValleyCats clinched their division in the NY-Penn League on Tuesday night, it gave the Astros a franchise-record six minor league playoff clubs in 2013.

Additionally, the Astros are the first organization to have six domestic affiliates qualify for the playoffs in the same season since Pittsburgh in 2003.

Also on Tuesday night,  the Greeneville Astros rallied for five runs in the 9th inning for a 7-3, come-from-behind win at Kingsport to advance to the Appalachian League finals. They will play Pulaski in a best of three series.

Below is an update on the Astros minor league playoff teams:

Oklahoma City (AAA): First playoff game will be Wednesday Sept. 4 in Oklahoma City vs. Omaha - Round 1 is a best of 5 series.

Corpus Christi (AA): First playoff game will be Wednesday Sept. 4 in Corpus Christi vs. San Antonio - Round 1 is a best of 5 series.

Lancaster (A): Earned first-round bye. First playoff game will be Saturday Sept. 7 in Lancaster - Round 2 is a best of 5 series. Opponent TBD.

Quad Cities (A): First playoff game will be Wednesday Sept. 4 in Davenport. Quad Cities vs. Cedar Rapids.  Round 1 is a best of 3 series.

Tri-City (Short-season A): Clinched playoff spot Tuesday night. Opponent TBD.

Greeneville (R): Defeated Kingsport, 2-1, in a best of 3 series to advance to the Appalachian League finals vs. Pulaski (best of 3 series).

-Astros-

Branstad appoints Larry Noble as head of the Iowa Department of Public Safety  

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today named Larry Noble as head of the Iowa Department of Public Safety following the resignation of Brian London.

 

"I am pleased to bring Larry Noble back to serve as Public Safety Commissioner," said Branstad. "Larry has 30 years of experience in the Iowa Department of Public Safety, and served four years in the Iowa Senate, giving him the experience and leadership ability to restore stability and predictability within this very important department of state government.

 

"I appreciate Larry's willingness to come back and serve Iowans in this important role. Larry Noble has a reputation for integrity and humility, which is important as we focus on the department's future. I have chosen Larry because he has a wealth of experience in the Iowa Department of Public Safety, and has demonstrated the ability to lead with integrity.

 

"Larry Noble has the respect of the people within the department, and he will be a strong leader as we move forward."

Branstad names Brenna Findley interim chief of staff 

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today named Brenna Findley as the interim chief of staff for his administration. Findley, who also serves as the governor's legal counsel, has agreed to serve in this additional position until a permanent replacement is found following Jeff Boeyink's resignation last Friday.

 

"Brenna will provide continuity within our office as I search for a new chief of staff," said Branstad. "I am pleased Brenna has agreed to serve in this important role, and will rely on her leadership as we continue the work and operations of my administration."

 

The governor embarks on a trade mission to India and Japan on Friday. A permanent chief of staff will not be named prior to the governor's Sept. 18 return to Iowa.

 

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CHAMPAIGN, IL (09/04/2013)(readMedia)--

WHO:

• Sgt. Shawna Morrison was killed in Iraq on Sept. 5, 2004. She was a member of the Illinois Army National Guard's 1544th Transportation Company based in Paris, Ill.

WHAT:

• The University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill. will recognize Morrison and dedicate a permanent memorial in the north courtyard of Lincoln Hall in her memory.

WHEN:

• September 8, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.

WHERE:

• University of Illinois campus, Lincoln Hall Theater, 702 S. Wright St in Urbana, Ill.

WHY:

• Shawna Morrison was a student at the University of Illinois and was the first female from the Illinois National Guard killed while serving in Iraq. She was also the first Illinois student actively enrolled in college to die in combat operations.

MORE:

• Brig. Gen. Daniel Krumrei, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, will join Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, Army Surgeon General and Thomas Lamont, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at the event.

The event is open to the public. RSVPs are requested, but not required at http://www.go.illinois.edu/morrison

For more information, contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at 217-761-3569 or Email: ng.il.ilarng.list.staff-pao@mail.mil

Become our Facebook Fan!

www.facebook.com/illinoisstatemilitarymuseum

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Knowing these Causes Can Help You Get Relief and Prevent
Future Problems, Expert Says

Benjamin Franklin's famous quote, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," has never been more apt considering the millions of Americans who suffer from back pain.

"But how can anyone take preventative measures when most back-pain specialists take a one-dimensional perspective on this common problem after back trauma has occurred?" asks expert Jesse Cannone.

Most people experience significant back pain at some point in their lives; unfortunately, the response from the medical community is too often surgery, which fails 60 percent of the time, according to a consensus of surgeons.

"The back consists of many intricate anatomical parts, all of which are dependent on the smooth functioning of each other, but there are many factors people don't know about that affect the back's function throughout a lifetime," says Cannone, author of "The 7-Day Back Pain Cure," (www.losethebackpain.com).

"In order to better heed Franklin's advice, more people need to know how back pain starts. Sadly, in most cases, they won't get this profoundly helpful info from their doc."

Health should always include a comprehensive view, including vigilance for mental, dietary and physical well-being, he says. Below, Cannone covers in detail the physical causes that often lead to back pain over time:

• Minor problems can lead to major back dysfunction: When a physical condition isn't corrected, the body starts to break down. Tight muscles can pull the vertebrae out of alignment, pinching a nerve or creating a herniated disc. Physical dysfunctions can pressure joints and, over time, stress them to the maximum until they develop inflammation and injury. Overworked muscles can go into spasm, causing pain and forcing the body into physical dysfunction. Pain from this condition is often triggered by a specific activity, like heavy lifting, which is why most people believe they've "thrown out" their back in a singular event. In reality, however, it was a long process.

• Muscle imbalances - the tug of war inside your body: We're born with well-balanced bodies, but rarely do they stay that way. Over time, we tend to favor one side of our bodies, and with repetitive activities, we often create imbalances by working some muscles too much while underutilizing others. Sitting is one way of creating imbalance, but various activities - writing, eating, cleaning, cooking, laundry - in which we favor one hand over the other can, too.

• Lack of muscle use: Unlike other machines, which wear out the more they're used, the human body grows stronger the more you use it. When you don't use all of your muscles regularly, the muscles that keep the body balanced wither.

• Loss of muscle flexibility: Women who frequently walk with high heels often suffer a variety of problems as a result. One problem is the shortening of the calf muscle. Imagine the muscle as a rubber band that extends from the back of your knee to your heel. When you wear high heels, the rubber band shortens and, over time, the muscle adapts to this contracted position. When you take off the heels, the calf muscle will feel pulled. This frequently happens to other muscles in the body, throwing off body balance.

About Jesse Cannone

Jesse Cannone is a leading back-pain expert with a high rate of success for those he consults. He has been a personal trainer since 1998, specializing in finding root causes for chronic pain, and finding solutions with a multidiscipline approach. Cannone publishes the free email newsletter "Less Pain, More Life," read by more than 400,000 worldwide, and he is the creator of Muscle Balance Therapy™.

MOLINE, Ill. (September 3, 2013) - The Quad City Mallards have signed goaltender Philippe Trudeau and forward John Heffernan, the Mallards announced today.

Trudeau, who turns 20 later this month, split last year between the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Val d'Or Foreurs and posted a 3.53 goals against average and .895 save percentage along with a record of 11-19-2 in 44 regular season games.  The 6' 6", 213-pound Blainville, Quebec, product went on to backstop the Foreurs to an opening round playoff upset of the Prince Edward Island Rocket.

Trudeau spent three seasons in the QMJHL, playing briefly for the Moncton Wildcats before his stints in Cape Breton and Val d'Or.  In exactly 100 career junior games he turned in a 3.81 goals against average and a .884 save percentage alongside a 28-47-3 record. 

"Philippe is a quality young goaltender who has great size and a lot of potential," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski.   "We're excited about him joining the Mallards and doing his part to make sure we can count on strong goaltending night-in and night-out."

Heffernan, 24, scored four goals and totaled 11 points as a senior at Merrimack College last season.  Over four years as a Warrior, the 6' 2", 200-pound Heffernan produced nine goals and 22 points in 65 games.  The Scituate, Massachusetts, native's sophomore season saw Merrimack earn what was its second ever NCAA Division I tournament berth and its first in nearly a quarter of a century.

Before arriving at Merrimack, Heffernan won a pair of Massachusetts state titles- in 2006 and 2007-  while at Boston College High School and went on to lead the Bridgewater Bandits of the Eastern Junior Hockey League in point-scoring (20-33-53) in 2008-09.  Heffernan was a teammate of fellow Mallard signee and Scituate native Rob Dongara in both youth hockey and high school.

"John's a hard-working player who's had success at every level he's played at," said Ruskowski.  "He's been schooled at a very solid college program so we're looking forward to joining us in the Quad Cities."

The Mallards will open their seventeenth season- and their fourth in the CHL- when they host the Rapid City Rush on Saturday night, October 19.  Mallards 2013-14 season tickets as well as half season tickets and flex packs are now on sale.  The Mallards offer ticket packages to meet any budget and season ticket holders also receive a host of additional benefits, including a unique season ticket holder Mallards jersey.  More ticket package information is available by calling the Mallards at 309-277-1364 or emailing info@myqcmallards.com.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are approaching their seventeenth season and their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The i wireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards

-### Quad City Mallards ### -

Greetings!

The National Organic Program (NOP) is pleased to announce the September 2013 issue of the Organic Integrity Quarterly newsletter.

We have also published an updated instruction for certifying agents regarding organic certificates.

September 2013 Organic Integrity Quarterly

The September issue of the Organic Integrity Quarterly highlights recent work to support organic agriculture, including:

  • A message from Administrator Anne Alonzo
  • National Farmers Market Week
  • Global Organic Trade Guide
  • Standards updates
  • Organic integrity update
  • USDA blog: Can GMOs be used in organic products?

View September Organic Integrity Quarterly

Organic Certificates Instruction

This Instruction addresses Organic Certificates, and describes what elements are necessary on an organic certificate to accurately communicate a certified operation's organic status. It also clarifies that only one operation may be listed on the organic certificate.

This document clarifies the NOP's expectations of its certifiers in this area, will support increased consistency in certificates across certifiers, and supports our ongoing "Sound and Sensible" initiative.

View NOP 2603: Organic Certificates

About the National Organic Program (NOP)

The NOP facilitates trade and ensures integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. The NOP is part of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, which facilitates the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products. Learn more.

About the NOP Organic Insider

The NOP Organic Insider informs the organic community on a wide range of NOP functions, including organic standards, accreditation and international activities, compliance and enforcement, the National Organic Standards Board, training events, and the Cost Share program.

You are receiving this email because you elected to receive selected updates from the USDA National Organic Program. You may manage your profile to receive additional updates on other NOP functions or unsubscribe at any time by using the links below.

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES FINAL PERFORMANCES OF CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ROCK OPERA "THE LOST CHRISTMAS EVE"

2013 WINTER TOUR PLAYING ARENAS NATIONWIDE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 | 7:30pm
iWireless Center

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) will celebrate their first 15 years of touring with an encore and final performance of their multi-platinum rock opera, "The Lost Christmas Eve." TSO's 2013 Winter Tour will begin on November 13th, playing over 100 shows in 67 cities across North America, presented by Hallmark Channel.

Live Nation is proud to welcome TSO when they return to the Quad Cities for a spectacular show at the iWireless Center on Thursday, December 12 at 7:30pm. Tickets go on-sale Friday, September 6.

TSO, whose phenomena has grown year after year, has played over 1,500 shows for more than 10 million fans in the past fifteen years, and quietly became one of the world's biggest arena rock acts. The unprecedented fan driven growth is a testament to TSO founder Paul O'Neill's vision of "Rock Theater," the perfect amalgamation of Broadway storytelling with the spectacle of rock, delighting audiences of all ages year after year.

For one final year, audiences will get to experience the modern Charles Dickens-like classic, "The Lost Christmas Eve." Following the 2012 premiere of this acclaimed rock opera, critics were raving, calling it "...a must see for any music lover" , "...a rock 'n' roll holiday celebration worth seeing !" and an "unrivaled spectacle of sight and sound." "The Lost Christmas Eve" features a diverse soundtrack fusing elements of rock, classical, folk, R&B, and theatrical-styled music, with the story taking you on a journey into the "Capra-esque" world of TSO creator / producer, Paul O'Neill. The critically acclaimed rock opera encompasses a rundown hotel, an old toy store, a blues bar, a Gothic cathedral, and their respective inhabitants all intertwined during a single enchanted Christmas Eve in New York City. "The Lost Christmas Eve", performed in its entirety for the final time, will feature the hit single "Wizards in Winter" as well as longtime crowd favorites, "Christmas Nights in Blue" and "Siberian Sleigh Ride." It will be followed by songs from last years EP release from Lava/Republic, "Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night)", classics from TSO's debut album, "Christmas Eve & Other Stories" and the rest of the heralded catalogue of rock operas.

While off the road, TSO is constantly stockpiling new projects in their Rock Theater arsenal, including the rock operas "Gutter Ballet and the New York City Blues Express," "Letters from the Labyrinth" and "Romanov: When Kings Must Whisper", an epic story set amidst the Bolshevik Revolution.

Since their debut in 1996, TSO has defied the rules of an ever-changing music industry being regarded as a mix of The Who's "Tommy", Andrew Lloyd Weber's musicals, and Pink Floyd's expansive light show.. Year after year, the group has ranked in the Top 10 for both gross revenues and attendance, according to Pollstar magazine. Having played live to over one million fans each year TSO saw a 15% increase in sales alone in 2012, transforming them into a year round tradition that's here to stay.

Tickets start as low as $32.50!

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 13 at 10am at livenation.com, the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Applicable fees may apply.

Hosts "Meet and Greet" event to discuss keeping college within reach with U of I students


IOWA CITY, IA -- Rep. Bruce Braley traveled to Iowa City and the University of Iowa today to talk with college students about the rising cost of higher education and his efforts to keep college within reach for more Iowa students and their families.
Braley is running for the Senate seat held by Sen. Tom Harkin, who announced in January he was retiring at the end of his current term.
Braley said, "A college education opens doors of economic opportunity in a world increasingly defined by global competition. That's why the dream of a college education needs to stay within reach for anyone who wants to pursue it. But in the past decade, median household income has actually gone down while the cost of college tuition has gone up -- by nearly 83 percent. Today, Iowa college students graduate with some of the highest debt loads in the country.
"We need to do more to ensure the next generation can afford the opportunities created by pursuing higher education. That's why I've worked hard to keep student loan interest rates low and renew tax breaks for families and students paying college tuition. And I'll work to do even more in the Senate."
Braley has worked relentlessly to keep college within reach for more Iowa students and families.
  • In 2012 and again this year, he helped lead the successful push to keep federally subsidized students loans from doubling to 6.8 percent.
  • In 2012, Braley helped to renew the popular, $2,500 American Opportunity Tax Credit, which offsets the cost of tuition, books, and fees.
  • And just this week, Braley announced an effort to renew a $4,000 federal income tax deduction for college tuition and fees.
Bruce Braley was born in Grinnell and grew up in nearby Brooklyn, Iowa. His father, a Marine, fought on Iwo Jima in World War II; his mother was a teacher. Braley worked his way through college and law school building roads and bridges with the Poweshiek County Roads Department, waiting tables, and tending bar. He worked as an attorney for 23 years before being elected to Congress. Braley has become known for his work on behalf of veterans, his advocacy for the middle class, and his bipartisan effectiveness. Braley lives in Waterloo with his wife, Carolyn. They have three children: Lisa, David, and Paul.

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PEORIA, Ill. (Sept. 3, 2013) ? Many patients need a one-time blood transfusion, but the estimated 100,000 Americans with sickle cell disease face a lifetime of them. During September, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the American Red Cross encourages blood donations from donors of all types.

Most people with sickle cell disease are of African descent, but many are of Indian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, Mediterranean and other descents. Because recipients are less likely to have complications from blood donated by someone with the same ethnicity, a diverse supply is important.

Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to form an abnormal shape. Regular blood transfusions can help reduce the risks of stroke, damage to major organs and other complications. While better management of the disease has increased life expectancy in recent years, there is still no cure.

Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to learn more and make an appointment to donate blood for patients in need like those with sickle cell disease.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Clinton County

Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Assumption Catholic Church, 147 Broadway St. in Charlotte, Iowa

Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ashford University, 400 N. Bluff in Clinton, Iowa

Sept. 28 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 1364 Washington St. in Andover, Iowa

Henry County

Sept. 17 from 1:30-5 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 201 First St. in Colona, Ill.

Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kewanee High School, 1211 E. Third St. in Kewanee, Ill.

Sept. 24 from 1-6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 214 NW Second Ave. in Galva, Ill.

Sept. 25 from 2-6 p.m. at First Christian Church, 105 Dwight St. in Kewanee, Ill.

Mercer County

Sept. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at VFW Hall, 106 SW Third Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aledo Genesis Medical Center, 409 NW Ninth Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

Rock Island County

Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Moline Country Financial, 3709 16th St. in Moline, Ill.

Whiteside County

Sept. 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD #3, 79 Grove St. in Prophetstown, Ill. -Platelet donations only. Platelet donations are taken by appointment only.

Sept. 18 from 2-6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

Sept. 19 from 12-6 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway in Morrison, Ill.

Sept. 24 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 Fourth St. in Fulton, Ill.

Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

Sept. 28 from 7:30-10:30 a.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Illinois State Police District 1 HQ, 3107 E. Lincolnway in Sterling, Ill.

How to donate blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The Red Cross is supported in part through generous financial donations from the United Way. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

 

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Saturday, Sept. 7th & Sunday, Sept. 8th at 2:00pm at Bettendorf High School Performing Arts Center

See the Wisconsin Public Television documentary "Wisconsin's Nazi Resistance:  The Mildred Fish Harnack Story" developed by WPT's Joel Waldinger who will be present to introduce the film and take questions after the showing. Cost is $5 at the door and free for students with a valid student I.D.

Joel Waldinger will also lead our Educators' Workshop on the film on Saturday, September 7th from 10am till 12pm. Area history teachers at the middle, high school, and college level are welcome to attend free of charge. Participants will receive classroom materials and a copy of the documentary. Pre-registration is required. Teachers may register for the workshop at:

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=h8ivt9cab&oeidk=a07e7sjaug9195e076f

Read the movie review by Linda Cook here:

http://qctimes.com/entertainment/columnists/linda-cook/wisconsin-s-nazi-resistance-the-mildred-fish-harnack-story-a/article_d8cb3ab1-0600-5dd5-b8a6-4b1fa7e9b1e6.html

Don't forget to see the accompanying exhibit from the Milwaukee Jewish Museum at GAHC now through November 3rd.

This exhibit and related programming is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities and the Holocaust Education Committee of the Greater Quad City Area.

visit gahc.org for more info

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