16 Aug 2013

AGENDA SCOTT COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY AUTHORITY

By Nicholas Depew

Thursday August 22, 2013 at 3:00 pm

Scott County Administrative Center

Room 638

600 W. 4th St. Davenport, Iowa

1. Roll Call:  Barber, Drummond, Scheibe

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Approval of Minutes

4. Election of Officers

Current Officers:  Chairperson:  Dale Barber

Secretary: Carolyn Scheibe

Treasurer: Wilma Drummond

5. Approval of authorization of debt payment.

6. Other items of interest.

16 Aug 2013

AFSCME IOWA COUNCIL 61: GOVERNOR BRANSTAD AND DHS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ACCEPT OFFER OF STAFF TRAINING FOR IOWA JUVENILE HOME

By Brian Jennings

DES MOINES - AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan released the following statement concerning the need for additional staff training at the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo and Governor Branstad's comments regarding privatization of the Home:

"Governor Branstad and the Iowa Department of Human Services should immediately accept the offer of free staff training from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. This organization is highly regarded and deals with other similarly-situated public facilities. Accepting their offer of assistance should be a common sense decision for this Administration.

"I want to thank the staff of the Iowa Juvenile Home. They are committed and work very hard to turn around the lives of children who truly need assistance. Much of their hard work may not make it into media reports, but I know that staff truly cares about the home's residents. The frontline staff has no control over management decisions and the amount of training they receive.

"The Governor's interest in privatizing the home is misguided and an attempt to avoid accountability for the failures of the Iowa Juvenile Home management and Department of Human Services leadership. The use of 'isolation rooms' was a decision made by the management of the Iowa Juvenile Home. If Director Palmer was not aware of their use, he should have been.

"Iowans need accountable leadership at the Iowa Juvenile Home and Department of Human Services. Hiring an outside contractor to run the home would diminish public control and oversight.

"The record of privatizing juvenile facilities in this country is a poor one. For-profit facilities put profits ahead of children and even non-profit facilities lack the accountability that comes from being directly overseen by representatives of our elected leaders. Privatized facilities have little incentive to rehabilitate youths: doing so would reduce their revenue.

Some examples of the dangers of privatized facilities include :

  • In Pennsylvania, the developer of a privatized juvenile detention facility bribed two judges to divert children to his facility.
  • One private juvenile detention facility in Mississippi run by GEO Group Inc. was found by US District Court Judge Carlton Reeves to have 'allowed a cesspool of unconstitutional and inhuman acts and conditions to germinate.' Problems at the facility included staff inciting violence between youths, hiring staff with gang affiliations, lack of adequate medical care, and lack of rehabilitation services and educational services provided to youths.

"Furthermore, privately run services are often considered out of sight, out of mind by elected officials, which leads to decreased funding and eventual elimination of services as seen most recently at Abbe Center.

"We call on the Branstad Administration and Department of Human Services leadership to immediately accept the offer of free training by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors. Furthermore, they should drop proposals to privatize the home and diminish the Administration's accountability for the manner in which the facility is run."

 

Sources:

CNN Website, 2/24/2009

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/02/23/pennsylvania.corrupt.judges/

Southern Poverty Law Center Website, 5/3/2012:

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/splc-investigation-lawsuit-expose-barbaric-conditions-at-for-profit-youth-prison-i

###
16 Aug 2013

GOVERNOR'S STEM ADVISORY COUNCIL RELEASES YEAR 1 ASSESSMENT REPORT

By Office of the Governor of the State of Iowa

(DES MOINES) - Executive Order Number 81 signed by Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad on May 15, 2013, declared that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education should be strengthened as part of providing a world-class education, encouraging innovation and enhancing economic development in Iowa.  The Advisory Council's top priorities are to increase student interest and achievement in STEM in order to be well prepared for post-secondary study and the rewarding STEM careers that await them here in Iowa.

Wrapping up the first implementation year of Council programming, outcomes and indicators suggest a strong start, with plenty of work yet to do. Assessment of STEM Council programs is a collaborative effort of evaluation centers at Iowa's three public universities - the Center for Social and Behavioral Research (CSBR) at the University of Northern Iowa, the Research Institute for Studies in Education (RISE) at Iowa State University, and Iowa Testing Program (ITP) at the University of Iowa. The collaborative issued their first year report Iowa STEM Monitoring Project 2012-2013 Summary Report at the biannual meeting of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council on August 15, 2013. The report is publicly available at www.IowaSTEM.gov.

Major findings of the first-year assessment provide plenty to build upon. For example:

  • All twelve of the 2012-13 exemplary programs scaled up across Iowa through the new STEM Network were found to increase student interest (89 percent of students reported more interest in at least one STEM subject after having participated).
  • A steady decline is observed in the interest of Iowa youth in general when it comes to STEM topics and STEM careers, from elementary to middle school to high school.
  • Ninety-four percent of surveyed Iowans believe that science and technology are making our lives better.
  • The Iowa Assessment mathematics and science scores of participants in STEM Council programs were considerably stronger than the scores of young Iowans in general (an encouraging association though evaluators point out insufficient information to conclude causation).

The Council's co-chair, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds greeted the findings with cautious optimism, "The fine work of the assessment team boosts the morale of the hundreds of professionals across the State who are working hard to implement the Council's vision," she said, "while at the same time we're reminded of the haves and have nots in Iowa when it comes to STEM who we owe our very best effort moving forward."

A disparity was revealed among parents when it comes to beliefs that their children are "very well prepared" in STEM subjects at school - 37 percent of rural versus 62 percent of urban parents felt so. One of the key considerations in rolling out exemplary STEM programs last year to almost 900 Iowa educators and 38,000 learners was to target regions of the state with the highest need.

Council co-chair Mary Andringa, President and CEO of Vermeer Corporation, sees great value in the assessment document. "STEM is a national imperative in this era of globally competitive markets, and Iowa is really well-positioned to lead by example," she said. "Data-driven decision making informed by objective measures will keep us on the front edge."

The 2012-13 Iowa STEM Monitoring Project Summary Report is available at http://www.iowastem.gov/sites/default/files/stem_monitoring_report_final8-13-13.pdf

STEM programming for FY2014 is already well underway with nine competitively selected exemplary programs being supported in some 3,800 clubs and classrooms reaching almost 100,000 Iowa youth through the Council's Network.  To learn more about STEM education in Iowa contact the Governor's STEM Advisory Council Administration Office or visit www.IowaSTEM.gov.

###

About the Governor's STEM Advisory Council: Formed in 2011, the Council is a 40-member, public-private partnership dedicated to building a strong STEM education foundation for all Iowans. For more information, go to www.IowaSTEM.gov.
16 Aug 2013

Is Sesame Street ahead of the Curve in Addressing Children's Issues?

By Rick Martin
Overcoming Parental Challenges; Author, Entertainer &
Former Foster Child Offers Advice

Sesame Street recently addressed a topic that can be hard to talk about, even among adults, and directed it toward children. Alex is the newest character created for the program, introduced in an effort to relate to the 2.7 million children in the United States, younger than age 18, who have a parent in the country's prison system.

"Addressing social issues on a mass scale is always a challenge, and with publicly funded programs being slashed left in right due to the economic downturn, one could be reasonably concerned that underprivileged children are being left behind; fortunately, Alex serves as an example to which young children can relate," says Judy Colella, a musician and author who lived in foster care for part of her childhood. Her young-adult fantasy, "Overcomer - The Journey," is available through her website, www.themacdarachronicles.com.

"Children raised in disadvantaged homes are often shy, intimidated, afraid or angry and don't know how to reach out for help, even if it's just someone to talk to."

For guardians who find themselves in a challenging circumstance while raising a child, Colella offers advice for helping children overcome hardship:

• Heroes don't have to be sexy; they have to be available. You can be your child's hero, and the first step doesn't include a cape, or a multimillion-dollar contract with an NFL team or a starring role alongside Brad Pitt. You simply need to be there with a sympathetic ear. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 24 million children in America live without their biological father, which often contributes to poverty. But poor families aren't the only ones whose children suffer. Parents with executive, round-the-clock jobs are also often neglecting in their child's emotional support.

• Show children they are not destined to repeat the mistakes of their parent(s). It's a soft bias that often trickles into the minds of disadvantaged kids - that they are doomed to repeat the fate of their parents. This could mean imprisonment, drug addiction or general underachievement. Children are at the mercy of their inexperience, and the idea of an alternative path often isn't driven home to them. Teach your child the enlightenment of measureable results. A sport, a musical instrument or specific attention to school studies is a great way of showing change.

• Understand the power of our social nature. Human beings are hardwired to be social. Children with parents who are not emotionally available can be particularly sensitive to peer pressure and bullying. Be mindful of the influences in your child's life. Positive role models like coaches, teachers and other mentors often prove to be life-changing. If your son or daughter seeks the approval of friends who encourage deviancy and underachievement, it should come as no surprise when they run into trouble.

About Judy Colella

Judy Colella is a musician, singer and author of a young adult fantasy series about a boy from 6th century Ireland who finds himself in an abusive modern-day American foster home. As a child, Cian MacDara must travel across time and continents to fulfill his destiny. Judy, who lived in foster care as a child and was adopted by a loving family, says children and teenagers need to learn the power of the choices they make.

16 Aug 2013

LUMBERKINGS OUTLAST BANDITS IN 9-7 SLUGFEST

By Marco LaNave

Quad Cities loses consecutive games for first time since July 21, sits 2 1/2 games behind Cedar Rapids

CLINTON, Iowa (AUG. 14, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits overcame a 4-0, first-inning deficit Wednesday night, but they later lost leads of 5-4 and 7-6 and did not score after the fourth inning, as the Clinton LumberKings rallied for a 9-7 victory at Ashford University Field.

Quad Cities (30-20 second half, 68-51 overall) played its highest scoring game - 16 runs - since July 7 and has lost consecutive games for the first time since July 21. The loss pushed the River Bandits 2 ½ games behind first-place Cedar Rapids in the Midwest League Western Division standings. Clinton (25-26, 58-62) won its third straight game.

In the first inning, River Bandits left-hander Josh Hader allowed consecutive doubles by LumberKings shortstop Brock Hebert and second baseman Tim Lopes for a 1-0 deficit. Hader walked the next three batters, and a wild pitch scored a run before a strikeout. A bases-loaded hit batter, strikeout and fourth walk in the inning made it 4-0, before right-hander Daniel Minor took over for the final out.

River Bandits third baseman Rio Ruiz homered to lead off the second inning against right-hander Rigoberto Garcia. In the third inning, right fielder Teoscar Hernandez, shortstop Carlos Correa, left fielder Danry Vasquez and first baseman Bobby Borchering hit four consecutive singles. With two outs, designated hitter Terrell Joyce hit a two-run double to left-center field for a 5-4 Quad Cities lead.

The LumberKings retook the lead in the bottom of the third, as catcher Marcus Littlewood and first baseman Taylor Ard hit consecutive doubles, and second baseman Tim Lopes hit a go-ahead, two-out single for a 6-5 Clinton lead.

In the Quad Cities fourth inning, second baseman Austin Elkins walked, and center fielder Tony Kemp hit a single, before both advanced on Hernandez's sacrifice. Correa then hit a single through the middle to bring in both runners for a 7-6 River Bandits advantage.

After Minor completed 3 1/3 innings with two runs allowed, right-hander Patrick Christensen pitched a scoreless fifth but allowed the tying run in the sixth, as a walk and hit batter put the tying run in scoring position, and Elkins' error allowed the tying run to score.

In the seventh inning, River Bandits right-hander Zach Morton allowed three straight hits, including a go-ahead single by center fielder Alfredo Morales. The LumberKings added a run in the eighth when Ard hit an RBI single.

Right-hander Richard Vargas got the final two outs of the eighth inning with the tying run in scoring position and earned his second save.

The River Bandits continue the series in Clinton at 7 p.m. Thursday. River Bandits right-hander Lance McCullers (6-5) is scheduled to face LumberKings left-hander Scott DeCecco (9-8).

UP NEXT: The first 2,000 fans to Modern Woodmen Park Saturday night will receive a bobblehead of Minnesota Twins first baseman and former River Bandit Justin Morneau, courtesy of Mediacom and the Dispatch-Argus. The 7 p.m. game kicks off a seven-game home stand through Friday, Aug. 23. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: 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 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses . The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

*****

16 Aug 2013

Going to River Roots this weekend? Find out how you can support GAHC too!

By Kelly Lao
Visit us at the Studio 1 Beverage Tent on SATURDAY, AUGUST 17th from 5pm until 8:30pm
WE KEEP OUR TIPS FOR GAHC!
Support live music and the German American Heritage Center. By purchasing your beverages at our tent and tipping our loyal volunteers, you will be helping us to provide great programs and events like these: http://gahc.org/calendar.htm

Thank you!


AUGUST 17th - 5pm-8:30pm

River Roots Live
for complete lineup and ticket information:
16 Aug 2013

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action **Wednesday, August 14, 2013**

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 1209

An Act Concerning: Conservation

Makes technical changes to clean up several acts related to the University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute.

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 2163

An Act Concerning: Government

Extends amount of military leave allowed for employees of state universities and community colleges.

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 2183

An Act Concerning: Transportation Procurement

Creates the Transportation Sustainability Procurement Program.

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediately

###

16 Aug 2013

Poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez Publishes Kindle Edition of "Hey Yo! Yo Soy!"

By Rick Martin

2Leaf Press publishes Kindle Edition of Historical Bilingual Poetry Collection by Nuyorican poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/14/2013 -- 2Leaf Press is pleased to announce its first Kindle publication, "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition" by Nuyorican poet Jesús Papoleto Meléndez. Besides being the first major contemporary poet to publish his works bilingually in the U.S., he is also the first to publish his collected works as an eBook on Amazon Kindle.

The 386-page bilingual print edition published in October 2012, is currently available for sale on Amazon.com and other online outlets. The collection, comprised of three previously published books, "Casting Long Shadows" (1970), "Have You Seen Liberation" (1971), and "Street Poetry & Other Poems" (1972), consist of 60 poems about growing up Puerto Rican in New York City's El Barrio.

Born and raised in New York City from parents who migrated from Puerto Rico, Meléndez notes, "Back then, it was a different experience being a Puerto Rican in New York City. The sense of not belonging to Puerto Rico and not belonging in the United States is something everyone was going through. Writing gave me a chance to prove that I was a human being and in doing so, I became part of a movement that connected me to my heritage." Meléndez has long been considered one of the founders of the Nuyorican Movement.

The Spanish translations, which appear alongside the English, have been superbly rendered by Adam Wier, Carolina Fung Feng, and Marjorie González. The collection includes a forward by Samuel Diaz and Carmen M. Pietri-Diaz, a commentary about the translation process by Wier, an introduction by Sandy Maria Esteves, and an afterword by Jaime "Shaggy" Flores, as well as historical photos of Meléndez and an exclusive interview, edited by Gabrielle David and Kevin E. Tobar Pesántez. All of this material has been retained and is available on the Kindle edition as well.

Very few literary publishers have committed to publishing poetry in an eBook format," says Gabrielle David, publisher of 2Leaf Press. "The first problem is the budget, being able to afford qualified people to convert the books properly into a stable digital format that's readable across numerous devices. The biggest problem is figuring out the best way to format the work without losing the spacing or formatting of the poems. We've been looking at this closely for the past two years and feel confident that by using HTML formatting techniques with clean code, and paying special attention to line breaks and spacing, for the most part, we can maintain the aesthetics of the author's poetry."

The press has decided to break out its eBook titles with Amazon's Kindle before expanding its market to Nook and Kobo. "For the benefit of anyone reading this," explains David, "you don't have to own a Kindle to read our books. You can download one of the free Kindle Apps on Amazon.com for your Android phone or tablet, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows 8 PC or tablet, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone." 2Leaf Press plans to upload titles directly to Barnes & Noble and KoboBooks in the immediate future.

Whether it's in print or eBook format, 2Leaf Press encourages readers to pick up a copy of "Hey Yo! Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry, A Bilingual Edition." It is a collection to be devoured as a single sustained narrative, from the first page to the last; a worthy addition in anyone's library.

AMAZON PRINT EDITION || AMAZON KINDLE

2Leaf Press || NUYORICAN WORLD SERIES || ISBN: 978-0988476301 || LCCN: 2012951817

About 2Leaf Press
2Leaf Press is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy. http://www.2leafpress.org

16 Aug 2013

Nominations for TV Series Reveal Scores of 'Human Angels'

By Rick Martin

Nominations of "human angels" are pouring in for a national TV series that will tell the stories of everyday Americans who give of themselves to help others.

"We're finding there are so many people from every walk of life - young children and teenagers, the very elderly, rich people and poor - quietly extending their hands to others," said Jim Lindsey, chairman of  Angel Wings Entertainment, LLC, a company on a mission to find and inspire "human angels" across the country.

"So many of their stories have brought tears to our eyes. These are people who see a need and say, 'I can do something about this. I can help,' And with their gifts of time and service, they transform lives."

The company is still accepting nominations at www.AngelWingsEntertainment.com. Those selected as Angels will be featured in mini-documentaries and stand to win money for their charities. It's part of a multi-media effort to "shine a light on the best of human behavior" and inspire a national movement of giving and caring.

The effort is funded in part by an endowment from philanthropist John Shimer, who teamed with a like-minded group of veteran media and marketing professionals.

Shimer's work with a "human angel," a woman who established a vocational school in impoverished Uganda, inspired him to launch the Angels Among Us Project. That effort to recognize and reward service to others led to the creation of the media company, Angel Wings Entertainment. Shimer is a director of the charitable corporation Fortune Family Foundation.

"We need to see more stories about the good things people do, rather than all the bad," Shimer said. "If we want to see the best in human behavior, we need to be showing people what that looks like."

The Angel Wings Entertainment board includes Lindsey, a renowned brand builder and former vice-chairman of the top advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide, as well as a leader of ad agencies McCaffrey & McCall and Hill Holiday/Wakeman & DeForrest.

It also includes CEO Tom Keegan, an entertainment industry veteran who has worked on more than 500 productions for ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and national syndication, including the Emmy Award-winning Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (ABC), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (motion picture for NBC), The Hollywood Reporter, Front Runners and Celebrity Sweepstakes.

Follow Angel Wings Entertainment on Twitter: @AngelWingsTV.

16 Aug 2013

What A Ride Bike Ride

By Christ Church United Methodist

BIKE RIDE

2:00pm - 4:00pm on Sunday, August 18.

2, 10, and 20 mile ride options

Beginning and ending at Remember When Ice Cream and Candies, 625 - 1st Ave, Hampton, Illinois.

SUMMER CONCERT

Immediately following the bike ride from 4:00pm until 7:00pm

at Remember When Ice Cream and Candies.

Bring a Lawn Chair!

Pages

more

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

    

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Meetings Calendar

Kids Calendar

Eat & Drink Calendar