02 Jul 2013

Loebsack to Host Veterans Roundtables Across the District

By Joe Hand

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced that he will host a series of Veterans Roundtables across the Second District next week. These forums will give veterans and their families an opportunity to speak with Loebsack. Staff will also be on hand for veterans to seek assistance if they are having issues with the Veterans Administration, or any Federal agency. Roundtables will be held in Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Albia, Knoxville, Newton, Davenport and Clinton. Veterans and media are invited to attend.

"As a military parent, I believe that we have no greater responsibility as a nation than to care for our veterans with the same dignity and honor with which they have served our country," said Loebsack. "I look forward to this opportunity to speak directly with veterans and their families about issues that are important to them."

Veterans Roundtable Schedule

Monday, July 1

Oskaloosa

1:30pm

American Legion

302 High Ave. E.

Ottumwa

3:00pm

Hotel Ottumwa

Keokuk Room

107 East Second Street

Tuesday, July 2

Albia

9:30am

Monroe County Veterans Affairs Office Conference Room

1801 South B Street

Knoxville

11:15am

Knoxville VFW John Myers Post

413 S. Lincoln St.

Newton

3:30pm

American Legion

1101 W. 4th St., Newton

Wednesday, July 3

Davenport

10:00am

American Legion Post 26

702 W. 35th St.

Clinton

1:00pm

Clinton County Admin. Bldg.

Board Room

1900 N. 3rd St.

###

02 Jul 2013

QC Segway Tours & Flooding

By Cole Chaplin

Due to the flooding at various locations along the bike path, Quad City Segways Tours are temporarily suspended. However, continue to call Cole 563-594-8839 or visit their website www.quadcitysegway.com as they plan on offering options in order to keep bookings in the future once the waters receded enough for tours to begin.

02 Jul 2013

How Top Companies are Elevating Loyalty, Productivity and Innovation in Their Workforce

By Ginny Grimsley

Treat Your Organization's Most Valuable Resource with Care, Says Former Businessman of the Year

When a successful formula is discovered in the business world, it's copied and becomes part of standard operating procedure throughout entire industries.

The newest SOP trend among leading businesses? - Focusing on employee and family well-being, says Gary Kunath, who was honored nationally as Businessman of the Year and recognized with a dinner hosted by the President of the United States.

"Many think that professional well-being drives personal well-being, but it's the exact opposite," says Kunath, a speaker at top business schools and businesses including Lockheed and Marriott, and author of "Life...Don't Miss It. I Almost Did: How I Learned To Live Life to Its Fullest," (www.lifedontmissitbook.com).

"The top companies know focusing on employee well-being is critical and serves as the conduit to increasing innovation, emotional loyalty, natural productivity and overall profitability, but they have exhausted the traditional vehicles inside their companies to do this, so they are focusing on impacting their employees lives 'outside' of the company."

Employee well-being is very smart business and everyone wins, he says; it's the key to elevating associate engagement. According to the Aspen Institute, more than 70 percent of employees today would sacrifice promotions and pay increases for family well-being. Yet only 40 percent of employees feel their employers demonstrate that they care about them, says the American Psychology Association.

Several major corporations have approached Kunath and asked him to build a program that shows their people how to master life balance and maximize the joy and contentment in their lives, he says.

"The results have been tremendous," he says. "People love that they are cared for just as much when leaving the building as they are when arriving."

Kunath's newest three hour seminar for businesses centers on employee life balance and well-being; here he offers five things business owners and employees should consider in achieving life balance:

• Bring humanity back to the workplace: There are simple truths about what motivates employees today and what they want and need from their employers. Employee well-being drives profits and is good for business, he points out. Employers need to allow employees to completely disconnect from work in their off hours - for instance, not expecting them to respond to emails or conference calls after hours. He also points out the "Life Balance Dilemmas" people face, including his own; a former workaholic lifestyle nearly ruined his family relationships before he learned how to develop balance.

• The "Life ... Don't Miss It" approach: According to a Harvard study, we all have the capability to maximize our happiness regardless of the situation we find ourselves in. A large part of how happy you are is determined through intentional activity. There are things you can do to maximize happiness in your life even in the worst of adversities. Giving people a way to elevate their family well-being is critical to top performance on the job.

• Applying Life-Balance secrets: Kunath targets 10 points for Mastering Life Balance. Some of those points are: Money doesn't make you rich; Express gratitude to others; the power of perspective; relationship refinement (thinning the herd); and Good goes around. "All of these points go to the overall perspective of total life balance and focusing on the areas, and the people, that really matter," he says.

• Power of Perspective: Why is it that people who have faced death often live the most? Why must we wait for adversity to teach us to get the most out of life? The answer is that you don't. Kunath emphasizes various perspectives on how you can live life to the fullest every day and what the keys are to maximizing employee and family well-being.

• The three greatest gifts you can give your family: For all the importance and effort involved in mastering a worklife to fund a family's well-being, the three greatest gifts you have to offer are actually free! They are time, memories and traditions. Time is our greatest resource, and it's also our most scarce, which makes memories all the more important. They give you a place to go for all of your life. Traditions live on after you're gone; they're a legacy you leave for your loved ones.

About Gary Kunath

Gary Kunath is the founder of The Summit Group, whichis ranked among the top sales-training companies in the world by Selling Power magazine. His value-creation approach received the "Innovative Practice of the Year Award" by 3M worldwide. He was named Businessman of the Year and was recognized at a dinner hosted by the president of the United States. He has lectured extensively at prominent business schools, and is currently an adjunct professor at The Citadel's Sports Marketing graduate program. Kunath is an owner of several professional minor league baseball teams along with his partners, Bill Murray, Jimmy Buffet and Mike Veeck. The group is famous for managing its teams around the "Fun is Good" approach.

02 Jul 2013

Celebrating Freedom: Salute to Frederick Douglass by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

By Grassley Press

Washingtonians brace themselves for the flood of tourists who come to soak in the monuments, museums and memorials that attract millions of visitors to the nation's capital every year. This summer is no exception.

In spite of humidity that puts even the hardiest tourist to the test, families come to show the next generation where the people's business has taken place since 1791. That's when President George Washington selected what is now the District of Columbia to serve as the nation's capital.

America has expanded its borders, population and demographics since Jenkins' Hill was chosen as the site for the national legislature on the east end of the National Mall. From here, Congress for more than 200 years has debated the laws governing our nation. In addition to the U.S. Capitol building, visitors to Capitol Hill today will find the Supreme Court, Library of Congress and congressional office buildings.

A visit to Capitol Hill brings to life the earliest moments of our American democracy alongside the politics and policymaking of the 21^st century. Those who took a seat in the Senate visitor's gallery early this summer witnessed debate on immigration reform. The Supreme Court handed down rulings bearing significant impact on the fabric of American society, reinforcing the limited powers of the federal government over states' rights. As America prepares to celebrate its 237^th birthday on the Fourth of July, the wonder of the republic more than two centuries later remains our system of self-government.

Even if Congress is not in session, visitors can appreciate the rich history of our democracy represented in art and sculpture. The architectural magnificence of the Rotunda, which separates the respective wings of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, without exception causes tourists to crane their necks to soak in the lifelike fresco "The Apotheosis of Washington" and the panoramic "Frieze of American History."

One of the most popular tourist spots in the U.S. Capitol is National Statuary Hall. When the House of Representatives relocated to its current chamber in 1857, the historic space was converted into a gallery. Each state was invited to donate two statues representing prominent leaders in their history. The National Statuary Collection today is featured prominently throughout the Capitol. Iowans will find statues representing two elected leaders from the 19^th century: James Harlan in the Hall of Columns and Samuel Kirkwood in Statuary Hall. In the near future, Norman Borlaug's statue will replace James Harlan's statue.

This summer a historic addition to the Capitol's collection of 180 statues and busts was unveiled on the 148^th anniversary of Juneteenth. That's the date commemorating when President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas on June 19, 1865.

The seven-foot bronze statue represents one of America's earliest civil rights leaders, abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The former slave spent a lifetime championing equal rights, exposing injustices and influencing peers and presidents alike during a tumultuous time in U.S. history.

An African American born into slavery in Maryland in 1818, Douglass escaped at age 20 and dedicated his life to the emancipation of slaves, women's suffrage and the natural rights of each individual.

Using gifted oratorical skill, Douglass shared his compelling story as a self-taught slave who was beaten for teaching other slaves how to read and write. An adviser to President Lincoln, Douglass tapped into a growing tide of public discontent to make good on America's most fundamental promises of freedom, equality under the law and justice for all. His publications and speeches influenced the adoption of the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th Constitutional Amendments, known as the Reconstruction Amendments.

Despite constant risks to his own safety, Douglass worked to spread the self-evident truths spelled out in the Declaration of Independence. His personal testimony shaped his most enduring legacy as a champion for those denied equality and access to the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

As Douglass observed in an Independence Day speech in 1852, "What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?" The speech exposed the harsh contradiction of slavery with America's founding principles of freedom, liberty and independence. Douglass went on to describe how the institution of slavery is contrary to these foundational principles, "Now, take the Constitution according to its plain reading, and I defy the presentation of a single pro-slavery clause in it. On the other hand it will be found to contain principles and purposes, entirely hostile to the existence of slavery." Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did more than a century later, Frederick Douglass used his tremendous gift for language to call Americans to help fully realize the principles we hold so dear for all Americans.

On this July 4^th, let's remember our hometown heroes, our first responders and members of the military, who put their lives on the line to defend America's freedoms at home and abroad. As we celebrate with family, friends and neighbors, let's also remember the heroes of American history, including Frederick Douglass, whose legacy represents the principles of hope, opportunity and freedom upon which America was founded.

VISITING WASHINGTON, D.C.

Iowans planning a visit to Washington, D.C., are encouraged to contact Senator Grassley's office for tourist information and congressional tickets for tours, including the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washington National Cathedral, and The Kennedy Center. The earlier that requests are made - ideally four months or more in advance - the better, as these tickets are limited. Senator Grassley's office will resume making arrangements for White House tours whenever White House tours are again made available.

In addition, Senator Grassley's office offers special staff-led tours of the U.S. Capitol and looks forward to accommodating visiting Iowans for this tour which covers more areas than accessible through the Capitol Visitors Center.

Constituents also may schedule a meeting with Senator Grassley during their trip. For more information, call 202-224-3744, or go to www.grassley.senate.gov and click on "Constituent Services." Both tour and meeting requests can be submitted under the "Visiting Washington D.C." tab.

02 Jul 2013

A Taste of LeClaire Restaurants - all with a River View.

By Rick Martin

You can't find many businesses in LeClaire that don't have a picturesque river view and the restaurants are no exception. Combine an amazing view with a delectable meal and you have a winning combination. Following is just a sampling of the full-service restaurants in LeClaire.

When you enter LeClaire from I-80 and turn up river, you will see Steventon's on the bluff to your left. The restaurant has a full wall of windows that provides a great view for inside diners and a beautiful deck and fire pit for your fun, outdoor dining experience. Enjoy an extensive menu of exquisitely prepared American Classics, served in a modern yet elegant atmosphere. On Sunday, delight in a brunch that has been voted "Best Sunday Brunch" in the Quad City area.

To your right, next to the river, is the Bier Stube. They offer authentic German fare, sandwiches, soups, full bar and a large selection of German beers on tap, all with a beautiful river view with outdoor seating.

As you enter the downtown area you will find the Crane & Pelican at Dodge & 2nd Street - just one block up off of Cody Road and they also have a river view. They serve wonderful comfort food with locally sourced produce and meat. Crane & Pelican has won awards for Best New Restaurant, Best Kept Secret, and Best Vegetarian Dining in the Quad City area.

Next up on your right is the Faithful Pilot Café & Spirits offering a river view with exquisite menu items created by award winning Chef Robert Day. They offer an outdoor dining experience, too, and have won awards for Best Fine Dining in the Quad City area.

Also on your right is Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream Parlor. Voted Best Pizza in the Quad City area, you can also enjoy pasta, sandwiches, salads, ice cream and a weekday lunch buffet. Grab a window seat or sit outside on their new deck.

In the mood for Mexican food, then try the Blue Iguana. It is a fun Mexican cantina with blue margaritas, full bar, great food, and outdoor seating on the street side and riverside of the restaurant.

Beside Blue Iguana you will find Sneaky Pete's Woodfire Grill, but don't wear your favorite tie. It will soon become a trophy to be hung from the ceiling of the restaurant. Fun aside, you will dine on some of the best steaks west of the Mississippi River. Other entrees include hamburgers, catfish, salmon, shrimp, and ham and all are cooked on a wood fire grill. Included with your meal is a full salad bar served up in an old claw-foot bathtub.

Other eateries include everything from snacks like popcorn, fudge, candy, ice cream and shaved ice to casual dining, fast food, and pub food. It really is "All there... In LeClaire!"

A complete list of LeClaire eateries can be found at http://www.visitleclaire.com/dining.html

LeClaire, Iowa is located at a point where the Mississippi River makes a sharp bend to the southwest. LeClaire's historic bond with the river and the bold men who tamed the Upper Rapids is still visible in the homes and buildings they left behind. On May 7, 1979, their homes were recognized as part of the nine-block Cody Road Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. LeClaire's other attractions include the Buffalo Bill Museum/Lone Star Sternwheeler, Mississippi River Distilling Co., and Antique Archaeology, home of the American Pickers.

For more information on LeClaire visit www.visitleclaire.com.

02 Jul 2013

Former Davenport Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

By Val Quast

DAVENPORT, IA - On June 27, 2013, Anthony Boyd Conklin, age 36, formerly from Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge James E. Gritzner to 240 months of imprisonment, after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Conklin was also ordered to serve ten years of supervised release and pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.

On April 12, 2011, as the result of an online undercover operation, state and federal officers conducted a search of Conklin's Davenport residence. Several computers and related equipment were seized along with numerous articles of children's clothing and underwear. As a result of a forensic examination of this computer, investigators determined that from approximately July 2002 to April 2011, Conklin used a computer to access the Internet to search for and download at least 8,000 images and approximately 688 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition to possession of child pornography, Conklin admitted that he had sent images of himself via a web-camera, engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and chatted with minors who sent him web-camera images of themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, and the Quad Cities Cyber-Crime Unit. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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02 Jul 2013

Former Davenport Man Sentenced for Mailing Threatening Communication

By Val Quast

DAVENPORT, IA - On June 27, 2013, Bryan R. Dunn, age 25, formerly from Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge James E. Gritzner to 37 months imprisonment, after pleading guilty to mailing threatening communications, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Dunn was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.

On July 7, 2012, Dunn deposited for mailing a letter threatening to injure an Assistant Scott County Attorney.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Secret Service, and the Scott County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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02 Jul 2013

Former Davenport Man Sentenced For Possession of Firearm as Felon

By Val Quast

DAVENPORT, IA - On June 27, 2013, Brett Lee Roelandt, age 22, from Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge James E. Gritzner to 30 months imprisonment, after pleading guilty to felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Roelandt was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.

On March 30, 2010, Roelandt was with a group of individuals that got into an argument with Aki Ross in the area of 12th and Pershing Avenue in Davenport. At that time, Roelandt was in possession of a Smith & Wesson, Model 411, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. As the group walked away, Aki Ross followed with a handgun. Brett Roelandt and other subjects observed Ross approaching with the handgun and took cover behind a van parked on the east side of Pershing Avenue. Roelandt discharged a shot from his handgun, and Ross fired several shots in the general direction of Roelandt. At approximately the same time, Joevonte Howard, age 18, was attempting to cross the street between Roelandt and Ross. Howard was struck by a
bullet from Ross' handgun and later died. Roelandt left the shooting scene with the handgun.

As part of the subsequent police investigation a .40 caliber casing was found a short distance from the van where Roelandt took cover. Roelandt was prohibited from possession of a firearm as the result of a 2008 felony conviction.

Aki Ross was convicted on June 29, 2011, in Iowa District Court for Scott County of the crimes of voluntary manslaughter and intimidation with a weapon, and sentenced on July 22,

2011, to six consecutive 10-year terms of imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Davenport Police Department and the Scott County Attorney's Office, the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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02 Jul 2013

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 6/27 - 7/3

By QC Chamber

Hello!

With July quickly approaching, fireworks, food, and fun activities are right around the corner! Help celebrate America's birthday during Red, White, and Boom! on Wednesday, July 3rd. Don't miss the fireworks and an evening of live music, family activities, and a chance to honor our Armed Forces on both sides of the river.

With the unpredictability of the Mississippi River, the Davenport activities are moving from LeClaire Park to 2nd Street between Ripley and Main streets. All activities on the Rock Island side will remain at Schweibert Park. The high water and quick current means we have to relocate the fireworks from the river to land, too. Stay tuned for more details on the fireworks soon.

Next week, the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival kicks off on July 4th and due to the river levels, the three-day festival will also move from LeClaire Park to 2nd street from Ripley St. to Brady St. in Downtown Davenport. Additional stages and workshops will be housed in the river Music Experience and the RME courtyard. Show your love for blues at one of the finest fests in the country and catch Kenny Wayne Shepherd along with many more amazing bands! The show will go on!

The co-founder of the legendary American rock band Little Feat will make an appearance at the River Music Experience this weekend! Hear a live performance from Bill Payne while viewing his photography during Tracing Footsteps: A Journal of Music, Photography, and Tales of the Road. Drummer Gabe Ford will also be there, making this a night you won't want to miss. Tonight, spend An Evening with the Portland Cello Project and prepare to be wowed by a mix of genres and blurred musical lines.

What's more beautiful than the art of giving? Participate in a growing international movement when the Figge hosts the Papergirl Project Workshop on Sunday. If you're looking for a fun, informal way to interact with fellow community members, head to the Figge tonight for PechaKucha Night and share ideas or interests ranging from recent travels to various hobbies. A new exhibition also opens this weekend. See art composed of material gathered right here in the Quad Cities in the No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service Exhibition.

With the end of June upon us, it's time for another Final Friday! Bucktown presents an Education Celebration for this month's Final Friday series celebrating the art of area students. Enjoy this special exhibit with hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and more! On your way over, stop at Major Art & Hobby to check out their in-store Fourth of July specials! Gallery 114 will also host a Grand Opening and Birthday Bash on Saturday with live music by Movers and Shakers!

If you haven't picked them already, be sure to purchase your tickets for Grace Potter & the Nocturnals before they perform at the Adler Theater July 13th! This week, get your music fix this at RME's Live at 5 featuring Jason Carl & The Whole D Band. Make sure you stay to vote for this week's Rock Wars winner when The Atlantis Dialogue and Dynoride face off, too.

See you downtown!

This Week's Events: June 27 - July 3

Thursday, June 27

An Evening with The Portland Cello Project

Where: River Music Experience, Redstone Room

Time: Doors 7:00 p.m. / Show 7:30 p.m.

Price: $12 in adv., $15 day of show

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