Health Insurance Marketplace Seeks Community Groups' Assistance in Educating the Public and Creating a Culture of Coverage Across the State

CHICAGO - Ramping up efforts to educate the public about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the state is accepting applications from community-based organizations to assist with outreach and consumer education efforts that are now underway. The announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure all people have access to quality healthcare and improve the health and well-being of the people of Illinois.

"We've got a big job to do making sure that people across Illinois are aware of the affordable and high-quality health care coverage options that will soon be available through the Affordable Care Act," Governor Quinn said. "That's why we are partnering with trusted organizations that have proven records of success and roots in communities across Illinois to ensure that no one is left out."

The Illinois Department of Public Health, in coordination with the Health Insurance Marketplace will be accepting applications until May 30th, from community groups and other qualified organizations who want to participate in the In-Person Counselor (IPC) Program. The state has received approximately $28 million in federal funds for grants to participating groups.

Submissions will be competitively scored based upon quality of application, organizational capacity, and proposed scope of work. Special consideration will be given to ensure proper statewide distribution of funding based on population, regional and cultural needs. Organizations that are selected through the online application process will participate in outreach training this summer.

"We know that far too many people, especially those who lack health care coverage, are simply not aware of the coming opportunity to acquire coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act," Marketplace Director Jennifer Koehler said. "We estimate that more than half of the Marketplace's customers will require help sifting through the options and enrolling in a health plan that meets their needs. We're looking for partners who are trusted in their communities to help us carry out our goal of creating a 'culture of coverage' in every corner of the state."

Enrollment in the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace will begin on Oct. 1, with coverage to start Jan. 1, 2014. The Marketplace will be accessed through a robust, user-friendly website where individuals, families and small businesses will be able to compare health care policies and premiums and purchase comprehensive health coverage.

For more information about the state's implementation of the ACA, go to: www.HealthCareReform.illinois.gov.  For more information about the application process for the Illinois In-Person Counselor (IPC) Grant Program, go to: http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/healthcarereform/Pages/IPC.aspx.

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Join director Luis Argueta for a special sneak preview of his moving documentary, "abUSed: The Postville Raid" at Rozz Tox on May 10 at 8pm.

Iowa Public TV will air the film on the fifth anniversary of the raid, May 12 (check your local listings), but join us Friday, May 10 at 8pm, for a special screening and chance to meet the award-winning director and immigration activist Luis Argueta.

Mr. Argueta will be present at this screening to introduce the film and take questions about current immigration issues, the lingering effects of the 2008 raid, and his new film, "The U-Turn," a follow-up to "abUSed."
Also in attendance will be Guatemala producer Bea Gallardo Shaul and Iowa producer (and former Quad Citian) Adam Burke.
Voluntary donations will be accepted to assist the victims of the raid and their families and to help produce the upcoming "U-Turn" film.

abUSed: The Postville Raid has received both critical acclaim and broad praise from communities across the country.  The film has been screened at over 200 venues, including colleges, law schools, immigration and workers' conferences, faith-based communities and at the OIM/CMS Conference on Irregular Migration for the UN Permanent Delegates in NYC. It has been an official entry in 16 international film festivals, receiving the Best Documentary Audience Award at CINEMASSÍ Film Festival in Finland (2012).

For additional information please contact Luis Argueta at luisarguetaa@gmail.com or 646.418.3599 or Adam Burke at atomburke@gmail.com or 319.331.6638.

NEW YORK, N.Y. May 6, 2013 abUSed: The Postville Raid, the documentary by award-winning director, Luis Argueta, will have its Iowa broadcast premiere on IPTV World on May 12, 2013.  This broadcast will commemorate the 5th anniversary of the devastating immigration raid on a meatpacking plant in the Heartland of America.

The program will air on May 12 at 5:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on IPTV World as part of the WGBH-produced documentary series called "America Reframed."

abUSed: The Postville Raid weaves together the personal stories of those directly affected by the largest, most brutal and expensive Immigration raid in the history of the United States putting a face on the national debate about immigration.  However, the story of the Postville raid is not just about immigration, but how the rule of law was neglected, how the Constitution was trampled, how due process was overlooked and how the rights of immigrant workers were cast aside.

To see a 2-minute-trailer visit https://vimeo.com/22102237.

"With the new bi-partisan discussions on the issue of immigration reform in Washington the film is even more relevant than ever," said Mr. Argueta.

abUSed: The Postville Raid has received both critical acclaim and broad praise from communities across the country.  The film has been screened at over 200 venues, including colleges, law schools, immigration and workers' conferences, faith-based communities and at the OIM/CMS Conference on Irregular Migration for the UN Permanent Delegates in NYC. It has been an official entry in 16 international film festivals, receiving the Best Documentary Audience Award at CINEMASSÍ Film Festival in Finland (2012).

SPRINGFIELD, IL (05/06/2013)(readMedia)-- Two events to honor fallen servicemembers and recognize their families for their sacrifice were held at Camp Lincoln in Springfield May 4. The Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony honored fallen servicemembers and Connections in the Capital focused on fallen servicemembers' surviving family and friends.

The Illinois National Guard hosted these separate events in an effort to convey both sympathy for the losses military families have endured and facilitate their ability to carry on.

The Illinois National Guard Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony paid homage to 34 Illinois National Guard members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and way of life after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Alternatively, Connections focused on coping with loss and facilitating relationships between servicemembers' surviving family and friends.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Krumrei of Springfield, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, attended both ceremonies, welcoming families to the installation and thanking them for their sacrifices.

"On behalf of Governor Quinn, on behalf of the Soldiers, Airmen, families, myself and my staff, welcome and I pray you peace in your journey of healing," said Krumrei.

Krumrei laid a wreath at the Fallen Soldiers Memorial Ceremony and offered all of Camp Lincoln's resources to the families of fallen servicemembers.

During the ceremony the names of lost Illinois Army and Air National Guardsmen were read aloud and a wreath and rose laying ceremony took place shortly after the reading.

"Every day is a memorial day for us so it does bring back some of the pain, but knowing that the Guard still remembers them and honors them warms our hearts and gives us great hope that they will never be forgotten," said Linda Grieco of Winfield, the mother of Staff Sgt. Kevin D. Grieco who was killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom Oct. 27, 2008.

Illinois Connections for Families of the Fallen is a less somber occasion, designed initially from feedback of surviving family members after attending events like the Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony, in that they had felt alone in dealing with the emotions that arose during those services.

"I think one of the great ideas of Connections is that we all get to meet each other. We get to share our experiences. We get to share our laughter and we get to share our tears together," said Jim Frazier of Woodstock, whose son, Illinois Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier was killed in Operation Enduring Freedom March 29, 2003.

Connections brings together a myriad of local and national organizations whose mission is to connect families of the fallen servicemembers to resources to help find their new normal.

Krumrei summed up the day's events with quotes from Abraham Lincoln who famously declared those who died in the service of their nation should be remembered and should never die in vain.

"I offer you (the) hope and promise that the understanding that a new normal is never normal, but it can be better than what was," Krumrei said.

For video go to:

http://www.dvidshub.net/video/289153/fallen-soldier-memorial-ceremony-and-connections-capitol-b-roll-package

Don't Miss Your Chance to Provide the Facts Straight from the Farm

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2013 - With the window to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture officially closing on May 31, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is urging farmers and ranchers not to miss this opportunity to be counted and help determine the future of farming in America. USDA has already received more than 2 million completed Census forms.

"Our nation needs your help to ensure that decisions about U.S. agriculture accurately represent you, your communities, and your industry," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "For every 158 people in America there is one farm. I urge you to take action today and respond to the Census - your country is counting on the information to help ensure a continued supply of food, fiber and fuel for generations to come."

The Census of Agriculture, conducted only once every five years, is the only source of consistent and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. It looks at farms, value of land, market value of agricultural production, farm practices, expenditures, and other factors that affect the way farmers and ranchers do business. The information is used by agribusinesses, town planners, local governments, and policy makers, as well as farmers, ranchers, growers and others to shape farm programs, boost rural services and grow the future of farming.

"Agriculture in America is an industry built on tradition, honor and pride," said Vilsack. "We have heard this from the farmers and ranchers who completed their Census of Agriculture form. It's not too late for those who have not yet responded to join the generations of producers who participated in the Agriculture Census since it was first conducted in 1840. Only you can continue to provide the facts straight from the farm."

The 2012 Census will provide a complete picture of agriculture that will be used to shape the future of agriculture, rural America, and the lives of those USDA serves for years to come. The deadline to respond to the Census of Agriculture is only a few weeks away on May 31. USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) may contact producers by phone or in person to collect Census information since time is running out.

Farmers and ranchers can also return their forms by mail or online by visiting a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov. Federal law requires a response from everyone who receives the Census form and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

For more information about the Census, including helpful tips on completing your Census form, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 1-888-4AG-STAT (1-888-424-7828). The Census of Agriculture is your voice, your future, your responsibility.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD)or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay).


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The beat goes on as local libraries and non-profits continue to feature the uniquely American music genres that make up the soundtrack of our history.  The grant-funded series America's Music Quad Cities will feature films, discussion and dance on Mambo and Hip Hop beginning next week.

Davenport Public Library hosts the first screening and discussion session, featuring excerpts from the documentaries Latin Music U.S.A. and From Mambo to Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale, on Monday May 13th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at their Eastern Branch, 6000 Eastern Avenue.   On Thursday, May 16th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Western Illinois University-Quad Cities will host an encore screening and discussion of these films at the Riverfront Campus, at 3300 River Drive, Moline.  The featured documentaries focus on two seemingly different musical genres, making the connection between the popularity of Latin rhythms and its eventual influence on hip hop's Bronx origins.

On Wednesday, May 15th, at 7:00 p.m. the Davenport Public Library Eastern Branch will feature a Hip Hop dance performance from Midwest Academy of Dance.  With a 20 year history of teaching and performing, the Midwest Academy of Dance fosters a love of dance for those of all ages and abilities.  Their performance will offer participants the chance to learn some steps of their own.

As part of "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway," project partners Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island Public Libraries, River Music Experience and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities have hosted documentary film screenings, scholar-led discussions of twentieth-century American popular music and live performances. Each week in the series covers a different musical style. After Mambo and Hip Hop, the project moves on to Swing Jazz.

The project concludes on May 23, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with "Celebrating America's Music in the Quad Cities," a night of stories about Quad Cities music in the past 50 years and an open microphone event for local performers, at the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Riverfront Atrium. A full list of performances and locations is available at www.americasmusicqc.com <https://svmplex1/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.americasmusicqc.com/>

For more details, please contact americasmusicqc@gmail.com or 309-524-2470.

"America's Music" is a project by the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. "America's Music" has been made possible by a major $2,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.

Additional funding for the Quad City effort was received from the Riverboat Development Authority, Sedona Technologies, UAW Local 2282, Friends of the Moline Public Library and Friends of the Rock Island Public Library, along with in-kind sponsorships from River Cities Reader, WQAD-TV Newschannel 8, STAR 93.5, WQPT Quad Cities PBS and WVIK Augustana Public Radio.


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Mississippi River states to host celebrations throughout 2013

MADISON, Wis. [May 6, 2013] - The Mississippi River Parkway Commission is excited to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Great River Road National Scenic Byway.

In 1938, the governors of the 10 river states developed the concept of a transcontinental Great River Parkway along the Mississippi River. Choosing to conserve precious resources, among them land, time and dollars, they decided rather than building a new continuous road, the existing network of rural roads and then-fledgling highways that meandered and crisscrossed the river would become the Great River Road. The green Pilot's Wheel road sign that marked the route of the new byway more than seven decades ago still heralds the road today.

As one of the oldest, longest and most unique scenic byways in North America, the Great River Road offers respite to millions of travelers seeking a getaway - from a leisurely day's drive to an extended vacation. Nearly 3,000 miles long and running through 10 states along the Mississippi River, the Great River Road has offered a gateway to the river valley's great history, the blending of cultures and a host of recreational options to all who journey it for three-quarters of a century and counting.

Plan a day's drive or a month-long excursion along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway with the help of experiencemississippiriver.com. Here you'll find information on all the states' interpretive centers, upcoming events and must-see attractions, along with suggested itineraries and maps to help plan a trip that's just right for you.

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"Any darn fool can make something complex; it takes a genius to make something simple."?Pete Seeger

Before the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, Jim Hendrix, Bob Dylan and others, there was Pete Seeger. With his five-string banjo in hand, Seeger helped to lay the foundation for American protest music, singing out about the plight of everyday working folks and urging listeners to political and social activism. In fact, Pete Seeger is one of the most important musical influences of the 20th century.

Born in New York City on May 3, 1919, Seeger, whose father was a pacifist musicologist, was plunged into the world of music and politics from an early age. He studied sociology at Harvard University until 1938, when he dropped out and spent the summer bicycling through New England and New York, painting watercolors of farmers' houses in return for food. Looking for but failing to get a job as a newspaper reporter in New York City, he then worked at the Archives of American Folk Music at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. In 1940, Seeger met Woody Guthrie at a Grapes of Wrath migrant-worker benefit concert. Seeger, Guthrie, Lee Hays and Millard Lampell joined together to form the Almanac Singers, which became known for its political radicalism and support of communism.

In 1942, Seeger was drafted by the U.S. Army and sent to Saipan in the Western Pacific. After the war, he helped start the People's Songs Bulletin, later Sing Out! magazine, which combined information on folk music with social criticism. In 1950, Seeger formed The Weavers with Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman. Targeted for the political messages behind some of their songs, the group was blacklisted and banned from television and radio.

In 1955, the House Committee on Un-American Activities subpoenaed Seeger to appear before them (read his testimony at http://www.peteseeger.net/HUAC.htm). During the hearings, Seeger refused to disclose his political views and the names of his political associates. When asked by the committee to name for whom he had sung, Seeger replied, "I am saying voluntarily that I have sung for almost every religious group in the country, from Jewish and Catholic, and Presbyterian and Holy Rollers and Revival Churches, and I do this voluntarily. I have sung for many, many different groups?and it is hard for perhaps one person to believe, I was looking back over the twenty years or so that I have sung around these forty-eight states, that I have sung in so many different places." He was sentenced to one year in jail but, quoting the First Amendment, successfully appealed the decision after spending four hours behind bars. However, he has been blacklisted most of his life from normal radio and television work.

During the 1960s, Seeger traveled around the country, continuing to play his folk songs for the peace and civil rights movements. Deeply offended by the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Seeger, along with other folk singers such as Joan Baez, led many protests.

"Wherever he was asked, when the need was the greatest, he, like Kilroy, was there. And still is," said his long-time friend, Studs Terkel. "Though his voice is somewhat shot, he holds forth on that stage. Whether it be a concert hall, a gathering in the park, a street demonstration, any area is a battleground for human rights."

In 1963, Seeger recorded the now-famous gospel song "We Shall Overcome." In 1965, he sang it on the 50-mile walk from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, with Martin Luther King, Jr. and 1,000 other marchers. That song would go on to become the anthem for the civil rights movement and be translated into many languages. Seeger also turned his attention to cleaning up the Hudson River that ran past his home. In 1966, he helped form Clearwater, an organization dedicated to educating the public on environmental concerns such as pollution and protecting the river. The group offers educational programs for children on a 76-foot replica of a traditional Hudson cargo sloop and holds a two-day festival on the banks of the Hudson River every June.

Seeger was awarded the Presidential Medal of the Arts and the prestigious Kennedy Center Award in 1994. In 1996, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his contribution to music and to the development of rock and folk music. In April of that year, he received the Harvard Arts Medal, and after decades of creating songs, in 1997, Seeger won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album for his album, Pete.

Seeger, however, has not always been so lavishly praised. Often chastised for his "communist beliefs," Seeger has dealt with criticism and misunderstanding. "I say I'm more conservative than Goldwater. He just wanted to turn the clock back to when there was no income tax. I want to turn the clock back to when people lived in small villages and took care of each other," he says.

While many of the legendary men and women Seeger associated with are gone, he continues his political and environmental endeavors. He still seems to subscribe to the same philosophy he held to four decades ago, when he advised young people to follow their hearts and take initiative: "Well, here's hoping all the foregoing will help you avoid a few dead-end streets (we all hit some), and here's hoping enough of your dreams come true to keep you optimistic about the rest. We've got a big world to learn how to tie together. We've all got a lot to learn. And don't let your studies interfere with your education."

At 94 years old, Pete Seeger is still speaking out. Indeed, in an interview I conducted with Pete Seeger several years ago, I asked him whether he had found an answer to the question "When will they ever learn?" which he repeatedly posed in his song, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone." Seeger's response is one for the books:

We will never know everything. But I think if we can learn within the next few decades to face the danger we all are in, I believe there will be tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions, of human beings working wherever they are to do something good. I tell everybody a little parable about the "teaspoon brigades." Imagine a big seesaw. One end of the seesaw is on the ground because it has a big basket half full of rocks in it. The other end of the seesaw is up in the air because it's got a basket one quarter full of sand. Some of us have teaspoons and we are trying to fill it up. Most people are scoffing at us. They say, "People like you have been trying for thousands of years, but it is leaking out of that basket as fast as you are putting it in." Our answer is that we are getting more people with teaspoons every day. And we believe that one of these days or years?who knows?that basket of sand is going to be so full that you are going to see that whole seesaw going zoop! in the other direction. Then people are going to say, "How did it happen so suddenly?" And we answer, "Us and our little teaspoons over thousands of years." But I don't think we have forever. I now believe that all technological societies tend to self-destruct. The reason is that the very things that make us a successful technological society, such as our curiosity, our ambition and determination, will also cause us to fall.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson corresponded for 13 years before they died on the same day. They asked, "How can one have prosperity without commerce? How can one have commerce without luxury? How can one have luxury without corruption? How can you have corruption without the end of the Republic?" And they really didn't know the answer. Today I would ask, "How can one have a technological society without research? How can one have research without researching dangerous areas? How can one research dangerous areas without uncovering dangerous information? How can you uncover dangerous information without it falling into the hands of insane people who will sooner or later destroy the human race, if not the whole of life on earth?" Who knows? God only knows!

The Seeger interview in its entirety is available at www.rutherford.org.

Weddings have always been big business, but I was shocked to see how expensive they've become in the 17 years since my wife and I got married. According to the annual Real Weddings Study, the average wedding in the U.S. now costs $28,427, and that doesn't even count the honeymoon.

Wait, it gets worse.

Among the more than 17,500 surveyed brides who got married in 2012, the average amount paid for a wedding dress was $1,211. On average they also spent $204 per wedding guest and dropped $12,905 for the reception venue.

There are many ways to rein in wedding-related costs while still having a memorable event. Here are a few suggestions:

Create a budget. Unless you're a professional wedding planner, you'll probably be floored by how many expenses weddings can amass, including: wedding and engagement rings, invitations, postage, marriage license, clergy and location fees, flowers, bridal gown and groom's tuxedo, rehearsal dinner and reception, photography, catering, DJ or band, limousine, parking attendants, tips, gifts for wedding participants and honeymoon expenses.

Shop around. Bridal expos are a good way to meet a lot of vendors and gather ideas. Just don't get caught up in the excitement and commit to anything before you've done follow-up research. Some tips:

  • Bring along someone from the wedding party as well as a trustworthy friend who isn't emotionally and financially connected to the wedding.
  • You may feel pressured by vendors to sign contracts or put down deposits, but it's probably wiser to take their contact information and research them first.
  • Create a separate email account for wedding vendor communications. Once you sign up for one offer or contest, believe me, your inbox will be swamped.

After you've settled on vendors, get signed contracts that specify dates, products, prices, deposit and payment terms, cancellation policies, liability insurance and whether tax and gratuities are included.

Here are a few suggestions for trimming costs:

  • Date flexibility. You'll get more bang for your buck offseason - a June wedding might cost 20 to 30 percent more than one in April or October.
  • Have your florist use in-season flowers.
  • Daytime weddings are often cheaper than evening events.
  • Instead of a hotel, consider less-costly alternative reception venues like community centers, museums, city park clubhouses or other public facilities looking to earn extra income. Ask whether they have their own tables, chairs, sound and lighting systems; if not, add equipment rental costs into the equation.
  • A buffet dinner reception could save you $15 or more per guest compared to a plated dinner, because you're not paying for table service. Save even more by hosting an afternoon reception and serving lunch or hors d'oeuvres.
  • If you're hosting a large reception, have a smaller display cake for the cutting ceremony, with a sheet cake stored in the kitchen.
  • Serve wine, beer and one signature cocktail, instead of offering a full bar.
  • Consider renting or buying a second-hand wedding dress from a consignment shop, or an online specialty site. The same goes for grooms wear.
  • Hiring a disc jockey instead of a live band will save hundreds of dollars; plus you get a broader selection of music and a built-in emcee to move things along.

One last budgeting tip: Limit the number of guests to ensure you can have a meaningful interaction with each. Remember, spending just one minute apiece with 300 guests would take five hours.

Quad Cities draws season-high 12 walks, fans 14 Whitecaps in longest nine-inning game of the season

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (MAY 5, 2013) - In what began as a stellar performance by right-hander Lance McCullers and turned into a bullpen battle Sunday afternoon, the Quad Cities River Bandits rebounded from allowing West Michigan to tie the game in seventh inning, scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and left Whitecaps at every base for the final out of a 5-4 win at Fifth Third Ballpark.

McCullers set a career high with nine strikeouts in five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk to the Whitecaps while Quad Cities (17-11) built a 3-0 lead to put McCullers in line for his first career victory. The River Bandits drew four walks to score a first-inning run against right-hander Montreal Robertson, who walked a career-high six batters in four innings. Quad Cities shortstop Joe Sclafani hit a fourth-inning RBI double, and left fielder Terrell Joyce hit a fifth-inning RBI single against left-hander Josh Turley.

Down 3-0, West Michigan (13-15) started its comeback in the sixth inning against right-hander Daniel Minor. The top three batters in the Whitecaps order - shortstop David Gonzalez, left fielder Danry Vasquez and second baseman Devon Travis - each singled to bring in a run. Minor escaped runners at second and third bases by striking out the final two batters. Quad Cities answered the run in the seventh, as second baseman Austin Elkins hit a leadoff single and scored to make it 4-1 when right fielder Zach Kirksey dropped a two-out fly ball.

The Whitecaps rallied to tie the game with three unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh. Minor walked catcher Bennett Pickar and allowed an infield single to third baseman Jared Reaves before getting a ground-ball double play off the bat of center fielder Austin Schotts for the first two outs. With Pickar at third base, Gonzalez hit a grounder to shortstop, but Sclafani dropped the ball, allowing the run to score and the inning to continue. Right-hander Michael Dimock (4-0) came on to relieve Minor and gave up an RBI triple to left-center field by Vasquez, followed by Travis' game-tying infield single up the middle. Minor was charged with three runs - one earned in 1 2/3 innings with one walk and two strikeouts. Dimock allowed two hits and an earned run in 1/3 of an inning.

In a 4-4 tie, River Bandits designated hitter Brian Blasik drew an eighth-inning leadoff walk against left-hander Logan Ehlers (0-1) and went to second base on a sacrifice by center fielder Teoscar Hernandez, who earlier extended an eight-game hitting streak. Sclafani then hit an infield single off Ehlers' glove, and Elkins brought home Blasik by pushing a bunt to the first-base side of the pitcher's mound.

With a 5-4 lead, left-hander Mitchell Lambson started the eighth inning and fanned the first two batters. In the ninth, Lambson got a groundout and a flyout, but left fielder Terrell Joyce lost the ball when bringing his glove hand down and was charged with an error. After Joyce caught a fly ball for the second out, right-hander John Neely came in and walked the first two batters on eight pitches to load the bases. With the tying and winning runs in scoring position, however, he fanned designated hitter Lance Durham for his fifth save.

Sunday's victory means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Tuesday, May 7. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Tuesday, May 7. Quad Cities will play the series and road trip finale at West Michigan at 5:35 p.m. Monday, as left-hander Colton Cain (0-3) and right-hander Mike Hauschild (1-0) face right-hander Charles Gillies, making his season debut.

 

UP NEXT: Time is running out to reserve tickets for the Mother's Day Brunch on the Sky Deck of Modern Woodmen Park. Reservations must be made in advance by Monday, May 6, for the brunch preceding the River Bandits game Sunday, May 12. 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 began the season with a great start, and they sit in second place in the Midwest League's Western Division. Meanwhile, the team's 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 the ballpark, along with a new dual zip line, a carousel, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, new bounce houses and many other fun attractions. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans will see last year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Carlos Correa. The Astros will also make the very first selection in the major league draft on June 6 and could have another top pick end up in the Quad Cities. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, this season will be one every fan will not want to miss!

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