Quad Cities wins series opener in matchup of top two Western Division clubs

DAVENPORT, Iowa (MAY 8, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits second baseman Brian Blasik went 3-for-4, and left-hander Brian Holmes struck out eight to seal the deal on the River Bandits' Guaranteed Win Night with a 4-2 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in front of 1,611 fans at Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday night.

In the first inning, Blasik lined a double down the left-field line with one out to start the River Bandits offense. One batter later Austin "Catfish" Elkins, making his first start at shortstop this season, blooped a single to left to drive in Blasik and give Quad Cities a 1-0 lead.

After Cedar Rapids (21-9) had two first-inning singles, Holmes kept the Kernels hitless for 15 batters before allowing a two-out triple to Candido Pimentel in the fifth inning. Byron Buxton worked a walk against Holmes to put runners on the corners, and Quad Cities manager Omar Lopez went to his bullpen to call upon right-hander Michael Dimock. The Greensboro, N.C., native got Niko Goodrum to fly out to center to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Teoscar Hernandez belted a solo home run (2) into the back of the left field berm, to extend the lead to 2-0. Kernels first baseman Dalton Hicks returned the deficit to one in the sixth against right-hander Jordan Jankowski by hitting a solo blast to right that exited the stadium over the Built Ford Tough Deck for the Kernels' first run.

The River Bandits (19-11) added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to increase the lead. Jesse Wierzbicki led off the sixth frame with a walk. Ryan Dineen slapped a grounder back to the pitcher Brett Lee, who misfired on a fielder's choice attempt on Wierzbicki at second base. The error allowed Dineen and Wierzbicki to reach first and third base respectively. Wierzbicki was able to score on a double play off the bat of Roberto Peña. In the seventh, Jordan Scott walked and stole second. A bloop single off the bat of Blasik caused Scott to lie on the brakes while rounding third. A throwing error from third baseman Tyler Harrison - trying to catch Scott at third - trailed through shortstop Jorge Polanco into foul territory, allowing Scott to scamper home.

Cedar Rapids battled back in the ninth, getting a run on right-hander John Neely, but he stranded runners on second and third by striking out Buxton and retiring Goodrum on a groundout to shortstop for his sixth save. Jankowski (1-0) allowed one run and struck out three in two and one-third innings. Holmes struck out eight Cedar Rapids hitters in four and two-thirds innings as the first Bandits starter. River Bandits left-hander Mitchell Lambson delivered a perfect two-thirds of an inning of relief in the eighth and was credited with his third hold of the year. Lee (2-2) gave up three runs - two earned - on four hits in six innings and suffered the loss.

Wednesday's victory means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Thursday, May 9. 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 Thursday, May 9.

 

Quad Cities closed within two games of the first-place Kernels, who will visit Modern Woodmen Park at 7 p.m. Thursday. Bandits right-hander Vincent Velasquez (3-0) is scheduled to deliver the first pitch against right-hander Hudson Boyd (1-1) and the Kernels at 7 p.m.

 

UP NEXT: Thursday is the River Bandits' Nueve de Mayo party, which features $1.00 off margaritas and select domestic beers such as Corona and Dos Equis. There will also be $2.00 drink specials for Thirst-day Thursday presented by River Cities' Reader, The Quad Cities' CW and Rock 104-9. 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.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (05/08/2013)(readMedia)-- The Illinois National Guard will celebrate its 290th birthday. The Illinois National Guard Command Historian, Adriana Schroeder of Springfield recently discovered evidence of the first muster of militia, the precursor to the Illinois National Guard. Re-enactor in period uniforms will demonstrate equipment and weapons from the 1700s and an official proclamation signed by Gov. Pat Quinn will be read during the ceremony.

WHO:

• Brig. Gen. William Cobetto, Assistant Adjutant General -Air

• Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen

• Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society Living History Detachment

• School Children from throughout Sangamon County

WHAT:

• The Illinois National Guard will celebrate its 290th birthday.

• The birth date of the Illinois National Guard, May 9, 1723 was determined last year after months of research by Adriana Schroeder of Springfield, the Illinois National Guard Command Historian.

• An official proclamation of the birthday, signed by Gov. Pat Quinn, will be read during the ceremony.

• Re-enactors from the Illinois National Guard and Militia Historical Society's Living History Detachment in period uniforms will display uniforms, equipment and weapon from the 1700s.

WHEN: Thursday May 09, 2013 at 01:00PM Central Time (US & Canada)

WHERE:Illinois State Military Museum
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd
Springfield, Illinois 62702

(DAVENPORT, Iowa) - While the robin is evidence of an impending spring, the flower baskets returning to downtown Davenport signal summer is just around the corner.   The Downtown Davenport Partnership is proud to announce that there will be over 600 flower baskets lining the downtown streets, ensuring our community looks its best for the summer festival season.

A Ribbon Cutting celebrating this milestone will be held on Friday, May 10, at 4pm at the corner of 2^nd and Main Streets. This event will also serve to usher in Mother's Day weekend downtown highlighted by the Beaux Arts Fair.

The Downtown Davenport Partnership is responsible for the maintenance of the flowers, and staff will be hanging the highly anticipated baskets beginning Saturday, May 12.

The baskets are filled with Supertunias with colors ranging from purple, pink and red; the baskets will be in full bloom in July.  Green Thumbers assists in growing the flowers found in the baskets and beds throughout downtown.  Residents and tourists alike annually marvel at these gorgeous baskets.

For more information on the flower baskets, contact Adam Holland, Director of Downtown Operations at (563) 823-2675.

Beaux Arts Fair

The annual Beaux Arts Fair will also take place May 11^th and 12^th from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.  The art fair is held on the Figge Plaza and on 2^nd Street.  There are artisans from 7 states in varied media including, pottery, stained glass and copper and brass garden art.  Admission is free and a perfect place to take Mom for her special day. For more information, please visit www.beauxartsfair.com.

Mother's Day Promotions Downtown
With Mother's Day on the 12^th, many people may be looking for ideas on how to pamper Mom or take her out for a nice lunch.  For some great ideas look no further than www.downtowndavenport.com. Here you will find some great ideas and specials for shopping and dining that will make sure that Mom knows you appreciate all she has done for you!

(DES MOINES) - MidAmerican Energy Company is announcing its plans to add up to 1,050 megawatts of wind generation, consisting of up to 656 new wind turbines, in Iowa by year-end 2015. The wind expansion will enhance economic development and provide in excess of $360 million in additional property tax revenues over the next 30 years. Landowner payments totaling $3.2 million per year also are expected as a result of the expansion. In addition, the expansion is planned to be built at no net cost to the company's customers and will help stabilize electric rates over the long term by providing a rate reduction totaling $10 million per year by 2017, commencing with a $3.3 million reduction in 2015.

Gov. Terry Branstad, a champion for wind energy in Iowa, commented on the proposal. "As a leader in wind generation, the state of Iowa welcomes the opportunity to expand our renewable energy portfolio. MidAmerican Energy's proposed project will be the largest economic development investment in the history of the state, bringing needed jobs to Iowa, as well as significant economic benefits."

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds reiterated that message. "MidAmerican Energy has been a long-standing partner with the state of Iowa, and we look forward to working with them on this wind proposal. In addition to helping boost our state and local economies, the expansion would create approximately 460 construction jobs over a two-year period and an estimated 48 permanent jobs in our state."

Greg Abel, chairman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company - the parent company of MidAmerican Energy - recognized and thanked Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds for their unwavering support of renewable energy in Iowa.

"The administration has continued its focus on creating an environment that allows for significant investment in Iowa, and we are pleased to be working hand in hand with them to grow our state and create good jobs," said Abel.

Abel further thanked Iowa's congressional delegation for their strong support of the production tax credit extension.

"Iowa's congressional delegation created the opportunity for this investment through their support at the federal level and continued an environment that makes this type of investment possible," said Abel.

MidAmerican Energy began building wind projects in 2004. To date, 1,267 wind turbines have been installed in Iowa, representing a total investment of approximately $4 billion. In light of the recent federal production tax credit extension, the company is asking to expand its wind generation capacity to enhance its renewables portfolio. MidAmerican Energy estimates that by January 2016, when all new wind generation is expected to be operating, it may be capable of generating approximately 39 percent of its retail generation output through wind generation during that month.

"The proposed wind expansion will not only add to MidAmerican Energy's and Iowa's position as a national leader in wind generation capacity, it will help reduce future rates to our customers by as much as $10 million per year and further enhance our corporate principle of environmental respect by reducing our carbon footprint by 10.3 percent," said Bill Fehrman, president and CEO, MidAmerican Energy.

If the expansion is approved by the Iowa Utilities Board, MidAmerican Energy will own and operate approximately 3,335 megawatts of wind generation capacity in Iowa by year-end 2015. Currently, MidAmerican Energy owns and operates approximately 2,285 megawatts of wind generation capacity in Iowa and is No. 1 in the U.S. for ownership of wind generation capacity among rate-regulated utilities.

MidAmerican Energy Company, Iowa's largest energy company, provides electric service to 734,000 customers and natural gas service to 714,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. It is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Information about MidAmerican Energy is available on the company's website and its Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via www.midamericanenergy.com<http://www.midamericanenergy.com>.

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