MOLINE, IL -- WQPT received more than 400 stories from students in kindergarten through third grade for the annual PBS Kids Go Writers Contest. Sixteen winners (four from each grade) were selected by educators and contest sponsors. The winners and their families will be honored and awarded prizes at Deere-Wiman House at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19.

"We received a record number of stories this year. We are thrilled that so many teachers and parents encouraged their young authors and illustrators to participate," said Ana Kehoe, WQPT's educational outreach director.

Kindergarten

First Place: Rylan Edwards, Ekstrand Elementary, DeWitt, IA

Second Place: Ellie Curnyn, Jane Addams Elementary, Moline, IL

Third Place: Sophia Foad, Cody Elementary School, LeClaire, IA

Honorable Mention: Oliver Borders, Longfellow Liberal Arts, Rock Island, IL

First grade

First Place: Georgia Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

Second Place: Xion Owens-Holst, McKinley Elementary, Davenport, IA

Third Place: Gianna Schwartz, Paul Norton School, Bettendorf, IA

Honorable Mention: Nate Stanger, Garfield School, Davenport, IA

Second grade

First Place: Paul Schwartz, Paul Norton School, Bettendorf, IA

Second Place: Isabella Jones, Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf, IA

Third Place: Nikhil Ramaraju, Riverdale Heights Elementary, Bettendorf, IA

Honorable Mention: Jena Edwards, Ekstrand Elementary, DeWitt, IA

Third grade

First Place: Dalton Morrow, Harrison Elementary, Davenport, IA

Second Place: Alana Kruse, Morning Star Academy, Bettendorf, IA

Third Place: Eden Swails, Riverdale Elementary, Port Byron, IL

Honorable Mention: Calla Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

All the entries will be returned, along with a certificate from PBS. Stories will be displayed at the Butterworth Center from May 19-30; the Family Museum from June 3-16; and Figge Art Museum from June 18-30.

The contest is supported by WQPT-Quad Cities PBS, the Butterworth Center, Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum in Bettendorf, Figge Art Museum and the Midwest Writing Center.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University - Quad Cities located in Moline, Illinois.

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Here's YOUR chance to help the Prayer Center & enjoy a great comedy show!

We need people to fill a row of chairs for the...

Quad Cities Prayer CenterSpring 2013 Fund Raiser

Dessert and Coffee Bar FEATURING ComedySportz!

WHEN: Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

WHERE: QCPC at NorthPark Mall 320 W. Kimberly in Davenport

Chair Host Responsibilities --Invite - Invite - Invite (This is a FUNDRAISER, so please make that clear to those whom you invite).

For more information or to become a CHAIR HOST, contact Traci by e-mail or call 563.323.3090.

This event will help continue fulfilling the vision of the QCPC.

(Due to limited seating, please RSVP by clicking HERE for your free ticket.)

This is an adults only event.

Click HERE for an invitation you can print out and share!

SPRINGFIELD, IL (05/07/2013)(readMedia)-- As summer approaches and temperatures rise, more than 350,000 registered motorcycles in Illinois will emerge from their garages. The Office of Safety and Occupational Health would like to remind the motorcyclists of the Illinois Army National Guard of safety expectations and requirements.

Maj. Jayson Coble of Springfield, Ill., the safety and occupational health manager for the Illinois Army National Guard, said motorcycle safety is important because motorcycling is inherently more dangerous. According to the Division of Traffic Safety, there were 145 motorcyclist fatalities in 2011, an increase from the previous year.

"You're riding on two wheels instead of four," said Coble. "An experienced rider once told me that when you're on a motorcycle you've always got to watch out for everyone else around you, because they're not watching out for you."

Soldiers are reminded there are specific requirements for riding a motorcycle when on duty, which includes travel to and from training, as well as riding on any military installation. In order to ride, Soldiers must have the "M" designator on their Illinois driver's license and must have completed the Basic Rider Course within the last three years. Coble said the 15-hour course is offered free of cost at many sites throughout the state from February through October every year. A refundable $20 deposit is required to hold a seat, and the course provides a helmet and motorcycle for student use.

"The course teaches a person who has never ridden a motorcycle before, by the end of the weekend, to ride by themselves confidently," Coble said.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ladd of Seymour, Ill., a driving instructor with the 129th Regimental Training Institute out of Springfield, Ill., has been an avid rider since graduating high school and said the Basic Rider Course is essential.

"I am a Motorcycle Safety Foundation-trained rider from the beginning," Ladd said. "I asked my father to teach me how to ride his bike. He told me when I turned 18, I could take a class from the state. I enrolled in the class after graduation and have been riding ever since."

Coble stated even experienced riders benefit from taking the basic rider course.

"The course teaches you things you may not have thought of before," Coble said. "Instructors talk about bad habits people get into after they've ridden for a while, and things certainly change over the course of time. After you've been riding for a long time, you can become complacent and complacency kills."

In addition to the course and licensure requirement, Soldiers must wear a helmet, eye protection, full-length pants, jacket, gloves and reflective gear. Coble said appropriate personal protective equipment is not only required, but will help save you in the case of an accident.

"I think the most important thing is a helmet," Coble said. "You have only one head, and that's probably the most vulnerable part of your body to injury and head injuries are the hardest to recover from if you survive."

Ladd echoed this sentiment.

"Buy a helmet that you'll wear," Ladd said. "It is the most important thing I've picked up as I became a more seasoned rider. I wouldn't wear a helmet if it was uncomfortable."

Ladd also said proper maintenance is another important part of safety, as well as riding alert.

"If there is any one thing to point out, don't ride when you're impaired," Ladd said. "If you make a mistake, there is no forgiveness."

More information can be found at http://safety.army.mil and http://www.msf-usa.org.

Quad Cities takes rubber match over West Michigan to finish 3-3 Eastern Division road trip

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (MAY 6, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits left-hander Colton Cain delivered his best outing of the season, tossing five shutout innings, and four River Bandits had multi-hit games to help the visitors take the deciding game of a series over the West Michigan Whitecaps with an 8-3 road win at Fifth Third Ballpark Monday night.

For a second consecutive day, the River Bandits first starter pitched five shutout innings. Cain (1-3) held the Whitecaps to three hits, and West Michigan (13-16) only advanced one runner to third base - right fielder Jake Stewart in the second inning - in the first five frames. It was the longest outing for Cain since his first start on April 6, and his first without allowing a run since April 12.

Quad Cities (18-11) never trailed in the game once it scored two runs in the second inning against right-hander Charlie Gillies (0-1). First baseman Jesse Wierzbicki grounded a leadoff double down the left-field line and scored when Gillies threw Ryan Dineen's bunt past first base, allowing Dineen to reach second and later score on an RBI single by left fielder Jordan Scott to make it 2-0.

In his Midwest League debut, Gillies finished 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and two runs - one earned - while walking one and striking out four River Bandits. Right-hander Edgar De La Rosa came on in relief in the third inning and shut out Quad Cities through the fifth inning. In the sixth, however, second baseman Austin Elkins hit a leadoff double and scored on Dineen's sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

The third run proved critical in the bottom of the sixth, as right-hander Mike Hauschild allowed consecutive singles to designated hitter Devon Travis - whose hit extended a league-best 16-game hitting streak - and first baseman Jeff Holm. A groundout by third baseman Mario Martinez and a two-out single by second baseman Jared Reaves closed the Whitecaps within 3-2. After Reaves stole second base, Hauschild struck out catcher Adolfo Reina to end the threat. West Michigan came closest to tying the game in the seventh inning, as two hits and a one-out walk loaded the bases against Hauschild. But after a mound visit from pitching coach Dave Borkowski, Hauschild got Holm to ground to Elkins, who began an inning-ending double play.

Quad Cities pulled away by batting around in the eighth inning. De La Rosa started the inning by walking shortstop Joe Sclafani and Elkins. After a fielder's choice, Dineen put down his second bunt single to make it 4-2. Catcher Roberto Peña, who earlier extended his team-best hitting streak to 12 games, singled to left field for a 5-2 lead to chase De La Rosa. Left-hander Josh Turley then gave up an RBI groundout by right fielder Ariel Ovando and later a two-run triple by Scott for an 8-2 margin.

River Bandits right-hander Gera Sanchez pitched the final two innings and allowed a leadoff triple and run in the ninth for the 8-3 final.

The victories Sunday and Monday mean 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 begin a three-game series against first-place Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Modern Woodmen Park.

UP NEXT: Wednesday, May 8, marks the start of a six-game home stand for the River Bandits, as Guaranteed Win Night and a U.S. Bank Pay Your Bill Wednesday also presented by Mix 96 kick off a series between the top two teams in the Midwest League Western Division. 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.