CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today granted 87 and denied 135 clemency petitions. This action marks another step in a series of clemency decisions aimed at eliminating a backlog of more than 2,500 cases that built up during the previous administration.

The 222 clemency petitions acted upon by Governor Quinn are part of dockets ranging from 2005 through 2012. Each person granted clemency has recently undergone a criminal background check through the Illinois State Police's Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS).

A granted clemency request for a pardon with expungement allows the petitioner to seek expungement of their conviction through the court system.

Since taking office, Governor Quinn has acted on 2,459 clemency petitions. Governor Quinn has granted 929 and denied 1,530 petitions. Those actions include granting 909 pardons and authorizing 20 people who had previously received pardons to seek expungement of their convictions.

For additional information on the granted clemency cases, please contact Ken Tupy at the Prisoner Review Board at (217) 782-7274 or ken.tupy@illinois.gov.

CALENDAR

March 30^th - Wide River Winery Easter bonnet Contest! Be creative and have fun! Judging at 3:30p.m. Tasting room is open 11AM-7PM

Wide River Winery now open in their new location! Next door to the former location. It is beautiful, so visit them to check it out for yourself. Congratulations, Wide River!

March 31^st - Bier Stube - Special Easter Sunday Brunch - 9am - 12pm. Seatings begin on the hour.  Price $13.99 for buffet or $19.99 per person with unlimited Bloody Mary's and Mimosas. Also taking reservations for Mothers Day Brunch (May 12th). 1001 Canal Shore Dr., LeClaire. 563-289-2121

Save the Date

April 3 - "Dinner with Mrs. Dawley" The museum's fundraiser at the Dawley Home (Crane & Pelican Café) is SOLD OUT! Dinner in a riverboat pilot's home, joined by the couple's friends and family. It will be an enjoyable evening!  If you would like to be contacted if any reservations are cancelled, please send an email to: BuffaloBill@iowatelecom.net, or message the museum on FaceBook:  Buffalo Bill Museum LeClaire IA (Please include your phone number, and number in party).

April 5^th - First Friday in LeClaire!  5:00-8:00 p.m.

Food and Beverage Samples at Mississippi River Distilling Company www.mrdistilling.com 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Wine samples at Wide River Winery www.wideriverwinery.com

Karaoke at Sneaky Pete's Every Friday Night 9:00 P.M.-1:00 A.M. 207 North Cody Road Le Claire, IA (563) 289-4277.

Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium will be open late - go in for a free red velvet cupcake!

Razzleberries will be open late. Come in to shop and get free samples of booze cake (while it lasts)!

Restaurants and several other shops will be open late, too!

April 6^th - Zion Lutheran Church, Princeton Announces - One Show Only!

Benefit Performance of "Johnny Cash and the Sun Rocket Railway: A Tribute to the Music of Sun Records 7:00 P.M. Enjoy AJ Haut performing the songs of Johnny Cash, as well as Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley accompanied by Tristan Tapscott and Kyle Jecklin. Tickets: $10 each, available at the door. Princeton Community Center, 428 S. River Dr. Princeton, Iowa. Doors open at 6:30 PM

April 13^th - Zion Lutheran Church hosting Benefit for Norman Sawyer at Princeton, Iowa Fire Station Princeton. Dinner from 4:00 P.M to 7:00 P.M.. Live auction and entertainment to follow. Tickets are available at Iowa locations of the Blackhawk Bank and Trust. The cost is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children 6 to 12 years old (5 and under free. life-long resident of Scott County, Norman has led an active farmer's life raising beef cattle. Sawyer Beef is a staple at Davenport's Farmer's Freight House Market.  The family is actively involved in Zion Lutheran Church and the community of Princeton.   Norman graduated from North Scott in 1964 and Iowa State University in 1968.  He then served in the U. S. Navy.  On April 19, 2012, Norman broke his neck in a farm accident. He was airlifted to a neuro-trauma hospital in Rockford, Illinois.  In critical condition, Norman was paralyzed, on a ventilator and unable to speak or swallow. He had three surgeries to stabilize his neck. Norman spent six months undergoing intensive rehabilitation at the Minneapolis VA Spinal Cord Injury Center.   After a year of rehabilitation and recovery, Norman is finally returning to the family farm.  However, their home requires extensive renovations to be handicapped accessible:  ramps, wheelchair lift, handicapped bathroom, ceiling lift, etc.  The purpose of the benefit is to raise funds to help defray the cost of the renovations to the Sawyer home. Please join us on April 13 at the Princeton Fire Department.  Help us to help the Sawyer family .·www.facebook.com/NormanSawyerRoadToRecovery

Grace Marine and Captain's Quarters, a 3rd Generation Family Tradition boat dealer. We specialize in Crownline, Skeeter, Alumacraft, Manitou, Yamaha, and Mercury. We not only sell boats, but we also buy boats and repair boats. We now offer Pontoon, and Jet Ski rentals. We can be found at www.gracemarine.com, and also on Facebook.

The Buffalo Bill Museum offers admission discounts for group tours!   School groups, 4-H, fraternal and civic clubs, family reunions, etc. Call 563-289-4603 for more information and schedule a guided tour! Reservations are required and can be made months in advance! 

"LIKE" the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce on FaceBook Visit the chamber's Face Book page and discover a great source of news, business announcements, events, and other information that is updated frequently. It's a useful source of updated information for all members and non-members!

(ext 1135) or email Cindy Bruhn, Tourism Manager, at Info@VisitLeClaire.com

Chamber 2013 Networking Events - Everyone welcome to attend!

April 9 - Wide River Winery - after hours - 5-8pm (tentative)

May 14 - Great River Financial - after hours

June 6 - Black Watch Room - after hours - 5-8pm (1st Thursday)

July 9 -  Blue Iguana - Lunch -noon

August 13 - Big Dave and Holly's - lunch -noon

September 10 - Steventon's - after hours - 5-8pm

October 8 - Hungry Hobo - lunch - noon

November 12 - Faithful Pilot - after hours -5-8pm

December 10 - Happy Joes - lunch -noon

January 14, 2014 - Sneaky Pete's - lunch -noon

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

Meet and greet Pastor Melody any Wednesday from 1-3 pm at Happy Joe's. Pastor Melody from First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire, will be at Happy Joe's in LeClaire, every Wednesday, from 1-3 pm, sipping on a soda, reading and waiting to visit with you and your friends. Stop by and say hi. Or, if you have a prayer request or a question, just let her know.  Meals for Seniors at the church every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 noon. Good food and a time to visit with others. Please call 563-289-3646 and make a reservation 2 days in advance.

Trivia Nights in LeClaire at the LeClaire Civic Center

2013 Trivia Nights:

April 6 - LeClaire Little League

May 4 - LeClaire Lions

June 8 - Buffalo Bill Museum

July 13 - Hosted by First Presbyterian Church - Hurricane Sandy Victims

LeClaire Trivia Nights have raised over $95,000 for local non-profit organizations! Thank you for your continued support!

LeClaire 2013 Events Calendar

Spring - Spring Fling Easter Egg Hunt (Hollyhock Park)

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

May 17-18 - French Market Days

June 7-8 - LeClaire Garage Sale Days

June 21-22 - Girls' Getaway Weekend - Details to come!!

Summer - City-Wide Water Explosion (Hollyhock Park)

Summer - Bike Parade & Decorating

August 8-10 - Tug Fest - www.tugfest.com

October 6 - Dogtoberfest (rain date - Oct. 13)

October 13 - Apple Fest

October 24 - Hallowine

October 26 - Witches' Walk

December 6-8 - Christmas in LeClaire

www.LeClaireChamber.com and visit the Chamber on FaceBook!

The Academy Awards' "Best Picture" tells the story of the rescue of six U.S. diplomats during the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-80.

But, for all that it's a movie about diplomats, it tells nothing of the men and women who represent the United States abroad, the challenges they face and how prepared - or ill prepared - they are to face those challenges, says Nicholas Kralev, an expert on international affairs and diplomacy and author of a new book, "America's Other Army: The U.S. Foreign Service and 21st Century Diplomacy," www.americasotherarmy.com.

Why should Americans care?

Because the work of U.S. diplomats affects every American's safety and security, Kralev says.

"Their success - or lack of it - affects our ability to travel; our employment opportunities; our prosperity."

The U.S. Foreign Service is much less visible than the U.S. military - in spite of the attention it has received in recent months. The 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Libya, where Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans died, raised greater awareness of our Foreign Service workers. Additionally, media attention on the globetrotting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who oversaw the department, captured the public's imagination.

Kralev, a former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent covered the State Department for 10 years under four secretaries of state. He visited more than 50 embassies and interviewed 600 American diplomats to learn about who they are, what their daily lives are like, and what they do. He says Americans would be surprised by what we don't know about the Foreign Service.

• Parties are the last thing on a diplomat's mind. Their multiple missions range from helping lift people out of poverty to influencing public opinion in the countries where they're posted to watching out for threats to U.S. interests. For the past 10 years, the goal of U.S. diplomacy has been to ensure security and prosperity by removing the conditions that foster conflict. That means a diplomat must be a jack of all trades. They roll up their sleeves to provide hands-on help building schools and hospitals; aid victims of natural disasters; work with refugees. Diplomats also intercede on behalf of Americans who run into problems while traveling abroad; seek grants for local projects, and build relationships among the local populace and leaders.

• American diplomats risk their lives every day. Chris Stevens was not the first diplomat to die in the line of duty. Violent crimes including kidnapping, carjackings and robberies are ever-present threats. In 2008, a 33-year-old embassy employee was killed in Sudan while returning home from a party at the British Embassy. In 2002, a 60-year-old diplomat was killed in Jordan. In 1983, a car bomb killed 63 employees of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
"Our Foreign Service workers tell harrowing stories of near misses," Kralev says. "But they also understand that the adventure that makes that lives so appealing to them is not without risks."

• Foreign Service workers have surprisingly little training. To be eligible for the service, applicants must by U.S. citizens at least 21 years old and no older than 60 on the day you are appointed, and available for worldwide assignments. They also must pass a Foreign Service Officer exam. "They are ordinary Americans -- former lawyers, nurses, restaurant managers, teachers and journalists. They come from every walk of life," Kralev says. "Much of what they do is based on intuition, luck and gut. Officers learn on the job almost everything they need to know."

The work of the Foreign Service is too important to remain a mystery, says Kralev, who details countless individual stories in "America's Other Army."

"Strong and effective U.S. diplomacy is essential to our security, prosperity, even our freedom. Americans should pay attention to whether we're providing them with all of the tools they need."

About Nicholas Kralev

Nicholas Kralev is an author, journalist and lecturer on international affairs, diplomacy and global travel. A former Financial Times and Washington Times correspondent, he has traveled around the world with four U.S. secretaries of state, including Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice, and visited more than 80 countries. He is the author of "America's Other Army: The U.S. Foreign Service and 21st Century Diplomacy" and "Decoding Air Travel: A Guide to Saving on Airfare and Flying in Luxury." He is also the founder and CEO of Kralev International LLC, an air travel consulting and training company. He holds a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

April 13, 2013, Isle Center, Bettendorf

The winners are:

·         Miss Julianne DeLessio, Pleasant Valley High School, leadership. She is the Founder of "Dance for Me".
·         Miss Samantha Sharp, Jordan Catholic, Volunteerism
·         Miss Nicole Typupia, Rock Island, athletics
·         Miss Ana Kugler, Central High School, Teachers Choice Award Leader in "Girls Learn International" only chapter in Iowa
·         Amanda Grissom, Davenport, Junior Theater, Performing Arts
·         Miss Sedat Romilus, Central High School, Academics (14 year old junior)
·         $500 scholarship winner, Miss Tiffany Fields, Moline High School
·         Girl of the Year, Miss Love 2013 to be announced at event.

Love Girls Magazine and Epiphany Events, Event Management and Planning, LLC have collaborated to host "The Love Awards- A Purple Carpet Event" to further the mission of Love Girls Magazine, The Love Awards will honor girls from all over the Quad Cities for their achievements. Girls were nominated by QC community. Local teens have gone above and beyond to provide a unique experience for local young women to be recognized. This event will be hosted of Veda Rossi of Rock Island High School and Curtis Bell of Rushour. Students from local high schools and colleges will provide entertainment. Sponsors include, Royal Neighbors, Amy's Gift, Striving for Excellence, QC Barbell, Diamond Ministries, Wainwright Orthodontics and The Little Black Dress.

Love Girls Magazine was founded by Jasmine Babers in January 2012, at the age of 16. This magazine focuses on the encouragement and positive self-esteem of local girls in the Quad Cities area. Babers, along with other young women (ages13-19), and mentoring adults, have created a unique non profit organization and magazine, that honors young girls by sharing their inspirational stories along with fun articles on fashion,
beauty, confidence, entertainment, fitness and health. The magazine is published quarterly and always features a local young woman on the cover.

The community is invited to come and support Love Girls Magazine in their efforts and witness a great event for the community. Tickets are $7.00, and can be purchased at Family Resources in Moline, IL or by visiting www.lovegirlsmagazine.com.

Editor Jasmine Babers 309-786-1928