April 27 Ceremony to Recognize Soldiers in Chicago Area

CHICAGO, IL (04/22/2013)(readMedia)-- Approximately 15 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers will be recognized April 27 by the National Guard Bureau Freedom Salute Campaign for their sacrifice and service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The ceremony for the 244th Army Liaison Team (ALT) will be at 11 a.m. at the Illinois Army National Guard's armory at 1551 North Kedzie in Chicago.

The Soldiers were mobilized in March 2012 and briefly trained at Camp Shelby, Miss., before deploying to Afghanistan. They returned home Jan. 18.

The 244th ALT deployed two different teams that worked at border coordination centers with Afghan and Pakistani counterparts to decrease cross-border incidents.

The 244th encountered nearly 800 cross-border incidents with no casualties. There were multiple occasions where both teams resolved situations before they became international incidents. They also assisted the Afghan National Security Force and Pakistani military to resolve situations and compromise on issues.

The two teams also conducted Border Flag meetings between Afghan and Pakistani counterparts. The Border Flag meetings are discussions between the two countries about border issues.

There are only 11 units encompassing approximately 300 Soldiers with similar missions across the Army National Guard, Army Reserves and active duty forces.

The Freedom Salute Campaign program is a small way to show these patriotic citizen-Soldiers, their families and employers how much their sacrifice is appreciated. On behalf of the National Guard Bureau, the Illinois Army National Guard will present each eligible Soldier with an encased American flag, as well as a sequentially-numbered

commemorative coin, certificate of appreciation and lapel pin. Families will also receive items recognizing their support and sacrifice. The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. It is designed to publicly acknowledge Army National Guard Soldiers and those who supported them while deployed.

News media attending the event should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. For more information call the Public Affairs Office at 217-761-3569.

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PEORIA, Ill. -- SMG managed Peoria Civic Center and 95.5 WGLO are excited to announce Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators will be coming to the Peoria Civic Center Theater on Saturday, July 6^th at 8 PM. Tickets are $57, $47, and $37 and go on sale Friday April 26^th at 10 AM. Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster online and at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office.

As a musician, artist, philanthropist, and iconic rock figure, SLASH has amassed album sales nearing an astounding 100 million copies along with a Grammy Award and seven Grammy nominations, plus countless other accolades, accomplishments and acknowledgements, Time magazine named Slash #2, behind Jimi Hendrix, on its "The Ten Best Electric Guitar Players of All-Time." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee marked another career milestone this July when he was honored with his own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. SLASH's star is located directly in front of the Hard Rock Café on Hollywood Blvd.  An original member of iconic rock band Guns N' Roses, SLASH helped the band create signature sounds like the guitar riff of #1 hit "Sweet Child o' Mine" and "Welcome To The Jungle." After leaving the band, SLASH went on to critical acclaim in his personal project Slash's Snakepit, and global success with the supergroup Velvet Revolver.  SLASH and his bandmates Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators--Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass) and Frank Sidoris (guitar)--are in the midst of a world tour for their critically acclaimed album APOCALYPTIC LOVE which earned  SLASH his two first-ever #1 rock radio hits: "You're A Lie" and "Standing In The Sun." The album's third single "Anastasia" has now cracked the Top 20 at Active Rock, landing at #19 this week. The album was produced by Eric Valentine, who did the same honors for his first solo disc SLASH, and all the songs on APOCALYPTIC LOVE were written together by Slash and Myles Kennedy. 

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Carlos Correa homers twice, Jesse Wierzbicki adds two-run shot as Quad Cities takes series opener

Rock Shoulders goes 5-for-6 with two home runs and four RBIs, as Quad Cities loses its first series

GENEVA, Ill. (APRIL 20, 2013) - The Quad Cities River Bandits' run of success at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark ended with a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Kane County Cougars, who rode a 5-for-6, two-homer performance from Rock Shoulders to 7-3 and 4-3 seven-inning home victories Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars (6-8) grabbed momentum early in Game 1, as they scored five runs in 2 1/3 innings against left-handed starter Brian Holmes (0-1). Shoulders led off the second inning with a double, advanced to third on an infield single by second baseman Wes Darvill, and scored on the first of two sacrifice flies by center fielder Trey Martin.

Kane County had four straight hits against Holmes to start the third, and he was removed with one out and a 4-0 deficit. Right-hander Cameron Lamb allowed Martin's second sacrifice fly, closing the book on Holmes with eight hits, five earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Opposite him, right-hander Pierce Johnson (1-0) lasted five innings, allowing three hits and an unearned run while striking out six to defeat the team that beat him on Opening Day.

Down 5-0, Quad Cities (9-5) scored a run on right fielder Ariel Ovando's fourth-inning RBI single, but the Cougars added runs in the fourth and sixth, when Shoulders took right-hander Gerardo Sanchez deep to right field for a 7-1 lead. River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez's seventh-inning two-run double closed the scoring in a 7-3 final.

In Game 2, Shoulders put the Cougars up 1-0 with a first-inning RBI single against right-hander Jordan Jankowski. After Quad Cities' two-run top of the fourth, Shoulders tied the game with a homer off Jankowski to right leading off the bottom half. Jankowski allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and no strikeouts in three-plus innings. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson (0-1) escaped the fourth inning with a 2-2 tie, but he gave up a go-ahead single by Shoulders in the fifth.

River Bandits first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki hit his second RBI single to tie the game in the sixth inning. But the next half-inning, Cougars shortstop Marco Hernandez hit a go-ahead triple over the head of left fielder Jordan Scott. With a 4-3 lead, left-hander Jeff Antigua worked a scoreless seventh to save a win for right-hander Tayler Scott, who worked six innings, allowed five hits, three runs and a walk while striking out four.

After their first series loss, the River Bandits head to Wisconsin for a three-game set beginning at 5:05 p.m. Sunday. The doubleheader sweep and a win by Cedar Rapids dropped Quad Cities one-half game out of first place in the Midwest League Western Division.

UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park for a six-game home stand beginning Thursday, April 25, with Manti Te'o Night and a Thirst-Day with $2 drink specials presented by Rock 104-9, the Quad Cities' CW, and the River Cities' Reader. 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, winning each of their first five games and currently sit in first 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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