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.

"Daddy Knows Best" by City High's Jordan Adams named winner

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced at a ceremony over the weekend that a painting by Jordan Adams, a 10^th grader at City High in Iowa City, was named the winner of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition.  Jordan's painting was chosen by judges Leslie Grossman, Curator and Gallery Director at St. Ambrose University and Rima Girnius, Curator at Figge Art Museum to represent Iowa's Second District.  His painting will be hung in the U.S. Capitol and Jordan will receive a free trip to Washington to attend a reception held to honor all of this year's winners.  A full list of the honorees and photos of their artwork is below.

"Every year I am amazed at the creativity, ingenuity, and talent of our local high school students from across the District.  I send my congratulations to all of the young artists whose excellent submissions made it a very close contest this year.  I especially want to congratulate Jordan and look forward to seeing his artwork hanging in the U.S. Capitol," said Loebsack.

Winner:

Jordan Adams, 10^th grade, Iowa City- City High

"Daddy Knows Best"

First Runner-up:

Emily Miller, 11^th grade, Fairfield

"Work"

Second Runner-up:

Amy Beattie, 10^th grade, Ottumwa

"Bridge"

Honorable Mentions: (listed alphabetically)

Katlin Hart, Agency

"Hippo"

Karen Jorgenson, Davenport

"Appearance vs Reality"

Sarah Lange, Iowa City

"Love is Love"

Jessie McElderry, Batavia

"Portrait of a Turtle"

Amy Van Fossen, Bettendorf

"Iowa in Spring"

(DES MOINES) - Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad received word that a Presidential Disaster Declaration has been issued for five Iowa counties. The five counties included in the declaration are Dickinson, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola and Sioux.

The Governor sent the request for the declaration on Friday, April 26, in response to severe weather which occurred April 9-11, 2013.  The severe weather produced damaging winds, heavy rains, thunderstorms, freezing rain, ice and snow that caused damage to utility lines, poles, trees and vegetation.

The declaration by the President will provide federal funding to the declared counties under the Public Assistance Program. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by state programs, and designed to help public entities and select non-profits. Public Assistance funds may be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions and grants for public schools.

The Governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future natural disasters by taking steps now to strengthen existing infrastructure.

This Presidential Disaster Declaration is the 15th Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Iowa has received since March 2007.

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division leads, coordinates and supports homeland security and emergency management functions in order to establish sustainable communities and ensure economic opportunities for Iowa and its citizens.