Featuring Fareed Haque

Nova Singers, under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, presents two performances of A Procession Winding Around Me, featuring classical guitarist Fareed Haque, on Saturday, April 6 at 7:30pm in Kresge Recital Hall at Knox College in Galesburg, and on Sunday, April 7 at 4:00pm at First Congregational Church in Moline.

These performances will introduce a completely different side of Nova Singers! We will join forces with Fareed Haque to explore the sound of choir and guitar. Featuring Jeffrey Van's A Procession Winding Around Me and Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Romancero Gitano, both written for a chorus of voices and a guitar accompaniment, this program is truly not to be missed.

"In each piece," says Dr. Laura Lane, "the guitar paints images of the text, such as rushing water, dissonance, or even aggression. These works highlight the incredible spectrum of emotion both guitar and voice are capable of conveying."

Nova Singers, a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, hopes to share our musical soul with you.  Nova Singers is known for bringing a wide variety of choral music to its audiences, and for the beauty and charm the singers impart to their music.

Tickets will be available at the door. Admission is $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Students are admitted free of charge. For information about group rates, tickets, recordings, or other Nova Singers' events, call 309-341-7038, or e-mail nova@knox.edu. Please take the time to check out our brand new website as well at www.novasingers.com!

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Nova Singers' 2012-2013 season is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) invites local educators, parents, and advocates to
attend the upcoming meeting of his Education Citizens Advisory Committee on Tuesday, March 26 from 3:15
p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Riverdale High School Library, located at 9622 256th St. N in Port Byron.

"Improving educational opportunities for our children is very important to me, especially as a father of two
young sons in the local public education system," said Smiddy. "Collaborating with dedicated parents and the
teachers who spend every day in the classroom helps me better understand the complex issues and challenges
we must address in Springfield. Education is the key to a strong community."

Illinois' 71st District includes all of Albany, Cleveland, Coal Valley, Colona, Como, Cordova, Deer Grove, Erie,
Fulton, Hampton, Hillsdale, Lyndon, Morrison, Port Byron, Prophetstown, Rapids City, Rock Falls, Savanna,
Sterling, Tampico, and Thomson and portions of Carbon Cliff, East Moline, Moline and Silvis.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, contact Smiddy's full-time
constituent service office at (309) 848-9098, RepSmiddy@gmail.com, or toll-free at (855) 243-4988.
TENTATIVE AGENDA
SCOTT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
March 25 - 29, 2013

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Committee of the Whole - 8:30 am
Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center

1. Roll Call: Minard, Sunderbruch, Cusack, Earnhardt, Hancock

Presentation

2. Presentation of PRIDE recognition for years of service. (Item 2).....9:00 a.m.

3. Presentation of PRIDE recognition for retirement. (Item 3)

4. Presentation of Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (Item 4)

5. Recognition of Investor Education Workshop Participants. (Item 5)

6. Recognition of the candidates who have met the County's Leadership Summit
Recertification requirements. (Item 6)

7. Presentation of PRIDE Recognition for Employee of the Quarter.

8. Discussion with the following Authorized Agencies: (Room 638)

10:00 a.m. Scott Soil Conservation/Watershed Partners- Karen Wilke, Doug
Johnson & Jan McClurg
10:30 a.m. Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds- Bob Fox

Facilities & Economic Development

9. Approval of the Bi-State copy paper order. (Item 9)

Human Resources

10. Approval of modifications to Human Resources Policy P. (Item 10)

11. Approval of personnel actions. (Item 11)

Finance & Intergovernmental

12. Approval of beer/liquor licenses for A-1 Mart, Glynns Creek Golf Course, Donahue
American Legion (5 day) and Olathea Golf Course.

Other Items of Interest

13. Consideration of appointments with upcoming term expirations for boards and
commissions. (3 month notice)

o Benefited Fire District #6- (3 year term) (Joint appointment with Muscatine Board)
Jennifer Rochholz -10 (term expires 6/30/13)

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Regular Board Meeting - 5:30 pm
Board Room, 1st Floor, Administrative Center

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted on the Republican budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014.

"A budget is a set of priorities, a vision of the direction you believe the country should be moving towards.  Unfortunately, the Republican budget that passed the House today would balance the budget on the backs of seniors and middle class families, those who did not get us into this fiscal mess.  We've got to grow the economy, create jobs and substantially reduce the unsustainable deficit over the long-term, but it must be done in a balanced way.  In order to do that, Republicans and Democrats have to sit down with one another and truly make the difficult decisions that are necessary to get our economy moving again. We must lay our political differences aside and pass a commonsense budget."

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The latest Farm Futures survey results show growers plan to increase corn and bean acres this spring.

ST. CHARLES, ILL. (03/21/2013) – U.S. farmers are ready to increase production of corn and soybeans for 2013, according to the latest Farm Futures survey.

The magazine's survey of more than 1,750 growers found farmers ready to plant 97.43 million acres of corn, up .3% from 2012. If achieved, the total would be the most since 1936.

The increase in soybeans could be even more dramatic. Farmers said they want to plant 79.09 million acres this spring, up 2.5% from 2012 and easily an all-time record if achieved.

"With stocks of both corn and soybeans projected near historic lows, strong acreage this spring is a must to rebuild inventories," said Farm Futures Senior Editor Bryce Knorr, who conducted the research. "Spring weather could still change these numbers significantly, and prices will be important, too. Some 18% of those surveyed said they could still shift 50% or more of their acres."

Indeed, prices have already caused major adjustments in farmer planting plans since Farm Futures first surveyed growers in August. Back then, farmers were reluctant to increase corn acreage, with many feeling continuous corn exacerbated damage from the historic 2012 drought. But high prices helped lure growers back to corn in the magazine's January survey, which showed similar numbers to the latest tally. However, while farmers in the eastern Corn Belt and South boosted corn prospects, farmers to the west plan fewer acres. Instead, they're preparing a strong increase in soybean plantings this spring, with average acres in the region up 10% or more.

Farm Futures Market Analyst Paul Burgener noted the survey found farmers overall hoping to put in 2.5 million more acres of corn, soybeans and wheat this spring. "The increased acres have to come from somewhere," Burgener said. "Hay stocks are very low and grassland will be at a premium, so this shift could have a bigger impact than usual if many of these are historic grassland acres."

At least some of the western acres could come from wheat. The Farm Futures survey found growers on the northern Plains ready to plant 11.91 million acres of spring wheat, down 3% from 2012. The survey also suggests abandonment of hard red winter wheat acres could be as much as 1.35 million more than usual due to poor conditions last fall. The survey showed total wheat seedings at 56.12 million, down 1 million from earlier surveys

USDA releases its annual estimate of prospective plantings on March 28. While those numbers usually draw the big headlines, they could be overshadowed this year by the agency's estimate of March 1 grain stocks. Farm Futures showed inventory of corn and soybeans stored on farm is down dramatically due to the drought: Corn stocks are just 68.1% of last year, while soybeans are 77.9% of those seen in 2012.

"March on-farm corn stocks could be at their lowest level since 1996," Burgener said. "Feed and ethanol use continues to pull the crop out of bins and into the pipeline even though exports have been limited."

Farm Futures surveyed more than 1,750 growers by email March 5 to March 19.

Survey results by crop:

2013 Crop Planting Intentions


Crop

Acres

Change*

Corn

97.43 million

100.3%
Soybeans

79.09 million

102.5%
All Wheat

56.12 million

100.7%
Spring Wheat

11.91 million

96.9%
Durum

2.06 million

97.2%
Soft Red Winter Wheat

9.51 million

117.2%
Hard Red Winter Wheat

29.1 million

97.5%
White Winter Wheat

3.54 million

105.8%
All Winter Wheat

42.15 million

102.0%

*Corn and soybean change is vs USDA January 2013.

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Federal Railroad Administration Names Illinois to Lead National Procurement of 35 Next-Generation Locomotives

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn announced today that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has named Illinois to lead the multi-state procurement of next-generation locomotives for high-speed rail. With the consent of the partnering states, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will lead the effort to procure at least 35 next-generation diesel locomotives for high-speed passenger trains on behalf of five states - Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington. Today's announcement is part of the governor's commitment to bring Illinois' and our nation's transportation systems into the 21st century.

"This decision by the federal government is a testament to Illinois' role as a national leader in high-speed rail," Governor Quinn said. "This important multi-state procurement is a key to success for high-speed rail throughout the nation, and I have directed my administration to move forward quickly."

The FRA has allocated $808 million to build the next generation of passenger rail equipment, including 35 new locomotives and 130 bi-level rail cars. As lead agency, IDOT will manage and oversee the procurement, involve the other states in planning and implementing the procurement process, develop a detailed project plan, and coordinate the review of the procurement among the involved states and FRA.

"Following significant analysis and consideration, FRA recommends that IDOT be the lead agency for the multi-state locomotive procurement," the FRA stated in their decision letter. "We are confident that your team - jointly with the significant contributions from California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington - will manage the procurement process and stakeholder involvement that will lead to a successful contract award."

"We are thrilled in Illinois to have the confidence of the FRA and Governor Quinn as we move forward with this crucial procurement effort," Illinois Secretary of Transportation Ann L. Schneider said. "Our goal is to offer 110-mile-per-hour service on at least 75 percent of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor - the segment from Dwight to Alton - by the end of 2015, and these locomotives are the key to achieving that goal. It takes time to build these complex and powerful engines, however, and we are moving quickly to get this procurement under way as soon as possible."

Last year, IDOT was part of a multi-state procurement of the 130 next-generation bi-level rail cars for high-speed service, an effort led by the state of California. That procurement resulted in the selection of Nippon-Sharyo, which is building the rail cars from its plant in Rochelle, Illinois, including the 88 cars to be used on Midwest high-speed corridors. The Rochelle plant opened in 2012 and has created 250 jobs in Illinois.

Illinois debuted 110-mph service on a 15-mile segment of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor from Dwight to Pontiac in fall 2012, and IDOT is working with the private railroads and FRA to ensure that positive train control requirements and all needed track and crossing improvements are completed in order to expand 110-mph service as much as possible in the years ahead. The FRA in December provided a Record of Decision on the entire Chicago-St. Louis corridor, allowing Illinois to begin in-depth corridor segment studies and specific project studies to move toward high-speed service on the other 25 percent of the corridor as soon as possible, including segments from Joliet to Chicago and from Alton to St. Louis.  The segment from Dwight to Joliet is under development and is expected to offer 110-mph service in 2017.

Illinois also is working in close partnership with the state of Michigan to establish 110-mph service from Chicago to Detroit as the next Midwest segment targeted to run at higher speeds.

The state helps fund 28 Amtrak trains serving four corridors including those from Chicago to Milwaukee and St. Louis. The partnership with Amtrak has led to a steady increase in ridership in recent years. The state-supported corridors together carried a record 1.8 million passengers last year. Ridership growth in Illinois has been exceptional, up more than 92 percent overall since 2006, and up on the Chicago to St. Louis corridor by 224 percent.

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St. Paul's Lutheran School students were set to visit The White House until their visit was canceled earlier this month

(DES MOINES) -  Gov. Terry Branstad today announced he will give students of St. Paul's Lutheran School in Waverly, Iowa, a tour of Terrace Hill and a "behind the scenes" tour of the governor's office after the White House abruptly canceled the students' planned tour earlier this month. The students will visit Des Moines on Thursday, March 28, 2013.

"I am pleased the students from St. Paul's Lutheran School in Waverly will be able to visit Terrace Hill and the State Capitol," said Branstad. "Just like in Washington, our Legislature is split among political parties, but we are still able to work together to better our state. I was disappointed to learn The White House canceled the students' tour, but I hope a tour of Terrace Hill and the governor's office will be a small consolation."

Earlier this month, the students were the focus of an ABC News story about The White House's cancelation of tours following sequestration.  The students launched a Facebook campaign in hopes of The White House reinstating the tours, but the students were denied their tour when visiting on March 16th.

The following portion of the students' visit is open to the press:

Thursday, March 28, 2013

10 a.m. Gov. Branstad gives Waverly St. Paul's Lutheran School students tour of Terrace Hill

Terrace Hill

2300 Grand Avenue

Des Moines, IA

 

11:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad gives Waverly St. Paul's Lutheran School students tour of Governor's Formal Office

Governor's Formal Office

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA

 

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2012 Rock Island County Fair Queen Amelia Martens celebrates her win as the very first Miss Illinois County Fair Queen in Rock Island County.

Please join us for a reception for Amelia Martens  newly crowned 2013 Miss. Illinois County Fair Queen. Amelia is a senior at the University of Illinois majoring in Agricultural Communications. She is from Orion IL.

Reception is as follows:

Location: Western Illinois University Campus - 3300 River Dr. Moline IL 61265

Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm (Amelia and  Rock Island County Fair board president Mr. William L McKinley will be speaking around 3:00)

Amelia would love to share with you about her upcoming busy summer and her excitement of being the official hostess of the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair.

Jessica Irving, 12, of Grand Mound found a way to use her sewing skills to help others and has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President's Volunteer Service Award.

The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was presented by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama. Jessica participated in the Spirit of Community program this year as a representative of the Liberty 4-H Club.

Jessica earned her award by continuously making & donating fabric covered tissue covers for breast cancer patients. She creates each tissue holder, or "Jessie's Jems" as she now calls them, out of breast cancer themed fabric, then tucks a travel-size packet of tissue inside. Once completed, they are delivered to the Kenneth H. McKay Center for Breast Health at the Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, where their staff distributes them to newly diagnosed patients.

Jessica truly enjoys creating each "Jem" and feels good because when patients get them, they know someone cares and hopefully this little gift can make them smile. Jessica's 4-H leaders say "Jessica is not only one to put her mind to creative projects and ideas, but also has developed many leadership skills, one of which is helping fellow club members' with sewing projects."

John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial which sponsors the awards states that "In recognizing these students and placing a spotlight on their volunteer service activities, we hope to motivate others to consider how they can also contribute to their community."

 

Last month, I hosted my first Facebook live chat to introduce myself as a candidate for US Senate, and answer the questions most important to you.

After that successful first chat, we asked folks to let us know which issues you'd like to hear more about -- and the answer was clear. That's why I'm asking you to be a part of my second Facebook chat to discuss the economy and job creation here in Iowa, and continue the conversation we began back in February.

Will you join me on Friday, March 29th to discuss these important issues during my next Facebook live chat?


During this chat, I'll be talking about my record of standing up for Iowa's middle class, steps I'm taking to bring good jobs to Iowa and answering your questions online via live streaming video.

I'll even be joined by a very special guest with experience as a small business owner right here in Iowa.
I hope you'll join me to continue our conversation.

See you soon,

Bruce Braley

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