SPRINGFIELD - Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) is pleased to announce the sale of Thomson Correctional Center is one-step closer to being reality.

"Unfortunately, this process has taken years. However, we are finally to a point where we are handing over control of the facility to the federal government," Jacobs said. "This process must be approved by the legislature and the governor to be official.  This is the next step in that process."

Senate Bill 30, which passed the Senate today, allows the state to grant jurisdiction of the prison to the federal government.

The Thomson correctional facility, built in 2001, cost the state $140 million dollars to construct; however, it has never been operational because the state lacked the funds to open the facility. The Justice Department agreed to purchase Thomson in October of 2012 for $165 million. Once operational, the facility should provide over 1,000 jobs in Northwestern Illinois.

Senate Snapshot:

What: SB 30 passed Senate

The Vote: 49-5-0

Lead Senate Sponsor: Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline)

Next: Goes to the House of Representatives

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CAMPS FOR KIDS!

 

Spend Your Spring Break With Us!!!!

With school out days and Spring break days off from school, we have you taken care of!! With multiple locations including Collins House, Roosevelt Center, Nighswander Theatre and of course the Rivers Edge, you can't go wrong. Click here to register today!!

 

Junior Theater Spring Break Camp (Age6-13): March 18 - 22

Students adventure throughout Davenport Junior Theatre, exploring acting, improvisation, lights, sound, make-up, the life of a professional actor and more.  Students also collaborate on the creation of their very own script! Our camp theme is Aesop's Fables.  Everything ends with a performance for family and friends on Friday afternoon at 4:00 PM. Join the adventure!

Camp begins Monday, March 18

Students should arrive 10 minutes early

Early Drop Off 7:30am - 8:30am / Late Pick-Up 4:00pm - 5:30pm : Additional $25 Fee

Guardian must fill out Medical Release Form first day

Students must be signed in and out by guardian

Any student missing more than one day may not be included in showcase

Free Showcase will be Friday, March 22 from @ 4:00pm (parents & friends welcome)

 

FRIDAY NIGHT OUT WITH PARKS AND RECREATION!

 

Family Friday Night, March 1: Spring Surprises

Come Join Davenport Parks and Recreation from 6 PM- 9 PM at Vander Veer Botanical Park Conservatory to take in the beauty of spring. Plant up a spring plant for additional $3, can pay on site. There will be pizza available for $2.50 a person which will include two slices of pizza and lemonade.

 

Family Movie Night, March 8: "Spiderwick Chronicles"

"Spiderwick Chronicles" Rated PG : 6:00 - 9:00 PM : Davenport Junior Theatre is thrilled to host a Movie Night as part of the Family Friday Nights Series. On the second Friday of each month, your family can join us for pizza, lemonade, and a movie in our very own Nighswander Theatre!  Best of all, it is only $2.50 per person if you register early!

All Ages / $2.50 per person if you register in advance, $4.00 per person at door

Includes 2 slices of pizza and lemonade for each family member

Popcorn sold at theatre for $1.00 per bag

Located at Annie Wittenmyer Complex, Davenport Junior Theatre.

 

Friday Night Jam/Family Friday Nights at Roosevelt

Come on out to Roosevelt Community Center for our Friday Night Jam!! Series. On the Fourth Friday of each month (Sept - March), your family can join us for pizza, lemonade, board games, karaoke, and Wii games! New this winter, people attending Friday Night Jam will have the choice of participating in BINGO or an UNO Tournament on alternating months.  Please bring a piece of fruit or candy bar for prizes.

6:00 - 9:00 pm (must arrive by 6:30 pm to order dinner)

All Ages!!! $2.50/person in advance, $4 at the door or $10/family!

Includes 2 slices of pizza and lemonade for each person.

Click here to pre-register for any Family Friday Night.

Genesis Nursing Homes Receive Highest Ratings from U.S. News & World Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- March 1, 2013 ? Westwing Place in DeWitt, Iowa, and Illini Restorative Care, Silvis, Ill., have each received the highest possible overall rating and have been awarded "Best Nursing Home" designation in U.S. News & World Report's fifth annual Best Nursing Homes survey.

The Best Nursing Homes 2013 ratings highlight the top nursing homes in each city and state, out of nearly 16,000 facilities nationwide. The U.S. News goal is to help users find a home with a track record of exceptional care.

Best Nursing Homes uses data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a federal agency that assesses homes in three categories -- health inspections, level of nurse staffing, and quality of care -- and gives each an overall rating.

U.S. News awarded the "Best Nursing Home" designation to homes that earned an overall rating of five stars from CMS in January 2013. Fewer than one of every five nursing homes in the country received five stars for overall rating.

Westwing Place, located adjacent to Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt, received five stars for quality measures and four stars for health inspections and nurse staffing. Illini Restorative Care, adjacent to Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, received five stars for health inspections and nurse staffing and three stars for quality measures.

Genesis Senior Living, Aledo, Ill., received four stars in overall quality. The facility received four stars for health inspections, four stars for quality ratings and three stars for nurse staffing. The Aledo facility, adjacent to Genesis Medical Center, Aledo, is the latest addition to Genesis nursing homes.

"We take our commitment to providing the best possible senior living and rehabilitation experiences very seriously,'' said Glen Roebuck, Executive Director of Senior Services and Strategy for Genesis Health System. "Any time your standard of care is recognized by others, it is a positive message for our staff that are we on the best course for our patients.

"Families are becoming more astute consumers of senior living and rehabilitation options for their loved one. Ratings like this give those consumers a good place to start in their search for the best choices."

Along with the ratings, U.S. News has published a series of articles and a guide to users who are choosing the right nursing homes. The ratings and features are at http://www.usnews.com/best-nursing-homes.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Branstad today announced appointments to fill Iowa's boards and commissions.

The following appointees' term begins on May 1, 2013, unless otherwise noted.

 

Iowa Banking Division

James Schipper, Superintendent, Osceola

 

Iowa Board of Parole

Jim Felker, Hiawatha

Shelia Wilson, West Des Moines

 

Iowa Board of Regents

Robert Cramer, Grimes

Dr. Subhash Sahai, Webster City

Craig Lang, Brooklyn

 

Iowa Lottery Authority

Terry Rich, Chief Executive Officer, Urbandale

 

Iowa National Guard

Major General Timothy Orr, Adjutant General, Johnston

 

Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission

Richard Arnold, Russell

 

Iowa Utilities Board

Libby Jacobs, West Des Moines

Nick Wagner, Marion

 

Transportation Commission

Loree Miles, Dallas Center

Tom Rielly, Oskaloosa

 

Accountancy Examining Board

David Loy, Cedar Falls

Ying Sa, Des Moines

Laura Walker, Newhall

 

Commission on the Status of African Americans

Rita Davenport, Boone

 

Commission on Aging

Quentin Hart, Waterloo

G. Willard Jenkins, Waterloo

Neil Wubbena, Osage

 

Alcoholic Beverages Commission

Jason Wilson, Johnston

 

Architectural Examining Board

Kolby DeWitt, Sioux City

Emily Forquer, Afton

 

Commission of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs

Steve Hou, Des Moines (term begins March 1st)

 

Athletic Training Board

Shaun McCarthy, Iowa City

Christopher Wiedmann, Des Moines

 

Iowa Autism Council

Alyson Beytien, Dubuque

James Curry, Des Moines

Steve Johnson, West Des Moines

Matthew O'Brien, Davenport

 

Board of Barbering

Charles Wubbena, Waterloo

 

Board of Behavioral Science

Erik Oostenink, Des Moines

Jill Struyk, Des Moines

Sarah Thomas, Nevada

 

Commission for the Blind

Joseph Van Lent, Des Moines

 

Iowa Boiler and Pressure Vessel Board

Robert Brecke, Cedar Rapids

Timothy Fehr, Iowa City

Amy Iles, Hastings

 

Iowa Capital Investment Board

Natalie Lischer, Des Moines

 

Child Advocacy Board

Elaine Sanders, Sioux City

Wayne Schellhammer, Urbandale

Jeanne Sorenson, Lake View

Shannon Unternahrer, Washington

 

Board of Chiropractic

Jason Wall, Dyersville

 

Iowa State Civil Rights Commission

Tom Conley, Urbandale

Lawrence Cunningham, Urbandale

Lily Lijun Hou, Urbandale

Douglas Oelschlaeger, Cedar Rapids

 

Commission of Community Action Agencies

John Johnson, Marshalltown

Brian Lauterbach, Alden

Robyn Ormsby, Ankeny

 

Board of Corrections

Richard LaMere Jr., Anamosa

Rebecca Williams, Cedar Rapids

 

Cosmetology Arts and Sciences Board

Richard Sheriff, Des Moines

 

County Finance Committee

Janine Sulzner, Anamosa

Patricia Wright, Mason City

 

Credit Union Review Board

Jeffrey Hayes, Cherokee

Tahira Hira, Ames

Scott Zahnle, Ames

 

Commission of Deaf Services

Mark Hersch, Dallas Center

Robert Vizzini, Cedar Rapids

 

Board of Dentistry

Steven Bradley, Cascade

Thomas Jeneary, LeMars

Kaaren Vargas, North Liberty

 

Board of Dietetics

Janet Johnson, Cedar Rapids

 

Drug Policy Advisory Council

Jennifer Miller, Marshalltown


Early Childhood Iowa State Board

David Arens, Windsor Heights (term begins March 1st)

Alice Atkinson, Iowa City

Richard Clewell, Davenport

Tracy Erlandson, Onawa

 

Economic Development Authority

Theodore Crosbie, Earlham

Larry Den Herder, Sioux Center

Delia Meier, Eldridge

 

Board of Educational Examiners

Dan Dutcher, Waukee (term begins March 1st)

Ann Lebo, Grundy Center

Mary Overholtzer, Tingley

Andrew Pattee, Charles City

Jay Prescott, Urbandale

Anne Sullivan, Cedar Falls

Richard Wortmann, Bloomfield

 

Electrical Examining Board

Kyle Barnhart, Atalissa

Theodore Meiners, Cedar Rapids

Kathryn Kunert, Des Moines

Lisa Petersen, Oto

 

Elevator Safety Board

Siobhan Harman, Des Moines

Kristine Kesterson, Williamsburg

Wayne Sims, Des Moines

 

Iowa Emergency Response Commission

Christopher Enyeart, DeWitt

 

Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board

Bryan Myers, West Des Moines

Howard Stewart, Marshalltown

 

Environmental Protection Commission

Cynthia Greiman, Garner

Alan Koch, Johnston

Robert Sinclair, Williamsburg

Joanne Stockdale, Okoboji

Eugene Ver Steeg, Inwood

 

Iowa Finance Authority

Jeffrey Heil, Haverhill

Joan Johnson, West Des Moines

Shaner Magalhaes, Coralville

 

Flood Mitigation Board

Lorraine Glover, Waterloo

Arnold Honkamp, Dubuque

Amy Kaleita, Ames

John Torbert, West Des Moines

 

Iowa Grain Indemnity Fund Board

Duane Madoerin, Webster City

Curtis Sindergard, Rolfe

 

Iowa Great Places Advisory Board

Barbara Determann, Early

Greg Fisher, West Des Moines

Emily Meyer, Cedar Rapids

Linda Washburn, Hastings

 

Health Facilities Council

Roberta Chambers, Corydon

Connie Schmett, Clive

 

Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (HAWK-I) Board

Ruth Evans, Muscatine

Bob Skow, Dallas Center

 

Board of Hearing Aid Dispensers

Jaime Secory, Urbandale

Jerry Smith, Boone

 

Higher Education Loan Authority

Edward Rogalski, Davenport (term begins March 1st)

 

Council on Human Services

Arnold Honkamp, Dubuque

Guy Richardson, Jefferson (term begins March 1st)

Kim Spading, Coralville

 

Interior Design Examining Board

Kevin Clark, Des Moines

Julie Ann Quebe, Cedar Rapids

 

Investment Board of the IPERS

Wayne Walter, Decorah

Dennis Young, Waukee

 

Commission on Judicial Qualifications

Sandra Blodgett, Clear Lake

 

Landscape Architectural Examining Board

Erica Andersen, West Des Moines

Christopher Seeger, Boone

 

Law Enforcement Academy Council

Brian Gardner, Cedar Rapids

Randy Krukow, Spencer

Melinda Ruopp, Marshalltown

Megan Weiss, Des Moines

 

Massage Therapy Board

Christina Michael, Earlham

Rhonda Reif, Burlington

 

Board of Medicine

Dr. Robert Bender, Clive

Dr. Julie Carmody, Clive

Ann Gales, Bode

Dr. Allison Schoenfelder, Akron

 

Mental Health and Disability Services Commission

Richard Crouch, Malvern

Betty King, Cedar Rapids

Sharon Lambert, Buffalo

Gary Lippe, Dubuque

Brett McLain, Ames

Rebecca Peterson, Clive

Marilyn Seemann, Woodward

 

Mental Health Risk Pool Board

Eugene Meiners, Templeton

Marjorie Pitts, Spencer

 

Board of Mortuary Science

Kimberly Doehrmann, Williamsburg

Barbara Teahen, Cedar Rapids

 

Commission of Native American Affairs

D. Suzanne Buffalo, Tama

Joe Coulter, Iowa City

Larry Lasley, Tama

Karen Mackey, Sioux City

Kelly Montijo Fink, Hiawatha (term begins March 1st)

Dirk Whitebreast, Tama

 

Natural Resources Commission

Marcus Branstad, West Des Moines

Phyllis Reimer, Crescent

 

Board of Nursing Home Administrators

Karol Dammann, Manning

Patricia Hoffman-Simanek, Cedar Rapids (term begins March 1st)

Michael "Jay" Jenison, Ankeny (term begins March 1st)

Lanny Ward, Indianola

 

Board of Nursing

Nancy Kramer, Independence

James Seymour, Woodbine

Chad Ware, Walker

 

Board of Optometry

Thomas Hayden, Newton

Tamie Stahl, Cedar Falls

 

Commission of Persons with Disabilities

Matt Connolly, Des Moines (term begins March 1st)

 

Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Fund Board

Timothy Gartin, Ames

 

Board of Pharmacy

Sharon Meyer, Urbandale

Judith Trumpy, Ames

 

Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy

Denise Behrends, West Des Moines

Todd Bradley, Oelwein

Erin Hytrek, Moville

 

Board of Physician Assistants

Melissa Gentry, Ollie

Keith Guess, Keokuk

Susan Koehler, Des Moines

Joseph Molnar, Charles City

 

Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Examining Board

Michele Chalfant, Webster City

 

Board of Podiatry

Tara Decker-Brock, Dubuque

Gregory Lantz, Cedar Falls

Denise Mandi, Winterset

 

Prevention of Disabilities Policy Council

Craig Cretsinger, Spencer (term beings March 1st)

Scott Lindgren, Solon

Maggie Tinsman, Bettendorf

Steven Wolfe, Coralville

 

Board of Psychology

Melinda Green, Solon

Joan Skogstrom, Urbandale

 

Real Estate Appraisal Examining Board

Vernon "Fred" Greder Jr., Mason City

Greg Harms, Grundy Center

 

Real Estate Commission

Dennis Stolk, Riverdale

 

Board of Respiratory Care

Lawrence Lilla, Ames

 

School Budget Review Committee

Gina Primmer, Council Bluffs

Leland Tack, Johnston

 

Board of Sign Language Interpreters and Transliterators

Bill Ainsley, Des Moines

Susan Tyrrell, Hiawatha

 

Board of Social Work

Amy Courneya, Ames

Valerie Huntley, Saint Charles

Jody Weigel, Cedar Rapids

 

State Soil Conservation Committee

Paula Ellis, Donnellson

Susan Vance Hjelm, Lake Park

 

Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology

Diana Hanson, Johnston

Kent Weaver, Clive

 

State Board of Tax Review

Jill Sanchez, LeClaire

 

Technology Advisory Council

Timothy Peterson, Des Moines

 

Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission

Richard Bruner, Ventura

 

Title Guaranty Division Board

Patricia Schneider, Des Moines

Daniel Sueufferlein, North Liberty

 

Commission on Tobacco Use Prevention and Control

Robbyn Graves, Dyersville

David Vander Horst, Pella

 

Board of Veterinary Medicine

Dewayne Rahe, Dyersville

 

Vision Iowa Board

James Davidson, Burlington

Mark Murphy, Cherokee

Carrie Tedore, Dubuque

 

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Have You Renewed Your Chamber Membership for 2013?! Deadline to remain in good standing is March 15!

Being a Member of the Chamber helps you to gather leads, meet prospects and promote your products and services.  Your business is listed on www.LeClaireChamber.com for all who visit the site to see, not to mention the 1000's of visitors to our Facebook page!  The Chamber refers our members first and encourages others to do business with our members. Attend Annual and Monthly Events! Stay up to date with news and events, and post your announcements for free in the Friday Announcements!  Low cost advertising is available to members in our quarterly Newsletter.  Stay involved, meet new people, and make a difference in your community! Membership form attached!

 

2013 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD:

President - Dayle Hall - Moline Dispatch Publishing Company

Vice-President - Jim Huiskamp - Blackhawk Bank and Trust

Secretary - Steve Suiter - Great River Financial

Treasurer - Mike Clingingsmith - Pleasant Valley School District

Lane Bleeker - LeClaire Baptist Church and LeClaire City Council

Ken Dahl - Dahl Ford, Davenport

Kelly Miller - Snap Fitness and 1st Source Contractors

Debbie Mulvania - First Central State Bank

Melody Oltmann - First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire

Vern Spring - Retired Mayor of LeClaire

Donna Walley - Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium

 

 

WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS!

 

Kernel Cody's Popcorn Shoppe - new owners, Diane Frascello and Joel Johnson, 125 North Cody Road, Le Claire, IA 52753

kernelcodys@iowatelecom.net All different flavors of popcorn, Lagomarcino's fine chocolates and over 85 types of candy!

 

The Black Watch Room - Kelly Schone - 3851 Forest Grove Drive, LeClaire, IA 52753. phone: 563-332-5072. Website: theblackwatchroom.com Planning a Wedding?  Hosting a Retirement or Graduation Party?  Coordinating a Bridal or Baby Shower? Book your Special Events with us!

 

Charles Schwab - Eric M. Johannes, CFP®, Independent Branch Leader and Financial Planner - 5345 Elmore Avenue, Suite 300, Davenport, IA 52807 phone: 563-275-3663. Helping you plan meet your financial goals for years to come.

 

CALENDAR

TODAY - March 1st - FIRST FRIDAY IN LECLAIRE!!!!

Food and Beverage Samples at Mississippi River Distilling Company www.mrdistilling.com 5:30-8:00 p.m. March's "gift with purchase" is a special free pint glass featuring the Cody Road Whiskey logo on one side and "My St. Patty's Day Shot Glass" on the other for every bottle purchased while supplies last.  A St. Patrick's Day inspired drink planned in the bar called a Sham-O-Rita and samples of the Blueberry Rose made with River Rose Gin, blueberries and a hint of lemon.  Chef Stephanie is preparing a Lenten special with seafood soup and Sorghrum Caramel Chocolate Chip Grilled Bananas.

Wine samples at Wide River Winery We are excited to partner with Crane and Pelican Cafe in LeClaire for our March celebration. Samples of chicken and rice in a delicious port sauce made with our very own Ms. Issippi Port will be available. www.wideriverwinery.com

Antique Archaeology will be open until 7pm!

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! Yummmy!!

Free Appraisals at LeClaire Antiques & Appraisals, 5:30 - 8 p.m.

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

 

March 3rd and the first Sunday of every month - Reusable Usables - Family Yoga 3:30-4:30 p.m. Rediscover how amazing it is to be a part of your family!  Ages 2 and up! $5 per person or $15 for up to four people. Taught by Jennifer Vondracek, Executive Director of yoga.  No experience necessary! Ongoing event, and for more info, you can visit our website at www.reusableusables.org or our facebook page, or call 563-289-3946

March 6th - Buffalo Bill Museum repeats jewelry-making class! Wednesday, March 6th the museum will host a bracelet and earring making class at 4:00 with Janet Daugherty. Call the museum at 289-5580 to make a reservation to join the class.  Bracelets are $10 each; pair of earring $5 additional. This was a very popular class last year and promises to be again this year.

March 8th - Slagle's Wine, Spirits and Beer Tasting - 5-7 p.m. Slagle Foods 2, Inc.,1301 Eagle Ridge Road, LeClaire. Stop in and try something new!

March 9th - Trivia Night at the LeClaire Civic Center benefiting the LeClaire Civic Club Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with trivia starting at 7 p.m. Participants may bring beer, wine, snacks and soda. Water and snacks will also be for sale. Up to eight people per table. $10 per person with a $50 table minimum. Everyone will be entered into a drawing for door prizes. Contact Chris at chris@ccx.net or 563-505-6703 for reservations or information. Don't have enough for a full table? Come anyway and we can put you on a table that needs people!

 

March 12th - Chamber Networking Breakfast - 8:00 a.m. McDonald's, LeClaire

 

March 14th - Vegan & Vegetarian Night at the Crane & Pelican Café - Details and Menu at www.craneandpelican.com

 

March 15th - 17th - Bier Stube St. Patricks Day Celebration - $9.99 corned beef and cabbage and red potatoes, served all day long Fri-Sun. 1001 Canal Shore Dr., LeClaire. 563-289-2121

 

March 16th - LeClaire Rec Center Family Night - www.leclairereccenter.com

March 26th - Civic Club Annual Corporation Meeting that was originally scheduled for Feb. 26th, is now rescheduled for March 26th at the LeClaire Civic Center. Pot Luck at 6:30 PM and Annual Meeting at 7:00PM. All Civic Club members and their guests are encouraged to attend. Also, anyone interested in joining the Civic Club may attend as my guests.

March 26th - Reusable Usables - Women's Full Moon Circle Yoga - 7:30-8:45 p.m. Full Moon Circle is our opportunity to explore and learn from each other, and yoga will be led by Jennifer Vondracek.  We look forward to this opportunity to learn from a wonderful group of women, and to celebrate our strength, wisdom & love. $8 or donation. Ongoing event, and for more info, you can visit our website at www.reusableusables.org or our facebook page, or call 563-289-3946

 

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

 

March 31st - 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).

 

FYI

 

Wide River Winery - New location in LeClaire, IA opening soon!

Location: 1 building north of our current location at 106 N Cody Rd. Paul and his team have been working hard for months. In mid November they uncovered an opening to a tunnel that was part of the Underground Railroad. The building is being transformed and progress is made daily. We are very excited about the opportunities in LeClaire and promise to keep you posted on the opening date. Don't miss the new Wine Garden and live music events this Summer!
Vignette's is moving to the building previously occupied by Posh!

 

Reusable Usables, Planet Green After School Classes 322 N Cody Road, LeClaire, IA  52753 www.reusableusables.org TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS   4:00-5:30 PM Learn creative and fun ways to respect our planet with hands on eco-friendly art and educational activities based on the Iowa DNR Planet Patrol Series.   $5 per class thanks to GRANT funding from Iowa DNR. visit www.reusableusables.org Ongoing event and for more info you can visit our website at www.reusableusables.org or our facebook page or call 563-289-3946

 

"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!
Watch for the Chamber Newsletter coming out mid-March!

 

The LeClaire Information Center is seeking volunteers to serve as "Ambassadors" introducing visitors to the attractions, shops, neighborhoods, and business opportunities in LeClaire. Training is provided; schedules are flexible. If you want to share the excitement of LeClaire, please consider this opportunity to serve your community. Call 563-289-4242 (ext 1135) or email Cindy Bruhn, Tourism Manager, at Info@VisitLeClaire.com

Chamber 2013 Networking Events - Everyone Welcome to Attend!

March 12 - McDonalds - breakfast -8am

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

May 14 - Great River Financial - Lunch -Noon

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 First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire 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:

March 9 - LeClaire Civic Center

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 - Spectacular celebrity guests and events planned - 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 12-13 - Autumn Market Days

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 first Mississippi Valley Blues Challenge will be held July 5, at the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. The first of three bands will start at 3 PM and each will perform 20?minute sets with 5 judges making a decision on which band is the best.

Bands within a 175 miles radius of the Quad Cities will be eligible to compete, but before a band can progress to the final round at the festival, they must first surmount a preliminary round on April 28, at The Muddy Waters, Bettendorf, IA, to decide on the top three bands for the final competition at the festival.

The winner earns the right to compete in the International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, January 21-January 25, 2014. The prize package also includes cash, travel expenses, and the opportunity to perform July 6, 2013 at the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport, Iowa.

The deadline for applications is April 20.  All interested bands can find applications at www.mvbs.org.

Iowa Supreme Court Opinions

March 1, 2013

Notice: The opinions posted on this site are slip opinions only. Under the Rules of Appellate Procedure a party has a limited number of days to request a rehearing after the filing of an opinion. Also, all slip opinions are subject to modification or correction by the court. Therefore, opinions on this site are not to be considered the final decisions of the court. The official published opinions of the Iowa Supreme Court are those published in the North Western Reporter published by West Group.

Opinions released before April 2006 and available in the archives are posted in Word format. Opinions released after April 2006 are posted to the website in PDF (Portable Document Format).   Note: To open a PDF you must have the free Acrobat Reader installed. PDF format preserves the original appearance of a document without requiring you to possess the software that created that document. For more information about PDF read: Using the Adobe Reader.

For your convenience, the Judicial Branch offers a free e-mail notification service for Supreme Court opinions, Court of Appeals opinions, press releases and orders. To subscribe, click here.

NOTE: Copies of these opinions may be obtained from the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Judicial Branch Building, 1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319, for a fee of fifty cents per page.

No. 11-0445

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF RACHEL A. McDERMOTT AND STEPHEN J. McDERMOTT Upon the Petition of RACHEL A. McDERMOTT

No. 11-0687

IN RE THE DETENTION OF JONATHAN EDWIN STENZEL JONATHAN EDWIN STENZEL

No. 12-2089

IOWA SUPREME COURT ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY BOARD vs. STANLEY A. ROUSH

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society will present guitarist extraordinaire Bobby Messano on Sunday, March 10th, at The Muddy Waters (1708 State Street, Bettendorf IA) at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $10, only $8 for Mississippi Valley Blues Society members.

Messano, hailing from New Jersey, is best known for touring for a year as Steve Winwood's guitarist as well as being the only guitarist with a featured solo on a Clarence Clemons' (Bruce Springsteen's sax player) release. He also was the lead guitarist for Frankie and The Knockouts and recorded with Peter Criss (of Kiss). Messano's latest release, in 2012, That's Why I Don't Sing The Blues, even made it through to the first round of a Grammy nomination.

We'll be catching Messano on his way to Nashville to record his new, but yet-to-be-named CD on March 19, which will feature Deanna Bogart (who will then tour with Messano as part of his band), Ivan Neville, Shaun Murphy, Jimmy Hall (the harp player for Wet Willy and Hank Williams Jr.) and maybe even Mr. Winwood himself?Messano said he's still working on that.

Don't miss your chance to catch this blues-rocker in his first appearance in our neck of the woods.

Over 150 local and national organizations wrote to the full Congress today urging support for Senate Appropriations Chair Barbara Mikulski's proposal to end direct farm subsidy payments and use a small portion of the savings to restore funding for critical farm bill programs that were left out of the fiscal cliff deal passed on December 31st 2012.   The farm program changes are part of a larger bill to stop automatic across-the-board budget cuts and substitute a larger, targeted, balanced package of spending cuts and tax loophole closings

The direct payment program had been eliminated in the 2012 Senate-passed and House Agriculture Committee-passed farm bills but was nonetheless then included in the Farm Bill extension, while funding for dozens of other cost-effective programs included in those bills were zeroed out.

The letter stated "A fiscal package compiled by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would correct the disastrous farm bill extension measure contained in the New Year fiscal cliff deal...As supporters of sustainability and equity, we believe the package or one substantially similar has merit as a fairer farm bill extension and a pathway to a better approach to deficit reduction than across the board cuts. "

Among other provisions, the American Family Economic Protection Act would use savings from the elimination of direct payments to reinstate funding for programs eliminated in the extension deal, including $452 million for agricultural research, rural development, renewable energy, and support for local, organic, specialty crop, beginning, and disadvantaged farmers.

These small but vital programs help farmers expand their businesses and meet the growing demand for local, healthy and organic food. They also spur job creation, build healthy rural communities and support a new generation of farmers to replace the aging farmer population.

The Mikulsi-Murray-Reid proposal would also restore funding to the Conservation Stewardship Program for the 2013 farmer sign-up, funding that was inadvertently left out of the continuing resolution that is currently funding government programs.  It would also provide immediate funding for livestock and other farm disaster assistance, another item left out of the fiscal cliff farm bill extension deal.

The bill would also remove all Farm Bill spending from the automatic budget cuts referred to as sequestration.  Sequestration, which is scheduled to take effect on Friday, March 1, will otherwise reduce farm commodity and conservation program support by between $6 and $7 billion.

The letter's signatories, including Community Food and Justice Coalition, Rural Coalition, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Family Farm Coalition, Environmental Working Group and Union of Concerned Scientists "call on House, Senate, and White House leaders to work immediately toward a comprehensive deal that averts the sequester, finishes real appropriation bills for this fiscal year, and corrects the farm bill extension so that it actually extends the full farm bill while beginning the long overdue job of reforming subsidies."

The groups also pledged to continue work with Congress to complete a full and fair Farm Bill that mitigates disasters, protects natural resources, provides equity and inclusion, constructs a new and economically viable future for agriculture and rural communities, and assures healthy food for all consumers.  For full letter, go here https://www.ruralco.org/GOATPressReleaseFeb2013

Hundreds of Qualified Buyers to Receive Up to $24,000 in Financial Assistance 

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today continued his commitment to supporting working families in Illinois by announcing the first ever state-sponsored homebuyer expo and proclaiming 2013 as the "Year of Home Ownership." The governor also announced that hundreds of qualified homebuyers will be able to receive thousands of dollars in financial assistance for down-payments and closing costs through state-supported programs, including a new three-pronged initiative called SmartMove Trio.

"A home is the foundation on which we build our families and our communities," Governor Quinn said. "By encouraging home ownership, we can create jobs and grow our economy. We're working hard to keep the Illinois housing market on the road to recovery by doing everything we can to help Illinois families buy or stay in their homes."

The State of Illinois Homebuyer Expo will take place on Saturday, March 23 at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and will be hosted by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the state's housing finance agency. IHDA offers a variety of loan programs that combine affordable mortgages with up to $10,000 cash for down payment and closing costs.

SmartMove Trio is IHDA's latest offering and is one of the best packages ever offered in the agency's history. Available for a limited time, SmartMove Trio offers first-time homebuyers that meet certain requirements an affordable 30-year fixed rate mortgage, up to $6,000 cash for down payment and closing costs and a federal income tax credit worth up to $18,000 over the life of the loan.

Interested buyers can apply for IHDA's mortgage programs, including SmartMove Trio, at the homebuyer expo. Lenders and housing counselors will be on hand to advise homebuyers of the best loan for them. Registration at www.ihda.org is required.

IHDA's SmartMove program made homeownership a possibility for the Carter family in Chicago. Married for 24 years with two children, Jonathan and Melinda Carter were able to afford their first home, which they moved into this Valentine's Day. Both are pastors, and Jonathan also has a full-time job in computer technology at a not-for-profit.

"IHDA's program was such a blessing," Jonathan Carter said. "The down payment assistance made it possible to buy our home. Other lenders were asking for $15,000 or $25,000, and we don't have that kind of money."

January 2013 home sales in Illinois were up 31 percent over last year, according to the Illinois Association of Realtors. When people buy homes, Illinois' economic recovery advances. For example, the sale of 500 homes supports 250 full-time jobs and generates almost $20 million in economic activity.

"Governor Quinn has demonstrated strong leadership in sustaining homeownership in Illinois," IHDA Executive Director Mary R. Kenney said. "Under his administration, IHDA has focused on foreclosure prevention to keep people in their homes, rehabilitating vacant properties to create valuable homebuyer opportunities and is now increasing opportunities for homeownership."

For those who have been considering buying a home, now is the perfect time to take action. Register for the Expo today at www.ihda.org.

 

About the Illinois Housing Development Authority

IHDA is a self-supporting state agency that finances the creation and the preservation of affordable housing across Illinois. Since its creation in 1967, IHDA has allocated more than $11.6 billion and financed approximately 225,000 affordable units across the state.

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