SPRINGFIELD, IL (04/25/2012)(readMedia)-- As the creed states, a Ranger is a more elite Soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air. Staff Sgt. Matthew Madiar of Chicago and Sgt. 1st Class Zach Phillips of Portland, Ore., lived the Ranger Creed while competing at the 29th Annual David E. Grange, Jr. Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., April 13 to 15.

Madiar, with the Illinois Army National Guard's Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment in Aurora, Ill., and Phillips with the Oregon Army National Guard (Team 50), placed third among 50 two-man Ranger teams. This is the highest a National Guard team has ever placed. The only two National Guard teams that qualified for the competition placed in the top six with only 34 of 50 teams completing the 60-hour competition.

"I was physically and mentally exhausted after the Darby Queen obstacle course," said Phillips. "That was the one and only time I questioned if I was going to make it to the end."

Not only did the team finish, they excelled. Before the obstacle course, Rangers began the competition with a three-mile buddy run that transitioned into a 15-mile foot march. After the obstacle course, the team was flown by helicopter to the urban assault course. Both National Guard teams were in the top five standings for the day. Only 34 teams remained after the first day of endurance events.

Day two began with timed skill events. The high-stress shoot at the Krilling Range was one of the most successful events, said Madiar. The 500-yard course consisted of moving a stretcher with a simulated casualty throughout the obstacle with periodic stops at various ranges to fire five vintage rifles at steel and six-inch targets.

The teams then moved by a Stryker fighting vehicle for eight, round-robin timed stations. The major event of the day was the Tri-Tower Challenge, where competitors climbed a 60-foot wall, 30-foot collapsible ladder and a 20-foot knotted rope, rappelling down in between each climb. Team 49, consisting of National Guardsmen Capt. Robert Killian with the Colorado Army National Guard and 1st Lt. Nicholas Plocar with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, set the course record with a time of 6 minutes, 32 seconds.

Night two finished up with a six-hour night orienteering course, which was the most challenging event, said Madiar. The long distance, time constraints and rough terrain made it the toughest event.

Day three consisted of water events. Competitors jumped from a helicopter into a pond, then swam 100-meters to shore followed by a water confidence course. Once completed, both National Guard teams were airlifted to start the timed leadership skills event where Team 50 (Madiar and Phillips) came out about two and a half minutes quicker then Team 49.

"When it came time, we did everything exactly the way we practiced and it worked out well for us," said Phillips.

The final event of the day, which highlighted how well the two National Guard teams compared to the Active Duty teams, was the three-mile Buddy Run where Team 49 came in first and Team 50 in sixth place.

"All I was worried about was just finishing," said Madiar. "We weren't tracking the standings because they changed so much."

The 10-week intense pre-training program leading up to the competition paid off for the Guardsmen. Team 50 was awarded third place overall for the competition, while team 49 came in fifth.

Madiar and Phillips both said they would like to compete again next year as long as they are partners.

"If it works out, we can capitalize on our success and come back a little stronger and smarter next year," said Phillips.

Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy E. Beck, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team also contributed to this story

Advocates Prepare to Celebrate Success of Public Charters During National Charter Schools Week, May 6-12, 2012

Washington, D.C - The number of students attending public charter schools across the country has grown by an estimated 76 percent in the last five school years, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS).

As parents, teachers and students from across the country prepare to celebrate National Charter Schools Week next month (May 6-12, 2012), advocates are recognizing the tremendous advancements in public charter schooling that have laid a new, bipartisan foundation for education reform in America.

Student enrollment in public charter schools grew from 1,165,200 students in 2006-2007 to an estimated 2,035,261 in 2011-2012. Over the same period, the number of public charter schools grew by 41 percent - from 3,999 to 5,627 - with an expected 521 new public charter schools opening in the 2011-2012 school year alone.

"Support for public charter schools transcends party lines and ideological backgrounds, with more Americans now realizing the extraordinary opportunities that public charter schools provide to children, communities, and our country," said Ursula Wright, interim president and CEO of NAPCS. "Yet despite the significant growth experienced in recent years, demand for charter schools in our country far outpaces the number of seats available to students in these schools."

Next month, thousands of participants will celebrate National Charter Schools Week with special events and activities at schools across the country. The awareness generated by these events will compliment local advocacy efforts like seeking improvements to laws that would allow for the creation of new charter schools, equitable funding for charter schools when compared to traditional district schools and increased access to unused or under-utilized public school buildings.

In just 20 years, the public charter school movement has reached 41 states and the District of Columbia by enacting charter school laws. (The nine states that do not have charter school laws are Alabama, Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.) Maine passed its first charter school law in the summer of 2011. There are now approximately 5,600 public charter schools enrolling what is estimated to be more than two million students nationwide. Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are allowed to be more innovative while being held for accountable for improved student achievement. These figures were compiled based on data from state departments of education and state charter school support organizations and resource centers.

For more information about public charter schools, or about National Charter Schools Week, visit the website of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools at www.publiccharters.org.

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The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector. For more information, please visit our website at www.publiccharters.org.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley has earned a score of 100 percent in an interim report monitoring key small business votes during this session of the United States Senate.

The report was issued by the National Federation of Independent Business, the largest advocacy organization representing small and independent businesses in the United States.  Click here to see the report.

Grassley said that jobs and the economy are the number one issue nationwide, small businesses create two-thirds of all new jobs, and Congress should act to improve the landscape for job creation.

"The priorities need to be giving employers and small business owners greater certainty with taxes and regulations.  The threat of higher taxes and overly burdensome regulations inhibit economic activity and job creation.  There also ought to be a much more active effort by the administration to expand international trade.  Manufacturers, farmers and the services industry need new markets for products created by U.S. workers, and the rest of the world is moving ahead and building trading relationships without us.  Affordable energy is a major economic issue, too, and much more needs to be done to increase domestic production of traditional and alternative energy sources, both for lower energy costs and job creation," Grassley said.

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300 area elementary school children are going to spend time in the "wilds" this week learning about our natural habitat.  ECO Camp is coordinated by the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education in conjunction with the following organizations all who were involved in creating ECO Camp 12 years ago - a true partnership:

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Soil & Water Conservation District
Department of Natural Resources - District Forestry
Department of Natural Resources - Fisheries

The first ECO Camp was Fall 2000 and we do 2 days each fall and 2 days each spring. We have had over 7,000 students attend ECO Camp over those 12 years. We have been able to provide transportation funding for schools in need so the field trip is free!

ECO Camp Basics:
Professional biologists, fisheries experts, and soil scientists are just some of the leaders who will share their expertise with students who attend ECO Camp on April 26th and 27th at Loud Thunder Forest Preserve from 9:30 am -2 pm.

Purpose: Students will gain a basic understanding of environmental ecology and skills for wise natural resource management and use in Illinois.

Over the two days, over 300 4th-6th grade students from area schools will travel to six, 30-minute sessions throughout the day.
Schools attending:

Thursday:
Logan School, Moline
CR Hanna, Orion

Friday:
Eugene Field, RI
Riverdale, Port Byron

The stations and what they'll learn:
A.   Habitat composition  - Students learn about different ecosystems and their composition such as wetlands, lakes, streams, and soils.
B.    Management - Students learn about land and water management. Students learn the importance of maintaining stream banks and farming practices to prevent soil erosion and water pollution. The fisheries biology station teaches children about the importance of maintaining appropriate populations of fish and also the importance of keeping our waterways clean.
C.   Responsible action - Students learn about soil erosion and how they can help prevent soil erosion on a small scale. They also learn about responsible farming practices that prevent soil erosion and water pollution by actively experimenting with a simulation.
D.   Biodiversity & Communities - Students learn about many species of fish and the types of organisms that they feed on for survival. Students also learn about the many organisms that live in the soil. At the wetlands learning station, students learn about all the different types of organisms (birds, amphibians, mammals, insects, etc.) that live in the wetlands

E.    Populations - Students learn about populations of fish in Lake George and why it is important to determine what types of fish are flourishing and the general populations of fish and macroinvertebrates to gauge the health of the lake.
Couple Offers Tips for Love and Happiness
(Hint: Fun Matters)

Barack and Michelle do it. Brad and Angelina do it. John and Yoko did it. How?

As the divorce rate hovers near an estimated 50 percent in the United States, many blame career stress as a major cause of separations. But somehow some couples grow stronger, especially when they work together.

One couple who have worked together for nearly a decade in the stressful world of theater, producing Off-Broadway plays, has decided to share their secrets.

"In part, it is because we work together that our bond has strengthened after 10 years of marriage," says Jamillah Lamb, co-author along with her husband, David, of Perfect Combination: Seven Key Ingredients to Happily Living & Loving Together (www.acoupleoflambs.com).

The couple has worked together professionally in their stage company, Between The Lines Productions, Inc., for nine years. But the Lambs say even couples who aren't business partners are working together every day; because being in any relationship requires negotiating, compromising, and decision-making. Just think about the last time you had to decide whose mother's house you were going to for Christmas or where you were going to go for vacation or even which movie you were going to see last weekend.

"We get more opportunity to grow together because, between home and work, we're making 100 decisions a day instead of 10," Jamillah says.

The couple live by their guiding rule, "Love like kids, act like adults."

"That means to love freely and completely, without a fortress around your heart, and behave responsibly," David says.

A crucial ingredient for any successful marriage is friendship, the Lambs say. Here are some of their tips:

• Enjoy life: Some couples won't go to theme parks until they have children. But letting one's inner child out to play with their partner's inner child strengthens a relationship's bond.

• Forgive the small stuff: No one is always right, and no one wants to be around someone who always needs to be right.

• Appreciate individuality: Everyone needs to have their own identity, including those in a long-term relationship and couples who work together. David enjoys his comic book collection, while Jamillah keeps a library of romance novels.

• Do not misdirect anger: In psychology, it's called transference; dumping your bad day on someone else. It is poison for any relationship.

• Remember your love: Couples may fight, but guard what you say. There's no need for ugliness even when you disagree.

Couples need to remember relationships take work, but they can also be a blast of fun, David says.

"Love is worth the sacrifice," they agree. "Today, with stories of celebrity couples walking away after only days of marriage and even more people living as though sacrifice is nearly a curse word, we say: 'It's worth the sacrifice.' For us, it means that we are willing to give up something that we thought was valuable or important for something even more important: love and our happiness."

Love is, in part, the acknowledgement and deep appreciation for another human being, Jamillah says.

"Couples should never take each other for granted," she advises. "In love, as in business, everyone wants to be appreciated. The simplest gesture can go a long way to help your significant other feel like they are making a significant contribution to your life, your family, or your business."

About David & Jamillah Lamb

David and Jamillah Lamb have been married for 10 years. They founded and have run Between The Lines Productions, Inc. since 2003. Born and raised in Queens, N.Y., David attended the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and New York University School of Law. He is the playwright of "Platanos y Collard Greens." Jamillah Lamb grew up in the same Chicago neighborhood as first lady Michelle Obama. She earned her master's degree in public policy at Harvard. Together they wrote Perfect Combination: Seven Key Ingredients to Happily Living & Loving to share what they have learned as successful partners in love and in business.They live in Brooklyn with their daughter.

Washington, D.C. - April 23, 2012 - Congressman Dave Loebsack (D, IA-2) today welcomed Quad City area veterans of World War II to Washington D.C. and presented them with copies of the Congressional Record statement he submitted honoring their service. The veterans traveled to Washington as part of the Honor Flight, which is an all expense paid trip for WWII veterans so that they can visit our nation's capital and the World War II Memorial that was built in their honor.

"The men and women, who I had the opportunity to meet with today, are truly members of the Greatest Generation," said Loebsack.  "We cannot thank them enough for their service to our state and nation.  It was a privilege for me to present them with a copy of the Congressional Record recognizing their service, and I was honored to be a small part of their trip to our nation's capital."

The honor flights are all fully paid for, and the veterans are typically accompanied by volunteers who donate their time to ensure that the veterans have a safe trip. This group included roughly 90 veterans. The Honor Flight left from Quad Cities Airport this morning and will return tonight.

Loebsack is an avid supporter of our veterans. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he has worked to increase veterans' health care and benefits funding by 70 percent and has worked to make sure that each and every veteran is treated with the dignity and honor that they deserve.
Quad Cities, USA: The Salvation Army's 700 lb. red kettle will be placed outside Modern Woodmen Park for the April 26th baseball game: Quad Cities River Bandits against the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Baseball fans are encouraged to purchase toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissues, dinner napkins or baby wipes. Fans will receive $1 in Bandit Bucks for each item they donate, up to three items.

The paper product drive will help to stock the personal hygiene closet at the Family Service Center.

The Family Service center is the Quad Cities' only fully intact family shelter in the Quad Cities, and houses 105 homeless people each night 65% of the residents are children. An additional 75-130 community members go to the Family Service Center each night for their evening meal, Monday through Saturday.

WHAT: Paper Products Drive

WHERE: Modern Woodmen Park, in front of the stadium

DATE: Tuesday, April 26, 2012

TIME: 5:30pm - 7:00pm, game begins at 7pm

April 26th. 2012:  Independent Scholars' Evenings. 7.00 p.m.

Krystal Case will be giving an overview of Earthships, and their style of sustainability.

Ms. Case will talk about the basic concepts behind Earthships, her experiences building with them, and plans for the future.

At the end of her presentation, Ms. Case will talk briefly about how she and her husband are in the process to retrofit their home to this style.

About the topic:
Earthships are eco-friendly and sustainable homes that take care of the environment and people in a responsible manner.

The basic six components of Earthships are:
1 Build with recycled materials
2 Use thermal and solar heating and cooling
3 Use solar and wind energy
4 Harness water from the sky (rainwater catchment and cisterns)
5 Contained sewage treatment
6 Food productions

Krystal Hamilton Case has a lifelong interest in learning anything she can. She grew up helping with maintenance on my family's acreage, worked maintenance at a summer camp, and have helped to build cabins with a yoga community, along with learning and working at two Earthship builds. She has worked as a caretaker beginning in 2001 with working in a nursing home as a CNA (certified nurse assistant), and have been working as a massage therapist since 2005. Ms. Case is certified in a number of alternative healthcare modalities such as yoga, reflexology, Thai massage, and have also worked as a massage therapy instructor at La James College of Massage. In 2003 she began working with the homeless in Chicago (while in college studying religion) and became a single mother in 2007.

Ms. Case helped with an Earthship build in Guatemala last November and continues to help Long Way Home, a charity there that organized the build to sell some of Maria's goods, for whom the house was built.

Ms. Case married her husband Jerome in 2011 and together with their daughter Phoenix, now 5 years old, are working to build a sustainable community on the 14 acres of land that we bought last June.

Her work springs from her convictions that a more sustainable lifestyle is necessary in today's world.  Her work has generated a lot of interest and her presentation will answer some of their questions.

Independent Scholars' Evenings are Free and open to the public.

Please attend.

The Moline Commercial Club
1530 Fifth Avenue. Moline. Illinois.

second floor of The Moline Club building . Above the Phoenix Fine Arts Gallery.

309-762-9202 for The Institute.
www.qcinstitute.org

Light refreshments, wine and beverages are served, doors open at 6.30

Independent Scholars' Evenings are sponsored thhe Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd. a 501(c)3 at state and
federal level since 1996.

The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd.
www.qcinstitute.org
www.atthephoenix.com
www.themolinecommercialclub.com
www.themolineclub.com

The 6th Annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival will be held May 5 & 6, 2012.  All along the 90-mile stretch of historic Route 66 - from Joliet to Towanda, IL - there will be a wide variety of events.  Each of the 13 towns located along this portion of the "Mother Road" will offer its unique collection of activities associated with the festival.

In Joliet, the Route 66 Visitor's Center at the Joliet Area Historical Museum will be open from 8AM to 5PM on Saturday and noon to 5PM on Sunday.  Admission to the Route 66 Experience portion of the Joliet Area Historical Museum will be free during the festival.  Discounted rates will be available on these days for RCC attendees desiring to experience the Museum's galleries. Joliet Area Historical Museum is located at 204 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, (815) 723-5201 ext 226.

Saturday in Elwood will be "Are You Elwood?" day.  The festival organizers there will be searching for a favorite Blues Brother and calling all Elwoods to the stage at Lloyd Erickson Park.  Live & DJ Entertainment all day at Lloyd Erickson Park will be followed by an evening of live Blues entertainment. Bring your roller skates and have a blast from the past at the Bobby Sock Skate at Lloyd Erickson Park. There will be children's activities and food vendors all day long and visitors can cruise the village to see the historic homes of Elwood.  On both Saturday and Sunday there will be a special Children's Garden at Lloyd Erickson Park. 815-423-5011.

Wilmington will be encouraging festival travelers to stop and take a photo with the Gemini Giant, Dino the Sinclair Dinosaur, Elvis cutouts and more.  A  20-mile bike Red Carpet Ride begins/ends downtown at 9 AM and there will be flea markets, music, Hula & hound contests, cockroach races, RC car racing, and food all day. On Sunday there will be  a baby back rib cook-off, morning worship service, a Twinkie decorating contest, children's games and more.  815-476-5991

Braidwood will celebrate the Mother Road with an extended flea market, baked goods, beautiful hanging baskets, craft displays, food, bounce house, a clown on both Saturday and Sunday.  The Polk a Dot, member of Rt66 Hall of fame, will be celebrating 25yrs in business. On Saturday only, Braidwood will serve as a stop on the 20 mile Exelon Red Carpet Bike Ride on Rt 66. For more information, call Angie 815-353-3053.

In the village of Godley, Saturday will be highlighted by the Cruisin' Rt 66 Motorcycle Show & Rodeo.  Sunday will feature the Cruisin' Car Show, and a Sunrise Breakfast.  On both Saturday and Sunday there will be Flea Markets, an Automotive Swap Meet, a Children Pavilion w/ Touch-A-Truck, a bicycle rodeo, a Motorcycle Cowboys Stunt Show, Music, Food, and Entertainment. The Illinois Rt 66 Mining Museum will be open as well.

Braceville will offer festival-goers an opportunity to see the historic town and talk to Alice Creech, historian of Braceville, on Saturday.  There will also be fossil displays available for viewing, and great baked goods from the church.  Stop by Mazonia State Park for some great scenery. For more information contact the Village of Braceville at 815-237-8655.

Historic Gardner  will hold a "Meet & Greet" on both Saturday & Sunday at the diner car & historic jail.

In Dwight on Saturday there will be fun, games, and food, including the 2nd Annual BBQ Cook-off at Bassett Park.  On both Saturday & Sunday there will be town-wide garage sales, and open house at the Texaco Welcome Center.  Call 815-584-3077 for more information.

In Odell, visitors are encouraged to celebrate historic Route 66 with a visit to the historic 1932 Standard Oil gas station where they will find souvenirs, soda & nostalgia!

Pontiac's Red Carpet Corridor Festival will include the grand opening of a new, special exhibit at the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum.  The display, "Remembering the 1940's" will open on Saturday for the first time.  Around the downtown area there will be a carnival, an Art Festival, food, and entertainment.  Chinese Artist Tang Dongbai will be creating colorful, original art on city sidewalks, and the Pontiac Jolly Trolley will be giving guided tours.  On both Saturday and Sunday there will be City-Wide Garage Sales and the Livingston County Humane Society will sponsor a Flea Market at the Old Log Cabin.  On Saturday morning only, a Touch-A-Truck event for kids will be held at the Pontiac Rec Center.  For more details, call: 815-844-5847.

Chenoa will feature a Saturday Carnival, vendors, live bands and the Chenoa 4th of July Committee's Pork Chops.  Sunday will see the Carnival continue as well as a performance by entertainer Anjanel Folkens. Everything is happening at Chenoa Swimming Pool Park -located directly on Old Route 66. 815-945-7779.

Lexington's Saturday events are being held at Mounce Automotive 302 S Spencer on Old 66. The Lexington Vintage Tractor Show will kick off at 8AM on Rt 66 walkway.  The Zoo Lady will entertain children from Saturday 10AM.- 3PM. At the entertainment tent Elvis is back in town with Lexington School band and singers, featuring Chris Corkery. On Sunday there will be free Unique Twist Balloons from 10AM to 3PM, and a children's parade at 11AM.  All are welcome to join in! Garage sales both days! 309-365-3331.

On both Saturday and Sunday in Towanda there will be a Flea market, area garage sales, antiques, food, entertainment and Route 66 memorabilia at the North Park. On Sunday only, a car show will be held on old Route 66.  The Cattle Bandits Band will play at 1PM at North Park. Come visit for 2 days of family fun, and check out Schenk's Route 66 Garage!  For information on Towanda's festival call 309-728-2169.

This year's Festival Collectable will be a set of decorative keys.  Each of the thirteen towns along the Red Carpet Corridor will have a limited number of its own "key to the city" which they will give to Red Carpet Corridor Festival travelers.  By stopping at each of the towns and collecting all 13 keys, the traveling festival attendee will be awarded a special commemorative key chain to hold the keys.  Supplies of the keys are very limited and will be distributed only in person on a first-come, first-served basis.  No telephone, mail, or email requests please.

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Washington, DC – Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) has announced the schedule of upcoming mobile office hours. His staff will travel throughout the 17th Congressional District to meet with constituents and address any questions or concerns they may have. No appointments are necessary. A field representative will be available in the following locations at the following times:

May 2, 2012
Monmouth City Hall- Council Chambers
100 East Broadway
Monmouth, IL 61462
9:00am - 12:00pm

Albany City Hall
102 S Main St.
Albany, IL 61230
1:00pm - 4:00pm

May 16, 2012
Oquawka Village Hall
507 Schuyler St.
Oquawka, IL 61469
9:00am - 12:00pm

Aledo City Hall - Council Chambers
120 North College Ave
Aledo, IL 61231
9:00am - 1:00pm

May 23, 2012
Kewanee City Hall
401 East Third Street
Kewanee, IL  61443
9:00am - 4:00pm

Constituents are also encouraged to visit the Moline, Galesburg, Canton, and Rock Falls offices during normal office hours:

Moline District Office
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
3000 41st St., Suite B
Moline, IL 61265
P: (309) 757-7630

Galesburg District Office
Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 8:30am to 5:00pm
Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce
185 South Kellogg St.
Galesburg, IL 61401
P: (309) 343-2220

Canton District Office
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30am - 5:00pm
8 South Main St., Suite 200
Canton, IL 61520
P: (309) 649-3307

Rock Falls District Office
Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9:00am - 4:00pm
1600 First Ave., Suite A
Rock Falls, IL 61071
P: (815) 548-9440

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