01 Nov 2011

CHRISTIAN CARE CELEBRATES 95 YEARS IN THE QUAD CITIES

By Rebecca Wheeler
Rock Island -- Well-wishers gathered at the Butterworth Center to celebrate Christian Care's 95th year of operation in the Quad Cities. The event coincided with Christian Care's 30-year anniversary of its domestic violence shelter and acknowledging October as national domestic violence awareness month. Although many Quad City residents are aware of Christian Care's results-oriented approach to serving the homeless and survivors of domestic violence, few know the story of the organization's humble beginnings.

In 1916, in the midst of World War I, men came to the Quad Cities from surrounding areas in an effort to find work. Hard times fell upon the country and men and their families were without food and shelter. Luck changed for QC resident Guy Rodgers who "found Jesus" and a $20 bill. He decided to demonstrate his faith by using his windfall in service to others. He opened what he then called the Rock Island Rescue Mission and later was renamed Christian Care. The mission provided hot meals and a place for homeless men to sleep?and fed the spiritual hunger experienced by many of its residents. In 1981, Christian Care responded to the needs of abused women and children in the community by opening the only domestic violence shelter between the Mississippi River and Chicago.

Over time, both facilities have evolved from focusing on an emergency response to emphasis on transitional housing and transforming lives. Christian Care's holistic approach to programming targets the whole person?body, mind, heart and soul as clients work to take people off the street and provide them with the resources and support they need to become productive members of our community. In addition to the services provided by the Rescue Mission and the Domestic Violence Shelter, Christian Care also operates a Community Meal Site that is open to anyone in need of a meal and a 24/7 Crisis Line for those needing emergency help and resources.

If you know someone in need, or would like to help Christian Care as it serves the homeless and abused of the Quad Cities, call (309) 788-2273. For more information about Christian Care, go to www.christiancareqc.org or www.facebook.com/christiancareqc.

01 Nov 2011

Andrew Connolly Day of Service Set for November 9th in Dubuque

By Jeff Giertz

Volunteers will gather to honor legacy of Dubuque veteran by "paying it forward" to Veterans' Freedom Center

Waterloo, IA - On Wednesday, November 9th in Dubuque, volunteers will gather to observe the first ever Andrew Connolly Day of Service to honor the legacy of Dubuque native and Iowa National Guard veteran Andrew Connolly, who never stopped urging others to "pay it forward" in every aspect of their lives.

Before he passed away on August 26, 2011, Andrew Connolly could often be found at Dubuque's Veterans' Freedom Center, a place close to his heart.  That's why, on November 9th beginning at 8:30am, volunteers will "pay it forward" by donating their time to help clean up and prepare the new home of the Veterans' Freedom Center at 2245 Kerper Blvd. in Dubuque.

"Andrew's life was committed to serving others," Braley said.  "Whether he was with his wife, Jenny, or son, Brody, or serving overseas in Iraq, or advocating on Capitol Hill on behalf of other disabled veterans, Andrew led by example.  The mantra he often repeated was 'pay it forward.'

"That's why on November 9th we're going to 'pay it forward' to the Dubuque Veterans' Freedom Center to launch the first ever Andrew Connolly Day of Service.  I hope this day grows in scope and significance from this point forward - it's a fitting tribute to a man who was so focused on helping others despite a life that dealt him a very challenging hand."

The late Andrew Connolly served multiple overseas tours with the Iowa National Guard, including a combat tour in Iraq.  Andrew was diagnosed with spinal cancer after his Iraq tour.  As the disease progressed Andrew lost the use of his legs and lost dexterity in his hands.  His family utilized a Veterans Administration housing grant to build a new home that helped Andrew maintain his independence until he passed away.

Braley worked with Jenny Connolly, the Freedom Center, and local groups to organize the day of service.  Braley will volunteer his time to renovate the Veterans' Freedom Center and share Andrew Connolly's legacy, including the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act, a bill Braley introduced in May that expands grant programs for permanently disabled veterans to remodel their homes and make them more disability-accessible.

Interested members of the public are welcomed to volunteer their time.  If you're interested in volunteering, please contact the Dubuque Veterans' Freedom Center at (563) 845-0034.  Volunteers are encouraged to bring any painting materials they own - brushes, paint rollers, etc.  Only limited amounts will be available at the Freedom Center, although paint will be provided.

Wednesday November 9th, 2011

8:30am -               Andrew Connolly Day of Service

12:00pm               New Veterans' Freedom Center

2245 Kerper Blvd.

Dubuque, Iowa

*Interested volunteers should contact the Veterans' Freedom Center at (563) 845-0034 to RSVP their attendance.*

**Volunteers are encouraged to bring any painting materials they own - brushes, paint rollers, etc.  Only limited amounts will be available at the Freedom Center, although paint will be provided.**

# # #
01 Nov 2011

Obama for America Campaign Manager Jim Messina and Press Secretary Ben LaBolt to Hold Conference Call With Iowa Reporters to Give a Campaign Update

By Ben LaBolt

WHAT:

Obama for America Campaign Manager Jim Messina and Press Secretary Ben LaBolt to hold conference call with Iowa reporters to give a campaign update.

WHEN:

Monday, October 31, 2011 at 10:00 AM CT/11:00 AM ET

CALL INFORMATION:

Please register for the call here and include both your name and outlet with your RSVP. Dial information will be sent after registration is received.

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01 Nov 2011

Bon-Ton Stores Asks Customers to Kick Off Their Boots for a Good Cause

By Elizabeth Kirk
Soles4Souls® Teams Up Again with The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
for November Boot Trade-In Event
September 2011 Shoe Event Raised over $21,000

Nashville, TN (October 31, 2011) - Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity proudly announces its partnership with The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. for a trade-in boot drive for the second year.  The retailer will be collecting customers' gently worn boots for charity.

Beginning on November 2nd until November 12th, customers will be invited to donate gently worn boots at all Bon-Ton Store locations to get $15.00 off their boot purchase of $50 or more. To find a participating location you can visit www.bonton.com.

The Bon-Ton Stores and Soles4Soles also partnered back in September at 62 Bon-Ton Store locations for Sole Sisters Shoe Shopping Events. $1 was donated for every pair of shoes purchased and the partnership successfully raised $21,316 dollars for Soles4Souls.

"We are excited to be partnering with The Bon-Ton Stores again for this boot trade-in event," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "Customers will have the opportunity to give back and thousands of people will be the recipient of the gift of shoes because of their efforts." he said.
The Chief Operating Officer, Barbara Schrantz of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., will be presenting the $21,316 dollar check to Souls4Souls this November 8th, 2011. Photos of this presentation will be available upon request.
For more information on how to get involved and to find a recycling location near you, visit www.giveshoes.org.

01 Nov 2011

Weekend Straw Polls Show Herman Cain on Top

By J D Gordon
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain continues his straw poll winning streak with victories in Alabama and South Carolina over the weekend.

Cain led the Republican field in the West Alabama straw poll with 50.7% of the votes and 24.5% of the votes in the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women convention straw poll held in Greenville, SC.

"I appreciate the support and vote of confidence from the fine individuals of Alabama and South Carolina.  Together we can win the nomination" said Cain.

The West Alabama and South Carolina straw poll wins follow Cain's successful wins of major straw polls in Florida, Illinois, Kansas City, Minnesota, and Nevada.
01 Nov 2011

The Perry Plan - Energizing American Jobs and Security

By Roman Stockton

We will energize American jobs and national security through executive
orders and executive actions that expand energy exploration all across
America. Key components of the plan include :

Expand energy exploration offshore and on federal and private lands across
the country by executive order, creating over 1.2 million jobs

Eliminate current and proposed activist EPA regulations from the Obama
administration, saving 2.4 million jobs by 2020 and lowering projected
costs by $127 billion

Reduce, rebuild, and refocus the EPA federal regulators, returning
authority to the states

Level the playing field for all energy producers, removing Obama's
practice of picking winners and losers and ending the Obama war on coal
and natural gas production

Governor Rick Perry's plan is based on a simple premise: Make what
Americans buy. Buy what Americans make. And sell it to the world.

For the full plan please visit link below.

http://www.rickperry.org/energizing-american-jobs-html/
01 Nov 2011

Governor Quinn Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Starved Rock State Park

By Andrew Mason

Proclaims "Starved Rock State Park Day" at Popular Illinois Destination

UTICA - October 30, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn celebrated the 100th anniversary of Starved Rock State Park in Utica and proclaimed today "Starved Rock State Park Day" in Illinois. The state purchased 280 acres and created Starved Rock State Park in 1911. Today the park includes more than 2,800 acres along the Illinois River in La Salle County, and is one of the state's most popular tourist destinations.

"Our state parks are valuable resources, allowing families to enjoy Illinois' natural, undisturbed habitat," said Governor Quinn. "Starved Rock State Park has been an important part of our history for 100 years, and I want to encourage everyone to see its spectacular rock formations in person."

Starved Rock State Park is home to 18 canyons formed by glacial melt water and stream erosion. The park is best known for its rock formations, primarily sandstone, laid down in a huge shallow inland sea more than 425 million years ago and later brought to the surface. Today, Starved Rock State Park is one of the most visited state parks in Illinois, welcoming more than 2 million visitors each year. The park's visitors provide tens of millions of dollars of direct economic activity and support hundreds of jobs throughout La Salle County and north-central Illinois.

"The topography of Starved Rock State Park is so unique, it almost looks as though it was carved out of different landscape and set here for all to enjoy," Illinois Department of Natural Resources director Marc Miller said. "It is one of the great wonders of our state."

French explorers built Fort St. Louis at Starved Rock in the winter of 1682-83 to take advantage of its commanding strategic position. They abandoned the area in the early 1700s after conflicts with Iroquois during the French and Indian War (Seven Years War). According to legend, in the 1760s a group of Illiniwek warriors were trapped on top of the 125-foot sandstone butte by opposing Potawatomi and Ottawa fighters. Surrounded and unable to flee, the Illiniwek starved to death, giving rise to the park's name. The butte area was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1960.

The park is also among the state's most popular destinations for bald eagle watching. Starved Rock State Park, and adjacent Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary, provide ideal winter roosting habitat for bald eagles. In 2004, then Lt. Governor Quinn spearheaded an effort with the Illinois Audubon Society and other environmental groups to save the 55-acre island from development.

Governor Quinn has continued his efforts to support state parks since becoming Governor. Within the first two weeks of becoming Governor in 2008, Quinn reopened 11 state parks that had been closed.

To learn more about Starved Rock State Park or other state parks, please visit www.dnr.illinois.gov.

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01 Nov 2011

More news from the Ron Paul Campaign

By Gary Howard
Ron Paul Hits the Campaign Trail in Iowa;  November 4th visit includes media, company,town hall meeting and Republican Party fundraiser
ANKENY, Iowa - The Iowa component of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign announced today that Dr. Paul will visit the Hawkeye State again for a series of events and appearances.  The visit will encompass four stops and is set to occur on Friday, November 4th.

Dr. Paul will first appear live with host Jan Mickelson on WHO Radio.  He will then hold an employee town hall meeting with workers at Nationwide/Allied Insurance, a company that employs 4,500 people in the Des Moines area and offers them the opportunity to interact with presidential candidates. 

Next, Dr. Paul will appear live on KCCI (TV) television.  He will then tape a 20-minute segment on AARP issues.  The AARP interview will be conducted by local television personality Dave Price, and includes questions on jobs, the economy, retirement security, Social Security, and Medicare.

The final event of the day is the Republican Party of Iowa's statewide autumn fundraiser, the annual Reagan Dinner, where Dr. Paul will speak and greet party faithful.

The first four events are closed to the public, and the fifth is a ticket-only fundraiser. 

Event details are as follows.  All times Central.

Friday, November 4, 2011

9:05 a.m.
Appears live w/ Jan Mickelson
WHO Radio

3:45 p.m.*
Holds employee town hall meeting
Nationwide/Allied Insurance
1200 Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50391

5:00 p.m.
Appears live on KCCI (CBS) TV

5:30 p.m.
Tapes 20-minute segment
AARP's Video Voters' Guide
2205 Ingersoll Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50312

7:00 p.m.*
Speaks and greets GOP faithful
Republican Party of Iowa Reagan Dinner
Hy-Vee Hall, 730 3rd Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

*Media are invited to cover the Nationwide/Allied event upon Dr. Paul's arrival and as he exits, but the town hall meeting itself is closed to media.  Media are encouraged to attend and cover the Reagan Dinner.

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Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
Ron Paul Campaign Issues Statement on Federal Debt News - U.S. debt surpasses Gross Domestic Product
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - Today, Ron Paul 2012 Campaign Manager John Tate released the following statement regarding the news that the federal debt now exceeds the Gross Domestic Product of the United States.
"For far too long, Congress and Presidents have played budgetary tricks on the American people by pretending we could trim around the edges and still afford endless expenditures on entitlements and foreign interventions.   Ron Paul's 'Plan to Restore America' confronts our debt crisis head-on by cutting $1 trillion in his first year and delivering a fully balanced budget by his third year.
"We can no longer afford politicians who play games with America's future.  As President, Ron Paul will treat the American people with the respect they deserve by being honest about our nation's situation and implementing fundamental reforms to return America to prosperity."
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Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
Ron Paul to Again Visit Iowa to Meet Manufacturers and Voters, NAM speech, retail stop and town hall meeting round out one-day trip
ANKENY, Iowa - The Iowa component of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign announced today that Dr. Paul will again visit Iowa.  This latest visit will occur on Tuesday, November 1st.

The visit takes place three short days after his October 29th scheduled trip to Des Moines for the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), and his Carroll Town Hall Meeting in West Central Iowa.

On November 1st, Ron Paul will visit with members of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in south east Iowa.  U.S. loss of manufacturing dramatically affects unemployment in America and has contributed to stubborn joblessness.  Congressman Paul, in remarks reflecting the proper role of government, will share his long-term vision for how to reverse the decline in U.S. competitiveness.

Following the visit with NAM members, Dr. Paul will greet voters at Smokey Row Coffee House in Oskaloosa and hold a town hall meeting in Ottumwa.

Details of the events are as follows.  All times Central.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

10:00 a.m.
Speech
National Association of Manufactures (NAM)
Forum on Manufacturing
Vermeer Global Pavilion
2110 E. Vermeer Road
Pella, Iowa 50219

12:00 p.m.
Meet & Greet
Smokey Row Coffee House
109 S. Market Street
Oskaloosa, IA 52577

2:00 p.m.
Ottumwa Town Hall Meeting
Bridge View Center
102 Church Street
Ottumwa, IA 52501
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Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
Ron Paul Easily Defeats Republican Primary Competitors in Iowa Straw Poll
Garners 82 percent of total in NFRA's Iowa-only tally of GOP activists; also wins open-voter tally
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - Earlier today Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul defeated his GOP competitors, winning 82 percent of the vote in a poll of Iowa GOP activists.  Dr. Paul's nearest competitor was pizza baron Herman Cain, who garnered an unimpressive 14.7 percent of the vote.

The poll of Iowa voters took place in Des Moines as part of the National Federation of Republic Assemblies Presidential Preference Convention and Straw Poll.  The victory among Iowa voters demonstrates that Dr. Paul has substantial support among Republican Party activists in the Hawkeye State. 

"In Iowa, Ron Paul continues to engage and inspire concerned voters at town hall meetings and in other settings.  This contest, however, shows that Dr. Paul and his campaign have tremendous organization strength.  Iowa voters are ready for when the opportunity to vote for Ron Paul arises, and today they have done just that quite decisively," said Ron Paul 2012 National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton.

In addition to winning the Iowa-only tally conducted at the NFRA convention, Dr. Paul won the open-voter tally which was not restricted to voters from Iowa.  The open-voter results had Dr. Paul winning by 26 percent, followed by Cain at 25 percent, Perry and Santorum tied at 16 percent, and others with low double- and single-digit percentages.

Below find the straw poll results for the Iowa-only contest:

Ron Paul 82%.
Herman Cain 14.7%
Rick Santorum 1%
Newt Gingrich 0.9%
Michele Bachmann 0.5%
Rick Perry 0.5%
Gary Johnson 0.2%
Mitt Romney 0%
Jon Huntsman 0%
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Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
01 Nov 2011

Local students accepted to Central College Abroad program

By Rachel Vogel

PELLA, IOWA (10/29/2011)(readMedia)-- The following students were accepted to a Central College Abroad study abroad program for the spring 2012 semester:

Justine Jackovich, a native of Eldridge, was accepted to Central College Abroad's program in Granada, Spain.

Patricia Braun, a native of Davenport, was accepted to Central College Abroad's program in Merida, Mexico.

Central College Abroad is a university-based study abroad provider for undergraduate students from colleges and universities throughout the United States. Central College Abroad offers semester, yearlong and summer study abroad programs at nine sites worldwide and operates out of Central College.

Central College is a private, four-year, residential, liberal arts college in Pella, Iowa. Central was recognized in the 2011 U.S.News & World Report's annual rankings of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation.

More information about Central College Abroad is available at www.central.edu/abroad or by calling 800-831-3629.

01 Nov 2011

SALVATION ARMY FAMILY SERVICE CENTER SHELTER TO GET UPLIFTING MAKEOVER

By Josh Schoenfelder

Color Care Across America comes to Davenport, Iowa

What: The Benjamin Moore Color Care Across America Project - free painting & color makeover for men's, women's, family, domestic abuse and homeless shelters. The program is servicing 50 shelters in 50 states in 50 days (+ another shelter in DC).

Who:  Iowa's beneficiary shelter: The Salvation Army Family Service Center Shelter. Mayor Bill Gluba nominated the shelter into the national program. Mayor Gluba?as well as the Salvation Army's Major Gary Felton?will be on-site, prepared for interviews.

Local professional paint contractors from J&J Painting have volunteered for the project, and will be painting during the event. The local Benjamin Moore retailer Keim's Paint Center (Rock Island) tinted and delivered the paint to the shelter.

When: Wednesday, November 2 at 10:00 a.m.

Where: The Salvation Army Family Service Center Shelter, 301 West 6th Street #1, Davenport, Iowa, 52803-5129

Why: The power of color has proven emotional impact, and even the simplest painting makeover can yield an uplifting experience. Color Care was inspired in part by President Obama's call to service and also by the growing ranks of homeless

Color Care Across America, developed in cooperation with the USCM and PDCA, launched this September with plans for makeovers in all 50 U.S. states plus D.C. within 60 days. All told, between Canada and U.S., Benjamin Moore expects to donate more than 7,000 gallons of paint.

Contacts: Josh Schoenfelder, 605.350.4138, joshs@vpcpartners.com

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