12 Jun 2009

WQPT INTRODUCES 2009 AMBASSADORS

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS announces their 2009 WQPT/PBS Ambassadors.

The WQPT/PBS Ambassador program is in its fifth year and provides an opportunity for college students to represent their local public television station at a variety of events throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois. "Ambassadors are a highly trained extension of our volunteer team," said WQPT Special Projects Coordinator, Bea Brasel. This year WQPT/PBS Ambassadors come from Black Hawk College, Western Illinois University, University of Iowa, and Illinois College.

The 2009 Ambassadors are Daniel Brasel, Joan Frank, Troy Keegan, Alan Morris, Koko Nicoue and Stephanie Reagan.

"We are particularly happy to have a number of students return as Ambassadors because they found the experience so rewarding," said Ms. Brasel.

WQPT has been the local public television station serving western Illinois and eastern Iowa since 1983.

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12 Jun 2009

APAC Customer Services, Inc. in Davenport is Expanding

By Bobbi Chester

June 11, 2009 - APAC Customer Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: APAC) a leading provider of quality customer care services and solutions, is excited to announce the expansion of its Davenport, Iowa customer care center.  APAC will be hiring 150 customer care agents and support professionals within the next several weeks.

Overall, APAC employs over 10,000 contact center professionals throughout nine domestic and four Philippine locations, and is recognized as an industry leader in inbound customer care. Agents hired will be answering calls from consumers and assisting with product features, usage, billing and general support.

The ideal candidate should have excellent communication skills, a strong knowledge of the computer, a positive attitude coupled with a professional demeanor, and an ability to type at least 18 WPM.  Candidates with customer service and college education are encouraged to apply.  APAC offers excellent compensation and benefits. First and second shifts are available.

To apply for one of these full-time positions, go to www.APACjob.com/Davenport.  You can also apply in person at 250 East 90th Street.  The Davenport recruiting office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

APAC Customer Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: APAC) is a leading provider of customer care services and solutions for market leaders in healthcare, publishing, business services, financial services, communications and travel and entertainment industries.  APAC partners with its clients to deliver custom solutions that enhance bottom line performance.  For more information, call 1-800-OUTSOURCE.  APAC's comprehensive web site is http://www.apaccustomerservices.com.
12 Jun 2009

JUST KIDS TRIVIA NIGHT

By Jared Johnson

Organization Holds Fundraiser with Budget Questions Looming

MILAN, IL (June 12, 2009) - Just Kids Early Care & Education Centers is holding their second annual Trivia Night on Friday, June 19th at the Milan Community Center, US Highway 67, Milan, IL.  Doors open at 6pm, trivia starts at 7pm.  Teams of 8 can compete for cash and door prizes.  Food may be brought in and a cash bar will be available.

Just Kids Executive Director, Vera Hinrichsen, says "This fundraiser comes at an interesting time, as state funds for human services in Illinois could be cut by more than 50%.  In order for Just Kids to be efficient in serving families and children in the future, we need a great deal of support from our local community."

The proposed Illinois operations budget would cut child care by 63% and eliminate the Preschool for All program, which operates in the 3-5 year old classrooms at Just Kids.  In addition, funding assistance that is currently utilized by 175,000 Illinois families for early education services would only be available to 25,000 if the proposed budget goes into effect.

Proceeds from Trivia Night will benefit contingency funds and program development opportunities for Just Kids, a non-profit early childhood education organization that serves over 200 families annually.  Just Kids is a United Way partner and is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  Just Kids has been providing services in Milan for over 30 years and employs over 45 early childhood professionals that educate young children, build public support for high-quality programs, improve professional practice and support area families.

Teams may register for Trivia Night by contacting Lisa Redecker at (309) 787-6303 or lredecker@justkidsinc.org Teams may also register directly on the Just Kids website: www.justkidsinc.org.

11 Jun 2009

WQAD News 8 & Meteorologist Terry Swails Announce Strategic Partnership

By Lori Evans

Quad Cities- IA/IL -- Two of the biggest names in weather in the Quad Cities announce a partnership that brings local favorite Terry Swails back to regular daily television and allows one of the most familiar people in the Quad Cities a chance to pursue his dream of running a weather website that services people in and around the Quad Cities.

In this partnership, Terry Swails will join Storm Team 8, the most experienced and accurate weather department in the Quad Cities.  Terry will anchor the weather for News 8 at 6 Monday through Friday evenings, working under the direction of Chief Meteorologist James Zahara.  James was recently appointed to the role after the retirement of Neil Kastor, another Quad Cities favorite.

"This partnership grew from a series of conversations I'd had over the last year with Terry," said WQAD-TV President and General Manager Larry Rosmilso.  "Terry made it clear that he wanted to be with his family more, and that his passion for weather was leading him to become an entrepreneur and develop a weather service on the web.  It soon became clear that joining the one station in town that has momentum and is investing in the future was the best place to use as a springboard for his business," Rosmilso added.

"The conversations with WQAD were so positive and appealing, I just knew it was a perfect fit for me," said Terry Swails, perhaps the most popular local television figure.  "Nothing would please me more than to watch viewers make the switch to News 8," said Swails, a Quad Cities television veteran of 32 years.  "I believe WQAD has positioned itself to be the leading news and weather authority in this television market and I want to be along for the ride.  This will be an exciting challenge and I am grateful to the WQAD family for the opportunity and to the people of the Quad Cities for their unwavering support." 

"This is the best of both worlds for both Terry and us," said Rosmilso.  Terry gets back in front of the camera where viewers can see him each day like they want, and we can help him grow awareness for his new business, terryswails.com.  It's the partnership you always want, a "win-win" where the biggest win is for the viewers that miss seeing him."

Swails will start his new role officially the week of July 6th with appearances on the air during coverage of the John Deere Golf Classic, in which WQAD-TV is the official host for the 28th consecutive year.  His regular studio duties will begin the following week, in which he will preview his forecast during News 8 at 5 and then be the regular weather anchor on News 8 at 6.  Swails will lend himself to an major weather coverage as James Zahara and News 8 ask of him, and the station will make a point of promoting the www.terryswails.com site and Terry's public appearances.

10 Jun 2009

Ron Paul's Audit the Fed Bill Hits 207 Co-Sponsors

By Administrator

House Minority Leader Boehner joins bi-partisan coalition supporting Federal Reserve transparency

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA - H.R. 1207, The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, yesterday surged past the 200 co-sponsor mark, nearing a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, introduced by Congressman Ron Paul (R- TX), now has 207 cosponsors including 51 Democrats.

Signing on to the bill yesterday were Republican Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and influential Rules Committee Ranking Member David Drier (R-CA). The bill has gained 28 co-sponsors just in the month of June.

Congressman Paul's legislation is aimed at pulling back the curtain from a secretive and unaccountable Federal Reserve.  Congress and the American people have minimal, if any, oversight over trillions of dollars that the Fed controls.

With recent bailouts and spending decisions shining a spotlight on the actions of the Federal Reserve, more and more pressure is bearing down on Congress to take action and demand accountability and transparency.

Minority Leader Boehner joins a group of legislators from across the ideological spectrum.  These Representatives include Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), head of the conservative Republican Study Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), former head of the liberal Progressive Caucus.

"Americans from every walk of life, across the country, are speaking out and demanding transparency at the Federal Reserve," said Campaign for Liberty President John Tate. "Members of Congress, whether they are conservatives, moderates, progressives, business Republicans, libertarians or blue dog Democrats, are listening to their outraged constituents and coming together to support H.R. 1207."

"The American people have had enough. Enough of an out of control Fed, enough of run away government spending and enough of the secretive Federal Reserve practices that won't even allow us to know where our money is going." continued Mr. Tate. "And the message is getting through loud and clear as indicated by the overwhelming support for this legislation across the country and in the halls of Congress."

To view a full list of co-sponsors, please click here.
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1207/show

H.R. 1207, would open up the Fed's funding facilities, such as the Primary Dealer Credit Facility, Term Securities Lending Facility, and Term Asset-Backed Securities Lending Facility to Congressional oversight and an audit by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office. Additionally, audits could include discount window operations, open market operations, and agreements with foreign central banks, such as ongoing dollar swap operations with European central banks.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jesse Benton
June 10, 2009                           703-347-6886, 202-246-6363
-30-
09 Jun 2009

Hero Street, USA

By Marc Wilson

The University of Oklahoma Press recently published Marc Wilson's book, Hero Street U.S.A, The Story of Little Mexico's Fallen Soldiers.

Noted historian Richard Griswold del Castillo of San Diego State University called the book "a major contribution to the field of World War II scholarship as well as Chicano history."

Wilson's book recounts the death in combat of eight young men from the name street in Silvis, Illinois - now formally known as Hero Street U.S.A. Six men from the street died in World War II and two more in Korea.

The book also tells the story of the heroes' families - their exodus to the United States during the Mexican Revolution from 1910-1920.

During a manpower shortage caused by World War I, the Rock Island Railroad hired Mexican refugees to help lay track and service railroad equipment. The railroad gave the Mexicans housing - old, wheel-less boxcars in the 900-acre rail yard in Silvis, Illinois. Many children were born in the boxcars, including the eight boys who would die in combat for the United States.

Each hero's personal story is told in a chapter. Tony Pompa died when his bomber was shot down over Italy. Japanese gunfire killed Frank Sandoval in Burma. German machineguns killed Willie Sandoval during the battle for the "bridge too far." Claro Solis died in the last hours of the Battle of the Bulge. Peter Masias was killed when he parachuted into Germany, and Frank Sandoval was killed in Germany the day after he was told the war was over. Johnny Munos and Joe Gomez were killed in Korea, with Gomez earning the Silver Star.

After the war, the surviving Mexican-American soldiers, marines and sailors returned home only to find that they were blackballed from joining the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Silvis.

And 2nd Street - now formally called Hero Street - remained the only unpaved street in Silvis until the Mexican-Americans won a battle to have the street paved in 1971.

The book is available through the University of Oklahoma Press, Amazon.com, Borders.com, and Barnes and Noble.com.

Author Marc Wilson is founder and general manager of TownNews.com, based in Moline. Wilson lives in Hampton.

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09 Jun 2009

Scott County Historic Preservation Society

By Robert Jackson Jr.
Join Scott County Historic Preservation Society (SCHPS)  for our June 11th meeting as Karen Anderson recounts "Patriots of the Prairies".
Hear about local people who where involved in the Civil War, the abolitionist movement, Supreme Court batle over Dred Scott and a local farmer's fight at the 1860 Chicago Republican Convention.
This meeting is open to the public free of charge.
Please join us on June 11, 2009 at 7pm at the Antoine LeClaire House, 630 East 7th Street in Davenport, Iowa.
Keep July 9th open for an evening tour at the Renwick Mansion.
For more information, please contact Duane Timm  at bigdaddydtimm@yahoo.com or you may call 563-323-4077.
08 Jun 2009

Machine Shed Serves Local Produce this Summer

By Katrina Padron

The Machine Shed Restaurant supports their community by serving local produce.  The local produce includes strawberry rhubarb, asparagus, sweet corn, fresh herbs, and tomatoes and will be served according to what is in season.

Strawberry Rhubarb is hand cut from Stems and Vines in Wheatland, Iowa.  Each day, while it is in season, the chefs make Jeff Grunder's Family Rhubarb Crisp (see attached for Rhubarb Crisp Recipe).

Asparagus is hand picked from Stems and Vines in Wheatland, Iowa.  It is at the Machine Shed in less than an hour after picking - never frozen or canned.  At the Machine Shed, the asparagus is grilled to order and crisp.

Kurt's Green Acres in Bettendorf grows 10 acres of corn each year for the Machine Shed.  Rows of eight are alternated so ensure peak freshness every week.  Five hundred ears of corn are served each day at the Machine Shed.  A local student shucks the corn nightly and it is cooked in a special corn roaster. The roaster is a corn rotisserie that caramelizes the natural sugars in the corn.  Then, it is served fresh to each guest.

Each week, servers hand-cut more than 200 pounds of tomatoes from Kurt's Green Acres in Bettendorf.  The tomatoes are sun ripened on the vine.

The Machine Shed plants their own and picks their own fresh herbs.  They add flavor to the garlic herb sauce and steak stuffing.

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08 Jun 2009

Established Davenport Landmark to Expand

By Erin McConaughey
St. Anthony Catholic Church to Hold Groundbreaking Ceremony on June 14, 2009


Davenport, IA - Since 1837, St. Anthony Catholic Church has had an historic and deeply personal impact in the heart of downtown Davenport.  As the oldest church in Davenport, St. Anthony's presence continues to share love for neighbor as they conduct a groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, June 14, immediately after the 11:30 Mass, at 12:30 p.m., to build a new Multipurpose Hall, Education Center, Gathering Center, Parish Offices and a warming kitchen, patio, and distribution window, affectionately named "McAnthony Window," out of which to serve meals to the homeless and underprivileged.


172 years after being founded by Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, St. Anthony's new 7,200 s.f. addition and renovation will allow it to meet the spiritual needs of people of all ages with the additional space.  Faith formation will now be housed in a single location to serve the Catholic families and especially the children and youth programs.  Small-group Bible studies will be able to meet in classrooms.  The church offices will also be relocated in the new facility.  In addition, the Gathering Center will become a place where parishioners of all ages can gather and lift one another up, building community and fellowship.  By strengthening and equipping the people at St. Anthony's, all will be more empowered to serve their neighbors in their daily needs.


A more unified, aesthetically pleasing campus, which will attract attention to the historically significant church square and will coincide well with the city's downtown beautification plans, will also be achieved through this project.  The beautification of Davenport's downtown area will not only benefit current residents but also will help to attract new business and tourists to the heart of the city.  In addition, it will create a unified square with historic emphasis placed on the original church building, a building to which Antoine LeClaire himself contributed the lead gift to erect.  Blending old with new, creating a more park-like atmosphere, and drawing attention to historic sites of significance in the heart of downtown Davenport, a need expressed by city officials, historic committees, and the residents of the Quad Cities who work, shop, and participate in cultural and social activities along the Riverfront and in downtown Davenport.   

St. Anthony's McAnthony Window will also undergo an addition of a covered patio area with heating elements for colder months.  The McAnthony Window helps to meet the needs for those who have little or no other means of support.  They currently prepare between 125 and 150 meals a day, 45,000 meals a year, out of a small, residential kitchen.  What St. Anthony can offer is limited by space and equipment.  Any future desire to increase the number of meals or days served is an impossibility with the current facilities.  Currently, meal participants congregate under an old awning and sit on benches.  There is no heating provided, and after this past winter, the pressing need for a heated space is abundantly clear. St. Anthony also assembles and distributes 1,200 Thanksgiving baskets, 1,200 Christmas baskets, and 950 Easter baskets annually.  
The campaign theme "Gathering our Community - Continuing our Outreach" reflects the committed desire of St. Anthony to come together to meet the needs of the parish and the community.  Many families served in volunteer roles throughout the campaign, and families of the parish have made pledges totaling over $1.5 million as of this date.  The parish continues to receive support for this worthy project both from parishioners as well as from the community at large and is graciously accepting all contributions and donations for this campaign and for the on-going support of their mission to the needy at McAnthony Window.  During this time of economic difficulty for so many, St. Anthony's is a beacon of hope in downtown Davenport, reaching out to those in greatest need.  For more information on St. Anthony's, please visit their website at: http://www.stanthonysdavenport.4lpi.com/.  

Russell Construction, located in Davenport, IA, will serve as the Design/Builder for the $1,800,000 expansion project.  Russell has delivered over $40 million in religious facilities in and around the Quad Cities area.  Construction is set to begin immediately and will be completed by June 2010.  For more information on Russell Construction, please visit their website at www.russellco.com.  

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05 Jun 2009

TAG Communications Formed, Senior Management Team Announced

By Susan Weber

Davenport, IA - The Ad Group is pleased to announce the creation of TAG Communications, an umbrella corporation that will serve as the parent organization for the specialized agencies working from the company's Davenport, Iowa, headquarters. TAG Communications will provide senior management oversight as well as shared technology and logistical resources to current divisions. The following entities, founded as The Ad Group, will continue to operate as divisions of TAG Communications;

The Ad Group will maintain the direction established over its nearly 20-year history, with efforts focused on service to local, regional and national retail and Business-to-Consumer clients. It will also provide an entry point for new ventures as well as offering marketing services to companies in all stages of development. (http://www.adgroup.biz)

 TAG Healthcare Marketing was formed in 2008 to serve the growing communication needs of The Ad Group's healthcare partners nationwide. Since its inception, TAG Healthcare Marketing has broadened its reach and service to include relationships with clients in Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois. (http://www.taghcm.com)

TAG Yellow Pages is a Yellow Pages Association "Certified Marketing Representative" that places advertising for clients nationwide directly with the publishers of thousands of online and print directories throughout the United States and Canada. This allows TAG clients who rely on print and online directories to ensure cost-effective performance consistent with their marketing plan. Certification is given only to those select agencies that have met the industry's strictest qualifying criteria. (http://www.tagyp.com)

TAG Legal Marketing is a full-service marketing firm dedicated to providing state Bar Association-compliant advertising and communications campaigns to law firms nationwide. (http://www.taglegalmarketing.com)

According to TAG Communications President and CEO, Mike Vondran, a key to the company's reorganization was the ability to secure senior management for the new entity. He's pleased to announce the appointment of three new members of the senior management team;

Randy (RJ) Jacobs has been named Senior Vice President. He most recently served as CEO/partner of Jacobs Thoms LLC from 2007-2009, Vice President and Account Director for Charleston Orwig (Milwaukee) from 2003-2007, and President, Managing Partner with Henry Russell Bruce from 1991-2003. RJ has more than twenty-six years of leadership experience in marketing, sales and operational management from successful start-ups to turnaround companies. Throughout RJ's career, he has been instrumental in leading strategy and brand initiatives for clients such as global elevator and escalator manufacturer KONE, Trinity Regional Health System, national healthcare equipment leader Hill-Rom, Genesis Health System, General Electric Major Appliance and Amica Wireless.

Tim Crosby has joined TAG Communications as Vice President Creative/Brand Management. Tim has more than 25 years of experience as the principal creative and marketing strategist for a list of clients that includes Haworth, HarperCollins, John Deere, Rockwell Collins, and Amana. Over the course of his career, he has guided successful product launches for several clients in publishing, the hunting/outdoor industry, the automotive aftermarket, telecommunications and healthcare. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including a "Best of Show" Addy from the Quad Cities Ad Federation in 2001. Tim is the former owner of Crosby-Kirchhoff Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has worked with The Ad Group for several years as a consultant. Tim will oversee the creative and branding efforts of all TAG Communications divisions.

David Blake has joined TAG Communications as Vice President, Accounts Management. David brings a high level of strategic planning as well as sales and marketing leadership to the company. Being a proactive leader and coach, David has spent the last several years consulting for companies throughout the United States focusing on business development and overall business strategy.  He served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for i Wireless™  where he was instrumental in creating a pre-paid product as well as increasing the company's overall market share. David also brings experience as Operations Manager for a commercial real estate development firm along with a background in franchise management.

"Our common sense, results-oriented approach has become increasingly valuable to marketers in recent years," notes Vondran. "We're pleased and excited to find a management team that shares that commitment and vision, while providing seasoned, proven leadership. We believe we're building something special, both for our industry and the region. It is an exciting time."

TAG Communications is a complete advertising, marketing and public relations firm with divisions serving a variety of regional clients as well as healthcare, legal and Yellow Pages clients nationwide. TAG Communications is based in the Quad Cities, with offices in Cedar Rapids, IA, Rockford, IL, and Oklahoma City, OK. Founded as The Ad Group in 1990, the company specializes in strategic analysis and creative solutions that deliver results through creative, responsive and cost-effective communication for clients throughout the nation.

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