ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - Achieve Quad Cities is a community-wide alliance designed to increase the graduation rate by five percent over ten years by connecting students to career opportunities. In his latest show of support, Mayor Dennis Pauley is asking Rock Island citizens and businesses to help local junior high students achieve by volunteering to be Career Navigators (mentors), give a classroom presentation, or host a job shadow.  City employees have been involved with Achieve since it first started, over one year ago.

By connecting students to careers, they are more likely to stay in school and graduate.  Each student who drops out is a cost to the student and the community.  Over the course of a lifetime, each dropout costs our community over $500,000.  Achieve is working to encourage students to get their diplomas and have plans for their futures.

The City of Rock Island is promoting Achieve Quad Cities based on a recommendation from the Safer Communities Task Force to focus on mentoring youth.

Mayor Pauley stated, "I am challenging Rock Island citizens and businesses to get involved in this effort, to be more engaged and invested in the future of our youth, and to set the example so that other communities will be inspired and emboldened to join us." With the Achieve and City of Rock Island partnership, we will change the direction of students' lives.

To get involved and volunteer today, please visit achieveqc.org or call (563) 344-0338.

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American Red Cross Urges Donations Around Labor Day

Labor Day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers and is a time to celebrate the well-being of our country. Donating blood is a noble way to celebrate the hard work Americans have done to strengthen our country.  As families celebrate the holiday, the Red Cross encourages eligible donors to schedule an appointment to donate blood.

All blood types are needed, especially O negative, B negative, and A negative.  Type O negative, the universal blood type, can potentially be transfused to patients with any blood type.

To show appreciation for those who help save lives near the Labor Day holiday (August 29 - September 7), all presenting donors at Red Cross blood drives and blood donation centers in the Heart of America will automatically be entered for a chance to win a $500 gas card. This is a part of the Red Cross' summer-long Good to Give. Good to Go. promotion that also offers a chance for one lucky donor (21 and older) in the Mid-America Blood Services Division to win a trip for four (4) to Orlando, Florida.

"During the holiday weekend, we typically see a dip in blood donations, but the need is constant. Donating blood is an easy way to help others and only takes about an hour of your time," said Shelly Heiden, CEO of the Heart of America Red Cross Blood Services region. "The Red Cross encourages donors to give blood each time they are eligible; every 56 days for whole blood donations and 112 days for double red cell donations."

How to Donate Blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

A blood donor card or driver's license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.  Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are generally in good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

Governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities, the American Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it. In addition to providing nearly half of the nation's blood supply, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts. 

Blood Donation Opportunities

CLINTON COUNTY

9/11/2011, 8:00 am-12:00 pm, Assumption Catholic Church, 147 Broadway Street, Charlotte

WHITESIDE COUNTY

9/3/2011, 7:00 am-11:00 am, Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St., Rock Falls

9/3/2011, 8:00 am-12:00 pm, Old Fulton Fire Station, 912 4th Street, Fulton

9/6/2011, 8:00 am-11:00 am, Old Fulton Fire Station, 912 4th Street, Fulton

9/7/2011, 2:00 pm- 6:00 pm, Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St., Rock Falls

9/8/2011, 3:00 pm- 8:00 pm, Tampico Fire Department, 103 North Main Street, Tampico

9/13/2011, 1:00 pm- 5:15 pm, Old Fulton Fire Station, 912 4th Street, Fulton

(Kansas City, Kan., Aug. 19, 2011) - Over the next three weeks, EPA Region 7 will present a series of free grant writing workshops designed for communities interested in applying for EPA Brownfields funding later this fall.

The Agency is working with the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, and the Kansas State University Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program, to present the five workshops, including two in Nebraska, and one each in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

The workshops will explain EPA Brownfields funding available during Fiscal Year 2012 to assess and clean up abandoned properties. Sessions will also discuss who may apply for the funding, how the grant application process works, and tips for writing good grant applications.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Individuals from local state, and tribal governments, non-profits, coalitions; land clearance authorities; and quasi-governmental entities interested in brownfields assessment, cleanup or revolving loan fund grants.

WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, Aug. 25, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

1730 E. Elm, First Floor, Bennett Springs Room, Jefferson City, Mo., 65101, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 30, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 Office, 901 N. 5^th Street, Kansas City, Kan., 66101, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Field Office 8901 S. 154^th Street, Suite 5, Omaha, Neb., 68138, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 1, F. Johnson Building, 701 4^th Avenue, Holdrege, Neb., 68949, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 8, Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 300 E. 9^th Street, Coralville, Iowa, 52241, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

TO REGISTER: Contact Sabine Martin, Kansas State University TAB representative, 785-532-6474, or email smartin1@ksu.edu.

Brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, controlled substances, petroleum or petroleum products or mine-scarred lands.

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WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Aug. 19, 2011 - Media is invited to attend the 2011 Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) Summer Policy Conference Aug. 30-31 at the Farm Bureau office in West Des Moines. The conference kicks off at 10:00 a.m. on Aug. 30.

Voting delegates from each 100 county Farm Bureaus will gather to discuss and debate topics ranging from the Food Security Act of 2012 and flood control to renewable energy and fiscal responsibility for state and federal government.

Leaders of all 100 county Farm Bureaus have gathered the opinions of their members on issues impacting agriculture and rural Iowa over the past several months.  The Summer Policy Conference aggregates those ideas to form statewide policy for the 2012 legislative session.

Lunch will be provided for attending media both days.  Please RSVP to Laurie Johns (515-225-5414) for lunch by Aug. 24.

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