Quad Cities IA/IL - President & General Manager Larry Rosmilso, along with representatives from Local TV, LLC, owner of WQAD, announced the decision to WQAD's full staff Thursday, July 22nd at their studios in Moline

"This is an unprecedented investment in the station" stated Rosmilso. "In the next several months, we'll spend close to 2-million dollars to upgrade the equipment at the station, and no department will be untouched by the process."

The move to high definition news coverage will bring Quad Cities news viewers more stunning video pictures, clearer audio & enhanced live coverage from the field as everything from live trucks to cameras & edit gear, even most of the internal cables gets replaced. "Every piece of equipment in the building will be upgraded to handle high definition video and enhanced audio," reported Chief Engineer Rick Serre.

The announcement came right on the heels of WQAD's first High Definition production, Helping Haiti which aired on Wednesday night.  "We've had the HD cameras and an editor and we chose the Haiti project as our first experiment in HD news production" stated Alan Baker, WQAD News Director. "We were blown away at the quality of that first production. That's just a taste of what's to come."

The entire conversion process will take place in stages over the next several months. "We'll be keeping viewers on top of the progress as we hit each milestone," stated Baker.

WQAD is one of 20 mid-sized television stations owned by Local TV, LLC, part of Oak Hill Capital Partners and a consortium of investors who like TV and local news and believe in the future of both.

A combined effort from students, faculty, staff, parents, and Trinity Lutheran Church volunteers are making the concept and a dream of a service garden into a reality at Trinity Lutheran School this summer. Students from Trinity Lutheran School's Shining Stars summer care program are discovering how plants grow from seeds and small plants to large, vegetable-producing plants.  They are part of the process of maintaining a healthy garden, and the students are now reaping the fruits of their labor.

This outdoor classroom has provided a great life-long learning opportunity for the Shining Stars students.  The students have learned how to prepare the soil for planting, experienced planting a variety of vegetables, tended the garden by weeding and watering, and are now starting to harvest and enjoy eating the various produce.  They are also learning how to prepare produce for use in cooking and baking.

The plants have come from a few key sources: the radish, carrot and sunflower plants came from Jill Schmitzer's preschool classroom at TLS.  She taught her students how to plant seeds and they watched them grow in the classroom.  Several of the other plants were ordered from Trinity Lutheran School's annual plant sale fundraiser.  Approximately 50 tomato plants and 25 green pepper plants were planted, along with hot peppers, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, cauliflower, zucchini, a variety of herbs, and more.  Matt Wilshusen, an agronomist and a parent volunteer, donated a great deal of his time and knowledge for this 30' x 70' garden.

"This service garden is a start for us; our larger vision is to truly have a community garden to serve the community around our school and church.  This has given the students a great learning laboratory to visualize how food grows and to taste the end results," said Bill Meyer, Principal of Trinity Lutheran School.  Even this year, the community will benefit from this new project.  Extra produce will be donated to community organizations and food pantries.

The Shining Stars summer care program, led by Kathy Schneiderman, a TLS preschool teacher and preschool coordinator, and Karla Heuertz, Shining Stars program director, was established this summer to provide quality child care and education for children who have completed 4-year-old preschool - 5th grade in a Christ-centered environment.

Trinity Lutheran School offers quality Christian education for preschoolers - 8th grade, dedicated teachers, extra-curricular activities, including sports, music, and art, and an after-school and summer child care program in a Christian environment. For more information about Trinity Lutheran School, please call 563-322-5224, stop by the school office at 1122 West Central Park Ave., Davenport, or go to www.TrinityDavenport.org/school.

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Schwiebert Riverfront Park has been open just under a month and the park has been brimming with people playing since it opened.

Since the park has seen so much use, it's been determined that the fountain area needs to be modified. The sod located near the fountain is getting too wet and is not able to completely dry. In order to make
necessary improvements including concrete work, the fountain will be shut off for one week.

The fountain will remain open this weekend July 24-25, 2010. It will be shut off for modifications during the week of July 26-30. Hopefully all modifications can be made within the week and the fountain should reopen the weekend of July 31.

"Anytime you have a new unique space like Schwiebert Riverfront Park, you try to do your best to think of all contingencies. The fountain is being used more and differently than we originally thought, and we need to make some modifications," stated Bill Nelson, Parks & Recreation Director.

"We are so pleased that Schwiebert Riverfront Park has been used every day bringing new life to the riverfront," continued Nelson.

The downtown park offers spectacular views of the Mississippi River, and includes an open-air stage, digital playground areas, observation shelter, waterfront promenade, bike trail, and beautifully landscaped grounds.


Hunters and Anglers are 'Economic Powerhouse'

Bass Pro Shops event features pro's, seminars, youth activities and more!

Springfield, Missouri (July 23, 2010)?The Fall Hunting Classics are a tradition at Bass Pro Shops and an event that some 6.5 million people are expected to attend this year.  Why is this important?  "Because hunting is big business," says Bass Pro Shops spokeswoman Katie Mitchell.

And, indeed it is.  A report by the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation cites America's 34 million hunters and anglers are an economic powerhouse?spending some $8.6 million an hour.  If this $76 billion-a-year industry were a corporation it would be among America's 20 largest, ahead of Target, Costco and AT&T.

"The Bass Pro Shops Fall Classic is a huge event and hunters and other outdoor sportsmen and -women look forward to it all year long," said Mitchell.  "Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to learn the secret techniques and strategies used by professionals to gain a better advantage in the field, see all the latest products and attend workshops and seminars.  And, there is a 'ripple effect' as other area retailers, gas stations, hotels and restaurants benefit as well from the increased traffic the Classic generates," Mitchell added.

This 17-day event will be held August 6th through August 22nd at 51 Bass Pro Shops retail locations across the United States and Canada and it is all free.

Hunting and fishing sportsmen directly support 1.6 million jobs, spend more than a billion dollars just on licenses, stamps, tags and permits, and they generate $25 billion a year in federal, state and local taxes.  More than 12.5 million hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts pump $24.9 billion into the economy each year.

But the buck doesn't stop there.  It is vitally important that today's youth get involved in the outdoors so they can become the stewards and conservationists of tomorrow to insure the maintenance and well-being of our natural resources.  "I've heard it said that if you don't have a fishing rod in the hands of a youngster by the time they are 8 years old, the chances of getting them to go fishing later in life diminishes dramatically," said Mitchell.  "I would think the same applies to getting them introduced to hunting and shooting sports," she continued.

This is important because the sale of hunting licenses, tags and stamps is the primary source of funding for most state wildlife conservation efforts.  Hunters and anglers have always been, and continue to be, the largest contributors to government wildlife conservation programs.  Through excise taxes and license revenues, these sportsmen have contributed more than $10 billion dollars to conservation and provide more than 80% of the funding for most state fish and wildlife agencies.  Just from hunters alone, nearly $200 million in hunters' federal excise taxes are distributed to State agencies to support wildlife each year.

(All statistics are from the Congressional Sportsman's Foundation report "Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors." It can be accessed online at www.sportsmenslink.org)

Some of the special events during the Bass Pro Shops 2010 Fall Hunting Classic include :
· Aug. 6-8 - Bass Pro Shops Free Hunting University.  Nationally recognized professional hunters and outdoorsmen will be at stores to give seminars and talk about their experiences. Friday 5-9pm  Saturday and Sunday Noon - 5pm (Visit www.basspro.com/classics for individual store location listing of seminar pros, topics and times)
· Aug. 6-22 - Preferred Rewards
· August 9 - 18 Additional savings up to $100 off when using your Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards Visa.  U.S. stores only.
· Aug. 12-17 - Binocular Trade-In.   Trade in your old pair of binoculars and save on any new binocular purchase.  See a store associate for details.
· Aug. 21-22 - Next Generation Weekend.  Noon to 5pm.  Activities include Free youth seminars (1pm and 3pm), Free Shooting Arcade*, BB gun/pellet gun range*, archery range*, paintball cage, (*in stores where available), deer sun catch craft 12N to 2pm (while supplies last).  Youths will receive a punch card to be punched once for every activity they complete.  Once the card is full youths will receive a "Bass Pro Shops Next Generation" logo drawpack (while supplies last). 
· Aug. 21-22 - PictureU Free Photo.  Picture yourself on the cover of an Outdoor Life Magazine!  Saturday and Sunday Noon - 5pm
· Aug. 14-15  and 21-22?ATV Test Drive* 12Noon - 5pm

In addition, customers will be able to register August 6th - 22nd for a sweepstakes to win a 3-Day Spring Turkey Hunt in Kansas with Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, Hosts of "The Crush" TV show and RedHead Pro Hunting Team Members (visit www.basspro.com/winahunt for details). Plus, one winner in every store will win a RedHead® Hunting Gear Package with a retail value of $560.00 (US), $733.00 (CAD) that includes a RedHead deluxe gear bag, Enigma Hub-Style hunting blind, Epic binoculars, RedHead 12-can soft side cooler, RedHead caliber waist packs and RedHead bow/rifle pack.  (Contest rules: Customers may also enter to win online at www.basspro.com.  52 First Place winners will be drawn and one Grand Prize winner will be drawn nationally.  NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM PRIZE.  Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry.  Void where prohibited.  Sweepstakes begins 08/06/10 and ends 08/22/10.)

For more information on the free Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic go to www.basspro.com/classic.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA -July 23, 2010--The nation's leader in post-frame storage construction is offering its first-ever discount, exclusively to Farm Bureau members in Iowa.

This partnership means Farm Bureau members now qualify for a $500 discount on all Morton buildings, including the company's new Country Craft series, or a $1,000 discount on buildings that include Morton's Energy Performer package. It's not just farmers who have counted on Morton buildings for generations; the company's building offerings also include hobby shops, garages, horse barns, homes and commercial buildings. The Illinois-based company operates more than 100 construction centers and has sales offices in 36 states. Morton Buildings has custom-constructed thousands of buildings a year since it entered the machine storage building industry in 1949. "We have nearly 500,000 satisfied customers and share many common values with Farm Bureau members and the state's proud agricultural history," says Morton Buildings, Inc. President Jeffrey Neihouser. "We employ hardworking Iowans to represent our company and carry out our mission of providing value to our customers. We look forward to partnering with Farm Bureau and contributing to its mission of helping the residents of Iowa," says Neihouser.

To receive the Morton Building discount, Farm Bureau members must present their Farm Bureau membership card. For more information on the exclusive membership benefit discount, go to the Iowa Farm Bureau website at www.iowafarmbureau.com or call the Iowa Farm Bureau member hotline toll-free at (866) 598-3693. For more information on Morton Buildings, Inc. visit the company's website at www.mortonbuildings.com or call Morton toll-free at (800) 447-7436.

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Cool Bean having Quad City Summer Fun, Great Guest Judges, and an Awesome Prize!

Cool Beanz has lots of summer specials including ice cream, smoothies, summer wraps and salads, and frozen lemonade - but the Cool Bean, Mocha Joe, wants to get out and see all that the Quad Cities has to offer! In order to do this, Cool Beanz is asking that you take Mocha Joe with you and photograph his adventure! Whomever takes the photo, most representative of Mocha Joe having Quad City Summer Fun will WIN a Cool Beanz $50 gift card!

Guest Judges, including President of Augustana College Stephen Bahls, Rock Island Developent Programs Coordintor Mary M. Chappell, and Assistant Superintendent of Rock Island School District 41 Jim Andrews, will choose the photo that best represents "Quad Cities summer fun" and displays the Cool Bean proudly! All photo entries must be submitted by August 22nd. Please no more than two submissions per participant. We also ask that submissions are not defamatory, offensive or obscene, or violate or infringe on the trademark, copyright, publicity, privacy or other rights of any third party.

The Cool Bean can be picked up in the store at 1325 30th Street Rock Island. Return Mocha Joe in good condition and get $1.00 off your next purchase!

FIVE YEARS AFTER KATRINA, REPORT REVEALS IOWA UNPREPARED TO PROTECT CHILDREN DURING DISASTERS

Save the Children's U.S. Programs reveals Iowa missing four key safeguards for children in disasters

Note: report is available at http://www.savethechildren.org/publications/reports/2010-Disaster-Report.pdf

Washington, D.C., July 22, 2010?Almost five years after Hurricane Katrina, a new report reveals that Iowa meets zero out of four minimum criteria for protecting children in disasters.  Ninety percent of U.S. children live in an area at risk of a natural disaster, and terrorists can strike anywhere.  Iowa lacks basic protections for kids such as requiring all licensed child care centers to have a plan to reunite children with their families or requiring them to have plans for children with special needs.

The report is the second disaster preparedness report released by Save the Children's U.S. Programs.  The 2010 year report found that 38 states and the District of Columbia did not meet all four basic criteria and that Iowa was one of seven states to meet zero criteria.

Hurricane Katrina demonstrated what can happen when children are not accounted for in disaster planning:

· 5,192 children were reported missing after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the last child was not found until six months later.

· About 50,000 Louisiana and Mississippi children missed school in the 2005-2006 school year and approximately 15,000 did not attend in the 2006-2007 school year.

· More than a third of Louisiana children experienced clinically-diagnosed depression, anxiety, or another behavior disorder after the storm.

"Five years after Hurricane Katrina, it is unacceptable for states to ignore these low-cost and common-sense safeguards for kids," said Mark Shriver, Save the Children U.S. Programs Senior Vice President. "There are 67 million kids in school or child care on any given day in the U.S., separated from their families and dependent on the government to ensure protections.  The most vulnerable Iowans in the most vulnerable settings are made more vulnerable because of government inaction."

Currently, 12 states meet all four standards, which is five more than in the 2009 report.  All five states that qualified in 2010 for the first time worked with Save the Children's U.S. Programs to meet the standards and, in many cases, adopted the exact same language as outlined in the 2009 report.

Commissioned by Save the Children and conducted by Brown Buckley Tucker, the report reviewed four key standards identified by Save the Children: plans for evacuation, reunification with families and evacuation for special needs kids at child care facilities, as well as evacuation plans at schools.

Save the Children urges the adoption of all four standards by states as well as federal passage of the Child Safety, Care, and Education Continuity Act of 2010 (H.R. 5240/S. 2898), which would require states to adhere to many of the same standards..  Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL) is the sponsor of the House legislation, and Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) are the sponsors of the Senate measure.


Looks like someone met some new friends at the "Take Flight to Niabi Zoo" exhibit at the Quad City International Airport. We hope you enjoy the photo.

Looking for a place to spend some quality time with your family? Come to Niabi Zoo, conveniently located just 8 minutes from the Quad City International Airport. Niabi Zoo is the largest zoo between Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska. It is also home to over 900 animals representing more than 160 species. Take a train trip around the zoo, hop on the carrousel, have a birthday party at the Safari Grill, take a pony ride, and much more all in one place.

We can't wait to see you!

For more information go to www.niabizoo.com or call (309) 799-3482. The Zoo is located at: 12908 Niabi Zoo Road, Coal Valley, IL 61240.

Funding for the "Take Flight to Niabi Zoo" exhibit provided by the Rock Island County Board.





































DAVENPORT, Iowa - The Journey of Hope North team will arrive in Davenport on Wednesday, July 22. The team will arrive at Clarion Inn, where lodging is provided for the night at 11:30 a.m. They will have lunch at Happy Joe's at 1 p.m. That evening, the team will have dinner and a Friendship Visit at the Seduary Pool at 6 p.m. The three teams of the Journey of Hope will spend over two months cycling an average of 75 miles a day from city to city visiting with people and organizations that help people with disabilities.

What: The Journey of Hope, organized by Push America, is a cycling trek that raises funds and awareness on behalf of people with disabilities in hopes to enhance the quality of their lives. Every cyclist commits to raising at least $5,000 on behalf of people with disabilities before the trip begins. Combine their individual efforts with corporate sponsorships and the Journey of Hope 2010 teams have raised more than $500,000 for people with disabilities.

When: Thursday, July 22.

Where: Happy Joe's

201 W 50th Street

Seduary Pool

1800 W. 12th Street

Who: Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity members from across the country.

Other media opportunities: Please contact on-site coordinator David Hamrick for details about team location while cycling into Davenport for photos, interviews or any other media opportunity.

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The  Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities is hosting its 8th annual Jewish Film Series at the Figge Art Museum Auditorium, 225 West 2nd Street, Davenport, Iowa, per the schedule which follows.

All films begin at 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per adult, free for students. All films have adult content. Call (309) 793-1300 for more information.

· The Debt, Sunday, Aug. 15
· Lemon Tree, Sunday, Aug. 22
· A Matter of Size, Sunday, Aug. 29
· Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger, Sunday, Sept. 5

For additional information, please visit: Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities (www.jfqc.org) or contact Alan Ross, (309) 793-1300 or aross@jfqc.org.

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