Quad-Cities area boaters are getting another chance to have more fun on their boats this summer.

Two more Boating Skills & Seamanship courses, one in Davenport and one in Rock Island, beginning this month.

The Davenport course will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 26 to May 12 covering three lessons a night. The course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Scott Community College annex above the bus station. To register for the course call the college at (309) 441-4001 and ask for course number 90696. For more information call Dave or Becky Griesbach at (563) 286-8301.

The Rock Island course will run from 7 to 9:30 p.m. April 28 to May 31 covering two lessons a night. The course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the South Rock Island Township Hall, 1019 27^th St. in Rock Island. Registration for the course will be before class the first night. For more information call Jack or Judy Tumbleson at (309) 738-0837.

The textbook for the course costs $30 and it may be shared by people taking the course together. There is no other charge for the courses.

Participants will increase their fun by learning how to avoid trailering problems, tricks on handling and anchoring their boat, how to navigate their pieces of the river and how to be safe on the water.

Continued Infrastructure Investment will Create 155,000 Jobs

CHCAGO - April 7, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today unveiled the state's new $11.5 billion multi-year construction program. The program will create 155,000 jobs and spark economic development throughout the state while improving safety and reducing congestion. Driven by the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program, the statewide multi-year plan for fiscal years 2012 through 2017 will improve 3,248 miles of road and replace or rehabilitate 611 bridges. In the upcoming fiscal year, the state is expected to improve 490 miles of road and 105 bridges.

"The last two construction seasons have been the busiest in Illinois' history, thanks to Illinois Jobs Now!," said Governor Quinn. "This plan will ensure that we continue this momentum in 2012 and beyond, that exemplifies my commitment to creating jobs and supporting our economic recovery through critical investment in our roads and bridges."

Of the $11.5 billion program, $7.2 billion is from federal funds and $3.6 billion from state funds, including $2 billion through the six-year, $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! capital program passed by Governor Quinn and the General Assembly in 2009.

State highways will see $8.3 billion in improvements over the life of the program, with $3.2 billion available for the local highway system. In the state portion of the multi-year program, $3.5 billion will be for reconstructions, resurfacings, widenings and other safety projects; $1.9 billion for bridge needs; $2.1 billion for congestion mitigation and $774 million for new roads and increased access for economic development.

"We are excited to move forward with these projects that will create jobs and make our roads safer," Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said. "We believe they will spark economic development and enhance the quality of life for residents across the state."

The entire multi-year program is available online at www.dot.il.gov.

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Lecture highlights nineteenth-century artists including Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt and James McNeill Whistler

The Figge Art Museum presents the first lecture in a four-part series entitled "Celebrating Ideas" at 7 pm Thursday, April 7. Dr. Catherine Carter Goebel, Paul A. Anderson Chair in the Arts and Professor of Art History at Augustana College will present the lecture "Framing Art in the Liberal Arts: Bridging Communities with Augustana's Liberal Arts through the AGES." The two-part lecture will begin with an introduction to the Augustana General Education Studies (AGES) program by Dr. Goebel and Dr. Ellen Hay, Interim Dean, Augustana College. The AGES program encourages Augustana faculty to use original works of art to teach a variety of disciplines.  Dr. Goebel will then lead a gallery talk on nineteenth-century works of art in the exhibition, highlighting works by Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and James McNeill Whistler.

The lecture series is offered in conjunction with the special exhibition Celebrating Ideas, Bridging Communities with Augustana's: Liberal Arts through the AGES, on view at the Figge through May 29. The exhibition of 100 works is in celebration of Augustana's 150th anniversary, and presents a rich and diverse art historical overview of pieces from the Augustana College Art Collection that are used in the AGES program. The exhibition was co-curated by Dr. Goebel and Dr. Mary Em Kirn, Professor Emerita of Art History, Augustana College. Upcoming lectures by Augustana College faculty and staff include : "What are the Ideas and Where are the Bridges?," Sherry C. Maurer, Director of the Augustana College Art Museum, 7 pm Thursday, April 14; "Egypt, Athens, Rome?and Us: Five Millennia of Connections through Art, Dr. Emil Kramer, Associate Professor and Chair of Classics, 7pm Thursday, April 21; and "Linking the Verbal and the Visual Text," Dr. Taddy Kalas, Professor and Chair of French, 7 pm Thursday, April 28

The "Celebrating Ideas" series is part of the Figge's weekly Thursdays at the Figge programming. Admission to the museum and lecture is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and Figge institutional members. The Figge Arts Café and Bar will be open before and after the lecture.

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LOVES PARK, IL (04/04/2011)(readMedia)-- Several Loves Park VFW members had a chance to ride in an Illinois Army National Guard Blackhawk April 2. The event's timing held special significance, as the Department of Defense (DoD) has recognized this year as the 50-year anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War.

"This felt pretty familiar," said Jim Puckett of Loves Park, a member of the Loves Park VFW and former Marine Sgt. who served in Da Nang province, Vietnam, as a member of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. Puckett said he spent his fair share of time in a helicopter.

"I was only eighteen at the time," he said. "It was an eye-opening experience."

Puckett, who is also the Loves Park police chief, served as a squad radio operator in the Infantry during Vietnam.

"It was scary, but I remember it being a beautiful country," he said.

Retired Army Spc. Marvin Matthees of Loves Park shared Puckett's feelings.

"It was a scary time; there were a lot of bad aspects," he said.

Matthees, who served as a crew chief and door gunner on a UH1D helicopter with the 336th Assault Helicopter Company, was responsible for putting Soldiers on the ground, making supply runs and performing maintenance on the aircraft.

"We were pretty busy," he said. "We got mortared a lot."

Matthees said his first night in Saigon was a memorable one.

"We had just laid down in our bunks when we got hit by a mortar attack," he recalled. "It was one heck of a wakeup call."

Matthees said he was amazed at how far the military's equipment had come.

"Things are a lot more advanced now," he said. "I think the training is a little more extensive too."

There have been other positive changes, Puckett said.

"Definitely being able to stay in touch more with loved ones was a major change," he said.

Matthees agreed.

"I was married right before I left and my daughter was born while I was overseas," he said.

While Matthees said it was very hard for him, his wife and daughter made it all worthwhile.

"Pamela stuck with me through the whole thing," he said.

Puckett said the day's activities reminded him of how much today's military men and women sacrifice, and how proud he is of them.

"My hat's off to them," he said. "They're doing a fantastic job. We support them 100 percent."

In fact, Puckett was recognized by the DoD as a Patriotic Employer for his treatment of National Guard Soldiers within his department.

"In our department right now we have a guy getting ready to go over," he said. "Nothing has changed; these guys are the ones in harm's way. I think the Guard is doing a great job. How can you not support your troops, when they're the ones keeping us free?"

Matthees agreed and said "We all go do our duty. I was proud to serve."

Puckett said he had nothing but good things to say about his time in service.

"I would have no problem going back in right now," he said. "I loved doing what I did and serving my country."

The flight also included several teachers from the area who will take their experiences back to the classroom, sharing the importance of military history with their students.

Photo 1/ Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rob Fafoglia, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/

Several members of the Loves Park VFW wait to receive their pre-flight briefing before an orientation flight April 2. Several of the VFW's members are veterans of the Vietnam War. The Department of Defense is recognizing 2011 as the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War, as 1961 marks the year the first full units were deployed to Vietnam.

Photo 2/ Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Rob Fafoglia, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Members of the Loves Park VFW receive a pre-flight briefing before their orientation flight on April 2. Several members of the VFW are veterans of the Vietnam War. The Department of Defense is recognizing 2011 as the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War, as 1961 marks the year the first full units were deployed there.

For Video go to: http://www.dvidshub.net/video/111748/vietnam-veteran-flight