11 Jan 2011

Longtime Quad-Cities classic rock band NINE-1-1 packs their gear for the last time.

By Mike Schulz
Created in 1997, this band quickly grew in popularity, playing a mix of classic rock, country rock, alternative,  heavy metal and ballads. Over the years the band also has opened and performed with national bands such as Kansas, Foreigner, Blue Oyster Cult, The Guess Who, The Drifters, Steppenwolf, The Grassroots, Head East and Tommy Roe. After 14 years, the band has decided to play their farewell shows at the Rusty Nail in Davenport. "It's been a great run! Larry's moving out of town later this year and after much thought and discussion we decided we would put NINE-1-1 to bed and go out with a bang!" says Dale Attwood, bass.
Fronting NINE-1-1 is lead singer Steve (Reno) Ebens. Having been in bands since 1976 in the Kewanee and Peoria area as a drummer in the band Quest, Steve moved to lead vocals in Main-Line and Triax. After a six-year break, Steve took his position with NINE-1-1.

Larry Heitzler, on the Hammond B-3 organ, Roland and Univox keys, studied 14 years of classical piano, over 35 years of classic and current rock 'n' roll with some blues, country and ragtime added to the mix.

Roger Canny has been playing drums for over 40 years. While playing for the U.S.O. tour overseas, he was awarded the Certificate of Esteem from the Department of Defense for Patriotic Service, Outstanding Showmanship and High Caliber of Entertainment.

On bass, Dale Attwood has played everything from classic rock to alternative, country to club dance, to concert events. He handles the rhythm, the bottom end, backup vocals, and even some lead.

Kurt Rocker grew up on guitar thanks to early influences from local greats like The Baker Bros., Jim DePoorter and Tim Compton, and later by Eddie Van Halen and David Gilmore.

NINE-1-1 FAREWELL SHOWS:
Friday & Saturday, February 4 & 5
@ The Rusty Nail
2606 W Locust St, Davenport, IA
9:00pm - 1:30am
Cover charge applies
11 Jan 2011

Congressman Braley Statement on Shooting in Arizona

By Alex Krasov

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement on the shooting in Tucson, Arizona:

"While we still don't have all the details, Carolyn and I are praying for Gabby. Our thoughts go out to her husband Mark, her family, her staff and all who know and love her. And I add my deepest condolences to the families of the other victims of this morning's tragic, senseless shooting

I also should note that Gabby's brother, Alex Giffords, was a placekicker for the Iowa State football team. She gave me a print of Beardshear Hall at Iowa State that I have in my office, which she got from her brother."

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11 Jan 2011

Grassley To Begin Annual 99 County Tour

By Sen Chuck Grassley

January 7, 2011

WASHINGTON - In his continued commitment to keep in touch with Iowans, Senator Chuck Grassley will begin his annual meetings with his constituents in each of the state's 99 counties.  Grassley has held a constituent meeting in all 99 Iowa counties since he was first elected to the United States Senate.  He will speak at service clubs, tour manufacturing facilities and other businesses and speak with employees, and meet with junior and senior high school students. 

Grassley's schedule will take him to Grinnell, Traer, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Coralville, Independence, Waterloo, Waverly, Parkersburg, Reinbeck, Nevada, Webster City, Iowa Falls, Jefferson, Madrid, Greenfield, Guthrie Center, Perry, Winterset, Pleasant Hill, Lynnville, Knoxville, Osceola, Afton and New Virginia.

"These face-to-face meetings give me a chance to answer questions, and get information, feedback and comments from a wide cross-section of Iowans.  Whether it's on the factory floor, at a local school or in a service club, each Iowan I speak with provides invaluable input for my work on their behalf.  I take those common sense solutions I hear in Iowa to Washington," Grassley said

Details of the events are below:

 

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

9:30 - 11:30 p.m.        Tour and meet with employees at Jeld-Wen, Door Systems Division, 820 Industrial Avenue, Grinnell

1:15 - 2:15 p.m.          Speak with students and staff at North Tama High School, 605 Walnut Street, Traer

 

Thursday, January 13, 2011

8 - 9 a.m.                    Speak with students and staff at Isaac Newton Christian Academy, 1635 Linmar Drive NE, Cedar Rapids

10 - 11 a.m.                Meet with employees at ITC Midwest Holdings, 123 Fifth Street SE, Cedar Rapids

1:30 - 3 p.m.               Speak with students and staff at Iowa City West High School, Little Theatre, 2901 Melrose Avenue, Iowa City

4 - 5 p.m.                    Tour and meet with employees at Vangent, 2450 Oakdale Boulevard, Coralville

 

Monday, January 17, 2011

10 - 11 a.m.                Speak with students and staff at Independence High School, 514 Fifth Ave. S.E., Independence

Noon - 1 p.m.             Speak with the Waterloo Rotary Club,  Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, 205 West Fourth Street, Waterloo

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.          Meet with Bremer County residents, Bremer County Town Meeting, Waverly Public Library, 1500 West Bremer Avenue, Waverly

4:45 - 5:45 p.m.          Meet with Butler County residents, Butler County Town Meeting, Parkersburg Civic Center, 502 Third Street, Parkersburg

6:45 - 7:45 p.m.          Speak with the Reinbeck Lions Club, Reinbeck Memorial Building, 208 Broad Street, Reinbeck

 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

6:20 - 7:30 a.m.          Speak with the Nevada Kiwanis, Gates Memorial Hall, 825 15th Street, Nevada

9 - 10 a.m.                  Speak with the Webster City Diamond K Kiwanis Club, Windsor Manor, 4101 Wall Street, Webster City

12:10 - 1:10 p.m.        Speak with the Iowa Falls Lions Club, Camp David Restaurant, 119 Main Street, Iowa Falls

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.          Meet with Greene County residents, Greene County Town Meeting, Greene County Community Center, 204 West Harrison Street, Jefferson

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.          Speak with the Madrid Lions Club, Madrid Homes Communities, Main Campus Dining Room, 613 West North Street, Madrid

 

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

8 - 9 a.m.                    Meet with Adair County residents, Adair County Town Meeting, Andrews Memorial Adair County Health & Fitness Center, Meeting Room, 202 North Townline Road, Greenfield

10 - 11 a.m.                Speak with students and staff at Guthrie Center High School, 900 School Street, Guthrie Center

12:10 - 1:15 p.m.        Speak with the Perry Rotary Club, Hotel Pattee, 1112 Willis Avenue, Perry

2:45 - 3:45 p.m.          Meet with Madison County residents, Madison County Town Meeting, Winterset Public Library, Meeting Room, 123 North Second Street, Winterset

5:15 - 6:16 p.m.          Speak with the East Polk Chamber, Southeast Polk High School, Auditorium, 7945 NE University Avenue, Pleasant Hill

 

Thursday, January 20, 2011

9 - 10:30 a.m.             Tour and meet with employees at Co-Line Welding, 1041 Cordova Avenue, Lynnville

Noon - 1 p.m.             Speak with the Knoxville Noon Kiwanis Club, Swamp Fox, Lower Level, 116 North 2nd Street, Knoxville

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.          Meet with Clarke County residents, Clarke County Town Meeting, Clarke County Courthouse, Old Probation Room, 100 South Main Street, Osceola

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.          Meet with Union County residents, Union County Town Meeting, Afton City Hall, 115 East Kansas Street, Afton

7 - 8 p.m.                    Speak with the New Virginia Lions Club, Lions Hall, 503 West Street, New Virginia

 

-30-

11 Jan 2011

Work for Iowans Continues in 112th Congress

By Sen Chuck Grassley

by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Friday, January 7, 2011

The 112th Congress convened in January, with newly elected and reelected lawmakers taking the oath of office to "support and defend the Constitution."  It was an honor to reaffirm my allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and pledge to faithfully uphold my duties as a U.S. senator for Iowa for another term.

In a new congress, committee compositions change to reflect the new ratio of the majority to minority members of the U.S. Senate.  Each party sets its own rules to determine committee assignments.  Over the years, I've worked to secure key committee assignments.  Building seniority from these various posts provides a platform to work for a more accountable government and to make Iowans' voices heard on issues that hit close to home, especially those that impact working families, students, veterans, small business owners, family farmers and retirees.

In addition to the legislative and oversight responsibilities, the U.S. Senate also has the Constitutional authority of "advice and consent" and must approve nominations and treaties submitted by the President.  To gain a more thorough understanding of the issues -- from taxes, to transportation, national security, energy, agriculture, education, health care, banking, immigration and trade -- the Senate divides its work into 20 standing committees, 68 subcommittees and four joint committees which review and research policy proposals, convene hearings to field input from policy experts on pending bills, conduct fact-finding investigations and fine-tune legislation for consideration by the full Senate.

More than 3,000 bills are introduced each Congress and referred to the respective committee of jurisdiction for scrutiny.  The committee system allows lawmakers to develop expertise and specialize in specific issues.

In the last decade, I used my leadership position (alternating between Chairman and Ranking Member) on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee to advance the landmark 2001/2003 tax relief laws that lowered the federal tax rates on wages and investment.  Before the lame-duck session of Congress adjourned in December, I successfully pushed to extend these tax breaks for another two years.  Separately in that legislation, I won extension through 2011 of provisions for ethanol and biodiesel that are so important to domestically produced renewable energy and national security.

In other examples, I've used my assignment on the Senate Budget Committee to tighten the federal purse strings and urge big spenders to end the cycle of deficit spending.  Both on and off the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, as one of only two working family farmers in the Senate, I've championed the interests of the nation's producers to earn a good living and provide for the nation's food and energy security.

I will continue to serve as a senior member of the Finance Committee, but because of Republican Caucus term limits on committee leadership positions, I'm moving from the position of Ranking Member of the Finance Committee to Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee.  Since taking my first oath of office in the Senate, I've been able to serve on the influential Judiciary Committee.  It's where I launched my crusade to empower whistleblowers to expose fraud against the taxpayers.  My 1986 amendments to the False Claims Act (a Civil-War era law) have helped the U.S. government recover more than $25 billion that otherwise would be lost to fraud.  The U.S. Justice Department also credits my updates to the False Claims Act with deterring untold billions more that otherwise would have been lost to fraud.  Most recently, I strengthened additional whistleblower tools that were included in the Fraud Enforcement Recovery Act of 2009 to help plug legal loopholes used in court to escape accountability.  I'm keeping the heat on the federal bureaucracy to fight fraud with criminal prosecutions right now, too, asking both the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services to account for stagnant prosecution numbers despite increased federal spending to target health care fraud.

I also intend to continue scrutinizing concentration in the agricultural industry.  It seems to get continually more difficult for the independent producer to capture a fair share of the food dollar due to consolidation.

I also will continue to work to reduce the cost of pharmaceutical drugs with pro-consumer legislation to make generic options available as quickly as possible.  And, the Ranking Member position on the Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for rigorous review of lifetime appointments to the federal bench, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

As Congress gets down to the people's business in the New Year, I encourage Iowans to keep in touch.  21st century technology gives democracy even more opportunities to keep our two lanes of communication well traveled, from e-mail to interactive webcasts.  I also hope to see many of you face-to-face in 2011 during my constituent meetings.

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11 Jan 2011

CommUniversity celebrates 31st year

By Alan Campbell

As cabin fever begins to reach its height, area residents have a unique tool in their arsenal to ward off those mid-winter blahs.

For a mere $25, people can break out of their homes and spend Sunday afternoons in February learning about Celtic Spirituality, A History of Angels, The Modern Civil Rights Movement, Increasing Your Intuition, Conversational Italian, Spanish and French, Tai Chi, Georgia O'Keefe, Egyptology, Psychology of Film or one of  31 other topics at this year's CommUniversity.

CommUniversity is a non-profit project, presented by a volunteer committee of representatives from various local educational and community groups. The public event has been held every February for 31 years with more than 600 people attending last year. Classes last four weeks, held from 2 - 4 p.m. every Sunday in February.

Classes are held at St. Ambrose University and will be kicked off February 6 with a keynote presentation at 1 p.m. in the university's Galvin Fine Arts Center.

This year's keynote speaker is Stephen Bloom, professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Iowa and author of Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America and The Oxford Project which won the prestigious 2009 Alex Award from the American Library Association.

Bloom's presentation will be on storytelling and why it is still important to us today, even though the platforms used to bring news to people may be changing.

Following the keynote, students will move to their chosen classes.

Classes are informal, taught by experts in their field and, best of all, there are no tests. Other classes this year include : Exploring the Book of Genesis, Irish Poetry, Beginning Photography, Yoga, Tennessee Williams and Songwriting.

Participants can sign up as an individual and use the opportunity to meet others who share an interest or, in many cases, groups of friends or entire families enroll together. Either way, anyone wanting to fight off the winter chill has 42 different classes from which to choose.

People are invited to attend Bloom's keynote address free of charge. Class registration is accepted at the door on February 6, however everyone is encouraged to register in advance. This helps to insure that there is room in the class for them, as well as makes sure the class isn't cancelled due to low enrollment.

A full listing of all the available classes and registration information is available online at www.communiversity.org

CommUniversity is made possible in part through grants from Humanities Iowa, (state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities) and the Scott County Regional Authority.

11 Jan 2011

Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition Call for Entries

By Jane Fraser
The "Call for Entries" is out for the Thirty-fifth Annual Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition, with a discount for entries received by January 14, 2011 ($20 for two entries). Final entry deadline is January 20, 2011 ($30 for two entries). The annual juried competition, co-sponsored by the Rock Island Art Guild and Augustana College, is open to visual artists working in any media except video, and residing within a 150-mile radius of the Quad Cities. Entry forms, specifications and size limits are on the Call for Entries prospectus. The entry form can be found and downloaded on the Augustana College in Rock Island web page by clicking on: Arts, then Art Museum, then the exhibit. For phone assistance, call 309-794-7231. We hope that you will enter; we count on the participation of area artists to continue the program.
11 Jan 2011

Local Students Named to Academic Lists

By readMedia

The following local students were named to the Dean's List at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota:

Kelsey Francis, Bettendorf, and Samantha Good, Rock Island.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has recognized students named to the Dean's List for the fall semester of the 2010-2011 academic year:

Maria Elena Ontiveros, School of Human Ecology, Bettendorf; Mehmet Gultekin Badur, College of Engineering, Moline; and Andrew James Hoogerwerf, College of Engineering, Rock Island.

Recognition for outstanding academic achievement has been given to the following students at Grand View University, Des Moines, for the 2010 fall semester:

Katelyn Christine Carlson of Rock Island with a 3.66667 GPA.

The Dean's List honor is awarded to the following Central College students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher on a 4.0 scale while taking 12 or more graded credit hours for the semester:

Jessica Emard, junior, German studies/English, Bettendorf; Emily Huegel, sophomore, Bettendorf; Kelly Spavin, sophomore, English, Bettendorf; Katelyn Baker, junior, accounting, Davenport; Melissa Blanchard, junior, Spanish, Davenport; Patricia Braun, sophomore, Davenport; Melanie Louis, junior, biology, Davenport; Maaike Mielenhausen, sophomore, Davenport; Anthony Miller, senior, exercise science, Davenport; Allison Redman, sophomore, Davenport; and Caleb Rangel, senior, exercise science, Rock Island.

11 Jan 2011

Statement from Governor Pat Quinn On the Legislative Passage of Major Medicaid Reform

By Andrew Mason

SPRINGFIELD - January 6, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today issued a statement on the General Assembly's passage of Medicaid reform legislation.

"Today is an important day for our state. For too long we have simply talked about Medicaid reform; today we are following through with legislation that will help stabilize our budget and rebuild the foundations of our economy. This bill will streamline services and eliminate inefficiencies, saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars. In addition, it will improve efficiency in the program to ensure that Medicaid patients in Illinois are receiving the highest quality of care.

"This bill reflects a truly bipartisan effort by our General Assembly. I would like to thank the Medicaid reform committees, as well as bill sponsors Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, Representative Patti Bellock, Senator Heather Steans and Senator Dale Righter for their dedication; their support was critical in my administration's drive to pass this legislation. Thanks also to my healthcare advisor Michael Gelder and Healthcare and Family Services Director Julie Hamos for their tremendous work in crafting and helping pass this bill.

"This is a powerful example of the reforms Illinois needs to stabilize its budget, and the kind of legislation I will continue to work with the General Assembly to pass. I look forward to receiving this bill from the legislature and acting on it soon."

 

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11 Jan 2011

SCOTT COUNTY KIDS ANNOUNCES $250,000 CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE

By Ann McGlynn

Programs help defray costs for qualified families with young children

Davenport, Iowa - Scott County Kids, a public-private partnership that helps families raise happy and healthy children, announces an initiative to award more than $250,000 in child care scholarships for Scott County families who are working, attending school or looking for work.

The first program, funded by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, has approximately $230,000 available to assist with the care of children from birth to 24 months. The second, funded by the state of Iowa, has $22,000 in scholarships for second/third shift and weekend care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

"The money must be used by June 30," said Marcy Mendenhall, executive director of Scott County Kids. "Right now, just six families are taking advantage of the programs."

"These scholarships help parents to secure quality, loving child-care for their young children while they work, go to school, or in some cases, look for a job," Mendenhall said. "They can most certainly play a vital role in helping families during these difficult financial times."

Birth to 24 months scholarships

The federal stimulus money is for children whose parents are: working at least 28 hours a week; in school or training full-time; in a combination of work and school for at least 28 hours a week; or unemployed within the last six months and actively seeking employment.

The amount of the award, paid directly to the care providers, depends on income. Families are required to pay for some of the care. Detailed information about the grant levels can be found at bit.ly/gJqf0v.

To qualify, the child must be between birth and 24 months old, a U.S. citizen and living with parents or individuals acting in a parental role. A family's income must be within certain guidelines (see below). The child care providers must meet certain standards and be on contract with Scott County Kids.

Home-based and center providers in Scott County who are approved to accept children with this grant are: Children's Village Hoover; Children's Village West; Creative Beginnings; Barb DeWispelaere; Hand in Hand; Debra Haskins; Kiddie Karrasel; Kindercare, Bettendorf; Daphne Ramirez; Scott County Family Y - Downtown & Palmer; Shining Light Learning Center; Skip-A-Long.

The home-based providers must have an Iowa Quality Rating of 3, 4 or 5 or accredited by the National Association for Family Child Care. Child care centers must also have an Iowa ranking of a 3, 4 or 5 and be recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Scott County Kids is one of 24 organizations in Iowa participating in the effort, called the Infant and Toddler Quality Child Care Program. Clinton, Jackson, Louisa, Des Moines, Johnson and Iowa counties in Eastern Iowa are also taking part.

Statewide, nearly $2.4 million was available as of November 2009. Scott County received $251,772.

"One challenge, Mendenhall said, "is that many of the providers who qualify and are under contract have waiting lists for infants and toddlers." She hopes more providers will step forward to qualify.

"We want families to be able to use this stimulus money," Mendenhall said.

Second/third shift and weekend scholarships

Scott County Kids also has approximately $22,000 in scholarships available to help pay for second/third shift and weekend care, while parents work and/or go to school.

The scholarships are $300-$400 a month for full-time care, and $150-$200 a month for part-time care for children ages birth through enrollment in kindergarten. To qualify, parents cannot be eligible for any other child care assistance; must work and/or attend school for at least 28 hours a week; and live in Scott County.

The challenge is getting the money into the hands of families who can use it. This fiscal year, just $3,000 of the $25,000 has been awarded.

The family-chosen child care providers must be either a home registered with the Iowa Department of Human Resources or a center licensed with the agency. The providers must also supply proof of insurance and complete the requirements of a child care compliance audit.

"The vision of Scott County Kids is that every child, beginning at birth, will be healthy and successful," said Jennifer Kakert, parent and president of the Scott County Kids board. "One component of this includes ensuring access to quality child care. One barrier for many parents is the cost of quality child care. The scholarships are provided on a sliding income scale to help defray some of that cost. This helps ensure that working parents can secure quality care for their children."

To find out more about the grants and scholarships from Scott County Kids, to get an application, or to qualify as a child care provider, contact Renee Rankin at the Friendly House, (563)323-1821, ext. 11 or at reneerankin@friendlyhouseiowa.org.

11 Jan 2011

US Hispanic Chamber President to visit Quad Cities

By Randy Stalsberg
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WASHINGTON D.C. (January 6, 2011) - The Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GQCHCC) will welcome United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) President and CEO Javier Palomarez to the organization's 2nd Annual Gala on Saturday, January 15, 2010, where he will deliver the keynote address on the economic significance and the powerful entrepreneurial spirit that fuels the growth of more than three million businesses that constitute Hispanic enterprise in America.

The GQCHCC, founded two years ago by its Chairman Bob Ontiveros, President and CEO of Group O, serves the Quad Cities and surrounding areas in Illinois and Iowa including Sterling, Rock Falls, Muscatine, and West Liberty. Palomarez, in addition to delivering the keynote speech to the GQHCC and its members, will highlight his visit to the Quad Cities with a tour of Group O, the ninth largest Hispanic-owned company in North America.

"We are extremely honored to welcome Mr. Palomarez to the Quad Cities," says Alfred Ramirez, President of the GQCHCC. "To have the leader of the largest Hispanic business organization in the country visit our Hispanic chamber is an honor for our members and the Quad Cities community."

WHAT: Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 2nd Annual Gala

WHO: Javier Palomarez, President and CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Bob Ontiveros, GQCHCC Chairman, President and CEO, Group O; and Alfred Ramirez, GQCHCC President

WHEN: Saturday, January 15, 2010

5:00 pm - 5:45 pm - VIP Reception

5:30 pm - 6:15 pm - Cocktail Reception

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm - Dinner & Program

8:30 pm - 10:30 pm - Networking Reception & Entertainment

WHERE: Isle Hotel - Isle Center Bettendorf, 1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722

COST: $25 Members, $35 Non-Members, $20 Students, Sponsor levels also available

RSVP: RSVP by January 7, 2010 by phone (309) 797-8650 or e-mail info@gqchcc.com. Register online at http://gqchcc.com/Event.html.

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