The executive committee of the Quad City Development Group on December 1 announced that it would begin a nationwide search for a new president and CEO. Once that position is filled, the organization's current president and CEO, Thom Hart, will assume the position of senior vice president for government relations and public policy. The new president will be a sales and marketing executive who will lead the development of a new marketing and branding plan for the Quad Cities region and will work closely with a planned Quad Cities Growth Steering Council. A priority for the Quad City Development Group will be a strategic initiative to form a regional, bipartisan, public-private policy council to work on issues of common concern to organizations such as the local chambers of commerce, the Bi-State Regional Commission, and the Quad City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Hart will lead that effort.
The Davenport Public Library recently announced new hours for its Main Street and Fairmount Street facilities. Starting January 2, both libraries will be open eight hours daily from Monday through Saturday. The Main Street hours will be Monday noon to 8 p.m.; Tuesday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday noon to 8 p.m.; Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. October through April. The Fairmount Street hours will be Monday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday: noon to 8 p.m.; Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additionally, the Richardson-Sloane Special Collection Center will now be open the same hours as the rest of the Main Street library. For a complete list of hours, visit (http://www.davenportlibrary.com) or call (563) 326-7958.
Twenty-five
volunteers recently removed 20 tires, 15 cubic yards of trash, and
nearly a ton of scrap metal from the wooded area just west of the
Black Hawk College Quad-Cities Campus in Moline. The
November 4 cleanup day was sponsored by Clean Sphere, the Black Hawk
College student environmental organization. The group spent three
hours cleaning a small, one-block area on the cemetery property
adjacent to the campus. Among the items hauled out of the woods were
two old washing machines, several 50-gallon metal drums, carpet
remnants, aluminum cans, two mattresses, and old bed springs.
The 10-member rock-and-roll horn band The BureauCats has teamed with Trinity for a dance and fundraiser to benefit breast-cancer-education and -awareness projects. The band will play from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 16, at the Starlite Ballroom at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 West Locust Street in Davenport. The evening will include music, dancing, and a silent auction. Formed in 2003 by Dave Donovan of LeClaire and Kurt Ullrich of Maquoketa, The BureauCats have a tradition of giving to the community. Over the past two years, the group has raised more than $20,000 for area not-for-profits. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 212,920 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2006. An estimated 40,970 women will die from breast cancer this year. Tickets for the event are available at the door for $5. For more information, call (309) 779-2802.
More than 470 Iowans have not received their federal tax refunds, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In Iowa, refunds totaling more than $333,000 await taxpayers. Although most refunds are from 2005 tax returns, some taxpayers are due refunds for more than one tax year. Taxpayers can find out if they have an undelivered tax refund by visiting the IRS Web site at (http://www.irs.gov) and clicking on "Where's My Refund?" To use this feature, taxpayers enter information that includes their Social Security number, filing status (such as single or married filing jointly) and the refund amount shown on their 2005 tax return. When this information is submitted online, taxpayers see a Web page that shows the status of their refund check and, in some cases, they also get the instructions they need to resolve problems. Those without access to the Internet who think they might be missing a refund check should first check their records or contact their tax preparer. If they have not received their refund, then these taxpayers can call the IRS toll-free assistance line at (800) 829-1954. Taxpayers who have moved since filing their last tax return can ensure the IRS has their correct address by filing Form 8822 (Change of Address) with the IRS. Download the form from the IRS Web site or request it by calling (800) 829-3676.
At an event last month, the St. Ambrose University campus community raised nearly $14,000 for Robin Lund, the wife of St. Ambrose University staff member Jim Lund who is waiting for a bilateral lung transplant. The event was attended by more than 600 people and included a dinner, entertainment, and live and silent auctions. Robin Lund, who is currently awaiting the transplant in Missouri, suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. All proceeds from the fundraiser are being used to help defray the costs of her medical care.
