• The four public libraries in Scott County invite county residents to attend public forums from October 10 through 14 to discuss how libraries would best be structured and funded. Working in small groups, citizens will discuss options such as remaining independent, unifying into one library, and increasing the level of collaboration. The forums are part of the Libraries Together project. Any Scott County resident is invited to participate at any location; the libraries might need to select participants to assure that the forums include a mix of citizens from around the county. Space is limited and reservations are required. For reservations, go to (http://www.librariestogether.org/feedback.htm) or call (563)344-4175. The libraries kicked off Libraries Together on March 1, 2005. The 10-month study will use public input to plan for the future.
• Scott County has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States & Canada for Scott County's current Fiscal Year 2006 Budget. Scott is only one of two Iowa counties (Linn is the other) to hold the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. The county has received this award for 16 consecutive years. Only 11 of the 1,488 governmental units in the State of Iowa currently hold this honor. In order to receive this award, Scott County had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. Since the program's inception in 1984, approximately 900 governmental entities have received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award nationwide. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide excellent examples for other governments throughout North America.
• Staff of the Davenport Public Library is committed to finding fun ways to raise funds for the new branch libraries. Its internal fundraising committee is called the W$B - the West Side Branch Fundraising Committee. Over the summer the committee created a historical calendar, filled with more than 30 pictures of places you remember and places you still visit today. The "Once Upon a Time" calendar also has numerous trivia questions, interesting tidbits, and a special look at library cards throughout history. These calendars are on sale now at the Main Library, Annie Wittenmyer Branch Library, Borders, and the River Music Experience for $10 each. All proceeds will go toward the construction of the new Fairmount Branch Library (opening January 14, 2006) and North Central Branch Library (opening 2008). Call (563)326-7832 for more information.
• On Saturday, September 24, 2005, Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities broke ground for its 37th house. The house is located at 924 Sixth Street in Rock Island and will become home for Yosava and Moses Robinson Jr. and their children Jeffery, Jahmeir, and T'Nauzhae. Wells Fargo Bank is committed to providing a large portion of the funds as well as volunteering its time to help build this home. Additional funding will come from a Thrivent Financial Building Hope, Building Homes Grant. This groundbreaking marks the organization's ninth home to be built in Rock Island. The lot for this property was acquired through the assistance of the City of Rock Island.
• The Iowa Department of Public Safety will receive $183,400 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to improve the state's ability to efficiently process DNA samples. The DOJ grant will fund training and salary for additional DNA technicians for the state crime lab. The lab is responsible for processing all forensic evidence, including the newly strengthened convicted offender DNA database. In June of this year, Iowa strengthened its law, requiring that all convicted felons be entered into the national DNA database. Since the law's passage three months ago, DNA testing has yielded three "hits," meaning that samples entered from recently convicted felons matched DNA evidence obtained in unrelated, unsolved crimes. In Virginia, which has required DNA collection from all convicted felons since 1998, the database has yielded 2,909 hits, helping to identify suspects in 270 murders, 543 sex crimes, and 1,760 burglaries. Previously, Iowa only required that those convicted of the most serious felonies be DNA tested. The new staff will help the state lab meet the challenge of processing an estimated 12,500 newly convicted felons a year (up from 800 a year under the old law) as well as for addressing the 30,000 currently incarcerated felons. The National Institute of Justice's DNA Capacity Enhancement Program, which funded this grant, seeks to improve the infrastructure and analysis capacity of state and local crime labs conducting DNA testing. The goal is to ensure these labs can efficiently and cost-effectively process DNA samples, preventing future DNA backlogs and capitalizing on the potential of DNA technology.
• United Way InfoLINK/211 has been coordinating local relief services for Hurricane Katrina evacuees and has compiled a resource guide to assist families who were displaced by the hurricane and currently residing in the Quad Cities. To access the resource guide, visit (http://www.unitedwayqc.org). Contact United Way's InfoLINK at 355-9900 or in Iowa dial 211 to be added to the list or to speak to someone directly about local services being offered.
• The Iowa CareGivers Association (ICA) has received $98,206 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to mentor, recruit, and retain caregivers in the long-term-care field. The Iowa CareGivers Association (ICA) is an independent statewide professional association for Certified Nurse Assistants, Home Care Aides, Patient Care Technicians, and other direct care/support staff who work in Iowa's nursing facilities, home-care agencies, and other health-care settings. ICA is the only organization of its kind in the country. Organizations in Wisconsin, New York, North Carolina, and Kentucky are currently trying to replicate its model.
• Scott County has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States & Canada for Scott County's current Fiscal Year 2006 Budget. Scott is only one of two Iowa counties (Linn is the other) to hold the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. The county has received this award for 16 consecutive years. Only 11 of the 1,488 governmental units in the State of Iowa currently hold this honor. In order to receive this award, Scott County had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. Since the program's inception in 1984, approximately 900 governmental entities have received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award nationwide. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide excellent examples for other governments throughout North America.
• Staff of the Davenport Public Library is committed to finding fun ways to raise funds for the new branch libraries. Its internal fundraising committee is called the W$B - the West Side Branch Fundraising Committee. Over the summer the committee created a historical calendar, filled with more than 30 pictures of places you remember and places you still visit today. The "Once Upon a Time" calendar also has numerous trivia questions, interesting tidbits, and a special look at library cards throughout history. These calendars are on sale now at the Main Library, Annie Wittenmyer Branch Library, Borders, and the River Music Experience for $10 each. All proceeds will go toward the construction of the new Fairmount Branch Library (opening January 14, 2006) and North Central Branch Library (opening 2008). Call (563)326-7832 for more information.
• On Saturday, September 24, 2005, Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities broke ground for its 37th house. The house is located at 924 Sixth Street in Rock Island and will become home for Yosava and Moses Robinson Jr. and their children Jeffery, Jahmeir, and T'Nauzhae. Wells Fargo Bank is committed to providing a large portion of the funds as well as volunteering its time to help build this home. Additional funding will come from a Thrivent Financial Building Hope, Building Homes Grant. This groundbreaking marks the organization's ninth home to be built in Rock Island. The lot for this property was acquired through the assistance of the City of Rock Island.
• The Iowa Department of Public Safety will receive $183,400 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to improve the state's ability to efficiently process DNA samples. The DOJ grant will fund training and salary for additional DNA technicians for the state crime lab. The lab is responsible for processing all forensic evidence, including the newly strengthened convicted offender DNA database. In June of this year, Iowa strengthened its law, requiring that all convicted felons be entered into the national DNA database. Since the law's passage three months ago, DNA testing has yielded three "hits," meaning that samples entered from recently convicted felons matched DNA evidence obtained in unrelated, unsolved crimes. In Virginia, which has required DNA collection from all convicted felons since 1998, the database has yielded 2,909 hits, helping to identify suspects in 270 murders, 543 sex crimes, and 1,760 burglaries. Previously, Iowa only required that those convicted of the most serious felonies be DNA tested. The new staff will help the state lab meet the challenge of processing an estimated 12,500 newly convicted felons a year (up from 800 a year under the old law) as well as for addressing the 30,000 currently incarcerated felons. The National Institute of Justice's DNA Capacity Enhancement Program, which funded this grant, seeks to improve the infrastructure and analysis capacity of state and local crime labs conducting DNA testing. The goal is to ensure these labs can efficiently and cost-effectively process DNA samples, preventing future DNA backlogs and capitalizing on the potential of DNA technology.
• United Way InfoLINK/211 has been coordinating local relief services for Hurricane Katrina evacuees and has compiled a resource guide to assist families who were displaced by the hurricane and currently residing in the Quad Cities. To access the resource guide, visit (http://www.unitedwayqc.org). Contact United Way's InfoLINK at 355-9900 or in Iowa dial 211 to be added to the list or to speak to someone directly about local services being offered.
• The Iowa CareGivers Association (ICA) has received $98,206 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to mentor, recruit, and retain caregivers in the long-term-care field. The Iowa CareGivers Association (ICA) is an independent statewide professional association for Certified Nurse Assistants, Home Care Aides, Patient Care Technicians, and other direct care/support staff who work in Iowa's nursing facilities, home-care agencies, and other health-care settings. ICA is the only organization of its kind in the country. Organizations in Wisconsin, New York, North Carolina, and Kentucky are currently trying to replicate its model.
