• Plans are continuing for a high-speed Amtrak passenger railroad route across Iowa that would connect Chicago and Iowa City. The route - which would cost $4 billion - would reach Omaha and would be part of a network that would include Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Many trains on the proposed rail system would operate at speeds up to 110 miles an hour, with the initial Iowa section to run at 79 m.p.h. (Track and signal upgrades could be made to increase that speed.) The train would run four times daily in each direction, with the Midwest hub in Chicago. The estimated cost of establishing service from the Quad City area to Iowa City would be $30 million. The new passenger line could begin service within three years if the funds become immediately available.

• Two Quad City social-service agencies are asking for donations of air-conditioners, fans, and cash, but they don't accept "used" appliances for safety reasons. If you would like to donate and you live in Illinois, call Project Now at (309)793-6391. In Iowa, call Iowa East-Central T.R.A.I.N. at (563)324-8239.

• Celebrate Summer Solstice by participating in a worldwide Voluntary Rolling Blackout. Send a message of conservation to honor Summer Solstice, Thursday, June 21, from 8-10 p.m. by shutting off as many things that use gas and/or electricity as you possibly can. Also refrain from driving. A Voluntary Rolling Blackout means turning off appliances (dishwashers, wash machines and dryers), lights (use candlelight), air-conditioning, televisions and/or stereos, computers, etc. In other words, turn off as much as you feasibly can without jeopardizing safety.

• The Mississippi River Trail, when finished, will wind 2,000 miles through 10 states from the headwaters at Lake Itaska, Minnesota, to New Orleans. Designated as one of 16 National Millennium Trails, the bike route currently follows roads from St. Louis to New Orleans. Plans call for extension of the trail north to Minnesota and will incorporate off-road sections, levee trails, and abandoned rail lines.

• Davenport Public Library officials have decided not to install electronic filters that would block pornographic Web sites from the library's computers. Alderman George Nickolas had requested the filters because a new federal law would prohibit the library from applying for federal grants unless the filters are in place on all 20 public-access computers. While the library has received $30,000 in federal grants over the past four years, library officials also note that there have only been four instances in which users logged onto Web sites featuring nudity. By the way, the Davenport Public Library web site is a valuable research tool and can be found at (http://libby.rbls.lib.il.us/dpl/). If you can't remember that, look at (http://www.davenportlibrary.com).

• The State Historical Society of Iowa has announced 44 recipients of $413,115 in grants through the REAP Historic Resources Development Program (HRDP). Two Davenport homes received awards. Wayne Hean received $15,257 to replace the roof of the James Hildreth House at 1910 East 12th Street in the Village of East Davenport. The City of Davenport received $20,000 to replace two side porches of the Antoine LeClaire House at 630 East 7th Street. The purpose of the HRDP grants is to preserve, conserve, interpret, and educate the public about historical resources. The State of Iowa, through its staff and review panels, receives and evaluates collections, historic preservation, and museum applications annually.

• Hero Street USA in Silvis has quite a history, having earned the name honorably with the blood of eight boys, all of Mexican descent, who gave their lives on fields of combat. It has been researched and documented by the Department of Defense that no other street of comparable size has sent as many men and women to serve in the armed forces than this block of approximately 25 homes. Hero Street USA has sent more than 110 men and women into the military. Fifty-seven men joined during World War II and the Korean War, and more than 20 served during the Vietnam conflict. Eight men lost their lives in World War II and Korea. Landscaping is currently being completed near a triangle-shaped foundation in preparation for the placement of a granite base and bronze statue. The monument will be dedicated on Saturday, August 4. Future plans call for Hero Street USA to have a small museum and gift shop to serve as an educational resource for visitors. You can keep track of the progress via the Internet at (http:\\www.herostreetusa.org).

• July 9 will mark "Small Arms Destruction Day," during which agents of various governments will ignite huge bonfires of handguns, rifles, and other firearms in major population centers worldwide. The United Nations Conference on Small Weapons is sponsoring the event to mark the opening in New York of the UN Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light weapons. The guns to be burned will be privately held weapons that have been captured or confiscated by governments, but not the guns held by governments, their armies, police forces, and death squads. You can find out more information about the event at (http://www.iansa.org/calendar/2001/ngo/index.htm).

• Having recently fought through the exams necessary to become a paramedic, I was intrigued to learn that Iowa police officers can work without passing a state examination. Currently, police officers are required to pass various courses and graduate from an academy program of at least 12 weeks. The board of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy can then certify them - which is different from licensing. The topic of a state exam came up recently at a meeting at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and is still in the early discussion stages.

• A unanimous recommendation from the search committee to select a new city administrator for Davenport was rewarded with a job offer to finalist Craig Malin, who is currently the Douglas County Supervisor in northern Wisconsin. Malin comes with highly qualified credentials, including specific competencies that could potentially be of great benefit to Davenport, such as a strong land use planning background, considerable budget preparation and oversight, as well as strong supervisory experience relative to departments and respective heads. Malin has also been instrumental in capital projects for municipal facilities, some of which are facing Davenport. He also understands and has been successful with cost containment in the face of budget constraints without loss of quality or level of services, also among the issues facing Davenport.

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