13 Dec 2011

HOTEL BLACKHAWK IS PRESERVATION SUCCESS STORY AWARD WINNER

By Robert Jackson Jr.

Historic Hotels of America recognizes "creative rehabilitation efforts"

Davenport, IA - Hotel Blackhawk has just been named a Preservation Success Story Award Honorable Mention winner by the Historic Hotels of America - a part of the National Trust For Historic Preservation. The award was officially announced Dec. 1st.

According to organization Executive Director Thierry Roch, the award exemplifies "creative rehabilitation efforts undertaken to recapture, promote and glorify the property's original use in a preservation sensitive manner."

This caps a year of recognition for Hotel Blackhawk. It earned a "Smart Meetings" Platinum Choice Award for 2011 marking excellence in service and amenities among meeting facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Then, management was informed it would be featured as a must-see destination in a book from The New York Times entitled "36 Hours, 150 weekends in the USA and Canada."

"It's thrilling to see the vision of Amrit and Amy Gill of Restoration Saint Louis and the City of Davenport rewarded by Historic Hotels of America, Smart Meetings and The New York Times," said General Manager Tim Heim. "It was the vision of restoring a jewel which has been realized by me and my staff. It provides great satisfaction that preservationists, industry observers, guests and clients have recognized this gift as well."

Hotel Blackhawk re-opened December 15th, 2010. The hotel retains its 95-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, eight meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. The hotel is part of the Summit Hotels & Resorts group (www.summithotels.com) and the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org).

For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com (Search: Hotel Blackhawk).

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12 Dec 2011

IOWA FARM BUREAU MEMBERS CAN PURCHASE EXCLUSIVE "ANF" GEAR

By Rick Martin

Portion of proceeds donated to Iowa food banks

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Dec. 7, 2011 - The exclusive ANF (America Needs Farmers)/Farm Strong gear has been in demand for months and now Farm Bureau members can purchase newly-offered apparel offered at a discounted price, just in time for the holidays.  The special offering of ANF/Farm Strong gear is announced in conjunction with Iowa Farm Bureau Week, Dec. 4-11.

A portion of the sales' proceeds will be directed to Iowa food banks.

Items available for purchase include short- and long-sleeve t-shirts for adults and children, sweatshirts, baseball hats and stocking caps.  Members can order the merchandise by logging on to the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's website's (www.iowafarmbureau.com) "Members Only" section and clicking on the "ANF Merchandise" rotating window.

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the University of Iowa Athletics Department formed a five-year partnership this summer to raise awareness of the ANF logo's history and help consumers understand the immense challenges and opportunities today's farmers face.  "America Needs Farmers" was created by former UI football coach Hayden Fry during the Farm Crisis of the 1980s and embraced today by the Hawkeyes' current head coach, Kirk Ferentz. For more information about ANF, visit http://www.americaneedsfarmers.org.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

12 Dec 2011

SCOTT AREA LANDFILL DEBUTS NEW IMPROVEMENTS FOR CUSTOMERS

By Erin Robinson Vorac

DAVENPORT, IA–The Scott Area Landfill, operated by Waste Commission of Scott County, is debuting new improvements for landfill customers on Thursday, December 8. The new improvements include an automated scale and a citizens' convenience area.

The new automated scale is for customers who frequently use the landfill, such as the City of Bettendorf and City of Davenport. These frequent customers will be given a code, which they will type into a keypad and the truck's weight will automatically be recorded. This will save the truck drivers time by not having to wait in the regular scale line or get out of their vehicle to go in to the scale office. Because the frequent customers will be diverted to the automated scale, other landfill customers will have shorter wait times in line. This improvement will greatly reduce vehicle idling, thereby reducing air emissions.

The citizens' convenience area includes a new trash unloading area for small loads and updated areas for drop-off recycling, appliances, scrap metal, oil, oil filters, antifreeze and car batteries. The new trash unloading area was designed for customers in cars, vans or pickup trucks with small loads of garbage. These small loads will be diverted to a concrete bunker near the office for unloading, rather than the actual landfill. The new trash unloading area is of benefit to these customers in that it will take less time for unloading, is safer due to not being around other large trucks or heavy equipment and they will not have to drive into the landfill.

The Scott Area Landfill is located at 11555 110th Avenue (County Road Y-48) in Davenport and is open 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Waste Commission of Scott County is an inter-governmental agency whose mission is to provide environmentally sound and economically feasible solid waste management for Scott County. The Commission (Board) is comprised of the mayor of Davenport, a Davenport alderman, mayor of Bettendorf, chair of the Scott County Board of Supervisors and the mayor(s) of an outlying community in Scott County. For more information about the Commission, please call (563) 381-1300 or visit www.wastecom.com.

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12 Dec 2011

On December 6, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady will speak to a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about Iowa's experience with video coverage of court proceedings.

By Iowa Judicial Branch

Chief Justice Cady to Speak to U.S. Senate Subcommittee about Cameras in the Courts

Des Moines, December 5, 2011– On December 6, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady will speak to a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about Iowa's experience with video coverage of court proceedings.

The Iowa Judicial Branch is a leader in allowing video and audio media coverage of courts. For more than 30 years, Iowa's courts have allowed audio, photographic, and video coverage of the courts. Prior to this change, and in keeping with the custom in courts around the nation, media coverage of court proceedings was limited to pen, pencil, paper, and sketch pad. In 1979, following a thorough study, the Iowa Supreme Court adopted rules carefully designed to allow audio, video, and photographic coverage of court hearings while safeguarding the rights of litigants to a fair trial.  More recently, the Iowa Supreme Court began streaming video of its oral argument proceedings.

The Senate Judiciary hearing will be held in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. This hearing is before the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight. It is entitled "Access to the Court: Televising the Supreme Court." Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, chair of the subcommittee, will preside. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley is a member of the subcommittee.

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12 Dec 2011

Grassley Regional Director holding local office hours

By Grassley Press
Monday, December 5, 2011

Senator Chuck Grassley's Regional Director based in Davenport, Penny Vacek, will be holding open office hours in Clinton, Jackson and Scott counties on Tuesday, December 13.  The office hours provide an opportunity for Iowans to obtain casework assistance or to express views.

Vacek's schedules for December 13 are as follows:

 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

10 - 11 a.m.:  Jackson County

Public Library, 126 South 2nd Street, Maquoketa

 

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.:  Clinton County

City Hall Council Chambers, 510 9th Street, DeWitt

 

1 - 2 p.m.:  Scott County

Scott County Library - Eldridge Branch, 200 North 6th Avenue, Eldridge

 

Grassley's offices in Iowa regularly help constituents contact federal agencies to sort through problems with Social Security payments, military service matters, immigration cases and other issues.  His state offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo.

Here is a comment from Grassley about his staff's upcoming office hour:

"Open office hours are designed to help more Iowans access the assistance that is available from the office of their United States Senator.  I hope anyone with federal agency-related casework will take advantage of Penny's visits."

Should constituents have any questions please contact Grassley's Davenport office at 563/322-4331.

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12 Dec 2011

Iowa Supreme Court issues orders denying or granting applications.

By Iowa Judicial Branch

The Iowa Supreme Court recently issued orders granting or denying applications for further review in 42 cases.

FURTHER REVIEW RESULTS

November 29, 2011

 

DENIED:

 

NUMBER

COUNTY

CASE NAME

 

 

09-1230

Worth

State v. Benjegerdes

10-0047

Dallas

Belling v. City of Urbandale

10-0824

Polk

Negrete-Ramirez v. State

10-0892

Harrison

Rudyard Group, LLC v. Dingle

10-0956

Johnson

State v. Latsa

10-1084

Marshall

McKeag v. State

10-1116

Black Hawk

State v. Horak

10-1158

Black Hawk

State v. Demery

10-1231

Story

State v. Balderas

10-1302

Polk

Perry v. State

10-1375

Buchanan

Bd. of Dirs. v. Wall

10-1447

Harrison

Rudyard Group, LLC v. Dingle

10-1496

Polk

Harms v. State

10-1593

Scott

State v. Slater

10-1643

Monroe

State v. See

10-1676

Lyon

Peoples Bank v. Driesen

10-1748

Black Hawk

State v. Bennett

10-1840

Black Hawk

State v. Burt

10-1880

Polk

Trustees of the Iowa Laborers Dist. Council Health & Welfare Trust v. Merchants Bonding Co.

10-1904

Muscatine

Reyes v. State

10-2109

Clinton

Borgstede v. State

10-2113

Polk

W. Provisions, Inc. v. Betz

11-0020

Franklin

In re Marriage of Meyer

11-0130

Scott

State v. Coker

11-0171

Polk

Quaker Oats Co. v. Dobbe

11-0255

Polk

Bensley v. Dee Zee Mfg.

11-0519

Polk

State v. Guadarrama

11-0804

Johnson

In re L.M.W.

11-0897

Madison

In re C.E., C.S., J.R., J.R., and C.R.

11-0951

Dubuque

In re H.E., M.E., and J.E.

11-0954

Dubuque

In re D.S.

11-1138

Woodbury

In re D.S. and J.W.S.

11-1195

Polk

In re T.C. and N.C.

11-1201

Polk

In re L.B.-F.

11-1254

Polk

In re N.N., Q.N., A.P., and J.P.

11-1257

Wright

In re. M.S.R.

11-1302

Polk

In re S.M.

11-1323

Polk

In re V.W.

11-1360

Woodbury

In re C.C., N.R., L.R., K.P., and Y.P.

 

 

 

GRANTED:

 

 

NUMBER

COUNTY

CASE NAME

 

 

10-0293

Henry

Kolzow v. State

10-1315

Marshall

Perez v. State

10-1384

Polk

Pierce v. State

 

 

 

 

 

12 Dec 2011

Governor Quinn Launches Annual Holiday Card Drive for Wounded Troops

By Nafia Khan

Encourages People of Illinois to Support Our Veterans and Servicemembers at Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

CHICAGO - December 1, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by local schoolchildren to light the state of Illinois' annual holiday tree and launch the Illinois Heroes holiday card drive. Governor Quinn encouraged schoolchildren from across the state to take part in the annual drive by making holiday cards for servicemembers at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany. Governor Quinn will personally deliver the cards during a visit to troops at LRMC later this year.

"We want our servicemembers who are spending the holidays away from home to know how much the people of Illinois care and appreciate their courage and selflessness," Governor Quinn said. "This holiday season is the perfect time to show our support and give thanks for our Veterans and servicemembers."

This year will mark the seventh time that Governor Quinn has visited Illinois troops and their families at LRMC. The center is the largest American hospital outside of the United States. For more information on how to participate in the Illinois Heroes holiday card drive, please visit OperationHomefront.org.

Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Director Erica Borggren and servicemembers from across the state also joined the governor at the tree lighting ceremony.

"During the holidays, it is especially important to remember those who sacrifice their all to protect us," Director Borggren said. "As we gather with our loved ones to celebrate the holiday season, we encourage the people of Illinois to keep our servicemembers in their thoughts and prayers."

Also in attendance were members of the Gold Star Families, who hung ornaments in memory of their sons and daughters on the tree. Choirs of students and parents from LaSalle II Magnet School performed during the tree lighting ceremony and presented cards to Landstuhl.

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09 Dec 2011

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action

By William Palmisano
*Wednesday, November 30, 2011**

CHICAGO - November 30, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: SB 1992

An Act Concerning: State government

Enacts the various reforms agreed to by the Metropolitan Pier Exposition Authority, labor groups and show managers.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

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06 Dec 2011

The Iowa Court of Appeals has released the 2012 calendar of their session dates and opinion filing dates.

By Iowa Judicial Branch

2012 COURT OF APPEALS CALENDAR

The Iowa Court of Appeals will be in session the following dates in 2012:

January 9–11

February 7–9

March 6–8

April 3–5

May 1–3

June 5–7

September 11–13

October 9–11

November 6–8

December 4–6

Opinions of the Iowa Court of Appeals will be filed at 8:30 a.m. on the dates listed below.

 

January 19

 

February 1

February 15

February 29

March 14

March 28

April 11

April 25

May 9

May 23

June 13

June 27

July 11

July 25

August 8

August 22

September 6

September 19

October 17

October 31

November 14

November 29

December 12

A list of cases on which the Court of Appeals is expected to rule will be posted at 8:30 a.m. one day preceding each opinion filing day.

 

All opinions and opinion summaries are available on-line at

http://www.iowacourts.gov/Court_of_Appeals/Opinions/

Opinions and a summary of opinions filed will also be available in the Supreme Court Clerk's office for public inspection. Copies may be purchased from the clerk at 50 cents per page.

For information about the status of a pending case, call the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court at 515-281-5911 or check appellate cases at

http://www.iowacourts.gov/Online_Court_Services/

 

# # #

 

06 Dec 2011

Governor Quinn Appoints Director of Department of Children and Family Services

By Katelyn Tye

Richard Calica Brings Years of Leadership, Social Work Experience to DCFS

CHICAGO - November 23, 2011. Governor Quinn today announced the appointment of Richard Calica as director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) beginning Dec. 15. Calica is a lifelong social worker with extensive leadership experience in serving children and families throughout the state. A national authority in child welfare and licensed clinical social worker, Calica offers broad expertise in family preservation and support.

"We are committed to ensuring that the children of Illinois have the support and protection they need to become healthy, productive and responsible adults," Governor Quinn said. "Richard Calica's decades of experience in caring for neglected and abused children bolster our efforts towards building a better future for all Illinois children."

"All children deserve the opportunity to grow up in a healthy environment with strong support systems," Richard Calica said. "It is my highest priority to ensure the safety of our children and I am honored to accept this new mission to help and protect children who are abused and neglected."

Richard Calica currently leads the Chicago-based Juvenile Protective Association as executive director, a position he has held for 33 years. In addition to having maintained a private Clinical Social Work practice, Calica has served on the faculty of the Institute for Clinical Social Work and at the Loyola University of Chicago School of Social Work.

Calica served as chairman of the Governor's Task Force on Family Preservation from 1993-1994 under Governor Jim Edgar and currently serves as chair of the DCFS Risk Assessment Advisory Committee. He previously worked at mental health centers and as an instructor at the University of Chicago School Of Social Administration. Calica currently serves on numerous committees related to social work and child welfare.

Calica holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Chicago and completed a post graduate fellowship in clinical social work at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center Division of Psychiatry. He acquired his bachelor's degree in psychology from Brooklyn College. He is a past president of the Child Care Association of Illinois and has served as a consultant for numerous leading child welfare organizations.

DCFS and its private sector partners have safely reduced the number of children in foster care from more than 52,000 in 1997 to less than 15,500 today. The department focus on strengthening families is central to maintaining the safety of youth in state care and the health of the communities they come from. For more information about DCFS, please visit www.state.il.us/dcfs/index.shtml.

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