Residents Should Use Extreme Caution and Travel Only if Necessary; Check on Neighbors

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced measures being taken by Illinois state agencies to prepare for the additional snowfall that is forecast for the next several days. He also urged residents to follow recommended winter safety procedures, including being careful when shoveling and checking on neighbors during the snowy weather. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to keeping all Illinois residents safe and warm this winter.

"Our public safety workers have been up to the task to keep people safe during this extreme winter weather," Governor Quinn said. "As we prepare for another round of snow, I urge all motorists to drive with extreme caution and pay careful attention to others on the road."

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Illinois Tollway have their crews working around the clock to keep roads clear and passable. Motorists are urged to drive defensively and safely, travel only if absolutely necessary, slow down and buckle up. In addition, a new state law prohibits motorists from talking on all but hands-free mobile phones while driving.

Other roadway safety tips to remember:

·         Don't crowd snowplows - an operator's field of vision is restricted.

·         Allow extra time for travel during the winter months.

·         Watch out for black ice on roads that appear clear but can be treacherous. Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges and shady areas - all are prone to black ice, which is often invisible.

·         Pull over and dial *999 for emergency roadway assistance.

Check travel and road conditions routinely before any trip. You can get road condition information by calling 1-800-452-IDOT (4368), Illinois Tollway information by calling 1-800-TOLL-FYI or online at www.gettingaroundillinois.com and click on the "winter road conditions" icon.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) will continue to monitor the winter weather conditions throughout Illinois and stands ready to activate emergency state resources if necessary. IEMA also advises every household to have a disaster preparedness kit that will help residents stay safe for at least three days. The kits should include a battery-powered NOAA weather radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, non-perishable food, water, a first-aid kit, extra medications and special items needed for babies, disabled or elderly family members and pets.

If you must travel, IEMA and IDOT recommend you equip your vehicle with an emergency supply kit to keep you safe in case you are stranded along the road. A vehicle preparedness kit should include a cell phone and charger, flashlight, extra batteries, first-aid kit, snack foods and water, blankets, extra warm clothing, gloves and hats, sand or kitty litter, shovel, windshield scraper, booster cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid and a tool kit. Always keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to help prevent the vehicle's fuel line from freezing.

Before you depart, check weather and road conditions along your route and provide your planned route to a family member or friend. If conditions are dangerous, postpone travel until road conditions improve. IEMA and the National Weather Service have developed a Winter Weather Preparedness Guide that contains many more tips about winter weather safety. The guide is available at the Ready Illinois website at Ready.Illinois.Gov.

Residents are urged to take advantage of the state's warming centers. These include the Illinois Tollway Oases, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On weekdays, Illinois Department of Human Services offices throughout the state are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find a warming center near you, call the IDHS hotline at (800) 843-6154 or visit KeepWarm.Illinois.gov.

The Illinois Department on Aging is encouraging relatives and friends to make daily visits or calls to senior citizens living alone. Older people are more susceptible to the cold, so seniors should set their thermostats above 65 degrees. Those particularly vulnerable are older people who take certain medications, drink alcohol, lack proper nutrition, or who have conditions such as arthritis, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Tips to staying safe and warm in winter conditions:

·         Dress in layers, both indoors and outdoors.

·         Keep active. Make a list of exercises and activities to do indoors when you can't get out.

·         Eat well and drink 10 glasses of water daily; stock up on non-perishable food supplies, just in case.

·         Keep extra medications in the house. If this is not possible, make arrangements to have someone pick up and deliver your medications.

·         Do not shovel snow or walk in deep snow. Plan now for someone else to shovel the snow. The strain from the cold and hard labor could cause a heart attack; sweating can lead to a chill and even hypothermia.

Additionally, shoveling snow is hard work and you should not shovel snow unless you are in good physical condition. Cold weather itself, without any physical exertion, puts an extra strain on your heart. Know your limits when shoveling snow. Rest frequently and pace yourself. If you become breathless, stop, go indoors and warm up before continuing. If you experience chest or arm pain or numbness, stop immediately and go indoors.

MOLINE, Ill. (January 31, 2014) - Vladimir Nikiforov scored the winning goal with 4:52 left in the third period as the host Quad City Mallards came from behind to defeat the Tulsa Oilers 2-1 Friday night.  With the victory, the Mallards (19-9-8, 46 points) extended their regulation unbeaten streak to four games (3-0-1) while the Oilers (19-22-3, 41) suffered a third straight regulation defeat and saw their winless streak stretch to six games (0-5-1).

Nikiforov snapped a 1-1 tie with a wrist shot from the right wing circle after the Mallards' Jeff Lee had evened the score with a wrister from the left wing circle at 2:37 of the third.

The Mallards found themselves in need of a comeback after Adam Pleskach's breakaway power play goal gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead at 1:47 of the second period.

The Mallards return to action tomorrow night in Missouri against the Mavericks.  The Mallards next play at home next Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Allen Americans.  That game is a Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's.  If the Mallards win next Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the Mallards' next Wednesday home game courtesy of T.G.I. Friday's.  After the game fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's in Moline for a postgame party.

The 52nd Annual Banquet of the Quad City Engineering & Science Council will be held on Thursday, February 20th at The Lodge Hotel and Conference Center (900 Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa) beginning at 5:00 P.M. with networking social hour, silent auction, displays, dinner, Order of the Engineer Inductions, scholarship presentations to high school students, annual awards and keynote speaker Donald Bossi, President of FIRST (an acronym for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, www.usfirst.org) .

The QCESC Annual Awards include Society of the Year, Junior and Senior Engineer and Scientist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, STEM Teacher of the Year and STEM Volunteer of the Year.

This banquet is held during National Engineers Week (www.eweek.org), and everyone is cordially invited to attend this premier, annual event to celebrate, network and pay tribute to the great Engineering and Science Professionals and Educators we have in the Quad City Region.  This includes supporting the next generation of Engineering and Science Professionals through supporting students with outreach to provide them with real world experiences.

During the social hour, there will be be silent auction and a number of displays expected from technical societies, Colleges & Universities, and student displays including from Project Lead the Way along with student teams from each of the four, FIRST^® Robotics programs supporting students age 6-18 (K-12) .

To pre-register, request to have a display or donate to the silent auction, visit our website: www.qcesc.org. Reservations and payment is due by Noon on Tuesday, February 18^th. No late reservations will be allowed and we will not accept payment at the door.

Schedule of Events:

5:00 PM         Networking Social with cash bar with silent auction and displays

6:00 PM         Seating for dinner with opening remarks and pledge of allegiance

6:10 PM         Plated Dinner with Dessert

6:30 PM         Order of the Engineer 2014 Inductions (during dessert)

6:45 PM         Program with Awards and Scholarships

7:15 PM         Keynote Speaker:  Donald Bossi, President of FIRST

8:15 PM         End of the Event

Note:  The cash bar will be available throughout the event.

Keynote Speaker:  Donald E. Bossi, President,  FIRST Speaking On:  "How do you spell success? F-a-i-l-u-r-e"

As President of FIRST, successful technology executive Donald E. Bossi brings deep technical and management skills to the organization. Bossi, who has excelled in a 20-year career with several high technology companies, primarily in the fiber optics field, is now anxious to give back and help develop the next generation of innovators.

Starting his career as a research scientist, first at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and then at United Technologies Research Center (UTRC), Bossi was a part of an advanced project at UTRC which was acquired by JDS Uniphase (JDSU) and he moved to the new company. After a series of promotions at JDSU, he became Vice President and General Manager for JDSU Electro-Optics Products. The Division grew tenfold during his involvement there. Bossi next served as Group President of JDSU Active Components Group for two years, and then as Group President, JDSU Transmission Products Group for two years. In 2005, Bossi joined Technology Ventures Partners to work with their high-tech portfolio companies. While at the venture group, he served as the CEO of Aegis Lightware, Inc. and then as CEO of Inlet Technologies, positioning the company for a beneficial acquisition by Cisco. Most recently, Bossi served as the COO of CIDRA Holdings in Wallingford, Conn.

Bossi is the holder of four U.S. patents and author of numerous technical presentations. He holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and has completed executive education courses at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He served on the Boards of Directors of several privately held companies, and is also a member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering.

About FIRST®

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies and more than $19 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC® ) for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC® ) for Grades 7-12; FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL® ) for Grades 4-8; and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) for Grades K-3. Gracious Professionalism® is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.

For the 2013 - 2014 season, FIRST will reach 350,000 students in 80 countries supported by more than 130,000 volunteers and more than 3,5000 Sponsors which locally includes John Deere and Rockwell Collins.  In Iowa & Illinois, there are an estimated 12,000+ students participating on FIRST Teams.

Quad City Engineering and Science Council:

The Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) is an umbrella organization representing 36 technical societies in the Quad City area with approximately 5,000 associated members. The QCESC is non-profit and is actively seeking new society members as well as additional corporate sponsors.

The QCESC is in it's 52nd year of operation and annually sponsors events such as the National Engineers Banquet, the Engineering and Scientist of The Year Awards, scholarships to local high school students, the President's Reception for local Society President's and provides judges and volunteers for the local STEM activities including FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, Battle of the Bridges, QC Tech Challenge, Mousetrap Car Race, and the Kids Engineering Camp.

More information about the QCESC can be found at: www.qcesc.org

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