The Muscatine Art Center's Music Room

Thursday, September 24th at 5:30 p.m.

FREE ADMISSION

Join Muscatine Art Center Director, Melanie Alexander, for an exploration of the life and legacy of Laura Musser McColm Atkins. The presentation, "Laura Musser & Her Legacy", is offered as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Laura Musser Art Gallery & Museum, later named the Muscatine Art Center. Photographs of Laura Musser, some rarely on view, will be woven into the free presentation offered on September 24th at 5:30 p.m.

Details about Laura Musser's family, her marriage to Edwin McColm, her involvement in the McColm Dry Goods Store, and her second marriage to William T. Atkins of Kansas City will be shared. Through oral histories given by Laura's domestic servants, the day-to-day operations of the households as well as the individual experiences as a member of Laura's staff will be highlighted. The presentation also includes photographs of clothing belonging to Laura Musser and a discussion of the artwork that captured Laura's likeness during her lifetime.

The Muscatine Art Center's collection includes the locally well-known portrait by Thomas Riss painted from a photograph taken by Oscar Grossheim as well as a marble statue bust of Laura as child created by sculptor George Grey Barnard and a bronze relief bust of Laura as a young lady.

Quotes from Laura Musser's journals from 1936 and 1937 will illustrate how she spent her days in the time period between the passing of her first husband and her second marriage. Laura's words capture the degree to which she took responsibility for the operations of the McColm Dry Goods Store/Laurel Building, her fondness for her family (and especially her close connection to her brother Drew who lived in Little Falls, Minnesota), and her compassion for many individuals and families in Muscatine.

Director Melanie Alexander's talk is the first in a series of programs about the Musser family and their connections. On October 22, 2015 at noon, volunteers from Linden Hill, the home of Laura's brother Drew, will present on Drew Musser, his family, and his connection to his next door neighbor, Charles Weyerhaeuser. Charles and Drew both built mansion which are today listed on the National Register of Historic Places - the Weyerhaeuser mansion is open as the Linden Hill Historic Museum. Peter Musser and Frederick Weyerhaeuser, fathers of the Drew and Charles, had been business partners and friends back in the Muscatine/Quad Cities area. On November 5, 2015 at 5:30 p.m., historian Tom Rasmussen and author Judith Healy will present on the important relationship between Peter Musser and Frederick Weyerhaeuser.

All programs are free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

Please contact Melanie Alexander, Director, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email at malexander@muscatineiowa.gov.

The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2015 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and Dr. Susan Kelly, Director of the Department of Defense's Transition to Veterans Program Office, today announced the integration of agriculture into the career training and counseling programs Service members receive as they transition out of the military. Information about USDA resources and programs will now reach 200,000 transitioning Service members every year.

"Rural America disproportionately sends its sons and daughters to serve in the military. When Service members return home, we want them to know that rural America has a place for them -- no matter where they're from," said Deputy Secretary Harden. "This expanded collaboration between USDA and DOD will help to ensure that returning Service members know that there are a wide variety of loans, grants, training and technical assistance for veterans who are passionate about a career in agriculture, no matter their experience level."

"Our transitioning Service members leave the military with a variety of essential skills - including leadership and discipline - that could be directly applied to a career in agriculture," said Dr. Susan S. Kelly, Director of the Department of Defense's Transition to Veterans Program Office. "For those members who are considering farming or ranching as a post-service career, I encourage them to learn more about the opportunities, preferences, and incentives offered by the USDA."

Every year, approximately 200,000 Service members complete the Transition Assistance Program as they prepare for civilian life. This partnership will help to ensure that returning Service members know about the incentives for military veterans in USDA programs, and the many ways USDA can support military veterans and their families, from farm loans to conservation programs to nutrition assistance to rural rental housing and homeownership opportunities. Veterans can also visit www.usda.gov/veterans, a website designed specifically to educate them about USDA programs.

Since 2009, USDA has provided $438 million in farm loans to help more than 6,482 veterans purchase farmland, buy equipment and make repairs and upgrades. Our microloans, which offer smaller amounts of support to meet the needs of small- or niche-type farm operations, have also grown in popularity among veterans. Since it was launched in January 2013, USDA's microloan program has provided more than $22.6 million in support to help 1,083 veterans grow their farming businesses.

Today's announcement reflects USDA's continued commitment to assisting veterans as they start or expand farming and ranching operations, in order to strengthen the American economy and provide livelihoods to our returning veterans. Today, more than 5 million veterans live in rural areas, a higher concentration than in any other part of the country.

Our veterans have incredible stories to share, including:

Veteran Farmers, In Their Own Voice

Planting Seeds for New Careers for our Veterans

Virginia Farmer Balances Family, Farming and Flying with the Air National Guard

Read more stories about veterans in agriculture at http://blogs.usda.gov/tag/veterans/.

#

The U.S. Department of Labor highlights Iowa as a national success model

 

(DES MOINES) -Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today was joined at the administration's weekly press conference by Jason Shanks of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 and Duane Boswell of TMC Transportation to highlight the growth and importance of apprenticeships to their respective organizations.  U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) data has shown Iowa as one of the top four states in the nation in terms of active apprentice growth from federal fiscal year 2013 to federal fiscal year 2014.

WATCH THE DOL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING IOWA AS A LEADER IN APPRENTICESHIPS HERE

"As I travel around Iowa, I constantly hear from employers who are in need of a skilled workforce?especially in manufacturing, information technology, STEM and health-related fields," said Reynolds. "Our focus on apprenticeships in Iowa is a key avenue to fill the skills gap for employers and empower Iowans with rewarding careers.  Growing our talent pipeline is essential for the 21st century global economy."

Registered apprenticeships are a proven approach to preparing workers for in-demand jobs and meeting the needs of business for a highly skilled workforce that can innovate and adapt.  They also allow students and workers of all ages to earn a paycheck and avoid debt while crafting skills.  Advancing work-based learning, like apprenticeships, is a key focus area of the Future Ready Iowa initiative.

In 2014, Gov. Terry E. Branstad signed the Iowa Apprenticeship and Job Training Act which tripled the funding for apprenticeships on an annual basis while reforming and improving the state's apprenticeship program.  The standing appropriation for registered apprenticeships is just over $3 million. 

MOLINE, Ill. - Midwest Technical Institute and the mikeroweWORKS Foundation are pleased to announce submissions are now open for the third annual mrWF/MTI Scholarship Program for graduating high school seniors.

The 2015-2016 program will award seven graduating high school seniors with a 100 percent tuition-paid scholarship for any of MTI's workforce training programs. Winners will have the opportunity to select from a number of in-demand vocational courses and programs including welding, HVAC, medical assisting, dental assisting, truck driving and more.

The program, in collaboration with TV personality Mike Rowe, was established in 2013 as a partnership between MTI and the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to foster an interest in a wide range of mechanical trade and allied health careers. Each year, approximately $800,000 in scholarship funds is awarded to help high school students gain the skills and experience necessary to secure meaningful employment in today's competitive workforce and develop into industry-leading professionals.

Speaking of the program's importance, MTI's Director of High School Development Eric Gleason believes the program can play a vital part in helping today's high school students realize their future without the expense of a traditional college degree.

"Student loan debt can follow you for many years and this scholarship opportunity allows you to graduate debt free," Gleason said. "For example, as a college graduate, I still owe $4,000 and I am 36 years-old."

To be eligible, students must be graduating seniors during the 2015-2016 academic year and submit a brief essay and video detailing why they should be selected as a scholarship winner. Submitted videos will be uploaded to MTI's website for a period of public voting where the video with the greatest number of votes will be declared the winner.

Submissions open Sept. 14, 2015 and be accepted through March 25, 2016. Public voting on student videos will run from April 1, 2016, to May 1, 2016, and winners will be announced on or about May 6, 2016.

For more information about the scholarship program, including previous winners, visit www.midwesttech.edu. Media inquiries should be directed to MTI's Director of Marketing Stacey Wierman at (217) 527-8324, or swierman@midwesttech.edu.
Davenport, Iowa (Sept. 12, 2015) – Two longtime Speedway Fire-Rescue (SFR) volunteer firefighters, a husband and wife who have protected and aided hundreds of area racing competitors and Quad City Air Show participants over the years, now need some help themselves.
Scott Bohannan, SFR's president, and his wife Karry, SFR's treasurer, were hospitalized with smoke inhalation and suffered a huge loss when their portion of a duplex they lived in with their son Brent at 3rd and Oak in Davenport burned Sunday night, Sept. 6. The Bohannans, who have now been released from the hospital, were able to get out of the house with just the clothes on their backs.
Now their fellow SFR members and others are organizing some benefits for the Bohannans:
1) SFR members will sell 50-50 tickets and/or accept cash donations to benefit the couple at upcoming stock car races they cover.
2)  SFR and the Lil' Racer Car Club Inc. are jointly holding a benefit from 2-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Checkers Bar and Grill, 3120 6th St. S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There will be a live auction, silent auction, raffles, 50/50 drawings, a dunk tank and more. A live deejay, Tony Ginther's Code 3 Productions, will provide music. SFR is asking for donations of any kind, whether they be for the Bohannans personally or to be raffled or auctioned off at the benefit. Items could include autographed race car door skins, T-shirts, hats and koozies. You may contact the following individuals to donate:
Karri Coyne -- Davenport area (563) 370-6446
Sarah Slade -- Iowa City area (319) 331-5065
Jessica Jungling/Eric Jungling -- Cedar Rapids area (319) 210-3422/(319) 560-1156
Molly Ginther -- Dubuque area (563) 580-5790
3)  SFR and Mitch Swinton, with Lil' Racer Car Club, are making Yankee Dirt Track Classic hats to sell for $15 each at Farley Speedway during their 38th annual Yankee Dirt Track Classic. All of the proceeds from the hat sales will go to Scott and Karry Bohannan and their family. Hats will be available throughout the Yankee Dirt Track Classic. There are several different styles: farmer style with four panel vents and a plastic adjustable strap, all in navy blue; and baseball style with a cloth adjustable back, in black and red; and the fitted style S/M and L/XL, in black.
4) SFR has arranged for The Family Credit Union to accept monetary donations for the Bohannans by mail at any of the following locations:
1530 W. 53rd St., Davenport, Iowa 52806
1400 Rockingham Road, Davenport, Iowa 52802
2238 Jersey Ridge Road, Davenport, Iowa 52807
Please make all checks payable to the Bohannan Family Benefit or the Bohannan Family.
5) SFR is collecting clothing for the Bohannans and their son Brent. Sizes for Scott: men's XL or XXL shirts, 38x34 jeans and 2XL jogging pants; For Karry: women's medium or large shirts and size 7 pants; For Brent: men's large shirts and 32 pants (longs). Call Karri Coyne for more information: (563) 370-6446.
SFR is a non-profit 501C3 organization based in Davenport. Roughly 50 volunteers, who are trained in firefighting, vehicle extrication and emergency medical service, serve at a drag strip and more than half a dozen auto race tracks in eastern Iowa and western Illinois each year from April through October. They also work at the annual Quad City Air Show each year in Davenport.
-30-

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is encouraging all Illinoisans to participate in National Thank a Police Officer Day on Saturday, September 19.

"A simple smile and a 'thank you' are all it takes to let police officers know their dangerous and demanding jobs are appreciated," said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. "We are humbly grateful for the thoughts, prayers, and encouragement you continue to give us as we protect and serve you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We care about our communities, and it warms our hearts to see that care returned."

The recent targeted attacks on law enforcement officers have focused attention on how dangerous the profession can be. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, law enforcement careers are consistently ranked among the ten most dangerous occupations in America, and they carry the second-highest injury rate of any line of work. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund reports that during the last decade an average of 58,930 assaults were made on law enforcement officers each year resulting in an average of 15,404 injuries. An average of 149 officers are killed in the line of duty each year across the country.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there are 31,230 law enforcement officers in Illinois, which ranks the state fifth behind California, Texas, New York and Florida. Nationwide there are more than 638,000 law enforcement officers. The Chicago Police Department is the nation's second largest municipal police force, with the New York City Police Department coming in first, and the Cook County Sheriff is America's second largest sheriff's office behind only the Los Angeles County Sheriff.

Newly designed FOP t-shirts, hoodies and decals featuring messages of support for police officers will be available for purchase starting September 17 at www.ilfop.org.

The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.

# # #

Giant Wheel - 5 coupons per rider

The Giant Wheel will take you up 110 feet in the air in an open-air gondola that seats up to 6 people. The wheel will spin slowly around offering views of the Mississippi River, Modern Woodmen Park, and downtown Davenport and Rock Island. The ride will be lit at light with an impressive LED light package with millions of color combinations which makes it an entirely different ride at night!

All guests below 42" must be accompanied by a supervising companion. The Giant Wheel requires five amusement coupons to ride.

Charitable Contributions

For every ride on the amusements at Modern Woodmen Park, the River Bandits and Main Street Amusements donate 50 cents to Genesis Health Services Foundation health initiatives for children, including the Flu-Free Quad Cities campaign, Camp Genesis for kids who have someone close to them with cancer and Genesis Neonatal Intensive Care services to help struggling newborn babies.

DAVENPORT, Iowa, September 10, 2015- Festival organizer, Andrew Glasscock, and sponsors including Expert Global Solutions, Mary's Euchre Club, Crescent Lofts, Kimberly Car City, Bud Light, B-100, The Hawk, 97-X, Davenport Park and Recreation, Rex Roat Sound, Robb Designs, Queens for a Cause, Crane & Pelican Cafe, Eagleland Security, Mary's on 2nd and Connections will be your hosts for the ultimate pride party!! Located on the beautiful Mississippi River at LeClaire Park in Downtown Davenport, Iowa, the first annual Quad Cities Fall Pride will be held on September 25th & 26th, 2015. Gates will be open from 5pm - Midnight on the 25th and 10am-Midnight on the 26th. Admission for Friday night is $5.00 and $7.00 for all day on Saturday. Or plan to attend the entire two day festival for a special admission cost of only $10.00. Kids 12 and under are free!!

With some of the best vendors both local and from out-of-town, festival guests will enjoy a great variety of drinks, seasonal food, merchandise, art, local charities and over 20 hours of live entertainment. American Idol contestant Gina Venier and Nic Hawk from the Voice will take the stage on Saturday evening...a first for any pride event in the Quad Cities! The entertainment line-up also includes Belly Dancers; Hooping, Pyro and Poi performances; and the Quad Cities' best burlesque troupe, Bottoms Up Quad City Burlesque. The area's finest local talent will light up the stage with a series of drag shows throughout the festival weekend. Featured will be the talents of RuPaul's Drag Race Season One superstar, Jade Sotomayor, as well as the National club legend Zander Mander. Guests can also enjoy excellent beats provided by local musical talent. For the full schedule, go to www.quadcitiesfallpride.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley today pressed Secretary of State John Kerry to clarify the administration's plans to increase the number of refugees allowed into the United States in fiscal 2016, including up to 10,000 additional refugees from the war torn country of Syria. Grassley raised questions about the administration's plans to admit additional refugees and whether adequate safeguards and background checks are in place to handle the influx.

While the administration proposed raising the refugee ceiling from 70,000 to 75,000, Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard admitted that administration officials are considering increasing the cap later in 2016. White House Spokesman Josh Earnest also said that the administration is considering allowing 10,000 refugees from Syria in 2016, an increase from earlier estimates.

In a letter to Kerry, Grassley asked how the administration will screen Syrian refugees to ensure they were not involved with terrorist organizations, whether the influx of refugees will strain the vetting process, and how the administration plans to respond in the event that refugees are determined to be involved in terrorist organizations after they have been admitted to the United States.  Further, Grassley asked Kerry to explain what the administration is doing to assess the willingness of other countries to admit Syrian refugees.

The letter follows a consultation earlier this week between Kerry and leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to discuss the proposed annual number of refugees to be admitted to the United States.  The State Department must consult with these congressional committees regarding the refugee cap each year as well as any time an increase in allowable refugees is proposed.

Following the consultation, Grassley emphasized that America's security must remain a top priority when admitting refugees, especially when violent terrorist groups like ISIS are committed to finding ways to enter the United States and harm Americans.

Full text of Grassley's letter

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Working to preserve the viability and safety of Illinois' outdoor spaces, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, introduced and helped advance legislation to increase the number of conservation officers in the state last week.

"Conservation officers help protect and secure Illinois' natural resources for everyone to enjoy," Smiddy said. "The security of our outdoor spaces must not be recklessly sacrificed if we want these resources to be available for our children to appreciate."

As of September 2015, Illinois had retained only 115 conservation police officers. However, 33 officers will be laid off effective September 30, leaving only 82 officers for the state. Smiddy introduced House Bill 4104 instructing the Illinois Department of Natural resources to begin the hiring process for more officers and maintain the recommended 175 sworn officers for their force.

The bill passed the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Pages