13
Nov
2001
· The saga of Bettendorf's Splash Landing Aquatic Center took another turn when the Bettendorf Park Board voted unanimously last week to replace the current aluminum pool tank. Numerous attempts to fix water-clarity problems that caused the facility to close early this past summer failed. Recreation officials hope to have a new $2 million swimming pool completed for the 2002 season. Burbach Aquatics of Platteville, Wisconsin, will install a 9,700-square-foot pool with a 25-meter lap area, six lanes, a deep well with a slide and diving board, and an additional zero-depth entry area. The majority of the new pool will be paid for with $1 million from Bettendorf's share of riverboat-gambling revenues and a $700,000 loan.
· A mere 15.83 percent of the registered voters in Scott County bothered to cast ballots on November 6. Among the issues settled were mayors and city councils for Davenport and Eldridge, and the swimming-pool bond referendum in Eldridge.
· Twenty-eight Iowa public water supplies, including six in Scott County, have reported levels of arsenic that exceed the impending Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standard of 10 parts per billion (ppb). An October 31 EPA decision reduces the maximum allowable arsenic level in public drinking-water supplies from 50 to 10 ppb. Public water supplies will be required to meet this new standard by 2006. The lower standard is in response to a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report that found an increased risk of bladder and lung cancer at arsenic concentrations in drinking water below the 50 ppb level. You can find more information, including a map and a list of affected areas, by pointing your Web browser to (http://www.earthweshare.org/n/pr_arsenic2.htm).
· The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $304,012 grant to the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency to extend its Program for Safe & Drug-Free Schools. The money will help the agency expand programming for the West Liberty, Wilton Community, Central Community, Columbus Community, Louisa-Muscatine Community, and Northeast Community school districts. The Mississippi Bend agency was one of 74 programs in 34 states - and the only Iowa agency - to receive this grant.
· The Salvation Army is accepting applications for people needing assistance for the Christmas season. Applicants must bring a photo ID, two pieces of mail with current address, proof of children, and proof of Social Security. Scott County residents can apply at 3400 West Central Park Avenue, Davenport, or call (563)391-5325. Rock Island County residents can apply at 2200 5th Avenue, Moline, or call (309)764-2811. Application hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through November 30.
· The inside of the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island is getting a fresh look and is currently in the final stages of a $250,000 renovation. Workers are re-painting the entire inside of the building, including the immense proscenium, remodeling the theatre's restrooms, laying new carpeting for the entire theatre, and completely renovating of the upstairs salon. Circa '21 has been able to complete these renovations with the help of a $15,000 grant from the City of Rock Island's Façade Improvement Program and a low-interest loan from the Illinois State Treasurer's Experience Illinois pilot program.
· Several area businesses have received hoax letters with white powder in them. These hoaxes are crimes and tie up valuable emergency resources. Local law-enforcement agencies, the FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspectors are investigating and following up on many leads. Anyone having knowledge of perpetrators of these crimes - leading to an arrest and conviction - can collect a $1,000 reward from Crime Stoppers. Please call Crime Stoppers at (309)762-9500 or (800)724-9500 if you can help. Let's make an example of those who take advantage of the fear generated by recent terrorist and anthrax attacks on our country.
· People who gave blood in the days following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon are now eligible to give blood again. Blood lasts for only 42 days, and the blood donated during that first week after the attacks has already been transfused. A person can safely give blood safely eight weeks - up to six times a year. To schedule an appointment, call the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center at (563)359-5401 or (800)747-5401, or look on the organization's Web site at (http://www.bloodcenter.org).
· November 16 is The Great American Smokeout. Quitting smoking, even late in life, eliminates most of a person's lung-cancer risk, and the danger is reduced more than 90 percent for those who quit before age 35. A study in the British Medical Journal also predicts that the number of tobacco deaths that will occur worldwide before 2100 if smoking patterns persist will be 1 billion, compared to 100 million in the past century.
· Now entering its 24th year, Quad City Arts' Arts Dollar$/Access program grants financial support to artists and not-for-profit organizations in Clinton, Scott and Muscatine counties in Iowa and Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties in Illinois. Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the Quad City ArtsCenter; 1715 2nd Avenue; Rock Island, Illinois 61201 by November 30. To qualify for a grant, applicants must plan and carry out projects of high quality that are oriented toward community arts and provide payment to participating local artists. All projects must include an aspect of community or public involvement. Applications are available in the ArtsCenter Gallery. Call (309)793-1213, extension 108, with any questions, or visit (http://www.quadcityarts.com).
· A mere 15.83 percent of the registered voters in Scott County bothered to cast ballots on November 6. Among the issues settled were mayors and city councils for Davenport and Eldridge, and the swimming-pool bond referendum in Eldridge.
· Twenty-eight Iowa public water supplies, including six in Scott County, have reported levels of arsenic that exceed the impending Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standard of 10 parts per billion (ppb). An October 31 EPA decision reduces the maximum allowable arsenic level in public drinking-water supplies from 50 to 10 ppb. Public water supplies will be required to meet this new standard by 2006. The lower standard is in response to a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report that found an increased risk of bladder and lung cancer at arsenic concentrations in drinking water below the 50 ppb level. You can find more information, including a map and a list of affected areas, by pointing your Web browser to (http://www.earthweshare.org/n/pr_arsenic2.htm).
· The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $304,012 grant to the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency to extend its Program for Safe & Drug-Free Schools. The money will help the agency expand programming for the West Liberty, Wilton Community, Central Community, Columbus Community, Louisa-Muscatine Community, and Northeast Community school districts. The Mississippi Bend agency was one of 74 programs in 34 states - and the only Iowa agency - to receive this grant.
· The Salvation Army is accepting applications for people needing assistance for the Christmas season. Applicants must bring a photo ID, two pieces of mail with current address, proof of children, and proof of Social Security. Scott County residents can apply at 3400 West Central Park Avenue, Davenport, or call (563)391-5325. Rock Island County residents can apply at 2200 5th Avenue, Moline, or call (309)764-2811. Application hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through November 30.
· The inside of the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island is getting a fresh look and is currently in the final stages of a $250,000 renovation. Workers are re-painting the entire inside of the building, including the immense proscenium, remodeling the theatre's restrooms, laying new carpeting for the entire theatre, and completely renovating of the upstairs salon. Circa '21 has been able to complete these renovations with the help of a $15,000 grant from the City of Rock Island's Façade Improvement Program and a low-interest loan from the Illinois State Treasurer's Experience Illinois pilot program.
· Several area businesses have received hoax letters with white powder in them. These hoaxes are crimes and tie up valuable emergency resources. Local law-enforcement agencies, the FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspectors are investigating and following up on many leads. Anyone having knowledge of perpetrators of these crimes - leading to an arrest and conviction - can collect a $1,000 reward from Crime Stoppers. Please call Crime Stoppers at (309)762-9500 or (800)724-9500 if you can help. Let's make an example of those who take advantage of the fear generated by recent terrorist and anthrax attacks on our country.
· People who gave blood in the days following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon are now eligible to give blood again. Blood lasts for only 42 days, and the blood donated during that first week after the attacks has already been transfused. A person can safely give blood safely eight weeks - up to six times a year. To schedule an appointment, call the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center at (563)359-5401 or (800)747-5401, or look on the organization's Web site at (http://www.bloodcenter.org).
· November 16 is The Great American Smokeout. Quitting smoking, even late in life, eliminates most of a person's lung-cancer risk, and the danger is reduced more than 90 percent for those who quit before age 35. A study in the British Medical Journal also predicts that the number of tobacco deaths that will occur worldwide before 2100 if smoking patterns persist will be 1 billion, compared to 100 million in the past century.
· Now entering its 24th year, Quad City Arts' Arts Dollar$/Access program grants financial support to artists and not-for-profit organizations in Clinton, Scott and Muscatine counties in Iowa and Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties in Illinois. Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the Quad City ArtsCenter; 1715 2nd Avenue; Rock Island, Illinois 61201 by November 30. To qualify for a grant, applicants must plan and carry out projects of high quality that are oriented toward community arts and provide payment to participating local artists. All projects must include an aspect of community or public involvement. Applications are available in the ArtsCenter Gallery. Call (309)793-1213, extension 108, with any questions, or visit (http://www.quadcityarts.com).
