QCA.news - Quad Cities news and view from both sides of the river

Thursday, May 2nd, 2024
	Hiney Heroes joins World's Largest Diaper Drive for those in need The nonprofit is just one of many across the nation working to raise over 2 million diapers by the end of May for families in need.
	US 150 north of Ophiem Road in Henry County to be temporarily closed The closing is located at the BNSF Railroad crossing on U.S. 150. It's expected to last roughly a week.
	Rain and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening Active weather looks to continue again next week.
	2 charged with murder, drug-induced homicide in Mercer County death William DeWitt, 41, of Milan, and Susan McFalls, 52, of Colona were both charged in a death investigation dating back to December in Sherrard.
	'Herky on Parade' honoring the Hawkeyes' mascot returns to Iowa City 100 statues of Herky in various designs will be placed around Johnson County. The mascot is celebrating 75 years at the university.
	Weekend Rundown with WLLR \| May 2, 2024 Tune in to Good Morning Quad Cities every Thursday at 5 a.m. for events happening in and around the Quad Cities area.
	Ballet Quad Cities receives anonymous $100,000 private gift Ballet Quad Cities announced that they received a $100,000 donation from an anonymous donor.
	Arts Alley designs to be unveiled May 8 Ten designs proposed for two large-scale wall murals in Rock Island’s Arts Alley will be unveiled next week, and the community is invited to take part in the final selection process. The art will be displayed gallery-style for a public event 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave., Rock Island. Attendees will have the opportunity to “tag” their favorite designs and engage in conversation, according to the Rock Island Downtown Alliance. The proposed Arts Alley design submitted by mural artist Atlanta Dawn of Rapids City. Dennis Hockaday of neighboring downtown business Ragged Records & Music will be spinning tunes for the event, and food and drinks will be available for purchase from the café. “This is a great opportunity for our community to help shape the future look and feel of downtown,” Jack Cullen, executive director of Rock Island Downtown Alliance, said in a Thursday release. “We’re proud to host this event at Rozz-Tox in partnership with Quad City Arts and the city of Rock Island, and we hope the community is just as excited about this level of investment in such a unique shared space.” Arts Alley, a pedestrian gateway connecting the riverfront and downtown business district in the 1700 block of 2nd Avenue, is one of the public spaces undergoing a transformation as part of the city’s $8.7-million Rebuild Downtown Rock Island project. Atlanta Dawn's proposed mural design as superimposed on the west-facing wall in Arts Alley, Rock Island. Combined, the two murals spanning 4,000 square feet of wall space, account for one of the largest public art projects in Rock Island’s history. More than 400 artists responded to a Request for Qualifications issued by Quad City Arts in January. By March, the list was narrowed to about 130 artists based on qualifications. The Downtown Alliance and Quad City Arts worked closely with building owners in Arts Alley, downtown stakeholders and the city’s Arts & Beautification Commission to reach consensus around the 10 finalists, who later submitted proposals for the walls. A rendering of a revitalized Arts Alley, to be completed in July 2024. The only local finalist is well-known Rapids City mural artist Atlanta Dawn. She incorporated moths into her design. “I’ve just been feeling a deep connection to moths this year. There is something about them I feel very drawn to,” she said Thursday. “I painted the giant Luna moth at the YWCA mural and just really appreciate their beauty. They symbolize transformation and rebirth and I feel like I am in a stage in my life that has a lot of change happening that I’m excited about. Atlanta Dawn and part of her four-wall mural at the outdoor YWCA child care playground, 513 17th St., Rock Island (photo by Jonathan Turner). “Also, with the rebuilding of Rock Island I felt the moths would be a powerful symbol of what they are trying to accomplish,” Dawn said. “The selection process for the Arts Alley murals was exceptionally challenging for the Rock Island Arts and Beautification Commission and the Rock Island Downtown Alliance due to the outstanding caliber of the artist submissions,” said QC Arts executive director Kevin Maynard. “These artists have extensive experience, having created murals nationally and internationally. Public art should reflect the community that it is in, and to do that we need our community to come out and be involved in this process.” Part of a new mural Atlanta Dawn is painting at the Avenue Tap in Silvis. Input gathered at the upcoming event will aid the final selection process. Data will be reviewed at a special Arts & Beautification Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at Rock Island City Hall, and the final two artists or artist teams will be notified May 10. Other planned improvements to Arts Alley this spring and summer include a decorative walkway, lighting and signage; space for social gatherings and performances; space for seasonal pop-up shop programs; and additional art installations. The current west-facing wall of Arts Alley, 1700 block of 2nd Avenue, Rock Island. The total budget for the improvements to Arts Alley is just over $534,000, with half of the project being funded by a $267,000 State of Illinois Tourism Attractions grant. The city of Rock Island is primarily funding the remaining costs with a combination of Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District funds and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
	'Jersey Boys' veterans lead new Circa version A new production of “Jersey Boys” at Circa ’21 in Rock Island has just about the two best men possible at the helm, on and off stage. Less than year after Michael Ingersoll directed Bear Manescalchi as Frankie Valli in the popular jukebox musical about Valli and The Four Seasons in Memphis, the pair is back for a run that will open Friday, May 3 and run through July 6, 2024. "Jersey Boys" will run at Circa '21 in Rock Island through July 6, 2024. Manescalchi, 36, is back at Circa in his fifth production of “Jersey Boys,” after being part of the cast of a successful Murder on the Orient Express here. Among his long list of theater credits are Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, Watson in Baskerville, Twelfth Night (Musical), almost four productions of Sister Act (one canceled due to COVID), singing on Disney Cruise Line, and performing at Universal Japan. “Sister Act” was the first show he sang falsetto in and people encouraged him to do Frankie (who famously sang in the high falsetto range) in “Jersey Boys,” and his first production was in 2022 in Kansas. The Circa cast is led by Bobby Becher, left, Bear Manescalchi, Kelly Brown, and Michael Ingersoll. The star and Circa director worked in the same roles for the 2005 musical in Memphis, Tenn. (Playhouse on the Square), for a month-long run last June and July. Ingersoll played Nick Massi (one of the Four Seasons) in the very first Broadway tour in 2006, the second person ever to play the role. “There’s never a guarantee that anything that hits on Broadway is going to hit in the country,” he said Wednesday. “Jersey Boys” had very gritty material and a lot of profanity (they toned down some language for the Circa production). “The stakes were so high to have a hit that would survive outside of New York, that the entire creative team reassembled for the national tour,” Ingersoll said. “It was the entire Broadway process, with all the Bradway set and Broadway technology, but we opened in San Francisco.” After they opened, it was such a hit, the show stayed for nine months – then in Los Angeles for three months and two and a half years in Chicago, and he played the part a total of 1,300 times. Michael Ingersoll and his wife run a Chicago-based concert production company. “The show became so popular by the time I was out of it, there were four companies,” Ingersoll said. Then, six companies over four continents. “Jersey Boys” ran on Broadway until Jan. 15, 2017, for 4,642 performances, now the 13th longest running show in history. “The reason ‘Jersey Boys’ is a success is that it is a fantastic play with music. The writing is what sets it apart,” Ingersoll said, comparing it to a lesser jukebox musical about a more popular group – The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations.” That show opened on Broadway the same year, 2005, received scathing critical reviews, and only ran for 94 performances. ‘Difference is writing’ “The difference is the writing,” Ingersoll said, noting “Jersey Boys” was co-penned by Oscar winner Marshall Brickman (“Annie Hall,” “Manhattan”). The story focuses on four poor, working-class guys, trying to get out of poverty “by way of this incredibly risky medium, and that’s why it’s compelling,” he said. "Jersey Boys" features Bear Manescalchi (left) as Frankie Valli, seen with Michael Ingersoll, Bobby Becher, Kelly Brown, and Derrick Bertram. “A lot of people can see themselves in this story. A lot of us are striving – we start in difficult places, we want to get to a better place,” Ingersoll said. “We want to provide for our families. That’s all they wanted to do. Those stories, and the fact they tanged with the Mafia a little bit; they sold 100 million records.” The single greatest thing that makes the show work is, while the audience is familiar with the songs (like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” December 1963 (Oh What a Night”), they learn things about the group that they didn’t know, he noted. “When you recontextualize it, and they hear it live, it’s like hearing it again for the first time, and that’s why it works,” Ingersoll said. “That’s why people cry at many of the celebratory moments.” He first directed it two years ago in Arrow Rock, Mo., and Circa is his third time directing it. Ingersoll and his wife run a Chicago-based concert production company, called Artists Lounge Live. Kelly Brown, left, Michael Ingersoll, Kyle DeFauw and Bear Manescalchi. “This play changed my life and career forever,” he said of “Jersey Boys.” “I’ve been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey and I’m nobody, because the show is so big.” Why jukebox musicals do or don’t work Ingersoll doesn’t like the more common jukebox musical formula of taking pop songs and forcing them into an unrelated narrative, though “Mamma Mia!” (songs of ABBA) made that work to tremendous success. “You can count on one hand how many times that’s been successful,” he said. “If Jersey Boys” was about a girl named Sherry and big girls who didn’t cry, it wouldn’t work. It was due to the surviving Four Seasons team were willing to tell their story as it happened. In the biographical Carole King jukebox musical, “Beautiful,” the popular singer-songwriter emerges unscathed, and it’s a nice show, but without much of the drama and grit “Jersey Boys” has, Ingersoll said. A scene from "Jersey Boys" at Circa. “It doesn’t hook me the way this one does, because Frankie and Bob and Tommy were gonna say, let me show you when we were not great. Let me show you what we did very, very wrong,” Ingersoll said. “That’s what hooks people. It’s really difficult to root for a hero who never says, ‘I was wrong, I struggled, I did this terribly.’” “Look at our lives – when we can see other people on stage, especially famous people, it takes it from being their story to our story, and that’s what good theater is,” he said. Frankie Valli goes from a teenager to age 60 in the musical. The guys desperately needed each other to succeed, Ingersoll said. When Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi met, they were just four teens singing together under street lamps, scraping for gigs and money in their working-class neighborhood, according to a Circa synopsis. As the quartet rises to international stardom, however, they celebrate the highs and endure the lows that come hand-in-hand with fame. Each member of the group takes a turn narrating events in this stage tale, illustrating how a ragtag group of guys from New Jersey – and their decades-long friendships – became music history. In “Jersey Boys,” actor Joe Pesci (“Home Alone,” "My Cousin Vinny," “Goodfellas”) plays a pivotal role in the formation of the popular band. Growing up near Newark, N.J., young Pesci was friendly with Tommy DeVito and the rest of the band and Pesci connected DeVito (the band’s behind-the-scenes leader at the time) with writer Bob Gaudio, who would later pen nearly all of the Four Seasons’ most popular songs. “Later on, Tommy ended up working for Pesci, because Pesci became a far bigger star than DeVito did,” Ingersoll said. “Tommy got a job driving him around.” Pesci showed up for the “Jersey Boys” musical premiere in L.A. Importance of story Manescalchi loves playing the evolution of the group over the years, and the strong storytelling. Bear Manescalchi (center) plays Frankie Valli in the biographical jukebox musical. “It’s nice working with Michael, because he really gets how important it is,” he said. “I worked for someone fresh off the Broadway tour at Bradway Palm (in Florida), and they had a very different approach. They had different things they thought were important about the show, I thought was contrary to telling the story.” “The story is what makes this piece compelling,” Manescalchi said. “It takes you on a journey and makes you feel something.” Ingersoll credited Nick Massi (who died in December 2000, before “Jersey Boys” was created) with the harmonic structure that made the Four Seasons’ vocals so famous. Bobby Becher, left, Bear Manescalchi, Michael Ingersoll and Kelly Brown. “They’re really fun to sing; it uses my whole range, basically,” Manescalchi said, noting he enjoys doing the iconic high falsetto Valli notes. He was trained at American Musical and Dramatic Academy in L.A. Another favorite role of his was the lead Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors,” which he called “one of THE great shows of all time.” “I’m always so grateful to get to do a piece like that,” he said. “Jersey Boys” is “an unkillable play,” Ingersoll said. “It is an unkillable script; the most solid script in the modern era I’ve ever come across in terms of its writing.” “Also, remember that 50 years of familiarity with the material, and writing that solid, the play can still really connect with people – whether you’re talking a community theater level or a Broadway level,” he said. “That’s what makes a good piece of art.” Staying healthy over run The biggest X factor in a “Jersey Boys” success is who can sing Frankie, 24 songs, and stay vocally healthy for a two-month run. “Bear is amazing that way, in terms of consistency, staying vocally healthy.” “Frankie’s falsetto has a coarseness and a grit and an aggressiveness, and an urgency behind it,” Ingersoll said. “Mixing falsetto with that is a whole different ball game.” “Bear freaking delivers it and he should get credit for delivering it,” he said of his star. “I do my best to get that rougher edge,” Manescalchi. “It’s not easy.” He tries to make smart choices, and stays healthy to protect his voice – no smoking or drinking, and getting enough sleep. “It takes a lot of discipline to make good choices,” Ingersoll said. “Those are choices a pro makes, and Bear is a pro.” “Sleep is the most important thing,” Manescalchi said. “I just try to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s all about longevity of your body.” The Circa '21 cast of "Jersey Boys," which is the 13th longest-running show in Broadway history. The impressive song list in the show includes “My Eyes Adored You,” “Working My Way Back to You,” and the show-stopper “Can't Take My Eyes Off You.” Ingersoll got called by Circa owner Denny Hitchcock after he reached out to Playhouse on the Square in Memphis. “The director that was lined up to do this show, couldn’t do it a few months out,” Ingersoll said. “I got to learn about Circa, which was wonderful. From my point of view in terms of camaraderie, this is easily one of the most cohesive, generous, professional groups I have ever worked with on any level, and I mean that. “When you try to put up a show this big in 13 days, which no one should do by the way…if you have even one problem individual, it is so freaking hard,” Ingersoll said. “The reason this play is going to make people very happy to see it is because of the dedication, professionalism and generosity of these people here,” he said. Under veteran music director Ron May, the show quartet is completed by director Ingersoll as Tommy DeVito (until May 15), Kyle DeFauw as Nick DeVito and Kelly Brown as Nick Massi. Additional members of the cast include Sara Leigh, Bobby Becher, Derrick Bertram, Brad Hauskins, Tristan Tapscott, JJ Varik, Tom Walljasper, Molly Wiley and Rachel Winter. And the musical's ensemble includes John Michael, Hanna Marie Felver, Sophia Kilburg and Nathan Moreno, Adam Cerny and Kiera Lynn act as understudies for numerous roles. “Jersey Boys” will be performed Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday matinées at 1:15 p.m. Pre-show entertainment featuring the theater wait staff the Bootleggers will also precede all performances. Ticket prices are $63 for the Friday-through-Sunday dinner-and-show productions and $56 for all Wednesday performances. Reservations are available through the Circa '21 ticket office, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, or by calling 309-786-7733 ext. 2.
	Celebrate Armed Forces Day at the Rock Island Arsenal The Rock Island Arsenal is celebrating the military at their annual Armed Forces Day Celebration on May 16-19 at the Arsenal. Visitors’ passes will not be necessary that day but all visitors 18+ must present a valid picture ID for access to the base. A full carnival, live music, food trucks, vendors, military displays, car show, a live wrestling show, fireworks and the annual Run the Rock 5K/10K and America’s Kids Run will make a full day of fun for everyone. Click here to sign up for the races or register as a volunteer. Admission to the installation is free but there are fees for carnival rides, games and food. There is an ATM at Memorial Park that will be available throughout the activities. The fun starts on Thursday, May 16 with the carnival open from 4 – 10 p.m. only for those who live and work on post. The Armed Forces Day opening and keg tapping ceremony will be on Friday, May 17 at 4 p.m. Packet pickup for the races is from 4-6 p.m. The carnival runs from 4 – 10 p.m. Races start a full day of excitement on Saturday, May 18. 8:45 a.m. America’s Kids Run kickoff and run events, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. QC Cruisers Auto Show, 9:30 a.m. Run the Rock 5K/10K opening remarks, ceremonial opening, 10 a.m. race begins, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Carnival festivities, 10:45 a.m. 5K Run the Rock awards, 11:05 a.m. 10K Run the Rock awards, 1 p.m. Superfly Samurai performs, 2 p.m. Honor Among Wrestling, 5:30 p.m. Moonshine Run performs, 9:25 p.m. fireworks. On Sunday, May 19 the carnival will be open from 12 – 4 p.m. and Honor Among Wrestling takes place at 1 p.m. These items are prohibited on the installation to provide a safe environment for everyone attending this event: firearms, knives, weapons of any kind, illegal substances, clothing with obscene or offensive language. Pets, other than service animals, are discouraged.
	IDOT starts guardrail work on I-280 in Rock Island May 6 There’s more road work coming to Rock Island, this time on a bridge in the city. Work on Interstate 280 in Rock Island will start on Monday, May 6, weather permitting, according to a news release from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The work zone is from the John F. Baker Jr. Mississippi River Bridge to the Illinois 92 interchange. Workers are repairing the guardrails, so lane closures the eastbound and westbound lanes will be necessary. The project is expected to be completed by Friday, May 10. Drivers can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. They should use alternate routes when possible. Drivers should pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, avoid using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. IDOT is planning to improve over 3,000 miles of highway and nearly 10 million square feet of bridge deck over the next six years as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program. The program is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation across the state. Accomplishments through Year Four of the project included approximately $12.1 billion of improvements statewide on 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges and 762 additional safety improvements. Click here for more on road construction projects in Illinois.
	QC movie house rooftop bar opens Saturday A new rooftop bar at The Last Picture House is opening Saturday, May 4. It's one of the only combined outdoor cinema and lounge in the nation, in the heart of downtown Davenport, 325 E. 2nd St. The new rooftop bar at The Last Picture House, 325 E. 2nd St., Davenport, opens Saturday, May 4. The rooftop will be open during the warmer months, seven days a week from approximately 3 p.m. to close, weather permitting, according to the independent theater co-owned by acclaimed filmmakers (and Bettendorf natives) Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Ticketed movie screenings will be Fridays and Saturdays (and some holidays) starting around 8 p.m. (or as soon as it is dark). The new rooftop lounge overlooks the Government Bridge. The rooftop features a mix of comfortable seating options, from low-rise loungers on turf, to cushioned couches surrounding a fire pit, to bar stools and picnic tables for a casual hang with friends and family, the website says. For film screenings, seating capacity is 80 and will be general admission, first-come, first-serve. The rooftop bar is fully stocked, and the theater concession stand downstairs serves Lopiez Pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and more. If you'd like to rent the space, email carlie@lastpicturehouse.com or fill out the inquiry form on the theater's Rentals page. For film screenings and more information, click HERE.
	Moline police needs help finding 13-year-old boy The Moline Police Department is asking for the public's help locating 13-year-old Kyrese A. Rogers.
	Moline police needs help finding 13-year-old boy The Moline Police Department is asking for the public's help locating 13-year-old Kyrese A. Rogers.
	Protests in Davenport and across Iowa over new state immigration law The law makes it a crime to re-enter the state if a person has been previously denied entry.
	Davenport City Council advances discussions for high-tech data center project The City of Davenport is considering submitting an application to the State of Iowa High Quality Jobs Program to build a large, high-tech data center campus within city limits at the northwest corner of Hillandale Road and Enterprise Way, according to city documents.
	Police looking for 13-year-old Moline boy The Moline Police Department is asking for help in finding Kyrese A. Rogers, 13, of Moline.
Wednesday, May 1st, 2024
	Governor responds to law enforcement concerns about new law Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds responded to criticism from law enforcement and immigrant groups about new law that makes it a crime for people to be in the state if they have previously been deported or denied entry.
	New cannabis shop may be on its way to Kewanee Kewanee City Council is set to vote on whether or not to approve a special-use permit for a proposed dispensary in town.
	The inspiration behind Ridgewood softball’s historic season The Spartans are ranked number one in Illinois in Class 1A by Max Preps and breaking just about every record in the program’s history.
	Hope Initiative hands outs 43,000 pounds of turkey in Galesburg, runs out Hope Initiative planned on having a second day of handing out turkey but completely ran out Wednesday afternoon.
	Sherrard teachers reach new labor agreement with the school district Approximately 200 teachers and support staff will be covered under the new agreement.
	Traffic slowed on I-74 bridge due to geese crossing Two officers escorted the geese to safety.
	Latino community rallies against Iowa law affecting undocumented immigrants Members of the Latino community and their supporters rallied in Davenport against a new law in Iowa. Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 2340 into law last month. It classifies being an undocumented immigrant as an aggravated misdemeanor. People at the rally call the legislation unconstitutional and say it goes against American values. Republicans behind Senate File 2340 argue it addresses the failures of President Biden on immigration. For more information, click here.
	OSHA issues 3 serious violations after fatal accident at Milan John Deere facility 55-year-old Anthony "Tony" LeCleir of Davenport died a few weeks after he was struck by a workplace vehicle, reports show.
	2 people arrested in connection to drug induced death investigation, deputies say Two people were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation involving a drug induced death at the end of 2023.
	Vision To Learn helps QC students see clearer Some elementary school students in Davenport will be seeing things differently now, thanks to new eyeglasses. Members of the Vision To Learn program marked the end of its first school year with a glasses celebration at Fillmore Elementary School. A partnership between United Way Quad Cities and Vision To Learn provided eye exams and glasses for students at title one schools in Davenport. There was no charge for students or their families. Grants from organizations like the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation made it possible. Vision to Learn provided nearly 2,000 kids with vision exams and two pairs of glasses to 515 students in the QCA. For more information, click here.
	‘Yay It’s Glasses Day!’: United Way Quad Cities gives elementary school students glasses Elementary school students were given glasses as part of United Way Quad Cities’ Vision to Learn program in conjunction with the Davenport Community School District. Those in charge said that 30 students at Fillmore Elementary received glasses.
	OSHA issues 3 serious violations after fatal accident at Milan John Deere facility 55-year-old Anthony "Tony" LeCleir of Davenport died a few weeks after he was struck by a workplace vehicle, reports show.
	14th Judicial Circuit of Illinois names first black woman associate judge Tionn Fambro Carter has now reached a milestone that no other black woman has been able to within the 14th Judicial Circuit of Illinois. Carter was appointed Associate Judge of the circuit in April, making her the first black woman to hold the position.
	Central DeWitt students take the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Some students in the QCA took a chilling challenger for a heartwarming reason. Brave souls from Central DeWitt took the Cool School Polar Plunge and raised more than $15,000 for Special Olympics Iowa. Every student who raised $25 or more got to leap into the water of a portable plunge pool. Homerooms that raised at least $250 got to choose a staff member to take the plunge. The Central DeWitt Community School District supports Special Olympics Unified Sports, which includes students of all abilities. To donate to Central DeWitt's Cool School Polar Plunge, click here.
	City of Davenport advances discussions for high-tech data center project The City of Davenport is considering submitting an application to the State of Iowa High Quality Jobs Program to build a large, high-tech data center campus within city limits at the northwest corner of Hillandale Road and Enterprise Way, according to city documents.
	New app allows Henderson County residents to send in anonymous tips to police The P3 Tips app is available on iPhone and Android.
	Gov. Reynolds signs income tax cut bill, says there’s room for more Wednesday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed new income tax cuts into law. At the beginning of the year, Iowa will join 13 other states with a flat income tax.
	News 8 meteorologist Morgan Strackbein introduces viewers to The Beast at 'Touch-a-Truck' event 25 organizations were around the show off their trucks and what they do for the community.
	OSHA issues 3 serious citations after worker hit by vehicle at Milan John Deere facility 55-year-old Tony LeCleir of Davenport died a few weeks after he was hit by the vehicle.
	Whiteside County firefighters test skills in training Smoke filled a house, and Rock Falls and Sterling firefighters bust in to save the lives of trapped people. It looks real but it's a training exercise. (Michael Frachalla, OurQuadCities.com) The training is a way for firefighters to team up for an emergency exercise and improve their search and rescue skills. "It just helps us hone our skills that much more," Rock Falls Fire Department Deputy Chief Kyle Sommers said. "When our firefighters respond to real-life emergencies, they're going to be better prepared to handle those instances." The training took place at an empty house in Rock Falls. Next door to the home, the Whiteside County Health Department looks to expand. The health department bought the home and the land and has big plans for the extra space. In the meantime, the health department teamed up with the Rock Falls Fire Department to let them use the house for the training exercise. (Michael Frachalla, OurQuadCities.com) "We will be building just under 2,000 square feet to bring on optometry services," Whiteside County Health Department and Community Health Clinic CEO Cheryl Lee said, . "We really needed the parking. We were able to work with the city of Rock Falls to rezone. We purchased the home next door, and we were able to rezone it for parking, which was part of the collaboration with the fire department. Hopefully in the late May, early June, we will be able to get that demolished." It's just one way the health department is expanding its reach to community members. Lee says since COVID, the need for services is much higher. "We just brought on oral surgery. Now we will be able to bring on optometry, so it's really that patient center medical home and that comprehensive care that we can give our community especially those at the highest need who don't have insurance, or any other place to go," Lee said. "I think we are getting a little more modern, a little more updated, and it's one more thing we can do to accommodate our patients." (Michael Frachalla, OurQuadCities.com) The Rock Falls Fire Department is grateful for the opportunity to use the house before it's demolished. Like the health department, it's looking to expand it's training program in the future, especially following a tragedy. "We started doing this after the line-of-duty death of Captain Garrett Ramos from Sterling fire," Sommers said. "We formed a joint committee where we started discussing what we would like to see from a joint-training facility. " They hope to get something more permanent. "We are planning that right now," Sommers said. "It will be located in the Industrial Park in the city of Rock Falls. For right now, until that is constructed, we use these temporary sites and we use them as much as we can before they are slated for demolition." The Rock Falls and Sterling Fire Departments are currently working on designs for its joint-training facility. They are hoping the facility is operational in a few years.
	Breast cancer screening should start at 40, new guidelines say The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released new recommendations on Tuesday advising women to begin testing for breast cancer at a much younger age.
	A look inside Iron Tee Golf Iron Tee Golf is the first of its kind in the Quad Cities and they’re getting ready to officially open its doors.
	Central DeWitt schools host polar plunge The event raised money for the district's Special Olympics athletes.
	Logan Lee reflects on being picked in the NFL draft You can catch the full interview with the new Steeler on The Score Sunday.
	House fire disrupts Rock Falls fire department training The Rock Falls Fire Department started their Wednesday with a training. A call later about a house fire put that practice into action.
	United Way Quad Cities gives free glasses to more than 500 students The Vision to Learn program has also provided over 1,900 no-cost vision screenings.
	Rock Island County Veterans Assistance Commission dedicates new home Rock Island County Veterans Assistance Commission has a new place to call home. Managers celebrated the grand opening of the new space in Rock Valley Plaza on Blackhawk Rd. The commission's superintendent says helping veterans is close to his heart. He says the bigger space will make it easier to help veterans and their families. Veteran service officers help with disability claims, healthcare enrollment, veterans survivor benefits, rental assistance, food security and utilities. For more information, click here.
	Rock Falls Fire Department training disrupted by house fire The health department donated a house for firefighters to practice saving victims in smoky conditions. The training was derailed by a real fire across town.
	United Way Quad Cities gives free glasses to more than 500 students The Vision to Learn program has also provided over 1,900 no-cost vision screenings.
	This Week: 2nd Annual East Moline Main Street Cinco De Mayo Taco & Margarita Festival News 8' Jon Diaz sits down with Patricia Hansen and Graciela Macias, organizers of the 2nd Annual East Moline Main Street Cinco De Mayo Taco & Margarita Festival.
	Couple to restore historic Galesburg home to former glory A couple is working to restore a historic Galesburg home to its former glory. The home, originally owned by W. S. Purington in the 1890's, figures into Galesburg's rich history. Purington was the co-owner of the Purington Brick Company in Galesburg, which was once the largest producer of brick pavers in the world, in the early 1900's. The home has since been a designated landmark by the City of Galesburg Landmark Commission. The new owners of the historical home say they want the community to benefit from their restorations. "We'd been looking for about a year to restore a historic home," homeowner Jakki Pettitt said. "We happened to find this house. We knew the minute we walked in that we wanted it." After 20 years in Arizona, the Pettitt's made it all the way to Illinois to restore a historical house for their retirement plans. "My husband is involved in architecture," Pettitt said. "We've been restoring homes and doing our own DIY stuff our whole marriage for 33 years." The Pettitts want to make the historical home a bed and breakfast and a tourist destination that everyone can enjoy. First, they need to take care of all the issues that they faced when they bought the house. "Somebody had enough love to build the house this way," Pettitt said. "We hope to be able to capture that love and bring it back to where it came from. Purington Brick Factory was just right down the road." "People came back from World War II saying Purington bricks were in Paris," homeowner Alex Pettitt said. "They saw them all over the world. This was was the home base for the man who created that little piece of history." The Pettitts can't restore the house by themselves. They say community carpenters and plumbers have offered to help them during their initial cleanout of the property. "That's been the neat part," Pettitt said. "We just asked for the help, and they said 'sure; we would be happy to.' They came in droves, it was neat." The home may not be finished now, but the future is looking bright for the over 130-year-old home. "We want to do more with the community," Pettitt said. "We want to be able to have Santa visit on Christmas and take pictures with the kids. We want this to be something that is given back to the community so they can feel like they can come in and experience the history, too." The Pettitts say the house should be prepared to welcome visitors from all over the area to community events starting this holiday season.
	This Week: Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks discusses abortion, oral contraception and IVF News 8's Jon Diaz asks Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks about her position on abortion, oral contraception and IVF.
	QCA animal shelters reducing adoption fees for 'Empty the Shelters' event Shelters will offer reduced adoption fees from May 1 to May 15.
	This Week: Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks highlights her first two terms News 8's Jon Diaz sits down to chat with Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks to learn what her policy would be focused on if re-elected.
	Buffalo Bill Museum in LeClaire launches 'Women in History Teas' series The first of several tea parties will be held on May 11. Attendees will learn about The Harvey Girls, who were credited with 'taming' the Wild West.
	2 cicada broods to emerge at the same time in Illinois for the first time in 200 years The emergence is expected to happen around mid-to-late May.
	Report: Tyson Foods dumped 52.7 million pounds of pollutants into Illinois waterways from 2018-2022 The report says Tyson dumped 52.7 million pounds of pollutants into Illinois waterways between 2018 and 2022. 5.2 million pounds of pollutants came from Iowa plants.
	Raise a glass to QC Ale Trail turning 5 QC Craft Beer Week returns on May 10-17, 2024, marking the fifth anniversary of the QC Ale Trail. Established in 2019 through a partnership between Visit Quad Cities and regional craft breweries, the QC Ale Trail is an immersive self-guided tour spanning both sides of the Mississippi River that showcases the vibrant craft brewery scene, according to a Wednesday Visit QC release. Participants can check in at participating breweries with a QC Ale Trail passport to receive free prizes from Visit Quad Cities while enjoying local brews and meeting fellow craft beer fans. “QC Craft Beer Week never disappoints and is a great reminder of how fortunate we are in the Quad Cities region to have such a thriving craft beer community,” said Dave Herrell, president/CEO of Visit Quad Cities. “We are thrilled to commemorate five incredible years of the QC Ale Trail. Our QC Ale Trail continues to promote and bind together the Quad Cities craft beer scene which adds value to tourism products, visitor experience and resident pride.” During the first five years of the Ale Trail, participating locations have expanded from 12 to 16, attracting nearly 500 craft beer enthusiasts from 25 states who have visited four or more locations or completed the trail. Throughout the week, organizers encourage visitors and Quad Citizens to support breweries across the QC. Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and join the QC Ale Trail Facebook group to stay updated on QC Craft Beer Week specials, giveaways, tappings and events. QC Craft Beer Week (Visit Quad Cities) QC Craft Beer Week participating breweries include 5 Cities Brewing, Bent River Brewery, Crawford Brew Works, Midwest Ale Works, Radical Effect Brewerks, Rebels & Lions Brewing, Stompbox Brewing, Twin Span Brewing and Wake Brewing (be sure to check back as more locations are added). Scheduled events are: Friday, May 10: QC Ale Trail Five-Year Anniversary Pop-Up Party at Front Street Taproom in Davenport, 4-7 p.m. (Stick around for free trivia beginning at 7 p.m.) Saturday, May 11: Quad Cities Beer Battle on the Belle Cruise (12:30-3 p.m., Celebration Belle departs Moline dock promptly at 12:30 p.m.) Friday, May 17: Mugz Homebrew Collaboration Tapping at Endless Brews in Davenport (Time TBD) Saturday, May 18: Mugz Homebrew Collaboration Tapping at Sallie’s in Rock Island (Time TBD) Saturday, May 18: Shops with Hops in downtown LeClaire, 2-5 p.m. The Front Street Taproom., 421 W. River Drive, Davenport, overlooks LeClaire Park and the Mississippi River. QC Craft Beer Week was created in 2011 by Mugz, a local home brewing club. Bryan Schmid, president of Mugz, says the annual event is a great opportunity for homebrewers and professional brewers to bounce ideas off each other and try something outside their comfort zone. “It's exciting to see the variety that everyone comes up with and have all those ideas on tap at once.” To learn more about the Ale Trail, click HERE.
	Hiney Heroes to take part in ‘World’s Largest Diaper Driver,’ organization says Hiney Heroes, a non-profit diaper bank based in Rock Island says they’re joining many diaper banks across the country to participate in the “World’s Largest Diaper Drive.”
	Mississippi Valley Growers Association hosts first farmers' market of the season MVGA vendors will be at North Park Mall on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
	Shop 'til you drop at Rock Island Spring Community Garage Sale and Vendor Fair Spring has sprung, and the Rock Island garage sale is sure to have something for everyone! Dan Gleason from Rock Island Parks and Recreation joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about the Spring Community Garage Sale and Vendor Fair. For more information, click here.
	'Be Downtown' on June 1 for family fun in Bettendorf The Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO) is holding the free Be Downtown outdoor event on Saturday, June 1 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the 15th St. Landing, 15th Street and State Street. The event is perfect for families, featuring live music, food trucks, multiple bags tournaments with cash prizes, children’s activities and more. Live music will be provided in two-hour sets throughout the day, starting at 12 p.m., by area bands Been There Done That, Threat Level Midnight and Heads in Motion. Honor Among Wrestling (HAW) pro wrestling starts at 2:05 p.m. Verde will offer food and an outdoor bar for alcohol and other beverage sales. Food trucks will be on site from 12 – 6 p.m. and include Smokin' Goodness and Wolfe It Down Pizza. The K&K Family Fun Zone will be open from 12 - 6 p.m. with bounce houses, bubble stations and a hands-on science experiment. Attendees should bring lawn chairs. The event also features two bags tournaments at 12 and 3 p.m. Bags will be run by a 4-City Cornhole Club. Registration will be held on-site one hour before each tournament. Each tournament will have cash prizes of $300 for 1st, $200 for 2nd and $100 for 3rd place finisher. Players should download the Scoreholio App and get arrive early to register. Be Downtown event line-up: 11 a.m. – Sign-up for Bags Tournament #1 Noon – K&K Family Fun Zone opens, food trucks open Noon – Bags tournament #1 Noon – BTDT 2 p.m. – BTDT 2:05 p.m. – HAW Pro Wrestling 3 p.m. – Bags Tournament #2 3:05 p.m. – HAW Pro Wrestling3:10 p.m. – Threat Level Midnight5:10 p.m. – Threat Level Midnight5:15 p.m. – HAW pro wrestling6:15 p.m. – HAW pro wrestling6:30 p.m. – Heads in Motion 9 p.m. – Heads in Motion On-street parking will be available on State and Grant Streets plus at multiple lots in downtown Bettendorf, including: 15th St. and Grant St. (TBK Bank building lot) available after 1 p.m. 18th St. and Mississippi St. (Asbury Methodist Church lot) 18th St. and Grant St. (City of Bettendorf lot) Bettendorf City Hall Street parking Motorcycle parking will be available on 15th Street Be Downtown coincides with the City of Bettendorf’s 121st birthday and the city will have a fire truck, police squad cars, snowplows, and recycling trucks on display for visitors to see. There will also be giveaways and Mayor Bob Gallagher will lead everyone in singing “Happy Birthday” to Bettendorf. “Summer events in Bettendorf are part of what makes our city so much fun, and the Downtown Bettendorf Organization knows how to throw a party!” said Jeff Reiter, Assistant City Administrator. “We are looking forward to bringing out some of our awesome vehicles and equipment for kids and families to interact with, and we will have so many cool things to hand out that the kids are going to love! Be Downtown and Bettendorf’s birthday celebration are natural fits together, and we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of all the festivities.” Click here for more details on the Downtown Bettendorf Organization.
	Buffalo Bill Museum in LeClaire launches 'Women in History Teas' series The first of several tea parties will be held on May 11. Attendees will learn about The Harvey Girls, who were credited with 'taming' the Wild West.
	City of LeClaire and other QCA cities featured in new Iowa PBS show The City of LeClaire was featured in a new Iowa PBS show called Road Trip Iowa.
	Mississippi River Distilling Company hosts ‘Road Trip Iowa’ watch party “Road Trip Iowa” airs on Iowa PBS at 6:30 p.m. and highlights the state’s portion of the Great River Road, which includes Cody Road District in LeClaire and Figge Museum in Davenport.
	Quad Cities farmers markets open for summer season Residents of the Quad Cities can enjoy homegrown produce and handmade foods from local farmers markets, starting this weekend.
	Davenport Central senior receives 2024 Kathryn Bell Tate Scholarship A Davenport Central High School senior was awarded the 2024 Kathryn Bell Tate Scholarship in a surprise announcement, according to Davenport Schools Foundation officials.
	Davenport man arrested on weapons charges A Davenport man is in the Scott County Jail after he was arrested after a shooting in Davenport yesterday Davenport Police Officers responded to the 1400 block of West Fourth Street for a report of shots fired on April 30 at about 10:37 p.m. According to the criminal complaint, Danny Young, 59, and another person were in a mutual physical altercation in front of the residence. The fight was broken up and Young went to his backyard to retrieve a black handgun. Young allegedly returned to the front of the home with the firearm and fired a single shot at the victim while he sat in a car. The shot struck the passenger's side of the car. The car was occupied at the time of the shooting by a driver, the victim in the front seat and a back seat passenger. The complaint says Young knew he wasn't allowed to possess a firearm because he was a felon, with convictions dating back over 20 years. Danny Young (Scott County Sheriff's Office) Young was arrested on charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony, going armed with intent and control of a firearm by a felon, which are both class D felonies . He is being held in the Scott County Jail, with a preliminary hearing on May 10, according to court records.
	Have you seen these suspects? Crime Stoppers wants to know! Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities wants your help catching two fugitives. It’s an Our Quad Cities News exclusive. You can get an elevated reward for information on this week’s cases: GARY LOPEZ, 41, 5’7”, 175 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes. Rock Island County warrant for probation violation on 2021 charge for armed violence. JOHN RULE JR., 26, 5’10”, 170 pounds, brown hair, hazel eyes. Moline Police warrant for felony retail theft and Rock Island County warrant for failure to appear on charge of possession of stolen firearm. Gary Lopez (L) and John Rule Jr. (Crime Stoppers) You have a week to contact police for an elevated reward. Call the tip line at (309) 762-9500. All tips are anonymous.
	34,000 pounds of turkey up for grabs at Hope Initiative in Galesburg The Hope Initiative in Galesburg is giving away 1,512 cases of frozen turkey, totaling 34,000 pounds, during its two-day Turkey Drive Thru.
	40 years go quick for The Lettermen singer Donovan Tea has performed with everyone from Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, to Ray Charles and Tony Bennett. But the 69-year-old Texas native has made his career for 40 years now as one-third of The Lettermen, an indestructible three-man singing group that's romanced audiences for seven decades. "To be honest, we haven't quite come back since COVID to our regular schedule,” Tea said in a Wednesday phone interview. “I don't know if that's with our demographics or just the way things are.” The current Lettermen lineup is Rob Gulack, left, Donovan Tea, and Bobby Poynton. Pre-COVID, The Lettermen would average about 100 concerts a year, but the last couple of years that’s been down to 50-60 a year, including two performances coming up May 13, 2024 at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse. This year is the 40th anniversary of Tea being in the trio, which has changed membership often over the years. “It's gone by quickly, I can tell you,” he said. Since 1961, The Lettermen have recorded over 75 albums — 18 certified gold, with a myriad of hits including "When I Fall In Love," "Put Your Head On My Shoulder," "Goin’ Out Of My Head," "Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You," and "Hurt So Bad." The Circa shows will be 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., Monday, May 13, preceded by plated meals. The matinee is already sold out. The Lettermen have performed at Circa just about every year the past 38 years. The interior at Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island. “We enjoy being there and Denny and the entire staff,” Tea said Wednesday of owner Denny Hitchcock. “It's just wonderful to work there. It's an iconic establishment." "One of the fun things for us is that we never know what our our backdrop is gonna be because we perform on the stage right in front of the set of whatever show they happen to be doing at that time,” he added. “We've had some interesting backdrops, but it's always fun and the people have a good time and we enjoy ourselves very much.” Struck by stars Tea was able to perform with big celebrities in the ‘70s, as lead singer for The Young Americans, who opened for everybody, including Pat Boone and Sammy Davis, Jr. He tap danced with Fred Astaire and sang backup for Bing Crosby on the classic song "White Christmas." “It was like going to college for the Young Americans, for what I wanted to go into opening for all these people,” he said. “And I would always talk to them before or after the show, ask for recommendations, hints, opinions, just pick their brain. And it was interesting. “I would ask many, many questions, but I would always ask, you know, what I, what do I need to do to get where you're at and every single one of them gave me basically the same answer,” Tea recalled. “It was, I don't know how I got here. I just do the best you can. It's 75% luck and 25% combination of talent and tenacity.” Donovan Tea, left, joined The Lettermen in 1984. “It’s not just luck but just being prepared if you get an opportunity and I've been very fortunate to have been in this business as long as I have and, and very grateful,” he said. Tea was also pleasantly surprised at how normal and down to earth many big stars were. “So many of them were kind to me,” he said. “Tony Bennett was very, very kind to me. Ray Charles gave me great, great advice. Bing Crosby, of course, was iconic and, and working with Fred Astaire was a dream. I'm really a below-average dancer. But we had a good choreographer and it was for the Bing Crosby Christmas special. So we had plenty of rehearsal and they were all just very gracious, very professional. It taught me that you don't have to be an egomaniac. You can be a regular person and still go on stage or on television and do a good job.” From Vegas to Lettermen Before joining the group, Tea was performing in Las Vegas, as the lead singer in the Lido show. “It was a great, great opportunity for me to get seen,” he recalled. “And as it turned out, the Lettermen were performing across the street at the Flamingo, came across the street to see the show and saw me quite by accident. They kept me in mind and a couple of years later when they had a group change, they gave me a call, asked me to come out to L.A. and sing with them, see if we had a good blend. “And again, it's gonna be 40 years and it's gone by fast,” Tea said. Besides performing, he is a prolific published songwriter. Many of his songs have been recorded, and some have been included in Lettermen performances. The Lettermen will do two shows at Circa '21 Monday, May 13, 2024. Rob Gulack joined the trio in 2019, just a few months before COVID shutdowns, which forced The Lettermen off the road for a year. “He’s a great person and a great, great singer and it's always tough to have a group change,” Tea sad. “He fit right in and he brings a lot to the group and Bobby Poynton who’s also in the group is great. It’s kind of a marriage, you have to get along pretty well and walk together and so far things are going well.” On Feb. 24, 2020, history in the Lettermen legacy was made when they were honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Tea said they went from that high, three weeks later to "oblivion." The Lettermen’s longevity is due not just to quality of their performances, but the singers’ personalities and connection with audiences, Tea said. “You wanna make your audience laugh, you wanna make them cry, happy tears, you wanna pace your show so it's not ballad, ballad, ballad,” he said. “You want to break it up. The Lettermen are perfect since all the Lettermen have always been three soloists.” The concerts are a mix of older and newer songs, slower and uptempo, three-part harmonies and solo numbers. The Lettermen repertoire includes arrangements of "Never Enough from the hit film "The Greatest Showman": a "Sugar" medley ("I Can't Help Myself," "Sugar," How Sweet It Is") and a "Happy" medley ("Happy," "You've Made Me So Very Happy," "Happy Together"). “We pride ourselves in pacing a show that is fun, and enjoyable,” Tea said. “We try to do the kind of show that we go see. When I go to see somebody, I wanna feel like I was thoroughly entertained and that I got to know the entertainer just a little bit and we try to do that every show we do.” Tickets for the May 13 shows are $61.35 for the 1 p.m. matinee (with a noon lunch), and $67.65 for the 7:15 p.m. show, (with a 6 p.m. dinner), available at the Circa box office (1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island, or at 309-786-7733, ext. 2. For more information on The Lettermen, click HERE.
	Sen. Durbin meets with federal railroad administrator on stalled Quad-Cities passenger rail U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, met with Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose on Tuesday to receive an update on the Chicago-Quad-Cities passenger rail project.
	Two arrested in connection to December death in rural Sherrard The two were arrested Tuesday on charges of first degree murder and drug induced homicide.
	Run with Carl celebrates 30 Years at 2024 Labor Day run This year's 30th Run with Carl takes place this year on Labor Day, September 2. The race was created after the Schillig family lost their 15-year-old son, Carl, in a car-pedestrian accident and has been a Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley tradition ever since. The family created an annual scholarship for graduating seniors at Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley High Schools with proceeds from the race. Both school foundations took over organizing the race in 2015 and since then, nearly $200,000 has been raised for both school districts. Race start times are: 7:45 a.m. - Children's ½ mile fun run 8:00 a.m. - Memorial service 8:15 a.m. - 5 mile run 8:30 a.m. - 5K run/walk Due to continued construction, all race events will take place at Bettendorf Middle School, 2030 Middle Road, including the post-race party, children’s fun run, and the 5K/5M start and finish line at the light outside the tennis courts on Middle Road. Registration is now open here and there’s an early bird discount through May. Click here to sign up as a volunteer.
	Iowa communities hosting candlelight vigils across the state in opposition to controversial immigration law Quad Cities Interfaith will host a vigil at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Davenport, right off of Main Street. It starts at 6:30 p.m.
	Iowa PBS premiering 'Road Trip Iowa' documentary May 1 Those looking for a watch party can head over to the Mississippi River Distilling Company in LeClaire from 5 to 7 p.m.
	Knox County Sheriff's Office warning of new phone scam Officials say the scammer will call and tell the victim they missed jury duty and that there is a warrant out for their arrest.
	'Looking for Lincoln' program focuses on Effie Afton case The next Looking for Lincoln Conversation will revisit one of his most famous legal cases, with a tie to the Quad Cities. In the Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Co. (aka the Effie Afton Case), a boat/bridge collision brought the fight of established river interests of St. Louis versus the growing railroad interests of Chicago. The case discussions usually focus on Lincoln’s support of the railroad and new technologies, but recent research shows that might not be accurate. John Lupton and Dr. Samuel Wheeler from the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission will discuss what happened when the Effie Afton riverboat crashed into the first railroad bridge to cross the Mississippi River at Rock Island. The public can watch and participate in this online program on Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. on the Looking for Lincoln YouTube and Facebook video channels. Viewers can submit questions for the host to answer at the end of the presentation. The program will be recorded and available on the Looking for Lincoln Facebook and YouTube video channels. Reservations are not required, and the event is free. “We are proud to host this series of Looking for Lincoln conversations,” said Sarah Watson, Executive Director of Looking for Lincoln. “These live, digital programs cover a range of topics that depict the life and times in the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. Few individuals have so profoundly influenced American history as did Abraham Lincoln. Millions around the world are inspired by the story of Lincoln's rise from humble beginnings to President of the United States, his qualities of integrity and courage and his decisive leadership traits that carried a fragile nation through one of its most trying periods.” For more information about the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition and the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, click here.
	Scott County Jail overcrowding sends Davenport double homicide suspect to Muscatine Crowded conditions in the Scott County has prompted the move of one of the suspects in a Davenport double murder to Muscatine.
	The Arc/ Quad Cities Disability Coalition hosting food drive in May The Arc of the Quad Cities and the Quad Cities Disability Awareness Coalition are holding a two-week community-wide food drive to address food insecurity, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service to others. The Coalition is made up of disability service providers who will administer the food drive by picking up food items and dropping them off at Quad City food pantries. Donations can be dropped off at the locations in the table below between Tuesday, May 7 and Tuesday, May 21. Donations can be left in collection boxes at the sites. “This is a true community-wide food drive,” says Sarah Wright, Chief Development Officer for The Arc. “This project is unique in that it enjoys a wide capacity because of the wide-ranging partnerships we’ve been able to establish. We’d like to give special thanks to Hy-Vee, all the local libraries, and parks and recreation departments for addressing food insecurity and for embracing inclusive volunteering.” For more information on the Disabilities Awareness Coalition, click here. For more information on The Arc of the Quad Cities, click here.
	Lee Enterprises adds Chief Transformation and Commercial Officer Les Ottolenghi is responsible for modernizing Lee’s IT infrastructure and directing accelerators to Lee’s digital transformation strategy.
	May flowers delivered to truck-eating bridge A semi hauling flowers was the latest victim of the truck-eating bridge on Brady Street in Davenport on Wednesday. The driving wasn't perfect, but the timing was -- it's May 1. And although the recent showers to end April had nothing to do with it, the flowers arrived all the same. Not to their final destination -- by the way, the driver was uninjured, as usual -- but instead an unscheduled stop that so many make when they don't observe height restrictions. Flowers can be seen inside the peeled-open trailer of a semi that hit the truck-eating bridge on Brady Street on May 1, 2024. (Bryan Bobb, Our Quad Cities News) It's 11-foot-8, for future reference. (There are signs... and flashing lights.) You can see all of our photos of the various truck-eating bridges through the years by clicking here. The truck-eating bridge on Brady Street was hit by another semi on May 1, 2024. (Danielle Davis, Our Quad Cities News)
	Milan artist honored with Illinois fellowship One Quad Cities artist is among 17 throughout Illinois to be honored with the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) 2024 Artist Fellowship Award (AFA). The IAC AFAs are $15,000 awards to Illinois artists in recognition of their outstanding work and commitment within the arts. This year, the IAC awarded 17 Illinois artists with fellowships totaling $255,000. Finalist awards of $1,500 were also awarded to 13 Illinois artists for a total of $19,500, according to a Wednesday release. “Individual artists fuel our state’s creativity, communities, and economy,” IAC executive director Joshua Davis-Ruperto said in the release. “They tell stories, spark conversations, pass on traditions, and provide inspiration. A textile artwork by Nicole Davis of Milan, one of the 17 Illinois artists honored by the Illinois Arts Council. “IAC Fellowship Awards acknowledge, support, and celebrate the highest quality artistic work being created in Illinois,” he said. “The 2024 IAC Fellows were selected for their remarkable artistic practice and their commitment to Illinois’ communities – both within their specific regions and discipline at large. The IAC congratulates each of these extraordinary individuals.” “These artists represent the highest levels of craft for their respective disciplines, and I’m proud to uplift their work through IAC’s Fellowship Awards,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in the release. “I look forward to seeing how they will continue to represent their communities across Illinois and grow their work, and I congratulate each of them on the award.” The Artist Fellowship Program offered funding in seven artistic disciplines. This year's Fellowship and Finalist Award recipients were selected from 302 Illinois-based creative artists working in Ethnic and Folk Arts, Crafts, and Visual Arts -- which includes Visual-Based Arts (Installation, Mixed Media, Painting, Graphic & Drawing), Photography, and Sculpture. Quad Cities winner In the Crafts category, Nicole Davis of Milan was named a $15,000 fellowship winner. She’s a visual artist and educator. Nicole Davis of Milan Having served as a special education teacher for 21 years, Davis pivoted to pursue a career in art, according to her bio on the IAC website. In 2020, she graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with an MFA degree in painting and drawing. Her current art practice encompasses textiles, photography, and painting. Her artwork uses the energy embodied time-honored materials to address issues related to her lived experience as a Black woman. Black feminist theory, memory, and identity are themes deeply rooted in her work. Davis was honored with numerous scholarships and fellowships in pursuit of her graduate work and has had residencies at Ox Bow. She has been a visiting critic and/or given lectures at institutions including: Cornell College, Drake University, Divine Word College, and the Figge Art Museum. Her artwork has been shown throughout the Midwest, at the Soo Visual Arts Center, Minneapolis; Koehnline Museum in Skokie; Legion Arts in Cedar Rapids; South Bend Museum of Art in South Bend, Ind., and Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, Ill. A 2020 textile artwork by Davis. In 2020, Davis was selected to be an Artivism Fellow for the Broadway Advocacy Coalition. She is currently an Art Instructor and Gallery Coordinator for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. The IAC is proud to be able to provide Illinois artists with unrestricted funds in these awards that will support their creative endeavors and artistic growth, according to Wednesday’s release. The mission of the Illinois Arts Council is “To build a strong, creative, and connected Illinois through the arts.” The Agency recognizes that Illinois’ artists are an essential component of the social fabric and economic vibrancy of the state. The Artist Fellowship Awardees and Finalists are representative of the diversity found in the arts across Illinois and represent a diversity of age, gender, and geographic locations. For brief bios on all the Artist Fellowship Awardees, click HERE.
	Friends of Bettendorf Parks & Recreation hosts Spring Senior Golf Tour The Friends of Bettendorf Parks & Recreation invite seniors to join their annual Spring Senior Golf Cart Tour on Monday, May 20th. There is no rain date. The Spring Senior Golf Cart Tour is held twice a year, in the spring and fall, and travels along the Duck Creek Recreation Trail from Palmer Hills Golf Course to Duck Creek Park in Davenport and back to Palmer Hills. Transportation on the trail will be by golf carts provided by Palmer Hills. Carts may be operated by the participants and operators will be provided for those who don’t want to drive. Drivers must be at least 18 years old. The tour lasts about two hours and stops will be made at several sites along the way. Participants can leave at either 10 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Parking is available at Palmer Hills Golf Course, 2999 Middle Road. There is no fee and liquid refreshments will be provided. Registration is required and tours are limited to 70 people each. The deadline to register is May 16. Click here to register. For more information or to register by phone, call the Bettendorf Parks and Recreation Department at (563) 344-4113.
	QC Farmers' Market starts in Rock Island The QC Farmers’ Market is returning to Schwiebert Park in downtown Rock Island for its third season, starting Saturday, May 4, 2024. Featuring homegrown produce, handmade foods and agricultural products, the weekly market is run Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon through November. New and returning vendors will be set up with their fresh local products for sale, and customers will be eligible for drawings to win prizes every hour. The farmers' market runs in Schwiebert Riverfront Park, downtown Rock Island on Saturday mornings May, 4, 2024 through November, weather permitting. “We are thrilled to offer customers an expanded selection of products this year,” said Ian Forslund, president at QC Farmers’ Market and co-owner of Mad Farmer’s Garden in Coal Valley. “New vendors this season will feature locally-grown strawberries, personal care products that feature local agricultural products, and produce grown in urban community gardens. “We are excited to welcome back many vendors too,” said Dylan Parker, QC Farmers’ Market board member and a Rock Island alderman. “Many of our most popular vendors will be returning for another season, including Dailey Farms Goat Milk, Suzanne’s Swiss Bakery, Grateful Graze, Crandall Farms, and The House with the Flowers.” Founded in 2021, QC Farmers’ Market is a cooperative of farmers and producers local to the Quad Cities area. Customers who purchase food and products at the QC Farmers’ Market buy directly from the producer, and all products are homegrown and handmade, without exception. All vendors at the QC Farmers’ Market accept SNAP payment, and thanks to a grant with Experimental Station, Illinois LINK card holders get double their value on every SNAP dollar spent, with matching funds to buy fresh produce and food-bearing plants. Complete List of Vendors for the 2024 Season: African Organics, Rock Island (Produce) Broken Shovel Farms, Joy, Ill. (Coffee, produce) Grateful Graze, Geneseo (Beef, pork, and chicken products) Crandall Farms, Coal Valley (Honey, beeswax products, quail and chicken eggs, produce) Cravers Little Red Barn, Taylor Ridge (Produce, soap) Dailey Farm, Alexis, Ill. (Goat milk, soap) Family Thyme Farms, Hillsdale (Produce, food-bearing plants) Flamingoberry, Davenport (Personal care products) Flora Flower Farm, Taylor Ridge (Floral arrangements) From the Earth Bakery, Rock Island (Baked goods, frozen treats) Ineichen Tomatoes, Milan and Blue Grass (Produce) Inner Light Essentials, Rock Island (Personal care products) Lathe & Lambsquarters, Cambridge (Produce, maple syrup, canned goods, meat, eggs) Mad Farmer’s Garden, Coal Valley (Produce, spices, baked goods) Never Dun Growing, Geneseo (Produce, CBD products, pork, poultry, eggs) Old Paths Farm, Aledo (Jams, preserves, baked goods) Perennial Crops Nursery, Rock Island (Food bearing trees and shrubs) Shire Regenerative Farm, Coal Valley (Food bearing garden plants) Strawberry Fields, Orion (Strawberries and produce) Suzanne’s Swiss Bakery, Rock Island (Baked goods) Tapestry Farms, Rock Island and Davenport (Produce) The House with the Flowers, Davenport (Floral arrangements) For more information on the Rock Island market (which is year-round online), click HERE.
	Bishop Hill plans 3-day quilt show The 2024 Bishop Hill Quilt Show "Rainbows, Rick Rack & Roses" will be held May 17-19 in the Bishop Hill Colony School. Hours will be 10 a.m.-4 pp.m. Friday, May 17; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 18; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, May 19. Quilts, gifts and antiques will be featured throughout the village in the event that is sponsored by Prairie Queen Quilt Club.
	Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce awards over $32,000 in scholarships to area students The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce has awarded $32,750 in scholarships to local students for the 2024-25 school year. The chamber raises funds and awards scholarships to local students pursuing higher education every year. Committees and volunteers organize fundraising efforts, collect scholarship applications, evaluate applications and award funds. “We are so appreciative of our members’ support to provide these scholarships. Collaborating with the chamber, whether financially, as a committee member or a volunteer goes a long way in supporting our area students in their future,” said Pam Fluck, SVACC Board President. “A future we hope brings them back to the Sauk Valley area.” The Agribusiness Committee awarded scholarships totaling $18,750 to all 15 applicants for the upcoming school year. Four manufacturing scholarships were awarded, totaling $6,000. The Farnham Business Scholarship was awarded to four students, totaling $4,000. The SVACC Hispanic Business Leaders Committee awarded four scholarships, totaling $4,000. “It is due to the engagement and commitment of our members in our Chamber events and activities that allow us to make workforce development initiatives a priority,” said Kris Noble, Executive Director. For more information on SVACC scholarships and their allocations, please email Kris Noble at knoble@saukvalleyareachamber.com or call (815) 625-2400.
	Ex-convicted convict receives second chance at life through unexpected pardon Jason Hernandez didn't have a positive upbringing, being convicted at 21. However, his determination to change paid off after President Biden gave him a pardon.
	Scott County voters have new user-friendly election website Scott County voters now have a user-friendly website to find all their election information, according to a news release. Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins has announced that elections.scottcountyiowa.gov is online. Tompkins said the site will be easier to navigate to find election information, register to vote or find a form to request an absentee ballot. Additionally, voters can enter their addresses to find their polling location and sample ballots, along with their current elected representatives. “We’ve been working for some time on ways to improve displaying information about elections on our Scott County site,” Tompkins said. “We believe voters will find everything they need in a user-friendly format at this site.” Tompkins said the site also includes past election information and a section listing officials voted on by Scott County voters. The site also converts to a mobile format for those looking up information on their phones or tablets. “Neapolitan Labs presented us with a great platform for this site that was affordable, and they have been great to work with,” Tompkins said. “We encourage Scott County voters to check out the site and find how clean it looks and how easy it is to use.”
	3 Things to Know \| Quad Cities morning headlines for May 1, 2024 A Galesburg football coach is facing domestic battery charges, and a vigil is scheduled in response to Iowa's new immigration law.
	Purina, Clinton, supports Maquoketa Betterment Corp., dog park Team members from Purina in Clinton recently presented a $15,000 donation to leaders of Maquoketa Betterment Corporation to create pet-friendly activities and build obstacles in the new dog park at the Horseshoe Pond Campground, a news release says. The donation was delivered through the Purina Trust Fund, recognizing organizations who work to positively impact Purina’s operating communities. Maquoketa Betterment Corporation is focused on improving the city of Maquoketa by making the community a better place to live and conduct business. “We are honored to accept this donation from Purina as it will help us make a difference in the community,” said Scott Warren, dog park committee member. “Purina’s investment in our organization will have a tremendous impact and will contribute to a thriving environment for people and pets. We look forward to using the funds to actively carry out our mission as we improve the new dog park at the Horseshoe Pond Campground.” “At Purina, we focus on crafting the best quality food for pets, but we are just as passionate about the communities where we serve,” said Justin Wilkinson, Purina Clinton factory manager. “We are thrilled to present Maquoketa Betterment Corp. with a Purina Trust Fund grant and continue our partnership in the community.” In the last five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million to organizations focused on making a difference for pets, people and the planet, the release says. The Purina Clinton factory employs more than 565 local associates. To learn more about causes Purina supports, visit here.
	Supervisors approve grant for fruit and vegetable industry A grant was approved for $19,876.
	Rotary Club, United Way of Muscatine assemble literacy kits for Jefferson students Sixty-one literacy kits were assembled and delivered.
	Wilton students present project in Washington D.C. at National STEM competition Wilton students make the case for their project at the National STEM compeition in Washington D.C.
	Farmers markets open for the summer this week in the Quad-Cities Which market are you going to? There are plenty of options in the area opening this week.
	Eldridge City Council removes utility board member Paula Steward amid ongoing tensions Without public discussion by council members, the Eldridge City Council voted unanimously Monday to remove Paula Steward from the city's utility board.
	New Kingdom Trailriders in Sherrard celebrates 40th anniversary Nearly 110 riders a week come through the doors.
	Pending Death Notices for Muscatine, May 1, 2024 Beverly M. Meyer, 86, of New Liberty, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Genesis East Medical Center, Davenport. Arrangements are pending at Bentley Funeral Home, Wilton, Iowa.
	Pending Death Notices for the Quad-Cities, May 1, 2024 Thomas L. Hansen, 76, of Cambridge, died Friday, April 26, 2024, at Hammond-Henry Hospital, Geneseo. Cremation rites will be accorded. Private family interment will be in the National Cemetery on Rock Island Arsenal. Military rites will be given. Memorials may…
Tuesday, April 30th, 2024
	5 years later: Davenport’s quest to improve flood resiliency after 2019 downtown barrier failure After barriers failed in Davenport during the flooding of 2019, city officials were forced to rethink their flood resiliency plans.
	We're 100 days out from the Iowa and Illinois state fairs! Both fairs run from Aug. 8 to Aug. 18.
	Ballet Quad Cities receives anonymous $100,000 donation Officials said the funding will help renovate their new Moline location.
	FBI says older adults lost $3 billion to scams in 2023 That's an 11% increase from 2022.

Thursday, May 2nd, 2024

Wednesday, May 1st, 2024

Tuesday, April 30th, 2024