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

DNA Doe Projects describes how it identified 'Jane Clinton Doe,' 15-year-old Cheryl Lynn Edwards

More than 50 years after a Jane Doe was found in Clinton County, the DNA Doe Project used forensic genetic genealogy to identify her as Cheryl Lynn Edwards.

All six weekly classes will compete at Davenport Speedway

When racing returns to the Davenport Speedway this Friday, weekly points racing will be center stage. All six weekly classes will be in action, on June 26, a news release says. Davenport Speedway has reached the midway point of the 2026 season. The battles for the track championships are beginning to take shape. While some [...]

Mamdani's political gamble pays off as his endorsed candidates sweep their primaries

All three progressive candidates backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani — including two who took on Democratic incumbents — won their primaries in safe seats almost guaranteeing their election in November.

Cook review: 'Beast' packs solid punch in story about MMA fighters

"Beast" made a quiet entrance and an even more silent exit in theaters a few months back. Maybe this solid film will earn an audience on streaming platforms. I hope so - it deserves to be seen. Russell Crowe, who is among the ensemble in a small but pivotal role, also co-wrote the screenplay with [...]

Moline American Legion Post #246 swears in new leadership

Moline American Legion Post #246 swore in new leadership. The move is part of the legion's celebration of 250 years of America. To join the American Legion, click here. Those interested can also send a message via Moline American Legion Post #246's Facebook page or contact Jack Achs at 563-650-3641 or email here.

Bettendorf police remind community of fireworks ordinance ahead of 4th of July

Consumer fireworks can only be used July 3 and July 4.

Muscabus will take center stage at Muscatine City Council meeting

MuscaBus will take center stage during Tuesday’s Muscatine Council meeting as the council recognizes the 2026 MuscaBus Driver of the Year and the mayor will proclaim June 26 as MuscaBus Appreciation Day. The council will convene at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council Chambers, on the second floor of Muscatine City Hall. Veteran driver [...]

Davenport Speedway extends fan vote for 2026 Hall of Fame inductees

The Davenport Speedway Hall of Fame Selection Committee has decided to extend the fan vote for the 2026 class of inductees to the Hall of Fame, a news release says. The fan vote was scheduled to end June 17 at the Iowa Governor’s Cup, which was rained out. The new deadline for the fan vote is [...]

LeClaire to hold splash pad ribbon cutting ceremony

Kids in LeClaire will have a new spot to cool off this summer.

Moline to celebrate completion of Riverside Legacy project with ribbon cutting for new mini-pitch

The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on July 10.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley names new president and CEO

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley has announced a new president and CEO. According to a Facebook post from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, Daniel Gleason has been named as the president and CEO of the organization. Daniel brings a wealth of experience in community leadership, nonprofit management, fundraising, partnership [...]

DNA Doe Project reveals how Cheryl Lynn Edwards was identified more than 50 years later

A team of 16 genealogists from three countries helped identify Cheryl Edwards. Here's how they traced her family history.

Muscatine police start patrols around evacuated buildings

Overall, 36 apartments and 18 businesses are still under evacuation orders.

Iowa blocked from restricting sugary foods and drinks under SNAP

A federal judge said Iowa cannot block SNAP recipients from buying sugary foods and drinks with their benefits.

Two new locations make pitch to become home of the Chicago Bears

Two new locations have been proposed for a new Bears stadium, one in Chicago's Southeast Side and one in McCook, with the latter offering the Bears the land for free, a $2 billion stadium with their own money, and a $1 per year lease to the village.

DNA Doe Projects discusses how it identified 'Jane Clinton Doe,' 15-year-old Cheryl Lynn Edwards

More than 50 years after a Jane Doe was found in Clinton County, the DNA Doe Project used forensic genetic genealogy to identify her as Cheryl Lynn Edwards.

Finding Jane Doe: How genealogists identified Cheryl Lynn Edwards

Law enforcement and genetic genealogists identified an unidentified body from 1975.

Where legislatures lag, local officials are stopping data centers altogether

The rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers is far outstripping efforts to regulate them in Missouri and other states. As a result, communities are responding with hastily called moratoriums and divisive local elections to address the massive industrial facilities popping up across America.

New mural with nod to Burlington's history brightens corner

A new mural brightens the corner of Central Avenue and Columbia Street, adding another piece to Burlington's growing collection of public art while celebrating the community's rich history and sense of place. Commissioned by local business owner Ross Haeger and painted by Burlington artist Craig Jacoba, the mural depicts a Burlington riverfront scene featuring a [...]

Illinois, public school libraries receive over $27M in grants

The money will help pay for books, technology, literacy programs, building improvements and security upgrades.

Chateau Estate residents return after explosion

Residents of the Chateau Estates neighborhood in Dixon, Illinois are returning home after an explosion that severely injured one person.

Vander Veer Park fountain will be inoperable this year

Staff have tried to fix a persistent issue with the fountain, but city officials said a full replacement is needed.

Supreme Court rules that prison guards can't be sued for shaving Rastafarian's head

The Supreme Court ruled that a Louisiana prisoner whose dreadlocks were forcibly shaved off by prison guards cannot sue the guards under a federal law to protect the religious rights of prisoners.

Police begin patrols to ensure no one enters evacuated Muscatine buildings

The City of Muscatine asks residents in the 200 block of East 2nd Street to comply with the mandatory evacuation put in place last week as a precautionary measure, according to a news release.  Starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, the Muscatine Police Department is patrolling the area to ensure no one enters the [...]

Latest sunset of the year coming this Saturday

Enjoying these late sunsets? Or early sunrises? Well, the latest sunset of the year is THIS Saturday! The sunset times do not change much near the solstices, so we're only gaining a few seconds in the evening right now. It all peaks this Saturday when the sun sets around 8:41:44. Then, we slowly start losing [...]

Medical experts urge safety around fireworks as Fourth of July nears

Hospital emergency rooms typically see an uptick in visits from fireworks-related injuries around the holiday.

Local photographer opens gallery highlighting local female athletes

Holly Willwerth is on a mission to highlight and celebrate local female athlete from elementary through high school.

Rock Fall hit and run driver, vehicle identified

The driver and vehicle that struck a bicyclist in rural Rock Falls have been found and identified.

State police sergeant remembered 25 years after Centennial Bridge death

The Centennial Bridge reflects that day, now named for fallen Master Sgt. Stanley Talbot.

Bill to increase supply of homes and lower prices advances

The Senate passed a bill designed to increase the supply of homes and lower their prices. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644) would ban corporate investors from buying single-family homes. The move also provides money to turn abandoned infrastructure into housing and offers a framework for communities that want to reform outdated [...]

Moline-based Elliott Aviation celebrates 90th anniversary

Elliott Aviation is one of the country's oldest fixed-base operators.

Healthcare providers, law enforcement provide 4th of July safety tips for fireworks

Doctors urge anyone using fireworks to always have water on hand to put out any fires and to douse used shells.

Dedication ceremony to be held for mural honoring Black Davenport’s history

The Friends of MLK, Quad City Arts and the Downtown Davenport Partnership will host a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the new mural, according to a media release.

Free garden breakfast series invites you to tour QC GIFT Gardens, fight local hunger

This summer you can enjoy free breakfast while touring QC GIFT gardens and learning how they're stocking our food pantries with fresh produce. Here's how to attend.

Go Over the Edge to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley

You can take the rappel of a lifetime and help Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley! Kylie Wise joined Our Quad Cities News with details on Over the Edge. For more information, click here.

Learn about historical garments and textiles with the Putnam Museum's Collection Couture Club

You can get exclusive glimpses into the world of collecting historical garments and textiles, how collections are built and what it takes to preserve them with the Putnam Museum. Michele Darland joined Our Quad Cities News to talk about the Collection Couture Club. For more information, click here.

Elliott Aviation celebrates 90 years in the QCA

An aviation services company in the QCA is marking a big milestone. Elliott Aviation is celebrating 90 years in Moline. The company started off on a small grass airstrip in DeWitt in 1936 and has expanded its service from the Quad Cities metro and Des Moines to Minneapolis and Atlanta. CEO Michael Parrish says they've [...]

Nearly $3 million available for flood mitigation in Davenport

City officials have until July 22 to apply for the funds.

Carrie Underwood, July 4

A country-music superstar whose long list of accomplishments includes eight chart-topping albums, more than two dozen chart-topping singles, and recognition as the most awarded country artist of all time – all since her American Idol debut in 2005 – Carrie Underwood is the fourth of July's special guest in the John Deere Classic's "Concerts on the Course" series, Rolling Stone hailing her as "the female vocalist of her generation in any genre."

Old Dominion, July 5

With AllMusic hailing the group's most recent album Barbara for "songs that are as vulnerable and deeply introspective as they are radio-friendly," the chart-topping musicians of Old Dominion perform the closing July 5 event in the John Deere Classic's "Concerts on the Course" series, the popular touring ensemble's credits including four Academy of Country Music Awards and nine top-10 Billboard singles over the past decade.

Pints and Paws blood drive returning to the Quad Cities in July

For every donor who gives blood at one of the drives, the Red Cross will donate $10 to animal shelters in the Quad Cities.

Julianna Joy, July 5

With Still Listening magazine hailing the artist as "unafraid to bend genres and explore the depths of her emotions," indie-pop singer/songwriter Julianna Joy headlines a July 5 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, Illustrate magazine adding to the raves by saying that the Midwestern talent "captures the ache of emotional distance with striking precision."

Johnny Delaware, July 6

Lauded by the Charleston City Paper as its "Singer/Songwriter of the Year," and praised for "deftly blending an array of influences that nod toward crooning pop-rock in the vein of Chris Isaak or Roy Orbison, the theatrical roots-rock excess of Bruce Springsteen, and the dark post-punk romanticism of Echo & the Bunnymen," Johnny Delaware performs a solo concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel on July 6, the artist also famed for his tenures with the alt-rockers of Susto and The Artisanals.

Rachel Swain, July 8

Touring in support of her debut album Neon Lullaby that Music Arena Gh praised for its "sprawling themes of defiance, motherhood, and queer identity," singer/songwriter Rachel Swain headlines a July 8 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, Music Arena Gh adding that the Americana artist's first full-length recording is "a deeply honest testament to her own survival,"

Free garden breakfast series invites public to tour gardens, fight hunger

This summer you can enjoy free breakfast while touring QCA GIFT gardens and learning how they're stocking our food pantries with fresh produce. Here's how to attend.

North Scott Press — June 24, 2026

2026 Iowa City Jazz Festival, July 3 through 5

A dynamic lineup of nationally acclaimed artists and rising stars will take center stage at the 2026 Iowa City Jazz Festival, presented by GreenState Credit Union from July 3 through 5 in downtown Iowa City. This free, three-day celebration features performances on multiple stages, culinary delights, artist booths, and family-friendly activities, all located adjacent to the University of Iowa Pentacrest on Clinton Street and Iowa Avenue.

In symbolic vote, Congress directs Trump to remove forces from Iran war

The measure to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran does not require the president's signature, nor does it carry the force of law. But it reflects bipartisan frustration with the war.

Davenport Parks and Recreation launches new safe summer fun program for teens

Participants help shape the experience by planning their own field trips and volunteer opportunities, officials said.

Traffic Alert: Government Bridge, Rock Island Viaduct to close for sealing

The bridge and viaduct will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday for roadway sealing, according to a media release.

The Jayhawks, July 3

Their most recent album XOXO lauded by Pitchfork for being "a distillation of their manifold strengths" boasting "pastoral accounts of American beauty curdling into something coarser and sadder," the Minnesota-based alt-country and country-rock outfit The Jayhawks headlines a July 3 concert at Maquoketa's Codfish Hollow Barn, Louder Than War adding that "there is a real feel of togetherness on XOXO which is reflected in the interchanging lead vocals and instruments."

Pert Near Sandstone and Arkansauce, July 9

Hailed by Tomorrow's Verse for “unique and soulful songs that don’t often lean on bluegrass clichés – or any clichés, for that matter,” the lauded roots and bluegrass ensemble Pert Near Sandstone co-headlines a July 9 concert at Maquoketa's Codfish Hollow Barn alongside the talents of Arkansauce, whose 2023 release Ode to Wonder, according to Americana Highways, ""provides listeners of bluegrass with revelry, wonder, and whimsy on 11 distinctive insightful songs,"

Collecting nature’s bounty

How many times are young children asked: Where does your food come from? It comes from Walmart or Hy-Vee, they might say. No, their parents and teachers might correct them, it comes from farms. But every spring and summer, the natural world produces its own abundance of food. They range from shallow plantain leaves in your backyard to black caps running along the side of the road; from jellylike wood ears climbing up dead trees to elderflowers dangling pale and yellow-white. “Why not eat what nature provides for us?” Luke Hart, a naturalist with Muscatine County Conservation, said on a late spring hike for wild edible around Saulsbury Bridge. “It’s a cool idea to think that what we need is right here in this park.” He picked a sprig of wood sorrel from the side of the trail. Its heart-shaped leaves grow in clusters of three. “Some people call it false clover. It's full of a very tasty oxalic acid that is rather sour and tart,” Hart said. “I don't eat too much, but when the kids are interested in trying something new, I'm like, here you go.” Becky Baugh, a Scott County Conservation naturalist, handed me a cluster of wood sorrel seed pods at the Wapsi River Center outside Dixon. Each was about the size of a pinky nail and had a tart, lemony snap. Many of the region’s wild foods have several edible parts, she explained. Like elderberry plants, one of her favorites: their flowers can make a summer cordial or tea, while their berries can be stewed into a medicinal syrup. Foraging for wild edibles can be daunting, Hart said. But “you just have to be a little brave.” “I started by learning five new edibles, getting really used to them,” he explained, “being able to identify them, and I didn't even start to harvest or eat until I was comfortable identifying them over and over.” They were dandelions, wood sorrel, mulberries, morel mushrooms and black walnuts. “And then I just kept adding them.” “There's something empowering about knowing what you can go out and pick and eat,” he said. “And it costs nothing. All it costs is being respectful” Hart follows certain rules of responsible harvesting, and shares them with the young naturalists enrolled in Muscatine County’s summer camps. He takes a third of what he finds, only up to what he plans to eat. For him, foraging is part of a thoroughgoing excitement about the natural world—and teaching kids what they can eat is one way he can share that knowledge. “Kids love trying new things,” he said. “They get excited because they're like, ‘Can I eat this?’ I'm like, ‘Yes, you can, because I told you you can’... My hope is that they will recognize it again and be able to pass on that rather tribal knowledge. It’s something I think is being lost.” “The job is really, as educators, to teach kids why these habitats are so important, not just for the animals that call this home, but why is it useful to us,” Hart continued. Wild edibles are among the best evidence. As he walked, Hart pointed out not just the plants he eats, but what he does with them. He uses redcedar berries in his sauerkraut—a native replacement for traitional juniper (native redcedars are actually a variety of Juniperus). He places a few garlic mustard leaves on top of a salad. Golden oyster mushrooms, he said with a large cluster of them in his hand, are best sautéed in butter. Perhaps this cluster was a little larger than desirable, he said—the mushroom was best when small and young. But he would still harvest and eat it. “They're not native, quite invasive, and they kind of steal the show, steal the habitat from our native oyster mushrooms,” Hart explained. Caleb Sayler of Bettendorf, vice president of the Iowa-based Prairie States Mushroom Club, began foraging for morel mushrooms twenty years ago. Now he hunts for a range of wild mushrooms, like spring golden oysters, summer wood ears and chanterelles and fall hen-of-the-woods. For him, the trick is not just finding the mushrooms—but convincing his three young kids to eat them. Even young kids cannot resist a fried and breaded morel, although their growing season ended in May. “Just about any other mushroom, when it's my first time eating it, I will slice it kind of thin and then sauté it in butter,” he said. At this point, he reckons he has tried every edible mushroom in eastern Iowa. Sayler can comfortably identify Iowa’s edible mushrooms, as well as a range of nonedible or undesirable varieties, like phesantbacks, oysterlings and a rare summer Gymnopilus, one of the region’s rare psychedelics. It smelled like honeysuckle and licorice. The early summer marks the peak of berry season. Mulberries are among the region’s most widespread and commonly consumed wild berries, Baugh said. Two varieties can be found: the invasive white or Asian mulberry and the native red or American mulberry. “You can kind of tell with the leaves,” she said, pulling down a branch. “If they are hairy and rough, that is the red mulberry, and if it is smooth, it is a white mulberry. I think this one is a white mulberry, because those are smooth. “So this is one of the invasive, but they are still delicious. I have them growing in my yard, and I eat off of them.” And it’s not just Iowa’s humans who enjoy wild mulberries. They are adored by Iowa’s box turtles. “You want to find turtles, go find a very ripe mulberry tree, dropping berries. You will find turtle after turtle, lips stained purple,” Hart said. And he thinks he knows why turtles find the dropped berries irresistible. “This is fermenting fruit. Are these turtles getting drunk off of these berries?” Hart wondered. “We have a three-toed box turtle. Won't eat raspberries, won’t eat blueberries. I threw mulberries in, and it took right to them.” Mulberries are part of a family of wild fruit that include blackberries, raspberries and black raspberries (which are their own, third fruit). These varieties grow across eastern Iowa in low, thorny brambles. Their canes fly up and down out of farmland and roadside soil. Gooseberries—a relative of currants, with a concentrated, almost raisinlike taste—also grow across the region. Birds had devoured nearly every gooseberry off the tree Baugh found, though she took a leaf in her hand. “I always remember gooseberry by its leaf. It almost kind of looks like a goose foot,” she said. “It is also very thorny.” The small gooseberries tend to attract birds, which makes it one of Baugh’s favorites for native landscaping. “If people want to plant something that they can eat, but also bring in the wildlife, this is perfect,” she said. “Our catbirds absolutely love this. Our orioles will also eat off this tree.” Raccoons may also sample the fruit, she noted. “The downfall of the berries is they're always ripe when the bugs are also everywhere, at worst,” Baugh said, swatting bugs from her arms. The Wapsi River Center is a nature preserve and does not allow visitors to forage, Baugh said. But Scott County Park and West Lake Park are open to responsible foragers, and so is Saulsbury Bridge in Muscatine. “Make a map,” Hart recommended. He said Muscatine Conservation offers free maps of the park—where you can jot down a fruitful mulberry or a patch of wood sorrel. “The small berry tree is going to be here next year… and then you come back year after year.” Baugh encouraged new foragers to “make a plan” before they set out. “Do a little research first. Always plan your trip, so you're not just kind of going out and seeing what you want. If you know what certain plants you want to try to forage for, then you know what habitats to go look for them,” she said. Whatever your level of experience, learning in the natural world never stops. “I consider myself still a beginner, a novice, really,” Hart said. Though he could fool you. Get familiar All of the expert foragers recommended using a guide or handbook, and becoming familiar with edible species before trying them. And we recommend the same: because my story, photos and descriptions are not meant to be a guide. They might pique your interest, or share an interesting detail; but if you want to ingest the natural world, you had better consult the experts. Sam Thayer’s 700-page Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern & Central North America is the standard, encyclopedic reference for foragers. The Scott County Library System owns a copy. Mike Krebill of Keokuk has written The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles, an accessible catalogue that includes notes on both botany and cuisine. Sayler recommended novice mushroom foragers begin with guides by Michael Kuo, such as 100 Edible Mushrooms and Mushrooms of the Midwest, coauthored with Andrew S. Methven. Iowa State Extension also offers a free, 80-page guide titled Safe Mushroom Foraging that can be downloaded from their website. Please, before you start gobbling wild edibles—consult the experts.           

A blossoming community at Miss Effie's

Mother knows best? Well, maybe not always. Back in 2002, Cathy Lafrenz and her husband, Cliff, were at a crossroads. They’d both recently experienced career shifts. Living on their acreage just outside of Donahue, they decided to make the land work for them. Lafrenz decided she wanted to start a flower farm, and her husband agreed. “According to my mother, nobody would ever drive down a gravel road to pick flowers,” said Lafrenz. “We all say, ‘Mary was wrong.’ And we say it loudly, because it was the only time she was ever wrong in her life.” Instead, the original 20x20 foot patch turned into Miss Effie’s Country Flowers and Garden Stuff, Iowa’s first you-pick flower farm. Twenty-five years later, Lafrenz has not only continued the flower farm, she’s also learned new ways to diversify her revenue and build community. Lafrenz’s earliest exposure to horticulture was in college. “I took some hort classes at the University of Illinois when I was in school, just for fun. I was not a city girl. I grew up in a very, very small town. Both of my grandparents farmed, and my dad was a large animal vet. So, I lived in this itty-bitty town. I went to college and got a degree in home economics. I took two hort classes when I was in college – learned the difference between an annual and a perennial, and that was kind of it. Honest to God, our textbook was a ‘Better Homes & Gardens’ gardening book.” Later, though, she became a Master Gardener. While Miss Effie’s started out with just the pair, Cliff passed away after a battle with cancer in 2020, at the very start of the pandemic. Today, Lafrenz manages the farm with a staff of about seven. On June 10, Lafrenz shared some of her secrets of the trade during a farm field day hosted by Practical Farmers of Iowa. Several dozen people from across the state turned out for her two-hour session, “Small Space, Big Impact: Growing Flowers and Community on a Small Farm.” Indeed, the farm is small – just 1.8 acres, including the house. And she uses every inch of that land, not just for flowers, but other entrepreneurial efforts to keep customers engaged all year round. The blooms still reign supreme, though. Lafrenz said, due to the nature of the you-pick business, she’s not necessarily a conventional flower farm. Because she gets visitors of all ages, safety is key. “You will notice I don’t use fabric on my field for weed control, because weed fabric can get slick at times. We don’t use drip irrigation; we use overhead irrigation. So, for the absolute best blooms in the world, I’m probably not the model. My customers are coming out to pick flowers to take home, to enjoy the experience.” While some customers take advantage of the you-pick model to source flowers for weddings, and Lafrenz does sell fresh-cut bouquets, she’s not about selling high volume. “My customers are more about the experience.” Customers who arrive at the farm can pay a flat fee to pick during business hours. They receive a bucket and a pair of clippers. When the bucket is full, the customer will have, on average, 35-40 stems, which Lafrenz said can fill as many as four vases. What to grow This year, due to the weather, the farm has gotten something of a late start on blooms. Lafrenz mainly deals with perennials, although she’s also branched off into some other efforts. “The first thing you should do, if you are a flower farmer, is plant perennials. Peonies – you can never have enough peonies. We do a lot of delphiniums, and I do a lot of clematis … I have clematis on vines everywhere.” Lafrenz is also a fan of grasses, if they come in at just the right time. She said Shenandoah switch grass is particularly nice for use in bouquets due to its pink stem and vivid colors. Another recommendation is hardier perennials, like lysimachia and false indigo. For shrubs, she likes hydrangeas. She recently turned what was a vegetable patch into an area for wildflowers, although that came with its own difficulties. While the wildflowers were a success initially, Lafrenz said that didn’t last long. “Wildflowers are just such a struggle. We thought we read everything, we researched everything, and we’ve never gotten it quite right.” The problem? “Weeds, weeds and more weeds. “We started out, cleared the garden and we thought we had it in great shape. We threw double layers of cardboard in … we brought in six inches of compost, put that on top, and then we fall seeded all the wildflowers. The first year was amazing. We woke up and it was beautiful. I also did some perennial bulbs, mini crocus, mini tulips and mini daffodils, and we had those going all the way through. It was great, and I got a lot of great cuts out of it. But then the second year came along, and we just couldn’t control any of the roots. And we worked on it, and we’d get it better. And then it wasn’t. The third year, we kept wanting to make it work, and I wanted to mow it all down. But these lovely people that worked for me said no. “So, this fall, we went in, made the plan and organized what we wanted to put in. And you will still see some wildflowers come up. There’s a lot of Virginia pepperweed in there at the moment. And the sunflowers came in – we had planted a few sunflowers one year or another, and those all fall seeded. So, I’m hoping there’s something good.” For farmers interested in planting wildflowers, Lafrenz recommends taking advantage of the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) programs available in Iowa. Many counties, including Scott, offer assistance with roadside native planting processes, which can include planting in ditches and rights-of-way. These programs can also serve as valuable conservation projects. And Lafrenz said there’s another advantage. “Prairie plantings are amazing, and you can get really good cut flowers out of them.” This year, she said she’s looking to get back to perennials. That will include blue wood-aster, solidago, coreopsis, phlox and beebalm, along with some varietal grasses and coneflowers. Those flowers are just starting to come in, and as they do, well, it’s more weeds again. “I’ve always said this is like your grandmother’s garden. It’s not a showpiece, and we do our best. We make it look good. I’ll go by and say, ‘Oh my God, that looks so pretty.’ And then I go, ‘Oh, no it doesn’t.’” Lafrenz said she and her staff put a tarp over the field for the fall and winter months, which helped, but as soon as the tarp came off, weeds began to emerge. At Miss Effie’s, Lafrenz prefers to use organic fertilizers and pesticides when she can, as well as no-till methods. But that means the weeds mostly come out by hand. They’re also experimenting with a locking straw weed barrier and mulch method. Lafrenz said the locking straw, while not cheap, can help suppress weeds when they are small.    Another form of weed and pest control comes in the form of the ducks Lafrenz keeps on the farm. Ducks root and forage, but because they don’t have sharp claws on their feet, they tend to leave hardier plants undamaged. They also provide natural fertilizer. Lafrenz is also a fan of natural fertilizers like alfalfa pellets. “It’s super easy and super cheap, and you don’t have to worry that you’re going to over-nitrate anything. I like the pellets. I have used the meal, but I just use this straight pellet.” She tends not to use pre-emergent, although she and her staff have put a little on some of the perennial beds this year. “We’re more on the organic end, so I try to stay away from the pre-emergent.” Lafrenz said she’s also learned some valuable lessons on what not to plant over the years. “I started out with a lot of perennials, and then somebody said to me, ‘You don’t make money off of perennials. You make money off of annuals.’ So, I quit buying perennials for about five years and filled my garden full of annuals. Well, that is a really dumb idea, and I don’t know why I listened to them. Because you end up with this really dead spot in your garden sequence.” She’s also largely stepped away from attempting to grow roses, except for her personal use. Lafrenz has a few secret weapons when it comes to laying out her farm. “Because I’m a you-pick farm, I try to create areas of mystery,” she said. “Because it’s Iowa and it’s flat – I’ve got a little bit of a hill, but I want to create the vision that there’s something beyond there that they want to see.” That’s where her cattle panel arbors come in. She uses the wire farm fencing in various places around the gardens as decoration and as support for other flowers and vines. Cliff Lafrenz, who was an engineer, designed the supports, which Lafrenz calls “Contention Creek plant supports” after the creek that runs through the fields adjacent to her property. She said they started using the panels because they weren’t fond of the Hortnova netting that is frequently found on other flower farms. Her background in sales and design also informs how the beds are laid out. “I kind of coordinate my garden, and I treat my garden like it’s a retail store.” Lafrenz likes to plant complimentary flowers near one another, which can help make things easier for customers who may not have floral design skills. As she walked through one of her beds, she explained the theory to her field day guests, pointing to several types of flowers together in a row. “This row may have yellow in the center of it, and blue on one end and purple on the other. And we really pay attention to color. “I was in retail management for a long time in clothing stores, and that’s what you did. But it also makes sense when my customers walk through here. They’re buying a pink snapdragon right here. Well, what goes with that? Well, maybe the bupleurum here. I’ve got feverfew right here, and then we go into the pinkish of the Dara. And more snapdragons.” Diversifying revenue streams But flowers have only gotten Lafrenz so far, and with the unpredictability of her crop, she’s found ways over the years to diversify her revenue. The benefit of living on a flower farm is that when the product is in bloom, it’s incredibly photogenic. That makes Miss Effie’s an ideal venue for photography sessions, everything from high school seniors to families to Mommy and Me shoots. “Photography – the rentals on flower shoots have paid my property taxes for the last five years,” said Lafrenz. “So, if you’re not renting your farm out for – and that means you have to have insurance – but if you’re not renting your farm out for photo shoots, you may want to think about it.” Photo shoot rentals are $50 for two hours for a single client, ideal for senior photos and family shoots. But she’s also gotten involved in the mini-shoot trend. This allows a photographer to rent out the farm, at $50 per hour for a minimum of two hours and fit in multiple clients in quick sessions. Photography isn’t the only way Lafrenz rents out the farm though. She’s also available for rentals for events. She has an antique grain bin on the farm that’s been turned into a gazebo, and it’s hosted everything from bridal and baby showers to book clubs. Miss Effie’s also hosts small weddings – no more than 50 people – and elopements – no more than 10 people – starting at about $500. Another surprising source of revenue? Camping. While there’s no room for RVs, Lafrenz rents out a portion of her farm for tent campers. Rentals can be done at hipcamp.com or by contacting Lafrenz directly. “That is a great stream. It’s super easy to do. You can make it as simple or as hard as you want. I already have a porta-potty out here. So, I rent out the orchard area for 10 campers. I specialize in women that are travelling across the country, because I can advertise that it is a gated area. It’s a flower farm and I have a pink porta-potty. Is it huge? No, but it adds another $45 or so a week.” Just because there’s an off-season on the flower farm doesn’t mean Lafrenz takes the winter off. Instead, she offers cooking classes out of her home on Sundays during the cold months. Among her offerings are bread and pasta making lessons, and she said a popular topic right now has been salad making. Attendees can sample different types of lettuce and other salad mix-ins and learn how to make various dressings. The classes are usually capped at around six people at $50 per and are advertised on Miss Effie’s Facebook page. Collaboration and community Lafrenz has also built a community through Miss Effie’s. That includes her partnership with Connie King of Prairie Belle Flowers in DeWitt. In the lead up to spring, the pair get to work creating Blossom Boxes. Sold at $125 each, the boxes are essentially a starter garden, with approximately 35 blooms in each. They’re typically ready to go around Mother’s Day but must be ordered and paid for in advance. King and Lafrenz also teamed up to start the Farm-Hers Market at Miss Effie’s. Every Wednesday (weather permitting), approximately a dozen female-led vendors set up shop and sell all manner of products, from teas to baked goods, hand-made crafts and art, and even honey and homemade jams from Lafrenz’s own apiary and gardens. Lafrenz said that although farm stores are extremely popular right now, “I just can’t keep up with it.” That said, the Farm-Hers markets represent the best of both worlds, bringing customers to the farm and allowing them to meet new vendors that might not otherwise get attention at a larger or more traditional farmer’s market. Lafrenz added it is also a good way to highlight women in agriculture, as numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture report female producers make up 36.3% of the country’s total farmers. Madeleine Rhode, who owns Madeleine’s Macarons & More Bakery, is in her second year as a vendor at the Farm-Hers Market. She said she loves the community that has sprung up with the market. “We’re a community in and of ourselves, whether we’ve met before, or whether the Farm-Hers Market brought us together for the first time. We all talk amongst ourselves, we help one another out, we’re talkative. It’s great.” Rhode is a professional ballet dancer when she’s not baking and was introduced to the Farm-Hers Market when she met King at another market. She was immediately drawn to the concept of a female-led market. And she said she loves the farm. “You’re in touch with nature. It’s peaceful, it’s quiet. I feel like you’re forced to be more in tune with yourself too when you’re out here. It’s just great to be here and take in the nature.” In addition to the partnerships she’s built in Scott County, Lafrenz has other statewide partners. Not only is she a member of Practical Farmers of Iowa, she’s also a Silos and Smokestacks partner and has a good relationship with Travel Iowa.   What’s in a name? There’s one question Lafrenz gets asked all the time: who’s Effie? The answer turned out to be a little more interesting than Lafrenz ever intended. She said, when it came to the name, she was looking for something that evoked a little old lady in the 1930s. “She would raise chickens and sell eggs; she would sell flowers. Both of my grandmothers did that in their time. “One was named Georgia and the other was named Gladys, and we didn’t think either one had the right ring to it.” She landed on Effie as an inoffensive, albeit unusual, option. And for years, it was just Miss Effie’s. But Lafrenz’s relationship with the name took on new meaning when she was doing some genealogy and looking for more information about her Aunt Nora. “My grandmother Gladys, her oldest sister was always known as Nora. And I knew Aunt Nora. But I was doing some genealogy stuff, and I can’t find Aunt Nora. And she was 20 years older than my grandmother and lived in California. But I just can’t find anything. “And sure enough, I’m looking through things, and I discovered her name wasn’t Eleanora, like I thought. It was Effie Nora.” Lafrenz found another book with family artifacts, including a recipe from Aunt Effie Nora. She now has it framed and hanging in her kitchen. Will she be teaching that recipe in an upcoming cooking class? “Oh, God. I won’t eat it for anything in the world. It’s lime Jell-O, lemon Jell-O, fruit cocktail, pineapple and melted vanilla ice cream. No, we’re not making this one.” Miss Effie’s is open seasonally, weather permitting, June-September. Hours are subject to change and are listed at misseffies.com. Updates are frequently posted on Miss Effie’s Facebook page. The farm is located at 27387 130th Ave. in Donahue.  

“Corn Zone,” July 5 through September 27

Purchased in honor of the Figge Art Museum's late museum trustee, board president, and museum supporter Tom Gildehaus, the visitor favorite Corn Zone returns to the Davenport venue July 5 through September 27, its “corn field” installation of oversize blown-glass ears carefully suspended from the museum's ceiling with rope, and designed to explore the fragility of glass, the story of corn, and contemporary issues in farming.

“Connie & Michael Roberts: Portrait of America,” July 5 through January 3

Timed to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States' Declaration of Independence, the Figge Art Museum exhibition Connie & Michael Roberts: Portrait of America will be on display in the Davenport venue's Lewis Gallery July 5 through January 3, this arresting collection of works inviting audiences to reflect on the individuals who helped shape our nation’s history.

Put your healthiest hoof forward

For about a decade, Wilton FFA member Allysa Valet has enjoyed being around horses, taking care of them and making sure they are able to live their best, happiest lives. Her love for them first began as a young girl, being inspired to start riding horses after watching one of her favorite childhood movies, Barbie: A Pony Tale. “I’m so fortunate that my aunt had owned horses, so I’d known about them and started taking lessons,” Valet said. “After the first couple lessons that I had, I really bonded with the horses and after that, it was always a part of my life.” But while riding might have helped grow her love for horses, her desire to help them walk, run and thrive came from the farrier skills her aunt, Linda Staley, who began teaching Valet on her West Liberty property, where she has been providing professional hoof care and horseshoeing for over 50 years. “She’s teaching me everything that she knows,” Valet said. Plenty to learn Valet began learning about hoof care in 2024. To be a farrier, she had to learn about how to properly trim a horse’s hooves, as well as how to remove any dead soles or issues that would affect a horse’s ability to walk. “This past year has really been where I’ve made the most progress,” Valet said. Despite only working as a farrier for a couple years now, Valet said she feels she’s already learned a lot, having 20 to 25 horses on her aunt’s property to work on, with each one needing their feet trimmed about every six weeks, in addition to the clients she’s also taken on. “There’s a lot of different ways that people do it,” she said. “If you go over to Kalona, they leave the hooves very natural, but that can cause different deformities – it can cause their hoof to go out on one side or flare out, which just causes problems for them while moving.” With hooves, Valet said she had to learn different hoof measures, eventually developing a natural eye for judging how low or high a hoof is, as well as an instinct for how short to cut a hoof. “An eighth of an inch can make a world of difference, and so it has to be very specific.” One of the most difficult thing about the job, she shared, was getting the hoof angled in the right way when she prepares to work on it. “Their hoof has to be at a specific angle to make sure they are able to walk properly - it has to be between 50 and 55 degrees – so that was probably one of my biggest struggles.” Another difficulty was the more physical aspects of the work, with her needing to build up proper endurance to both use her tools and to hold up the horse as she works on them, with these horses sometimes needing to lean on her for support. “Initially it would take me an hour to do just a single horse, just because I’d have to take so many breaks,” Valet said. “There’s a lot of physical challenges at the start, but it’s just like when you start a new exercise, you eventually get used to it overtime.” Despite their strength and height, Valet added she was never too worried about being hurt by the horses she worked on, first starting on easier, more well-tempered horses, and has moved on to younger and sometimes more easily startled horses. “There’s been times where I have gotten kicked, or I’ve accidentally cut myself while I’m doing the trimming,” she admitted, though she never felt discouraged or intimidated by these moments. Valet would also often use her horse training skills during her farrier work, having already developed patience and calming strategies that she could then implement, typically through allowing them to take plenty of breaks. “A lot of times we’ll bring in a different horse that they like, just to make them feel safer.” Having already honed a lot of her farrier skills, Valet has started learning how to shoe horses. “Just in the past two months, I’ve learned how to do that, and I’m working right now on learning how to use a forge, how to widen the shoe and custom fit it to the horse’s feet, and learning how to nail it in their hoof.” This has involved developing a whole new style of hoof trimming, she explained, as its done differently when preparing for a shoe to go on afterwards. Like with trimming, Valet has been able to see first-hand how much of a positive difference shoes make for horses. “It’s kind of comparable to when you’re barefoot to when you’re wearing shoes for humans and horses. Some horses may limp when they’re walking, and then you put on shoes and they walk and run and do everything else they should be able to do.” Already excited about this new set of skills, Valet hopes to learn more about blacksmithing horseshoes, including the different types and sizes of them and which shoes work best for specific horses, all just so she can continue helping them. Making a true difference It didn’t take long for Valet to put her new skills to personal use, she recalled, as the first horse she bought had problems with her feet. “We were able to help her a lot through trimming her, so that was really just motivation for me, seeing (my aunt) be able to fix this horse and help their lives,” Valet said. Years later, Valet helps her main horse, Trixie, manage her arthritis through keeping her hooves clean and well managed. “Making sure her feet are okay is a really big part of making sure she’s overall healthy.” Recently, with her newest horse, Valet was able to put shoes on him herself, which she says felt like a great personal achievement for her. “He was limping on the rocks and while he was walking around, and he’s only five years old so he should not be doing that. He came to us and his feet were very bad and very flared (…) and just within the past five months, there’s been a world of difference in the way that he moves and the way his feet work,” she said. For the time being, Valet plans to continue working as a farrier as she attends college. “It doesn’t take that long to do, it takes me about 30 to 45 minutes to fully trim a horse, and it’s decent pay for how long it takes.” Once she graduates, she expects to primarily use her skills to trim and take care of her own horses. “It saves a lot of money, being able to do your own horses as opposed to paying someone else.” As for how she plans to continue helping other horses, Valet said she plans to go into horse and human chiropractic, a field she already has a leg up in. “I’ve noticed that just knowing the different bones, ligaments, and tendons all in their leg through doing farrier work, because I have to learn all those to correctly do the hoof, has helped me with the chiropractic side as well,” she said. Knowing how much of a difference her new skills have made for her and her horses, Valet encourages other students to also learn the farrier process, especially if they own horses and have been around them for a long time, though she specifies that they should learn how to do it properly through people who have already spent years doing it. “You have these farmers who do their horses because it’s their working horse, so they’re just going to trim them, and they don’t realize how things have to be or the angle the hoof has to be at, and that can just wear down the horse’s tendons and legs over time. So, I would encourage people to learn how to do it properly and then apply those skills on different horses,” she said. The best way to start learning, Valet believed, was through asking a personal farrier detailed questions while watching what they’re doing, trying to get as much knowledge as possible. “There’s just little tiny things you need to know, and it can be very specific, so ask as many questions as you can.” With all she’s learned and how much more she still has to learn, Valet said her favorite part of the job has continued to remain the same. Outside of getting the chance to meet and get to know different horses, the most enjoyable part has always been being able to see the improvements each horse is able to make once they get the help they need. “Seeing before and after pictures of a horse that I had to cut a big chunk of hoof off and then seeing that they’re able to walk so much better and live happier lives is always just really great,” she said.  

Iowa crops rated well despite heavy rain, storms

Damaging storms, one of which reached derecho status, spread across Iowa over the past week, but the state’s crop conditions remain stable, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a news release Monday that severe storms damaged crops and homes in eastern and southern Iowa during the June 8 through June 14 reporting period. Above-average rainfall for the second week in a row also caused flooding in some fields and “created challenging conditions for farmers” according to Naig. “Our thoughts are with those affected as recovery efforts continue,” Naig said in a news release. State Climatologist Justin Glisan reported the average precipitation across the state was 2.37 inches for the week, which was more than an inch above the climatological normal. A weather station in Russell reported a weekly total of 7.44 inches – the most precipitation recorded in the state during the reporting period. Heavy rain meant soggier soils. USDA rated 19% of topsoil as having surplus moisture and 13% of subsoil as surplus moisture condition for the week. This is an increase from the week prior, when 9% of topsoil and 7% of subsoil had a surplus moisture condition rating. The weather left farmers with 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the reporting period. Glisan also reported the week was unseasonably warm, with a statewide average temperature of 73.2 degrees Fahrenheit, more than 4 degrees warmer than the normal. Average temperatures across the state have been elevated for several weeks, with temperatures more than 8 degrees warmer than the normal during the May 25 through May 31 reporting period, according to Glisan’s reports. Iowa’s main crops continue to progress at or ahead of last year’s schedule. Corn and soybean emergence, at 97% and 95% respectively, are ahead of 2025 crop report figures and planting is mostly finished for both crops. Seventy-nine percent of corn crops in the state rated good to excellent condition for the reporting period. Iowa pasture and soybean were both rated 77% good to excellent condition. Oat conditions were 83% good to excellent and the crop, with 78% emergence, is 11 percentage points ahead of last year’s crop.

“America 250: Focus with Artist Sarah Ann Weber,” July 9

In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Davenport's Figge Art Museum is hosting American Art talks throughout the month of July, and on Thursday the 9th, guests are invited to the John Deere Auditorium to hear from Chicago artist Sarah Ann Weber, whose work Their Perfume Lost is featured in the A Golden Age for Whom? exhibition currently on view in the Mary Waterman Gildehaus Community Gallery.

Heavy Metal Summer Experience gives students hands-on electrical training in Moline

Eight Quad-Cities students are spending a week learning electrical skills, wiring projects and solar installation through a hands-on summer program.

Muscatine County Fair celebrates U.S.A. 250 July 15–19

The theme of this year’s Muscatine County Fair, scheduled from July 15-19, is “Freedom, Farming and Family Fun.” Wednesday and Thursday are Kids’ Days and Friday is Seniors Day. The annual Muscatine County Fair Parade will be Sunday, July 12, at 2 p.m. For more information, contact the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce. July 15: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA dog show, the 4-H/FFA dairy goat show and the 4-H/FFA meat goat show. The evening entertainment will include the coronation of Fair Royalty at 5 p.m. in The Grove, followed by stock car races in the grandstand. July 16: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA swine show and the 4-H/FFA rabbit show. Bacon Buddies will take place at 2:30 p.m. Evening entertainment features a concert by country band Confederate Railroad, with opening act the Cal Stage Band.  July 17: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA beef show, the 4-H/FFA poultry show, the 4-H/FFA bucket calf show and the 4-H FFA pet show. The evening entertainment will be the annual tractor pulls, hosted by ECIPA. July 18: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA sheep show. The evening entertainment is a concert by up-and-coming musician Josh Ross, with opening act Mark Chestnutt. July 19: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA horse show. Grandstand entertainment includes the annual demolition derby and trailer racing.  Throughout fair week, guests are welcome to explore the newly opened Kent Event Center, which will feature a wide array of static 4-H exhibits, as well as new activity exhibit for kids, “Play with the Giants: Ag edition.” Grounds admission to the fair is $10 for adults and $5 for kids per day. Pricing for grandstand entertainment varies by event and can be found at the Muscatine County Fair website. Fun passes and carnival armbands can also be purchased through the site. The Muscatine County Fairgrounds are located at 101 N. Clay St. in West Liberty. More information is available at muscatinecountyfair.com.

Cedar County opens the fair season July 8–12

The Cedar County Fair runs from July 8-12, with pre-fair activities scheduled July 5-7. Daily activities include Carve R Way chainsaw artistry, Bruno Blaszak’s Royal Bengal Tigers, Ms. Amy’s face painting, bingo, demonstrations from Cedar County Conservation, a petting zoo and more. July 8: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA horse show, the livestock skill-a-thon, the 4-H/FFA poultry show and the egg show. A veterans’ day ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m., and the Sports Wall of Fame induction will be at 1 p.m. Mutton bustin’ will take place at 4 p.m. in the Rodeo Arena. The fair royalty crowning will be at 5:30 p.m. on the Family Foods Stage at the Custom Builders Pavilion. Grandstand entertainment includes Mutton bustin’ and the Rogue Rodeo. A DJ will play following the rodeo. July 9: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA swine show, followed by Bacon Buddies, the 4-H/FFA sheep show, 4-H/FFA meat goat show, and the open lamb show. The Queens Cake and Ugly Cake contests will start at 10 a.m. in the Floral Hall, and the salsa contest taste testing will be at 5 p.m. The Tipton FFA and alumni pie auction will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Brothers Market Stage at the Custom Builders Pavilion. Grandstand entertainment includes Hot Laps at 6:30 p.m., followed by races. Adult bingo will be held following the races. July 10: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA cow/calf show, the heifer show, a draft horse show, the 4-H/FFA pet show, the 4-H/FFA bucket/bottle calf show, the “pre-4-H” bucket/bottle calf show and the dairy show. From 9 a.m. – noon, daycares will have free gate entry, and noon – 3 p.m., senior centers will have free gate entry. The kiddie tractor pull, sponsored by the Tipton FFA, will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Custom Builders Pavilion, together with the truck and tractor pullers meet and greet. The Cattlemen will host their Brisket Bash from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Cattlemen’s Building. Grandstand entertainment includes the ECIPA Truck & Tractor Pull, followed by a performance by Dirt Road Rockers on the Brothers Market Stage in the Custom Builders Pavilion. July 11: Livestock shows include the 4-H/FFA rabbit show, the 4-H/FFA market beef show, the 4-H/FFA supreme showmanship show, the live market beef auction and the all-species ribbon auction. The auction buyer’s celebration will be held at 4 p.m. in the Cattlemen’s Building. The Bill Riley Talent Contest will begin at 11 a.m. on the Brothers Market Stage in the Custom Builders Pavilion, and the chainsaw artist auction will be held at 5:30 p.m. Grandstand entertainment includes a concert by Randy Houser, featuring Conway Turley, at 7:30 p.m. Turley will also perform on the Brothers Market Stage following Houser’s concert. July 12: Livestock shows include the open horse show and the 4-H/FFA carcass contest. The baby contest will be held at 10 a.m. on the Brothers Market Stage. The Cedar County Auto Fest car show will start at 10 a.m. south of the main gate. 4-H activities continue at 10:30 a.m. with the style show on the Brothers Market Stage, followed by the Clover Kids graduation and Share the Fun. Youth Olympics will be held from noon – 3 p.m. south of the swine building. Grandstand entertainment will be a demolition derby at 3 p.m. Season passes for the fair are $40 for adults and $20 for seniors and children aged 6-16. Tickets to the Randy Houser concert are $35 before July 11, when the price will increase to $40. VIP tickets are also available. Additional pricing for all grandstand entertainment is available at thecedarcountyfair.com. The Cedar County Fairgrounds are located at 1195 210th St. in Tipton. A full fair schedule and pricing is available at thecedarcountyfair.com.

“The Wizard of Oz,” July 8 through September 5

At Rock Island's Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse from July 8 through September 5, family audiences are invited to follow the yellow brick road toward a magical stage treat in the theatre's new production of The Wizard of Oz, a delightful stage adaptation of the L. Frank Baum tale boasting the beloved musical score from the MGM film and unforgettable songs including "If I Only Had a Brain," "Ding Dong, the Witch Is Dead," and, of course, the iconic "Over the Rainbow."

MVF to offer single concert ticket option this year

The Great Mississippi Valley Fair returns for its 106th year Aug. 4-9. Attractions include the kids’ tractor pull, Dallas the Fire Guy, mutton bustin’, Tiger Encounter, Incredible Bats, Pretty Bird Paradise and more. Sandyland will return, and new this year will be kids karaoke. The Little Farm Hands petting zoo will be located in the Iowa Educational Building, which opens Thursday. Aug. 4: Tuesday is Special Needs Day, and individuals with special needs will receive free admission from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Livestock shows include the meat goat show, the 4-H sheep show and the 4-H and youth dairy goat show. The grandstand concert is Brad Paisley. Aug. 5: Wednesday is Senior Day, and individuals aged 60 and older will receive free admission all day. Livestock shows include the 4-H dairy and dairy bucket calf show and the 4-H breeding beef show. The grandstand concert is Keith Urban. Aug. 6: Thursday is Kids’ Day. Gate admission is free for all children aged 4-12 accompanied by an adult. Livestock shows include the 4-H poultry and egg show and the hay judging contest. The grandstand concert is Jessie Murph, featuring Stella Lefty. Aug. 7: Livestock shows include the 4-H market beef show and the bucket calf show. The 4-H fashion show and Share the Fun will take place in Keppy Hall at 5:30 p.m. The grandstand show is Tucker Wetmore, featuring Braxton Keith.  Aug. 8: Livestock shows include the 4-H rabbit show and the 4-H swine show. The apple pie auction will take place at approximately noon in the Claussen Show Barn. The grandstand concert is Goo Goo Dolls, featuring Neon Trees. Aug. 9: Sunday is Military Day, with free admission all day to all active and inactive service members with a military ID. Livestock shows include the horse show. The 4-H and FFA ribbon auction will take place at 10 a.m., followed by the buyer appreciation luncheon. The grandstand concert is Craig Morgan and Neil McCoy. Mississippi Valley Fair Fun Cards are $100 before July 1, when the price will increase to $120. Once again, the MVF is offering the WLLR and Pepsi Premier Experience, which includes exclusive pit access. A limited number of experience tickets are available at $200 per person. New this year, the MVF is offering a single ticket concert option, allowing fans to attend a single concert without buying a Fun Card. Ticket prices vary by headliner, and a limited number of tickets are available. The cost of the ticket also includes admission to the fair. There is also a single concert WLLR and Pepsi Premier Experience package for $125 per person. Installment payment packages are also available this year for tickets purchased online. Grounds admission to the fair (which does not include grandstand concerts) is $12 for adults and $5 for kids aged 4-12 and senior citizens. Kids under 3 are free every day the fair is open. The Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds are located at 2815 W. Locust St. in Davenport. A full fair schedule and the online box office can be found at mvfair.com. 

“Heaven Help Me,” July 9 through 19

With its author Joe Simonelli praised by the Asbury Park Press as a playwright who "really knows his characters" and "writes in a way which really gets to people," the ethereal comedy Heaven Help Me enjoys a July 9 through 19 run at Geneseo's Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, Bloomberg Radio's Joe Franklin adding to the praise by calling the show "a touching comedy/fantasy that displays both wit and charm."

Countryside Community Theatre's “Guys & Dolls,” July 3 through 12

One of the greatest and most beloved musicals in the history of American theatre opens Countryside Community Theatre's 2026 summer season at Eldridge's North Scott High School Fine Arts Auditorium, with Guys & Dolls running July 3 through 12, and treating audiences to a nine-time Tony Award winner that the New York Times called “the show that defines Broadway dazzle.”

“Cabaret,” July 3 through 12

One of American theatre's most exciting, acclaimed, and tune-filled entertainments receives a Timber Lake Playhouse staging during the July 3 through 12 Mt. Carroll run of Cabaret, the legendary Kander & Ebb musical that earned a combined 12 Tony Awards for Broadway's 1966 original and 1998 revival, and that was adapted into a 1972 film classic that received eight Oscars including Best Actress for Liza Minnelli and Best Director for Bob Fosse.

“Legally Blonde: The Musical Jr.,” June 24 through 27

The one-act version of a Tony-nominated delight the New York Times described as "a high-energy ... hymn to the glories of girlishness,” the theatrical version of a beloved Reese Witherspoon comedy enjoys a June 24 through 27 run with the Timber Lake Playhouse's Legally Blonde: The Musical Jr., a hilarious, tune-filled treat sure to demonstrate why Broadway World called the original show “a bright testimony to the power of women and importance of self-love.”

Red, White, & Boom!, July 3

Annual explosions of fun followed by literal explosions in the air will be taking place in Davenport's LeClaire Park, Rock Island's Schwiebert Riverfront Park, and Davenport's baseball stadium Modern Woodmen Park when the Quad Cities hosts its Fourth of July celebration Red, White, & Boom!, the bi-state July 3 event delivering a spectacular fireworks display over the Mississippi River as well as live music, food and beverage vendors, special presentations, family programming, and more.

2026 Walcott Truckers Jamboree, July 9 through 11

Making its eagerly awaited July 9 through 11 return, the Walcott Truckers Jamboree at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop will, in its 46th year, showcase more than 175 exhibits, displays, games, cookouts, fireworks, local and national country and rock musicians, and even a beauty contest for trucks in a celebration of America's big rigs and those who drive them.

River Action's Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks, July 7 through August 1

Delivering a blend of local history, environmental issues, education, entertainment, and fresh air, Davenport's River Action continues its series of outdoor presentations in the annual Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks – weekly "Explore the River Series" programs that, from July 7 through August 1, will address such topics as ferry boats, pollinators, Silvis' Hero Street, and noted area jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke.

Boll's sold: Historic community center fetches $200K for Princeton

Princeton will sell Boll’s Community Center. The city council voted 5–0 Monday to accept a $200,000 offer from Tom McMurren of Rushville, Ill. for the storied property, 428 River Drive. Councilman and former mayor Kevin Kernan voted against listing the community center for sale last August. But on Monday, he said it was the right decision for the town. “It's very expensive to run down there. It's a great location for it—it’s just not being run right,” he said. “Cities don't run great businesses.” Once a thriving general store, Boll’s has served as Princeton’s community center for several decades. Recent years have seen rental revenue dwindle as repair and maintenance costs have grown. Mayor Travis Volrath and members of the council have said they would like to devote the proceeds of the sale to renovation of the former Presbyterian Church building, which the city accepted as a gift last summer. The church building could host a new community center, city offices, a day care and a food pantry, Volrath and council members have suggested. Many Princeton residents have fond memories of the building, Councilman Zach Phares acknowledged Monday. “Those memories don't go away when it becomes something else. In fact, it is something completely different right now than when we made those memories,” he said. “When we can't afford to put the love into the building that it deserves, allowing somebody that has a passion to do so for our community becomes the best option,” he said. In an email, McMurren said that he planned to continue offering the building as an event venue and hoped to add “historic and antique décor.” “The long term plan is to get the upstairs, which is in great disrepair and will need a lot of time, money and sweat to complete, turned into a living space that would work as an Airbnb,” he added.  Reached for comment Monday evening, McMurren said he would share additional details after the sale closed. He said that he had formerly lived in LeClaire and planned to move back to the area soon. McMurren made a $150,000 offer on the space earlier this month, Volrath said Monday. The city council decided to counteroffer at $200,000 in a closed meeting June 11. McMurren accepted the counteroffer. Princeton City Council listed the building for $350,000 in August 2025. They dropped the price to $325,000 this March. Princeton’s insurance policy lists the building’s replacement cost at $2.5 million. Scott County has assessed the building at $171,000. As a piece of commercial real estate, it would generate approximately $5,000 in new tax revenue annually, city realtor Chris McDanel told the council Monday. Princeton resident Myrna Dannatt encouraged the council to sell the building at a public hearing before the vote Monday. A member of the community center board, she said the building had fallen into disuse and could be revitalized by a private business—like a coffee shop, antique mall or bed-and-breakfast. “We’ve got to do something different here... Let's make a change,” she said. Resident and former councilwoman Ann Geiger asked the council several pointed questions about the sale. She has voiced opposition to the sale and concerns over the potential cost of church renovations since last summer. “Have you already decided to sell it?” she asked. “Is all the money going to be used for the church, and has any ceiling been put on the church as to what is considered to be too much money to spend on that building?” Kernan said the council owed Geiger an answer to her questions about the church. Mayor Travis Volrath insisted that the council not discuss the church at a meeting where it did not appear on the agenda. Before voting in favor of the sale, Kernan noted that all proceeds would enter the city general fund, and noted that city statements would show how the money is spent. Boll’s is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Title trouble McDanel and Volrath said they hoped to close on the property by the end of July—but that could be difficult, as the city could not locate its abstract of title. The city has lost abstracts of title to all its buildings besides the Presbyterian Church, City Clerk Kisa Tweed said Monday. Former city clerk Katie Enlow last accessed title documents in the city’s safety deposit box in 2018. But when Tweed contacted her this month, she did not have the key. Princeton paid $200 to have the box drilled open—only to find that there were no title documents inside. Enlow did not have those either. McDanel said title reconstruction for Boll’s would cost about $1,500.  

Iowa American presents options

Representatives from Iowa American Water gave another presentation to the Eldridge Utility Board on Tuesday, June 16. However, board members and city officials still have many concerns to be addressed before any final decisions will be made on what to do with the city’s water and sewer utility. Ben Keith, director of business development and government affairs for Iowa American Water, delivered essentially the same presentation given to the Eldridge City Council on June 1. At that meeting, Iowa American Water president Brad Nielsen followed up on a presentation given at a May 18 joint committee of the whole meeting between the city council and the utility board. At the May 18 meeting, Iowa American Water officials recommended a full acquisition of Eldridge’s water and sewer utilities at a proposed price of $36.8 million. On June 1, Nielsen returned to give more information about two other options, a bulk water sale agreement and a defined service area agreement. Nielsen, and later Keith in his presentation to the utility board, said in their May 18 meeting, they had assumed the city was further along in its decision-making process regarding the utility, which had led the company to make its recommendation of the full acquisition. Therefore, they wanted to provide more information on these other options for consideration. Under the bulk water purchase agreement, Eldridge’s water utility would connect to a 12-inch watermain south of Slopertown Road that is owned by Iowa American Water. The company would set up a water meter, and the city would pay a monthly rate based on usage. Any additional capital investment in the area within the Eldridge city limits would be paid for by the city. A recent study by ISG Engineering said that could cost anywhere from $18 million to $29 million. Scott Hinton, engineering manager for Iowa American Water, shared additional information on what being a bulk customer would mean for the city. “Something to keep in mind: a bulk water sale would not be viewed as a regular customer. One of the things the Iowa Utilities Commission requires is that we treat all of our customers the same. So, should there ever be a situation where there’s enough development that we can’t serve all of our customers and our bulk water customers, the bulk water customers are the first ones that would not be served. “At this point, we can treat 30 million gallons a day, and our average day of selling is 16 to 17 (million). A big day in the summer might be 23 or 24. So, we still have plenty of capacity. But, I guess I want to be clear and make sure everyone understands, we have to serve our customers first, and a bulk water sale is not considered a customer similar to the rest of them.”  Hinton said this could be an issue if, for instance, a large data center was built nearby. However, he added that the company would know this in advance and prepare for how it could increase its capacity. It would not be a situation where Eldridge would have little notice that the city would not be served. With the designated service area agreement, the city and the company would enter into a contract, and any customers within the designated service area would have their water supplied by Iowa American. Any agreement would have to be approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission. On June 1, Nielsen said if the company made investments into the water system, it would expect an in-kind investment from the city on the sewer side.  Nielsen and Keith both discussed ways the city could potentially invest proceeds from the full sale of the water and sewer systems. After the presentation, Keith and the other members of the Iowa American Water contingent left the meeting, leaving the utility board to further discussion. Chair Michael Bristley said there was a question on the recent community survey for Eldridge residents about the potential utility sale. “I’ll be anxious to see what the voice of the community comes back with on that one. Does anybody else have anything else they want to talk about? We heard some additional information, but it’s still a lot to consider, I think.” Board member Mark Goodding asked if there was any consensus from the board as to what the best option might be. Bristley said knowing there was the opportunity for interconnection on the south side of town might be helpful for assistant city administrator Jeff Martens as he works on the economic development side of his job. “And it depends on who your first customer is going to be, or where does it start from. Does it start from the east and work west, or does it start west somewhere? At least knowing there is a potential for a bulk water purchase situation … options are good. And I think the district is something that can be considered if there’s an overabundance of demand for development. That could be a great option. For full acquisition, with the survey coming out, there’s a lot to consider.” Board member Jeff Hedrington expressed concerns about the current sewer capacity. Bristley asked city administrator Nevada Lemke if there was a master plan currently in place for water and sewer infrastructure. Lemke said the city is using the report prepared by ISG Engineering as its master plan. Lemke also referenced a rate study conducted by PFM, saying the proposed rates were based on work the city already knew it would need to do on both the water and sewer side. “And that was about $3.5 million or something, wasn’t it?” asked Goodding. Lemke confirmed, saying these were improvements that would need to be made to maintain just the current customer base. Bristley asked if there was a master plan for extending the infrastructure into the southern part of town. Lemke said the ISG report gave a proposed timeline of five-to-seven years and a median price tag of $25 million for any expansion. “With development, that’s difficult,” she said. “That’s not going to meet the needs of developers that come down there in these next couple of years, where we’ve got that opportunity … five-to-seven years isn’t going to get us to be that site that’s selected for those developers. They’re going to go where they can get utilities quicker than that.” City council member Ryan Iossi, who serves as the liaison to the utility board, told members that the council discussed starting the process to update the city’s comprehensive plan at its June 15 meeting. He encouraged board members to stay abreast of the council’s discussions going forward. “It’s going to be helpful, because that was – I wouldn’t call it a debate, but we had a conversation last night. Do we want to start from the east and take baby steps? Or do we want to go headfirst all the way in? Or do we want to focus on the northeast corner by (Lewis Machine & Tool)? My personal answer was, I think with baby steps, we’re going to miss out on that window.” He reiterated a discussion point from the June 15 meeting, where the council talked about how residential taxes alone won’t cover the city’s needs. Iossi also addressed the city’s current comprehensive plan. “The difference is, they did a comprehensive plan in the past and then it sounds like it got put up on a shelf. And that doesn’t do any good if that’s not a working document and we’re not revisiting it on a regular basis. It does no good to put in all the work for a comprehensive plan. We have to then make moves along the way for that comprehensive plan to come through.” Bond for improvements? Lemke spoke more on the fact that, with the bulk purchase option, the city would still have to do approximately $25 million in infrastructure expansion. “But would that bond out on the water side?” asked Goodding. “That’s what worries me is the bonding,” said board member Abby Petersen. “Because if you’re looking at bonding for this and you’re looking at bonding for something else, you’re smacking the citizens with a very, very large amount.” Board member Jeff Hamilton agreed. Bristley asked how much of the cost could be passed on to a developer. “That’s where you go back to baby steps,” said Iossi. He said the council had discussed concerns about Davenport annexing land in the southwest portion of Eldridge and installing infrastructure. “Davenport’s going to run out of space, and they’re going to take what they can get. They don’t have a problem jumping across Slopertown if that’s what it takes for their tax base.” Iossi brought up issues in the 1970s between Eldridge and Davenport over the Caterpillar plant that ultimately resulted in a lawsuit. “So, again, it comes down to that overall goal of, do we want to do baby steps, or do we want to jump in headfirst? And then at that point, it needs to be determined is having that bulk feed head there good enough? Or if we’ve got to put that money in the infrastructure anyway, is it better to have that bulk feed as a backup in case we aren’t able to expand? And then at that point, we’d have to do a mixing station. I don’t know.” Hedrington again asked about sewer, and said expansion of that system would come with an even greater cost than water. Lemke said that, because the sewer side had been making incremental rate increases, and the water had not, sewer has some reserves and capital built up. She said, right now, the cost to expand the sewer is at about $4.5 million. Iossi said the revenue from the sewer is also at least partially covering some city wages, and it would need to find ways to make that up if the sewer utility was sold. “I think from our point of view, we’re going to keep the sewer,” said mayor Scott Campbell. “I think that we will keep it probably – most likely – because of conversations we’ve had with the council, we need those funds for other things. The water thing, I think is different, because of the infrastructure that needs to be put out there for businesses to come.” He reiterated Iossi’s point about residential growth not covering all the city’s needs. “That’s why we need industrial growth to balance that out. And we are a long way from that.” Campbell also said he and Lemke had a phone conversation with attorneys from Ahlers & Cooney, which handles the city’s bond issues. “We’re no different than other municipalities across the state. We are in trouble – not because of this board – but previous boards have not raised our water rates. And a ton of other communities in Iowa are in the same boat we are. If we would have raised our rates like we should have, we would be like the sewer department, where we would have some of this money built up that could help with some of this cost. We are behind the eight-ball. So, the key is, don’t make the same mistake twice.” Petersen expressed concern about the water rates being so far behind, which has caused discussion about the city bonding to help pay for the cost of infrastructure. “Well, you still put that back on the citizens. You can’t just say, ‘bond it.’ That’s not imaginary money, you know? That still comes out of their pockets, right? One way or another, it’s going to have to get paid for.” She said there might be some benefit to being under the umbrella of Iowa American Water, if the cost of the projects would then be spread out among all the company’s customers. “I don’t know. I’m kind of torn on it.” Petersen asked Lemke if there was a deadline or a timeline for the city to decide. Lemke said she didn’t think there would be time this year to get a referendum question about bonding for projects or selling the utility. “I think the only timeline we’re looking at is making a decision so that we can get answers to developers before we’re two years down the road and then they have missed that opportunity.” “I guess the other question I have is, what is the plan – and this is going to be a massive question from the community – say we do sell it in whole, what is the plan for that money? Because they will want to know and that needs to be clearly defined, I think,” said Petersen. “Because you’re not going to get support if it’s not well thought out.” Iossi agreed that the city needs to have a clearly defined plan, although he revealed that Ahlers & Cooney is also exploring the legality of several of Iowa American’s proposals, including ways the city can invest the money and the designated service area, to ensure these are even options the city can pursue. Goodding asked how long it would take to determine if the options were legal. Lemke said the law firm was double-checking to make sure Iowa law supported these options. “From my perspective, it sounded like there was a good possibility. A lot of other utilities have those kinds of agreements, and it would be dependent upon the structure, but it’s not anything they’ve seen or is common, so they just want to make sure there’s a state law that can support it.” Hedrington said he thought it would be similar to the franchise agreements the city has in place with MidAmerican Energy and Alliant. “OK, good discussion,” said Bristley. “Again, lots to consider.”      

Silvis Heights lifts boil order

Randy Parker with Silvis Heights Water tells Our Quad Cities News that the boil order previously in effect for Silvis Heights has been lifted.

Democrats add two names to race for supervisors

Six candidates will now compete for three open seats on the Scott County Board of Supervisors after Democrats added a pair names to the race last week. Members of Scott County Democrats’ Central Committee picked Tim Carr of Bettendorf and Stephen Doerscher of Davenport to fill out the party’s two available spots on the November ballot. Kevin Randle of Davenport was the only Democrat to run in the June 2 primary. Iowa code allows a party to nominate candidates to ballot vacancies after primaries. Carr, Doerscher and Randle will face incumbent Republicans John Maxwell and Jean Dickson and former state representative Luana Stoltenberg in the November race. Steve Doerscher, an ironworker with Local 111 of Rock Island, said he was recruited for the spot and accepted out of frustration with the board’s recent opposition to a power plant proposed for rural Scott County. “To sit here and think we’re not going to need the power sometime in the future, I think is shortsighted,” he told The NSP. He said the board demonstrated “a lack of bravery, a lack of courage to not go ahead with it.” “If Scott County’s not willing to progress, we’re going to get left behind. That’s honestly the way I feel about it,” he said. He described himself as “a little bit different” from other county supervisors. “I’m not your typical member of the board. The board’s made up of lawyers or millionaires or some combination thereof. I’m just a regular blue-collar guy. I don’t even make six figures,” he said. Tim Carr said his experience as a homebuilder prepared him for the managerial tasks that face a county supervisor. “In my day to day duties, I assign tasks, create timelines and track progress. I create and work within budgets. I handle issues including conflict resolution, and I work well with others,” he told The NSP last week. Carr is a member often Bettendorf YMCA Advisory Board and a Quad Cities Builders and Remodelers board member. He said that he had a strong working relationship with county building inspection staff. As a member of the board of supervisors, he said that he would “focus on the environment and fair wages.” “I’ll be for small farmers,” he added, and said that the county should concentrate industrial development on “brownfields” in order to “preserve our cherished farmland.” Scott County Democrats Chair Kay Pence told The NSP that the party would hold another nominating convention to find a candidate for Iowa House District 94, which includes Eldridge. Republican incumbent Mike Vondran does not currently face a challenger. “We are expecting a Blue Wave this November and [are] making sure voters have the option to elect a candidate that will work for them, rather than out-of-state special interests,” Pence wrote in an email.    

Is AI 'one big bubble?' Behind the tech selloff

Investors are selling off AI-related stocks as doubts are starting to surface over whether the massive spending on AI is worth the investment or whether "it's one big bubble."

Is AI 'one big bubble'? Behind the tech sell-off

Investors are selling off AI-related stocks as doubts are starting to surface over whether the massive spending on AI is worth the investment and whether it's "one big bubble."

Improvements come for Eldridge parks

The city of Eldridge is pursuing several park improvement projects this summer, including shelter replacements and habitat restoration. Officials are exploring ways to reduce costs through in-house fabrication. The city received bids ranging from $171,408 to $191,600 for a new shelter at Elmegreen Park. “Because these costs were higher than anticipated, I shared an alternative approach that some communities are utilizing through prefabricated or packaged shelters,” Tony Rupe, Public Works Director, wrote in response to questions from The North Scott Press. “I also shared information regarding a similar project completed last year in Grinnell, Iowa,” Rupe wrote. The alternative approach would separate the shelter purchase from some of the site work typically included in a single construction bid. Under the model proposed by Rupe, a local contractor would complete portions of the project, including utility and concrete work, while the city would contract separately for the shelter. “[Grinnell’s] total project cost of approximately $150,000 was more than $20,000 below the lowest proposal received by Eldridge,” Rupe wrote. Rupe said the city is obtaining quotes from prepackaged shelter vendors. “Once multiple package quotes have been received, the Park Board can select a vendor and then proceed with seeking proposals from local contractors for installation and associated site work,” Rupe wrote. The project is scheduled for construction in spring 2027. New lighting at Sheridan Meadows The City of Eldridge and Park Board recently finished improvements to the lighting at Sheridan Meadows Park. As part of a multi-year improvement project that started in 2021, Eldridge Public Works fabricated new lighting brackets while Eldridge Electric replaced the existing poles with 60-foot poles. These new brackets allowed the installation of more efficient LED field lighting. “The completed upgrade provides significantly improved field illumination, increasing light output by 50% while reducing energy consumption by approximately 75% compared to the previous system,” City of Eldridge posted to social media. Sheridan Meadows Park’s Lions shelter is also slated for a replacement. According to recent minutes, the Park Board will investigate a pre-packaged shelter. The board is also in talks with the Eldridge Lions Club, who would like to contribute to the project. Pollinator pad The Lions are also working with the city to install a “pollinator pad” planted with wildflowers and native prairie at Hickory Creek Park. “On the west side of the soccer fields, the Park Board has begun development of a multi-year walking path project,” Rupe wrote. The planned expansion of Hickory Creek Park includes over a mile of walking paths, several locations of native prairie and a wildflower planting area. “Last year, the city established the grass walking paths, improved the creek crossing, and opened the paths to the public. This year, Public Works planted 48 new trees, installed directional signage, and will begin work on the wildflower area,” Rupe wrote, “The Pollinator Pad seed, being donated by the Eldridge Lions Club, will be incorporated in this wildflower planting area.” Centennial Park work continues Earlier this year, city crews removed a retaining wall, regraded portions of the site and installed new sod and playground mulch. A new bidder has been selected for roof restoration of the park’s shelter. The previously accepted bid was $13,500 submitted by 242 Home Improvement. “I received a call from the owner of 242 Home Improvement, letting me know that he could not complete the project as he had initially measured the roof incorrectly, and would need to add over $5,000 to the total cost,” Rupe wrote in a memorandum to the Park Board. The shelter is set to receive new shingles and aluminum roofing components. A construction bid from Hugaert Roofing was approved for $18,959.45.

Medic raises fees for first time since 2021

Supervisors approved a new fee schedule for the county ambulance service last week, but Director Paul Andorf said that only patients who are uninsured or under certain private insurers will face the increased charges. An emergency call requiring advanced life support, like a heart attack or severe car accident, will soon cost $1,820, a 3.59% increase over current costs. An emergency call requiring basic life support will cost $1,440, a 3.53% increase. The per-mile cost of ambulance travel will rise to $32, a 9.29% increase. Andorf said service charges must increase to accommodate a 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment that will raise pay for all county employees July 1. The jump in mileage costs reflects the high price of fuel, he added. Medic also plans to raise its requests for federal Ground Emergency Medical Transport funds, which subsidize service for patients on Medicaid. Medic will ask $447.52 in GEMT funds per Medicaid call, up 9.51%. The change marks the first Medic fee increases since 2021, according to documents provided to the board of supervisors. Few patients will see the rising costs. Last year, 79% of Medic patients were covered by Medicare or Medicaid, which pays a fixed rate for medical services irrespective of local prices. Blue Cross Blue Shield patients are covered under a separate fee schedule, Andorf added. Just 12% of Medic patients are not covered by one of those three providers, he said.  The new prices make Medic one of the most nominally expensive ambulance services in the state. A Johnson County survey of EMS costs across 30 Iowa agencies consistently put Medic fees among the highest in the state, Andorf said. Its new charge for an ALS emergency call is the highest in the survey. Its non-emergency ALS and emergency BLS costs are third-highest. But other departments are raising their rates, Andorf noted. On January 1 of this year, Dubuque Fire Department recently raised their rates to $2,324 per emergency call—several hundred dollars higher than Medic charges. Supervisors also extended Medic’s agreement to transport patients to and from MercyOne Clinton.    

Behind the scenes of McCausland’s audit

By late afternoon Monday, March 17 of last year, McCausland Mayor Bill Gillespie knew that $55,000 had been stolen from the city, and he knew that clerk Sheila Bosworth was the thief. But it would be eight months before a report from the State Auditor’s Office confirmed what Gillespie knew, and triggered Bosworth’s arrest last November. Those were agonizing months, Gillespie told The North Scott Press last week. “Just the wondering—is she out there spending that money?” he said. “...Meanwhile, I’ve got to wait for this whole system to play out.” Last month, Bosworth was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $55,000 in restitution. Gillespie has said since November that he was satisfied with the auditor’s final report, which turned up years of additional thefts. But he was not satisfied with the seven months the investigation took, the burden it placed on the city, and the $28,538.50 bill it has left with McCausland taxpayers. McCausland City Council voted to engage the Auditor’s Office in April 2025, three weeks after Blackhawk Bank alerted Gillespie to Bosworth’s theft. Gilespie said he and city councilman Lloyd Claussen met with state investigator Priscilla Ruiz Torres the following week for an “opening conference.” Gillespie told her what he knew to date: that Bosworth had cashed over two dozen checks in February and April of that year, using the mayor’s digital signature. Torres requested the city bank statements, which Gillespie provided. Then, every week, the Auditor’s Office requested additional documents, Gillespie said. “Every week they wanted me to copy this and send it to them, copy that and send it to them, copy this and send it to them,” he said. Gillespie, who is retired, said he spent between eight and 10 hours per week scanning documents to the Auditor’s Office in Des Moines between the start of the investigation in April and its conclusion in November. He was asked not to share details of the investigation with the public. Sonya Heitshusen of the State Auditor’s Office said that those requests were standard. “The auditee is expected to supply the information requested to the auditor” in any government audit, she said. “That is part of general governmental auditing standards.” Auditors came to McCausland once, to collect a box of credit card statements that Gillespie said was “just too much to scan.” “If I hadn't been retired, if I'd been working full time, it could have taken a year and a half for me to get them all this information,” Gillespie said. The seven-month McCausland audit ranks among the shortest in recent Scott County history. An investigation into Buffalo clerk Riki Harrington began in August 2018 and concluded in April 2020. An earlier investigation into Long Grove and Park View public works director Joel McCubbin began in September 2017 and lasted a full year. But Gillespie was still frustrated that Bosworth had seven months to spend stolen funds while the investigation was underway. He told The NSP that the Auditor’s Office never indicated how long the investigation would take or what it would cost. Heitshusen said that was “very typical.” “We never know how long an investigation that spans the course of five years will take, because we might uncover something that needs further review or investigation,” she said.  “The cost is determined by the number of hours billed to the auditee,” she added. The $28,538.50 McCausland bill includes charges for 286 hours of work spread across six investigators at the auditor’s office. “It seems to me that they could have set two people down there for 40 hours each, 80 total hours, pay their hotel rooms per diem for a lot less than that amount of money,” he said. But Heitshusen stressed that the investigation into McCausland was not a regular audit. “Special investigations typically take longer than a standard audit, because we have to dig deeper into information to determine how much money might have been misused,” she said. They can require subpoenas for documents and interviews with potential witnesses. “There is no standard amount of time. Every investigation is different,” she said. Heitshusen also said that local officials were not required to wait for the report to charge Bosworth or any other city official with embezzlement or misconduct in office. The state auditor’s office was not a branch of law enforcement, she noted. Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane said that his office does not investigate government officials in parallel with the Auditor’s Office. The sheriff’s office and county attorney wait for the results of that investigation to file charges, he said. Nevertheless, Gillespie hopes that the audit process will change.    

Vargas withdraws from race

In her second about-face of the election season, Scott County Recorder Rita Vargas announced Thursday that she would not seek reelection to the office in November. Vargas announced plans to retire earlier this year. But in March, she told The North Scott Press that she had filed paperwork to keep the seat. She appeared alone on Democrats’ June 2 ballot for the recorders’ office and secured the party’s nomination. Just two weeks later she filed paperwork to withdraw from the ballot. The NSP could not reach her for comment. On Thursday, Scott County Democrats nominated Davenport schoolteacher Toby Paone as the party’s new candidate for the recorder’s office. “Rita Vargas called me prior to her announcement and asked me if I wanted to run for the position,” Paone told The North Scott Press. He accepted. “I’ve been a long time public service advocate… It’s something that I believe in very strongly,” he said. Paone has previously served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives and a city councilman in Rice Lake, Wis. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat on Davenport City Council in 2017. Paone said he was “committed to prompt, courteous service for all citizens of Scott County; professional management of the office; and efficient and cost effective use of taxpayer dollars.” Vargas and Supervisor Maria Bribriesco are the only elected Democrats in Scott County. Vargas has served as county recorder for 24 years.  

Insurance renewals see premiums rise 5.8%

The North Scott School Board breezed through a light agenda in about a half hour during its June 15 meeting. Seth Porter of Porter Insurance was present to discuss the district’s annual insurance report. The district is part of the Iowa Association of School Boards’ Safety Group Insurance Program, which Porter said covers approximately 95% of districts across the state. This allows the large number of districts covered to spread out the cost of the program. Porter said the 2025-26 school year was the first year in about five years the Safety Group Insurance Program had been profitable, and he said he was hopeful the district would see a minimal rate change in the next year. Specific to North Scott, Porter had encouraging news about the district’s insurance, particularly its Experience Modification Rate, or EMR. The baseline EMR is set at 1.0. Parties with an EMR of higher than 1.0 have a riskier claims history on average. Porter said North Scott’s EMR dropped from 1.4 to 0.8, which he said was “fantastic.” While North Scott did not see an increase to its rates with West Bend Insurance this year, Porter wasn’t sure if that would hold true for the 2027-28 school year. “Claims have to evolve. The claim data will get reported probably in December of this year.” “But it will increase,” said board member Molly Bergfeld. “It will,” said Porter, adding there had been a couple of “unusual scenarios” for the district this year, including a claim for a bus accident. Through the IASB’s Safety Group Insurance program, North Scott has a total liability limit of $15 million for everything except cyber, which Porter said is covered under a different policy. He also reminded the board about the wind and hail deductible. “We need to be aware that our severity concern is here in the Eldridge area. We face about a $1.7, $1.8 million deductible if every single structure in Eldridge is damaged. Not a very high likelihood, though. That’s worst-case scenario. We’ve chosen to self-insure that, and we’ve saved ourselves pretty considerable money doing that.” Porter said the district would see an approximately 5.8% adjustment to its policies overall going into the next school year. He said some of the increases could be attributed to an increase in claims, while others could be due to inflationary factors. Looking at state and national trends, Porter said overall there had been an increase in claims, not just in number but in severity, which he said was something board members should be aware of.  Bergfeld also asked who would be responsible for coverage in the event of a cyber breach, specifically referring to a data breach of the Canvas platform, which North Scott utilizes, earlier this year. Porter said the responsibility would fall where the breach occurred. For instance, in the case of Canvas, since the breach was at the company level, the platform’s parent company, Instructure, would be responsible for any claims. “We weren’t impacted,” said superintendent Joe Stutting of the Canvas breach. “They were impacted at the college level. It came from (Canvas’) site, not the local sites.” Stutting said the district has also invested in cybersecurity protections and utilizes other methods, like two-factor authentication, to help secure the platforms it uses. Porter said if it was discovered North Scott had been affected by the Canvas breach, a claim would have been filed against Instructure.  Succession of authority Board members approved a succession plan that would be implemented in the event Stutting is not available to perform his duties. In order, the succession for the 2026-27 school year includes Heather Shults, district director of student services; Chad Jones, junior high principal; and Tim Green, principal at Neil Armstrong. Stutting said there was a succession plan in place for the last school year, but this is the first year it was put in front of the board. Going forward, the board will approve the succession plan as recommended by the superintendent in June. Student-built home Student-built home coordinator Dave Linnenbrink presented several bids for next year’s house, which will be constructed on West Brookview Drive, across from Ed White Elementary School. The board approved bids from: • Eller Construction in the amount of $40,398.91 • Petersen Plumbing for $29,924 • Fireplace & BBQ Warehouse for $3,500 • Eastern Iowa Overhead Door for $3,550 • Pella Windows for $6,493.94 • Eldridge Lumberyard for $54,105.35 Board members asked Linnenbrink about the number of bids solicited for each portion of the home. Linnenbrink said that, although he does email multiple contractors for bids on goods and services, many of them are already aware that the district has preferred vendors and do not respond to his inquiries. Textbook rental fees Fees for textbook rentals will increase $5 across the board for the 2026-27 school year. The fees have been set at $70 for the high school, $65 for the junior high, and $60 for elementary. The district increased textbook rental fees last year for the first time since at least the 2021-22 school year. District director of business affairs Jill Van Roekel said the amount the district collects does not come close to how much it spends on textbooks. “It’s about $1.5 million going out the door. We only collect about $150,000 a year in textbook fees.” She said the increase was to help offset the district’s supplementing textbook costs. And the district will certainly be purchasing new textbooks. After implementing a new math curriculum last year, a new English language arts (ELA) curriculum will be introduced at the elementary level in the fall. In the 2027-28 school year, the district anticipates a new science curriculum and a new ELA curriculum at the high school level. Textbook fees apply to physical textbooks and not materials on student Chromebooks. Stutting said digital materials are paid for out of the Physical Plant & Equipment (PPEL) levy. Recognitions The board congratulated the girls’ soccer team on being awarded runner-up at the state tournament. Board member Stephanie Eckhardt also coached and traveled with four North Scott students to the coed golf meet in Newton, AJ and Blake Blevins, Addison Eckhardt and Dylan Ulloa. Eckhardt and Ulloa placed ninth at the meet. Bills Van Roekel presented $2,140,010.64 in bills for approval. Highlights included $8,500 to Stalker Sports Floors for gym floor refinishing at the Lancer Athletic Building and in The Pit; $53,717.55 to Mississippi Bend AEA for third quarter technology and learning support services; $81,449.29 to Eastern Iowa Community College for wages and benefits for a psychology/sociology teacher for the 2025-26 school year; and $811,446.13 to Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt for reading curriculum, instructional supplies and professional services for six years. This marked Van Roekel’s final board meeting, as she will take up the position of chief financial officer of the Clinton Community School District on July 1. Her replacement, Lisa Jones, will start work at North Scott the same day. “Are there any questions for Jill?” asked board president Tracy Lindaman, as the board prepared to vote to approve the bills. “Why are you leaving us?” asked board member Joni Dittmer, to a laugh from her fellow board members and Stutting. “You’ll be fine,” said Van Roekel. “Lisa will be great.”    

One birdie wins two medals at coed state golf

A 15-footer for birdie, to win a state medal. No pressure. “It was just a bit of a break,” said Lancer senior Addison Eckhardt. “Dylan (Ulloa) did a great chip shot to get us on the green. All I said to him was to get me on the green, and I’ll make the putt.” It’s not Babe Ruth calling his shot in the 1932 World Series, but the result was just the same. Eckhardt measured twice, putted once, and dropped it in the cup to win this duo their first pieces of individual state meet hardware. Eckhardt and Ulloa tied for seventh, officially placing ninth on cardbacks, at the coed state golf tournament at Westwood Golf Course in Newton on June 9. “For us to have a good tournament, and Addison making a birdie putt for the final shot of her high school career, and to make us place, was really cool,” Ulloa said. “It was just a fun event to be a part of, and it was amazing that we played well and got ninth.” “It meant a lot to me to earn that medal and end my Lancer career on a high note,” Eckhardt said. “Dylan was a great partner since he was always positive during our round, and he can hit it pretty far. I enjoyed just having a good partner, and was able to not have it be so stressful playing.” Eckhardt and Ulloa fired a 76 on that scorching Tuesday afternoon. Eckhardt teed off on all even-numbered holes from the red (closer) tees, and Ulloa started play on the odd-numbered holes from the white (farther) tees. Golfers alternated shots thereafter. North Scott also had the Blevins sibling duo of AJ and Blake represent the school. They shot a 90 and tied for 49th place. Cedar Rapids Xavier’s Haley Morris and Jacob Scmit won by two strokes, shooting a one-under 70. “Westwood was in good shape. It was a hilly course, but pretty open, so we tried to be aggressive all day,” Ulloa said. “Addison is a really long hitter, so she got me in really good positions off the tee, and she really picked me up after I hit a bad shot. “There were many greens Addison could drive. The biggest challenge was probably just the hills because it was a hot day.” The Lancer senior concurred, saying, “The heat was brutal. We took advantage of being able to play through the heat when some teams can’t.” This marked the best finish for a Lancer team at coed state since Bobby Wolfe and Laken Rindler also placed ninth, shooting a 79, in the 2012 edition.

Moline-based Elliott Aviation celebrates nine decades in the industry

What began as one pilot’s passion in 1936 has grown into a major aviation company with more than 300 employees.

Hybrids vehicles to join sheriff's fleet

Deputy sheriffs will soon be on the road in eight new vehicles—including two hybrids—after county supervisors approved a round of vehicle purchases last week. The two 2027 Ford Interceptor hybrids are a first for Scott County. Scott County Fleet Manager Mark Garrow called the purchases “a pilot program.” “This approach allows evaluation of performance, reliability, maintenance needs, fuel efficiency, and operational suitability before considering broader adoption,” he told supervisors Tuesday, June 16. “Limiting the initial purchase minimizes the risk while providing meaningful operational experience,” Garrow added. He said he anticipated 800 gallons of fuel savings per vehicle per year. The hybrid model is available at no extra cost. In fact, the hybrid drivetrain now serves as the base police interceptor model available through the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, Garrow said. The DAS maintains a catalogue of competitive quotes for common municipal vehicles, like police interceptors. Scott County frequently purchases vehicles through DAS contracts to lower procurement costs.    Supervisor Jean Dickson asked when the county could expect to know whether the pilot program had been a success. Garrow said he should have a report within the year. The county expects the two hybrids to arrive early next year, at a cost of $51,304 apiece. The county will also receive five conventional 2026 Ford Interceptors by August. They will cost $50,024 apiece. An eighth 2027 Ford Transit 350 prisoner transport van will arrive next year at a cost of $85,324.68. Stivers Ford will deliver all eight vehicles through Iowa DAS contracts. YJRC contracts Muscatine County and Clinton County will continue to reserve beds in Scott County’s Youth Justice and Rehabilitation Center next year. Muscatine and Clinton each pay $285 per day to guarantee that an open bed in the YJRC. They pay an additional $285 per day per additional resident as needed. The $285 has not increased from last year, YJRC Director Jeremy Kaiser told the board. YJRC staff will also continue to provide conflict mediation counseling in Davenport schools, despite a $90,000 drop in state funding. Davenport will provide $50,000 to keep one of two in-school counselors that had been paid for by a state program legislators discontinued this spring. The other counselor will transfer to an open role at the YJRC, Kaiser said. He said the program would operate “in a smaller capacity” with just one counselor. This past year, the program brought counseling to 412 students. “We do feel this is a very important program to have in our community, and to continue operating, even if it is at a smaller scale,” he said. Vera French Mental Health Center in Davenport will continue to provide mental health screenings and medication evaluation at the YJRC. The $597.06 weekly cost is reimbursed by the state. Purchases and contract renewals Supervisors approved several purchases and contract renewals last week: • Liability, property and workers’ compensation insurance premiums rose to $1,305,651 this year, up 8.7%. The county renewed all coverage with existing providers: Travelers for general liability insurance; Chubb for property insurance; Cowbell for Cyber Insurance; Midwest Employers for workers’ compensation; and Coverys for medical professional insurance. County insurance agent Jeff Young noted that the county’s property insurance premium dropped 5% this year, and said that a 6% rise in liability premium for Travelers was comparatively low. But other premiums jumped significantly, Supervisor Ken Beck noted. Cyber insurance premiums increased 47%, and workers’ comp rose 20%, far exceeding 3.5% salary increases due July 1. • Supervisors spent $231,491 on new security cameras for county buildings. County IT director Matt Hirst said current cameras were at the end of their eight–10 year lifespan. Supervisor Ross Paustian voted against $57,077 allocated for cameras for the new county general store at Paul Revere Square, a development he has opposed for over a year. The remaining $174,414 in spending was approved 4–0. Verkada Security Cameras will provide the devices. • Supervisors approved the purchase of new survey-grade GPS equipment for the county engineer’s office, at the cost of $33,914.35 from Seiler Geospatial. County Engineer Angie Kersten said she believed the sale of existing GPS equipment would offset $3,000 of that cost. • Supervisors approved their annual contribution to Community Health Care, a nonprofit Quad Cities healthcare provider. The $302,067 sum funds primary healthcare for county community services clients. New year, new finances Supervisors approved a suite of fund transfers and fund releases that set the county up for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. Supervisor Maria Bribriesco objected to pair of authorizations requested by county administration. County supervisors typically approve a suite of fund transfers in advance of the new fiscal year, even though the exact dollar-value of certain transfers will not be determined for more than a year. Those transfer sums were marked “TBD” on the authorization list presented by county administrative and budget services director David Farmer, which he described as standard practice. Bribriesco said she would like to see dollar values in their place, even if those numbers were later amended. She voted against the authorizations, which passed 3–1. Farmer also asked county supervisors to approve a micro purchase threshold of $25,000. This number sets the maximum dollar value for purchases that county officials can make without soliciting sealed bids or proposals. Scott County can set its micro purchase threshold as high as $50,000 under county code. An error in the submission of the county’s 2022 audit temporarily forced the threshold down to $10,000 for the past two fiscal years, Farmer said. Supervisor Maria Bribriesco said she would like to maintain the $10,000 threshold. The $25,000 threshold passed 3–1. Other news In other news, supervisors: • Renewed or post new weight restrictions on 17 county bridges. Kersten said  nine of those bridges are scheduled for replacement in the county’s five-year capital improvement plan. • Approved a resolution to post all public notices to the front door of the county administrative building, 400 W. 4th Street in Davenport. The resolution is required by a new state law. • Approved a hiring exception for the county IT department and an organizational change that will bring the county risk manager out of the attorney’s office and into county administration. Longtime county risk manager Rhonda Oostenryk is set to retire by July 1.  • Greenlit routine liquor and tobacco license renewals. Board chair John Maxwell was absent from the committee of the whole and regular board meeting. Bribriesco was absent from the committee of the whole meeting.  

Officer Johnson receives Lifesaving Award

Eldridge police officer Erik Johnson has been awarded a Livesaving Award, in recognition of exceptional service and heroic response. Johnson received the award in relation to an emergency medical call he responded to on Jan. 15. During the call, the individual, identified only as Angel, was reportedly unresponsive and not breathing. Upon arrival, Johnson assessed the situation and was able to stabilize Angel until emergency medical personnel arrived, helping to save the individual’s life. “Officer Johnson’s professionalism, dedication to duty, and commitment to preserving life exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement,” said Eldridge Police Chief Andrew Lellig. “His actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Eldridge Police Department.” Lellig added Johnson’s “calm demeanor, quick thinking and decisive response” resulted in a positive outcome for the situation.

Eldridge Police assist FBI in child exploitation arrest

The Eldridge Police Department, working in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force based in Kansas City, Mo., assisted with the arrest of a 46-year-old Missouri resident. This followed an undercover investigation into online child exploitation. Christopher Cassidy of Oak Grove, Mo., was charged in federal court with two counts of attempted receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one count of attempted production of child sexual abuse material, and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. The arrest occurred on Thursday, June 18, after an investigator with the Eldridge Police Department’s Special Investigations/Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit conducted a controlled online operation involving the suspect. During the investigation, the suspect allegedly used the internet to attempt to engage in illegal contact with an individual they believed to be a minor. “This arrest underscores our commitment to protecting children from online predators,” said Chief Andrew Lellig. “We will continue to use every available resource to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to harm our most vulnerable.” The Eldridge Police Department extends its sincere appreciation to the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force Squad 1, Kansas City, Missouri for their assistance and collaboration in this investigation. The department also reminds parents and guardians of the importance of discussing online safety with children and actively monitoring their internet use.  Anyone with information regarding suspected child exploitation is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or submit a tip through: Quad Cities Crime Stoppers at www.qccrimestoppers.com or by using The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.org.    

Meet our summer intern, Olivia

Olivia Donahue has joined the staff of The North Scott Press and Advocate News as a summer intern. She will be working a general assignment beat. Donahue is a 2025 graduate of North Scott High School and a current student Iowa State University, where she is pursuing a degree in aerospace engineering. While at North Scott, she wrote and served as editor for the student newspaper, The Lance. She received third place for Writer of the Year from the Iowa High School Press Association her senior year. At Iowa State, she is a member of the Cyclone Rocketry Spaceshot Subteam, where she is gaining valuable experience in rocketry design. “As someone who grew up in the North Scott area, I value the role local journalism plays in informing and connecting communities. I enjoy meeting new people, building relationships, and learning about the issues that matter to them,” Donahue said. Donahue may be contacted throughout the summer at newsroom@northscottpress.com.

Eldridge pickleballer heads to U.S. Special Olympics

After years of success at the state level, Eldridge resident Adrienne Rus is preparing for one of the biggest stages in Special Olympics sports. Rus represents Iowa in pickleball at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, scheduled for June 20–26 in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota. She competes in the Unified Female Doubles division alongside partner Karen Bernick. Rus and Bernick compete together on the North Scott Grads Special Olympics team. Bernick serves as both a coach and “unified partner,” a role that places athletes with and without disabilities on the same team. “I’m here competing with her, but this is really about Adrienne,” Bernick said. Unified sports pair athletes with and without disabilities, allowing them to train and compete together. According to Unified Sports’ website, the program is breaking down stereotypes about people with disabilities in a really fun way. Unified competition has become one of the fastest-growing components of the Special Olympics movement. The pair are among only a handful of athletes from eastern Iowa who will participate in the USA Games. Along with members of Davenport’s Scott County Thunder basketball team, they are the only competitors from the Quad Cities area selected for the national event. “It's amazing representing Iowa,” Rus said. “We’ve trained a lot for this,” Bernick said. “I’m still nervous to be in front of so many people.” The USA Games serve as the premier national competition for Special Olympics athletes. The event is held every four years and features athletes from all 50 states competing in 16 different sports. 10,000 volunteers and an estimated 75,000 spectators will fill venues throughout Minneapolis–St. Paul. For Rus, qualifying for the games is the result of years of dedication and success in Special Olympics competitions. A graduate of North Scott High School, she has consistently placed among Iowa’s top pickleball athletes. Rus earned a gold medal at the Iowa Special Olympics state tournament in 2023, a silver medal in 2024 and another gold medal in 2025. These performances secured her place on Iowa’s national team and earned her the opportunity to compete against athletes from across the United States. Pickleball, since its introduction in the 1960s, has grown in popularity and become the fastest-growing sport in the United States in the 2020s. In addition to athletic competition, the event will feature opening and closing ceremonies, interactive entertainment, live concerts and other celebrations. From the Special Olympics website, the games are intended to showcase the abilities of athletes while promoting the organization’s mission of inclusion and acceptance. Competition in the Unified Female Doubles division will begin after the lighting of the torch on June 20, where another local connection stands out. Davenport Police Sgt. Andrew Harris is participating in the USA Games Law Enforcement Torch Run. Harris is a longtime supporter of the Special Olympics and a coordinator for local Torch Run fundraising activities, and he will accompany the torch on its journey from Duluth to Minneapolis. As athletes gather in Minneapolis for the opening ceremonies, family members, friends and supporters from Eldridge and throughout eastern Iowa will be following Rus’s journey and cheering her on as she competes for the national title.  

Eldridge Fire Department to host July 1 open house

The Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department will host an open house at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, at the fire station. In a Facebook post on Monday, department officials said this would be an “open community discussion.” Members of the community will be able to ask questions, hear directly from department leadership, review information and learn about future service plans about fire and EMS service in Eldridge.  For more information, please visit the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department Facebook page.

Portugal's Ronaldo shakes off World Cup doubters, scores 2 after sluggish start

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the oldest players in the World Cup. Against the Democratic Republic of Congo he was mostly invisible and questions mounted. Against Uzbekistan, he sparkled.

Annual Dixon fireworks this Saturday

Dixon Memorial Park will celebrate America’s 250th birthday on Saturday, June 27, with a day full of fun at the park. There will be softball games at the park all day, along with plenty of food and beverages at the park shack. The Quad City Skydiving Team will parachute into the park at 8 p.m., followed by the traditional enormous fireworks show at dusk. Delicious homemade pie will also be on offer all day. This year, the Dixon Park Board is hoping to attract donated pies from the community. All flavors will be accepted at the park shack on Saturday at 10 a.m. The Dixon Memorial Park is fully funded through donations and volunteer labor. Anyone who would like to make a donation to support the park and future community events may use the park’s Venmo account, @dixonmemorialpark. Dixon Memorial Park is a registered 501(c)3 organization. Dixon Memorial Park is located at 5520 298th St. in Dixon. For more information and updates, visit the Dixon Memorial Park Facebook page.

Pork Quality certification offered

The Iowa Pork Industry Center (IPIC) at Iowa State University is offering an online Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) advisor certification session on July 7. Interested individuals should review eligibility requirements and apply on the IPIC website by June 30. The PQA Plus program meets the highest international standards for animal care and addresses food safety, animal well-being, environmental stewardship, worker safety, public health and community and more. Certified PQA advisors can administer the PQA Plus education and certification program to pork producers and their employees and perform on-farm site assessments. To become an advisor, individuals must be a veterinarian, extension specialist or agricultural educator involved in adult education or production training. Additional requirements can be found on the application form. The PQA Plus advisor certification session on July 7 with begin at 9 a.m. and last approximately six hours. This training is open to qualified individuals seeking certification for the first time or to current or former advisors seeking to renew their certification. The training costs $100, and participants will receive information to join the online session once their application is approved. Five veterinary continuing education units (CEUs) are also available for the session. Another online certification session is scheduled for Oct. 5, with a Sept. 28 application deadline. For more information, contact Stacie Matchan at sgould@iastate.edu. ormation, contact Stacie Matchan at sgould@iastate.edu.

Scott County Park Pool now open

Summer fun is back on at the Scott County Park Pool, earlier than county officials had anticipated. In a Facebook post on June 15, the Conservation Board announced that Scott County Park Pool would open for the summer season Friday, June 19. While the pool normally opens around Memorial Day weekend, a renovation project pushed the opening back this year. In May, conservation officials anticipated the opening day would be in July. However, the project was completed sooner than that, and conservation officials thanked Brus Construction and McDermott Concrete for working with the general contractor to bring the project to completion. Because of the delayed opening, conservation officials announced swim pass prices have been reduced, with family passes at $125 and individual passe at $50. Season passes include admission to the Scott County Park Pool and West Lake Park Beach. The pool will be open from noon – 7 p.m. through mid-August. From mid-August through Labor Day, the pool will only be open on weekends. For more information, visit scottcountyiowa.gov/conservation.

Walcott Council locks in utility rates

Walcott City Council completed the third and final reading of a pair of ordinances to raise city water and sewer rates by 5% on July 1. The increase will fund city infrastructure improvements, including a new well on E. Wulf Road. The city council, meeting in regular session Monday, June 15, also accepted a grant from the Scott County Regional Authority which will fund the purchase of new body cameras for the Walcott Police Department. The Axon cameras total $16,799.20. Members of the council and Mayor Jake Puck thanked city staff and local businesses for participating in a successful touch-a-truck event that drew dozens of families to E. Otis Street Saturday, June 20.  In other business, the council allowed organizers of a men’s fastpitch softball tournament to raise temporary fences at Wescott and Victory Park, and renewed tobacco licenses for the Walcott Casey’s and Iowa 80 Truckstop.

Property owner 'looking for investors'

The property owner who demolished Princeton’s abandoned River Drive hotel in April is “looking for investors” interested in developing the property. “Until someone steps up, it’s probably going to sit,” Dennis Campbell of Clinton County told The North Scott Press last week. “I don’t have the money to do it,” he added. Campbell said several other ongoing projects, including a housing development in DeWitt, required his current resources.  “I don’t have plans [for Princeton] today. We have way too many things going to start another project,” he said. Campbell and his daughter, Julia Looney, said last November that they had discussed plans for a mixed-use commercial and residential building “at a very high level.” Campbell thanked city employees and Mayor Travis Volrath for their cooperation in the hotel demolition in April. They were “wonderful to work with,” he said. 

Grazing Academy to be held online, in-person

Livestock producers and land managers interested in learning more about pasture productivity and grazing management practices are invited to participate in the Iowa Grazing Academy this July and August. The Iowa Grazing Academy consists of online sessions and in-person field days that provide practical skills and strategies for improving grazing practices. The online sessions will be held July 13–22 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Participants can join all sessions or choose those that fit their schedule. All sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing. Following the online sessions, participants are encouraged to attend one of three beef-focused field days held in different parts of Iowa. The field days will provide a hands-on opportunity to learn about summer annual integration and rotational stocking and grazing management in cool-season pastures. Field day locations and dates are: East Central Iowa: Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, July 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Southeast Iowa: K7 Hereford, Lockridge, July 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. Central Iowa: 2XL Cattle Company, Boone, Aug. 4 from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Online participation is offered at no cost, while in-person field day registration is $20 per person. Online sessions are optional but highly recommended for those planning to attend a field day. For more information, contact Shelby Gruss, forage extension specialist, at sgruss@iastate.edu or 515-294-3832.

Princeton P&Z greenlights tax break

On June 11, the Princeton Planning and Zoning Board (P&Z) gave its blessing to a new urban renewal map that would give local developer Rod Reid a property tax break on his subdivision at 2nd and Locust Streets. Princeton City Council scheduled a public hearing on the new map for July 9.

QCA libraries receive state grants for improvements, upgrades

Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias is awarding over $27 million in grants to libraries across Illinois, investing in books, technology, literacy programs, infrastructure improvements and security upgrades. “Libraries are one of the best investments we can make in our communities,” Giannoulias said. "They help children discover a love of reading, connect [...]

Pesticides ‘shatter’ leaves of Iowa’s state tree

In 1996, Tony Singh began rewilding a plot of land in LeClaire, hoping to restore its oak savanna, native prairie, woodlands and wetlands. Less than five years later, he noticed the leaves on his oak trees were in tatters. “When the leaf is coming out, if it is natural, it’s a beautiful thing,” Singh said. “But then they start spraying this pre-emergent herbicide, and the leaves get completely shattered.” Over the last 20 years, Singh has been documenting the phenomenon and trying to raise awareness about it. But his 50-acre reserve is surrounded by an industrial agriculture system that is economically entwined with the land he seeks to restore. “Acetochlor has been correlated strongly with oak tatters, where the tissue just is missing from the oak leaf, and you just see the veins, or with dicamba, you’ll see cupping and curling,” said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Forest Health Program Leader Tivon Feeley. Acetochlor and dicamba are two widely used herbicides. Acetochlor is typically applied to target early grasses and weeds on row crop plots. Dicamba is used to target broadleaf weeds. Singh has noticed both effects in the oaks on his plot of land. Oaks are Iowa’s state tree, but there are 12 different species of oak native to Iowa’s forests. These oaks fall into the broader white oak and red oak families, but according to Feeley, “all oak species are sensitive to any herbicide injury.” Most oaks are especially vulnerable to herbicides during the spraying season, as it correlates with their emergence in spring. Breaking out of dormancy and pushing out their first set of leaves requires some of the most energy in a tree’s lifecycle. Feeley said a single year of exposure to herbicides is unlikely to cause long-term damage. “The greater concern is if we see repeated injury year after year,” he said. Singh said affected trees respond by pushing out a second set of leaves to account for the herbicide damage, but they’re not designed to repeatedly push out a second flush each year they try to regrow in the spring. Instead, they weaken and die. The ones that die are often many of his reserve’s old-growth trees. Singh has lost over 50 bur oaks, many of them more than 200 years old. The oak savannas Singh works to restore were once common through north America. The lands contained expanses of prairie grasses and native flowers with open-grown oak trees dotted the horizon. These underbelly and open canopy areas were maintained by low-intensity wildfires every one to 10 years. In the Midwest, only 30,000 acres of these lands remain today — between 0.02-0.06% of their original land coverage. Singh said the weather plays a role. “It doesn’t have to be adjacent to you. (Herbicide) volatilizes, so if it’s a warmer day, you spray it, it warms up, it evaporates, and it can even be in rainwater,” Singh said. “It could be sprayed a mile, mile and a half away.” Dicamba is especially prone to volatilization, a process where the chemical dries and is converted into a gas. The gas is then swept up by the atmosphere and can drift for miles, impacting vegetation across the state. As both Feeley and Singh noted, volatilization also makes herbicide drift cases difficult to enforce. Repeated complaints leave issues unresolved Singh has filed repeated complaints through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The investigation process involves IDALS agents taking plant samples for analysis. In his experience, responses can take up to three or four months. The result is often the same, he said — the samples contain a different mix of chemicals depending on the year, but often they include acetochlor, and in recent years, more of them show traces of dicamba. In 2025, IDALS conducted 257 misuse investigations, only 25 of which were non-agriculture related complaints. According to the department’s website, investigation reports typically take more than five months to complete. The department cannot require an offender to pay for any losses due to pesticide misuse. When clear documentation of a violation is not available, the department can dismiss the case with no regulatory action. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship declined a request for comment. “I’ll get a response next year, and it is usually nothing, it’s just, you know, a warning letter or notification to the farmer, but nothing, there is nothing punitive there,” Singh said. “Forget punitive, there is nothing there to, you know, tell him the harm he has done.” Rather, Singh treats this process as a paper trail of “chemical trespass.” Singh has tried to address this problem in several ways. He rents and buys adjacent land from the neighboring farm to create a buffer zone between his reservation and the farmland. He also manages his reserve without the use of herbicides, removing invasive weeds “surgically.” He’s also set up cameras around his property to record when neighboring fields are sprayed. He captures wind speed and temperature at the time of spraying to help bolster his annual tradition of an IDALS inspection, but still he’s had “no relief.” He hasn’t had much luck engaging elected officials either, going so far as to describe Iowa as a “captured entity.” “Nobody wants to come here. Nobody wants to see it, even though this is a beautiful place,” Singh said. “The politicians have absolutely no empathy towards this, because they are beholden to the Farm Bureau, and that’s how they get their money.” Feeley doesn’t fear extinction for Iowa’s state tree in general, but he has “some concern” for white oaks. He attributes the decline of white oaks partially to climate factors, including drought, but more prevalently to “lack of land management.” Feeley said oak trees need ample sunlight. Since trees are long-lived organisms, at some point they may need to be removed to open up canopy space for direct light. This type of land management is “really lacking in Iowa,” he said. Despite the many frustrations, Singh said he continues his rewilding project simply because it’s a part of his identity. “Most of us are driven by an innate sense of what we think is right. And it’s in my nature to plant trees. I get innate joy out of trees,” Singh said. “When the leaves are coming out after the dormancy, it is the most wonderful feeling I get.”