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

Israel launches new strikes in Tehran as public farewell for Khamenei begins

Israel's military said it had begun a "broad wave of strikes" in Tehran Wednesday morning. U.S. officials touted early gains, while Democrats warned the war could widen.

Strikes resume on Iran, U.S. military says Tehran's defenses 'severely degraded'

Israel's military said it had begun a "broad wave of strikes" in Tehran Wednesday morning. U.S. officials touted early gains, while Democrats warned the war could widen.

The Black Hawk Tower Witch

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.When Mary Jane Wiley McCaw arrived in Rock Island in 1843 and settled her eight children in an abandoned schoolhouse on…

America has a housing affordability crisis. Building houses for rent can help

Developers are building more single-family houses for renting. That can lower prices for both renters and buyers.

Would you go to a play by yourself? Theaters are hoping so

As solo leisure booms globally, theater operator ATG Entertainment is launching "Solo Seats" events to destigmatize going to the theater alone.

As Paralympics approach, U.S. skier Sydney Peterson balances training and research

Sydney Peterson is among the U.S. athletes heading to the 2026 Winter Paralympics. A neuroscientist in training, Peterson is studying movement disorders, similar to her own condition.

5 takeaways from the first primaries of the 2026 midterms

Voters headed to the polls Tuesday in the first primaries of the midterm election season. The latest results from Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas.

Don’t rely on outdoor warning sirens to wake you up, emergency official warns

During the spring and summer months, when sirens sound, its a sign to head inside as severe weather barrels down.

North Carolina Rep. Valerie Foushee holds narrow lead over challenger Nida Allam

The race is too close to call between Democratic Rep. Valerie Foushee and her anti-establishment challenger Nida Allam in North Carolina's 4th congressional district and is likely headed to a recount.

Mercer County School Board approves job cuts

Mercer County's School Board voted to layoff more than two dozen employees in the district Tuesday night. A big crowd packed Tuesday's school board meeting in Aledo before the decision. 25 positions were unanimously voted to be cut. 24 of those cuts would be through a reduction in force plan. Many teachers, aids and parents [...]

Mercer County votes to let go of 25 support staff and teachers

The Mercer County Board of Education has voted to reduce its staff.

Scott County school districts approve measure to extend tax levy extension

Scott County voters approve measure that will extend tax levy for school district equipment and operations in a special election.

Quick wins special election to retain Walcott city council seat

Joseph Quick won Tuesday's special election and will retain the city council seat that had once been held by current Mayor Jacob Puck.

Scott County schools renew levies, Quick wins city council seat

The preliminary results for Scott County’s special election are in.

Silvis police officers honored for response to child abduction last year

The suspect was convicted on two counts of aggravated battery and one count of child abduction last month.

All 3 tax levy measures pass in Iowa QC school districts

Tax-levy measures in three Iowa Quad-City school districts passed Tuesday, according to a late-Tuesday ballot count. Measures proposed by the Davenport and Pleasant Valley districts will extend their physical plant and equipment levies for another 10 years in each district. Before the vote, the levies were scheduled to expire in 2028. The North Scott School [...]

Muscatine man to be detained pending trial on child sex abuse materials charges

A Muscatine County man facing federal charges of trafficking in child sex abuse materials has been order detained pending trial during a hearing Monday in U.S. District Court, Davenport.

IMEG president/CEO named to Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame

IMEG President and CEO Paul VanDuyne has been named to the Midwest Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame, a news release says. The award is presented by Midwest REnews annually to industry veterans who have succeeded in even the most challenging market conditions, evolved with the commercial real estate industry, embraced new technology, and are [...]

Quick wins special election in Walcott; North Scot PPEL passes

After being appointed to the Walcott City Council in January to fill a vacancy, Joe Quick won election to the council, following a special election held Tuesday. Quick captured 143 of the 234 votes cast.   Lynnette Tarchinski, who was a candidate for city council in November, garnered 82 votes, with Joseph Aubry getting the remaining nine votes. Quick was appointed to the Walcott city council on Jan. 19 to fill a vacancy created when  former council member Jacob Puck assumed the mayor's seat. He was one of two candidates to apply. Two days later, Walcott residents submitted a petition for the special election. Meanwhile, North Scott's bid to increase the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy was successful, with 62% support.  The tally was 324 votes in favor, with 196 votes against.  More information will appear in the March 11 edition of The NSP. 

Mercer County Schools to lay off 24 employees

The Mercer County School District has recommended laying off the employees for the 2026-27 school year, according to a media release from the Illinois Education Association.

Kewanee eagle rescue urges hunters to clean up after themselves following 2 cases of lead poisoning

When a hunter shoots an animal, fragments of the lead ammo spread throughout the body. Eagles scavenge the remains left behind and can ingest the lead by mistake.

Roy Cooper, Michael Whatley set to compete for a high stakes North Carolina US senate seat

Former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will face former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley in the state's toss-up U.S. Senate race.

Roy Cooper, Michael Whatley set to compete for a high stakes North Carolina U.S. Senate seat

Former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will face former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley in the state's toss-up U.S. Senate race.

Stewart Road, Muscatine County, closed for months-long project

Stewart Road (X61) is closed to all through traffic from just north of 49th Street to Pettibone Avenue as work resumes on the grading and Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavement replacement project in Muscatine County, a news release says. Metro Pavers Inc. is the prime contractor for the project. Traffic will be detoured using Wiggins [...]

Former Olympic coach reflects on Team USA’s historic Winter Games

Davenport native Dave Juehring was an elite athlete and coach for Team USA bobsledding and skeleton. Here's his take on how this year's Games went for the U.S.

Timber Lake Playhouse plans 65th season

Timber Lake Playhouse invites audiences to be part of a milestone year in 2026 - its 65th anniversary season at the Theatre in the Woods. For 65 years, Timber Lake Playhouse has welcomed generations of theatergoers to its wooded hillside outside Mount Carroll, where stories unfold beneath open skies and applause echoes through the trees. [...]

Man awaiting trial on multiple child sex abuse-related charges arrested again on new accusations

A Davenport man awaiting trial on multiple child sex abuse-related charges was arrested on Monday after new accusations came to light from an alleged child victim, police said.

Average gas price rises 11¢ overnight to about $3.11, AAA says

Cude oil futures have risen sharply this week because of the war.

Potential budget changes would cut 2 positions at Muscatine Fire Department

The department still has seven openings after multiple retirements and people quitting. This year's proposed budget only accounts for five replacements.

Muscatine weighs leaving 2 fire department positions vacant amid budget concerns

The City of Muscatine is considering leaving two firefighter positions unfilled as part of its upcoming budget, a proposal that has drawn concern from union members.

Rain and storm chances peak this week on Friday

While we are looking at a chance for some light and scattered showers over the next couple days, the best chance for substantial rain (and t'storms) arrives Friday evening. Rain totals will be a quarter of an inch or less through Thursday morning for most of our area. By Friday though, rain and storm chances [...]

"Grief is like glitter": QCA family mourns the loss of El Patron's 'Connie'

Life goes on with heavier hearts at a popular eatery in Rock Island. Consuelo Gonzalez died on Valentines Day. She owned El Patron Mexican Restaurant with her husband. Her daughters Stephanie and Vivika plan to carry on the family tradition. "Grief is kind of like glitter, if that makes sense. One glitter falls, it goes [...]

Voting nears to a close in Texas primary that may be crucial to control of the Senate

The GOP and Democratic primaries mark a potential litmus test for what direction base voters want their parties to go ahead of midterm elections this fall that will determine power in Congress.

Vote counting underway in Texas primary that may be crucial to control of the Senate

The GOP and Democratic primaries mark a potential litmus test for what direction base voters want their parties to go ahead of midterm elections this fall that will determine power in Congress.

Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Texas is headed for a runoff

Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn will face Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a May runoff. Vote counting was still underway in the Democratic primary between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico.

GOP primary for Texas Senate seat set for runoff; Democratic race too close too call

Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn will face Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a May runoff. Vote counting was still underway in the Democratic primary between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico.

Silvis police officers to be honored for saving child from kidnapping

Alexander Ross was convicted of aggravated battery and child abduction. He'll be sentenced later in March.

Meet Amy Finn, the 2026 Remarkable Woman of the Quad Cities

In every neighborhood, in every workplace, and in every family, women make a difference in the Quad Cities. Every March, Our Quad Cities News alongside Nexstar honors the Remarkable Women of the Quad Cities. Amy Finn is this year's Remarkable Woman of the Quad Cities. She is the senior director of programs and development at [...]

Survey: 91% of Quad-Cities residents support tourism in the region

Visit Quad Cities' latest resident survey showed major support for tourism in the Quad-Cities.

Crews battle Davenport house fire

Davenport fire officials said no one was injured. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

How to test for, prevent colon cancer: MercyOne Genesis doctor interview

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer for men and women in the United States and new studies show cases are surging among young adults. The disease is getting a lot of attention after the passing of actor James Van Der Beek, who was just 48 years old. Dr. Ryan Perumpail, from MercyOne [...]

Bird flu found in Washington County

The detection in Washington County marks the fifth case of H5N1 HPAI so far in 2026, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Crews battle Davenport house fire

Davenport fire officials said no one was injured. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Death Notice: John Pischke

A celebration of life for John C. Pischke, 77, of DeWitt, will be held at noon on Saturday, March 7, at Park View Lutheran Church. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Allens Grove Cemetery, Donahue. Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge, is assisting the family with arrangements. Mr. Pischke died Monday, March 2, 2026, at MercyOne Genesis, Davenport.  Memorials may be made to Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, or to Park View Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be made at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com. A full obituary will appear in the March 11 edition of The NSP. 

Boozies Bar & Grill set to reopen at new Freight House location

Boozies Bar & Grill announced it will open its new location on Thursday, March 5.

Davenport Fire Department responds to house fire on West 36th Street Tuesday

Fire crews arrived to the 1400 block of West 36th Street at 12:41 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, and found a one-and-a-half story home with heavy fire and smoke.

Illinois primary election 2026: Who's on the ballot for local office

The Illinois primary election is set for Tuesday, March 17th. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with some counties choosing to expand hours. WVIK has compiled a list of all offices up for election for each county in our listening area.

New assistant principals and other Moline School District personnel news from Feb. 9

See the personnel items from the Feb. 9 agenda of the Moline-Coal Valley School District. The board met at the Washington Elementary School, 1550 41st St. in Moline.

The Quad City Regional Auto Show pulls in to East Moline

New cars, trucks and SUVs and fun for all ages will be pulling in to the Bend XPO in East Moline. Susan Shrader joined Our Quad Cities News with details about the Quad City Regional Auto Show. For more information, click here.

Iowa Senate property tax bill would freeze rates for seniors, tie gas tax to inflation

A Senate Republican-proposed property tax bill would automatically increase fuel taxes each year based on inflation, freeze property taxes for homeowners 60 and older, and cap property tax increases at 2%, according to testimony heard Tuesday by a Senate committee.

Survey: Quad Cities residents more pro-tourism than Midwest average

A new resident sentiment survey shows strong support for tourism growth in the Quad Cities, with most residents saying benefits outweigh impacts.

MercyOne Genesis offers lifesaving information about colorectal cancer

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the U.S., and new studies show colorectal cancer cases are surging among young adults. Dr. Ryan Perumpail from MercyOne Genesis joined Our Quad Cities News with some potentially lifesaving information about colorectal cancer. For more information, click here.

Pregnant migrant girls are being sent to a Texas shelter flagged as medically risky

Government officials and advocates for the children worry the goal is to concentrate them in Texas, where abortion is banned.

Children learn to read with books that are just right for them – but that might not be the best approach

After decades of stagnating reading performance, American literacy levels have begun to drop, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a program of the Department of Education. The average reading scores of 12th graders in 2024 were 3 points lower than they were in 2019. More kids are failing to even reach basic levels of reading that would allow them to successfully do their schoolwork, according to the assessment. There is much blaming and finger-pointing as to why the U.S. isn’t doing better. Some experts say that parents are allowing kids to spend too much time on screens, while others argue that elementary teachers aren’t teaching enough phonics, or that schools closing during the COVID-19 pandemic has had lingering effects. As a scholar of reading, I think the best explanation is that most American schools are teaching reading using an approach that new research shows severely limits students’ opportunities to learn. Students often learn to read with books that are preselected so they can easily understand most of the words in them. Jacqueline Nix/iStock/Getty Images Plus A Goldilocks approach to books In the 1940s, Emmett Betts, a scholar of education and theory, proposed the idea that if the books used to teach reading were either too easy or too hard, then students’ learning would be stifled. The thinking went that kids should be taught to read with books that were just the right fit for them. The theory was backed by research and included specific criteria for determining the best books for each child. The idea is that kids should work with books they could already read with 95% word accuracy and 75% to 89% comprehension. Most American schools continue to use this approach to teaching reading, nearly a century later. A popular method To implement this approach, schools usually test children multiple times each year to determine which books they should be allowed to read in school. Teachers and librarians will label and organize books into color-coded bins, based on their level of difficulty. This practice helps ensure that no child strays into a book judged too difficult for them to easily follow. Teachers then divide their class into reading groups based on the book levels the students are assigned. Most elementary teachers and middle school teachers say they try to teach at their students’ reading levels, as do more than 40% of high school English teachers. This approach might sound good, but it means that students work with books they can already read pretty well. And they might not have very much to learn from those books. New research challenges these widely used instructional practices. My July 2025 book, “Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives,” explains that students learn more when taught with more difficult texts. In other words, this popular approach to teaching has been holding kids back rather than helping them succeed. Many students will read at levels that match the grades they are in. But kids who cannot already read those grade-level texts with high comprehension are demoted to below-grade-level books in the hopes that this will help them make more progress. Often, parents do not know that their children are reading at a level lower than the grade they are in. Perhaps that is why, while more than one-third of American elementary students read below grade level, 90% of parents think their kids are at or above grade level. What’s in a reading level? The approach to “just right” reading has long roots in American history. In the 1840s, U.S. schools were divided into grade levels based on children’s ages. In response, textbook publishing companies organized their reading textbooks the same way. There was a first grade book, a second grade book and so on. These reading levels admittedly were somewhat arbitrary. The grade-level reading diet proposed by one company may have differed from its competitors’ offerings. That changed in 2010 with the Common Core state standards, a multistate educational initiative that set K-12 learning goals in reading and math in more than 40 states. At the time, too many students were leaving high school without the ability to read the kinds of books and papers used in college, the workplace or the military. Accordingly, Common Core set ranges of text levels for each grade to ensure that by high school graduation, students would be able to easily handle reading they will encounter in college and other places after graduation. Many states have replaced or revised those standards over the past 15 years, but most continue to keep those text levels as a key learning goal. That means that most states have set reading levels that their students should be able to accomplish by each grade. Students who do this should graduate from high school with sufficient literacy to participate fully in American society. But this instructional level theory can stand in the way of getting kids to those goals. If students cannot already read those grade level texts reasonably well, the teacher is to provide easier books than adjusting the instruction to help them catch up. But that raises a question: If children spend their time while they are in the fourth grade reading second grade books, will they ever catch up? New research suggests that children could benefit more from reading books that are slightly advanced for them, even if they cannot immediately grasp almost all of the words. Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty Images via The Conversation What the research says For more than 40 years, there was little research into the effectiveness of teaching reading with books that were easy for kids to follow. Still, the numbers of schools buying into the idea burgeoned. Research into effectiveness – or, actually, ineffectiveness – of this method has finally begun to accumulate. These studies show that teaching students at their reading levels, rather than their grade levels, either offers no benefit or can slow how much children learn. Since 2000, the federal government has spent tens of billions of dollars trying to increase children’s literacy rates. State expenditures toward this goal have been considerable, as well. Despite these efforts, there have been no improvements in U.S. reading achievement for middle school or high school students since 1970. I believe it is important to consider the emerging research that shows there will not be considerable reading gains until kids are taught to read with sufficiently challenging and meaty texts.This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Timothy E Shanahan, University of Illinois Chicago Read more:Even before they can read, young children are visualizing letters and other objects with the same strategies adults useHow do children learn to read? This literacy expert says ‘there are as many ways as there are students’Mississippi’s education miracle: A model for global literacy reformTimothy E Shanahan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Bird flu found in Washington County

The detection in Washington County marks the fifth case of H5N1 HPAI so far in 2026, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley CEO Jay Justin announces retirement

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley board member and retired John Deere executive John Leinart will serve as interim CEO.

North Scott Press — March 4, 2025

Princeton stays course with church, Boll’s

Princeton City Council still hopes to sell Boll’s Community Center and renovate the former Presbyterian Church, they reaffirmed across several recent meetings. The council voted unanimously on Feb. 12 to approve an application for an Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) derelict building grant that would provide over $40,000 in support for structural improvements and asbestos remediation at the church building. The following week, Feb. 19, they voted 3–1 to drop the list price of Boll’s from $350,000 to $325,000. Councilman Zach Phares was absent. Councilman Kevin Kernan opposed the price change. He also cast a dissenting vote against the council’s decision to list Boll’s last fall. He told the council on Feb. 12 that he hoped to keep and improve Boll’s as the city community center. Mayor Travis Volrath has said he hopes to use the proceeds of the sale of Boll’s to fund renovations at the church. The church could host a community center, offices, food pantry and daycare, Volrath and council members have suggested. Early budget figures considered by the council would allocate $50,000 from city reserves to community center improvements next year. That is a rise from just $4,000 budgeted this year, and about $5,000 spent over the previous two years. The DNR Derelict Building Program grant, if received, would help fund structural repairs of church roof and remove its damaged steeple, city grant writer Angie Bloomfield wrote to the council last month. The grant would cover a $10,000 structural engineering analysis; share expenses on up to $8,000 in environmental impact studies; and split the cost of up to $50,000 in building renovations. A focus on roof repair and steeple removal would “max out [grant] funding while also keeping matching requirements in mind,” Bloomfield wrote. The grant would also pay for asbestos remediation. An early exterior asbestos test at the church yielded a single positive result, on caulk used on a single square foot of a lower window. Remediation will cost just $400 and be fully covered by the DNR grant, Bloomfield told The North Scott Press.  Several residents expressed concerns about the council’s direction Feb. 19, according to minutes. Liz Bosworth and Steve Billups both argued that the council should list both the church and Boll’s for sale and look to build a new community center at Woomert Park. Ann Geiger expressed concern that too many members of the council and public hoped to toss out the old and build something new. Budget figures under consideration The Princeton Police Department will also see expenditures rise next year, according to early budget documents. Police expenditures are set to rise nearly 40%, up to $203,198 from $146,178 budgeted this fiscal year. The city rehired longtime officer Brian Carstens for 32 hours a week in September. Tweed said the rise in expenditures will go to pay his salary. The city budget process remains ongoing and subject to change.

The 2026 World Cup faces big challenges with only 100 days to go

Will Iran compete? Will violence in Mexico flare up? And what about funding for host cities in the U.S.? With only 100 days left before it beings, the 2026 World Cup in North America is facing a lot of uncertainty.

North Scott senior named Merit finalist

In the nearly 70-year history of the North Scott School District, there have only been about two dozen finalists in the National Merit Scholarship program. Last month, the list earned another name. Senior Russell Squires received the news in February that he was a finalist in the nationally prestigious scholarship program, putting him in a class representing less than 1% of all high school students across the country. Although other students have been honored by the National Merit Scholarship program, the last Lancer to earn the honor of being a finalist was Anna Marceau in 2013. “Russell is a great student for us,” said high school principal Andrew Lehn.  “Obviously, he stands out academically, but his character is also amazing. He is an awesome senior leader for us.” The process began when Squires was a junior and he took the Pre-SAT (PSAT) test. “There’s a certain cutoff that you have to meet based on your individual PSAT scores, and I met that cutoff,” said Squires. Approximately 1.3 million students take the PSAT annually. By spring, about 50,000 of those students are informed they are among the highest scorers. From there, students can be named either a semifinalist in the competition or a Commended Student. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) uses a weighted calculation to determine the cutoff marks. Part of the calculation is based on how competitive a state is, which is determined by how many students take the test. The NMSC allocates about 17,000 semifinalist slots per state per year. Early in the process, the NMSC offers a range of what the cutoff might be, before finalizing each state in September. For instance, for Iowa’s Class of 2027, the recommended range was 211-216. The final number was 213. In Illinois, the range was 218-222, with a final cutoff of 220. Squires earned 214 on his cutoff calculation, and he said that led to some stress. “For the longest time the (cutoff) projection was 214 or 215, so I think I waited for two weeks, waiting for them to confirm it was 214.” Once Squires learned he was a semifinalist, there was more work to be done. He had to fill out an application, with proof of his academic standing, an essay, and a letter of recommendation. He had to take the SAT and have a high enough score to confirm his performance on the PSAT, and he had to finalize his college choice to ensure it was an institution that sponsored a Merit Scholarship award. He was affirmed as one of 15,000 finalists in February. Squires still has a little bit of waiting to do to learn if he’ll receive a Merit Scholarship. Approximately 6,900 winners are announced on a rolling basis between April and July. If Squires is named a Merit Scholar, he could receive a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship, or a scholarship sponsored by a corporation or academic institution. Approximately 600 students will receive special corporate sponsored scholarships, although they will not technically be considered Merit Scholars. “A lot of schools offer scholarships for finalists, so there’s some very generous offers that I’ve received,” he said. Squires credits his parents, Mark and Rachel, for encouraging him to take the PSAT. “My parents knew about the PSAT, which, not a lot of people at our school know about,” he said, adding he had cousins who also took the PSAT, although they did not advance in the competition. “My parents knew about the potential scholarships that it would lead to, so they encouraged me and my brother to take the PSAT. “I would definitely say more people should take the PSAT if they want opportunities.” He said that, although he did some outside studying for his college preparation exams, the classes and general academic environment at North Scott were also extremely beneficial. He said the whole staff is encouraging, “but if I had to pick two, it would be Mrs. Skarich and Mrs. Sambdman. They’ve both just been excellent teachers, and more than just teachers as well. They’ve been able to help me personally as well as academically.” Aside from academics, Squires is involved with sports. He played football, and he’s also looking forward to his senior soccer season. Once he graduates from North Scott, he’s also looking forward to trading scarlet and silver for crimson and white. “I’m most likely going to go to the University of Alabama. I’m going to major in economics and minor in English. I’m going to go on the pre-law track.” Squires was also surprised to learn that his National Merit Finalist status in North Scott history was shared by such a small number. “It’s pretty special. I don’t know how else to put it. It’s really special.”   

Eldridge to substantially increase at-large animal fines

Owners of animals that roam at-large will soon find a little extra bite from the City of Eldridge. On Monday, the city council approved the first reading of an ordinance amending fines for at-large animals. The fine for a first violation is $150, with a second violation fine of $300. For third and subsequent offenses, the fine will be $600. That’s up significantly from the current fine of $30 for a first-time offender. Second and third violations had been set at $75 and $150. At the last city council meeting on Feb. 16, police chief Andrew Lellig told the council that his department is currently being “hammered” with stray animal calls. Officers have methods of reuniting stray animals with their families, including posting photos on the department’s Facebook page. But when those attempts are unsuccessful, officers have to call the Scott County Humane Society, which costs $60 just for an animal control officer to come out and pick up the animal. The city must then pay $20 per day for seven days to board the animal. If the animal is claimed, the owner incurs those fees. If not, the city is on the hook for more than $200 per unclaimed animal. Lellig worked with assistant city administrator Jeff Martens to beef up the fine schedule. Following Monday’s council meeting, Martens said the city isn’t looking to make money off the increased fines. The increase is largely to cover the city’s animal control costs but also serves as an encouragement to owners to be more responsible with their pets. He said along with the fines, there will also be increased educational opportunities for pet owners. Martens also encouraged pet owners to make sure their animals are licensed with the city, and to make sure they have an identification tag that includes the owner’s phone number, which will make it easier for officers to arrange for reunification. A pet license is $6, and more information is available, either in person at City Hall, or by calling 563-285-4841. Fire department update During his mayor’s report, Scott Campbell reported another meeting was held with members of the Eldridge Fire Department on Feb. 17 to exchange more information. A meeting is also scheduled for next week to continue discussions. Council member Jeff Ashcraft asked about the status of the conversations. “Right now, we’ve been exchanging information,” said Campbell. “We’re still looking at two different paths: whether they stay independent or whether we take them over. I don’t know if we’re any closer, but we’re just getting more information.” He described the meetings as “constructive.” Budget talks Discussion of the FY2027 budget continued at the committee of the whole meeting prior to the regular meeting. Council members heard from city building inspector Ray Nees and city administrator Nevada Lemke about the inspections and administrative and finance budgets. As part of the budget discussion, Lemke said the proposed fire department budget was $304,406, or approximately $76,000 per quarter, which would match the levy rate set by the Benefitted Fire District. There will also be approximately $60,000 from the gas franchise fees allocated to the fire department. Council member Brian Dockery asked Lemke about any supplemental allocations to the fire department, noting there had been $40,000 allocated to the department in FY2026 for a capital fund. Lemke said talks are still ongoing with the fire department, but so far, she has not factored in supplemental allocations. “I think we’ve got a ways to go with the fire department,” said Campbell. Council member Ryan Iossi agreed, saying further talks were needed. “We’re not close enough right now to even making a decision on what we’re doing with that $40,000.” Future of inspections Following Nees’ brief presentation, Dockery and Iossi asked Nees if he foresees the need for summer help or an intern in the future. Nees said right now, he’s doing OK on his own, although he does have an eye towards retirement down the line. “I don’t know how I became the old guy, but it happened,” joked Nees. Nees said building inspectors can be difficult to hire, because the job is frequently part-time. Iossi and Dockery suggested a ride-along or a job shadowing program, possibly involving the North Scott student-built home program, could help introduce young people to the inspection business. Nees expressed interest in the option, and mused about funding opportunities. In response to a question from Dockery, Nees said there were 76 single-family new builds started in Eldridge last year, which beat the old record of 62, which he thought was set in 2013. There have already been 18 requests put in this year.  Wastewater contract hauling The council also approved the first reading of an ordinance establishing fees for contract hauler wastewater disposal, which will allow some forms of wastewater to be disposed of by private contractors at the Eldridge Wastewater Treatment Plant. The rate was set at 20 cents per gallon, with a minimum disposal of 1,500 gallons. The wastewater must have originated within the Eldridge city limits. No wastewater containing dirt, mud, gravel, sewage, fats, oils, grease or other unknown or potentially hazardous chemicals will be accepted, and the city may require laboratory testing to verify the contents of the wastewater prior to being accepted. Any laboratory fees will be incurred by the hauler. City staff has the right to refuse any wastewater, and approved discharge must be scheduled, with staff present. Summer fest street closure The council approved a request from the Eldridge-North Scott Chamber of Commerce for road closures during the Eldridge Summer Festival, including the kickoff concert downtown on Friday, July 10, and the festival itself on Saturday, July 11. Chamber director Tabbitha Kramer submitted the request, and said the routes for the parade and Moonlight Chase will remain the same as the past few years. Other business In other business, the council approved liquor license renewals for Rolling Meadows Event Center and Maloney’s Pub. The council also approved setting a public hearing for a budget amendment to the FY26 city budget for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 16, at City Hall. Lemke explained this does not represent a change in expenditures; the budget form that was submitted for publication in The North Scott Press was a different version than the budget officially approved by the council last year. “We need to essentially pass an amended budget for what the council approved last year to match what’s published in the paper for the public hearing,” she explained. City clerk Tracy Northcutt also shared that the city is in the final phase of the hiring process for the deputy city clerk position, with just some steps on the background check needing completion. She said the hope is to have the process completed by the end of this week.

Long Grove deadlocks with Grunwald over detention area

Long Grove City Council appears locked in a standstill with developer Dale Grunwald over who will own and maintain a 9-acre water detention area he hopes to hand to the city. At a special meeting Tuesday, Feb. 24, members of the council split on whether to take the land without a plat of an expansion Grunwald has planned for the nearby the Winfield Estates subdivision. The city Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) recommended that the council reject the request, until a full plat shows how new homes would utilize the detention area. Grunwald said he would not spend the money to draw the plat without the city’s assurance that they would take and maintain the detention area. In September 2018, the council agreed to assume ownership of the detention area if Grunwald implemented a design they selected. But the selection process ran for months, as council and the public debated how to best put the land to public use. In the meantime, Grunwald moved forward a previous design dating to the early stages of the Winfield Estates subdivision.  On Tuesday, three members of the council—Nancy Herrin, Ryan Christensen, and Chad Ulrich—said they were ready to defer to P&Z’s recommendation that the council reject Grunwald’s request. “At this point, I feel like they're the ones who would have the most knowledge on this situation,” Christensen said. Ulrich said it was not the time for the city to assume new responsibilities. “We've got so many new projects in the hopper right now, we wouldn't do anything with it in the foreseeable future, other than maintain it,” he said. City Clerk Rose Guyer and Public Works Director Tony Saladino said the property would increase the city’s summer mowing and maintenance responsibilities. Council members Amy Shannon and Mike Boddicker appeared more friendly to Grunwald’s request. “I don't understand what's the risk of us assuming the property, because I think it's inevitable that we're going to take it over anyway,” Boddicker said. If Grunwald were to dissolve his development company, the city could be forced to take and maintain the property. “Having something in place now protects us when that ultimately happens,” Boddicker said. The city could ensure the property was correctly maintained, he said. Between 2010 and 2020, documents provided to the council state that the city received regular complaints about flooding in the detention area. City Engineer Jason McKenzie told the council that those issues have been resolved. McKenzie and Grunwald each told the council that the area could manage stormwater from further development, although they appeared to disagree on an exact figure. McKenzie estimated the pond could drain about 66 acres of development. Grunwald tagged that number higher, at 109 acres. They agreed that the exact number would depend on the density of future development. Guyer noted that a water management plan would have to be approved for any future development, regardless of the detention area’s ownership. Jill Grunwald, wife of Dale Grunwald, said the council had asked developers to incorporate green space into their plats, but would not use city resources to maintain that land as parks and recreational spaces. The accusation drew a blast of frustration from Christensen. “All we're talking about right now is whether or not we're going to take over this [detention area]. What does that have to do with whether or not we still ask for green space from developers? It's moot,” he said. “You're talking about then, not now, and that's why this is so contentious. But it doesn’t have to be,” he added. The council took no formal action and tabled the discussion pending further information.

Election season begins with filings

Candidates for Scott County public office have until March 20 to file petitions for partisan primaries in advance of fall elections. Terms for the county attorney, treasurer, and recorder, as well as three of five county supervisors, are set for election November 3. Partisan primaries will narrow the field of candidates June 2. Filing for state and federal races opened last month and closes Friday, March 13. Filing for county races opened Monday. On the Scott County Board of Supervisors, Chair John Maxwell and Vice Chair Jean Dickson will seek reelection. Supervisors Ross Paustian, concluding his first term on the board, will not. All three are Republicans. Republican Luana Stoltenberg, a former state representative, and Democrat Kevin Randle, a city of Davenport employee, have announced intentions to run for Paustian’s seat. Scott County Treasurer Tony Knobbe, a Republican, and Recorder Rita Vargas, a Democrat, will not seek reelection. County Attorney Kelly Cunningham has not announced plans for reelection. Candidates must file petitions with at least 100 signatures from eligible voters to appear on the June ballot.

First Democrat enters race for supervisors

Kevin Randle, a union leader and city planner for Davenport, is the first Democrat to enter the race for the Scott County Board of Supervisors. “I want to make a positive difference in my community,” Randle told The North Scott Press last week. “I’m a father to a young son. I want to make sure that he and everyone else in Scott County have a sportive future.” Four candidates now seek three seats on the board. Board Chair John Maxwell and Vice Chair Jean Dickson, both Republicans, will seek reelection. Randle and Republican Luana Stoltenberg each aim for a seat. Supervisor Ross Paustian, a Republican, announced plans to retire at the end of his four-year term in December. Randle has spent five years at the city of Davenport as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist and analyst, according to a press release. He also serves as president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) local 887 and is a member of the Quad Cities Federation of Labor executive board. Randle said he believed the role of supervisor was a “good fit” for his skills and background. He said he hoped to see supervisors adjust policies that restrict renewable energy development in county farmland. He said that restrictions amounted to a “moratorium.” A reverse in course would increase the energy supply, benefit landowners, grow tax dollars and protect the environment from fossil fuel emissions, Randle said. He added renewables were the “best way” to satisfy energy needs. Pressure on the county to allow construction of a natural gas power plant outside Maysville “points to the need for a future policy change,” he said. Randle also objected to the county’s decision to outsource janitorial work last summer. “I stand against the privatization of government jobs,” Randle said, citing his work with AFSCME. “I think government employees need to be focused on public good rather than creating private profit.”

Mission Creek announces new, one-day food, lit and music festival

The single-day food, literature and music experience is scheduled for April 25 and will take place across several Iowa City venues.

Former Republican state rep seeks board

Former Republican state representative and pro-life advocate Luana Stoltenberg has announced a run for the Scott County Board of Supervisors. “I just love the people of the state of Iowa and our county, and want to serve,” Stoltenberg said. “There’s a position open, and it would be great to fill that with someone who really has a heart for the people.” Four candidates now seek three seats on the board. Board Chair John Maxwell and Vice Chair Jean Dickson, both Republicans, will seek reelection. Stoltenberg and Democrat Kevin Randle each aim for a seat. Supervisor Ross Paustian, a Republican, announced plans to retire at the end of his four-year term in December. Stoltenberg served as a state representative for House District 81 from 2023–25. She won election to the West Davenport seat by just 11 votes, after a series of recounts. Stoltenberg said she believed the current board of supervisors “are transparent and spend our money well,” and promised she would continue to keep taxes low for Scott County residents. “I believe we can continue building on that strong foundation, while making the county government even more responsive to the people we serve,” she said in a press release. Stoltenberg said she would spend the beginning of her term on the board learning from fellow supervisors. She supported supervisors’ recent decision to halt progress on development of a power plant in rural Scott County, she said. “I think down the road we probably will have to see what the need is,” she added. “Is there a need? Is there so much building and construction going on that we have to build something?” In the State House, she made headlines as among the chamber’s most pro-life members, and for advocating a life-at-conception bill. She attended the Jan. 6, 2021 “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C. with a “prayer group,” she has said.

North Scott Singers wow in Milwaukee

North Scott Singers received a standing ovation following their performance at the Midwest Choral Directors convention in Milwaukee, Wis., last Thursday morning. 

Truck, lease expenses spur frustration

Supervisors protested a pair of unexpected expenses last week. Surcharges on a contract for two tandem axle trucks with Ascendance Truck Centers and a new lease for the County General Store will each cost the county thousands more than expected. The board approved both expenses Thursday. The lease for the general store passed unanimously, while Supervisor Ross Paustian voted against approving truck surcharges. Truck charges In 2023, supervisors approved a contract with Thompson Truck and Trailer of Davenport for two International tandem-axle trucks, at a total cost of $233,860 after a $50,000 trade-in. Those trucks remain undelivered. Ascendance, which has purchased Thompson, recently assessed the county an additional $14,307 per truck for “material and tariff-related cost increases.” It reported that those charges were set by the manufacturer and has said the trucks are near delivery. County fleet manager Mark Garrow said that the original contract “did note possible delivery delays and materials surcharge fees due to supply chain disruptions.” Those clauses are now standard on vehicle contracts, he added. Garrow said Ascendance had balanced the surcharge by providing the county with model-year upgrades on each of the trucks, from 2024 to 2026. They have also agreed to honor the original $50,000 trade-in value of a 2017 tandem axle vehicle which has seen three years of additional county use. “I feel pretty confident that we're being treated fairly,” Garrow said. Not all supervisors agreed. Paustian called the surcharges “ridiculous.” “What were the reasons? Chain disruptions, parts shortages, industry-wide pricing volatility. That's all BS,” he said. Paustian suggested that the county include language in future contracts that would forbid surcharges and penalize dealers for late delivery. “It would be nice that Ascendance knows it wasn't a 5–0 vote, that there was somebody that voted no, and they should be told why,” he added. Supervisor Maria Bribriesco agreed with Garrow that the county had emerged with a “good deal” despite surcharges. But she agreed with Paustian that new clauses in vehicle contracts could protect the county from late deliveries and surcharges.  “It's like our delivery schedule means nothing to them,” she said. “Let’s put some clauses in there to protect the government, so that we're not at the mercy of the contractor, of the company, to deliver whatever they want, and then to tell us in generalities… about why they didn't meet our delivery date,” she added. Supervisor Ken Beck concurred that the county should revisit its vehicle contract language. If penalties for late delivery or surcharge restrictions scared vendors, projects could be rebid, he said. Board Chair John Maxwell echoed the board’s frustration. “I'm just as angry as Ross every time I see surcharge. It's like you are taking something for me, and there's nothing I can do about it, and my choices aren't very good,” he said. But if the county rejected the deal, the real “loser” would be the Scott County taxpayer who doesn’t see their road plowed, Maxwell argued. The county has five tandem axle trucks in its fleet. Garrow described them as “critical frontline units.” “Reliability is essential. They're used all the time, summertime for hauling and then wintertime for snow removal duties,” he said. General Store lease The County General Store’s final ten months at the Village Shopping Center, 902 W. Kimberly Road, will cost $29,500, up from the $18,000 lease last signed in 2023. The Treasurer’s Office rents the space from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), which occupies the neighboring office. A 28E agreement to share space lapsed in December 2023. County Treasurer Tony Knobbe told supervisors last Tuesday that years passed without an updated agreement, despite regular calls and “numerous promises.” Last month, the DOT produced an updated 28E agreement stapled to a new lease that will cost the county $10,000 more than the previous sum. The DOT is the primary tenant but not the owner of the Village Shopping Center office. “I expressed my dissatisfaction to them that we were not at least informed, much less involved in any negotiations,” Knobbe said. “I'm not sure there's much I can do other than refuse to sign it or refuse to recommend you sign it and risk getting kicked out. “I’m not sure we want to play that game.” The Treasurer’s Office plans to vacate the current general store office this fall for a new space to be remodeled this summer in a county-owned building at Paul Revere Square, 2322 W. Kimberly Road. Major purchases Supervisors approved the purchase of 400 new desktop computers and a command pickup truck for Scott County's ambulance service. Computers from Hewlett Packard will cost $1,029 each, for a total cost of $411,600. That cost registers a 71% discount negotiated from list price, IT infrastructure manager Sam Samara said. Scott County last purchased desktop computers in September 2017. Those computers, now over 8 years old, no longer officially support Windows 11, Samara added. A new Chevy Silverado 3500 for MEDIC EMS will cost the county $79,600.39 out of $100,000 budgeted. The truck will tow MEDIC's large decontamination trailer, used for High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) transports. MEDIC is one of just four Iowa agencies equipped for those transports, Director Paul Andorf told supervisors. Eventually, the truck will serve a response command center, replacing a vehicle still in use, Andorf said. Departments look to reconfigure A surge in the number of county departments hoping to reconfigure their positions and openings led supervisors to revisit their human resources policies last week. On a recommendation from Human Resources Director Vanessa Wierman, the board broadened criteria that allow departments to change their table of organization, which determines positions and salaries. Wierman said the adjustment reflects current practice at the county. Any vacancy or change in personnel will now allow departments to approach the board of supervisors with a new table of organization. Departments must document how changes would improve “operational efficiency, service delivery, supervision, or workload alignment,” and whether they would result in cost savings or new expenses. Supervisors also approved out-of-cycle organizational changes at the Auditor’s Office alongside policy adjustments. Other business In other news, supervisors: • Awarded its annual pavement painting contract to Vogel Services for $197,654.41, a 0.8% increase over the contract awarded to the company last year. • Agreed to a pay-step hiring exception for MEDIC EMS. • Signed their contract with AFSCME and PPME local 887, which represent certain county workers. • Entered closed session to discuss pending litigation.

McCausland clerk pleads guilty

Former McCausland city clerk Sheila Bosworth has pleaded guilty to five felonies and a misdemeanor over the theft of at least $63,233 from city coffers. In an agreement filed Feb. 23, Bosworth pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree theft, identity theft, nonfelonious misconduct in office and three counts of forgery. Scott County prosecutors have agreed to drop nearly two dozen additional counts of forgery, as well as charges for credit card fraud and misdemeanor identity theft, according to the agreement. The agreement holds Bosworth responsible for payment of pecuniary damages to the city of McCausland totaling $63,233. She may be responsible for additional restitution, it records. Bosworth previously pleaded not guilty in December. Bosworth was put on administrative leave from the city of McCausland in March of last year, when Blackhawk Bank and Trust notified Mayor Bill Gillespie that she had issued herself a series of checks from the city account. According to a report from the State Auditor released in November, Bosworth wrote herself 26 unauthorized checks totaling $55,000 between Feb. 21 and March 17. The report states that Bosworth used the mayor’s e-signature, which she used to prepare city minutes, to sign the fraudulent checks. Detective Alex Gries of the Scott County Sheriff’s Office told the North Scott Press that Bosworth had spent years committing money to a cryptocurrency scam she had been led to believe was a legitimate investment. In December, prosecutors dropped the most serious charge against Bosworth, ongoing criminal conduct. The Class B felony would have carried up to 25 years in prison.

Loretta Steffen to celebrate 90th birthday March 6

Our family is celebrating a very special milestone! Loretta Emilie Steffen will be turning 90 years young on March 6, 2026. To help mark this remarkable occasion, we invite friends, family and members of the community to help shower her with birthday cheer. Cards and well wishes would be greatly appreciated and may be sent to 2387 Hwy 130, New Liberty, IA 52765. Thank you for helping us honor a lifetime of memories, love and stories. 

Obituary: Harold Scherer

Harold Richard Scherer, Davenport, 99, passed away March 1, 2026, at Genesis Mercy One. Harold was born to Edward and Francis Scherer Dec. 19, 1926, in Montpelier. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Ruth, brothers Edward and Dale. A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 6, at 10 a.m. in the Runge Mortuary Chapel. A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 5, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and one hour before the funeral. He will be laid to rest at Davenport Memorial Park. Memorials may be made out to Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department. Cards may be sent to: Donna Carter, P.O. Box 52, Princeton, IA 52768. Online condolences may be left at www.rungemortuary.com. He married Jeanette Schnoor Feb. 14, 1950. They were married 72 years until her passing in 2023. They had two children, Carol (Harvey) Klindt and Donna (Brian) Carter. He loved antique tractor pulling and restoring tractors. Harold held many offices in organizations and helped organize Iowa State Fair antique pull and numerous other pulls by preparing the track. Organizations he belonged to include Eastern Iowa Antique Tractor Pullers, River Bend Antique Tractor Pullers, Hawkeye Vintage Farm Machinery Association, Deere Valley Collectors. Harold was a dairy farmer and loved to farm with his wife, Jeanette. He was a member of Mississippi Valley Dairy Producers. He loved to garden. And his sweet corn patch was his pride and joy. Grandchildren include David Klindt, Daniel (Jennifer) Klindt, Sarah (Michael) Sunderbruch, and Tyler Carter. Great-grandchildren Kylie Klindt and Andrew Klindt. Harold was able to attend his granddaughter’s wedding on Valentine’s Day. The family would like to thank his best friend Jim Bayles for the road trips and lunch times they spent together.   Custom obituary

Obituary: Alice Vetter

Alice M. Vetter, 95, of Long Grove, passed away Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at MercyOne Genesis Davenport. Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport.  The family greeted friends one hour prior to the services at the church. Alice was an avid Cub fan, and the family invited you to wear your favorite team’s attire.  Burial followed at Pine Hill Cemetery, Davenport.  Memorials may be made to the Long Grove Civic Center or Fire Department.  Please share condolences with the family at www.rungemortuary.com. Alice was born March 24, 1930, in Mellette, S.D., to Jacob and Louise (Krause) Gall.  She was united in marriage to Rex McVey on June 18, 1949, in Chariton.  He preceded her in death in 1972.  Alice then married Melvin Vetter on May 18, 1974, in Davenport.  He preceded her in death in 1999. Alice had been a self-employed furniture Upholster for 70 years in Long Grove.  She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport.  Earlier in life she had enjoyed square dancing, bowling, gardening, puzzles, cross stitch, Chicago Cubs, and spending time with her family. Survivors include three daughters, Linda (David) Hatfield, Susan (William) Reyhons, and Sheila (David) Lee; three sons, Rex (Mary Jo) McVey, Ronald (Diane) McVey, and Patrick McVey; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. Alice was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands and 14 brothers and sisters.   Custom obituary

Quad-Cities business leaders expect increased hiring, according to Chamber survey

"The level of optimism among local business leaders in our survey suggests a positive start to 2026,” said Bill Polley, senior director of business intelligence for Grow Quad Cities.

Legislative forum April 11 at Scott Community College

Scott County Community College/Eastern Iowa Community College (SCC/EICC) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) are pleased to announce two upcoming community engagement forums at the SCC/EICC Belmont Campus. These events are designed to foster meaningful dialogue, strengthen community connections, and provide a platform for open discussion with their legislators regarding issues that matter to local residents. The events will be held Saturday, April 11, and include a meet and greet from 10-10:30 a.m., followed by a forum from 10:30 a.m. – noon. In addition to the April 11 forum, SCC/EICC and AAUW will host a celebratory reception in honor of Maggie Tinsman. The reception will recognize Ms. Tinsman’s significant contributions to the community and her longstanding commitment to public service and civic engagement. Community members, partners, and friends are invited to join in celebrating her impact. This forum will offer attendees the opportunity to engage with community leaders, share perspectives, and participate in constructive conversations about topics of local importance. The session will begin with a casual meet and greet, followed by a structured forum with panelists and audience participation. “We’re thrilled to bring people together for dialogue that strengthens our community,” said Maggie Tinsman.   “These forums are a chance to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful ways — and to honor a local leader whose contributions have helped shape our region.”

First Central Grilling for Charity nets more than $22K in 2025

First Central State Bank’s Grilling For Charity notched a new record in 2025 in charitable giving. The yearly events at four of First Central’s locations totaled $22,755 in 2025, more than the previous record of more than $20,000 set in 2021. Community support makes it possible for us to give back through these events that strengthen the communities we serve, First Central State Bank President and CEO Brigham Tubbs said. “We’re sincerely thankful for everyone who attended these events,” Tubbs said. “For our team members, this success matters because it represents our shared commitment to service and connection beyond banking.” The community bank hosted charitable events in Clinton, DeWitt, Eldridge, and Goose Lake. Non-profits benefitting were Speak Out Against Suicide, the DeWitt Hospital Auxiliary, Smile Like Zoey, and the Northeast Athletic Boosters. The Clinton and DeWitt events broke previous records, with Clinton’s Speak Out Against Suicide’s event totaling $6,556, and DeWitt’s Auxiliary event netting $3,050. Eldridge’s Smile Like Zoey event garnered the season’s high of $10,649, while Goose Lake’s Northeast Athletic Boosters event generated $2,500. In addition to the events, First Central State Bank team members throughout the bank’s footprint donate to wear jeans on the day of these events, adding to the recipient’s total. The Grilling For Charity events are hosted by First Central State Bank, with the bank providing the food and drinks, along with volunteers. These events began in 2009 and have raised more than $375,000 for area non-profits and families. Each year, a new non-profit is chosen to receive the donations. First Central State Bank is a full-service financial institution with offices in DeWitt, LeClaire, Clinton, Goose Lake and Eldridge.

Antique Spectacular this weekend

Mark your calendars for March 6-8 Antique Spectacular Vintage Market! You know spring is in the air with the return of the Antique Spectacular Vintage Market March 6-8, coming to the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue, Rock Island. This annual Spring antique and vintage market in its 32nd year will feature outstanding line-up of antique vendors with antiques and vintage items galore. The QCCA Expo Center will be bursting with a wonderful variety of fine antiques and vintage collectibles for sale. Featured will be select antique vendors with unique merchandise from around the world.  Hunters of vintage will have an opportunity, all weekend, to shop the wide range of quality antiques and vintage collectibles. With the Antique Spectacular, there is always something to interest every decorator and collector, whether they have a new interest in vintage and repurposed for decorating their home or have been collecting antiques for years.  This includes great furniture, art, art pottery, country, stoneware, books, prints, primitives, jewelry, silver, antique glassware, American Indian items, china, postcards, coins, quilts, dolls, toys, Paper Ephemera, advertising, marbles, vintage clothing, textiles and period pieces.  The list of amazing vintage items is endless and all under one roof for the convenience to shop all weekend for a timeless vintage treasure that is new to you. Antique Spectacular Vintage Market — March 6-8 QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201Friday, 4–8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.$10 Admission (Good all weekend with a wristband or handstamp to return) and Free Parking Patrons can check out and register on the website: www.antiquespectacular.com to print a $1 off admission coupon. More information about the Antique Spectacular is available at www.antiquespectacular.com or contact Kimberly Schilling at 712-326-9964 or kim.aspectacular@gmail.com.  The Antique Spectacular is presented by Melting Pot Productions, Inc.

Celebrating America’s 250th: The Quad City Singers Go Patriotic at Davenport's Redstone Room on March 20

The Quad Cities area will join communities nationwide this year to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary, kicking off with a patriotic concert by the Quad City Singers on Friday, March 20.

View the Scott County Sheriff's report from the March 4 NSP!

THURSDAY, FEB. 19 10:32 a.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 400 block of West 4th Street. 1:53 p.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 1:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a sexual assault in the 6400 block of 131st Street. 3:03 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 19200 block of 220th Street. A vehicle driven by Lena Sierra Botkin, 33, Davenport, was eastbound on 220th Street. Botkin was reportedly using an electronic communication device while driving and the vehicle ran off the roadway to the right. Botkin was cited for use of an electronic communication device while driving. 6:22 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile problem on Park View Drive. 8:27 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 4900 block of Wood Dale Court. 8:57 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 200 block of West 3rd Street. FRIDAY, FEB. 20 12:07 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1900 block of West 40th Street. 2:05 a.m. — Leon Maurice Blair, 32, Davenport, was charged with driving while barred (habitual offender) and cited for driving with suspended/denied/revoked license or registration, following a traffic stop on West Locust Street, Davenport. 6:53 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 7000 block of New Liberty Road. A vehicle driven by Alejandro J. Martinez, 40, Rock Island, was westbound on New Liberty Road. The vehicle began to fishtail due to icy and snowy road conditions. The vehicle crossed the centerline, where it was struck by an eastbound vehicle driven by Dalton Jack Miller, 24, Lowden. 7:05 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 900 block of Lost Grove Road. 7:21 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near East 53rd Street and Utica Ridge Road, Davenport. A vehicle driven by Brett Alexander Arnold, 55, Eldridge, was stopped at a red light. He was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Helen Myra Jones, 27, LeClaire. Icy and snowy road conditions were cited as contributing to the accident. 9:19 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 13800 block of 118th Avenue. 10:36 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident near mile marker 4 on Interstate 280 East, Davenport. A vehicle driven by Kevin Craig Wacker, 41, Tiffin, was eastbound on Interstate 280. The vehicle left the roadway and went into a ditch. Wacker reportedly told deputies he felt dizzy prior to the accident. The accident is under investigation. 10:42 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 1900 block of West 40th Street. 11:05 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 4800 block of State Street. 11:28 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 2200 block of West 49th Street. 11:59 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 800 block of Railroad Street. 1:47 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 6600 block of Brady Street. 3:02 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 500 block of Belmont Road. 5:20 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 300 block of West 8th Street. 6:35 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 2400 block of West Locust Street. 7:24 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 29700 block of 210th Avenue. 8:05 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage. 8:31 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 1700 block of Iowa Drive. 9:20 p.m. — Kaleb Ryan Smith, 29, Davenport, was charged with OWI – 1st offense and persons ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, and cited for speeding and an open container violation, following a traffic stop in the 4700 block of Devils Glen Road, Bettendorf. 10:34 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 18100 block of 210th Street. A vehicle driven by Katrina Maria Ford, 47, DeWitt, struck a deer that entered the roadway. Debris from the collision struck the vehicle behind her, driven by Halle Grace Nelson, 23, Eldridge. 10:43 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 21400 block of Scott Park Road. 11:30 p.m. — Ebony Renae Hearn, 31, Davenport, was charged with OWI – 1st offense, and cited for speeding, violation of financial liability coverage, operation without registration and an open container violation, following a traffic stop on North 1st Street, Eldridge. SATURDAY, FEB. 21 1:30 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 4800 block of Brady Street. 2:36 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 5100 block of North Fairmount Street. 6:28 a.m. — LD Weary, 48, Benbrook, Texas, was charged with assault, following a report of an assault in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road, Walcott. 9:46 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 1800 block of State Street. 10:06 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 300 block of Hillside Drive. 10:20 a.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 700 block of North Highway 67. 10:43 a.m. — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 18800 block of 270th Street. 10:46 a.m. — Deputies responded to a drug complaint in the 700 block of West Iowa 80 Road. Noon — Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 18800 block of 270th Street, Eldridge. Two individuals were served one-year notices of no trespassing for all Scott County Conservation properties. 1:23 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near 70th Avenue and 160th Street. A vehicle driven by CJ Anthony Cox, 19, Davenport, was westbound on 160th Street. Cox came to a controlled intersection and attempted to make a left turn. He was struck by a vehicle driven by Marietta Lucille Golinghorst, 76, Walcott. Both drivers and a passenger in Golinghorst’s vehicle were transported to Genesis East Medical Center. Cox was cited for failure to yield on a left turn. 1:38 p.m. — Deputies responded to a fraud complaint in the 8500 block of 288th Street. 4:46 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 4600 block of Western Avenue. 5:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury. 5:29 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 3800 block of Elmore Avenue. 7:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury near Highway 61 and Western Avenue. 10:54 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3700 block of El Dorado Drive. SUNDAY, FEB. 22 12:03 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance on Blue Grass Court. 4:14 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 100 block of North Salina Street. 4:49 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 3000 block of West 11th Street. 4:57 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 100 block of West 65th Street. 10:31 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 26000 block of Valley Drive. 11:50 a.m. — Nicole Marie Stogdill, 53, Davenport, was charged with domestic abuse assault – 2nd offense and interference with official acts, after deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 11300 block of 140th Street, Davenport. 12:14 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 400 block of Veterans Memorial Parkway. 4:38 p.m. — Deputies responded to a weapons complaint in the 300 block of Oak Street. 5:26 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 15900 block of 107th Avenue. 7:25 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 9:31 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 2900 block of Telegraph Road. MONDAY, FEB. 23 1:33 a.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 2300 block of West Locust Street. 2:28 a.m. — Jakobi Jay Baxter, 22, Davenport, was cited for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) – 1st offense, following an incident near West 1st Street and North Elmwood Avenue, Davenport. 6:35 a.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 700 block of West Walcott Road. 6:54 a.m. — Deputies responded to an indecency/lewdness complaint near East 53rd and Brady streets. 9:20 a.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near West 5th and Brady streets. 9:37 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 400 block of Main Street. 10:34 a.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 400 block of North 2nd Street. 12:41 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near mile marker 282 on Interstate 80 East. A vehicle driven by Betty Sue Nations, 81, Davenport, was eastbound on Interstate 80. Debris fell off the vehicle in front of her and into the roadway. Nations’ vehicle struck the debris. The other vehicle did not stop at the scene. 3:18 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 3:44 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a one-vehicle accident in the 22500 block of 220th Street. A vehicle driven by Afra Mekki Elhussein, 42, Bettendorf, was eastbound on 220th Street. Elhussein reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which left the roadway and flipped into a ditch. Elhussein was transported to Genesis East Medical Center. She was cited for failure to maintain control. 5:58 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem on Park View Drive. 6:44 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check. 7:22 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check on Park View Drive. 8:23 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with personal injury in the 2200 block of South Hillandale Road. TUESDAY, FEB. 24 1:24 a.m. — Danny Michael Turner, 34, Galveston, Ind., was charged with OWI – 1st offense, following a traffic stop near 53rd Avenue and Devils Glen Road, Bettendorf. 11:01 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 4000 block of East 53rd Street. 11:06 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of theft in the 25000 block of 189th Street. 5:09 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem. 5:17 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem in the 21400 block of Scott Park Road. 5:21 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 3300 block of Utica Ridge Road. 6:35 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a two-vehicle accident near Interstate 80 West and Interstate 280 West, Davenport. A vehicle driven by Mikkal Henry Gust, 58, Green Isle, Minn., was traveling in the left lane on Interstate 80, attempting to pass another vehicle. A vehicle driven by Tejpal Singh, 57, Scranton, Pa., was exiting Interstate 280 onto Interstate 80. Gust was unable to get over into the right lane, and Singh failed to yield to Gust’s vehicle, causing a collision. Singh was cited for failure to yield the right of way. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25 2:03 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of West 65th Street. 11:56 a.m. — Deputies responded to a vandalism complaint in the 200 block of Walcott Street. 3:05 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage in the 600 block of Belmont Road. 4:26 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 200 block of East Mayne Street. 6:29 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of a three-vehicle accident near Interstate 80 East and Northwest Boulevard, Davenport. A vehicle Shawn Robert Labarge, 39, Davenport, was stopped at a red light. He was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Stephen C. Guidry, 36, Davenport. Guidry’s vehicle had just come off the Interstate 80 exit at the time of the accident. The force of the collision forced Labarge’s vehicle into the rear of a vehicle driven by Clifford Wayne Overton, 45, Davenport. Guidry was cited for following too closely. 8:46 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a juvenile problem in the 30700 block of 144th Avenue. 10:31 p.m. — Deputies responded to the scene of an accident with property damage near mile marker 302 on Interstate 80 East. A vehicle driven by Brittyn Penelope Tunney, 19, Kewanee, Ill., was eastbound on Interstate 80. A spare tire fell off the vehicle in front of her and struck the side quarter panel of Tunney’s vehicle. The other vehicle did not stop at the scene. 10:53 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 400 block of West Oak Street. THURSDAY, FEB. 26 2:56 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an assault in the 2500 block of North Fairmount Street. 9:30 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of an animal problem near North Main Street and 1st Avenue. 9:51 a.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance in the 400 block of West 4th Street. 12:35 p.m. — Deputies responded to a report of a disturbance. 4:26 p.m. — Deputies responded to a harassment complaint in the 3200 block of South 16th Avenue. 6:01 p.m. — Deputies performed a welfare check in the 5200 block of Amesbury Drive.

View the Eldridge Police report from the March 4 NSP!

MONDAY, FEB. 23 8:11 a.m. — Report taken for an accident between two vehicles in the 100 block of South 3rd Avenue. 2:17 p.m. — A juvenile was charged with possession of a controlled substance, following an incident in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 3:39 p.m. — Complaint of a carbon monoxide detector going off in the 200 block of North 9th Street. The call was turned over to the fire department. Handled by officer. 4:26 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle in the 200 block of South 27th Avenue. A tow sticker was applied to the vehicle. Handled by officer. 4:34 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle in the 200 block of South 27th Avenue. A tow sticker was applied to the vehicle. Handled by officer. 5:26 p.m. — Zachary Paustian, 22, of Walcott, was cited for no insurance and operating a non-registered vehicle, following a traffic stop near 155th Avenue and Slopertown Road. 8:23 p.m. — Brandon Laster, 15, of Davenport, was cited for failure to maintain control and violation of a special minor’s restricted license after being involved in a single vehicle accident in the 2200 block of South Hillandale Road. TUESDAY, FEB. 24 5:05 a.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 500 block of South 5th Street. Keyholder contacted. Handled by officer. 9:45 a.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle near West Donahue and North Main streets. Handled by officer. 10:15 a.m. — Complaint of a water main break in the 600 block of North 8th Street. The call was turned over to the public works department. Handled by officer. 11:18 a.m. — Complaint of a dog running loose near West LeClaire Road and South 1st Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 12:26 p.m. — Barking dog complaint in the 500 block of South 1st Street. Handled by officer. 2:21 p.m. — Complaint of a natural gas leak in the 600 block of North 8th Street. The call was turned over to MidAmerican Energy. Handled by officer. 2:45 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of East Franklin Street. 3:28 p.m. — Complaint of a subject in the 300 block of North 8th Street being harassed. Handled by officer. 3:32 p.m. — Complaint of a subject in the 200 block of South 1st Street being harassed. Handled by officer. 3:44 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver near West Pinehurst Drive and South 1st Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 3:51 p.m. — Complaint of a minor accident between two vehicles in the 200 block of South 1st Street. The drivers exchanged information. Handled by officer. 3:54 p.m. — Complaint of dogs running loose in the 200 block of West LeClaire Road. Handled by officer. 4:43 p.m. — Report of an alarm sounding in the 800 block of East LeClaire Road. Keyholder contacted; false alarm. Handled by officer. 5:03 p.m. — Anthony Hughes, 55, of Davenport, was cited for no insurance and no driver’s license, following a traffic stop in the 300 block of East Franklin Street. 9:02 p.m. — Report taken for fraudulent activity in the 200 block of South 9th Avenue. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25 1:08 a.m. — Kevin Johnson, 39, of Eldridge, was cited for no driver’s license, following a traffic stop in the 500 block of South 1st Street. 1:09 a.m. — Assisted another agency with a traffic stop near Welcome Way and East 59th Street. 9:01 a.m. — Complaint of fraudulent activity in the 200 block of South 1st Street. Handled by officer. 9:16 a.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 500 block of South 5th Street. Handled by officer. 11:38 a.m. — Three juveniles were charged with assault, following a report of a disturbance in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 12:13 p.m. — Report taken for an accident between two vehicles in the 100 block of North 5th Street. 1:06 p.m. — Assisted a resident in the 500 block of North 3rd Street. Handled by officer. 2:46 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle in the 200 block of West Davies Street. A tow sticker was applied to the vehicle. Handled by officer. 10:32 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver near South 1st Street and East Blackhawk Trail. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 10:53 p.m. — Complaint of a disturbance in the 400 block of West Oak Street. Handled by officer. THURSDAY, FEB. 26 7:58 a.m. — Report taken for an accident between two vehicles in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 8:14 a.m. — Complaint of suspicious activity in the 200 block of South 9th Avenue. Handled by officer. 12:50 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 1:22 p.m. — Report taken for an assault in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 10:23 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 1000 block of South 5th Street. FRIDAY, FEB. 27 2:25 a.m. — Complaint of a domestic disturbance in the 700 block of North 1st Street. Handled by officer. 7:59 a.m. — A juvenile was cited for person under 21 using a tobacco/vapor product, following an incident in the 200 block of South 1st Street. 10:27 a.m. — Performed a welfare check in the 100 block of West Spring Street. 10:30 a.m. — Report taken for a subject in the 200 block of South 1st Street being harassed. 11:53 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of North 6th Street. 12:05 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious subject in the 700 block of North 7th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 12:08 p.m. — Report taken for fraudulent activity in the 27000 block of Glynns Creek Court. 4:26 p.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 300 block of North 4th Avenue. 7:15 p.m. — Complaint of a reckless driver near South Scott Park and East Lincoln roads. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. 9:19 p.m. — Complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the 300 block of West Davenport Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer. SATURDAY, FEB. 28 8:35 a.m. — Report taken for theft of property in the 200 block of East Franklin Street. 10:14 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 200 block of North 4th Avenue. 11:21 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 1200 block of Colonial Court. 1:42 p.m. — Complaint of a subject in the 100 block of West Sheridan Drive being harassed. Handled by officer. 3:45 p.m. — Assisted a resident in the 500 block of South 1st Street. Handled by officer. 4:03 p.m. — Complaint of a subject causing a disturbance in the 100 block of West Sheridan Drive. Handled by officer. 4:06 p.m. — Complaint of an alarm sounding in the 1700 block of South 9th Avenue. Keyholder contacted.  Handled by officer. 4:51 p.m. — Benjamin Hildebrandt, 31, of Maquoketa, was cited for an expired driver’s license, following a traffic stop in the 1000 block of East LeClaire Road. 9:34 p.m. — Complaint of a woodpile on fire in the 500 block of East Blackhawk Trail. The call was turned over to the fire department. Handled by officer. 9:41 p.m. — Brittney Burkle, 17, of Eldridge, was cited for operating a non-registered vehicle and no insurance, following a traffic stop in the 400 block of East LeClaire Road. SUNDAY, MARCH 1 11:37 a.m. — Assisted Medic with an EMS call in the 1500 block of East LeClaire Road. 5:28 p.m. — Complaint of a disabled vehicle on Highway 61. The vehicle was towed. Handled by officer. 5:49 p.m. — Complaint of a subject riding a four-wheeler in the 400 block of North 6th Street. Unable to locate. Handled by officer.

Road closures in place at 210th, Highway 61

A project to replace the bridge deck and pavement on the northbound U.S. 61 off-ramp (Exit 124) to Scott County Road F-55 will required closing the road in both directions beginning Monday, March 2, the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Iowa DOT Davenport construction office said. Starting on Monday, March 2, the northbound U.S. 61 off-ramp to Scott County Road F-55 West (Exit 124B) will be closed to allow crews to start bridge demolition work. The northbound U.S. 61 off-ramp to Scott County Road F-55 East (Exit 124A) will remain open until the demolition work is complete. During these closures you will be detoured to Scott County Road F-51/Blackhawk Trail (Exit 125) to access southbound U.S. 61. The northbound U.S. 61 off-ramps to Scott County Road F-55 (Exit 124) will remain closed until mid-summer when the bridge deck and ramp pavement has been reconstructed. While bridge demolition is occurring, Scott County Road F-55 at U.S. 61 will be closed in both directions. During this closure you will be detoured to adjacent interchanges to access your route. Scott County Road F-55 is expected to reopen within one week. The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

Broccoli production resource highlights relevant research

Home gardeners and commercial broccoli growers preparing for spring planting are encouraged to review practical insights from a new Iowa State University Extension and Outreach resource. “Broccoli Production in the Midwest” is available for download at no cost from the ISU Extension Store. The publication covers the production cycle from seed transplanting to harvest, including specific fertilizer recommendations based on soil tests, irrigation requirements, optimal spacing for quality head development and weed, pest and disease management best practices. Findings are shared from studies conducted by horticulture researchers at the ISU Horticulture Research Station in Ames, Iowa. Graduate research assistant in the Department of Horticulture and publication co-author Akshaya Thinakaran noted that selecting the appropriate cultivar based on spring or fall planting is a critical decision. The research also identified an effective non-chemical approach to managing insect pests in broccoli production. ExcludeNet mesotunnel netting reduced pest damage more than any other method tested. “Mesotunnels are covered with a nylon mesh fabric that is placed over electrical conduit hoops, and have a height of 3.5 feet,” noted Ajay Nair, professor and chair in the Department of Horticulture at ISU, extension vegetable specialist and publication co-author. “These nylon nets are breathable, durable, light-permissible and protect plants from extreme weather conditions like heat and hail.” According to the publication, broccoli is rich in nutrients, providing vitamins A, B, C, E and K, along with minerals such as phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Broccoli also contains beneficial compounds such as flavonoids, polyphenols and fiber. Iowa growers can reliably grow broccoli as a nutritionally valuable crop for diversifying operations and meeting consumer demand for local vegetables. For more information, access the publication or contact Nair at nairajay@iastate.edu or Thinakaran at akshayat@iastate.edu.

Long Grove ready for water treatment bids

Long Grove has put its new water treatment plant out for bid. Estimates have put the plant’s cost at $2.7 million, which will rest on a low-interest state loan backed by the town’s water rates and water fund reserves. Long Grove City Council will host a required public hearing on the project at 7 p.m. March 10. Bids are due March 26 and will be awarded at a special council meeting March 31. The council hopes to begin construction on the project after the Strawberry Festival. A prospective timeline shows the project complete by the end of June 2027.

Keep Iowa Beautiful competition names local winner

An area photographer won several awards in the Keep Iowa Beautiful photography contest, including Best of Show. Scott Hoag of DeWitt captured the Robert D. Ray Best of Show award for his photograph, “Heaven with a Zip Code,” capturing a farm field in Lost Nation. Hoag received a $500 prize. He also took top honors in the Public Favorite category with his photograph “Glitter City,” of the Grand Mound fireworks. “Glitter City” also won the Iowa Cities category. Additionally, Hoag received third place in the Iowans in Action category, for his photograph “The Agony of Defeat,” featuring a vanquished stockcar driver; second place in the Hometown Pride category for “Life at Your Own Pace,” taken on the outskirts of Shellsburg in Benton County; and an Honorable Mention in the Iowa Landscapes category for “Gassing Up,” featuring a sunset photo of an antique tractor next to a decorative outhouse. The Keep Iowa Beautiful photography contest photographers to showcase Iowa's natural and environmental beauty through their lenses and capture the essence of their favorite seasons in a creative and engaging way. More than 500 photos were entered in six categories in this year’s contest. "Keep Iowa Beautiful's annual photo contest is a great opportunity for photographers to capture and share the essence of Iowa's story," said Andy Frantz, Keep Iowa Beautiful executive director. "We were truly impressed by the incredible quality and creativity of this year's submissions. This contest highlights the immense talent of photographers across our state." All winning photos can be accessed at: keepiowabeautiful.org/photographycontest/winners.

Bailey Zimmerman, March 13

Touring in support of his 2025 album Different Night Same Rodeo, a recording Country Central praised for the artist's "ability to sound authentic when singing about any of the themes he touches on," chart-topping country rocker Bailey Zimmer headlines a March 13 concert event at Moline's Vibrant Arena at the MARK, his latest also hailed by Entertainment Focus as "a confident, complex and rewarding album that cements Zimmerman's place as one of country's most interesting young voices."

Guild of Gears wins big at state competition

The North Scott robotics team, Guild of Gears, participated in the Iowa First Tech Team Challenge at Xtream Arena in Coralville last weekend. They received the Control Award, which is presented to a team that uses sensors and software to improve the robot's functionality during game play. This award is given to the team that demonstrates innovative thinking and solutions to solve game challenges such as autonomous operation, improving mechanical systems with intelligent control, or using sensors to achieve better results. The team's portfolio must also include a summary of the sensors, software and mechanical controls used on the robot.

Eldridge Lions receive service awards

On Monday, March 2, the Eldridge Lions Club honored four members with the Warren Coleman Honorary Award. Pictured from left to right with President Beth Scheager are award recipients Dave Curlott, Darlene Link, Mark Wall and Sue Cannon. The Warren Coleman Honorary Award was created at the Iowa Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation meeting on June 10, 1988. The award concept is that one award is available to be given to a club for each $1,000 contribution to the Iowa Lions Foundation. Past District Governor Sir Warren Coleman was a veteran and long-time member of the Oskaloosa club, having joined in 1948. He served as District Governor nine years later in 1957-58. After serving as DG, Sir Warren held many positions on the Foundation for over the next 40 years. He was only the second Lion to be Knighted by the Council of Governors on Jan. 11, 1997, where he was quoted saying, “I love serving and doing something I enjoy.” Sir Warren Coleman was the first to receive the award named after himself.

Wind power, charter schools, and taxes

With another legislative season now in full swing, representatives from within Muscatine County and Eastern Iowa gave residents a chance to ask questions and receive clarifications regarding the local issues they care about most. On Saturday, Feb. 28, the Wilton Chamber of Commerce held its annual legislative forum at the city’s council chambers. Attending this year’s forum were Senator Kerry Gruenhagen, Representative Bobby Kaufmann, Representative Taylor Collins, Senator Mark Lofgren, and Representative Mark Cisneros. Environmental issues Danny Chick, a member of the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors kicked the forum off by asking the legislators for their thoughts on Senate File 2447 and House File 2580. Both bills are related to the operation of renewable electric power generating facilities. Through reading these bills, Chick felt they would strip local control on whether or not to build renewable energy projects, specifically solar projects, and would take control away from a county’s board of supervisors and other local officials regarding these projects. “As far as state-wide deciding on renewable energy, I’ve been no on that, and I’ll continue to be a no on that,” Collins stated. “We have, quite frankly, too much solar and wind on our grid.” Collins then referred to the rolling blackouts that nearly occurred in Eastern Iowa in January as an example of Iowans needing what he feels are more stable and reliable sources of energy, namely coal-powered plants. He then added that while he is open to conversations about essential energy infrastructures, he has no interests in state-wide mandates regarding solar and wind. Cisneros also spoke about how much he disliked seeing what he felt were “ugly” windmills, stating he felt too much of taxpayers money went towards wind and solar projects. “It’s okay if somebody wants a windmill on their property to generate electricity (…) but we have too much of our land taken up by solar projects and windmills, and that just disappoints me every time I pass them,” Cisneros said. Property taxes Another issue discussed by residents and the legislators was property tax reform, with Chick noting that a two percent budget increase is expected across the board. In light of this, Chick said he was concerned with how cities and counties could keep wages competitive, continuing to hire or retain employees while still meeting all new budget restrictions. To this, Collins said, “Obviously inflation is a problem, it’s been a problem for five to ten years now, ever since 2020. But, in the conversation we’re having, we need to make sure that property taxes don’t continue to grow faster than Iowans ability to pay.” Gruenhagen felt similarly, stating he believes the taxpayer needs to be “front and center” when it comes to discussing property taxes and keeping with the inflation rate. Collins stated he is specifically against the idea of a 5 to 10 percent property tax increases on senior citizens. “That’s unsustainable long-term, and so we’re going to have to have a hard cap, I believe, when it comes to that growth.” “Property tax reform has to be looked at from that property rights perspective,” Cisneros added, stating he felt hopeful that he and his fellow representatives in the Iowa House this year will be able to work on the issue and figure out a solution. Later in the meeting, Muscatine resident Peggy Gordon of Muscatine, asked about other potential revenue streams for cities and counties, specifically the Hotel-Motel Tax. “It has not been raised in 12 to 13 years. It’s 12 percent (…) and I think it’s time we consider raising it to 16 percent or so,” Gordon said, explaining that more metropolitan areas may see an 18 or 19 percent Hotel-Motel tax. Gordon also felt it wasn’t a negative tax for residents, as tourism dollars can help cities like Muscatine as their tourism industry grows, and felt that the business traveler industry overall “isn’t going to worry about an additional eight or nine dollars on their hotel bill.” Kaufmann said he appreciated her suggestion, as he remembered previous supporters of the tax discussing it with him. With newfound support in it, Kaufmann said he is committed to doing research on it, and hopes to see what the possibilities are with it. Education funding Alongside the discussion on property taxes, residents asked about the funding local public school districts receive through these taxes. Chick noted that schools get about 40 percent of property taxes, and felt too much of these funds went towards covering administrative costs instead of being put towards the benefit of students and their education. Collins noted that tinkering with the property tax system in regards to how much schools get can greatly affect the other parts of the school funding formula, and felt legislators will need to take a look at reforming this formula at some point. “One thing that’s included in the property tax bill that we are going to have a conversation about is the utilization of SAVE to drive down that 540 levy on property taxes for schools,” Collins said, stating his support for the idea. With this strategy, Collins believes it will give residents have some level of control, as how much they pay in sales tax is decided through their spending decisions while property taxes are something residents have no control over and have to pay regardless. Stanwood resident Rowdy Templer brought up the idea of, in the case of schools that have lost a significant portion of their student population, they could allow a portion of the building to be used by charter schools, preventing the additional costs of another building while also allowing students to participate in other activities within that school system. Gruenhagen stated his support of this idea and of more collaboration between the entities, He clarified that charter schools are public schools focused on specialties such as STEM or work-based learning, not private schools. Overall, Gruenhagen felt charter schools functioned best when they’re able to work with other area schools for the sake of students who may need additional services, one-on-one support or a change in learning environment. “One of my favorite charter school themes is credit restoration,” Gruenhagen said. “They’ll take a student that’s failing in the public school system and bring them into that charter school and give them more one-on-one attention while working with the community. Instead of falling into a life of crime, (these students) are being put into becoming a constructive member of society.” Regarding Templer’s idea specifically, Gruenhagen noted that public school districts have previously seen charter schools as competitors, leading to a lack of interest in selling former school property to them. “That ended up closing out a lot of their market. Most famously, up in Cedar Rapids last year, they chose to sell to an investor at half the price that a private school was offering for that exact same building,” he said, believing the administrators of this school were looking out for themselves instead of their students or the community. With Iowa classrooms expected to see an estimated decrease of 7,000 less students coming into the public school system this coming year, Gruenhagen also acknowledged that schools will need to adjust to managing smaller classes coming in, in addition to having fewer teachers at the elementary level. Cisneros confirmed both the state and the U.S. as a whole are seeing a decrease in students enrollment in public school, due to both the desire of families to control their child’s curriculum, preferring older and more traditional or direct forms of curriculum, as well as the potential decrease seen from the nationwide removal of illegal immigrant families. “I think parents in the last few years are taking more responsibility to the education of children, and are looking for options outside the traditional public school,” Cisneros said. To this, Kaufmann emphasized the large role public schools will still play in communities, believing the mass majority will still choose public schooling while still wanting to offer Iowa families the choice. “I have a high level of faith in the Wilton Public Schools,” he said. “Our Cedar County and Muscatine County schools do a phenomenal job, but you also have schools who do not.” Kaufmann then compared the availability of charter schools to a family’s typical medical plan, where they may go to their primary family care doctor a majority of the time but may also have times where they need to see a specialist. “That’s what a charter school is,” Kaufmann said. “We’re making sure that we have a system that’s good for everybody, and gives everybody the option that’s best for their kids.” Lofgren also stated his support of school choice, saying both he and his wife, who worked in the education field for over 30 years, believed in the importance of students being able to go where their parents want them to go for their specific situations and educational needs. Supervisors’ rights Another bill brought to the forum’s attention by Chick was Senate File 2442, which states that county board of supervisors shall not restrict the construction or development of residential buildings, excluding matters of safety of life or property. Chick felt this bill would take power away from local officials such as city councils and board of supervisors on allowing the state to build what they want, regardless of individual property rights and property lines. Kaufmann said he had no intentions of passing the bill, having strong oppositions against it. “As far as county zoning and local control, I believe those decisions should rest with you.” Cisneros agreed, stating, “Local control is important, that’s why local elections matter. You guys are there to make those tough decisions closest to people, and that’s how government works best.” Gruenhagen also showed support for wanting to preserve the rights of the county board of supervisors. “The larger question is ‘what should property rights look like’? Is your county board of supervisors preventing you from doing what you want on your own property?” While he understood the bill’s goal of making property rights more conducive throughout the state versus there being different rights and laws within each county, Gruenhagen ultimately felt that if landowners within a county are electing members on the board of supervisors, they should stick with what the supervisors decide on instead of trying to usurp it. Voter fraud prevention For one of the forum’s final questions, Dan Freeman of Muscatine asked the legislators about maintaining election integrity and what they are doing to support efforts being made towards this goal. Collins stated the House has recently been discussing the prevailing problems seen with provisional ballots, as well as the continued requirement of voter IDs and the issue of some city clerks not properly filing petition paperwork, leading to residents who wanted to run for local offices not getting on the 2025 ballot. “We had quite a few folks that could not be on the ballot this last year because they couldn’t get filed,” Collins said, adding that he hoped to further address this issue with county auditors. Kaufmann then emphasized his support of election integrity bills, an issue he’s frequently ran his campaigns on. He stated his disappointment with any democrats who don’t supporting these bills, referring to it as “sickening and shameful.” “You need to have an ID to get alcohol at Jeff’s Market, to get on an airplane, to open a credit card, to get your driver’s license,” Kaufmann said. “The list of things you need an ID for is (a mile) long.” Regarding concerns of racial discrimination potentially existing within the requirement, Kaufmann said he didn’t believe the process of getting a voter ID would be too convoluted or complicated for people of color, and felt those who did believe this were looking down on people of color. “If someone’s got a different skin color from you, (you think) they’re dumb - that they’re not going to be able to read election law or figure out how to get to the polling place? I think that is racism at its core. Thinking that a certain class of people, because of the color of their skin, can’t read or do things is the most racist thing I’ve ever heard,” Kaufmann said.

Foghat and Head East, March 14

Two legendary classic-rock bands with more than a half-century of professional performance apiece will team up for one unforgettable night at the Rhythm City Casino Resort Event Center on March 14, with the Davenport venue proud to host Foghat ridin’ strong on their “Slow Ride” 50th Anniversary tour, and joined by the authentic, full-vocal, good-time rock harmonies of Head East.

Iowa House advances right to repair legislation

The Iowa House advanced a bill Monday that would allow farmers to disable the diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, systems required by federal emissions laws. House File 2529 would require manufacturers of farm equipment with DEF systems to provide diagnostic and repair information as well as software regarding the repair of a DEF system, so that farmers don’t have to rely on authorized technicians to fix a stalled machine. Rep. Derek Wulf, R-Hudson, said the proposed legislation is a “farmer affordability bill” that allows producers to “repair and alter their equipment” and “remove the diesel emission systems if they so choose.” The federal Clean Air Act requires most on-road and off-road diesel engines to have diesel exhaust fluid and systems that cause the engines to “de-rate” or slow down drastically when the fluid runs out. Wulf called the DEF systems, which help to limit the emissions of nitrogen oxides from the diesel engines, a “costly and burdensome” requirement from previous administrations. The regulation was implemented in 2010, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration is working to modify the required derating principles. “We have to do everything we can to help reduce additional costs to farmers who have to pay the penalty with their livelihoods because of environmentalist interests,” Wulf said. In a subcommittee hearing on the bill, a lobbyist from Deere & Co., which registered against the bill, said providing repair tools and technology to individual operators would put manufacturers in competition with their own dealers who pay for that equipment and training. Deere & Co. also pointed out that EPA recently issued guidance, at the company’s request, explaining that the Clean Air Act is not meant to interfere with equipment repairs. Per the EPA guidance, manufacturers can disable the emission systems to allow a farmer to repair their equipment. Rep. Kenan Judge, D-Waukee, said the bill seems to him more like a “right to modify” bill than a “right to repair” bill since it would allow farmers to disable the DEF systems on their equipment. He argued this would put Iowa and the attorney general “at odds with federal law.” Judge said disabling the system would have “cascading effects” on the rest of the engine, would back dealers “in a corner” and harm farmers’ ability to use their machine warranties. “I think it’d be more reasonable to try to advocate for our Congress and president of the United States to change this,” Judge said. Wulf said that as the “ag-industry leader state in this nation,” Iowa should allow farmers to continue to be innovators. “It’s time that we as a legislative body, once again, stand up for the American farmer and not the others who make money off the backs of the farmer and rancher,” Wulf said. The bill advanced with a vote of 57-33, with mostly Democrats voting no. Democratic Reps. Josh Turek, J.D. Scholten and Austin Baeth voted in favor of the bill.  Ten Republican representatives voted against the measure.  Shellfish in Iowa The House also advanced a bill that would create a new category for shellfish producers in Iowa’s animal feeding operations code. Iowa code currently defines animals in a feeding operation as: cattle, swine, horses, sheep, chickens, turkeys or fish. House File 2534 adds shellfish to the definition at the request of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Soybean Association, according to Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley. “I just want to promise the body, there’s nothing fishy about the bill,” Windschitl said. The bill specifies that one animal unit of shellfish is equivalent to 1,000 shellfish that individually weigh 25 grams or more, or 16,667 shellfish that weigh less than 25 grams. HF 2534 advanced with a unanimous vote.  

‘Iowa Skilled Workforce Act’ bill advances

The “Iowa Skilled Workforce Act,” aimed at expanding facilities and resources for vocational training and apprenticeships garnered positive comments — and a few suggestions for changes — from the public and lawmakers Monday. House File 2466 was approved by a House Appropriations subcommittee and moves next to the full committee with amendments expected. It would establish a new fund for in-person training facility development at community colleges and in the private sector and increase 84E Apprenticeship Act funding for Registered Apprenticeship programs from $3 million to $4.5 million. The legislation would also expand who can provide apprenticeship training, encourage school districts to grow their own pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs and establish a “work-based learning coordinator,” and change the timeline and income cap of the Last-Dollar Scholarship program. Most of the speakers during public comment voiced support for the sections of the bill relating to appropriations, with the only concern coming from Plumbers and Steam Fitters Local 33 lobbyist Jake Friedrichsen about the facilities expansion fund. He told the subcommittee he wants to make sure there is language in the bill stopping the fund from creating duplicative programming. “We want to make sure we’re not starting new apprenticeships where ones already exist. It’s my understanding the chair may be bringing forward some language to address that,” Friedrichsen said. “We want to say that we’re appreciative of that and we’re in support of the bill.” While not part of the appropriations mentioned in the bill, Margaret Buckton, lobbyist for Rural School Advocates of Iowa and the Urban Education Network of Iowa, said one concern she had was about the language encouraging certain actions from school districts. As a date of implementation was included for the schools to adhere to — July 1, 2028 — when making their changes, Buckton said it makes the bill confusing on whether these are mandates or just suggestions from the Legislature. “If it is a mandate, having a work-based learning coordinator at every single high school would be a stretch on the current budget that most school districts are looking at,” Buckton said. Other concerns were reiterated from the higher education subcommittee meeting on the policy portions of the bill, including the limitation on unemployment benefits for training periods and a needed definition of “material breach.” In response to a question from Rep. Jeff Cooling, D-Cedar Rapids, subcommittee chair Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, said it is “obviously” the intent of House Republicans to support funding of the new facility development fund, as they wouldn’t be working to establish the program if not. However, it will be the responsibility of House Appropriations Committee members Rep. Gary Mohr and Dan Gelbach to ensure funding the new program is “a priority in our negotiations with the Senate,” Collins said. Collins said amendments will also be introduced to alter sections of the bill, including on Last-Dollar Scholarships, work-based learning coordinators and the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship. He added that he’s also happy to look at the sections mentioned by Buckton and Friedrichsen on the directives to school districts and the facilities fund. “There’s a lot of pieces here and a lot of stakeholders, and I appreciate all you guys working with me throughout that process, and leadership over the interim here,” Collins said.

Thanks to NS Rotarians

I had the honor to serve as the North Scott Rotary Club’s guest speaker on Friday. Usually, I sit in the audience and watch elected officials, business owners and prominent citizens speak. Perhaps this was their way of turning the tables. It was a very generous one. Some thanks are in order, first to Tony Knobbe, who extended the invitation to speak in January and introduced me with kind words. Next to his fellow Rotarians, who were welcoming and curious, and whose integrity and sense of purpose shone throughout the meeting. I will remember my first Rotary meeting with joy. I also had breakfast on Saturday with State Rep. Mike Vondran and a crew of regulars at Tasty Café in Eldridge. They meet most Saturdays. I was engaged immediately in conversation and peppered with eager questions—just the reception I am looking for. A thank you to everyone who welcomed me. I am always on the lookout for new people to meet. Drop me an email. Meet me for breakfast. I am easy to reach: nglasgow@northscottpress.com. A note on cancer And now for something less uplifting. For several weeks, I have hoped to address a pair of columns we published Feb. 18 as part of the Iowa Newspaper Association’s Political Voices series. Each month, the INA recruits one state politician from each party to address a leading issue. Last month’s topic was cancer. Safe to say I was appalled by the cowardice of both columns. If you did not read them—well, I encourage you not to. I put some thoughts in an email to the INA, and I thought I would share them here: “I have enjoyed reading the dueling columns in the Political Voices series since they debuted last summer, and I believe our readers enjoy them, too. It is great to see politicians engage in principled debate in direct view of their citizens. Let them make their case, I say.  “That said, I was troubled by the February columns, and I cannot imagine I was the only one. In a thousand words about cancer in Iowa there was not a single mention of water quality, not to mention nitrates, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, or even agriculture. “There is no settled fact on Iowa’s cancer rates, but virtually every independent agency and cancer specialist who studies the issue maintains that exposure to agricultural chemicals in the air and drinking water is a direct contributor to our state’s elevated cancer rate, as it is in nearby states where row-crop production is dominant. Reporters know this, and we have written about it across Iowa. “Instead of even acknowledging a relationship between agriculture and cancer, the February columns wrote about tanning beds and ensuring folks eat their vegetables. I appreciate that the INA and journalists in general are not in any position to tell elected officials what to say—nor should we be—but we should ask them tough questions. Nobody likes to be in the business of publishing pablum. “Going forward, I believe that the INA should ask legislators to address difficult topics directly in Political Voices. We do our readers and ourselves a disservice otherwise.” Some may be interested in studies on the relationship between agriculture and cancer rates. The Iowa Environmental Council has compiled much of the data on their website, iaenvironment.org. InvestigateMidwest.org routinely publishes similar information. Polemicists will enjoy Chris Jones’s Substack, The Swine Republic. For a single wake up call, look at the charts in Gerken et al., “Comprehensive assessment of pesticide use patterns and increased cancer risk,” published in Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society last summer, and available free online.  

Descendents, March 14

With voicalist Milo Aukerman, guitarist Stephen Egerton, drummer Bill Stevenson, and bass player Karl Alvarez having stayed with the outfit for a full 40 years in a row, the punk rockers of Descendents bring their national tour to Davenport's Capitol Theatre on March 14, the band itself having been it existence since 1977, and the group's biggest hits including 1996's Everything Sucks, 2004' Cool to Be You, and 2016's chart-topping Hypercaffium Spazzinate.

1976: Cat asks for dismissal of annexation suit

March 3, 1976 • Caterpillar filed a motion to dismiss a $50 million lawsuit against the company filed by the City of Eldridge. The suit was regarding Caterpillar’s announcement it planned to voluntarily annex into the City of Davenport. The $50 million represented the amount Eldridge estimated as the loss of tax revenue. Meanwhile, the company also announced plans to expand its Mount Joy plant, adding on to the manufacturing and office facilities. • The Eldridge City Council trimmed more than $21,000 from its budget estimate over concerns the taxation rate for the next fiscal year might impact the cost of living. Among the cuts was more than $8,000 that had been budgeted as part of the salary for a proposed city administrator; and more than $13,000 in dumpster rental fees. • New inductees into North Scott High School’s National Honor Society included Margaret Costello, Rhonda Klindt, Shellie Littell, Connie Campana, Carol Shippey, Craig Gehrls, Donna Appleby, Linda Strobbe, Jody Anderson, Cynthia Swenson, Lyle Yost, Kristie Keefe, Julie Thornton, Gwen Tombergs, Denise Albrecht, Randy Goettsch, Lisa Lau, Jan Levsen and Bruce Gress. The induction ceremony was held at Faith Lutheran Church. • Thomas Dittmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dittmer of rural Eldridge, was named as one of four Iowa delegates to the National 4-H Conference, which would be held in Washington, D.C., in April. A current student at Iowa State University, he was a 10-year member of 4-H. • North Scott heavyweight John Steffen placed fifth at the state wrestling tournament. He pinned Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Jake Hansen in the medal round. “I’ve wrestled better, but I suppose I’ve wrestled worse, too,” Steffen said of his performance at state. Meanwhile, Steffen was also named to the Big Bend’s all-conference first honors team. Jim Goodin and Randy Lage were second team selections. March 5, 1986 • “Rhythm of the Night” was chosen as the theme for North Scott’s annual Swing Show. The show would feature performances by North Scott’s jazz bands and swing choir, as well as dancers Jill Van Hoosier, Ashley Frye, Lisa Danforth, Sue Lindle, Kris Ervard, Jodie Faeth and Amy Bader. Kara Foss, Colleen Bulazo, Stephanie Roche and Joe O’Rourke were chosen as emcees for the program. • Extension services across the state were bracing for possible budget cuts, as federal legislation moved forward that called for a 25% reduction in funding. That would mean a $2.1 million loss for Iowa. President Ronald Reagan’s budget proposal called for a 60% cut to Extension services across the country, which would mean a $5 million loss for the state. Scott County Extension director Don Olson said the service was trying to minimize the impact. “It’s ironic. In a time when rural communities need the Extension the most, it’s a time when we’re being cut,” he said. • As the North Scott girls’ basketball team headed to the state tournament, players were looking for help defraying the cost of the trip. A Free Throw-A-Thon was scheduled in The Pit, and members of the public could make pledges per successful free throw attempt. The team advanced to Des Moines with a 50-36 win over Maquoketa and were set to take on Waterloo Columbus in the opening round. • A “Salute to Teens” week was scheduled in the Quad Cities, sponsored by Bethany Homes Inc. and Parents Too Soon in Moline. Jody Wallace Bostrom, who coordinated the project, said the idea was to help raise students’ self-esteem and prevent issues like teen pregnancy and alcohol and drug use. At the end of the week, a dance would be held for all area teenagers at Augustana College. Eldridge mayor Frank Pancratz signed a proclamation for “Salute to Teens” week, and was pictured with Eldridge resident Jane Miles, a family life specialist for Bethany, and members of the high school Student Congress, Leah Lahann, Dan teDuits, Betsy Braack and Sara Stephens. • As the Read a Million Minutes program continued in North Scott elementary schools, Neil Armstrong principal Dennis Albertson kept a promise to his students. He said if they reached their goal of 113,400 minutes, he’d sit on the roof during three recesses – in February. Just three weeks into the program, students turned in 223,877 minutes. Albertson duly complied, reclining in a lawn chair on the roof and overseeing students at play. March 7, 2001 • Members of the Eldridge Fire Department and the Eldridge City Council continued to spar over funding in the proposed budget. At the Feb. 19 meeting, firefighters asked the city council if they would consider a “gentlemen’s agreement” to match the county tax levy if the department could get the trustees to raise the levy.  They left with the understanding that such an agreement was in place, and the trustees subsequently raised the levy. But at the following meeting, council member Brad Noel said the council had not agreed to any agreement on Feb. 19, citing the meeting minutes. “What exactly is it with you guys?” asked fire chief Scott Haycraft. “I have never gone through this kind of stuff with anybody, trying to pick us apart, trying to take our budget and lower it.” • Mara Wiggins, children’s librarian for the Scott County Library in Eldridge, announced her resignation and subsequent move to Walnut Grove, Minn., the hometown of author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her in-laws were moving from their farm into town, and she and her husband would take up residence there. Her husband was the new deputy sheriff in Murray County. Wiggins would work as a part-time librarian and help coordinate a 15-county judicial district’s law and public libraries. “Miss Mara” had worked for the Scott County Library since 1998. • The North Scott wrestling team finished its season with a 16-1 duals record and a third-place finish at state duals. Their only loss came to eventual state champion Lewis Central. They defeated Urbandale, 29-27, in the third-place match, with coach Dan Mashek calling it a “real team effort.” Tom Power secured the win with a 6-3 decision over Jason Smith. “There was quite a bit of pressure, but I tried not to think about it,” Power said after the match. “I was really nervous. I really wanted to win this for the team. We needed that third-place trophy and now we got it.” • North Scott choir students June Coons, Nick Mixdorf, Mary Dix, Joe Kelly and Michaela Krug were chosen for the University of Iowa Honor Choir. March 9, 2011 • LeClaire Police and the Scott County Sheriff’s Department went public with a campaign to notify residents of registered sex offenders in their neighborhoods. They also invited the media to a notification canvass. “Notifying the public is just for public safety,” said Scott County Sheriff’s Detective Peter Bawden. “We want to let people know he is here. I’m guessing some people don’t have internet, and we want to visit those select few.” The NSP spoke with the offender, who said he knew what he did was wrong, had served his time and was just trying to make a new life for himself. He said he felt law enforcement put a target on his back with the public notification. “I feel more imprisoned now than I did when I was in prison.” As of the notification, there were 301 registered sex offenders living in Scott County. • Walcott was on the hunt for a new police chief, as Jim Vaughn announced he would take a job as a railroad police officer. Vaughn had served Walcott since 2009. “I’m sorry to see Jim go,” said mayor Jim Couper. “He was a credit to Walcott and the department for what he’s done, and he’ll be missed.” • The North Scott School District discussed facilities, and superintendent Jeff Schwiebert offered what he called an “out-of-the-box” solution. This would involve building a new Central Office with a kindergarten pod and the opportunity to expand, eventually creating another elementary building in Eldridge, and a bus barn facility. He also suggested adding a sixth-grade wing to the junior high, purchasing up to 20 acres of land, remodeling the high school and moving the softball field east of the current Central Office to create a sports complex. Schwiebert also advocated for using FEMA funds to build safe rooms at elementary buildings and athletic facilities improvements. He said a bond issue would probably be necessary. • Brandon Voss was named MAC Player of the Year for boys’ basketball, with teammate Aaron Huber joining him on the first all-conference team. Jordan Arp and Dylan Michel were honorable mention. On the girls’ side, Dana Suiter was a second-team all-MAC selection, with Carrie Kilen a third-team choice, and Emily Soy and Anna Boffeli named honorable mention. • In college athletic signings, Cory Greenleaf committed to Robert Morris University in Chicago for football. Travis Anderson signed with Wayne State College in Nebraska, also for football. And two bowlers, Kaelyn Dierickx and Katelyn Tharp, announced they would continue their athletic careers at Ashford University in Clinton. March 3, 2021 • North Scott’s bus drivers were settling into their new $1.5 million bus barn, located at the corner of East LeClaire and Scott Park roads. The building was purchased in March of 2019, and refurbishments added office space, resurfacing of the parking lot, drainage improvements, a propane fueling pump and indoor parking space for old diesel buses during the winter. The new building also moved major bus traffic out of the center of Eldridge, where the old bus barn had been located near the Central Office. • A public hearing was scheduled to consider John Maxwell’s future public service as both a member of the North Scott School Board and the Scott County Board of Supervisors. A petition signed by 95 county residents challenged Maxwell’s ability to hold both offices, saying it could represent a conflict of interest. He said he welcomed the inquiry. “Clearly, I want to keep my jobs,” said Maxwell. “I’m in the belief that I will be able to keep by job and serve the citizens of Scott County and maintain and office to which I was elected.” • Ed Rivers retired after 10 years as head of the Scott County Health Department, a position he held in “relative obscurity” until the pandemic, he said. Rivers said the department was in good hands, and called his colleagues “the most dedicated, motivated and skilled group with whom I have ever been privileged to work.” Ken Beck, chair of the county board of supervisors thanked Rivers for his service. “Ed wanted to make sure he saw us through the darkest hours. We’re at least seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” Beck said, referring to the pandemic. Amy Thoreson was named interim head of the department. • Dylan Elam was state runner-up in bowling, posting a 490 series. Coach Marie Tharp gave Elam credit for working hard after struggling at the district meet. “At districts, Dylan couldn’t find the line, but today, he found the line. He found it early ad he stayed with it. I think he only had two opens all day. He did really, really well, and I’m very proud of him.” As a team, the Lancers finished sixth in the eight-team field. • The North Scott girls’ basketball team booked another trip to the state tournament, defeating Fairfield 69-41 in The Pit. Sam Scott put up a career-high 23 points, after a 22-point performance in the regional semifinal win over Keokuk. The Lancers were set to face off against MAC rivals Central DeWitt in the opening round of the tournament.    

Ricky Warwick St. Patrick's Day Bash, March 14

Headlining the Moline venue's St. Patrick's Day Bash, and with last year's Blood Ties praised by Louder as an album that found its creator "sharper than ever," Black Star Riders, Thin Lizzy, and The Almighty lead singer Ricky Warwick makes his eagerly awaited return to Rascals Live on March 14, his latest recording also hailed by Cryptic Rock as "an intense, raw experience through heartache, personal reflection, and the tattoos that life leaves on the soul."

A glimpse of Iran, through the eyes of its artists and journalists

Understanding one of the world's oldest civilizations can't be achieved through a single film or book. But recent works of literature, journalism, music and film by Iranians are a powerful starting point.

Visit Quad Cities says residents show strong support for tourism growth, according to survey

Visit Quad Cities in partnership with Longwoods International shared the results of its most recent “Residential Sentiment Survey.”

Illinois fishing licenses now on sale for 2026 season

Illinois fishing licenses are now on sale through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the 2026 season. Fishing licenses can be purchased online or over-the-counter from DNR DIRECT license/permit vendors. A standard resident fishing license costs $15 dollars. Licenses for the 2025 season remain valid through March 31. Anglers 16 and older must [...]

“Up Close with Blueprint,” March 15

Delivering an intimate evening of expressive musical beauty, four gifted members of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra join forces on March 15 for Up Close with Blueprint, the Figge Art Museum event boasting the talents of violinists Naha Greenholtz and Emily Nash, viola player Bruno Vaz Da Silva, and cellist Hannah Holman.

Colona Police Department K-9 dies after battle with lymphoma

The Colona Police Department said one of its own, K-9 Parker, died last month.

Pippi & Daniel Music, March 15

On March 15, a lauded singer/songwriter and gifted pianist/composer will combine their talents at Davenport's Redstone Room when Pippi Ardennia and Daniel Leahy perform as featured guests in Polyrhythms' Third Sunday Jazz Series, their Pippi & Daniel Music jazz project delivering electrifying, emotionally-charged performances that fuse jazz, soul blues, gospel, and R&B into one unforgettable sound.