For Alex Johnson, the annual fireworks display over Lake Matherville this past July felt more celebratory than ever. The village of Matherville, in northeast Mercer County, had wrapped up a variety of improvements to the lake area just in time for thousands of spectators to gather for the holiday—a project Johnson had spearheaded as one of the town’s five trustees. “We asked ourselves, ‘What can we do to promote our town and benefit people?’” said Johnson, who is also assistant principal of Sherrard High School. “The lake is one of our unique features, something a lot of communities... Read More

They’re baaaaaaack. It’s almost that time of year again. The days are getting shorter. The temperatures are getting slightly colder. And the leaves are getting more orange, the color of … pumpkins. That’s right, as fall is right around the corner, it’s time for all things PUMPKIN SPICE to return to stores. We’ve already seen Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Caramel Corn at Aldi, accompanied by a number of other pumpkin-related items from spaghetti sauce to pastries at that stalwart grocery spot. And now, here’s the big mama right around the bend. That’s... Read More

Registration is underway now for the second annual Gather for the Cure event to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to be held October 8, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Whispering Pines Indoor Shelter, Scott County Park. Register to attend at www.genesishealth.com/gather. Gather for the Cure is an opportunity to celebrate breast cancer survivorship, remember those lives lost to breast cancer, learn about available programs and resources and raise money to support the Genesis Voucher Program. The program provides free breast imaging to qualifying patients. The event is presented by the Genesis Foundation. Attendees... Read More

The Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit business event is coming up on 8/30 at the Taxslayer Center in Moline. The event will offer business workshops, assistance with ERC and navigating grants and programs, networking and collaboration. Here are the details: Location: TaxSlayer Center, 1201 River Dr, Moline, IL 61265 Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2022 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Registration Page: https://iesusa.org/product/illinois-ies Discount Code (50%): IES-Friend Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/599089095176996 AGENDA 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast 9:00 – 9:30 a.m.... Read More

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) continued its statewide “Manufacturing Matters” tour with a stop at Deere & Company to detail the results of a new economic impact study measuring the industry’s significant contributions to the state and regional economy. In Rock Island County, the study found the industry creates $4.9 billion in economic output each year, supporting almost 20 percent of the county’s economy. This includes 13,050 jobs, generating $923.9 million in salaries and benefits for working men and women in the area. In Henry County, manufacturing creates an additional... Read More

The Quad Cities Community Foundation has named Kent Pilcher the new chairperson of its board of directors. Replacing outgoing chairperson Randy Moore, Pilcher brings nearly seven years of service to the Community Foundation, most recently as board vice chair and Investment Committee chair, and a long history of local community leadership. His term as chair will run through 2024. In addition to Pilcher’s election to board chair, Dr. LaDrina Wilson has been named vice chair. “Kent is an asset to the Quad Cities and to the Quad Cities Community Foundation,” said President and CEO Sue Hafkemeyer.... Read More

WesleyLife is pleased to receive a $500,000 Prairie Meadows Legacy Grant that will assist the organization in transforming a building in the Drake University neighborhood of Des Moines into a new Meals on Wheels campus, WesleyLife leaders announced today. “We’re honored to receive this generous gift and grateful that Prairie Meadows is supporting this effort in such a meaningful way,” Sophia S. Ahmad, left, Vice President of Philanthropy for WesleyLife, said. “Developing the new campus will allow us to triple meal capacity and offer programming to combat isolation in older adults and military... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — Western Illinois University international students have new scholarship opportunities at WIU, thanks to the efforts of 2005 and 2010 alumnus Matthew Toland. Toland, who serves as the WIU Alumni Council president, recently established the President Huang International Student Scholarship to honor the inauguration of Guiyou Huang as WIU’s 12th president. Efforts to establish the scholarship began in April 2022 during the Western Challenge annual day of giving. During that event, multiple donors contributed funds toward the new scholarship, including several members... Read More

The Bettendorf Community School District is announcing recent selections for district administrators beginning their new positions for the 2022-2023 school year. Jillian Bresnan Principal Grant Wood Elementary   We are pleased to announce that Jillian Bresnan has been selected as the Grant Wood Elementary Principal beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, pending board approval. Bresnan is currently the middle school dean of students at Cardinal Academy in the Maquoketa Community School District. She has also served as an instructional coach and high school English teacher. Bresnan received... Read More

U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos and Marcy Kaptur joined the House Agriculture Committee in holding a Farm Bill listening session at Terra State Community College in Fremont, Ohio. The session was the third in a series entitled, “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Perspectives from the Field,” aimed at providing the House Agriculture Committee and its members with valuable insight from family farmers from across the country.   “Every five years, we have the opportunity to renew the programs our family farmers rely on through the Farm Bill,” said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. “What’s... Read More