Recent Articles

Bi-State confuses role in air quality issue

on Thu, 11/06/2008 - 02:04 by Editor

The Bi-State Planning Commission's participation in the recent foray to lobby U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials to reduce the local "non-attainment" area for fine particulate pollution clearly exceeded the organization's mission and purpose.

Bi-State's mission is "to serve as a forum for intergovernmental cooperation and delivery of regional programs and to assist member local governments in planning and project development." On its web site, the organization goes further to say it is NOT "another layer or higher authority of government. . ."

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GPC, Blackhawk Foundry pledge emission controls

on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 20:36 by Editor

Grain Processing Corporation (GPC) in Muscatine and Blackhawk Foundry in Davenport have promised to invest in facility upgrades to reduce fine particulate emissions in hopes of avoiding a "non-attainment" label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for all of Muscatine, Scott and Rock Island counties.

The pledge to clean up their emission of PM 2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers) came in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) most recent submission (10/20) to the Region VII Office of the EPA in Kansas City.

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Campaign disclosures filed in wake of 1st Ward election

on Wed, 10/22/2008 - 21:06 by Editor

The day after losing his city council seat in Bettendorf's special First Ward aldermanic election, Norm Voelliger filed papers with the state: creating a campaign committee, disclosing $1,700 in election expenses and dissolving the campaign committee.

Candidates for city, school, county and state elections must form a campaign committee within 10 days of incurring or expending more than $750, list the campaign committee name on all campaign materials, and file reports listing all donations and expenditures of the campaign committee.

The papers filed with the state list the committee name as "Voelliger for Council." Mailers sent First Ward residents stated they were paid for by "Norm Voelliger." One of the mailers was an endorsement letter signed by Mayor Mike Freemire and five other aldermen.

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Fiscal '08 casino admissions virtually the same as 1996

on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 22:53 by Editor

Admissions at the Bettendorf Isle of Capri casino in fiscal 2008 were virtually the same as 12 years ago despite the opening of two hotels next to the riverboat aimed at boosting the number of gamblers.

For the 2008 fiscal year ended June 30, the Isle reported 1,451,452 admissions, nearly identical to the admissions in fiscal 1996 of 1,443,113 when it operated as the Lady Luck casino.

Last year's admissions also were off 28 percent from fiscal 2000, the boat's peak admission year when 2,018,936 gamblers came through its doors.

The Isle's first hotel was completed in August of 1998, while its second hotel opened in July of 2007.

At the Isle's sister boat, the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport, the decline has been even more severe, dropping nearly 47 percent from 1,775,317 admissions in fiscal 1996 when it operated as "The President" to 947,373 for fiscal 2008.

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EPA, state at odds over PM 2.5 air pollution designation

on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 21:39 by Editor

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to designate Scott and Rock Island Counties as "non-attainment" areas for fine particulate pollution.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Governor's Office have sent letters to the EPA saying the state is working with industries to lower such pollutants and asking for designation of a much smaller area near the air monitoring stations as "non-attainment."

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BHS Marching Band kicks off Homecoming '08

on Fri, 10/03/2008 - 05:41 by Editor

The Bettendorf High School Homecoming festivities kicked off Thursday (10/2) with the traditional parade along Spruce Hills and 18th Street, followed by a pep rally at the high school stadium. The Bulldogs, 3-0 on the season with wins over Pleasant Valley, Burlington and North Scott, face winless Davenport West in Friday's homecoming contest.

School board members Scott Tinsman, left, Barry Anderson, Jeannine Crockett and Betsy Justis toss candy to onlookers along the parade route.