First Trip to River Bandits and Modern Woodmen Park

Finally made it out to a Quad City River Bandits Game and Modern Woodmen Park during dinner break on Tuesday night.  It's like 5 minutes from the station. (Click the link below to see my --cell phone pics in a Facebook photo album).

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.431341083544630.101871.100000062277649&type=1

 This place is nestled with the the scenic Centennial Bridge on one side, the Mississippi River-barges, Riverboats, etc just beyond the center field fence with the Rock Island skyline in the background.  In left field there's a grass berm for folks to sit on with the Davenport skyline overhead.  Out front, there's active train tracks.  This place has so much character it's oozing with class.

The fragrances wafting around the lower concourse from the multiple vendors is mouthwatering.  The gift shop is well stocked with all sorts of souvenirs from the River Bandits (a Cardinals minor league team).  There's not a bad seat in the house.

On my trip I was able to get a cell phone pic with the Cardinals World Series Trophy....also on display the QC River Bandits 2011 Midwest League Championship Trophy.

Championship team (River Bandits), Championship Organization (Cardinals), Top Shelf Ball Park.

I give this place a 5 out of 5 for watching minor league baseball.  It's amazing. 

Perseveratorians: Best of Class 2012

Students from nearly 70 QCA Schools were at today's event (2 photos courtesy of Becki Rogers).

CBS4 Sports Director Jay Kidwell and I

 I was thrilled to emcee the Quad Cities 2012 Best of the Class Event today (5/2/12) at Davenport's beautiful Putnam Museum.  This is CBS4's tenth year sponsoring Best of the Class.  The top students and their families from nearly 70 QCA schools were there.

I had a chance to ad lib, just a little,  and coined a new word...I told the students they were not only Valedictorians but also "Perseveratorians", and that being a Perseveratorian is a character trait, not an award.  I told them in High School they had challenges to chase, face, and ace--and that they would experience those same things in life, and encouraged them to be Perseveratorians.

I said they hadn't probably heard the term, because I made it up, but they could feel free to use it.

Makes sense though doesn't it?  I think a lot of us are Perseveratorians: folks that persevere.  And who knows, maybe someday it will become a real word, in my mind, it already is.

Looking forward to Best in Class Event Today

Looking forward to emceeing the "Best of the Class" event today here in the Quad Cities at the beautiful Putnam Museum, and honoring the Valedictorians and their famiies from across our region!

$53 MILLION ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLED FROM DIXON, IL

 DIXON, Ill. (AP) _ Federal prosecutors say in an indictment that
a former financial officer for the city of Dixon in northern
Illinois stole millions more than an initial investigation had
uncovered.
       Tuesday's indictment accuses Rita Crundwell of stealing more
than $53 million from the city since 1990. In an initial criminal
complaint filed upon her April 17 arrest, prosecutors had accused
her of siphoning $30 million in public funds to a secret account
she controlled.
       Crundwell is accused of using the money to fund her successful
horse-breeding operations and a lavish lifestyle that included
expensive jewelry and luxury vehicles.
       The former comptroller will be arraigned May 7 in U.S. District
Court in Rockford.
       The theft stunned the small city of 16,000 people.

      
       (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)
        APNP 05-01-12 1544CDT<