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By The Quad-City Times | Thursday, October 5, 2006 11:58 PM CDT | () comments

Blues Sunday in Park is set for Sunday

This Sunday is Blues Sunday at Vander Veer Botanical Park in Davenport.

From noon to 4 p.m, The Friends of Vander Veer annual Fall Plant Sale will take place. Plants for sale will include spring-blooming bulbs, as well as a variety of unusual tropical, hardy and non-hardy plants for garden and indoor plant use. The Park Store sale features an end-of-season clearance on gardening items, as well as unique gift items that will make beautiful holiday gifts.

To celebrate the end of the season, roses from the botanical park’s rose garden will be cut and given away to park guests.

In addition, the dedication of the new Sandhill Crane statue will take place at 2:30 pm. The replacement crane was recently installed into the park, made by artist Thom Gleich. The day will end with a free concert by The Ellis Kell Band from 3-5 p.m. This concert is sponsored by Main Family Dental Care.

The Quad-Cities Camera Club will be on hand, conducting a public workshop. Bring your camera and get some tips on taking great photos. Concessions will be available throughout the day, including pulled pork sandwiches, chips, water, and candy.

Contact The Friends of Vander Veer at (563) 323-3298.

Kindernature program will go batty at park

The Davenport Parks and Recreation Department is offering Kindernature, a program for children ages 3-5 that enriches environmental awareness and appreciation for nature. The next two classes will be held in October, and November at Vander Veer Botanical Park, 214 West Central Park Ave., Davenport.

October’s class is “All About Bats.” Children will discover more about this creature of the night and the benefits to humans with stories and hands-on activities. The session is being held from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday in front of the conservatory at Vander Veer.

Tuition for each class is $8 per child, with a $5 per-child reduced rate for family members of The Friends of Vander Veer. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Register through the City of Davenport Parks and Recreation office at (563) 326-7812, Monday through Friday. Contact Greg Wolf, environmental education supervisor, at (563) 320-0384 for more information.

Registration deadline for the class is Monday. Space is limited.

The final program in the series is Winter Animal Survival, and is being held Nov. 15.

Sheriff’s department generates revenue

ALEDO, Ill. — The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department continues to generate a hefty revenue stream.

A consistent flow of federal inmates to the county jail equates to $50 per day per prisoner. The item was discussed at Tuesday night’s Mercer County Board meeting.

“Actually for about four or five months, we had about 30 federal prisoners,” said Sheriff Tom Thompson. “We currently have 22. It’s been going pretty strong.”

The prisoners are from the U.S. Marshal’s Service. They are awaiting trials or court hearings at U.S. District Court in Rock Island and Davenport.

The agreement has meant big money for the county.

“We anticipate generating anywhere from $350,000 to $400,000 this fiscal year,” Thompson said.

The fiscal year ends Nov. 30.

Also Tuesday night, County Board member Bob Vickrey of Aledo reported that a task force has been formed for a bio-diesel plant for the Keithsburg area. A feasibility study will be conducted. One of the areas to be examined is the potential for rail service to return to Keithsburg, according to Vickrey.

— J.C. Taylor

Cedar County to take bids of farmland acres

TIPTON, Iowa — Bids on the rental of 178 acres of the former Cedar County Care Facility farm will be opened by the Board of Supervisors at 9 a.m. Nov. 6.

Bids will be accepted at the County Auditor’s office until 8:30 a.m. on that date.

Rob Fangmann, the county engineer, told the supervisors that Terry Jones of the Department of Natural Resources said three tests would be done before an underground fuel storage tank at the former care facility can be removed. If the results are good, the tank can be removed with no liability to the county.

— Helen Smith

CASI, United Way work to help youth

Older adults interested in helping children reach their full potential are invited to attend two Developing for Tomorrow sessions being presented this month by the United Way of the Quad-Cities Area and the Life Options program of the Center for Active Seniors Inc., or CASI.

The first session will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at CASI, 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport. John Kiley, president of the United Way of the Quad-Cities Area, and Scott Caldwell, the United Way’s lead staffer for its Successful Children and Youth Focus Team, will outline what is being done in the community to help children become more successful.

The second session will be offered at 9:30 a.m. or 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at CASI for seniors wishing to receive training to help youth build assets that help them succeed.

CASI’s Life Options Developing for Tomorrow program places senior volunteers in the community in an effort to help young people develop assets.

In a study of 8,000 young people in the Quad-Cities, the United Way found that only 9 percent of our youth have 31 to 40 of the 40 positive, foundation-building assets that help young people increase their success in school, have healthier lifestyles and be more involved in positive activities.

For more information, contact Dee James at (563) 386-7477 or djames@casiseniors.org or visit www.casiseniors.org.

Fire station tours available in area town

ALPHA, Ill. — An opportunity to tour the fire station at Alpha, and view the Oxford Fire Department equipment, is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Oct. 15. There will be refreshments and an opportunity to meet many of the volunteers who serve the district, including Ophiem and Alpha.

“The district averages 20-25 calls each year,” Fire Chief Dennis Shannon noted.

A total of 54 square miles and 1,300 residents are served by the district. At the present time there are 34 volunteers for the department, according to Shannon.

“We’d like to extend a special invitation to all retired and previous volunteers for the department,” Shannon said.

The department, with a station in both Alpha and Ophiem, houses two pumper trucks, one pumper tanker, a rescue truck, brush truck and a HazMat trailer, as well as housing the Tri County ambulance, Shannon said.

The most recent equipment addition to the department is a 2006 Chevrolet fire truck.

Tony Bubon was on the Oxford Fire Department for 18 years, during the 1950s and 1960s, and served as fire chief many of those years. He is the oldest living fire chief.

The Alpha Department started after a group of citizens met in 1938 to organize the volunteer department. The department later became the Oxford Fire District, with Ophiem taken into the district about 1962.

— Sherrie Taylor