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But we can answer just about any question about the Quad-City Area. And if we can't, perhaps you can!
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Today's question:
Question: We are relatively new to the area (3 months) and have taken
a liking to downtown Moline. We enjoy Lagomarcino's, the John Deere
plaza, the riverfront and a couple of restaurants in particular. Someone
told us downtown once housed house places like J.C. Penny and Sears.
Is this true?
| | Answer: According the Website provided by the good folks at the Moline Preservation Society
(www.molinepreservation.org), five major department stores served the area through the 1950s and 1960s,
including Block & Kuhl Co., New York Store (demolished in 1990), J. C. Penny, Sears, Roebuck & Co., and
Montgomery Ward & Co. It was not until the late 1970s and 1980s that the major department stores made
their move away
| | Recent Questions: | | | Question: At a party the other night, someone said that a local company
played a part in saving the plane that did the safe-water landing in the
Hudson River. Is this true or were we all victims of a tall tale? | | Answer: Aerospace Control Products Inc. in Davenport makes the Ram Air Turbine (RAT). The RAT was invaluable in
the US Airways Flight 1549 crash landing in the Hudson River Jan. 15, 2009. The RAT provided hydraulic power,
which allowed the pilot to maneuver the aircraft into position for a water landing. Aerospace Control makes the
pressure switch for Arkwin Industries, Inc., which in turn produces the deployment actuator that is part of the RAT.
The RAT is simply a hydraulic pump driven by a propeller. The RAT is built by Hamilton Sundstrand, while Arkwin
and Aerospace Control provide parts for the system. The pilot of that flight was Chesley "Sully'' Sullenberger.
| Question: Whenever there is severe weather, it is difficult to hear the
emergency sirens at our Moline home. Where are the severe weather
sirens located in Rock Island County? | | Answer: According to Jerry Shirk, deputy director of the Rock Island County Emergency Management Agency,
Moline sounds the sirens for East Moline and Coal Valley. Rock Island sounds its own sirens, as does Milan. Silvis
sounds the siren for Hampton. The county sounds the sirens remaining communities, though Exelon Corporation,
Cordova, sounds a siren for a portion of the county. In some rural areas sirens generally are located around fire
stations.
In order for the sirens to go off, he said, there is a policy that winds will be at or above 70 mph and/or there is
golf ball-size hail, and/or a funnel cloud has been sighted.
Mr. Shirk adds that every police and emergency response agency gets alerts from the National Weather Service,
Davenport. The decision to activate sirens is based on that information.
| Question: What can you tell me about the Buddy L Toy Company? | | Answer: One of the most successful lines of toy vehicles ever is Buddy L, introduced by Fred Lundahl and
named for his son. The Moline Pressed Steel Company in Moline, Ill., began making the model vehicles in 1921
with the same heavy-gauge steel that they used in the manufacturing of parts for automobiles and trucks. The
immediate and soaring popularity of these sturdy and durable toys resulted in Moline Steel shifting exclusively
to the models within a few years.
Buddy L produced a wide variety of vehicles, from trains and construction equipment to delivery and
emergency vehicles to Ford cars and trucks. All had moving parts, some had removable cargo, and a few were
very elaborate, including features such as working hydraulics. The early vehicles averaged from 20 to 26
inches and were sturdy enough for a child to ride. This indoor/outdoor utility insured Buddy L a place in toy
vehicle history.
Before Buddy L, most toy vehicles were made of cast iron or wood, but Buddy L's success with steel spawned
competition. Companies such as Keystone, Kingsbury, Structo and Sturdy made heavy-gauge vehicles, while
Acme, A.C. Gilbert, Girard and Kingsbury produced lighter-gauge versions.
During World War II, the need for steel for the war effort meant finding other materials, so Buddy L produced
wood vehicles during those years. After the war, vehicle size decreased and Buddy L experimented with
plastics, but quickly returned to metal fabrication, although in lighter-gauge materials.
In the 1970s, the company was sold to a Japanese firm that began incorporating increasing amounts of
plastics into the vehicles. Today, the models are made in China and are nearly all plastic.
| Can you tell me what parents in Mercer County are suppose to do if they
can't afford school supplies for their kids?
| | Mercer County school superintendent Alan Boucher said the district has a program called The Care Fund. He said
the fund is available to all families in the district and is used for things such as school supplies.
"Families in need should speak with the building principal or secretary," Mr. Boucher said. "The key is to speak
up. All that information will be kept confidential."
| Question: There is a book written about the
Secret Service that features a local man.
What's the name of the book and who is the
local guy that is featured. | | Answer: The man is Moline's Bill Albracht, a longtime Secret Service agent and decorated Vietnam
War veteran. The name
of the book is: "The President's Secret Service," by Ronald Kessler.
| Question: I have been told that Rock Island County has 17 townships, but
only five of them pay for the Metropolitan Airport Authority on their tax
bill. I live in Coal Valley so it is one of the five being assessed. Rural
township, which adjoins us is not assessed. Is this correct? If so, can you
tell me why this unfair taxation is not on all townhsips? | | Answer: Thanks to Cathie Rochau of the Quad City International Airport, here is what we know. In 1935 the
city of Moline, by public vote, took over the airport as a municipal tax-supported airport. Soon, the second-
largest WPA project in Illinois got under way. Because the project was a make-work venture during hard
times, the national government paid out $365,000 and Moline $165,000 toward converting a tract into a
floor-level air field.
In April of 1945, the Illinois Airport act as amended became effective. It authorized the creation of local
airport authorities as separate corporate and municipal bodies with taxing and bonding powers for acquiring
and developing small and large airports as local public need might indicate. An airport authority could be
established by referendum.
On November 10, 1947, the people of the metropolitan area of Rock Island County voted, by a ratio of 2 to 1,
to buy, develop and maintain the field which was to become the Quad City Airport. The airport is now owned
by and supported by the people seven Rock Island county townships -- Blackhawk, Coal Valley, the southern
half of Hampton Township, Moline, Rock Island, South Moline and South Rock Island. The seven townships
constitute a governmental unit known as the Metropolitan Airport Authority. Airport sources say these were -
- at the time -- the seven largest townships of the era.
The operations budget of the Quad City International Airport is approximately $8 million per year.
Annually, Airport commissioners agree top abate over a one million dollars in property taxes, meaning they
do not collect taxes to repay the airport's debt.
The airport repays the interest from its general obligation bonds from its operating revenue. In a 2006 story
from The Dispatch and the Rock Island Argus, it notes that the airport levied $1,457,502.50 in taxes for the
bond and interest payments for the general obligation bonds issued May 1, 2000. Then in December the
airport board authorized the county clerk not to collect the taxes. This tradition continues.
The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County administrative office hours are: Monday-Friday from
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. To reach Ms. Rochau, call (309) 757-1743.
| Question: How thick is the concrete for the runways at Quad City
International Airport? | | Answer: We turned this one over to QCIA marketing guru Cathie Rochau, who like always, came through. Ms.
Rochau says concrete on our airport runways is 18 inches thick, plus there is a base of rock below that. Ms.
Rochau noted there is a large construction project at the airport planned over the next several years involving
replacement of much of the concrete on the main runway at the QCIA.
| Question: When I ask someone about
the size of a basketball court, all
I ever get is the basket's 10 feet
high. Can you give me more? | | Answer: In the NBA and NCAA, the regulation basketball court dimension is
94 feet long by 50 feet wide.
* High School basketball court dimensions are 84 feet long by 50 feet wide.
* Junior High School basketball court dimensions are 74 feet long by 42
feet wide.
The Foul Line: For all courts including the NBA, the “foul line” distance
is 15 feet from the foul line to the front of the backboard.
The Key: Standard for all basketball courts, “the key” (sometimes called
“the lane”) is 12 feet wide.
Regulation courts have the backboard extending out 4 feet over the baseline
into the key. A 6-foot arc (half circle) extends from the foul line away
from the basket to complete the key.
The 3 Point Line (Arc): In the NBA, the 3-point arc is 22 feet to the
center of the rim on the sides with a straight line extending out 16 feet 9
inches from the baseline. Past those points the line extends out 23 feet 9
inches from the center of the rim.
* College: Beginning with the 2008-09 season, the college men's 3-point arc
was moved to 20 feet, 9 inches.
* The college women's 3-point arc is 19 feet, 9 inches.
* The high school 3-point arc is 19 feet, 9 inches.
The Backboard and Rim: The regulation distance from the ground to the top
of the rim is 10 feet for all levels of play. Regulation backboards are 6
feet wide (72 inches) by 42 inches tall. All basketball rims are 18 inches
in diameter. The inner square on the backboard is 24 inches wide by 18
inches tall.
All line markings on the floor are 2 inches wide and can vary in color.
| Question: How much does a sticky note that appears on
the front of the newspaper cost? | | Answer: Valerie Yazbec, advertising director for The Dispatch and The Rock Island
Argus, says the price varies with the number of sticky notes purchased and the number
of colors used. To be place on the front of the paper, you must purchase a minimum of
25,000 notes.
Prices (per thousand) are:
1-color: $65 per thousand (up to 25,000); $55 (25,001-50,000); $50 (50,001-100,000);
$45 (100,001-200,000); $40 (201,000).
2-color: $70 per thousand (up to 25,000); $60 (25,001-50,000); $55 (50,001-100,000);
$50 (100,001-200,000); $45 (201,000).
3- or full-color: $75 per thousand (up to 25,000); $65 (25,0001-50,000); $60
(50,001-100,000); $55 (100,001-200,000); $50 (201,000).
| Question: Is there a historical marker regarding
Abraham Lincoln in the Illinois Quad-Cities?
| | Answer: Yes. Mr. Lincoln was sworn in as a captain in the militia in the Black Hawk
War of 1832 at a spot on what is now Andalusia Road, across from the Hy-Vee in Milan.
There is a historical marker there today.
| Question: When will the new season of "Friday Night
Lights" air? | | Answer: According to Wikipedia and the "Friday Night Lights" Web page at www.nbc.com,
"Friday Night Lights" is produced by NBC Universal and broadcast by NBC and DirecTV
(The 101 Network). The show premiered Oct. 3, 2006, on NBC with an initial order of
13 episodes, the show was eventually picked up for a full season. NBC renewed the
show for a full 22-episode second season, which began airing on Oct 5, 2007. Only 15
of these episodes were completed before production was stopped due to the 2007–2008
Writers Guild of America strike, leading to speculation that the show might be
canceled. However, NBC renewed the show with DirecTV for a 13-episode third season;
episodes began airing on DirecTV's The 101 Network on Oct. 1, 2008, and were
re-broadcast on NBC. To date, "Friday Night Lights" has aired 57 episodes and is
currently airing its fourth season on DirecTV. On March 30, 2009, NBC officially
renewed the series for two additional seasons of 13 episodes apiece with DirecTV
again. So look for it in March.
| When will the new season of "Friday Night Lights" air? | | According to Wikipedia and the "Friday Night Lights" Web page at www.nbc.com, "Friday
Night Lights" is produced by NBC Universal and broadcast by NBC and DirecTV (The 101
Network). The show premiered Oct. 3, 2006, on NBC with an initial order of 13
episodes, the show was eventually picked up for a full season. NBC renewed the show
for a full 22-episode second season, which began airing on Oct 5, 2007. Only 15 of
these episodes were completed before production was stopped due to the 2007–2008
Writers Guild of America strike, leading to speculation that the show might be
canceled. However, NBC renewed the show with DirecTV for a 13-episode third season;
episodes began airing on DirecTV's The 101 Network on Oct. 1, 2008, and were
re-broadcast on NBC. To date, "Friday Night Lights" has aired 57 episodes and is
currently airing its fourth season on DirecTV. On March 30, 2009, NBC officially
renewed the series for two additional seasons of 13 episodes apiece with DirecTV
again. So look for it in March.
| Question: I heard QC FIST is no
longer. Will there be
holiday packages sent to soldiers
this year?
| | Answer: Yes. In August, several local veterans organizations united to form
All Era
Veterans Healing Field Committee Inc. to serve veterans and their families.
For several years, QC FIST put together holiday care packages and gathered
greeting
cards, food and other things military personnel might need or want. Various
local
groups decided to form a group to continue that mission.
Those groups are All Vets Memorial Society, Vietnam Veterans of America,
Marine
Moms, Navy Families, Davenport American Legion Post 26, Honor Flight of the
Quad
Cities, local Patriot Guard Riders, Veterans and Families of the Quad
Cities, Dignity
Memorial and Davenport Memorial Park.
| Question: Lee's Liquor on
38th Street in Rock Island
used to have a restaurant/bar
attached to it. What was
the name of that restaurant/bar? | | Answer: Lee's Place was the name of the large main bar at Lee's.
That location never
had a formal name to the grill portion of the bar, but the bar just off to
the right
as you entered Lee's Place was named the College Inn. It had a bar with several
stools around it and an area with several booths. It was quieter than Lee's
Place
with doors that, when shut, kept the area much quieter.
| |
| Question: How can I purchase a copy of Moline
(National) Little League's championship game victory
from Aug. 4? And how much does it cost? | | Answer: According to Fred Klauke, MC22's producer-director of prep and
professional sports telecasts, you cannot. Mr. Klauke says because of an issue with
rights and copyright standards with Little League Baseball, copies of the recent
state championship game were made for coaches only. Players from Moline and Clear
Ridge, the team it defeated for the title, were asked to contact their coaches for a
copy. Mr. Klauke says the prep football and basketball games MC22 televises locally
is different and copies of games can be purchased. Simply go to www.connections22.com
for information.
| Question: What's former KWQC-TV6 weatherperson
Kristina Shiroma doing these days? | | Answer: Shiroma, originally from Texas, is still doing weather testing and
research for a company at the South Pole. She is in research lockdown until November
(because of the cold, no flights are coming in or going out where she is stationed).
You can catch her weekly blog at www.Terryswails.com.
| Question: What happened to
Graze on Utica Ridge Road in
Davenport, which has a sign that
says it closed? | | Answer: According to Kellie Stallman, marketing director for Food
Guru Management (the company that ran Graze), the restaurant is closed.
Ms. Stallman writes in an e-mail response: "A majority of the Graze
(Davenport) investors elected to close the restaurant rather than supply
additional resources. Times are tough for everyone and we fought until the
end. The Food Guru does not own Graze. He owns a restaurant management
company that has opened seven restaurants in the past five years. Graze
Davenport is the only one to close.''
This is the email that was sent to an e-mail-based list of Graze customers:
Dear Valued Graze Davenport Customer,
"It is with great regret that we are announcing the closing of Graze
Davenport located on Utica Ridge Road. As of August 2nd, 2009, Graze
Davenport is no longer open for business. Your support has been greatly
appreciated over the last 16 months.
All 007 Club Memberships and Graze gift cards will be accepted at our Iowa
City and West Des Moines Graze locations.
Graze gift cards can be presented at Captain's Table, 4801 River Drive,
Moline, for a 10 percent food discount. You can use the Graze gift card
for 10 percent food discount as many times as you'd like through December
31, 2009. After December 31, 2009, Graze gift cards will no longer be
accepted for a 10 percent food discount at Captain's Table.
Graze 007 Club members can present their 007 Club cards at Captain's Table
for a 10 percent food discount. This offer will not expire. We apologize
for any inconvenience and look forward to serving you at our other locations.''
Sincerely,
Food Guru Management
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