Quad Cities… State Representatives Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), Mike Halpin (D- Rock Island), and Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) are encouraging local residents to support Valley Construction, of Rock Island, in their efforts to help the Houston area recover from Hurricane Harvey.

"Valley Construction and other partners within our region continue to amaze me!  I am honored to help push this relief effort to our districts to not only reach our goals for the people of Texas, but also help prepare to provide relief to people of Florida" said Rep. McCombie.

"Valley Construction has been supportive of the Quad City Community for years. It is no surprise that the company is extending its generosity to those affected by Harvey's devastation, and I believe our compassionate community will step up and contribute what we can to this important cause," said Rep. Halpin.

Valley Construction will be sending two semi-trailers full of supplies on Saturday, September 16^th to the Houston areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey, and is asking the public’s help to fill those trailers. If more than two trailers of supplies are collected, Valley Construction will be sending the additional supplies to areas impacted by Hurricane Irma in Florida. They ask that you bring the items to one of the following drop off locations by Friday, September 15^th; drop off times are between 8:30am and 3:30 pm.

• Valley Construction, 3610 78^th Avenue West, Rock Island, IL
• Duck Creek Tire, 4000 Middle Road, Bettendorf, IA
• Two Rivers YMCA, 2040 53^rd Street, Moline, IL
• Heritage Church, 4801 44^th Street, Rock Island, IL
• Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4^th Avenue, Rock Island, IL
• Quad City Times, 500 E 3^rd Street, Davenport, IA
• Rep. Halpin’s Legislative Office, 1504 3rd Ave. Rock Island, IL
• Rep. Swanson’s Legislative Office (Until Thursday), 536 Oxford Ave. Suite D, Woodhull, IL
• Rep. McCombie’s Legislative Office (Until Thursday), 9317 State Route 84, Savanna, IL 

“Thank you to Valley Construction for offering this assistance.  The Quad-Cities is a generous area and I appreciate our residents showing such compassion and concern for friends and families in Texas and Florida.  When the Quad-Cities has needed flood assistance, help has come from many parts of the United States; now it is our turn to provide comfort and relief to those in need,” said Rep. Swanson.

The items needed include; plastic totes, bleach, flashlights, batteries, mops, brooms, shovels, baby diapers, water, sports drinks, dry baby foods, bath towels, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, gloves, first aid supplies, hygiene items, kids school supplies, garbage bags, and pet food. Valley Construction asks that you don’t drop off clothes, furnishings and perishable foods.

For more information about the supply drive contact Greg Hass at Valley Construction by email at greghass@valleyconstruction.com.

WOODHULL… State Representative Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) was feted on Thursday, August 31st by the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education (ILCAE) with the 2017 Jim Guilinger Legislative Award.

“I am very honored to receive this award for advocacy for agricultural education. Agricultural education is a program that is working. More students involved with agricultural education are working than ever before, as this industry is the largest industry employing Illinoisans,” said Rep. Swanson.

He went on to say, “Agricultural Education in our schools is also changing the face of the agricultural industry, with more young women and more students from urban areas involved in this field each year as well.”

Agricultural Education has only been a field of study in Illinois public schools beginning about 40 years ago, due in large part to the advocacy of ILCAE. ILCAE’s advocacy has helped to better orient secondary education with jobs in the economy. Agricultural education has a proven track record of graduating students who largely enter post-secondary education environments and continue to advance the field in truly inspiring ways. Despite that record of success, agricultural education is often on the chopping block. Many programs have been saved by incentive funding.

Jim Guilinger, the award’s namesake, was a teacher in Sycamore, Illinois who was named top vocational-ag teacher in the U.S. in 1982. Rep. Swanson was awarded the honor at the ILCAE’s meeting in Decatur, nearby the 2017 Farm Progress Show, on Thursday, August 31st. Rep. Swanson’s predecessor in the 74th District, Rep. Don Moffitt, was a 2005 recipient of the Jim Guilinger Legislative Award as well.

PRINCETON… “We wrap you in this Quilt of Valor, Art,” Princeton Police Chief Thomas Root humbly said to World War II Veteran Arthur Seeds as he wrapped him in a quilt specially made for the WWII Veteran by the local Illinois Valley Quilts of Valor Group at Rep. Dan Swanson’s Veterans’ Health Fair in Princeton on Thursday, August 31^st. 

Honoring the longtime Neponset/ Buda area farmer for his service to our country was one of many ways Veterans’ lives were touched during the third of three Veterans’ Health Fairs that Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) put on for Mercer, Knox, and Bureau Counties beginning on Tuesday.  Bureau County’s event was hosted at the Bureau County Metro Center in Princeton.  Dozens of attendees joined dozens of exhibitors representing state, local, and community agencies in providing information to Veterans and seniors in attendance.  Monical’s Pizza hosted lunch at the Princeton event.

“As a Veteran, Veteran Advocate, and Legislator, I am honored to host these events to help Veterans connect with services, right here in their communities that can help improve their quality of life,” said Rep. Dan Swanson.  “We owe a great debt to these men and women and this is just one small way we can make sure they know about services and programs helpful to them.”

Taking great constituent service on the road, Rep. Swanson also hosted Veterans’ Resources Fairs in Aledo on Tuesday, August 29^th and in Galesburg on Wednesday, August 30th.