Local counties added to FEMA disaster declaration

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013, 3:56pm

Residents of several local counties are now eligible for federal disaster assistance to recover from April flooding.

Get more photos, video and coverage of area flooding – click here.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved Governor Pat Quinn’s request to add another 14 counties to the list of Illinois locations included in the disaster declaration.

Previously, the declaration included Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry and Will counties. Counties now added to the disaster declaration are Bureau, Crawford, Henderson, Knox, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Peoria, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford.

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Four arrested after fight causing vehicle damage and injury

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 5:31pm

Two adults and two minors were arrested in connection with a fight that damaged a vehicle and injured someone’s hand.

According to the East Moline Police Department, 23-year-old Jeremy Munday and 22-year-old Juan Pizano were arrested after a fight on Tuesday, May 21.

East Moline Police said Munday and Pizano are accused of using baseball bats to damage a Ford F150 truck as well as hitting a 16-year-old causing a hand injury.

It is suspected that the teenager and the two men knew each other and are allegedly in rival gangs.

Officials say the two Rock Island men are being held in the Rock Island County jail both on $75,000 bond.

Two 16-year-olds from Moline and East Moline were also arrested in connection with the fight and are being held at Mary Davis Juvenile Detention Center, police said.

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Shoppers savor new food hub in Coal Valley

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 2:27pm

Shoppers are supporting the local economy in Coal Valley. Tuesday marked the grand opening for a new food hub at the Corn Crib Nursery, 6924 Route 150.

“Grab some asparagus, corn and strawberries for shortcake,” said shopper Kim Adlfinger, Rock Island.

The nursery is joining forces with Country Corner Farm Market. It’s like creating a fresh food corridor along Route 150.

“Two family-owned operators coming together,” said Duane White, Corn Crib’s owner. “That’s pretty neat in itself.”

They’ll feature plantings from Country Corner and five other local growers. It’s a hands-on growing experience that’s taking fresh food to a new level. They’re working to strengthen the local economy.

“We need to support our local growers,” said shopper Jean Chouinard. Coal Valley.

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Local Shelter Helps Teen Turn His Life Around

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 10:56pm

A local at risk and homeless teen shelter helps kids stay off the streets and it’s helping one teen turn his life around.

It’s a graduation day for Bethany Black Hawk Phoenix students,“I use to dream about this day,” it’s a dream that 18 year old Justin McGhee never thought would become reality.

Getting here hasn’t been easy for him though, “It was rough growing up. I was always told I would never be nothing in life, so I don`t know it`s just hard.”

Plus he was going down the wrong road, “Gangbanging, selling drugs, not going to school and stealing cars.”

He admits he didn’t care too much about school either.

“I was going into freshmen year, I was failing all of my classes,” says Justin.

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50 Thousand Illinois Drivers are Likely to Hit Deer Yearly

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Sunday, May 19th, 2013, 10:44pm

State Farm has released a report saying that about 50,000 Illinois drivers hit deer every single year.

Some people living in Rock Island are speaking about the deer population and they’re hoping something gets done about it. The city is expected to release its deer population totals Monday night.

“I get the wild life thing, but I can’t even do gardening, I can’t do a vegetable garden, they just eat everything,” says Patti Deleu who spends a lot of money and time into her yard.

Her along with many other neighbors say deer have invaded their homes.

“I love doing outside gardening, I love doing vegetables gardens, and the last couple years, it’s been impossible,” says Deleu.

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Power outages in the Quad City area

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Sunday, May 19th, 2013, 8:57pm

According to MidAmerican Energy, thousands were without power before 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, 2013. By 10:10 p.m. many homes had power restored.

On the Illinois side of the river, about 700 in Coal Valley, less than 300 in Henry County, almost 100 in Moline, and about 250 people in Rock Island County are without power.

On the Iowa side, power outages in Davenport are down to about 45 from 1800 earlier in the evening.

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News 8 viewers storm-spotting

Submitted by WQAD Web Staff

Sunday, May 19th, 2013, 6:00pm

A whirl of severe weather moved generally north along the Mississippi River on Sunday, May 19, 2013. News 8 viewers kept us posted with what was going on outside their windows.

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