Early morning update: Ice, ice baby
Back to the salt mines, Quad-Cities. It’s 22 degrees under a foggy mist; 16 degrees when you factor in the wind chill. Speaking of salt, you better keep plenty of it on-hand as a major ice storm is heading our way. Current road conditions in the Quad-Cities are normal for this time of year. But if you’re out tonight, you might experience icy conditions as the area will be under an “ice storm warning” from 6 p.m. until midnight Tuesday.
Here’s what the National Weather Service is saying:
“A significant ice storm will affect the area tonight through Tuesday evening. Preparations for this ice storm should be completed prior to sunset. The probability is high that power interruptions -- possibly for an extended period of time -- will occur during this storm. Freezing rain will quickly develop this evening and become widespread after midnight and continue through Tuesday. The ice accumulation that occurs will be on top of the light ice accumulation already on trees and power lines. Ice accumulations of one half to one inch are expected.
“An ice storm warning means significant ice accumulations of one-quarter inch or more are expected or occurring. This will make travel very dangerous, hazardous or impossible, so only travel in an emergency and take your winter survival kit. Ice accumulations and winds will likely lead to falling tree branches, snapped power lines and loss of power.”
Due to the weather, leaf vacuuming in Moline has been temporarily suspended. If weather permits, vacuuming will resume at a later date. The city still has free leaf bag collection until Friday.
See news happening? Share it
Drop us an e-mail at newsroom@qctimes.com or give us a call at (563) 383-2235 if you see early morning breaking news such as house fires, traffic accidents and congestion, road conditions, street closures, detours and water main breaks in the Quad-City region. Or call or e-mail to tell us about the road conditions on your commute to work.
Getting into the holiday spirit
CLICK here for a listing of all the fun, festivities and information you need to know for the upcoming holidays. Here are a few events happening today.
-- The 7th grade Blue team at Williams Intermediate School in Davenport has selected the Quad-City Wish List as their semester community project. Teachers are collecting money during homeroom classes daily until Friday. Every child is encouraged to give up snacks for the week and bring that money to donate to The Wish List. If the team raises $500 or more, they can select a teacher to kiss a pig on the lips on Dec. 18.
-- The Schaefer Planetarium at Bettendorf High School will hold its annual “Christmas Star” program at 7 p.m. until Dec. 6, at 3333 18th St. The program features music from Mannheim Steamroller and special-effect projectors that help transport the audience back to Bethlehem. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Reservations can be made any school day 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. by calling the Bettendorf High School at (563) 332-7001.
-- The Davenport Police Department will be hosting its annual Senior Lights Tour at 6 p.m. today. Transportation for seniors will be provided through First Transit, Inc. CASI will be taking reservations until 3 p.m. today at 1035 W. Kimberly Road. All registered seniors will meet at CASI the night of the tour. Seniors will check in and be given a ticket to board the bus. Seniors, who previously registered at CASI or at other assisted-living centers in Davenport, do not need to register again. Everyone is encouraged to register so the proper number of buses can be arranged. People who arrive and are not pre-registered will be able to participate if space allows.
Scam warning
The Bettendorf Police Department is warning residents and businesses to be aware of a scam that involves an individual calling on behalf of The Greater Davenport Bowling Association. The caller explains that they are collecting donations for a junior bowling tournament. The Greater Davenport Bowling Association has no knowledge of this fundraiser. If you are a Bettendorf resident and have given a donation to this fraudulent charity, please call the Bettendorf Police Department at (563) 344-4015. The Bettendorf Police recommend, before you donate, make sure you are giving to a legitimate charity.
Flu shots
Flu shots will be held today at the following location: Trinity VNHA, 9 a.m. to noon, Hy-Vee Food Store, 4218 Avenue of the Cities, Moline.
Presidential candidates visit
The following presidential candidates will be in Iowa today weather permitting: Bill Clinton on behalf of Hillary Clinton, 11 a.m., Fisher Theater, Iowa State Center, Lincoln Way & Elwood Drive, Ames; 3:30 p.m., Newton YMCA, 1701 S. 8th Ave. E, Newton; 5:15 p.m., Darby Gym, Grinnell College, 1201 10th Ave., Grinnell; 7:30 p.m., Iowa Memorial Union, 63 Iowa Memorial Union, Iowa City. Joe Biden, Iowa. 8 a.m., Neighborhood Perk, 7 S. Frederick Ave., Oelwein; 10 a.m., Two Brothers Restaurant, 220 1st St. E, Independence; noon, Jameson’s Irish Pub, 310 E. 4th St., Waterloo. John Edwards, 1 p.m., Polk County Convention Complex, 501 Grand Ave., Des Moines; 6:15 p.m., Marshalltown Senior High School, 1602 S. 2nd St., Marshalltown.
Road work
Here is the latest road construction work in your area.
Muscatine County
-- Interstate 80 is down to one lane in both directions from exit 265 to exit 267 for bridge construction until April 30.
Henry County
-- Eastbound traffic is restricted to one lane on I-80 at Cleveland Road until December 2008.
-- Drivers on Illinois 78 from 2 miles north of I-80 to Coal Creek should expect lane restrictions during road improvements until December 2008.
Carroll County
-- Eastbound and westbound traffic on US 52 and Illinois 64 from east of Savanna to east of Illinois 78 will be restricted to one lane and controlled by traffic signals until Dec. 1, 2008.
Bureau County
-- Interstate 80 from the Henry County line to Illinois 26 until Dec. 14 will have lane restrictions for patching.