Quad City Ticks Will Be Brutal This Year

We are all excited for Summer, and as Midwesterners we know that means ticks, and other pests will be coming as well. The Midwest has some of the most abundant and diverse populations of ticks across the whole country, and this year may have more ticks than usual.

Many of us are planning trips this year, so it's a good idea to keep an eye out while camping, or hiking.

According to Pests.org the Midwest is the only area that will be above the average tick threat level this year. The Northwest is average, the Southwest is slightly above average, and the North and Southeast are slightly average.

This winter and spring will likely see temperatures stay around normal, so tick season won’t begin any earlier than its usual late April start. Summer heat, however, is expected to linger, pushing September and October temperatures above average and extending tick season into the fall.

The 'Disease Threat' is as follows: Tick-borne diseases affecting the Northeast include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and tularemia.

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We all have our own tricks for stopping, and beating ticks, but it's important to remember key things. The first one is an easy one, if you're going to be in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas outside, just be aware that these are tick hotspots.

Another quick trick that I followed when I was a kid growing up in the country was when I came in from outside, I'd check my clothing and pets for ticks. Also, shower as soon as you come in from outside and checking every part of your body is a good idea too.

You can learn more about ticks in our area by clicking here. As always stay safe out there Quad Cities!

Million Dollar Quad Cities Home vs Million Dollar Los Angeles Home

We all know the joke about how much houses cost in LA. I decided that it would be fun to look at a million dollar home in LA and compare that to a million dollar home right here in the Quad Cities.

Here are the two spot we are comparing:

12513 Walsh Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Cost: $1,195,000

984 sqft | 3 Bed | 2 Bath

901 46th Street Dr, Moline, IL 61265

Cost: $995,000

15,291 sqft | 6 Bed | 11 Bath

Clearly one is a bit bigger than the other.

Iowa's Island City

There is something unique about every town, but there is really something special about Sabula, IA. Known as "Iowa's Island City," Sabula is the only town in the state of Iowa that is entirely on an island. While not a lot of people have been to, or live in Sabula, it is a quaint little town nestled right on the Mississippi River.

Before we show you around "Iowa's Island City," let me give you the history of Sabula. Sabula was established in 1835, according History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 1 by James Whitcomb Ellis. Isaac Dorman and a man named Hinkley crossed the river from the Illinois side on a log and decided to settle on what is now Sabula. An Ohio couple, James and Margaret Woods would settle on Sabula about a year later in April of 1836. Their son, Dr. E. A. Woods would purchase Hinkley's interest in the claim. Charles Swan and W. H. Brown would soon purchase Dorman's interest. The three men, Woods, Swan and Brown later had the land plotted in 1837.

The idea behind plotting the land was because there was no town between Lyons (north Clinton) and Bellevue. The plot of the new town was recorded in Dubuque as this area was part of Dubuque county at the time, according History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 1 by James Whitcomb Ellis.

According to Island City Harbor's website, Sabula went through a few names before landing on the official town name. In 1837, Sabula was first called Carrollport. Residents of the town didn't like the name because there was a man's name who was Carroll who had a bad reputation. The town changed its name to Charleston, after early settler Charles Swan. The only issue was that there was already a town called Charleston in Iowa which caused much confusion.

In 1846 the settler’s decided to find a name. Island City Harbor's website says that because of it’s sandy soil, William Hubble suggested the town be called "Sabulum" which is Latin for sand. A party was being held around the time the town name was being discussed, when a woman, supposed to be Miss Harriet Hudson, suggested the town be called Sabula as it was easier to pronounce and sounded more elegant, according History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 1 by James Whitcomb Ellis.

Sabula did not actually become an island until 1939. According to Wikipedia, in the 1930's, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed the lock and dam system. In 1939, Lock and Dam No. 13 between Clinton, IA and Fulton, IL was built which caused the bottomlands west of the town permanently flooded. With the Mississippi River east of the town, this created the "Island City." A levee was built around Sabula in 1957 for protection, according to Island City Harbor's website. This also allowed for the south sand pit to be turned into a boat harbor.

I would like to thank my mom Beth, her fiancé Matt, my brother Nolan and my wife Ellie for accompanying me to Sabula. We always have a blast on our trips and this one was no exception.

It's now time to introduce you to Sabula, Iowa, Iowa's Island City.