Bettendorf High School's '06 Homecoming kicked off Thursday afternoon (10/5) with a parade from Middle Park to the high school. Leading the way was the Bulldog Marching Band. A perfect fall afternoon greeted the crowds along Spruce Hills Drive and 18th Street. The undefeated and number one ranked Bettendorf football team will play Clinton in the Friday night homecoming contest. For additional photos, click on the "Read More" link below.

The ash, poplar and cottonwood trees are among the first to have their leaves change color and begin falling. The fall season paints a colorful view almost anywhere along Duck Creek, including here near the 18th Street bridge in Bettendorf.

Friday night at the high school stadium isn't the only time or place for football. The Y flag football league got under way last weekend at the Middle School fields under brilliant blue skies and with perfect fall weather.

The Bulldog Marching Band traveled to Cedar Rapids Linn-Mar Saturday (Sept. 23) to compete in the 4A band competition. Bettendorf placed ninth among 12 4A bands at the competition. West Des Moines Valley placed first. The band performance includes music from the rock opera "Tommy" by The Who. For additional photos, click on the "Read More" link below.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Dayman. Members present: Adams, Dayman, Huegel, Messman, Paulsen, Schurr and Witters. Absent: None. Also present: Jim Spelhaug, Cyndy Behrer, Mike Clingingsmith, and Chris Harvey.

AGENDA APPROVED: Motion by Adams, second by Schurr that the Agenda be approved as presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS: Director Adams commented on statements in the various political campaigns about the amount of money spent on instruction. Dr. Spelhaug said that Mike Clingingsmith is working on a presentation for the Board and the Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce government committee.

Cyndy Behrer shared an e-mail she had received from a high school teacher thanking the board and district for providing the new Honors Biology texts.

Dr. Spelhaug congratulated Joanne Messman, Dan Schurr, and Heather Witters on their recent election to office. He thanked all Board members for the service they provide the community.

Reconstruction of the upper half of 15th Street between Mississipppi Boulevard and Central Avenue nears completion. The lower half of the street was rebuilt this summer, leaving the upper section next to the Abby Hotel to be completed. The nearly $500,000 improvement includes replacing the old asphalt paving with concrete, widening the roadway to 31 feet and adding curb and gutters and sidewalks along the steep hillside. The project began in June and is scheduled for completion in October.

Work continues on the 12-story Isle of Capri hotel overlooking the Mississippi River along the Bettendorf riverfront. The hotel will have more than 250 rooms and be connected to a special events center to be built by the city. The Isle and the city are hoping the new hotel and events center will attract more visitors to the Isle's casino riverboat, increasing revenues for both the riverboat casino and the city. The Isle is facing additional competition from the new Riverside Casino near Iowa City which opened this month. On the Illinois side of the river, the Casino Rock Island has broken ground on a new gambling facility located just off Interstate 280 in southwest Rock Island.

Student enrollment in the Bettendorf School System is up 40 students compared to last year, according to Superintendent Marty Lucas. But Lucas told the school board at its Sept. 18 meeting the enrollment numbers could change before the official date for reporting student enrollment to the state on Oct. 2.

The number of students is the basis for calculating the amount of state aid the district receives each year. If the preliminary enrollment figures remain unchanged, it would mark the second consecutive year in which district enrollment has increased.

Click on the Read More link below for the full school board minutes of the Sept. 18 meeting.

Devils Glen Road between Tanglefoot Lane and Middle Road has become a jungle of construction signs and equipment as crews widen the heavily used street to accommodate new turn lanes onto Belmont and Middle Roads. The project was described by city Public Works Director Wally Mook as "building a ship in a bottle" because of the limited space for equipment and the need to keep the road open during construction. The construction of the new Hy-Vee Food Store and revamping of the store parking lot adds to the construction confusion for motorists in the area.

Maplecrest Road will be closed to through traffic from 29th Street to Devils Glen Road beginning Wednesday morning September 27, according to the public works department. It is expected the road will remain closed until November 1 for completion of roadway improvements at the intersection of Maplecrest Road and Devils Glen Road. Detours will route traffic on Maplecrest Road onto 29th Street to Tanglefoot Lane to the north and Middle Road to the south.

For more photos, click on "Read More" link.

Workers smooth the concrete paving at the rear of the new Hy-Vee Food Store under construction in Bettendorf. The new store is just north of the existing Glenroads Hy-Vee and just south of the Luther Heights Senior Highrise along Devils Glen Road. For additional photos click on the "Read More" link below.