The autumn azure sky provides a perfect backdrop to the pink and yellow clouds created by the setting sun.

Two towboats await their turn to lock through Dam 15 in Davenport as they head south on the Mississippi River.

The Bettendorf High School Marching Band kicks off the 2007 Homecoming parade along Spruce Hills Drive Thursday (9/27). Both Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley High School celebrate homecoming this weekend with football games and homecoming dances. The Bulldogs, unbeaten and ranked number one in the 4A high school rankings, take on Muscatine, while Pleasant Valley faces Davenport West.

A blue heron takes flight, flying low across the Mississippi River. The heron, and white egrets, are commons sights along the riverfront, along with ducks and geese. For full information about the blue heron, visit the Audubon Society's web site by clicking here.

An Iowa Department of Transportation worker checks out the supporting ironwork of the east/southbound Interstate 74 Bridge between Bettendorf and Moline. The span has a 66 "sufficiency rating" in the Iowa DOT's bridge analysis, while the older west/northbound structure has only a 43 rating. The lowest rated bridge structure in Scott County is the Lincoln Road I-74 overpass in Bettendorf with a 33 rating. The overpass was struck by a semi-trailer truck carrying a tall load nearly a year ago, and one lane of the overpass remains blockaded. For the complete list of primary bridges in Iowa and their sufficiency ratings, click here.

Two people enjoy a warm September afternoon on the banks of the Mississippi River at Leach Park, Bettendorf. In the distance is downtown Davenport and across the river, Arsenal Island.

The afternoon sunlight filters through the cottonwood trees at Crow Creek Park's quarry. The falling leaves of the cottonwood are a prelude to the arrival of autumn.

Fencing for the new dog park at Crow Creek Park is nearly complete. The dog area is just west of the quarry. Click on "Read More" for additional photos.

The recent rainy weather has delayed completion of the new recreation trail through Crow Creek Park, Bettendorf. The new trail starts at Devils Glen Road, connects to the existing trail next to the park's quarry, and then extends east to Middle Road. Eventually the trail is to extend eastward to Valley Drive and the future riverfront trail along the Mississippi River.

Barges loaded with coal get pushed north by a towboat on the Mississippi River at the Interstate 74 Bridge crossing between Moline and Bettendorf. River traffic is in full swing with normal river levels and picture-perfect summer weather.