A tangle of wild Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) grows along the Mississippi River levee under the I-74 Bridge, Bettendorf.

First Ward voters sent a message to the mayor and city council Tuesday – we'll choose our own alderman, thank you.

Dean Mayne, a 50-year-old political newcomer, defeated Norm Voelliger 409 to 369 in a special election the Republican-dominated council didn't want to hold.

After alderman Keith Kauten resigned earlier this year, the council decided to appoint a replacement alderman rather than schedule a special election.

The city administration initially told the council a special election would cost $15,000, but later determined it would be $3,200.

The First Ward aldermanic election in Bettendorf took a decidedly partisan, and sad, turn Friday (8/30) with the arrival of a flyer signed by the mayor and all the Republican council members urging the election of the Republican candidate.

While it is naive to think partisan politics aren't part of city elections, past and present, the overt promotion of party affiliation in this special election is particularly troubling.

The City of Bettendorf's new downtown Events Center will cost more than $40 million under a financial loan package recently approved by the city council.

The 20-year $13.8 million loan to finance the city's portion of the 53,000-square foot-center will cost the city at least $14.785 million in interest. And, with a five-year adjustment clause on interest rates, the price could go much higher if bank interest rates go up over the next 20 years.

Presidential candidate Barak Obama stopped in Davenport today (8/25) en route to Denver for the Democratic National Convention and held a question-and-answer session at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.

For an overview of his appearance and the Q&A session, CLICK HERE to read posting by the Iowa Independent's blogger John Deeth.

Richard Louv, author of 'Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder,' will speak at 11 a.m., Sat., Aug. 23 at the iwireless Center, Moline, as part of the RiverWay 2008 Upper Mississippi River Conference.

Louv has helped spawn the Children & Nature Network (www.cnaturenet.org), an organization helping to build the international movement to connect children with nature.

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A flock of ducks enjoy a newly created sandbar off Bettendorf's Leach Park. As the Mississippi River recedes from flood stage earlier in the year, new sand bars have emerged.

The QC Morning Optimist Club marches in the Bettendorf July 4 parade.