Bellevue Economic and Tourism Association

Bellevue, Iowa High School Students Urge Google to Choose Bellevue!

jwachtel — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:16:51 +0000

The future is based on technology and children and young adults are our future. Rather than tell you why we (BETA – Bellevue Economic and Tourism Association) want Google to choose Bellevue, we thought we would ask some of those who have the greatest stake in Bellevue’s future…our kids! BETA asked the high school computer class to create a video demonstrating their talents and emphasizing why they want Google to choose Bellevue.

The bottom line is that kids today know technology and they know technology is changing the future. They LOVE Google and they would LOVE to stay in Bellevue or come back to Bellevue after college if there were jobs. These kids know that if Google chooses Bellevue it will spur further development in Bellevue and allow them to have a future as residents and not just alumni.

Come on Google! Bellevue, Iowa wants you and welcomes you. Everything you need is here in the heartland of America, let’s roll with Bellevue for the future! You can’t go wrong.

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Bellevue Has the Power! Back Up Power

jwachtel — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:16:10 +0000

Not only does Bellevue have the capacity for a Gig, but Bellevue has back up power too. You see, it’s a one two technological infrastructure punch. Bellevue has a fiber optic connection going to every address within the city and the entire city is on back up power and in the event of a power loss, the city of Bellevue, Iowa can fire up it’s own generating plant and have power restored in anywhere from five to thirty minutes. Watch the videos below to learn about Bellevue, Iowa’s generating plant and how things work…very cool!

Below is an interview with City Utility Manager, Bob Ploessl and City Manager, Loras Herrig.

In this Video, Bob Ploessl gives us a tour of the Power Plant.

Bellevue, Iowa is “Good” and full of everyday HEROES!

jwachtel — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:40:57 +0000

Don’t be evil. A very simple, profound and powerful code of conduct for Google. The corollary to this would be “Be Good.” That is one of the reasons Bellevue, Iowa thinks Google would be a great partner to leverage the existing fiber optic infrastructure. Bellevue is a small community with large Midwestern values and traditions. We are “Good.” Our vision statement is “Preserving Traditions, Creating Our Future.” The installation of our leading edge fiber optic network is just one example of “creating our future.” There are many more examples of positive developments going on in Bellevue. However, this post is focusing on the heroes and the great people in the community.

For those who are unaware, there was a terrible tragedy at the annual Bellevue 4th of July Parade. Two horse pulling a carriage got spooked and stampeded through the crowd. Before they were stopped, scores of people were injured, some critically, and one person was killed. Through the pandemonium, the residents and first responders stepped up to aid the injured and control the situation until the ambulances and life flight helicopters could get through and take the injured to local hospitals. For more details on the tragedy click here: Bellevue Parade Tragedy

The story that has received less coverage is that the great citizens of this community stepped up to take care of their own and their visitors. Through the continued generous contributions of many donors, including the Diamond Jo casino, the video below was created to honor the heroes that prevented a bad situation from getting worse and exemplified that Bellevue, Iowa is not only not evil, but the essence of good and neighborly.

We hope to see Google as part of our “Be Good” community soon.

Dubuque Fighting Saints Come to Bellevue on September 1st!

jwachtel — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:42:07 +0000

The Dubuque Fighting Saints are coming to the Happy Bean in Bellevue to help raise money for the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund. Come done to meet and greet and get autographs. Here are the detaisl:

September 1, 2010

Dubuque Fighting Saints “Meet & Greet” at the Happy Bean — Bring your camera, meet Coach Jim Montgomery and the Team.

TIMES- 5:30 – 7:00 pm

LOCATION – Happy Bean Coffeehouse & Cafe, 122 North Riverview

ADMISSION – Free

CONTACT - 563.872.5830

Game tickets will be on sale, proceeds will go to the Parade Victims Fund

Bellevue Parade Victim’s Fund Street Party and Auction

jwachtel — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:37:06 +0000

Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss the Street Party and Auction for the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund on september 18th from 3 to 9 pm!

This fun event will include live music, kids activities and a live and silent auction. What a great way to spend a lovely late summer day on beautiful Bellevue. Here is the schedule (Click Here to Download the Flyer):

3:00 – 4:00 – Hassanna Montana

4:15 – 5:15 – Midnight Rambler

5:30 – 6:30 – The Sieverding Band

6:45 – 7:45 – Rayzor Ray and the Blades

8:00 – 9:00 – The Rayzor Berries

There will also be kids games from 3 – 6 pm.

For more information contact the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce at: 563-872-5830

Why Bellevue Has the Fiber Optic System For Google

jwachtel — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:18:07 +0000

Bellevue, Iowa is the little town that DID! What they did is build a state of the art fiber optic network that reaches every address in the city and surrounding area, making Bellevue, Iowa a perfect demonstration community for the Google Fiber for Communities initiative.

This network is owned by the City of Bellevue and currently delivers high speed internet and television services. It is also ready to add telephone/VOIP service at some point in the future.

Advantages for Google:

Turn key fiber optic network in place and ready to go = fast start up for Google’s Fiber for Communities project
ONT’s (optical network terminal) at every structure
Very few similar cities nationwide that can provide a turn key fiber system
VERY LOW barriers to entry. The bureaucracy to work with the city is minimal

Why did the little Mississippi river town build their own fiber optic network? Well, I would argue it is because this little town thinks BIG and is ahead of the curve. The energy of it’s citizens and government also puts it one step ahead. But don’t take my word for it, hear it right from a couple of civic leaders who played a role in delivering this fiber optic network and making the city’s vision of the future a reality. Watch it below:

As Virgil and Loras stated in the video, Bellevue, Iowa wanted to leverage the digital age and be prepared for the future. As one of Iowa’s first Cities, Bellevue has a lot of history. With the fiber optic network and the energy of it’s residents and government, Bellevue is assured a bright future too.

Takeaway’s for Google:

Turn key fiber optic network in place and ready to go = fast start up for Google’s Fiber for Communities project
ONT’s (optical network terminal) at every structure
Very few similar cities nationwide that can provide a turn key fiber system
VERY LOW barriers to entry. The bureaucracy to work with the city is minimal

Google, come see what the heartland has to offer in the beautiful Mississippi river valley in Bellevue, IA!

Win Sarah Evans and Weird Al Tickets!

jwachtel — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:50:55 +0000

Bid to win Weird Al and Sarah Evans tickets all proceeds to benefit the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund!

From Jennifer Dema:

“Weird Al’ is a friend of mine since Jr. High and High school back in California. He knows I moved to Bellevue and really wants to help our Parade Victims Fund. He’s donated 4 concert tickets and will “meet and greet” the winners! The ONLINE AUCTION IS THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 27th, 6AM -MIDNIGHT The concert is Sept. 2nd, in Rockford, IL. 8pm. Folks, these are very nice seats…all four in a row, center stage, in the first seating section. Please go to the site www.TriStatesNightOut.com for details and to to see the auction AND GET YOUR BID IN ! PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU CAN…. WE NEED THEIR BIDS….and for an extra bonus for the winner Tri States has included 4… 3-day passes to the entire “On The Waterfront” music fest. But Wait! There’s more!!!
The winner also gets 2 TICKETS TO THE SARA EVANS CONCERT, Friday,October 8th, at the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque! THEY GET TO “MEET & GREET” SARA TOO!!! WHAT A GREAT PACKAGE!!!! C’MON… GET YOUR BID IN ON FRIDAY !!!!!!!!!!!!

Bellevue, Iowa: Rich History, Good People, Great Future!

JMyers — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:21:13 +0000

Are you on the go constantly, shuttling kids back and forth until it seems like you meet yourself along the way? Could you stand a little less stress in your life, and wouldn’t it be nice at times to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the good things in life? Maybe you’ve even wondered if there was a place where traditional values still flourish and somewhere that life seems just a little less hectic. Well, we think you can find what you’re looking for in Bellevue, Iowa, one of the best kept secrets in eastern Iowa. We’re located just a hop, skip, and a jump down the road from Dubuque, south on Highway 52.

Our homes and neighborhoods are well kept, the river banks are manicured to perfection, and the Mighty Mississippi is right here at our doorstep. Bellevue is simply one of the most beautiful little towns you can find anywhere, and it’s a great place to live. People here sit on their front porches, and they even wave as you go by. It’s a place where children still get tired from playing outside and everyone looks out for the well being of others. Most young families just want a safe environment and the ability to give their children a chance to live and play without fear, and that’s not too much to ask for. Bellevue has all that and more, and the things your children need are usually located within walking distance. We recognize the need for families to fill our new residential housing areas, join our churches, and be involved with their community. And, like most small towns, we need young children to keep our schools full, and we need parents willing to show commitment by taking part in their kid’s education and well being. We’re also a great retirement community, and there’s plenty of condominium space available for anyone that might be interested in living along the river. We care about our senior community here, and you should know that we’re a town that intends to maintain our traditional values and the small town quaintness that makes us so unique. Maybe we can’t be everything to everyone, but if you can’t find it here you can find it only a short distance away. The scenic drive into and out of Bellevue is magnificent and it never gets tiresome.

Think of Bellevue as being “Family Owned and Operated” since 1833, and that’s because our citizens have always accepted ownership for the city they love. We’re all about family, a community of good friends, and we all share in making Bellevue a great place to live! What more could you ask for?

Bellevue, Iowa is “Good” and full of everyday HEROES!

Bellevue Parade News Coverage

jwachtel — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:52:56 +0000

The community of Bellevue continues to heal from the tragic incident during the Fourth of July Parade. Please click below to donate to the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund:

Below is another news report on the incident:

Please consider donating to the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund:

Bellevue, Iowa 4th of July Parade Tragedy

jwachtel — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:35:23 +0000

The Fourth of July Parade and Heritage Days are Bellevue’s pride and joy. The unfortunate incident that injured so many on the 4th of July has impacted and touched the whole community, but also brought the community together. There has been so much media coverage of the tragedy but what has received less coverage is the way the community has rallied, both through the valiant efforts on the day of the accident to help the injured and in the days and weeks afterward to support and finance the recovery.

We hope that this web site can be an avenue of continued support through additional fund raising and to publish additional information and articles about the event. There are many stories about how the community came together to respond and we hope to share them here.

If you haven’t contributed already, please consider doing so through the links below.

Click the button below to donate to the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund:

Bellevue Parade Victims Fund

Updated: July 8, 2010 10:02 PM

A community comes together to help victims of a tragic accident. People in Bellevue have formed an organization raising money for those injured during a Forth of July parade.

People in downtown Bellevue are starting to get back to their everyday routines. “It’s starting to return to normal, but it’s still the main topic of conversation,” says Tim Daugherty Chairman of the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund.

A few days ago it wasn’t so peaceful. During the town’s Independence Day parade 2 horses rubbed heads, the bridle falling off one of them. The horses started running out of control for blocks. In all 24 people were injured and 1 person was killed. Now, there’s help those injured. “We’re hoping to cover their out of pocket expenses. If they do have insurance policies, their deductibles or if they have lodging costs. If they don’t have insurance they’ll cover that.”

The money will come from the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund. It started when community leaders decided to call each other. “I started making phone calls at 8 o’clock Tuesday morning. We had a noon meeting and everyone I called dropped everything they were doing and made the meeting.”

Within hours they had the organization up and running. A radio fundraiser and donations from local companies has brought in more than $120,000. “It’s rewarding, it makes you believe in humans and that they care.”

Victims have until September 30th to file a claim and a committee will process them. Any money left over will help Bellevue’s fire department and ambulance service. “People here were going over their expenses and the best estimate we have is it cost those 2 departments $50,000.”

The fundraising effort isn’t over. The organization wants to raise more funds and they have people willing to help. “I received calls from several people offering services such as a band, a D. J., someone who sells home interiors.”

To donate to the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund you can send a check or money order to Bellevue State Bank, P.O. Box 47, Bellevue, Iowa 52021. All donations are tax deductible.

Click the button below to donate to the Bellevue Parade Victims Fund:

Here is an additional news report on the accident:

A woman was killed and 23 people injured today after runaway horses trampled through the crowd at a Fourth of July parade in the eastern Iowa town of Bellevue. The wagon driver lost control of the two horses when one horse rubbed the bridle off the other before they started on the parade route, Bellevue Fire Chief Chris Roling said. The horses and wagon plowed through the spectators on the curb of U.S. Highway 52 for about seven blocks. Janet Steines, 60, of Springbrook, died at University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, according to a death notice posted on the website of Hachmann Funeral Home in Bellevue. She was riding in the wagon, driven by her husband, Mardell Steines, when the horses bolted, Roling said. The others who were hurt ranged in age from 2 to 62, firefighters said. Holly Specht of Peosta was in her hometown for the holiday weekend and was sitting in front of the Subway restaurant when the horses galloped past. “There were two horses coming at us at full speed, right at the curb,” Specht said. “People were grabbing kids. You looked up and it was just like a flash. Everybody was kind of in shock and panic.” She said a little girl windmilled toward her as the horses whipped past. The girl landed next to Specht on the sidewalk. She had some scrapes and her back hurt, but she seemed OK. Aside from Steines, four people were critically injured. Five people were severely injured and 14 suffered minor injuries, firefighters said. Injuries included broken bones, collapsed lungs, cuts and bruises, firefighters said.

The parade is a decades-long tradition in Bellevue that has often included tractors, bands and horses. “The mood is shock and disbelief,” Bellevue Mayor Virgil Murray said. “We’ve had this parade forever. We’ve had horses in the parade forever.” “It was like slow motion,” said Sandy DeFries, who was standing in her friends’ yard along U.S. Highway 52 when the horses went by. “People were trying to back off, but because the kids were on the curb for the candy, they were some of the victims. ” Fifteen ambulances took the victims to hospitals in Dubuque and Maquoketa. Carol Dietzel, the house supervisor at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque, said of the 10 patients brought there, nine were children. Two children in critical condition were transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City. Paramedics treated victims in an art gallery near the parade route, said witness Sandie Crilly, 46, of Willow Springs, Ill. A triage area was set up near the Mississippi River where volunteers held up tarps to shield the paramedics and injured from the heat. Others brought the injured ice and water, she said. “It was madness,” Crilly said. “I mean, we were in a triage. The town really came together. It was a huge community effort.” Mardell and Janet Steines and at least one other person were in the wagon, Roling said. The wagon traveled 1,600 feet before the stampede ended near the corner of U.S. 52 and Iowa Highway 62. “One of the people ahead of this horse unit heard the people hollering and screaming,” Roling said. “He pulled his antique haybine out there to kind of slow them down. They ran into that, then they ran into a street sign and into the side of a van before they got them stopped.”

Steven Clemen lives along the parade route and watched the horses gallop past. “It was like a split second, and those horses were a half-block down the street,” he said. Crilly said she was collecting Tootsie Rolls from the street with her 8-year-old son, 12-year-old niece and 2-year-old granddaughter when the horses ran toward them about halfway through the parade. “I could see it was two horses,” Crilly said. “I could see they were running at full speed and they were harnessed together and I knew we were going to most certainly get hit, and as soon as it happened, everybody was crying and screaming.” Crilly, who was visiting her parents in Bellevue, said someone pulled her granddaughter to safety, but her niece was left with a broken left wrist and had two front teeth knocked out. Everyone else suffered bumps and bruises, she said. Bellevue, a town of about 2,300, is on the Mississippi River.