CLOUDY..HIGH TODAY OF 36

DR. ROB DEEGAN OF RURAL MAQUOKETA HAS BEEN NAMED THE NEW JACKSON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR AND HOMELAND SECURITY COORDINATOR. HE REPLACES BUDDY OLSON, WHO HAS HELD THE POSITION FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. OLSON WILL RETIRE FROM THE PART-TIME POSITION MARCH 1ST. THE DEPARTMENT IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE JACKSON COUNTY MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, MADE UP OF MAYORS OF EACH COMMUNITY IN JACKSON COUNTY. MONEY FOR THE DIRECTOR'S SALARY COMES FROM THE ASSESSMENT TO EACH COMMUNITY.
KATHY TILL, MAYOR OF ANDREW, IS THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE LEAGUE AND SAID THERE WERE 8 APPLICANTS FOR THE JOB. BILL MERRICK, LONGTIME MAQUOKETA BARBER, WAS THE ORIGINAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR JACKSON COUNTY. DEEGAN, A VETERINARIAN, ALSO OWNS A DEER FARM NORTHWEST OF MAQUOKETA. BUDDY CHECKS THIS REPORT REGULARLY. BUDDY, THANKS FOR A GOOD JOB OVER THE YEARS. NOW THAT YOU'LL HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME, MAYBE YOU CAN HELPL MYRNA AROUND THE HOUSE A LITTLE.

THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOLS HAVE RECEIVED AN $18,000 HARKIN GRANT TO DO SOME FIRE SAFETY UPGRADES AT CARDINAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE HIGH SCHOOL. THE GRANTS ARE SPONSORED BY SEN. TOM HARKIN WITH THE FUNDS COMING FROM THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SOMEONE BROKE INTO THE COKE MACHINE AT CAN CITY ON EAST PLATT STREET, OWNED BY JOHN WAGENER. TAKEN, BETWEEN $50 AND $75 IN CHANGES AND BILLS....AND...DAMAGE OF ABOUT $150 TO THE MACHINE.
THE INCIDENT HAPPENED BETWEEN SATURDAY AND MONDAY.

NO BIRTHS OR DEATHS.

NO LOCAL SPORTS. IOWA LOST TO TEXAS TECH LAST NIGHT IN BASKETBALL. WE BROADCAST THE GAME. THE HAWKEYE FOOTBALL TEAM WILL BE IN THE OUTBACK BOWL IN TAMPA NEW YEAR'S DAY, WITH A 10 A.M. KICK-OFF. KMAQ'S BROADCAST THAT DAY FROM TAMPA WILL START AT 8 A.M.

VERY LITTLE SNOW ON THE GROUND AROUND HERE ANYMORE....SO UNLESS WE GET SOME IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO, WE WILL NOT HAVE A WHITE CHRISTMAS.

ONE DAY LEFT TO SHOP.....AND MOST STORES WILL CLOSE EARLY TOMORROW.

IF YOU ARE TAKING OFF FOR SOMEWHERE, DRIVE CAREFULLY.

CHECK BACK TOMORROW IF YOU CAN.

DENNIS VOY