HAPPY NEW YEAR!

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN IOWA TODAY...SUNNY AND HIGH OF 41. RAIN AND SLEET IN FORECAST FOR TOMORROW.

AN ORDINANCE IS BEING DISCUSSED FOR EASTERN IOWA COUNTIES, INCLUDING JACKSON AND CLINTON, TO RESTRICT THE SALE OF PSEUDOPHEDRINE, WHICH IS A MAJOR INGREDIENT IN MAKING METHMPHETEAMINE. IT IS INCLUDED IN MANY COLD MEDICINES AND THE ORDINACE WOULD REQUIRE RETAILERS TO LIMIT THE SALE OF THE COLD MEDICINE DRUG TO BE SOLD FROM BEHIND THE COUNTER AT DRUG STORES AND RETAILERS WOULD ALSO BE LIMITED TO THE SALE OF TWO PACKAGES A DAY, PER PERSON AND A PHOTO ID WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED.
ILLINOIS HAS ENACTED SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS AND JACKSON COUNTY ATTORNEY JOHN KIES SAID HE DOESN'T WANT JACKSON COUNTY TO BECOME THE HAVEN FOR DRUG MAKERS IF OTHER COUNTIES ARE MAKING RESTRICTIONS.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE PLANNED FOR JANUARY BEFORE A FINAL ORDINANCE IS PASSED.

FORMER MAQUOKETA AND IOWA STATE QUARTERBACK SAGE ROSENFELS IS
EXPECTED TO BE THE STARTING QUARTERBACK THIS SUNDAY FOR THE MIAMI DOLPHINS. EVERYONE IN IOWA IS EXCITED ABOUT THAT. HIS PARENTS LIVE JUST A SHORT DISTANCE NORTH OF MAQUOKETA. I'M SURE THEY'LL BE AT THE GAME
THIS SUNDAY, WHICH STARTS AT NOON.

AT THE SUPERVORS MEETING IN MAQUOKETA THIS WEEK, MIKE COTTON WAS RECOGNIZED FOR SERVING JACKSON COUNTY 29 YEARS IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, MOST OF THOSE YEARS AS AUDITOR. HE WAS DEFEATED IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. HIS OFFICE STAFF PRESENTED HIM WITH HIS DESK CHAIR, WASTE BASKET AND LETTER HOLDER, ALONG WITH A POCKET WATCH. ALSO RECOGNIZED, WAS BUTCH WATTERS, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER 27 YEARS IN THE MAINTENACE DEPARTMENT AT THE COURTHOUSE.

D.L. STEVENS, AGE 87, OF MAQUOKETA DIED LAST NIGHT AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS. HE WAS A FARMER AND WAS A REGISTERED HEREFORD CATTLEMAN AND IN FACT, WAS A PAST-PRESIDENT OF THE IOWA HEREFORD ASSOCIATION.
HIS SURVIVORS INCLUDE SONS FRANK AND DAVID IN MAQUOKETA AND CLIFF IN DEWITT.

THE NEW GNOMAD COFFEE SHOP OPENED TODAY ON NORTH MAIN STREET IN MAQUOKETA, IN THE LOCATION THAT FOR MANY YEARS WAS BOB'S BARBER SHOP.
THE OWNERS ARE LUKE HALEY AND TONY SCHMIDT. THEY HAVE WORKED THE LAST TWO MONTHS GETTING THE BUILDING READY FOR BUSINESS. I AND JAKE BICKFORD TOOK OUR COFFEE BREAK THERE THIS AFTERNOON AND TOOK A QUICK TOUR. THE FRONT PART OF BUILDING IS WHERE THERE ARE SEVERAL TABLES AND CHAIRS FOR COFFEE (AND LATER SANDWICHS AND PASTRIES) E PATRONS TO SIT.
MIDWAY BACK, IS A COMPUTER ROOM WHERE ONE CAN ACCESS THE INTERNET AND DO SOME WEB SEEKING OR CHECKING OF EMAIL , AND AT THE REAR OF THE BUILDING, THERE I S A SMALL STAGE AREA WITH SOME RESTORED MOVIE THEATRE SEATS, WHERE "LIVE" MUSIC WILL BE ENJOYED. GOOD LUCK TO LUKE AND TONY.
JAKE AND I HAD REGULAR COFFEE, BUT MANY FLAVORS TO CHOOSE FROM.

HOPE 2004 WAS GOOD FOR YOU AND THAT 2005 WILL BE EVEN BETTER.
AGAIN..HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM NANCY AND I.... AND THE STAFF OF KMAQ
AND THE VOY THEATRES.

DENNIS VOY