BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY, HIGH OF 71. 31/100 OF AN INCH OF RAIN YESTERDAY.

IN THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION TUESDAY, TWO OF MAQUOKETA'S CURRENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, LESLIE LAWSON AND MARY BARTERS, BOTH WERE RE-ELECTED, UN-OPPOSED. LESLIE GOT 68 VOTES AND MARY 71.

THE CARSON AND BARNES CIRCUS IS COMING TO MAQUOKETA MONDAY FOR TWO PERFORMANCES...4:30 AND 7:30 AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. IT IS A VERY OLD CIRCUS AND THEY STILL USE ELEPHANTS TO RAISE THE BIG TENT.

THE BRAD DEERY COMMERCIAL I PUT ON THIS SITE YESTERDAY, WAS RECORDED TOO LOUD AND THEREFORE HARD TO UNDERSTAND...SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL DISTRICT PURCHASED A HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET, SOUTH, OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, FOR $43,500, FROM DAVE BRADY. IT WILL BE DEMOLISHED, AND FENCING AND GRAVEL ADDED, AT A COST OF ABOUT $20,000. IT WILL PROVIDE 80 PARKING SPACES FOR THE SCHOOL, WHERE PARKING IS BADLY NEEDED, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT A FEW MORE SPACES WILL BE GONE AS THEY ARE BUILDING AN ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL FOR AN OFFICE. FUNDS FOR THE NEW PARKING LOT WILL COME FROM THE DISTRICT'S PHYSICAL AND EQUIPMENT LEVY. LATER ON, AT ANOTHER $20,000, THE LOT WILL BE PAVED. THAT MAY BE A YEAR OR MORE AWAY.

MAYOR TOM MESSERLI ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HE HAS DECIDED ON THE NEW POLICE CHIEF. HE INTENDS TO APPOINT BRAD KORANDA TO THE POSITION AT NEXT MONDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.
UNDER CITY CODE, THE MAYOR MAKES THE APPOINTMENT AND THE COUNCIL, WITH AT LEAST 4 VOTES, HAS TO RATIFIY THE DECISION. IF APPROVED MONDAY NIGHT BY THE COUNCIL, HE WOULD START IMMEDIATELY. HE HAS BEEN FULLTIME WITH THE DEPARTMENT SINCE 1988 AND WAS NAMED SERGEANT IN 1997. HE AND HIS WIFE, BECKY, HAVE TWO CHILDREN. ONE SON, BODE, IS A SENIOR AT MCHS AND A DAUGHTER, BROOKLYN IS A 7TH GRADER. HIS FATHER IS LONGTIME BUSINESSMAN, AND A FORMER POLICE OFFICER IN TOWN FOR MANY YEARS, ARNOLD KORANDA.

VANDALS KNOCKED OVER FOUR HEADSTONES THIS WEEK AT MT. HOPE CEMETERY.

TIM AND BECKY CHAPIN OF MAQUOKETA ARE PARENTS OF TWIN GIRLS BORN EARLIER THIS WEEK.

NO LOCAL DEATHS.

THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY