Friday, August 12, 2005

1 AND 17/100 INCHS OF RAIN YESTERDAY. TODAY, NO RAIN...CLOUDY AND COOLER....HIGH IN MID 70'S.

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING FRANK RANDALL TO GET HIS PROPERTY CLEANED-UP AT RURAL MAQUOKETA. THERE MAY NOW HAVE TO BE A LAWSUIT AS RANDALL DID NOT CLEAN UP THE AREA BY THE AUGUST 1ST DEADLINE. SUPERVISORS HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE STILL JUNK VEHICLES AND DEBRIS ON THE PROPERTY ON ROCKDALE ROAD NORTH OF MAQUOKETA AND ANOTHER PROPERTY ON IRON BRIDGE ROAD HAS DEBRIS.

STEPHANIE LEPPERT, 19, OF MAQUOKETA HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL MISCHIEF IN THE 5TH DEGREE AND FINED K$162 ON CHARGES OF PUBLIC INTOXICATION. MAQUOKETA OFFICER DAN FURLONG SAID SHE WAS UPSET BECAUSE BEER HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM HER AT 11:58 P.M. LAST NIGHT AT THE DEPOT ON EAST PLATT STREET.

VOLUNTEERS ARE PAINTING THE WINDOW FRAMES THIS WEEK AT THE FORMER CLINTON ENGINES ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, SO THAT NEW WINDOW PANES CAN BE PUT IN NEXT WEEK.

HERMAN BARTEN, 69, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED YESTERDAY AT HIS HOME. HIS FULL OBITUARY IS AT www.laheys.com

THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE WAS EXACTLY 55 YEARS OLD YESTERDAY. I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE MARCH OF 1972. BOUGHT IT FROM THE LATE FAY MCKENSEY. ANOTHER DOUBLE FEATURE TONIGHT. A NEW TWO-SCREEN DRIVE-IN OPENED THIS SUMMER AT GALVA, ILLINOIS AND LAST WEEK, THE GALESBURG, ILLINOIS, DRIVE-IN WAS RE-OPENED AFTER BEING CLOSED FOR 20 YEARS.
SO, I NOW HAVE A LITTLE COMPETITION TO THE SOUTH, ABOUT 2 HOURS FROM HERE. THERE IS ALSO ONE IN MONROE, WISCONSIN AND DIXON, ILLINOIS. IN IOWA, JUST TWO OTHERS, IN NEWTON AND COUNCIL BLUFFS. THE 61 WAS OPENED IN 1950 BY RICHARD FRANKLIN (NOW LIVING IN DES MOINES AREA) AND
THE LATE WALT ALLEN. MCKINSEY BOUGHT IT AROUND 1960. HE SOLD IT IN THE LATE 60'S TO A GUY IN QUAD CITIES, BUT GOT IT BACK, AND THEN RAN IT A COUPLE MORE YEARS AND SOLD IT TO ME OVER A CUP OF COFFEE AT THE FAMOUS GREEN MILL RESTAURANT IN MAQUOKETA. TOM GOODALL WORKED FOR FAY A LOT OF YEARS AS THE PROJECTIONIST AND THEN A COUPLE YEARS FOR ME. HE IS A RETIRED TEACHER IN ELDRIDGE NOW.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND MY FRIENDS.

DENNIS VOY