A WINTER DAY IN MAQUOKETA AND IOWA.
BAD, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
VERY LITTLE SNOW, BUT ICE AND SLEET. EVEN HAD THUNDER AND LIGHTNING THIS MORNING.
ALL SCHOOLS CLOSED. MANY MEETINGS CANCELLED. SOME BUSINESS PLACES CLOSED. NOW...VERY COLD WEATHER COMING FOR THE WEEKEND.

THE LIGHTNING STRUCK A BARN NEAR FULTON, NORTH OF MAQUOKETA.
FIRE CHIEF MARK BECK SAID THE VOLUNTEER FIREMEN SAVED THE BARN, BUT 150 BALES OF HAY WERE LOST. THE FIRE WAS AT THE STEPHEN MILLER RESIDENCE, NEAR FULTON ON 142ND STREET.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SET MARCH 6TH AS THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2006-2007 CITY BUDGET. DURING A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEEK, COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME AT$11.61 PER $1,000 ASSESSED VALUATION. IT'S THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW FOR THE SAME TAX RATE.

JAMES "WORM" REGAN DIED SUDDENLY YESTERDAY MORNING.
SURVIVORS INCLUDE A SON, JOHN IN MAQUOKETA. FOR THE COMPLETE OBITURARY, GO TO www.carsonandson.com

NO BALL GAMES TONIGHT! ALL POSTPONED, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S GIRL'S TOURNAMENT GAME.

THE MAQUOKETA BOYS HAVE TWO REGULAR SEASON GAMES LEFT BEFORE TOURNAMENT TIME. THEY PLAY ONE TOMORROW NIGHT HERE.

AND THAT'S IT FOR A NASTY-WEATHER THURSDAY.

DENNIS VOY