SUNNY AND NICE TODAY .. HIGH OF 60.
THE JACKSON COUNTY SUPERVIORS LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT THE NUMBER OF VISITORS TO THE MAQUOKETA CAVES STATE PARK DOWN THIS SUMMER. BEL TUBBS, PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MAQUOKETA CAVES, REPORTED 188,000 VISITORS, DOWN FROM 195,960 LAST YEAR. DOWN BECAUSE SOME FLOODING EARLIER THIS YEAR RESULTED IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CAVES BEING SHUT DOWN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS DURING THE BUSY SUMMER SEASON. THERE WERE 11,000 CAMPERS THIS YEAR, DOWN FROM 12,740 LAST YEAR.
AND, 3,075 STOPPED IN AT THE VISITOR CENTER, WHICH WAS NEARLY THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR, THE STATE WIDENED THE ROAD FROM THE CAVES HIGHWAY INTO THE PARK AND NOW BUSES HAVE A PLACE TO TURN AROUND.
THE FRIENDS GROUP AT THE VISITOR CENTER SOLD T-SHIRTS AND TRAIL SHIRTS AND PROCEEDS BOUGHT SOME PLANTS AROUND THE CENTER. AND THEY PLAN ON GETTING NEW SIGNS FOR OUTSIDE NEXT YEAR. THERE ARE 78 VOLUNTEERS THAT WORK AT THE CAVES, UP FROM 68 LAST YEAR. THE FRIENDS OF THE CAVES MEET FEBRUARY THROUGH OCTOBER AND THE CAVES RANGER JIM MAGIRL. ATTENDS THE MEETINGS.
HE WILL BE RETIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
I GOT AN EMAIL FROM DICK MOELLER IN WEST PALM BEACH,
TELLING ME THAT HIS DAD, FAY, OF 802 EAST PLATT STREET IN MAQUOKETA WILL BE 98 THIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH.
HIS PHONE NUMBER IS 563-652-2159. HE LISTENS RELIGIOUSLY TO KMAQ. HE STILL LIVES ALONE, DRIVES HIS CAR, BUT ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES A YEAR AND STILL PLAYS THE PIANO AND SINGS AT CRESTRIDGE NURSING HOME ONCE A MONTH. HIS DAUGHTER, DICK'S SISTER, IS LOIS SCHEPERS OF RURAL DELMER. SEND HIM A CARD IF YOU HAVE TIME, OR CALL HIM THURSDAY. DICK SAID HE AND LOIS ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD DAD FOR SO LONG.
CHECK OUT THE PICTURES I PUT UP HERE OVER THE WEEKEND AND CLICK-ON TO THEM TO MAKE THEM LARGER.
I HAVE A FULL KMAQ-TRAVEL BUSLOAD GOING WITH ME TO BRANSON TOMORROW. BE BACK FRIDAY NIGHT. SO, NO DAILY REPORT UNTIL THIS WEEKEND OR NEXT MONDAY.
HAVE A NICE WEEK.
DENNIS VOY
