Wednesday, March 31, 2010

75 TODAY
78 TOMORROW
RAIN SATURDAY
NO RAIN, PARTLY SUNNY AND AROUND 60 EASTER SUNDAY.

THE MCHS GIRL'S TRACK TEAM BEGINS THEIR OUTDOOR SEASON TOMORROW
AFTERNOON AT WEST DELAWARE, MANCHESTER, AT 4:30.

THE COMMUNITY OF LEISURE LAKE IN NORTHERN JACKSON COUNTY IS GOING TO
GET ITS OWN SEWER SYSTEM, A $3 MILLION PROJECT, WITH STATE AND FEDERAL
FUNDS.  NO COUNTY TAX DOLLARS.      MORE THAN 230 PROPERTY OWNERS WILL
CONNECT TO IT.      I DID NOT KNOW  HOW MANY LIVED IN THAT
DEVELOPMENT....MORE THAN I WOULD HAVE GUESSED.

THE JACKSON COUNTY CONSERVATION BOARD LAST NIGHT VOTED 3 TO 2 TO PUT DIRECTOR DARYL PARK ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE WITH PAY.    LAST NIGHT,
ABOUT 30 PEOPLE ATTENDED A MEETING OF THE CONSERVATION BOARD AT THE
HURSTVILLE INTERPRETIVE CENTER.   THE REASON FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING
IS PARKER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FELONY CHILD ABUSE IN WISCONSIN FOR
ALLEGEDLY KICKING A TEEN-AGE BOY DURING A GAME OF LASER TAG IN
FEBRUARY.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR FEBRUARY IN IOWA  WENT UP
FROM 6.6 PERCENT IN JANUARY TO 6.7 IN FEBRUARY. 
JACKSON COUNTY'S WENT UP FROM 9.9 IN JANUARY TO 10 IN FEBRUARY.
IOWA'S NON FARM EMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN IN POSITIVE TERRITORY FOR TWO
CONSECUTIVE MONTHS WHICH IS A SIGN THE STATE'S RECOVERY MAY BE GAINING MOMENTUM ACCORDING TO ELIZABETH BUCK, IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

MAQUOKETA PD IS INVESTIGATING A STOLEN VEHICLE CASE.     TAMIKA ANDERSON OF 107 SOUTH OTTO SAID SOMETIME SINCE FRIDAY, HER 2006 PONTIAC WAS TAKEN.

IN AN EARLIER REPORT HIS WEEK, I MENTIONED  THAT CURT GRUVER'S SQUAD CAR WAS HIT BY A DEER.    IT WAS NOT HIM.    CURT  IS RETIRED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT WORK AND THE PATROL CAR  IN THE VEHICLE-DEER ACCIDENT  WAS DRIVEN BY HIS SON.

GET AT IT...COLOR SOME EASTER EGGS TONIGHT.

DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

SUNNY AND 68 TODAY.   TOMORROW INTO THE 70'S.

A BELLEVUE MAN, WAYNE KEIFFER, AGE 62, WAS KILLED SUNDAY NIGHT AT HIS FARM WHEN HIS TRACTOR PULLING A MANURE SPREADER ROLLED DOWN A SMALL
HILL AND OVERTURNED.    HE WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE SPREADER AND FOUND
THE NEXT DAY.

A BIRTH TO ANNOUNCE.    ERIC AND MELISSA BENTROTT OF CLEVELAND,OHIO,
ARE PARENTS OF A BOY, BORN SUNDAY.   PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER IS JANE
BENTROTT OF MAQUOKETA.

WAYNE LAUFENBURG, JR., AGE 56, OF ST. DONATUS, DIED SATURDAY.
SURVIVORS INCLUDE A SON, JASON, OF MAQUOKETA.  HE WAS A MACHINST IN
DUBUQUE.

THE MCHS GIRLS GOLF TEAM, PLAYING  HERE IN MAQUOKETA,  LOST TO WEST DELAWARE YESTERDAY, 209 TO 205.    FOR MAQUOKETA, KATELYN PAUL SHOT A 48, MOLLY DAVISON A 49, KELSEY ZARUBA A 55 AND ANIKA EHLERS A 57.

MAQUOKETA SENIOR TYLER RUTENBECK HAS BEEN SELECTED TO PLAY IN THE
2010 IOWA SHRINE FOOTBALL GAME THIS SUMMER.      RUTENBECK WAS THE CARDINAL'S LEADING RECEIVER AND LED THE CARDINALS TO THE PLAYOFFS.
HE WILL BE ON THE NORTH SQUAD.   THE GAME WILL BE PLAYED ON JULY 24TH AT JACK TRICE STADIUM IN AMES.

I MADE SOME CORRECTIONS AND ADDITONS TO THE WORDING UNDER MAGGIE
MAE'S PHOTO, POSTED YESTERDAY HERE.      IF YOU HAVE TIME, SCROLL DOWN AND
CHECK THE PHOTO OF THE COUNTRY SINGER AND  RE-READ THE STORY UNDER.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

DENNIS VOY
LAST NIGHT, NANCY AND I ATTENDED THE ANNUAL MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL FFA
BANQUET AND AWARDS NIGHT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL GYM IN WYOMING, GUEST OF
MIKE AND KANDY FRANZEN.     DELICIOUS DINNER SERVED TO OVER 300.   THE MIDLAND FFA IS VERY ACTIVE, WITH NEARLY 80 MEMBERS.     THE LONGTIME FFA
ADVISOR IS KEITH KLEIS OF BALDWIN, WHO IS RETIRING THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF
HEALTH REASONS.     THE OTHER ADVISOR IS JAMIE CHRISTIANSEN, A GRADUATE
OF MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL AND  IN HER 4TH YEAR AT MIDLAND.   SHOWN ABOVE
IS MIKE FRANZEN AND MAX ARMSTRONG.    MAX WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER.
FOR OVER 30 YEARS, HE HAS BEEN A RADIO AND TV FARM BROADCASTER ON WGN RADIO IN CHICAGO AND CO-HOST OF A FARM TV SHOW WEEKENDS ON THE CABLE NETWORK, RFD-TV.     HERE ON KMAQ, HE HAS A MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 5-MINUTE SHOW ON KMAQ-AM AT 8:55 EACH MORNING AND ANOTHER  AT 12:55 EACH AFTERNOON ON KMAQ-FM.        GOOD GUY, GOOD BROADCASTER AND A GOOD EVENT LAST NIGHT IN WYOMING. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MIDLAND FFA ON A SUCCESSFUL YEAR.     CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY

Monday, March 29, 2010

SUNNY AND 53 TODAY.    WE WILL BE IN THE 60'S TOMORROW AND THE 70'S FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.   AND NO RAIN.    GREAT  HOLY WEEK AHEAD.

MAQUOKETA POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A BREAK-IN TO A STORAGE UNIT
ON EAST PLATT STREET, RENTED BY DAVE ROSHEIM.    AFTER HE REPORTED
THE BREAK-IN SATURDAY, POLICE DISCOVERED THREE MORE STORAGE UNITS WERE BROKEN IN TO.    THIS IS THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW OF STORAGE BREAK-INS IN
MAQUOKETA.

AND....IT WAS REPORTED FRIDAY THAT A WINDOW AT THE MAQUOKETA SWIMMING
POOL NEAR THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS BROKEN OUT SOMETIME OVERNIGHT
THURSDAY.

JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY CURT GRUVER SAID A DEER RAN INTO
HIS SQUAD CAR AT 2:28 A.M. THIS MORNING.    THERE WAS MORE THAN $1,000
DAMAGE TO THE SQUAD CAR.

THE "BIG HOUSE BAND"  WAS THE WINNER OF THE "BATTLE OF THE BANDS"  AT THE
JACKSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS FRIDAY NIGHT.   THERE WERE 9 BANDS
COMPETING.       THE BIG HOUSE BAND CHOSE TO PLAY IN THE BEER TENT
AND NOT OPEN FOR THE "38 SPECIAL" CONCERT ON SATURDAY NIGHT OF THE
JACKSON COUNTY FAIR, JULY 31ST.     INSTEAD, "LATELY GRAY", THE SECOND PLACE WINNER FRIDAY NIGHT,  WILL OPEN FOR THE SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT.
THE "BATTLE OF THE BANDS" WAS CONSIDERED A BIG SUCCESS, WITH ABOUT 350 IN ATTENDANCE FRIDAY NIGHT.

THE GOLF SEASON IS UNDERWAY FOR MCHS GOLFERS.   THE GIRLS ARE HOSTING
WEST DELAWARE THIS AFTERNOON AND THE BOYS TRACK TEAM ALSO OPENS THE SEASON AT MANCHESTER TODAY.     THE MAQUOKETA GIRL'S SOCCER TEAM
WILL SCRIMMAGE AT WESTERN DUBUQUE TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

THE CAMPGROUNDS AT SABULA AND BELLEVUE WILL OPEN FOR THE SEASON
THIS FRIDAY.

THE EASTER EGG HUNT HAD A BIG CROWD SATURDAY MORNING OUT BY THE FAIRGROUNDS, AND SPONSORED BY THE KIWANIS CLUB.   SPEAKING OF KIWANIS,
THEIR ANNUAL CELEBRITY GOLD OUTING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MAY 25TH.
ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT BOB GAVIN AT THE MAQUOKETA STATE BANK.

AROUND 1,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE "PLUMMER FAMILY" SHOWS  AT THE
OHNWARD FINE ARTS CENTER SATURDAY.    A  VERY GOOD TURN-OUT FOR THE BRANSON TYPE COUNTRY SHOW.

THE DAIRY BANQUET SATURDAY NIGHT IN MAQUOKETA HAD A RECORD CROWD.  I WAS THERE AND TOOK SOME PHOTOS, POSTED BELOW.

FAMOUS FARM RADIO AND TV BROADCASTER MAX AMSTRONG WILL GIVE THE
MAIN ADDRESS TONIGHT AT THE MIDLAND FFA BANQUET AT WYOMING.
MAX IS HEARD DAILY ON BOTH KMAQ AM AND FM.    I'LL BE THERE TONIGHT AND
WILL POST A PHOTO TOMORROW.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY
THE 22ND ANNUAL JACKSON-CLINTON COUNTY DAIRY ASSOCIATION BANQUET WAS HELD SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE PEARSON CENTER ON THE JACKSON COUNTY
FAIRGROUNDS IN MAQUOKETA.    THERE WAS A RECORD ATTENDANCE.     SHOWN HERE IS  THE NEW 2010 DAIRY PRINCESS, NICOLE TRENKAMP, DAUGHTER OF LONNIE AND LOLA TRENKAMP.    ALSO CROWNED, LITTLE MISS DAIRY MAID FOR 2010, HILLARY BURKEN, DAUGHTER OF MARTIN AND LISA BURKEN.      THE 2010 DAIRY AMBASSADOR
IS JOHN BLAKE, THE SON OF RANDY AND CINDY BLAKE,     AND, THE LITTLE SIR DAIRYMAN FOR 2010 IS AUSTIN HOLDGRAFER, SON OF SCOTT AND TRISHA HOLDGRAFER.    MORE PHOTOS BELOW.      CLICK-ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM.
THEIR JOB WILL BE TO HELP PROMOTE DAIRY PRODUCTS DURING THE YEAR AHEAD.
DENNIS VOY
DWAIN KILBURG,  LONGTIME RURAL SPRINGBROOK DAIRYMAN, IS SHOWN HERE.
HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE JACKSON-CLINTON COUNTY DAIRY ASSOCIATION.
HE WAS THE EMCEE SATURDAY NIGHT.     NEXT TO HIM IS A  LITTLE MISS DAIRY PRINCESS.   OVER 750 WERE SERVED A BEEF AND PORK BUFFET DINNER FROM 6 UNTIL 8, CATERED BY SPRINGBROOK COUNTRY DINING.
THEN THE DHIA AWARDS WERE ANNOUNCED AND DOOR PRIZES WERE PRESENTED.
THE HIGH SCHOOL  "CLUB HOPE" HELPED WITH THE SERVING.
DENNIS VOY
BARB KILBURG, SHOWN HERE , REALLY WORKS HARD EACH SPRING TO DO WHAT SHECAN TO MAKE THE BANQUET A SUCCESS.    SHE WILL BE BACK AT IT AGAIN SOON
GETTTING READY FOR JUNE DAIRY MONTH.      SHE HAS SOME GOOD HELP FROM
HER HUSBAND AND OTHERS ON THE BOARD AND ON THE COMMITTEE....BUT.....SHE
IS THE LEADER AND WITHOUT HER, THERE  PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE A BANQUET.
THANKS BARB.
DENNIS VOY
MAGGIE MAE TOOK TO THE STAGE AT JUST AFTER 8:30 WITH HER BAND.     HER HUSBAND WAS THE SOUND MAN.   THEY WERE DAIRY FARMERS AT ONE TIME AND STILL LIVE ON THE FARM AND CROP AROUND A THOUSAND ACRES.   NEARLY 10 YEARS AGO, THEY STARTED  "MAGGIE MAE'S CAFE"   AT OXFORD,  LOCATED NORTH OF MADISON,  WISCONSIN.    SHE'S VERY BUSY WITH THE RESTAURANT
AND ENTERTAINING AROUND THE MIDWEST.   SHE WAS  IN BRANSON LAST WEEK AND APPEARED ON A TV SHOW ON THE RFD-TV NETWORK.      SHE HAS  5 CD'S RECORDED IN NASHVILLE AND WISCONSIN.       MAGGIE HAS ONLY BEEN SINGING ABOUT 8 YEARS.....AFTER SHE TAUGHT HERSELF TO PLAY THE GUITAR.    THE DAIRY BANQUET SHOW WAS HER SECOND HERE IN JACKSON COUNTY.   BACK IN DECEMBER,  SHE ENTERTAINED AT THE FAMOUS MOONEY HOLLOW BARN AT GREEN ISLAND LAST DECEMBER.    SHE PUT ON A GREAT SHOW SATURDAY NIGHT AND EVERYONE HAD A GOOD  TIME.  CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY
AND THEY DANCED AND DANCED TO MAGGIE MAE AND THE BAND.    BEFORE
THEY WENT HOME, EVERY TICKET HOLDER WAS TREATED TO A FREE DAIRY
PRODUCT OF THEIR CHOICE.     IT WAS A BIG NIGHT FOR THE DAIRY INDUSTRY
IN JACKSON AND CLINTON COUNTY SATURDAY NIGHT.      ENJOY A LOT OF DAIRY
PRODUCTS THIS SPRING!    COOL AND  DELICIOUS!     GOOD FOR YOU!   
DENNIS VOY

Friday, March 26, 2010

SUNNY AND NICE AND IN THE LOW 50'S.

THREE ADDITONAL TEACHERS WERE APPROVED TO TAKE EARLY RETIREMENT
AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR:    MARGO SPRINGER, A SCIENCE TEACHER AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.....RON BAKER, MIDDLE SCHOOL PE TEACHER......AND BRENDA SNYDER, A TEACHER AT CARDINAL ELEMENTARY.
HIRED THIS WEEK FOR THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL DISTRICT, MIKE WING.  HE WILL BE THE NEW DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND MANAGER OF SUPPORT OPERATIONS.
HIS SALARY WILL BE $35,000.   THERE WERE 28 APPLICANTS FOR THE JOB.
AND, BUS DRIVERS RECEIVED A RAISE THIS WEEK, OF 1.6 PERCENT THE FIRST
YEAR.    THE HOURLY RATE IS $14.50 AND UP TO $17.50 FOR SOMEONE AFTER 7 YEARS OF DRIVING.

JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING A BURGLARY IN HURSTVILLE AND A REWARD IS BEING OFFERED.      NEARLY $5,000 IN REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT AND COPPER WIRE WAS TAKEN.    THE EQUIPMENT, OWNED BY LARRY
DERGANZ, WAS STORED IN THE HURSTVILLE BARN.      SOMETIME THIS MONTY,
ENTRY WAS GAINED THROUGH THE BACK DOOR.      A $1,000 REWARD IS BEING OFFERED BY DERGANZ.

MORE THAN 18-MILLION CLINTON ENGINES WERE MANUFACTURED IN MAQUOKETA.
THE 11-MILLIONTH TO COME OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE WAS PLATED WITH GOLD AND PRESENTED TO THEN GOVERNOR HAROLD HUGHES.    IT HAS BEEN AT THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY SINCE THE MID-50'S.      IF THE LOCAL CLINTON ENGINES  MUSEUM CAN ADD ADDITIONAL SECURITY TO THE BUILDING, THE SOCIETY WILL
BE ABLE TO GET THE ENGINE FROM DES MOINES AND HAVE IT AT OUR MUSEUM.
A WAFFLE SUPPER WILL BE HELD APRIL 27TH TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE
EXTRA SECURITY NEEDED AT THE MUSEUM.

THE MAQUOKETA PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS EXPANDED ITS DOWNLOADABLE AUDIOBOOKS.

THE JACKSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS WILL BE THE PLACE FOR A BATTLE OF THE BANDS TONIGHT.    THE BEST OF THE 9 BANDS WILL BE THE "OPENING" BAND
FOR THE "38 SPECIAL" SHOW AT THE JACKSON COUNTY FAIR IN JULY.
THERE IS A $2 COVER CHARGE TONIGHT.     TOM MESSERLI WILL BE THE EMCEE.

THE UNI PANTHERS GAME IS JUST AFTER 8:30 TONIGHT.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, March 25, 2010

SUNNY AND AROUND 50 TODAY.    HAD SOME RAIN OVERNIGHT.
A WEEK FROM NOW..WE SHOULD BE BACK IN THE 60'S.

MONDAY, APRIL 19TH IS THE DATE SET BY THE CONTRACTOR TO BEGIN CLEANING UP THE DEBRIS FROM THE DOWNTOWN FIRE OVER 2 YEARS AGO.    MAQUOKETA CITY MANAGER BRIAN WAGNER SAID THIS MORNING ON KMAQ'S "JUST TALK" SHOW THAT
G & B CONSTRUCTION ALSO SAID THE CLEAN-UP WILL TAKE TWO WEEKS.

TOMORROW IS FORREST TUBB'S 99TH BIRTHDAY.    EARLIER THIS WEEK,  I SAID
HE WAS STILL LIVING AT HOME.    I  HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT HE IS NOW
A RESIDENT OF THE MAQUOKETA CARE CENTER AND I'VE BEEN TOLD  HE
IS DOING WELL THERE.

TERRY BRANSTED WAS IN MAQUOKETA TODAY.     THE FORMER GOVERNOR
IS RUNNING AGAIN IN THE REPUBLICAN JUNE PRIMARY.   THERE ARE TWO OTHERS RUNNING AGAINST HIM.      HE SERVED A RECORD 16 YEARS AND  UNTIL RECENTLY WAS THE PRESIDENT OF DES MOINES UNIVERSITY.   HE STOPPED IN AT KMAQ
AND MADE AN INTERVIEW AND THEN WAS THE SPEAKER AT THE NOON
KIWANIS CLUB MEETING AT THE DECKER HOTEL.     A FEW POUNDS HEAVIER, BUT LOOKING GOOD.    HE IS TRAVELING THE STATE IN  A USED, PAINTED-UP WINEBAGO RV MADE AT FORREST CITY.     HE SAID THAT PLANT IS DOING WELL
THE DRIVER OF THE RV IS A RETIRED STATE TROOPER THAT DROVE FOR HIM
DURING HIS DAYS AS GOVERNOR.

THE UNI GAME AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE TOMORROW NIGHT IN ST. LOUIS WILL
START AT 8:37 P.M.    GO PANTHERS!

DENNIS VOY
FROM THE PAST!    A  NEWSPAPER PHOTO IN 1971.   DARRELL HICKS DIED A LONG TIME AGO.    HIS WIFE BERNIECE STILL LIVES HERE.   AND I HAVE NO IDEA ON  THE STATUS OF THE GAS MAN.     THANKS TO DIANE BARKER , LONGTIME EMPLOYEE AT THE MAQUOKETA SENTINAL PRESS, FOR GIVING ME THIS PHOTO.
CLICK-ON THE PHOTO.....TWICE....TO ENLARGE IT,.
DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

60 TODAY...SUNNY AND NICE.

A MAQUOKETA MAN, BARRET SNODGRASS, AGE 28, TRIED TO RUN DOWN A CLINTON
COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY DURING A CHASE SUNDAY NIGHT NEAR DEWITT.
HE WAS CHARGED WITH OWI-3RD OFFENSE, DRIVING WHILE BARRED AND DRIVING
WHILE LICENSE IS SUSPENDED.    HE WAS BEING HELD YESTERDAY IN THE CLINTON COUNTY JAIL ON $7,500 BOND.     ADDITONAL CHARGES ARE PENDING.

NO MAQUOKETA TEACHERS WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS NEXT YEAR.   THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT AGREED THEY WILL HAVE TO CUT $646,600 FROM NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT IT WILL NOT MEAN TEACHERS WILL BE LAID OFF.
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL POSITIONS, BOTH TEACHING AND STAFF, WHICH WILL NOT BE FILLED BECAUSE OF RESIGNATIONS OR RETIREMENTS.
THEE WILL ALSO BE SOME ASSISTANT COACHES AND OTHER ADVISOR POSITIONS
WHICH WILL BE CUT.

JACKSON COUNTY ATTORNEY CHRIS RAKER IS "TWEAKING" A PROPOSED ORDINANCE WHICH WILL REQUIRE COUNTY RESIDENTS TO NOTIFY THE LAW CENTER BEFORE
BURNING OFF SET ASIDE ACRES OR GRASS.    THE JACKSON COUNTY SUPERVISORS RECEIVED THE REQUEST FOR THE ORDINANCE FROM BOTH BELLEVUE AND
MAQUOKETA FIRE CHIEFS.   THEY SAY WHEN A CONTROLLED FIRE IS CALLED IN
AHEAD OF TIME TO THE LAW CENTER, IF A PASSER-BY SEES THE FIRE AND CALLS IT IN, THE LAW CENTER WILL KNOW THEY DON'T NEED TO SEND OUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDLESSLY.    THIS HAPPENS OFTEN NOW, COSTING WASTED TIME AND WAGES.    WITH THE NEW ORDINANCE, TIME AND MONEY WILL BE SAVED.

CASEY'S GENERAL STORE ON EAST PLATT REPORTED ANOTHER GAS DRIVE-OFF.
YESTERDAY MORNING, ABOUT 11:30....A CUSTOMER PUT IN $30 WORTH OF GAS
AND LEFT WITHOUT PAYING.

APPLEMAN FORREST TUBBS IS 99 THURSDAY.   HE KNEW HOW TO GROW APPLES.
AND HOW TO BUILD CABINETS.     STILL LIVING IN THE BIG HOUSE BY THE ORCHARD
WITH HIS SON.   

THE KIWANIS EASTER EGG HUNT IS THIS SATURDAY IN MAQUOKETA, NEAR THE
FAIRGROUNDS ENTRANCE, STARTING AT 11 A.M.   WAL MART IS THE CO-SPONSOR.

WE ARE HAVING NIGHT TIME KMAQ AUCTION SHOWS THIS WEEK....VERY POPULAR.....
FROM 5:45 UNTIL 7:00 P.M.      GO TO OUR KMAQ HOME PAGE, AND IN THE LEFT COLUMN, CLICK ON THE AUCTION SHOW.

THE GRASS IS GETTING GREEN AROUND HERE.

SOON IT WILL BE LAWN MOWING TIME.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, March 22, 2010

LESS THAN AN INCH OF SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT, LITTLE ON SATURDAY AND PRETTY NICE AGAIN YESTERDAY.   SNOW WENT FAST.
TODAY, NICE SPRING DAY AND REST OF THE WEEK LOOKS OKAY.

HOW ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA TEAM?     EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE PANTHERS.       AND, WITH THE JACKSON COUNTY 7-FOOT PLAYER,
WE ARE NOT JUST CHEERING ON A STATE TEAM, BUT A LOCAL TEAM.   GO JORDAN.
GO PANTHERS AGAISTS MICHIGAN STATE THURSDAY.    THE SWEET 16....HOW SWEET
IT IS!

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT.    A REVIEW OF STAFFING IS AN AGENDA  ITEM.
THREE ADDITIONAL TEACHERS HAVE FILED FOR EARLY RETIREMENT.
AND THE BOARD WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE THE HIRING OF MIKE WING AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND MANAGER OF SUPPORT OPERATIONS TO
TAKE OVER JERRY NELSON'S JOB.   JERRY HAS RETIRED.

THE PLUMMER FAMILY COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW WILL PUT ON TWO SHOWS THIS
SATURDAY AT THE OHNWARD FINE ARTS CENTER, AT 2 AND 7 P.M.
THEY HAVE ENTERTAINED IN BRANSON.    TICKETS ARE $17 IN ADVANCE
AND $20 AT THE DOOR.

THE JACKSON-CLINTON DAIRY BANQUET AND DANCE IS ALSO THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IN MAQUOKETA.      COUNTRY SINGER MAGGIE MAE AND BAND WILL BE THE ENTERTAINMENT.

AND ALSO SATURDAY NIGHT, THE ANNUAL JACKSON COUNTY PHEASANTS FOREVER BANQUET AT HORIZON HALL IN BELLEVUE.

DOTTIE BAYLES OF KMAQ WAS 68 YESTERDAY.....AND BROUGHT IN BIRTHDAY
TREATS TODAY.      DOTTIE HAS BEEN A KMAQ SALES REP SINCE SEPTEMBER
6TH, 1976.    HOW ABOUT THAT?        LEIGHTON HEPKER STARTED HERE OVER A YEAR SOONER THAN DOTTIE. 
I SAW BOB WARNER AT CHURCH YESTERDAY.   LOOKED GOOD.   HE RETIRED
3 YEARS AGO.    THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS 40TH YEAR AT KMAQ.
I HIRED ALL 3.....KNEW HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT ONES!

WE HAVE 4 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN THE JUNE PRIMARY FOR THE
SENATE SEAT BEING VACATED BY SENATOR ROGER STEWART WHO RETIRES AFTER TWO 4-YEAR TERMS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.    TWO FROM JACKSON COUNTY AND TWO FROM CLINTON COUNTY.   THEY ARE:   TOD BOWMAN,
HIGH SCHOOL COACH AND TEACHER IN MAQUOKETA....AND BRIAN MOORE,
LONGTIME LIVESTOCK FEED DEALER IN ZWINGLE....AND ED O'NEILL AND
PAUL FELLER BOTH OF CLINTON.     SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING RACE.
ANDREW NAEVE OF ANDOVER, A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH, IS THE
LONE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE. 
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE  (2 YEAR TERM)  INCUMBANT DEMOCRAT
TOM SCHUELLER OF MAQUOKETA HAS FILED FOR RE-ELECTION.   NO OTHER
DEMOCRAT FILED AND NO REPUBLICAN.     THE JACKSON COUNTY REPUBLICANS
COULD CHOOSE A CANDIDATE AT THEIR COUNTY CONVENTION THIS SUMMER.

THE MAQUOKETA COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE OPENED FOR THE SEASON
AT NOON TODAY.    THE CLUBHOUSE IS STILL CLOSED AND FUTURE OF IT IS
UNCERTAIN.
I ASSUME THE PRAIRIE CREEK (PUBLIC) GOLF COURSE IN MAQUOKETA IS ALSO OPEN, BUT HAVE HAD NO OFFICIAL WORD ON IT.
AND...
THE MAQUOKETA HIGH  SCHOOL GOLFERS HAVE STARTED PRACTICE!

FORE!!!!

DENNIS VOY

Saturday, March 20, 2010

                                            CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
I TOOK THIS PHOTO AT 5:20 THIS MORNING, ON MY WAY TO WORK.    YES..FRESH
NEW SNOW ON THE GROUND THIS MORNING.... LESS THAN AN INCH.
TODAY, CLOUDY AND COLD, HIGH IN MID 30'S.    TOMORROW, SUNNY AND BACK
TO 40'S AND MONDAY, SUNNY AND AROUND 50.     TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY
OF SPRING!     BIG QUESTION NOW....WAS THIS MORNING'S SNOWFALL THE
LAST UNTIL THIS  DECEMBER??
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
DENNIS VOY

Friday, March 19, 2010

NO RAIN AS EXPECTED TODAY...PARTLY SUNNY AND HIGH OF 51.      TOMORROW...
STILL THE WINTERY FORECAST.

THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL  FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL RECOMMEND TO THE FULL COUNCIL TO PAY THE SCOTT COUNTY YMCA $178,000 A YEAR TO OPERATE THE YMCA AND THE CITY'S RECREATION PROGRAM.     THE Y ASKED FOR $225,000.
THE CITY THUS FAR HAS BUDGETED $175,000.    

ON POLICE BLOTTER, IT WAS REPORTED YESTERDAY THAT VANDALISM WAS DONE TO SOME STONES AT MT. HOPE CEMETERY.
AND WENDY SCHUELLER REPORTED LAST NIGHT THAT HER HOME ON THOMAS
AVENUE WAS EGGED.

BRADLEY THIEDE, 51,  OF BETTENDORF (BORN IN MAQUOKETA) DIED TUESDAY
IN BETTENDORF.

SHORT REPORT..SORRY.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, March 18, 2010

FOGGY AGAIN THIS MORNING....AND THEN IT BECAME SUNNY AND A NICE DAY
WITH A HIGH OF 60.

THE CITY COUNCIL AWARDED CONTRACTS TO TWO DIFFERENT BIDDERS FOR
MOWING 17 CITY PARCELS.     GIL BERG HAS BEEN MOWING THE CITY PROPERTIES
FOR 10 YEARS.    HIS BID WAS THE HIGHEST FOR  THE THREE YEARS.    ALL WERE ASKED TO MAKE A 3-YEAR BID.    RON SEYS OF WELTON WAS SECOND AT
$106,177 AND ROBERT STEFFANS  OF RURAL BERNARD WAS THE LOWEST BIDDER
AT $105,319.       ON BID FORM, EACH PROPERTY WAS BID SEPARATELY.    THE
COUNCIL TOOK THE LOW BIDS OF EACH PARCEL.     STEFFANS RECEIVED 11 PROPERTIES TO MOW AND SEYS SIX OF THE PARCELS.

FIREMEN WERE BUSY THIS AFTERNOON....CHECK BELOW FOR DETAILS.

IT IS GOING TO BE A BAD WEATHER DAY IN MAQUOKETA SATURDAY.
AND....SATURDAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING.  

DENNIS VOY 
                                            A MAQUOKETA RESTAURANT WAS DAMAGED
                                           BY FIRE THIS AFTERNOON.     THE DAMAGE TO
                                           "PERXACTLY BAR AND GRILL" IN DOWNTOWN
                                           MAQUOKETA WAS CONTAINED TO SMOKE AND
                                           WATER DAMAGE.    IT WAS UP AND TO THE REAR
                                           OF THE BUILDING, AS YOU SEE HERE.     FIREMEN
                                           WERE CALLED ABOUT 3 P.M. AND SMOKE WAS
                                           COMING OUT OF THE REAR ATTIC VENT WHEN
                                           FIREMEN ARRIVED.     MAQUOKETA FIRE CHIEF
                                           MARK BECK DID NOT GIVE AN EXACT CAUSE OF
                                           THE FIRE AND SAID INVESTIGATION WILL CONTINUE
                                           TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.      FIREMEN
                                            CONTAINED THE FIRE QUICKLY.    THE BUILDING
                                            IS JUST NORTHEAST OF THE FIRE MESS DOWNTOWN
                                            THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE CLEANED UP IN
                                             APRIL.     THE POPULAR BAR WILL BE CLOSED
                                             TONIGHT.
                                             PHOTO BY SHERI MELVOLD
                                             CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
                                            MANY YEARS AGO, PERXACTLY (X MARKS THE
                                            SPOT) WAS A BLACKSMITH SHOP.   IT WAS
                                            MADE INTO A BAR AND RESTAURANT IN THE
                                            MID 70'S. 
                                            CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

FOGGY THIS MORNING....SUNNY TODAY...HIGH OF 61.'

THE HOSPITAL IN MAQUOKETA NEEDS TO FIND A DOCTOR, FAST,  THAT WILL DELIVER BABIES AFTER DR. PAUL KOOB RETIRES APRIL 30TH.    AT THE HOSPITAL BOARD
MEETING YESTERDAY, CEO CURT COLEMAN SAID KOOB IS THE ONLY DOCTOR
WHO DELIVERS BABIES AT THE HOSPITAL.     IF THEY CAN'T FIND ONE TO DO IT,
THEY WILL HAVE TO SUSPEND THE OBSTETRICS DEPARTMENT AT THE HOSPITAL.
COLEMAN SAID KOOB'S DECISION TO RETIRE APRIL 30TH WAS A SURPRISE AS EARLIER HE HAD TOLD THE HOSPITAL HE PLANNED RETIREMENT IN JUNE 2011.   COLEMAN
SAID THERE IS A DOCTOR WHO IS INTERESTED IN MAQUOKETA AND LIKELY WOULD
DELIVER BABIES BUT ISN'T AVAILABLE UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
KOOB TOLD KMAQ TODAY HE HAS DELIVERED A COUPLE THOUSAND BABIES
IN HIS 34 YEARS OF MEDICAL PRACTICE IN MAQUOKETA AND THAT HE HAS BEEN CONSIDERING RETIREMENT FOR  THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.   HE TURNS
61 IN MAY.    KOOB TOLD KMAQ HE HAS NO MEDICAL WORK INCLUDED IN HIS
RETIRMENT PLANS BUT WILL STAY BUSY WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES.    I THINK HE
HAS A LIFETIME CONTRACT TO BROADCAST WRESTLING MATCHES ON KMAQ.

SO, NOW THE HOSPITAL IS NEEDING TWO DOCTORS....A SURGEON AND A
DOCTOR TO DELIVER BABIES.    BOTH POSITIONS BRING IN LOTS OF NECESSARY
REVENUE  FOR THE HOSPITAL.    SURGEON DR. PETE ATIENZA WANTS TO RETIRE
AND DR. KOOB IS RETIRING APRIL 30TH.

SUPV. STEVE FLYNN WOULD LIKE TO SEE RUMBLE STRIPS ON ROCKDALE ROAD
NEAR THE HURSTVILLE ROAD INTERSECTION.   YESTERDAY MORNING AT THE SUPERVISORS WEEKLY MEETING, FLYNN SUGGESTED THE STRIPS BE ADDED
BECAUSE OF SEVERAL ACCIDENTS IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS AT THAT
INTERSECTION.

TIME TO THINK ABOUT AN EASTER LILY FOR YOUR HOME.

DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

52 WAS THE HIGH TODAY, BUT WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON FOR
SUNSHINE.    TOMORROW, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A SUNNY DAY
WITH A HIGH IN THE 60'S.    LOOKING AHEAD, SNOW POSSIBLE SATURDAY WITH
A HIGH ONLY OF 39.

WE FOUND OUT AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT THAT THE CITY HAS SIGNED THE CONTRACT FOR THE FIRE DEBRIS CLEAN-UP.     NOW..WE WAIT
FOR G & B CONSTRUCTION TO START THE JOB.   CITY MANAGER BRIAN WAGNER
SAID NO EXACT DATE HAS BEEN GIVEN, BUT HE SAYS IT IS LIKELY THE WORK WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH AND TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
MAQUOKETA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR STACY DRISCOLL TOLD THE
COUNCIL LAST NIGHT THAT 5 OR 6 PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED THE CHAMBER
OFFICE, SHOWING AN INTEREST IN THE LOTS THAT WILL BE EMPTY AFTER THE CLEAN-UP.     THE LAND IS NOW OWNED BY THE CITY.     SO, SOUNDS LIKE NEW
BUSINESS PLACES COULD DEVELOP QUICKLY ON THE  PROPERTY.

THE PERSON INTERESTED IN BUYING A DOWNTOWN BUILDING AND USING IT FOR A
PIZZA PLACE,  AGAIN DID NOT SHOW UP AT THE COUNCIL MEETING  LAST NIGHT.....
THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.      
HOPEFULLY, WE ARE NOT LOOSING THIS NEW BUSINESS FOR DOWNTOWN
MAQUOKETA.        I'M SURE SOMEONE (FROM CITY AND/OR CHAMBER) HAS MET WITH HIM OR HER TO SHOW SUPPORT.    

THE UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM OF CEDAR FALLS, PLAYS IN THE NCAA
TOURNAMENT THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.    KEEP IN MIND, THE STAR CENTER IS
FROM JACKSON COUNTY.     GO PANTHERS!

GOOD NIGHT!   AND A GOOD TOMORROW!

DENNIS VOY

Monday, March 15, 2010

WE HAVE HAD SOME NICE SPRING-LIKE WEATHER HERE IN MAQUOKETA AND
MORE IS PREDICTED FOR THE DAYS AHEAD.

SATURDAY NIGHT, AT THE MCHS OLD GYM, THE "DANCING WITH THE CARDS"
EVENT WAS HELD, SPONSORED BY THE MAQUOKETA ATHLETIC BOOSTERS
CLUB, TO RAISE FUNDS FOR TWO NEW MCHS OUTDOOR SCOREBOARDS.
SO FAR THE AMOUNT RAISED FROM THE EVENT IS JUST OVER $4,000.
NICE TURNOUT AND  A GOOD VARIETY OF DANCES.
THE WINNERS WERE KERRY SCHEPERS AND HER HIGH SCHOOL PARTNER
JASON SCHUSTER, ALONG WITH  MANY STUDENTS WHO JOINED-IN AFTER
THEIR  DANCE STARTED.    SECOND PLACE WENT TO OPTOMETRIST DR. DAVID SYSBEMA AND  SENIOR TAYLOR FOWLER.      THIRD PLACE WENT TO LENKE CARSON AND TYLER ZARUBA.     SYBESMA AND FOWLER ALSO TOOK THE PEOPLES CHOICE
AWARD.
OTHER DANCERS WERE:   MAYOR JASON HUTE AND CHELSA SAGERS....
YMCA DEPARTMENT HEAD TOM DEVINE AND MACKIE MOORE.....REALATOR
ERICA BARKER AND EVAN COLLISTER....VET DR. KRISTIAN BECKER AND
CATHERINE VAZQUEZ.

MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

THE MCHS GOLF AND SOCCER TEAMS STARTED PRACTICE TODAY.

HAVE A NICE WEEK.

DENNIS VOY

Friday, March 12, 2010

MOSTLY CLOUDY TODAY AND COOLER...HIGH ONLY IN 40'S.    RAIN COMING
TOMORROW.

THE JACKSON COUNTY SUPEVISORS THIS WEEK APPROVED NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WITHOUT A TAX LEVY INCREASE.

DAVENPORT POLICE RELEASED THE NAME OF THE 15 YEAR OLD BOY WHO WAS
SHOT WEDNESDAY NIGHT.    HIS NAME IS NICHOLAS MILLENDER, FORMERLY OF
MAQUOKETA.     I HEARD HIS MOTHER STILL WORKS IN MAQUOKETA.

POLICE BLOTTER:     CLARA PRICE ON EMMA COURT REPORTED YESTERDAY THAT FOUR TIRES ON HERE 98 TRUCK WERE SLASHED.
EMPLOYEES OF THE HITCHING POST LIQUOR STORE REPORTED THE LOCK WAS CUT ON THEIR PEPSI MACHINE.
GEORGE CORBETT REPORTED  THAT WHEN HE UNLOCED HIS MINI-STORAGE UNIT, ON  EAST PLATT,  2/3RDS OF HIS ITEMS WERE MISSING.
JOHN BISINGER ON 80TH ST. REPORTED THAT SOMEONE KICKED IN HIS FRONT
DOOR AND ITEMS WERE TAKEN.

MAQUOKETA'S UNEMPLOYEMENT RATE HIT 10 PERCENT IN JANUARY.

THE AEA PLANS TO CLOSE ITS OFFICE IN MAQUOKETA (OFF EAST PLATT
BEHIND THE EAGLES CLUB)......A BUDGET ISSUE THAT WILL SAVE $80,000
A YEAR.    THE AEA SERVICE TO MAQUOKETA EDUCATION, SAYS SUPT.
HUCKSTADT, WON'T CHANGE MUCH.        SOME PRE-SCHOOL
OR EARLY CHILDHOOD AGED CHILDREN WILL PROBABLY  BE TRANSPORTED
BY VAN TO CLINTON.

WE ARE GOING TO THE FFA FISH FRY TONIGHT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

HOPE YOU ALSO HAVE A GOOD FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER....AND A GOOD
WEEKEND.

CAL-WHEAT PLAYS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TONIGHT AT DES MOINES.
WE'LL BE BROADCASTING IT ON KMAQ AM AND FM.

DENNIS VOY
                                             ST. REP. TOM SCHUELLER VISITED WITH BLAINE BOCK
                                             OF MAQUOKETA AND SCOTT GENT OF MONMOUTH
                                             WHEN THEY VISITED THE CAPITOL AT DES MOINES
                                             WEDNESDAY.    THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PHOTO
                                             HERE...HOPEFULLY.   AND IF IT SHOWS UP, CLICK-ON
                                             THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
                                          

Thursday, March 11, 2010

                                     KMAQ TRAVEL SPONSORED  A BUS TO THE CHICAGO
                                     FLOWER SHOW YESTERDAY, AT NAVY PIER.    HAD A           
                                     GOOD TIME AND SPRING-LIKE WEATHER TOO.    SHOWN
                                     ABOVE, TWO JACKSON COUNTY GARDENERS AND THEIR
                                     WIVES AT THE SHOW.    LEFT TO RIGHT:   WAYNE AND
                                     JUDY SCHNEIDER FROM MILES AND BOB AND JUDY
                                     ANDERSON FROM MAQUOKETA.    ALL 4 RETIRED AND
                                     READY TO DO SOME SPRING PLANTING IN THE YARD
                                     AND GARDEN.     HERE IN MAQUOKETA, 50 YESTERDAY
                                    AND SUNNY AND 58 TODAY.   GOT A LITTLE RAIN LAST
                                    NIGHT AND FIRST THUNDER AND LIGHTNING OF THE
                                    YEAR.  
                                    THE CALAMUS-WHEATLAND BOYS WON THEIR GAME
                                    BY 2 POINTS THIS AFTERNOON (GAME ON KMAQ) AND
                                    WILL PLAY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP AT 6 TOMORROW
                                    NIGHT.   WE WILL BROADCAST IT!
                                    A 15 YEAR OLD MAQUOKETA YOUTH WAS INVOLVED IN
                                    A SHOOTING LAST NIGHT IN DAVENPORT.     THE NAME OF
                                    THE BOY HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.   HE WAS TAKEN
                                    TO THE HOSPITAL IN DAVENPORT BY HIS SISTER AND
                                    TREATED FOR THE GUNSHOT WOUND TO HIS NECK AREA.
                                     THE INCIDENT STEMMED FROM SOME SORT OF ENCOUNTER
                                      WITH PEOPLE IN ANOTHER VEHICLE.     WORD  HAS IT THE BOY'S
                                      GIRL FRIEND WAS ALSO WITH HIM.  
                                      A BIRTH:   BRIAN AND MYRA GROSS ARE PARENTS OF A
                                      GIRL BORN IN IN IOWA CITY TUESDAY.   SHE WAS NAMED
                                      JEWEL ASPEN AND WEIGHED 3 POUNDS.
                                      CLICK-ON THE ABOVE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
                                      CHECK BACK TOMORROW.
                                      DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

PARTLY SUNNY AND IN THE MID 40'S TODAY.....FEELS GOOD.

THE CALAMUS-WHEATLAND BOY'S BASKETBALL TEAM CAME FROM BEHIND IN THE SECOND HALF TO DEFEAT THE ANKENY TEAM BY 11 POINTS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON
AT THE STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.     CAL-WHEAT WILL NOW PLAY
LYNNVILLE-SULLY THIS THURSDAY AT 12:15 AND WE WILL BROADCAST THE GAME
ON BOTH KMAQ AM AND FM.

THERE WILL BE NO TAX LEVY INCREASE FOR MAQUOKETA RESIDENTS.      LAST NIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR AND KEEP
THE TAX RATE THE SAME AT $12.45 PER $1,000 ASSESSED VALUATION.

SORRY FOR THE SHORT REPORT AND THERE WILL BE NONE TOMORROW.

CHECK BACK THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, March 08, 2010

CLOUDY AND HIGH OF 38 TODAY.

TOD BOWMAN OF MAQUOKETA TODAY ANNOUNCED HE IS RUNNING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR IOWA SENATE'S 13TH DISTRICT.   THE SEAT IS NOW HELD BY SENATOR ROGER STEWART OF RURAL MAQUOKETA, WHO ANNOUNCED LATE LAST YEAR THAT HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION.    HE HAS HAD THE OFFICE FOR 8 YEARS.
IN MAKING HIS ANNOUNEMENT, BOWMAN SAID HE IS RUNNING  BECAUSE HE WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE DISTRICT.   HE WENT ON TO SAY
THAT AS A LIFE-LONG RESIDENT OF THIS AREA, HE UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS AND ISSUES FACING FAMILIES TODAY.    TOD HAS BEEN AN EDUCATOR AND WRESTLING
COACH FOR OVER 20 YEARS.    HE HAD 7 OF HIS MAQUOKETA WRESTLERS AT THE
STATE TOURNAMENT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, RESIGNED HIS HEAD WRESTLING POSITION AT MCHS.      HE AND HIS WIFE OF 17 YEARS, RENEE, ARE THE PARENTS OF 3 CHILDREN, AGE 13, 10 AND 7.     HIS  FATHER IS LONGTIME
MAQUOKETA SERVICE STATION OWNER  HUGH BOWMAN.    TOD  GRADUATED FROM LUTHER AND GOT HIS MA AT WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.     HE  HAS SERVED IN VARIOUS POLITICAL ROLES AND WAS AN IOWA DELEGATE TO THE 2008 NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN DENVER.

SUNSHINE SCHOOL IN MAQUOKETA HELD THEIR 2ND ANNUAL ART SHOW AND
AUCTION YESTERDAY AFTERNOON TO A VERY GOOD TURNOUT.    RAFFLE WINNERS:
$1,500 TO PATTY GARIEN.....$500 DEB SCANLON.....$300 BY MILDRED KOPP AND
JUDY WOODS WON $150.      JENNIFER LUCE WON A $500 TRAVEL VACATION....RON FILLOON WON A NINTENDO DSI GAME AND CHERYL JOHNSON A SIX-MONTH
MEMBERSHIP TO THE MAQUOKETA YMCA.      IN THE 50-50 DRAWING, DEREK
SCHMIDT WON $625 CASH.   SALLY DAVIES IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL WITH A STAFF OF NEARLY 30, ESTABLSHED 37 YEARS AGO.  

JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING A THEFT.    ROSE FRANZEN REPORTED SUNDAY AFTERNOON THAT SOMEONE TOOK A DRILL PRESS, CHAIN SAW, AIR COMPRESSOR, TROLLING MOTOR AND A WEED EATER FROM
8531 - 13TH STREET.

KMAQ HAS A BUS GOING TO THE FLOWER SHOW AT CHICAGO WEDNESDAY.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SEATS STILL LEFT ON THE TRI-STATE BUS WHICH LEAVES
MAQUOKETA AT 6:30 WEDNESDAY MORNING.   
FOR A SHORT VIDEO ON THE FLOWER SHOW, GO TO www.chicagoflower.com
LOOKS LIKE WE'LL HAVE QUITE A SHOW TO SEE AT NAVY PIER ON CHICAGO'S LAKEFRONT.   CALL KMAQ AND RESERVE A SEAT.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

DENNIS VOY

Friday, March 05, 2010

ANOTHER NICE 40 DEGREE DAY TODAY.

THE NEW PARK RANGER OF THE MAQUOKETA CAVES STATE PARK APPEARED BEFORE THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK.
HE IS SCOTT DYKSTRA, WHO REPLACED  LARRY ZIRKELBACH  LAST FALL.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE CAVES:    3,772 PEOPLE SIGNED IN AT THE VISITORS CENTER THE PARK, THE BUILDING THAT WAS THE OLD SAGER'S MUSEUM, BUT WAS EXTENSIVELY REMODELED A FEW  YEARS AGO.    PEOPLE FROM 31 STATE VISITED THE CAVES AND TWO FOREIGN COUNTRIES.  THERE ARE ABOUT 60 VOLUNTEERS
WHO MAN THE CENTER DURING THE SEASON.       DYKSTRA SAID UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE MAKES A FINAL DECISION, HE WON'T KNOW WHEATHER HE WILL BE ABLE TO HIRE ADDITIONAL HELP THIS SUMMER.    HE SAID THERE ARE NO MAJOR
NEW PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR AT THE PARK.

THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE A WORK SESSION AT 4:30 THIS
MONDAY AFTERNOON TO REVIEW THE BUDGET.    THAT AT 7 P.M. A SPECIAL
MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.

IN SPORTS, A SURPRISE LAST NIGHT AT THE BASKETBALL BANQUET IN MAQUOKETA.
TROY OSTERHAUS, HEAD BASKETBALL COACH AT MCHS ANNOUNCED HE IS STEPPING DOWN.   HE HAS BEEN IN MAQUOKETA 9 YEARS.    HE WAS FRESHMEN COACH FOR
3 YEARS, VARSITY ASSISTANT FOR 3 AND THEN VARSITY COACH FOR 3.
HE WILL CONTINUE TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE.      HE SIGHTED FAMILY REASONS.   HE AND HIS WIFE LIVE IN DUBUQUE AND HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY.
EARLIER THIS WINTER, HEAD WRESTLING COACH TOD BOWMABN SUBMITTED HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION AS COACH OF THE CARDINALS.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND WHEREVER YOU ARE.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, March 04, 2010

40 DEGREES TODAY IN MAQUOKETA
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
YES YES

MAQUOKETA HAS A NEW CITY ATTORNEY.    KEN WRIGHT WAS APPOINTED AT THE MONDAY NIGHT COUNCIL MEETING.   HE REPLACES MARK LAWSON WHO RESIGNED AFTER HE WAS  NAMED A COUNTY MAGISTRATE.     KEN HAS DONE IT BEFORE.
HE ASSISTED JE GOODENOW FROM 1968 TO 1978 AND WAS THE ATTORNEY
FROM 1978 TI 1988.   HE WILL RECEIVE $28,800 A YEAR.

THERE WILL BE A WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE IN MAQUOKETA THIS
FRIDAY AT 10  A.M. AT THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, FOLLOWED BY
A LUNCH.   A FREE-WILL OFFERING WILL BE TAKEN AND THE PROCEEDS WILL
GO TO THE LOCAL WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER.

THE MAQUOKETA FFA ANNUAL CONSIGNMENT AUCTION IS THIS SUNDAY MORNING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, STARTING AT 11 A.M.

THIS SUNDAY AFTERNOON, THE SUNSHINE SCHOOL IN MAQUOKETA IS HAVING
THEIR ANNUAL AUCTION AND RAFFLE AT 1 P.M.

LOWELL HENRY, PHOTOGRAPHER, STARTED  HIS BUSINESS IN MAQUOKETA
60 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH.     THINK HOW MANY TIMES HE HAS SAID:
"SAY CHEESE".    WE HAVE A FEW OTHER LONGTIME BUSINESSMEN STILL
GOING INTO WORK  DAILY(OR ALMOST DAILY)  AFTER 50 YEARS:       CARL ROTMAN....ROSS RIVER.....BILL MERRICK....JOHN WAGENER....DENNIS VOY....HUGH BOWMAN....ROCHELLE RAY....VIVIAN RIVER....BOB OSTERHAUS.

SOME OF YOU LIVING OUTSIDE IOWA....BIG IOWA SPORTS STORY TODAY....THE IOWA
HAWKEYE BASKETBALL TEAM IS HAVING THEIR WORST SEASON IN THE HISTORY
OF IOWA BASKETBALL.   THEY LOST THEIR 20TH GAME LAST NIGHT.

TAKE CARE!

DENNIS VOY
 
TO THE RIGHT IS THE POST COMMANDER OF THE
MAQUOKETA AMERICAN LEGION TIMBER CITY POST 75
CLIF MERRICK.   TO THE LEFT, IS LONGTIME MEMBER 
OF THE LEGION, W.H. "BILL" MERRICK, WHO HAS HELD
ALL TITLES AND IS NOW FINANCE OFFICER.     A SPECIAL
MEETING WAS  HELD LAST NIGHT AT 7 P.M. AT THE EAGLES
CLUB ON  EAST PLATT STREET.   THERE WERE ABOUT
20 MEMBERS PRESENT, TO DISCUSS SELLING THE
POST BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA ON THE CORNER
OF MAIN AND PLATT STREETS.    IT HAS BEEN OWNED BY
THE LEGION SINCE THE MID-30'S.   THE UPSTAIRS WAS
USED FOR MEETINGS AND DINNERS, THE MAIN FLOOR
HAS BEEN RENTED FOR RETAIL BUSINESS  AND THE
BASEMENT A  LONG TIME AGO HAD A TAVERN USING
THE OUTSIDE STAIRWAY.    THE MAIN FLOOR IS EMPTY NOW.
AFTER DISCUSSION, IT WAS VOTED TO SELL THE BUILDING
TO A PROSPECTIVE BUYER.    THE LEGION WILL CONTINUE
TO HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS THE FIRST WEDNESDAY NIGHT
EACH MONTH AT THE EAGLES.   THERE IS ALSO AN ACTIVE
LADIES AUXILIARY AND THEY WILL HOST THE COUNTY LEGION
MEETING LATER THIS MONTH.    COMMANDER MERRICK SAID
IN CHECKING THROUGH FILES RECENTLY, HE DISCOVERED THAT
IN 1948, THE POST 75 HAD 800 MEMBERS.   THERE ARE NOW 170.
I JUST PAID MY DUES THE OTHER DAY ($35.00 A YEAR) FOR 
2010 AND HAVE BEEN A MEMBER FOR 31 YEARS.    IF YOU EVER
SERVED IN THE U.S. MILITARY AND WOULD LIKE TO JOIN, MAKE
YOUR CHECK TO TIMBER CITY AMERICAN LEGION AND 
SEND IT TO ME AT BOX 940, MAQUOKETA.
PHOTO BY DENNIS VOY
CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

ANOTHER MID-30S SUNNY DAY TODAY....BUT WE HOPE TO REACH 40 BEFORE THE WEEK IS OVER.

THE MAQUOKETA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITY BOARD HAS A NEW MEMBER, CAROLINE BYBEE.    MONDAY NIGHT, MAYOR JASON HUTE PUT BYBEE'S NAME UP FOR
APPOINTMENT AND THE COUNCIL VOTED IN FAVOR.     BYBEE,  WIFE OF DR. JERALD BYBEE, IS A RETIRED FRENCH TEACHER AND SAID SHE WAS INTERESTED IN SAFE, RELIABLE, GREEN AND EFFICIENT POWER.     THE POSITION IS FOR SIX YEARS AND
IS STRICTLY VOLUNTEER, NO PAY.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING GAMES START THIS WEEKEND
ON KMAQ.    

AND SIGN OF SPRING TOO...THE DAIRY QUEEN IN MAQUOKETA HAS OPENED FOR
THE SEASON.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD THURSDAY.

DENNIS VOY
 
THE MAQUOKETA ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB IS SPONSORING
ANOTHER "DANCING WITH THE CARDS" EVENT ON SATURDAY
NIGHT, MARCH 13TH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WEST GYM.
DOORS WILL OPEN AT 5:30 AND THE DANCING STARTS
AT 6:30.     HIGH SCHOOL  DANCER TAYLOR
FOWLER WILL DANCE WITH OPTOMETRIST DAVID SYBESMA....
DANCE TEAM'S MACKINZIE MOORE WILL DANCE WITH TOM
DEVINE OF THE MAQUOKETA YMCA....PEACE PIPE PLAYERS
CHOREGRAPHER ERICA BARKER WILL DANCE WITH
EVAN COLLISTER.      MAYOR JASON HUTE WILL
DANCE WITH CHELSEA SAGERS......TYLER ZARUBA
WILL DANCE WITH LENKE CARSON,  CO-OWNER
OF BELLA SOLE JEWELRY.....VETERINARIAN
KRISTIAN BECKER WILL DANCE WITH CATHERINE
VASQUEZ AND INVESTMENT COUNSELOR
KERRY SCHEPERS WILL DANCE WITH JASON SCHUSTER. 
TODAY'S "JUST TALK" SHOW ON KMAQ WAS ABOUT THE
EVENT AND ON THE SHOW AND BEING INTERVIEWED
BY KMAQ'S SHERI MELVOLD (LOWER LEFT CORNER)
IS:   L-R...DAVID SYBESMA, TOM DEVINE, MACKIE
MOORE, DAUGHTER OF KEN MOORE AND LINDA  
MOORE, TAYLOR FOWLER, DAUGHTER OF THE STEVE 
AND VENNASSA FOWLER AND A MEMBER OF THE
ATHLETIC BOOSTERS, LORI STEINES.   CLICK-ON
PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
PHOTO BY DENNIS VOY

 
STATE REPRESENTATIVE TOM SCHUELLER OF MAQUOKETA
MEETS WITH RICK SCHMIDT OF THE MAQUOKETA FIRE
DEPARTMENT DURING A VISIT TO THE CAPITOL TODAY.
CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

SUNNY TODAY AND HIGH OF 37.    FORTY DEGREE WEATHER COMING SOON.

AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT, THE BID WAS LET FOR THE CLEAN-UP
OF THE DOWNTOWN FIRE DEBRIS.     THE CONTRACT WAS LET TO G & B CONSTRUCTION FOR $268,550.   THE COMPANY WILL START CLEAN-UP SOMETIME
IN APRIL AND THE WORK IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 2 WEEKS.   THE CORNER
BUILDING STILL STANDING WILL NOT BE INCLUDED THIS TIME.   IT WILL COME DOWN
LATER.

MAQUOKETA POLICE OFFICERS AND DISPATCHERS WILL RECEIVE A 2 AND 1/2
PERCENT PAY RAISE BEGINNING IN JULY.   THE RAISE WAS APPROVED LAST NIGHT BY THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL.

MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR LEON SCHOENTHALER, AGE 51, OF NEWPORT, MICHIGAN,
AND FORMERLY OF MAQUOKETA, WHO DIED JANUARY 7TH IN MICHIGAN, WILL
BE HELD THIS SATURDAY MORNING AT THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH IN
MAQUOKETA, AT 11:00 A.M.    

SHORT REPORT TODAY.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, March 01, 2010

SUNNY TODAY AND FOR THE 2ND DAY IN A ROW, THE HIGH WAS 36.     WE SHOULD
STAY IN THE MID TO UPPER 30'S ALL WEEK AND MAYBE HIT 40 ON FRIDAY.

IN SPORTS:   THE CALAMUS-WHEATLAND BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM IS GOING
TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT IN DES MOINES NEXT MONDAY.   IT WILL BE THE ONLY
TEAM FROM OUR AREA IN THE TOURNAMENT AND WE WILL BROADCAST THE
GAME NEXT MONDAY AFTERNO0N.

SAGE AND MARIA ROSENFELS OF SHOREWOOD, MN, ARE PARENTS OF A GIRL BORN LAST FRIDAY AT THE  HOSPITAL IN WACONIA, MN...BORN AT 6:26 P.M.   GRANDPARENTS
ARE BOB AND JAMIE ROSENFELS OF IOWA CITY AND FORMERLY OF MAQUOKETA AND
FLORIAN AND KAREN STEFFEN OF MAQUOKETA.     THE BABY'S BROTHER AND
SISTER ARE PEYTON AND AVA ROSENFELS.     ALL ARE MINNESOTA VIKINGS FOOTBALL FANS.

THREE PEOPLE WERE CHARGED AFTER MAQUOKETA POLICE OFFICERS FOUND AROUND 36 YOUTH AT A BEER PARTY SATURDAY NIGHT AT 1003 W. FARMLAND,
MAQUOKETA.     POLICE CHIEF BRAD KORANDA SAID 18 YEAR OLD MEGAN LANGE AND 20 YEAR OLD ANDREW LANGE BOTH OF THE ABOVE ADDRESS WERE CHARGED WITH MAKING ALCOHOL AVAILABLE TO UNDERAGE YOUTH.   ANOTHER PERSON AT THE PARTY, 18 YEAR OLD NATHAN DOWNS OF MAQUOKETA WAS CHARGED WITH HARRASSMENT OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.   DOWNS GAVE THE OFFICER A FALSE NAME.
THE YOUTH WERE ALL RELEASED TO THEIR PARENTS AND MAQUOKETA SCHOOL
OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED CONCERNING THOSE YOUTH IN THE INCIDENT THAT TESTED POSITIVE FOR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.    NO OTHER CHARGES, OTHER THAN THE 3 ABOVE, WERE FILED.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT AND QUITE A FEW THINGS ON THE AGENDA, INCLUDING THE CLEAN-UP OF THE FIRE MESS DOWNTOWN.

JACKSON COUNTY CHEIF DEPUTY ED CLARK OF MAQUOKETA  HIT A DEER WITH HIS SQUAD CAR EARLY THIS MORNING ON HIGHWAY 62.  MINOR DAMAGE.

MICHELLE SCOTT ALSO REPORTED HITTING A DEAR OVER THE WEEKEND,
ON THE IRON BRIDGE ROAD.

JEANNETTE RONNFELDT, AGE 91, OF MILES, DIED SATURDAY AT CLOVER RIDGE
ASSISTED LIVING CENTER IN MAQUOKETA.     SHE WAS THE POSTMASTER AT MILES FOR 41 YEARS.    HER FUNERAL WILL BE WEDNESDAY MORNING AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN PRESTON.    SURVIVORS INCLUDE THREE SONS, INCLUDING
GENE AND ALLEN IN MAQUOKETA, AND A DAUGHTER IN ILLINOIS.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY
TOM DEVINE, PRESIDENT OF THE
MAQUOKETA LIONS CLUB, PROUDLY
 SERVING HIS DELICIOUS CHILI.
 
THE MEN WHO COOK DINNER WAS A BIG SUCCESS
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE JACKSON COUNTY 
FAIRGROUNDS IN MAQUOKETA, SPONSORED BY
THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY CLUB, THE MAQUOKETA
KIWANIS CLUB, THE MAQUOKETA OPTIMIST CLUB,
THE MAQUOKETA LIONS CLUB AND THE DELMAR
LIONS CLUB.   CLICK-ON THE PHOTOS TO
ENLARGE THEM.
 
CECIL BENTLEY ADDED A FEW EXTRA CALORIES
OVER THE WEEKEND.    THERE WAS HIS RETIREMENT
PARTY AT THE METHODIST CHURCH AND THEN
DINNER LAST NIGHT.   TO HIS RIGHT, IN THE
YELLOW SHIRT, TOM GOODALL OF ELDRIDGE,
MHS GRAD AND RETIRED TEACHER.    HE WORKED
FOR MANY YEARS DURING SUMMER  AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE
IN THE 60'S AND 70'S.... WAS MY PROJECTIONIST
AT THE DRIVE-IN FOR TWO YEARS AFTER   I
BOUGHT THE DRIVE-IN IN 1972.    CECIL AND
SHEILA HAD THEIR FIRST DATE THERE AND
SAW "GONE WITH THE WIND".   

 
LOVELL AND DALE CARAWAY ENJOYED
THEIR MEAL.    CALL DALE IF YOU NEED
TO BUY OR SELL  A HOME.     DON'T 
FORGET HIS PHONE NUMBER....652-0000
 
THE PORK LOIN AGAIN WAS A HIT,  DONE BY
MAQUOKETA ROTARY MASTER CHEFS (L-R)
STEVE FLYNN, ROTARY TREASURER ASHER
SCHROEDER AND MIKE FRANZEN, PROSPECTIVE
ROTARIAN.    I AM ALSO ON THE PORK LOIN
COMMITTEE AND WE THANK THE LADIES OF THE
EAGLES FOR AGAIN BAKING THE LOINS
IN THEIR OVENS ON EAST PLATT STREET.
NO MONEY WILL EVER GET OUR SECRET
RECIPE.  NO MONEY.
 
MAQUOKETA'S OWN BLACK VELVET BAND,
BACK FOR THE 5TH YEAR FOR MEN WHO COOK.   
 THEY HAVE A GOOD CD OF THEIR BEST SONGS
AND JUST $10.00 AT OSTERHAUS PHARMACY.
 
JOHN GILROY, OF MAQUOKETA ROTARY
CLUB, WAS EMCEE AGAIN THIS YEAR.
THE CPA  FROM DEWITT WITH AN OFFICE
IN SEVERAL CITIES, INCLUDING MAQUOKETA,
HAS A REAL GIFT-TO-GAB.    NOTE THE
BALLOON WITH THE 5....IT WAS THE
5TH ANNUAL "MEN WHO COOK" EVENT.
 
LONGTIME ROTARIAN (PAST PRESIDENT)
JACK WILLEY.
HIS SOUP WAS POPULAR.    JACK
IS OWNER OF JACK AND ASSOCIATES
BEAUTY SALON AND A MEMBER OF THE
JACKSON COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
 
THE MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL SINGERS
SANG TWICE DURING THE EVENING, DIRECTED
BY JOEL HAGAN.
 
EVERYONE WAS URGED TO VOTE FOR THEIR
FAVORITE DISH.   THE TOP THREE WERE:
TAKING 3RD PLACE, FROM THE MAQUOKETA
LIONS, RON SCHAEFER (L) FOR HIS BEEF
BRISKIT....2ND PLACE, JACK WILLEY (C) FOR HIS
SOUP AND DR. PETE ATIENZA GOT 1ST PLACE 
FOR HIS EGG ROLLS.   JACK AND PETE ARE
BOTH ROTARIANS.    ACCEPTING THE GIFT BAG
FOR PETE ABOVE (R),  ROTARIAN CLYDE
HARPER FROM BELLEVUE.