I WAS DRIVING ON W. PLATT THIS MORNING AND SAW THAT BILL MERRICK WAS IN, SO STOPPED TO TAKE THIS PHOTO.
BILL (WILL BE 81 AUG 4TH) IS THE OLDEST ACTIVE BUSINESS-
MAN IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA. ON AUGUST 1ST,
HE WILL OBSERVE HIS 55TH ANNIVERSARY AS A BARBER IN THE SAME LOCATION. HE
SERVED FOR 5 YEARS IN THE U.S.
NAVY DURING THE KOREAN WAR AND HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF BOTH THE AMERICAN LEGION AND THE
VFW EVER SINCE. HE HAS BEEN
COMMANDER OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. HIS WIFE EMME IS SUFFERING FROM DIMENTIA AND IS A RESIDENT OF CRESTRIDGE SENIOR CARE IN MAQUOKETA. BILL GOES UP TO
SEE HER EVERY NIGHT. BILL NORMALLY LIMITS HIS HAIR CUTTING TO
MORNINGS AND IS CLOSED THURSDAYS. IN THE CHAIR IS ONE OF HIS CUSTOMERS AND FREQUENT VISITORS, CHARLIE DIETZ. CHARLIE HAS BEEN
"PAINTING THE TOWN" SINCE 1971 AND IS STILL ACTIVE AS A PAINTER, BUT
DOING MAINLY INDOOR WORK. AND NO CLIMBING! HE HAS BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE MT. HOPE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION FOR A LONG TIME AND LAST NIGHT, AT
THEIR ANNUAL MEETING, THE BOARD RE-ELECTED HIM FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
ALSO RE-ELECTED VICE-PRESIDENT, DUB ROMER. ALSO ON THE BOARD IS
ALAN COOK AND MONA REICHLING. THE BOARD VOTED NOT TO RAISE THE COST OF A PLOT THIS COMING YEAR.
THANKS BILL AND CHARLIE FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND STILL DO, FOR THE
COMMUNITY. CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY