A STRONG WINDSTORM PASSED THROUGH MAQUOKETA AROUND 1:30 THIS MORNING.
DOWNED ONE TREE THAT BLOCKED A STREET. WORKERS MOVED THE TREE AFTER THE STORM. THERE WAS RAIN, BUT NOT A LOT.
CLOUDY AND WINDY THIS MORNING. SHOULD MAKE IT INTO 80'S TODAY.

LABOR DAY 2010 AND SOME OF US HAVE TO LABOR. WAS UP TO THE CEMETERY
FOR A FEW MINUTES AND WATCHED 3 GENTLEMEN FROM MAQUOKETA DIG
FORREST TUBB'S GRAVE. THEY SAID IT IS A 2 AND 1/2 HOUR JOB. THEY CAN'T USE A MACHINE BECAUSE THE GRAVE IS BETWEEN HEADSTONES AND IMPOSSIBLE FOR EQUIPMENT TO GET TO THE SITE. HARD JOB, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO DO IT....AND
ON LABOR DAY IF NECESSARY. FORREST TUBBS FUNERAL IS TOMORROW
MORNING. I KNEW FORREST, AGE 99, PRETTY WELL. HE DID SOME CARPENTER WORK FOR ME AT THE PEARSON CENTER AND I PURCHASED APPLES FROM HIS POPULAR ORCHARD. THE APPLES ARE NOT BEING HARVESTED AGAIN THIS YEAR.
EVERYONE WONDERS WHAT EVENTUALLY WILL HAPPEN TO THE ORCHARD ON
WESTERN AVENUE.
ON THE SUBJECT OF APPLES......NANCY AND I, FRIDAY NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME
FROM MINNESOTA, STOPPED AT GAYS MILLS, WISCONSIN, THE APPLE CAPITOL
OF THE MIDWEST. THE SMALL TOWN OF 600 IS LOCATED ABOUT AN HOUR
OR MORE NORTHWEST OF DUBUQUE ON HIGHWAY 61. IT IS 6 MILES OFF OF 61,
AND DRIVING TO THE TOWN, ALL YOU SEE THE ENTIRE WAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
HIGHWAY IS APPLE ORCHARD AFTER APPLE ORCHARD. THERE ARE 5 OR 6 STORES
ON THE HIGHWAY AND WE STOPPED AT THE LARGEST CALLED SUNRISE ORCHARD.
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY HIRE 130 PEOPLE. ABOUT 30 DO THE PICKING, AND OTHERS THE PROCESSING, PACKAGING, AND WORK AT THE RETAIL STORE.
A GOOD PICKER CAN PICK 100 BUSHEL A DAY. THEY HAVE ALL KINDS, AND SAMPLES
OF EACH. THE TOWN HAS AN APPLE FESTIVAL THE LAST WEEKEND OF
SEPTEMBER, THE KICK-OFF OF THE SEASON. THE BIGGEST MONTH OF THE
YEAR IS OCTOBER AND THEY STAY OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS. AN INTERESTING PLACE. WE MAY GO BACK FOR MORE APPLES IN OCTOBER.

SAW THE HAWKEYES BEAT EASTERN ILLINOIS SATURDAY. THE HAWKS LOOKED GOOD. IOWA STATE ALSO WON LAST WEEK AND THE TWO FACE EACH OTHER
THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON. ALWAYS A GOOD GAME.

HAVE A NICE LABOR DAY AND GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

DENNIS VOY