Tuesday, March 20, 2012

ANOTHER WINDY, SUNNY, 80-DEGREE DAY! WE BROKE THE 1921 RECORD OF 77.
MORE NEEDED RAIN IS STILL IN THE FORECAST FOR REST OF THE WEEK ...AND...
COOLER WEATHER. FRIDAY FOR INSTANCE, THE HIGH WILL ONLY BE
IN THE 60'S.

THE MCHS PROM WILL BE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 21ST.
AND AGAIN THIS YEAR, THE MAQUOKETA KIWANIS CLUB WILL PUT ON THE
AFTER-PROM PARTY....AT TIMBER LANES. THE MAIN ENTERTAINMENT, AT 2:30 A.M. WILL BE DR. JIM WAND, HYPNOTIST AND THERE WILL ALSO BE BLACK JACK AND TEXAS HOLD-EM AND FOOD AND DRINKS AND MANY DOOR PRIZES.
LAST YEAR, AROUND 175 ATTENDED AND THIS YEAR, THERE ARE 300 THAT COULD ATTEND. HELP THE KIWANIS WITH A CASH DONATION. SEND CHECK TO DIANE HENRY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, 600 WASHINGTON STREET, MAQUOKETA.

THE NEW GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING PROJECT AT BRIGGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL GET STARTED SOON. THE CONTRACT WAS
AWARDED LAST NIGHT. THE LOW BID WAS $1.458 MILLION, LESS THAN
THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $2 MILLION. THE WINNING BID WENT
TO PORTZEN CONSTRUCTION IN DUBUQUE. A SLIGHTLY HIGHER BID
OF $1.470 MILLION WAS BY SHEETS DESIGN BUILDING OF MAQUOKETA.
BY LAW, THE DISTRICT HAS TO TAKE THE LOWEST BID. THE CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO HAVE THE PROJECT COMPLETED BY AUGUST 3RD. THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX WILL PAY FOR THE PROJECT AND THEN AFTER, BRIGG'S HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING BILLS WILL BE A LOT LESS THAN THOSE USING THE OLD SYSTEM.

THE JACKSON COUNTY FAIR WILL BE CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE HOME ECONOMICS OPEN CLASS DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR.
IN 1982, THE FIRST OPEN CLASS WAS ORGANIZED BY BEVERLY BERNA,
THE HOMNE ECONOMIST FOR JACKSON COUNTY EXTENSION AND CAROL RASK, THE FAIR BOARD PRESIDENT AT THE TIME. TO HONOR THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY, A SPECIAL CLASS HAS BEEN CREATED. THE TITLE IS "30 SOMETHING" ANNIVERSARY DESIGN. ENTRIES MUST CONTAIN 30 OR MOR LIKE PIECES OR ARTICLES.
EXAMPLE: 30 OR MORE CARDS, SUCH AS POST CARDS, PLAYING CARDS, OR
GREETING CARDS. ANYONE MAY ENTER ONE OF TWO CLASSES....15 AND YOUNGER OR 16 AND OLDER. ENTRY FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE
STARTING AROUND JUNE 1ST.

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!

DENNIS VOY



OVER THE COURSE OF 10 MONTHS, THEIR BILLS AND FEET HAVE CHANGED FROM PINK TO BLACK AND THEY GAINED NEARLY 23 POUNDS. NOW, THESE
SIX CYGNETS (YOUNG SWANS) RAISED BY FRED AND FREDRICKA AT THE
HURSTVILLE INTERPRETIVE CENTER (JUST NORTH OF MAQUOKETA) AS PART OF THE IOWA TRUMPETER SWAN REINTRODUCTION PROGRAM, ARE READY TO BE ON THEIR OWN.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO WATCH THE RELEASE OF TWO OF THE CYGNETS AT GREEN ISLAND WILDLIFE REFUGE TUESDAY, APRIL 3RD AT 5 P.M. THEY WILL BE
RELEASED FROM THE FISH LAKE ROAD PARKING LOT.
PRIOR TO BEING RELEASED, THE TWO CYGNET WILL VISIT AREA SCHOOLS AND
STUDENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT THE SWANS' HABITAT NEEDS, WILDLIFE
MANAGEMENT AND CLEAN WATER RESOURCES. ANN BURNS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL EDUCATION COORDINATOR FOR JACKSON COUNTY CONSERVATION WAYS THE KIDS REALLY LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE YOUNG SWANS UP CLOSE.
SWAN SPONSORS THIS PAST YEAR WERE DAVID AND BETH SYBESMA.
CYGNET SPONSORS WERE: THE CASCADE 2ND GRADERS....CHRIS AND CONNIE DOMEYER....KEATON OBERBROCKLING....SAGEVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL....
BETHANY SHEIFELBEIN AND MATT BURNS....SUSAN AND JEFF SIEMS....AND
FRANK AND BARB STRATHMAN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT BEING A SPONSOR NEXT YEAR, CALL THE CONSERVATION OFFICE AT HURSTVILLE
INTERPRETIVE CENTER, 563-652-3783.
DENNIS VOY
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED