Tuesday, August 20, 2013

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 ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL WEATHER DAY!    GETTING OLD, BUT MOST APPROVE!
 I CERTAINLY DO!    GOING TO BE HOT TOMORROW, 89.

THE GOVERNOR AND LT. GOVERNOR CAME TO MAQUOKETA TODAY.    THEY
WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE SITE WHERE THE NEW LITTLE BEAR
PARK WILL REPLACE THE OLD.     THERE, LOCALS WERE GOING TO PRESENT EACH  WITH A MAQUOKETA 175TH ANNIVERSARY COFFEE CUP.   AND, SHOW THEM A LARGE DESIGN MAP OF THE NEW PARK.     HOWEVER, THEY PHONED- IN THEY WOULD BE LATE (CAN'T SPEED ANYMORE), SO THIS PRESENTATION WAS MOVED TO THE MAQUOKETA LIBRARY WHERE THE
"TOWN HALL MEETING" WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE PAIR.    ANYWAY, WHILE WAITING AT THE PARK, WE GOT TO SEE SOME VOLUNTEERS AT WORK
ON LITTLE BEAR.
NOTE THE 3 FOOT HIGH  (18-INCH DIAMETER) TUBE  AT RIGHT.    OVER 140 OF THESE WERE SUNK INTO THE GROUND TODAY.     WITH THE MMEU DRILL,
THE HOLE WAS DUG AND THE VOLUNTEERS CLEARED THE DIRT AND PUT
THE TUBE DOWN IN THE HOLE, EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE INCHES, AND LATER THEY WILL BE FILLED WITH CONCRETE.   THESE WILL GIVE SOLID ANCHORS
FOR THE PARK STRUCTURE.    THE OLD LITTLE BEAR PARK HAD USED WOOD POSTS INSTEAD AND THEY WERE ROTTING AWAY.
NOW, ON TO THE LIBRARY.
IN THE PHOTO ABOVE, COUNCILMAN JOSH COLLISTER PRESENTS THE CUP TO LT. GOV. KIM REYNOLDS.    ON THE RIGHT, CITY MANAGER BRIAN
WAGNER PRESENTS THE CUP TO THE GOVERNOR.

INSIDE THE LIBRARY LOWER COMMUNITY ROOM, RON HORAN, CHAIRMAN
OF THE JACKSON COUNTY REPUBLICANS,  INTRODUCED BOTH AND
THEY EACH GAVE A SUMMARY OF THEIR  PAST LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISMENTS AND THEIR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE.    THEN, THE TOWN
HALL MEETING WAS OPENED TO QUESTIONS FROM THE 50 OR SO IN
ATTENDANCE.     TOPICS RANGED FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO
ROADS AND BRIDGES, TO HEALTH INSURANCE,  BETTER STARTING TEACHER
SALARIES, TO TAX REDUCTION AND TWO OR THREE FROM DUBUQUE COUNTY STRESSED MORE LOCAL MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
WE EVEN LEARNED THAT BEFORE THE DAY IS OVER (MAYBE) THE LT. GOV.
WOULD WELCOME HER 6TH GRANDCHILD.    

OTHER NEWS TODAY, THE CITY COUNCIL LEARNED LAST NIGHT AT THEIR
MEETING THAT THE NEW LITTLE BEAR PARK IS ALREADY GOING OVER
BUDGET, BY $11,888.      IT HAD TO DO WITH THE RUBBERIZED PROTECTION SURFACE TO BE LAID OVER THE CONCRETE PAD.      THIS WILL RAISE THE TOTAL COST TO $326,888.    DONATIONS TO DATE ARE JUST UNDER $300,000.
SEND YOUR CHECK TO CITY HALL.

HAVE A GOOD WEDNESDAY!    AFTER A GOOD NIGHT OF COURSE!

SEE YOU ON THE RADIO!

DENNIS VOY