THURSDAY DAILY REPORT

COOLER TODAY AND PRETTY NICE.

THE MAQUOKETA FIRE DEPARTMENT STOOD BY WITH A COUPLE OF TRUCKS AND  CREWS AT THE SCENE OF A GAS LEAK AT SUMMIT AND SOUTH 2ND STREET TODAY.    APPARENTLY BLACK HILLS ENERGY WAS WORKING IN THE AREA AND HIT ONE OF THEIR OWN GAS LINES AROUND 9:30 THIS MORNING.

THERE WILL BE A PRACTICE RACING EVENT BY DARKSIDE PROMOTIONS TWO SUNDAYS A MONTH BEGINNING THIS SUNDAY, AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.
ONE OF THE OWNERS TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL IT WOULD NOT BE RACING BUT ONE CAR AT A TIME ON THE TRACK FOR PRACTICE.
DARKSIDE WAS GIVEN COUNCIL PERMISSION FOR 2 PRACTICE RUNS IN JUNE AND THEN THE PRACTICE WOULD BE EVALUATED TO SEE IF IT WOULD CONTINUE.      THERE WILL BE NO ADMISSION.

THE MAQUOKETA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION HELD ITS END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR SOCIAL AND DINNER LAST NIGHT AT BLUFF LAKE.   THE M.E.A. IS COMPOSED OF A MAJORITY OF THE DISTRICT TEACHERS.  
M.E.A CO-PRESIDENTS JILL SCHAWL AND JENNY NABB PRESIDED OVER THE
EVENT, ATTENDED BY ABOUT 60 PEOPLE.
THE "FRIEND OF EDUCATION" AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO THE MAQUOKETA STATE BANK FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF STAFF AND STUDENTS
AT THE SCHOOLS, SPECIFICALLY SECOND GRADE.    THE FOUR SECOND GRADE TEACHERS NOMINATED THE BANK FOR THE AWARD.
HEATHER WAACK, 1ST V.P. OF EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS ACCEPTED THE
AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE BANK.
THE "TEACHER OF THE YEAR" AWARD WAS PRSENTED TO LONG-TIME KINDERGARTEN TEACHER CINDY HEPKER WHO HAS TAUGHT KINDERGARTEN FOR 37 YEARS AND ALL IN THE MAQUOKETA DISTRICT.     SHE HAS TAUGHT AT BOTH BRIGGS AND  CARDINAL SCHOOLS.    THE M.E.A. ALSO  HONORED ROD BENEDIX, WHO IS RETIRING AS MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC INSTRUCTOR AFTER 16 YEARS.    AND A SPECIAL "ROAST" WAS HELD FOR INVITED GUEST, RETIRING SUPERITENDENT DR. KIM HUCKSTADT.      MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS JANE SCHMIDT AND CINDY WIESE WERE AT THE  ESPN ANCHOR DESK TO PRESENT HIGHLIGHTS OF HUCKSTADT'S 34 YEARS IN THE MAQUOKETA DISTRICT.   AND HE WAS GIVEN A CARDINAL T-SHIRT QUILT AND A PICTURE OF ALL OF THE SCHOOLS.

 

LEFT TO RIGHT, CINDY HEPKER, DR. HUCKSTADT AND HEATHER WAACK

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS STILL RISING, SO SOUTH SABULA LAKE PARK HAS BEEN CLOSED AS OF YESTERDAY.        JACKSON COUNTY CONSERVATION DIRECTOR DARYL PARKER SAID THE WATER IS OVER THE ROAD LEADING TO THE PARK.    THE CAMPGROUND WILL BE CLOSED THROUGHOUT THE
HOLIDAY WEEKEND AHEAD.   THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATES IT WILL LIKELY BE MAY 28TH BEFORE THE RIVER BEGINS TO GO DOWN.

DUSTIN EDWARDS REPORTED A BURGLARY AT  BRIDGEPORT AUTO SALES
YESTERDAY.    HE SAID SOMEONE GOT INTO THE BUILDING THROUGH A
GARAGE WINDOW.   TWO WINDOWS WERE BROKEN.    MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS WERE TAKEN.   TOTAL VALUE OF ITEMS MISSING, $870.00.

THERE IS A BIG SIGN IN THE WINDOW OF THE "FAMILY DOLLAR STORE"
STATING THAT THE STORE IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.    IT IS IN A BUILDING OWNED BY FAMILY DOLLAR ON WEST PLATT STREET.     THE BUSINESS
HAS BEEN OPEN LESS THAN 10 YEARS AND CAME A YEAR OR MORE AFTER THE FAMILY DOLLAR DISTRIBUTION CENTER SOUTH OF MAQUOKETA OPENED.    INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT EXCEPT FOR SOME ADVERTISING
WHEN THEY FIRST OPENED, THEY HAVE RUN NO ADVERTISING ON KMAQ
SINCE.

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE!

HAVE A GOOD FRIDAY AND IF YOU ARE HEADING ON THE ROAD FOR THE HOLIDAY, OR BOAT, DRIVE CAREFULLY!  

DENNIS VOY