MEET MAQUOKETA'S NEW BUSINESS OWNER. SHE IS BETH SPARBY, CO-OWNER
WITH HER MOTHER, OF THE DECKER HOTEL AND RESTAURANT. THE RESTAURANT
OPENED FOR NOON LUNCHES ONLY THIS WEEK. THEIR FIRST SUNDAY BRUNCH
IS THIS SUNDAY. AND THEY ADD EVENING HOURS THE WEEK AFTER NEXT.
BETH HAS 4 CHILDREN. A DAUGHTER TATUM IS IN 7TH GRADE HERE IN
MAQUOKETA AND SON CASEY IS A MAQUOKETA FRESHMAN. A DAUGHTER
SHELBY JUST GOT HER MASTERS DEGREE AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY IN ENGLAND.
SHE NOW IS CONTINUING HER HEALTH EDUCATION AT PORTLAND, OREGON.
AND SON BRANDT IS LIVING IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA AND MAY MOVE TO
IOWA. BETH, THE TWO MAQUOKETA STUDENTS AND HER MOTHER LIVE IN
THE 3RD FLOOR APARTMENT AT THE DECKER. HER MOTHER IS LORRAINE ENO AND
SHE IS THE SISTER OF TROY AND TOM THEDE OF MAQUOKETA. TROY OWNS
THE CENTERSTONE INN MOTEL AT SOUTH EDGE OF MAQUOKETA AND TOM
IS RETIRED AFTER SELLING HIS SWEET THINGS BAKERY IN MAQUOKETA SEVERAL
YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD LUNCH THERE TWICE THIS WEEK. THE RESTAURANT
LOOKS GOOD AND THE FOOD WAS VERY GOOD. GLAD TO HAVE THE HISTORIC
DECKER OPEN AGAIN.
DENNIS VOY
