MOSTLY SUNNY AND COLD TODAY. HIGH OF 38.

THE MAQUOKETA WRESTLERS BEAT MARION HERE LAST NIGHT, WITH CASEY STAURT GETTING A PIN IN THE FINAL MATCH TO GIVE MAQUOKETA A 39 TO 36 WIN.
THEY ARE IN THE SABER TOURNAMENT TOMORROW.

THE BASKETBALL TEAMS PLAY MARION TONIGHT...THE BOYS HERE, THE GIRLS ON THE ROAD.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN JACKSON COUNTY INCREASED TO 5.9 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER, UP FROM 4.8 IN OCTOBER.

MARY KAY ROTH, 61, DIED AFTER AN EXTENDED ILLNESS WEDNESDAY AT HOME, RURAL BELLEVUE, NEAR GREEN ISLAND. SURVIVORS INCLUDE A DAUGHTER, LAURIE STEINES OF MAQUOKETA AND A BROTHER BARNEY MCAFFEE OF MAQUOKETA.

YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A CASEYS CONVENIENCE STORE ON EAST PLATT. THEN IT CHANGED TO A SINCLAIR STATION. THIS WEEK, IT IS BACK TO A CASEY'S.
I HEARD THAT THE PLAN IS TO BUILD A NEW STORE BEHIND THE OLD ONE, AND THEN TEAR THE OLD BUILDING DOWN.

THEY STARTED MOVING DIRT THIS WEEK FOR THE NEW TRAVEL PLAZA AT THE SOUTH EDGE OF MAQUOKETA, NEAR THE NEW COMFORT INN. BRIAN KONRARDY
IS THE LEAD LOCAL PERSON IN THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS TO BE A CONVENIENCE STORE, TRUCK PLAZA AND A RESTAURANT. THE LAND NEEDS GRADING FIRST AND THAT IS WHAT STARTED THIS WEEK.

I HEAR TWO FURNITURE STORES ARE INTERESTED IN EXPANDING IN MAQUOKETA NOW THAT OWL FURNITURE WILL BE CLOSED IN A SHORT TIME, FOLLOWING THE GOING-OUT-BUSNIESS SALE.

THE INVITED GUESTS UNVEILING OF THE OHNWARD FINE ARTS CENTER IS TONIGHT ON EAST PLATT STREET. THE NEW 840 SEAT THEATRE WILL HAVE THE FIRST EVENT TOMORROW NIGHT....A SOLD-OUT ADVENT SING.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY