THE FORECAST WAS FOR RAIN TODAY AND WE HAVE BEEN GETTING IT .. ON AND OFF....
BIG FIRE EARLY THIS MORNING AT THE KENT AND SALLY FUGLSANG RESIDENCE, NEAR BALDWIN. KENT AND SALLY ARE FORMER MAQUOKETA RESIDENTS. THE CALL CAME IN AT 5:45 THIS MORNING BECAUSE OF A SHED LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY WAS ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS BEEN DETERMINED. WHEN FIREMEN ARRIVED, THE SHED WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND DESTROYED WITH THE BUILDING, THE INSIDE CONTENTS, INCLUDING TWO BOATS, A JET SKI, A FOUR-WHEELER AND NUMEROUS TOOLS. VOLUNTEER FIREMAN BOB LANE, JUNIOR, SEPARATED HIS SHOULDER WHILE PULLING OFF TIN ON THE SHED. HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED AT THE MAQUOKETA HOSPITAL.
THE JACKSON COUNTY SUPERVISORS ARE LOOKING AT HAVING A SMALL ADDITION BUILT ON AT THE JACKSON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.
SHERIFF RUSS KETTMAN SAID THEY COULD BUILD THE ADDITION OUT INTO THE EXISTING EXERCISE AREA YARD, WHICH IS LARGER THAN REQUIRED BY STATE STANDARDS. SUPERVISOR WILLEY SAID THERE IS NO MONEY CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET FOR SUCH A PROJECT. THE MAIN USE WOULD BE FOR A BIG NEW FREE FINGERPRINT MACHINE ACQUIRED BY THE COUNTY. NO DECISIONS MADE AT THIS WEEK'S MEETING.
A MAQUOKETA WOMAN, GENEVEVE BROOKS, WHO IS NOT REAL OLD, BUT PRETTY OLD, WAS CHARGED IN A TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AT SOUTH NIAGARA AND PLEASANT STREETS. SHE WAS CHARGED WITH FAILURE TO OBEY A STOP SIGN. NO INJURIES IN THE 2 VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE BROOKS CAR RECEIVED ABOUT $10,000 IN DAMAGES AND THE OTHER BALDWIN CAR, ABOUT $8,000.
THE RIBBON CUTTING WAS HELD LATE THIS MORNING AT THE HURST HOTEL, WHICH HAS JUST HAD OVER A $3 MILLION RENOVATION..... FROM BASEMENT TO ATTIC. IT WAS BUILT IN 1897. IT WAS RAINING LIGHTLY, SO THE RIBBON WAS CUT AT THE FOOT OF THE BEAUTIFUL WINDING STAIRWAY THAT GOES FROM THE LOBBY TO THE ATTIC COMMUNITY ROOM.
THE LOBBY WAS PACKED WITH DIGNATARIES AND THE PUBLIC. THEN, ALL WERE INVITED TO DO A WALK-THRU OF THE 22 APARTMENTS. A NEW ELEVATOR WAS ALSO USED BY MANY. IT LOOKS GREAT! MY SON DAVE
TOOK A LOT OF PICTURES, AND A VIDEO TOO, AND HE WILL HAVE THOSE
UP ON THE KMAQ HOME PAGE SOON, HOPEFULLY TOMORROW IF NOT SOONER. ALL WERE TREATED TO FREE SANDWICHES AND REFRESHMENTS IN THE BIG TOP-FLOOR COMMUNITY ROOM. EVERYONE I TALKED TO WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE RENOVATED HOTEL. IT LOOKS GOOD OUTSIDE TOO, WITH A NEW, PAVED PARKING LOT AND SMALL
PARK AREA WITH BENCHES. SOD, AND MANY BUSHES AND TREES WERE PLANTED EARLIER THIS WEEK. RUMOR HAS IT THAT THE ENTIRE PROJECT DID GO OVER BUDGET. I READ THAT A SINGLE PERSON CAN RENT AN APARTMENT (RENTING A SMALL STUDIO APARTMENT) IF OVER 55 YEARS OF AGE AND WITH AN ANNUAL INCOME OF AROUND, BUT NOT OVER, $11,000. THE RENT WOULD BE ABOUT $300 FOR THAT PERSON, AND THE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY WOULD PAY THE BALANCE. A LARGER APARTMENT (THERE ARE SOME 2-BEDROOM APARTMENTS) WOULD BE MORE OF COURSE. AND THERE ARE CERTAIN GUIDELINS FOR COUPLES TOO. BUT BASICALLY, THE HURST IS FOR LIMITED INCOME PEOPLE OVER AGE 55. YOU'LL ENJOY THE PICTURES.
SPEAKING OF PICTURES. ROTARIAN DAVE UPDEGRAPH TOOK AN INDIVIDUAL PICTURE OF 18 OF THE 20 TOP STUDENTS THAT ATTENDED LAST WEEK'S MAQUOKETA ROTARY ANNUAL SCHOLAR BANQUET. TWO WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE EVENT. THERE ARE PICTURES OF A FEW OTHER ROTARIANS TOO.
GO TO www.maquoketa-rotary.org
AND WHEN ON THE ROTARY HOME PAGE, CLICK ON THE LIST OF 2006 ROTARY DUCK OWNERS. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED A DUCK IN THE RACE, TO HAVE A CHANCE AT WINNING $1,000.....YOU WILL FIND YOUR NAME LISTED THERE.
GOING TO BE A HOT AND DRY HOLIDAY WEEKEND IN MAQUOKETA.
HOPE THE WEATHER WILL BE GOOD WHERE YOU ARET TOO.
CHECK BACK TOMORROW.
DENNIS VOY
