BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY...HIGH OF 77

JACKSON COUNTY ATTORNEY JOHN KIES HAS DECIDED NOT TO SEEK RE-ELECTION THIS FALL ON THE INDEPENDENT TICKET.
FORMER COUNTY ATTORNEY PHILP TABOR DEFEATED KIES IN THE JUNE PRIMARY WHEN THE PAIR RAN ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
KIES SAID TODAY HE PLANS TO GO INTO PRIVATE PRACTICE IN BELLEVUE.
HE HAS BEEN COUNTY ATTORNEY SINCE 2000.

MAQUOKETA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THIS WEEK DIRECTED SUPT.
KIM HUCKSTADT TO LOOK AT EXTENDING THE CURRENT ONE PERCENT SALES TAX LEVY FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
BOARD MEMBERS ARE LOOKING AT THE SALES TAX EXTENSION AS A WAY TO HELP PAY FOR A PROPOSED $6-MILLION EXPANSION AT THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR RENOVATIONS OF THE CAFETERIA AND FOR A NEW GYM.
BOARD MEMBERS PLAN TO BORROW AGAINST THE ONE PERCENT TAX TO PAY FOR THE FACILITY. $4.8 MILLION CAN BE USED FROM THE EXISTING SALES TAX, WITHOUT EXTENSION. THE HOPED FOR HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT, WITH A MORE EXPENSIVE SUNKEN GYM, WILL BE IN THE AREA OF $6-MILLION AND THE EXTRAN $1.2 MILLION WOULD COME FROM THE EXTENDED TAX IF IT IS APPROVED. NO PROPERTY TAXES ARE TO BE SPENT ON THE BUILDING PROJECT.

THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL TALK ABOUT A PROPOSAL FROM THE YMCA TO ASSUME PARK AND REC PROGRAMMING AND MORE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ARC. THE MEETING IS AT 7 A.M. TOMORROW. IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING THE MONEY NOW USED TO FUND PARKS AND RECREATION, AND THE OLD POOL, THE YMCA WANTS THE CITY TO PAY THEM AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 A YEAR FOR THREE YEARS. IF THERE ARE OPERATING LOSSES (NOT ENOUGH PLEDGES OF MONEY AND ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS) THE CITY AND THE YMCA WOULD NEGOTIATE WHO WOULD PAY THE DIFFERENCE.
NO TURNING AROUND NOW. BULLDOZERS ARE GRADING THE SITE OF THE ARC ACROSS FROM THE CEMETERY AND NEAR THE INDUSTRIAL PARK ON MAQUOKETA'S SOUTH BORDER.

NO BIRTHS OR DEATHS.

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE VISIT HERE.

DENNIS VOY