IT'S COLD IN MAQUOKETA. LOW OF 6 LAST NIGHT, HIGH OF 15 TODAY AND LOOKING TO GO DOWN TO NEAR ZERO TONIGHT. AND THE WEEKEND FORECAST IS REALLY LOOKING COOOOOLLLLLLDDDDD.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY (TUESDAY) TO BOB OSTERHAUS.

THE CARDINAL GIRLS AND BOYS PLAY BENTON COMMUNITY TONIGHT. THE BOYS HERE, THE GIRLS ON THE ROAD.

THE WRESTLERS HOST DEWITT THURSDAY NIGHT. KMAQ-FM, WITH DR.
KOOB AT THE HOLD-BY-HOLD MIKE.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT....WAS KIND OF GLOOMY. IT'S THE TIME OF THE YEAR FOR WORKING ON THE BUDGET AND A BIG DEFICIT LOOMS. CITY MANAGER BRIAN WAGNER TOLD THE COUNICL THAT WHEN HE STARTED WORK ON THE BUDGET, THERE WAS A $258,583 DEFICIT. THE CITY MANAGER WENT THROUGH A LIST OF WAYS TO CUT THE BUDGET, INCLUDING CUTTING A POLICE OFFICER. OFF THE RECORD, HE EVEN SAID HE MAY NOT TAKE HIS RAISE COMING THIS SUMMER. ALSO, HE IS PROPOSING A TAX INCREASE. AND, ALSO LAST NIGHT, THE COUNCIL DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO GET THE WHEELS IN MOTION FOR A $2-MILLIN DOLLAR BOND ISSUE ELECTION IN MARCH TO EXPAND THE FIRE STATION. THE BOND WOULD INCREASE TAXES ABOUT $1.00 PER $1,000 ASSESSED VALUATION. IT WOULD HAVE TO PASS BY 60%.

LOTS OF "THE FLU" AROUND THESE DAYS AND FLU SHOTS ARE BEING URGED.

STAY WARM.

DENNIS VOY