Monday, March 31, 2008

NICE SUNDAY. RAIN OVERNIGHT LST NIGHT. RAIN THIS MORNING. MOSTLY CLOUDY THIS AFTERNOON AND IN LOW 50'S. NO 60-DEGREE WEATHER
IN STORE FOR US THIS WEEK YET.

THE MAQUOKETA POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING A BREAK-IN AT LEN'S BP CONVENIENCE STORE ON WEST PLATT STREET. THE BREAK-IN DISCOVERED AND REPORTED BY STORE EMPLOYEE TRACY EHLERS AT 4:37 THIS MORNING. THE
BUSINESS HAD CLOSED AT 10 SUNDAY NIGHT. ENTRY WAS GAINED BY PRYING OPEN A BACK DOOR. AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF CASH WAS TAKEN.

CORA GROTE, 87, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED YESTERDAY AT THE HOSPTIAL HERE IN MAQUOKETA. THE FUNERAL WILL BE AT 11 A.M. WEDNESDAY AT THE CHANCY LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CLINTON. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER HUSBAND, REV. HARVEY GROTE OF MAQUOKETA, AND FIVE DAUGHTERS. PAPE FUNERAL HOME IN CLINTON IS ASSISTING THE FAMILY.

SERVICES ARE PENDING AT THE CARSON AND SON FUNERAL HOME, FOR CLARA WHITE, 96, OF MAQUOKETA. SHE DIED YESTERDAY AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.

KELLY AND BRIAN PEEBLES ARE THE PARENTS OF A BOY BORN LAST THURSDAY
AT FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. GRAND PARENTS ARE CARL AND MAUREEN
KILBURG OF MAQUOKETA.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY

Friday, March 28, 2008

2 INCHES OF SNOW YESTERDAY AND LAST NIGHT. ALL MELTING TODAY.
SUNNY AND IN 40'S TODAY. TOMORROW WARMER.
WITH YESTERDAY'S SNOWFALL, DUBUQUE ESTABLISHED A NEW RECORD SNOWFALL FOR THE 2007-2008 WINTER....JUST OVER 72 INCHES. WE ARE STILL UNDER 70, AND IN ABOUT TOP 5 OF SNOWIEST. IN SMALLER TOWNS, RECORDS ARE NOT AS ACCURATE AS IN LARGER CITIES.

MAQUOKETA SCHOOLS WILL END THE SCHOOL YEAR A DAY EARLIER, ON JUNE 4TH.
DON'T KNOW WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE CHANGE.

MEDICAL ASSOCIATES IS MOVING TO THEIR NEW OFFICES IN THE FORMER
JACK AND JILL BUILDING TODAY AND THE REST OF THE WEEK. WILL RE-OPEN MONDAY IN THE NEW LOCATION. OSTERHAUS PHARMACY WILL MOVE INTO THE
WEST SIDE OF THAT SAME BUILDING ON APRIL 26TH AND 27TH AND WILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN THE NEW STORE AND PHARMACY ON MONDAY, APRIL 28TH.'

THE JACKSON-CLINTON DAIRY BANQUET IS TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. TICKETS WILL BE ON SALE AT THE DOOR,
STARTING AT 6 P.M.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, March 27, 2008

IT HAS BEEN SNOWING ALL DAY....LIGHT SNOW....BIG FLAKES....MOST
MELTS ON GROUND RIGHT AWAY.
THE GOOD NEWS....SUNNY AND IN 40'S TOMORROW.

THE FILING DEADLINE WAS YESTERDAY AND THERE WILL BE A CONTESTED RACE
THIS FALL IN JACKSON COUNTY FOR SUPERVISOR. DAVID KENDALL OF BELLEVUE,
A REPUBLICAN, WILL CHALLENGE INCUMBENT LARRY "BUCK" KOOS OF LAMOTTE.
A DEMOCRAT, KOOS DEFEATED KENDALL FOR THE JOB FOUR YEARS AGO.
NO ONE IS RUNNING AGAINST INCUMBENT AUDITOR M. JOELLE DEPPE, A DEMOCRAT FROM ANDREW OR CURRENT SHERIFF RUSS KETTMANN, DEMOCRATE FROM
BELLEVUE.

A RURAL MAQUOKETA HOME WS DAMAGED BY FIRE LAST NIGHT. MAQUOKETA FIREMEN WERE CALLED TO THE ERIC GARIEN HOME ON 35TH STREET, ALSO KNOWN AS THE CODFISH HOLLOW ROAD. GARIEN AND HIS WIFE ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE LIVING ROOM AND THERE WAS HEAVY
DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TWO STORY OLDER HOME. CAUSE OF FIRE
STILL NOT KNOWN.

THE COMMITTEE THAT IS TRYING TO RAISE $25,000 SO THE MAQUOKETA OLD OUTDOOR POOL CAN BE OPEN THIS SUMMER, HAS SO FAR RAISED $4,000.
THEY NEED TO RAISE THE $25,000 BY MAY 1ST. AN ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SET UP AT THE MAQUOKETA STATE BANK AND ANYONE CAN SEND A DONATION TO THE BANK.
IF ENOUGH IS NOT RAISED IN TIME, THE MONEY WILL BE REFUNDED TO THE DONOR.
NICOLE HUTE IS HEADING UP THE DRIVE FOR MONEY. HER HUSBAND IS COUNCILMAN JASON HUTE.

OUTSIDE MY OFFICE WINDOW..."IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS".

CHECK BACK TOMORROW.

DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

WE HAVE HAD TWO 50-DEGREE DAYS IN A ROW.
BUT..BACK TO WINTER NOW FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

MAQUOKETA VOLUNTEER FIREMEN ARE FIGHTING A RURAL STRUCTURE
FIRE NOW ON 35TH STREET. APPARENTLY BAD AS THEY HAVE CALLED FOR
ANDREW TO ASSIST AND MORE LOCAL FIREMEN.

A BIRTH. WHITNEY WIDEL AND ANDREW BURMEISTER OF LOST NATION
ARE PARENTS OF A BOY BORN THURSDAY MARCH 13TH AT JACKSON COUNTY REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER.....THE HOSPITAL HERE IN TOWN. MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS ARE TERRY AND MADELINE WIDEL OF MAQUOKETA.

CONNOR WIITANEN, 11 MONTHS OLD, DIED SUNDAY IN MICHIGAN, FROM A RARE BRAIN TUMOR. MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS ARE SUE CLARK OF MAQUOKETA AND LLOYD NABB OF MAQUOKETA AND MATERNAL GREAT-GRANDMOTHER IS DARLENE KIRCHOFF OF MAQUOKETA.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, March 24, 2008

EASTER SUNDAY WAS COLD AND SNOWY. FRESH SNOW ON THE GROUND FOR
SUNRISE SERVICE GOERS AND ON AND OFF SNOW A COUPLE TIMES IN THE AFTERNOON.

TODAY..PARTY SUNNY AND HIGH OF 38. UP TO 50 TOMORROW.

THE MAQUOKETA FIREMEN HAD TWO CALLS TODAY.....BOTH MINOR FIRES WITH NO SERIOUS DAMAGE. AT 12:20 THIS MORNING TO RIVER VILLAGE TWO APARTMENTS WHERE AN ASHTRAY DROPPED INTO THE GARBAGE CHUTE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE BASEMENT AND THE SPRINKLERS IN CHUTE PUT OUT THE FIRE.
THE OTHER FIRE CALL CAME IN AT 8:15 THIS MORNING, TO THE EVERETT BOWLING HOME ON SOUTH MAIN WHERE A PELLET STOVE VENT STARTED A FIRE WHICH
WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED.

MARGARET FOOTE, AGE 79, OF DUBUQUE DIED YESTERDAY AT HER HOME.
SURVIVORS INCLUDE A SISTER, DOLORES KLEIN OF MAQUOKETA.

CHECK THE PHOTO BELOW.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY
HERE'S A PHOTO TAKEN LAST WEEK AT THE START OF THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE VOY THEATRE. THESE ARE THE 3 MOVIES SHOWING FOR THE EVENT.
A BIG TURN-OUT OVER THE WEEKEND, WITH A FULL-HOUSE 3 TIMES FOR "HORTON WEARS A WHO", WHICH AGAIN THIS WEEKEND WAS THE NATION'S NUMBER 1 MOVIE. WE EVEN HAD A SELL-OUT FOR THE FINAL MATINEE THIS (MONDAY)AFTERNOON. IT HAS BEEN FUN! THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES THIS WEEK THROUGH THE THURSDAY NIGHT SHOWS. EVERY NIGHT, 35 CENT POPCORN AND 35 CENT POP. WE ARE CLOSED EVERY MONDAY NIGHT, INCLUDING TONIGHT.
FRIDAY, I WILL LIST HERE THE 35 WINNERS OF A VOY THEATRE $10 GIFT CARD.
THANKS TO ALL WHO ATTENDED.
DENNIS VOY

Friday, March 21, 2008

NO 10 INCHES OF SNOW. WE DID NOT GET THE SNOW FORECAST LAST NIGHT FOR OVER NIGHT AND TODAY. IN FACT, WE GOT NONE. IT ALL WENT NORTH OF US, THANK GOODNESS.
IT WAS CLOUDY AND COLD TODAY, WITH A HIGH ONLY IN LOW 30'S.
THE WEEKEND FORECAST CALLS FOR NO RAIN OR SNOW, BUT CLOUDY AND COOL
FOR EASTER SUNDAY.

THE MAJOR STORY TODAY, CONCERNS THE GOOD NEW INDUSTRY ANNOUNCED FOR MAQUOKETA TODAY. IT SHOULD BE A BIG BOOST TO OUR COMMUNITY, HIT
WITH THE BIG FIRE IN JANUARY.

SEE THE PHOTO I TOOK THIS AFTERNOON (CLICK ON IT TO MAKE IT LARGER) AND THEN I HOPE YOU WILL READ THE STORY UNDER IT. THANKS TO ALL IN MAQUOKETA THAT WORKED IN HELPING TO GET THIS BIG INDUSTRY TO
OUR TOWN. IT WILL BE NICE TO SEE THAT CORNER OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARK SPRUCED UP AND BUSY AGAIN. FOR MORE ABOUT THE, YOU MAY WISH TO GO TO THEIR WEB SITE.

KMAQ TRAVEL HAS A BUS GOING TO BRANSON AGAIN JUNE 10-13 AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, EMAIL ME.
WE WILL SEE A BRAND NEW SHOW, IN A BIG NEW THEATRE. THE SHOW "NOAH - THE MUSICAL" IS IN A THEATRE WITH A 100 FOOT WRAP-AROUND STAGE AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE SITTING RIGHT INSIDE THE LARGE FLOATING NOAH'S ARK, SURROUNDED BY HUNDREDS OF LIVE AND ANIMATRONIC ANIMALS OF EVERY COLOR, SHAPE AND SIZE. THE SHOW OPENS IN JUNE AND IT IS REALLY BEING TALKED ABOUT IN BRANSON. WE WILL SEE 5 OTHER MUSIC SHOWS, AND THE DICK CLARK "57 HEAVEN" MUSEUM AND THE TITANTIC MUSEUM. WILL BE A GREAT TRIP!

WE ALSO HAVE A BUS GOING TO FOUR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAMES.....APRIL 22ND TO MILWAUKEE TO SEE
THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS PLAY THE BREWERS....JUNE 19TH, TO ST. LOUIS TO SEE
THE CARDS PLAY THE ROYALS....JULY 20TH, TO ST. LOUIS TO SEE THE CARDINALS TAKE ON SAN DIEGO....AND JULY 31ST, TO MILWAUKEE FOR A CUBS-BREWERS GAME.
ALL ARE AFTERNOON GAMES AND AGAIN, EMAIL ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GOING ALONG AND WANT INFORMATION.

HAVE A HAPPY EASTER.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK PHOTO AND STORY BELOW.

AND CHECK THE GUEST BOOK. READ WHERE FORMER MAQUOKETA RESIDENT
CAROLYN GUERDET AND FAMILY, LIVING OUT EAST, HAVE HAD OVER 120 INCHES OF SNOW THIS WINTER.

DENNIS VOY
THIS EMPTY BUILDING, KNOWN AS THE S & H BUILDING IN MAQUOKETA'S INDUSTRIAL PARK, WILL COME TO LIFE SOON AS THE HOME OF A NEW INDUSTRY FOR MAQUOKETA. LAST YEAR, IT WAS GIVEN TO JACKSON COUNTY BY THE OWNER AND THE COUNTY IS SELLING IT TO A WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN FIRM. HUSCO
INTERNATIONAL, A GLOBAL FIRM BASED IN WAUKESHA, ANNOUNCED TODAY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE MAQUOKETA CITY HALL THAT THEY WILL EXPAND
THEIR OPERATION IN THE TIMBER CITY INDUSTRAIL PARK, IN THE VACANT ABOVE 55,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING. THEY SPECIALIZE IN BUILDING HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRO HYDRAULIC CONTROLS, FOR MANY CUSTOMERS WORLD WIDE AND JOHN DEERE IS ONE OF THEIR MAJOR CUSTOMERS. THEY WILL COMPLETELY RE-DO
THE INTERIOR AND IN ABOUT 3 YEARS, ADD AN ADDITION TO IT. THEY HOPE TO
BE IN OPERATION THIS FALL WITH A START UP WORKFORCE OF AROUND 70 PEOPLE
AND IN ABOUT 36 MONTHS, EXPECT TO BE UP TO BETWEEN 200 AND 250 EMPLOYEES. MOST WILL BE HIRED LOCALLY, AS THEY PLAN TO BRING IN ONLY A FEW PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLANTS. ALL INDACATIONS ARE THAT THIS WILL
BE A VERY GOOD INDUSTRY FOR MAQUOKETA AND WILL BE PAYING GOOD WAGES.
GETTING THEM TO LOCATE HERE WAS A J OINT EFFORT BY THE CITY OF MAQUOKETA AND JACKSON COUNTY. HUSCO IS A PRIVATELY HELD CORPORATION AND THE MAQUOKETA PLANT (THEY ALSO HAVE ONE IN WHITEWATER, WISCONSIN
IN ADDITION TO WAUKESHA AND TWO OR THREE FOREIGN PLANTS) WILL HOUSE NEW PRODUCT LINES BEING INTRODUCED BY THE COMPANY IN 2008. THEIR CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SAID HUSCO DECIDED TO LOCATE IN MAQUOKETA BECAUSE THEY WERE CONVINCED WORKER SKILLS AND TECHNICAL
TRAINING CAPABILITIES ARE SUPERIOR TO THOSE OF OTHER LOCATIONS THEY REVIEWED. A BIG ECONOMIC BOOST FOR MAQUOKETA TODAY. I WILL PROBABLY HAVE MORE INFORMATION NEXT WEEK ABOUT THE NEW INDUSTRY.
HAPPY EASTER.
DENNIS VOY

Thursday, March 20, 2008

NO REPORT TODAY.
PARTY SUNNY TODAY AND HIGH OF 47.
4 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW FORECAST OVERNIGHT AND TOMORROW.

BIG ECONOMIC STORY TOMORROW.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

FOGGY THIS MORNING...MOSTLY CLOUDY AND COOL THIS AFTERNOON. MORE LIGHT SNOW IN FORCAST FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK, BUT WEEKEND LOOKS GOOD FOR EASTER IN MAQUOKETA.

SOME OF YOU I SUPPOSE WILL BE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY.

BIG STORY LATE YESTERDAY! THIRTEEN EMPLOYEES OF MAQUOKETA WEB
PRINTING, OWNED BY THE MELVOLDS, ARE A LOT RICHER TODAY AFTER THEY WON $400,000 IN THE POWERBALL DRAWING SATURDAY NIGHT. THEY BOUGHT 1 TICKET AND WON THE PRIZE BY MATCHING FIVE WHITE NUMBERS AND PURCHASING THE POWER PLAY MULTIPLIER. WITHOUT THAT MULTIPLIER,
THEY WOULD ONLY HAVE WON $200,000.
THE GROUP HAS BEEN BUYING TICKETS SINCE LAST SUMMER. EACH WILL RECEIVE ABOUT $30,000 BEFORE TAXES. THE WINNERS ARE: CINDY SELLNAU...
R.B. MELVOLD....AMY LUSKEY....DON KUTSCH....REBECCA KUTSCH....KIM CORNELIUS...
DEB DEVORE...JEAN DUHME....JODI ELMEGREEN....NANCY HINK....AUDREY WINEGAR....
AND LONGTIME MAQUOKETA SENTINEL-PRESS EMPLOYEE, DIANNE BARKER.
THE WINNING TICKET WAS PURCHASED AT CASEY'S.

AT THE SPRINGBROOK FIRE DEPARTMENT BREAKFAST SUNDAY, I BOUGHT A TICKET
IN THEIR RAFFLE.
AND I WON.....
A NICE EASTER BASKET.

FREDA LENHART, AGE 102, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED THIS MORNING AT CRESTRIDGE IN MAQUOKETA. SERVICES PENDING AT CARSON'S.

ADAM HEPKER'S TEAM LOST LAST NIGHT BY 3 POINTS IN THE BRANSON TOURNAMENT. THEY FINISHED OUT THE SEASON WITH 31 WINS AND 5 LOSSES. AND AFTER THE GAME, ASSISTANT COACH BILL FLEMMING
ANNOUNCED HE IS AGAIN RETIRING FROM BASKETBALL COACHING. HIS FIRST RETIRMENT WAS AS MCHS HEAD COACH HERE IN MAQUOKETA A FEW YEARS AGO.

HAD MY FIRST DAIRY QUEEN CONE TODAY! THEY'RE OPEN FOR ANOTHER SEASON.
AND YES..IT WAS GOOD!

MY FOOT IS GETTING BETTER, BUT STILL IN A BOOT. ...A STILL PAIN.

AND ...WITH THAT HEALTH REPORT...I'LL END ANOTHER "ALMOST DAILY".

DENNIS VOY

Monday, March 17, 2008

THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE WEATHER WASN'T BAD. WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR SOME 50/60 DEGREE DAYS NOW AND THEN, BUT NONE IN THE FORECAST THIS WEEK.
RAIN IS FORECAST FOR TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

THE MAQUOKETA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL BANQUET WAS HELD THIS PAST SATURDAY NIGHT. IT WAS ORGINALLY SCHEDULED ON JANUARY 19TH, WHEN THE DOWNTOWN FIRE OCCURRED. FIRE CHIEF MARK BECK LISTED THE STATISTICS FOR 2007. THE DEPARTMENT ANSWERED 107 FIRE CALLS AND 33 RESCUE CALLS, WITH 12 MEN AVERGING A CALL. THEY SPENT 42 MINUTES AVERAGE PER CALL, WHICH RESULTED IN 1,588 MAN HOURS. THE AVERAGE AGE
FOR A MAQUOKETA FIREMAN IS 39 AND AN AVERAGE OF 12 YEARS OF SERVICE.
THERE ARE 8 BUSINESS PLACES SET UP WITH A KNOX BOX SYSTEM AND 8 MORE ARE INTERESTED. KNOX BOX IS AN ELEXTRONIC ENTRANCE SYSTEM FOR BUSINESSES.
HE SAID THE NEW FIRE STATION IS NEARLY COMPLETE AND THEY HOPE TO BE IN BY THE END OF THE MONTH. A CORNERSTONE SETTING CEREMONY HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 12TH. DURING THE EVENING, DOUG GONNER WAS RECOGNIZED FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE AND GIVEN A WATCH. HE ALSO WAS GIVEN THE LEO CLASEN AWARD WHICH WAS VOTED ON BY FIREMEN. GONNER SAID HIS FATHER MILTON GOT HIM STARTED IN FIREFIGHTING ON THE SPRINGBROOK DEPARTMENT. HIS SON BRIAN IS ALSO ON THE MAQUOKETA DEPARTMENT.
ALSO RECEIVING AWARDS WERE BOB LANE, JR. FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE AND JIM GREEN AND MARTY BALLIU FOR 10 YEARS OF SERVICE.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT. ONE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS....TALKING ABOUT STOCK CAR RACING THIS SUMMER IN MAQUOKETA. THE NOISE ISSUE ALWAYS GETS SOME DISCUSSION.

I HAVE A CORRECTION ON A STORY HERE LAST WEEK. THE CITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK PURCHASED THE FORMER B-CAP PROPERTY OUT BY THE MAQUOKETA
AIRPORT. PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE TWO HANGAR BUILDINGS AND JUST OVER 3 1/2 ACRES OF LAND, $118,500. THE FAA WILL PAY 95 PERCENT OF THE COST.
MY STORY HERE LAST WEEK SAID THE PROPERTY HAD GONE BACK TO A BANK FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THAT WAS NOT CORRECT. THE ORIGINAL OWNERS RAN THE VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND THEN SOLD IT IN 2000.
THE BANK GOT IT BACK FROM THE SECOND OWNER. I REMEMBER IN THOSE EARLY YEARS, HEARING ABOUT PLANES THAT CAME IN FROM ALL OVER THE AREA TO BE PAINTED, INCLUDING FROM OTHER STATES. IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT, EVEN THE IOWA GOVERNOR'S PLANE WAS PAINTED BY THE FIRM. THE OWNER
OF B-CAP AND AN EXPERT PAINTER WAS DICK BLOCK. MY LONGTIME FRIENDS LARRY HAGER AND FRANK GOODENOW ALSO PUT FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE PLANES, LARRY THE SIGN PAINTER AND FRANK DOING UPHOLSTERY WORK. DICK AND HIS WIFE STILL OWN A HOME IN DELMAR BUT DO A LOT OF TRAVELING (ALMOST FULLTIME) IN THEIR RV. THEIR DAUGHTER KATHLEEN LIVES IN SACRAMENTO (MET HER HUSBAND THERE) AND THE BLOCKS HAVE TWO SONS...CURT LIVES IN MINNESOTA AND ROY LIVES IN THE QUAD-CITIES.

ADAM HEPKER'S BASEKTBALL TEAM IS IN THE FINAL FOUR IN THE NAIA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT AT BRANSON. SATURDAY NIGHT THEY BEAT COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS, 70 TO 58 AND THEY PLAY OREGON TECH AT 8 TONIGHT. THIS IS THE 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR THE MID-AMERICA NAZARENE PIONEERS ARE IN THE FINAL
FOUR. IF THEY WIN TONIGHT, THE PLAY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TOMORROW NIGHT.

IT IS RAINING A LITTLE RIGHT NOW IN MAQUOKETA, AS THE KMAQ BINGO SHOW
IS ON-THE-AIR. BOB BRUNO IS CALLING OUT THE NUMBERS.

ST. LOUIS CARDINAL POCKET SCHEDULES HAVE ARRIVED FOR YOU CARDINAL FANS.
GET ONE FREE HERE AT KMAQ. IN THE OCTOBER SPACE, WRITE-IN...WORLD SERIES
IN ST. LOUIS. I'LL SEE MY FIRST GAME, APRIL 16TH.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY

Friday, March 14, 2008

SUNNY AND MID-FORTIES FOR A HIGH TODAY.

THE JACKSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS STARTING A FUND-RAISER FOR THE CLINTON ENGINES PROJECT. THE FORMER CLINTON ENGINES ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING RENOVATED FOR A NEW MUSEUM AND IT IS
ANTICIPATED TO OPEN IN AUGUST. THE GROUP HOPES TO RAISE $700,000 TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. SO FAR, THEY HAVE RECEIVED $288,831 IN GRANTS.
DONATIONS HAVE TOTALED OVER $150,000 AND THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS ADDED $149,000 IN ASSETS. NOW, AROUND $700,000 NEEDS TO BE RAISED TO COMPLETE THE FUNDING. PLANS CALL FOR THE BUILDING TO INCLUDE PART OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND STILL KEEP THE OTHER PART AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. THE RENOVATED BUILDING WILL HAVE AN AREA FOR THE
CLINTON ENGINES MUSEUM AND ALSO THE BUILDING WILL HOUSE THE CLINTON ENGINES HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, THE JACKSON COUNTY GENEALOGICAL CHAPTER AND WILL ALSO BE THE ORPHAN TRAIN RESEARCH CENTER. THERE ARE FIVE ACRES ON THE MAPLE STREET SITE AND SOMETIME, IT IS HOPED TO ADD ON A RAILROAD MUSEUM AND ADD EXHIBITS ON MIDWEST BUSINESS AND INSUSTRY.
THERE IS CURRENTLY NO ROOM FOR EXPANSION AT THE FAIRGROUNDS MUSEUM.
EXTENSIVE WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE TO THE FORMER OFFICE COMPLEX OF CLINTON ENGINES, INCLUDING NEW WINDOWS, ROOF, HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM, SIDEWALKS AND MUCH MORE. INTERIOR WORK HAS BEEN GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. THE FUND RAISING COMMITTEE IS SUGGESTING 3-YEAR PLEDGES. ON THE COMMITTEE: ASHER SCHROEDER, BONNIE MITCHELL, DARWIN POLK, WANDA CORNELIUS, FORREST MILLER, RED HENTON,
ROBERT MCCOLLEY AND JEAN DAVIDSAVE OF BELLEVUE, CHAIRMAN. ANY QUESTONS: THE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THE SOCIETY IS: museum@jciahs.com
THE MUSEUM WEB SITE IS: www.jciahs.com AND THE CLINTON ENGINES
MUSEUM SITE IS: www.clintonengines.com

THE MAQUOKETA COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS DO NOT PLAN TO PROPOSE A TAX INCREASE FOR NEXT YEAR. IN FACT, MONDAY NIGHT, THE BOARD APPROVED PUBLISHING A BUDGET WITH A TAX DECREASE.
AND, THIS WEEK, THE BOARD APPROVED A 4 PERCENT SALARY INCREASE FOR TEACHERS. THEY ALSO APPROVED THE SAME HEALTH INSURANCE PACKAGE.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, March 13, 2008

NICE TODAY...HIGH OF 40 AGAIN.
UPPER 40'S TOMORROW.

THE JACKSON COUNTY SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK APPROVED A 5 PERCENT RAISE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND A 9 PERSON RAISE FOR THEMSELVES.

THE DEADLINE FOR FILING FOR JACKSON COUNTY OFFICES IS MARCH 27TH.
THE OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR ARE: AUDITOR...SHERIFF....
AND ONE SUPERVISOR. INCUMBENTS....AUDITOR M. JOELLE DEPPE....SHERIFF RUSS KETTMAN AND SUPERVISOR BUCK KOOS HAVE ALL FILED NOMINATION PAPERS.

GRACE MCGAFFEE, AGE 103, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED YESTERDAY AT THE MAQUOKETA CARE CENTER. HER COMPLETE OBITUARY CAN BE READ AT www.carsonandson.com

DONNA MAE MILLER, AGE 66, DIED YESTERDAY. FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS, SHE HAS BEEN THE SITE MANAGER OF THE JACKSON COUNTY SENIOR CENTER IN MAQUOKETA. HER COMPLETE OBITUARY CAN ALSO BE READ AT THE ABOVE
CARSON'S WEB SITE.

TED AND PAT MAZE OF MAQUOKETA WILL CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH. THERE WILL BE AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE MAQUOKETA COUNTRY CLUB FROM 2 UNTIL 5....AND A PROGRAM WILL BE AT 3 P.M. HE IS SEMI-RETIRED FROM
THE MAQUOKETA LUMBER COMPANY WHICH HE OWNED AND OPERATED FOR MANY YEARS AND IS NOW OWNED BY HIS SON, MARK. TED AMD PAT WERE MARRIED
AT EAGLE GROVE. LIKE ME, TED HAS BEEN A LONGTIME MAQUOKETA ROTARY MEMBER AND SO I SEE HIM AT WEDNESDAY MEETINGS AND HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HIM ON MANY ROTARY PROJECTS. AND HIS MAQUOKETA LUMBER COMPANY HAS BEEN A KMAQ ADVERTISER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. HE'S A NICE GUY...AND PAT IS EVEN NICER.

LEIGHTON AND CINDY HEPKER ARE IN BRANSON WATCHING SON ADAM, A SENIOR,
PLAYING FOR MID AMERICA NAZARINE IN TOURNAMENT ACTION. THEY WON
LAST NIGHT AND PLAY AGAIN TOMORROW. ROCKY LAMAR IS THE COACH.
LEIGHTON SAID IT WAS 79 DEGREES DOWN THERE YESTERDAYAFTERNOON WHEN
THEY ARRIVED.

GO PIONEERS!

THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

HERE IT IS! THE FIRST FAST-FOOD HAMBURGER RESTAURANT IN MAQUOKETA.
THE VOY THEATRE OPENED ON MARCH 21, 1973. THIS WAS SANDY'S CORNER SIGN. SANDY'S OPENED A SHORT TIME BEFORE THE THEATRE DID. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS WEEKS OR MONTHS. IT WAS LOCATED NORTH ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE
FUNERAL HOME. IN FACT, LAHEY'S FUNERAL HOME NOW OWNS THE BUILDING, WHICH IS RENTED FOR OFFICE SPACE. AND PART OF THE PARKING LOT IS NOW USED FOR THE FUNERAL HOME. SANDY'S WAS A POPULAR PLACE. THE BUILDING WAS VERY SMALL IN THE BEGINNING AND BEFORE IT WAS CLOSED, THE DINING ROOM WAS ENLARGED FOR ADDITIONAL SEATING. I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT WAS CONVERTED TO A HARDEE'S RESTAURANT, BUT I REMEMBER THAT HARDEE'S WAS IN BUSINESS UNTIL AROUND THE LATE 80'S, CLOSING SOMETIME SOON AFTER MCDONALD'S OPENED. IT WENT ON AFTER MCDONALD'S OPENED FOR AWHILE, THEN THERE WAS A FIRE AT THE RESTUARANT, AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT EVER OPENED AGAIN AFTER THE FIRE. AT THAT TIME, IT WAS A MAJOR SETBACK TO BE THE ONLY BURGER PLACE AND THEN HAVE MCDONALD'S COME IN AS A COMPETITOR. THE VOY THEATRE WILL CELEBRATE THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY MARCH 21ST THRU MARCH 27TH. BECAUSE IT IS SPRING BREAK TIME, THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL MARCH 21ST AND 24TH. FOR FOUR DAYS, MARCH 21ST, THRU THE 24TH, THE THEATRE WILL HAVE A MATINEE SHOWING OF ALL 3 MOVIES AT 2 EACH AFTERNOON AND THE ADMISSION WILL BE THE VOY THEATRE 1973 ADMISSION RATE OF $1.25 FOR ADULTS AND 75-CENTS FOR KIDS. REGULAR ADMISSION RATES WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR EVENING SHOWS THAT WEEK. PLUS, ALL WEEK LONG, DAY AND NIGHT, WE WILL HAVE POP FOR 35-CENTS AND POPCORN FOR 35-CENTS. AND, THEATRE GOERS WILL BE INVITED TO REGISTER FOR A DRAWING FOR THIRTY-FIVE $10 GIFT CARDS. THE VOY THEATRE STARTED OUT AS A SINGLE SCREEN THEATRE
IN THE BUILDING THAT WAS FORMERLY THE IH FARM EQUIPMENT DEALERSHIP.
TWO YEARS LATER, THE VOY 2 WAS ADDED TO THE SOUTH, AFTER STILE'S CLEANERS CLOSED. BOTH HAVE SEATING FOR AROUND 200. THE SMALLER VOY 3 THEATRE
OPENED IN 1981. IT REPLACED A NAPA AUTO SUPPLY BUSINESS. THAT AUDITORIUM IS IN THE TOM PEKOSH BUILDING AND I RENT THAT BUILDING FROM HIM.
BOB KING, KNOWN IN MAQUOKETA ALSO AS "ROUNDY THE CLOWN", WAS THE
FIRST FULLTIME MANAGER OF THE THEATRE IN 1973. JACK JONES OF MAQUOKETA, FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE, WAS HIRED TO BE THE MANAGER AFTER KING MOVED OUT OF TOWN. THIS WAS EARLY IN 1975. JACK IS STILL MANAGER TODAY, AND ALSO IS MANAGER OF MY 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE, WHICH OPENED IN
1950. WHILE I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME AT KMAQ, JACK HAS ALWAYS DONE MOST OF THE THEATRE WORK. FOR MANY YEARS, I WOULD RUN THE THEATRE ON HIS NIGHT OR DAY OFF. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF MOVIES OVER THE YEARS.
I AM ONE WHO HAS A HARD TIME REMEMBERING A MOVIE FOR LONG, AND WHO STARRED IN IT. JACK, ON THE OTHER HAND, SEE MOST MOVIES REMEMBERS THEM ALL. HE HAS AN EXCELLENT MEMORY OF THE PLOT AND THE STARS. BY THE WAY, I MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVE-IN OPENED IN AUGUST OF 1950, BUT I DID NOT BUY IT UNTIL THE SPRING OF 1972. ONE OTHER NOTE, BOB KING WAS LATER MURDERED IN A MISSOURI HOUSE ROBERY A FEW YEARS YEARS AFTER LEAVING MAQUOKETA. AFTER YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA QUESTION, ONE PERSON SAID THE A & W ON SOUTH MAIN STREET WAS THE FIRST FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. IT REALLY WASN'T ONE, AS WE NOW KNOW THEM. IT WAS A DRIVE-IN RESTUARANT AND THEY ARE STARTING TO COME BACK AGAIN. ANYWAY, MAQUOKETA AND THE SURRONDING AREA WAS QUITE EXCITED 35 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF A NEW
FAST FOOD RESTAURANT AND NEW THEATRE. AND WITHIN A FEW YEARS, MAQUOKETA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES IN THE STATE TO HAVE A MULTIPLE
SCREEN THEATRE. IT HAS BEEN FUN! THERE HAVE BEEN MANY GOOD MOVIES
AND MANY BAD ONES. MANY GOOD YEARS AND MANY BAD ONES. THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF SELL-OUTS AND MANY NIGHTS WHEN ONLY 1 PERSON SHOWED TO SEE A MOVIE. LOTS OF WAYS TO SEE A MOVIE THESE DAYS, BUT YOU JUST CAN'T
BEAT SEEING A MOVIE ON THE BIG SCREEN, ENJOYING THEATRE POPCORN AND HOLDING HANDS WITH YOUR DATE. THANKS FOR YOUR BUSINESS OVER THE YEARS.....AND COME HELP US CELEBRATE THE 35TH.
DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

NICE DAY....WARMER AND SUNNY....40'S TODAY, MAYBE 50 TOMORROW.

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TODAY PASSED THE FIRST READING
OF AN ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD RESTRICT BODY PIERCINGS TO BE DONE UNDER
A PHYSICIAN'S SUPERVISION. ONE OTHER COUNTY IN IOWA HAS A BODY PIERCING ORDINANCE. THERE IS NO STATE REGULATION FOR BODY PIERCING. FRANK
FREIBERG, JACKSON COUNTY SANITARIAN, SAID THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF
HEALTH IS RECOMMENDING PASSAGE OF THE ORDINANCE. HE CALLED BODY PIERCING AN INVASIVE PROCEDURE. HE SAID THERE ARE NO RULES ABOUT
THE PERSON DOING THE BODY PIERCING AND NO STATE LAWS PREVENTING MINORS FROM GETTING PIERCINGS. FRIEBERG SAID A 15 YEAR OLD HAS TO HAVE A PARENT'S PERMISSION TO GET AN ASPIRIN FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE, BUT CAN GET A BODY PIERCING WITHOUT PARENTAL APPROVAL. JACK ROSENBERG OF MAQUOKETA WAS ONE OF 7 PEOPLE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS MORNING AND SAID THE ORDINANCE SHOULD ALSON INCLUDE PIERCING EARS. HE SAID WAL MART PIERCES EARS WITHOUT SUPERVISION OF A DOCTOR. THE PROPOSED JACKSON COUNTY ORDINANCE EXEMPTS EAR PIERCING FROM THE ORDINANCE.
ROSENBERG SAID THERE SHOULD BE NO EXEMPTIONS. HE SAID JACKSON COUNTY DOESN'T NEED TO BE A LEADER. HE SAID THE STATE LEGISLATORS SHOULD BE CONTACTED AND THE REGULATIONS SHOULD BE PASSED BY THE STATE.
TERRY DORHN, OWNER OF A TATOO AND BODY PIERCING BUSINESS ACROSS FROM THE THEATRE IN MAQUOKETA, SAID HEHAS TAKEN TRAINING ON HOW TO DO BODY PIERCING. HE OPPOSED THE ORDINANCE. HE SAID HIS INSTRUMENTS ARE STERILIZED, BUT THOSE USED AT WAL MART FOR EAR PIERCING ARE NOT.

A MAQUOKETA MAN AND FOUR OTHERS HAVE PLEADED GUILTY TO FEDERAL DRUG AND MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES IN A SCHEME TO SMUGGLE MARIJUANA FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES. MICHAEL BRENEMAN, AGE 55, OF MAQUOKETA ALONG WITH JEFFREY KOPP, AGE 53, OF MARION AND FORMERLY OF MAQUOKETA, AND DAVID DOWNING, AGE 32, OF VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, EACH PLEADED GUILTY IN US DISTRICT COURT IN SIOUX CITY. THE CHARGES WRE CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE AND POSESSION WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE MORE THAN 1,000 KILOGRAMS OF MARIJUANA AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MONEY LAUNDERING. THE TWO OTHER MEN WERE FROM ILLINOIS AND VANCOUVER.
BRENEMAN AND KOPP AND DOWNY FACE A PRISON SENTENCE OF 10 YEARS TO LIFE AND A $4 MILLION FINE.

THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF THE FORMER B-CAP PROPERTY ADJACENT TO MAQUOKETA AIRPORT, FOR $118,000.
NINTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE COST WILL BE PAID BY THE FAA. THE PROPERTY HAD GONE BACK TO A BANK FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF B-CAP. THE BANK HAD BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE CITY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE 3.58 ACRE SITE. THERE ARE TWO HANGAR BUILDINGS ON THE SITE. THE OTHER 5 PERCENT OF COST WILL BE PAID BY THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FROM THE AIRPORT.

TRIVIA! 35 YEARS AGO, MAQUOKETA GOT ITS FIRST FAST-FOOD HAMBURGER RESTAURANT. ANYONE REMEMBER IT AND WHERE IT WAS LOCATED?

DENNIS VOY

Monday, March 10, 2008

NICE WEEKEND WEATHER....BUT STILL ON COOL SIDE....AND WARMER WEATHER COMING THIS WEEK.....WEDNESDAY SHOULD BE BEST DAY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 50.

THE EILEEN IVERS IRISH CONCERT SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE OHNWARD CENTER IN MAQUOKETA WAS A GOOD ONE....GREAT MUSIC....AND A GOOD TURNOUT.

SHORT, SPECIAL MEETING OF MAQUOKETA CITY COUNTIL AT 5:15 TODAY....IT IS
A PUBLIC HEARING FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THERE IS NO TAX INCREASE
PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET.

THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL BOARD MEETS AT 5 THIS AFTERNOON TO TOUR THE HIGH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION SITE AND THEN HAVE THEIR REGULAR MEETING AT 6 P.M.

THE MAQUOKETA KIWANIS CLUB WILL PUT ON THE ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT
FOR KIDS ON SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 22ND AT 9 A.M. AT THE PEARSON CENTER ON THE FAIRGROUNDS IN MAQUOKETA.

A WELL KNOWN LOST NATION SENIOR CITIZEN DIED YESTERDAY AFTENOON
AT THE HOSPITAL IN MAQUOKETA. FOR MANY YEARS, SHE WAS A POPULAR
WAITRESS AT THE MAQUOKETA COUNTRY CLUB. ANNE MARIE VON ESSEN SCANLAN, AGE 96. EVERYONE CALLED HER ANNA. SHE WAS A FAST, GOOD,
AND FRIENDLY WAITRESS WITH A GERMAN ACCENT. SOMETIMES SHE ALMOST
RAN FROM TABLE TO KITCHEN AND BACK. SHE RETIRED AT AGE 86. YES..AGE 86.
I SAW HER EARLIER THIS YEAR AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND HAD A NICE VISIT WITH HER. SHE WAS A GOOD KMAQ LISTENER AND KNEW WHO I WAS. WHEN YOU LEFT A GOOD TIP FOR ANNA, YOU WERE GLAD YOU DID AND FELT GOOD, BECAUSE SHE EARNED IT. IF THEY ARE HIRING IN HEAVEN, SHE'LL GET THE JOB.
YOU CAN READ HER COMPLETE OBITUARY AT www.laheys.com

SOME BIG THINGS ARE IN THE MILL FOR MAQUOKETA...KEEP CHECKING HERE.

DENNIS VOY

Friday, March 07, 2008

PARTY SUNNY DAY AND 20-DEGREE WEATHER. DOWN TO 5 BELOW TONIGHT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 40-50 DEGREE WEATHER BY MID-WEEK NEXT WEEK.
DUBUQUE YESTERDAY OFFICIALLY MOVED INTO THE TOP 5 SNOWIEST EVER WINTERS. WE ARE PROBABLY IN TOP 7.

THE RESTORED HURST HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA IS NOW OWNED BY RICHMAN ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC. OF GREENWICH, CT. CHRIS ALES OF THE QUAD CITIES WAS THE OWNER. THERE WERE ABOUT $500,000 IN LIENS AGAINST THE HOTEL AND ALES HAD NOT PAID MANY CONTRACTORS WHO WORKED ON CHANGING THE HOTEL FROM A ROOMS HOTEL TO APARTMENTS. THE POLICE DEPARMENT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE NEW COMPANY HAS CHANGED THE LOCKS AND ALES IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY. THE APARTMENT TENANTS (AROUND 20) HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD NO CHANGES ARE PLANNED. MAQUOKETA CITY MANAGER BRIAN WAGNER SAID THE NEW COMPANY BOUGHT OUT THE TAX CREDITS FROM ALES AS WAS ALLOWED IN THEIR INVESTOR AGREEMENT AND "LITERALLY FORCED ALES OUT".
WAGNER SAID ALE'S HURST APARTMENTS ON OLIVE STREET ARE NOT EFFECTED BY THE HOTEL DEAL.

A FORMER MAQUOKETA FUNERAL HOME OPERATOR, PETER TEAHAN, AGE 54, HAS ANNOUNED THAT HE WILL RUN FOR CONGRESS IN IOWA'S 2ND DISTRICT, AS A REPUBLICAN. QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO, HE OWNED TEAHAN FUNERAL HOME ON WEST PLATT STREET, THAT IS NOW THE JEHOVAH WITNESS BUILDING.

DEWITT, PURCHASED A HAUSBARN IN GERMANY, AND HAS MOVED IT TO TOWN. IT IS IN STORAGE NOW AND WILL BE REASSEMBLED IN THE DOWNTOWN PARK AND USED FOR A NEW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICE AND TOURIST CENTER.
DEWITT ALSO HAS A SISTER CITY IN GERMANY. THE $200 THOUSAND PLUS
PROJECT IS BEING FINANCED BY GRANTS AND DONATIONS. DEWITT HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND THIS WILL BE ONE MORE THING TO ENHANCE THE DOWNTOWN AREA. DOWNTOWN DEWITT IS LOOKING GOOD AND MOST STOREFRONTS ARE FILLED.

THE EILEEN IVERS IRISH CONCERT IS TOMMORROW NIGHT AT THE OHNWARD FINE ARTS CENTER IN MAQUOKETA, AT 7 P.M. TICKETS AT THE DOOR, $28. SHE HAS A 5-PIECE BAND AND ALSO IN THE SHOW WILL BE A GROUP OF IRISH DANCERS (KIDS )FROM DUBUQUE. EILEEN WAS AN ORGINAL MEMBER OF RIVERDANCE....WAS A NINE-TIME ALL IRELAND FIDDLE CHAMPION AND HAS ENTERTAINED AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, March 06, 2008

SUNNY BUT COOL TODAY.

THE JACKSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTION WILL BE HELD SATURDAY,
MARCH 15TH AT THE MAQUOKETA COMMUNITY CENTER. REGISTRATION FROM 8 UNTIL 9 A.M. AND THE CALL TO ORDER WILL BE AT 9 A.M. THERE WILL BE A $5
REGISTRATION FEE. ANY QUESTIONS, CALL THE PARTY CHAIRMAN, DAVID
KUNZWEILER IN BELLEVUE AT 563-872-3283.

A FORMER AREA EDUCATOR WILL BE HONOREDAT THIS WEEKEND'S BOY'S STATE
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. BOB CARDONI, WHO SPENT SOME TIME IN MAQUOKETA AS THE SCHOOL'S VO-AG INSTRUCTOR WILL RECEIVE AN ADMINISTRATION AWARD FROM THE IOWA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.
CARDONI TAUGHT IN MAQUOKETA IN 1979 AND 1980. HE IS NOW RETIRED AND LIVES IN NEW LONDON.

THE HEADLINER FOR THE JACKSON COUNTY FAIR WILL BE COUNTRY ARTISTS,
LONE STAR. THAT'S RIGHT, LONE STAR. THEY SHOULD BRING UM TO THE FAIR
SATURDAY, JULY 26TH. NIGHT RANGER WILL OPEN THE SHOW AND TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE APRIL 1ST. THE FAIR STARTS WEDNESDAY, JULY 23RD WITH THE PARADE AND AFTER THE PARADE, THE THREE HILLS BULLRIDING SHOW.
AND AGAIN THIS YEAR, THERE WILL BE A STOCK CAR RACES, THE TRUCK AND TRACTOR PULL AND THE NIGHT OF DESTRUCTIONS WILL BE SUNDAY NIGHT.

MY FRIEND, JIM WESTHOFF, AGE 77, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED THIS MORNING.
HE WAS RETIRED FROM BEING PLANT MANAGER OF SWISS VALLEY FARMS IN MAQUOKETA AND AFTER RETIRING, HE LIVED IN DELMAR AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN RENOVATING THE DELMAR DEPOT. HIS FULL OBITUARY CAN BE READ AT
www.carsonandson.com

SEE BELOW, FLYER ON OUR APRIL BUS TRIP TO MILWAUKEE. WON'T BE EASY TO READ THOUGH, SO EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

AND..MAKE A NOTE TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS THIS SATURDAY NIGHT...MOVE THEM AHEAD ONE HOUR.

DENNIS VOY
KMAQ TRAVEL IS TAKING A BUS TO THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS VERSUS MILWAUKEE BREWERS GAME ON APRIL 22ND AT MILLER PARK IN MILWAUKEE. ANY QUESTIONS,
EMAIL kmaq@kmaq.com CLICK ON THE BROCHURE TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

SOME MORE LIGHT SNOW TODAY.....NOT MUCH.

THINK SPRING...THINK ABOUT THE BIG YEAR COMING AGAIN FOR THE ST.
LOUIS CARDINALS. KMAQ WILL BE BROADCASTING THEIR GAMES AGAIN THIS YEAR. AND WE HAVE A BUS GOING TO THE ST. LOUIS VS. MILWAUKEE GAME
ON TUESDAY, APRIL 22ND AT MILLER PARK IN MILWAUKEE.....A 12:05 GAME.
FOR INFORMATION, EMAIL ME AT kmaq@kmaq.com THE CARDS LOST THIS
AFTERNOON TO WASHINGTON 6 TO 5 IN EXHIBITION PLAY IN FLORIDA
AND THEY PLAY AGAIN TONIGHT.

GOT AN EMAIL THIS MORNING FROM ROGER RICH TELLING ME THAT HIS DAD, LLOYD RICH OF 315 SOUTH 5TH STREET IN MAQUOKETA, WILL CELEBRATE HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY ON MARCH 18TH. ROGER SAID LLOYD IS STILL GOING STRONG. LIVES AT HOME AND STILL DRIVES. MAKE A NOTE TO SEND HIM A CARD. HE HAD A WELDING SHOP ON EAST PLATT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

THE MAQUOKETA FFA POSTPONED THEIR ANNUAL FARM MACHINERY CONSIGNMENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER FROM THIS WEEKEND UNTIL A NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED IN APRIL. GOT THE WORD FROM FFA ADVISOR GARY BRUNS.

TOM SCHUELLER OF MAQUOKETA ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HE WILL SEEK ANOTHER TERM IN THE IOWA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTS DISTRICT 25, COVERING JACKSON, CLINTON AND DUBUQUE COUNTIES.
HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING HIS 2ND TWO-YEAR TERM. HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED 10 YEARS ON THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL. HE IS A GENERAL CONTRACTOR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HIS TWO SONS AND SON-IN-LAW. HE ALSO NOW HAS A NEW PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS: boofer1@q.com IT IS THE NICKNAME HE GAVE HIS WIFE, BOOFER, PLUS THE NUMBER 1.

THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK APPROVEDD A COUNTY REVOLVING LOAN TO PRECISION METAL WORKS IN MAQUOKETA, IN THE AMOUNT OF $325,000 OVER SEVEN YEARS, AT AN INTEREST RATE OF 3.5 PERCENT, TO HELP BUY A $439,868 LASER CUTTER. JESSIE CRAM, PMW VICE PRESIDENT, SAID THE LASER WOULD ASSIST IN CUTTING STEEL FASTER AND WITH MORE PRECISION.

AND...SUPERVISORS AT THEIR MEETING YESTERDAY SET NEXT TUESDAY AS A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR A COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION
FOR A PROSPECTIVE INDUSTRY. THE NAME OF THAT POSSIBLE NEW MAQUOKETA INDUSTRY WILL BE MADE PUBLIC DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING NEXT WEEK.
MAQUOKETA GETTING A NEW INDUSTRY? STAY TUNED.

THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL FORMALLY APPROVED A FUND-RAISER FOR RESIDENTS TO SEEK FUNDS TO KEEP THE OLD OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL OPEN THIS SUMMER. THE GOAL IS $25,000 AND COUNCILMAN JASON HUTE IS COORDINATING THE FUND-RAISER.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY ISSUED ABOUT 78 FLYERS TO RESIDENTS
GIVING THEM FIVE DAYS TO GET SNOW AND ICE REMOVED FROM THEIR SIDEWALK.
THE SNOW ORDINACE IS PRINTED ON THE BACK. IF THE CITY CREWS DO THE WORK, A $25 BILL WILL BE SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER. THE CHARGE IS GOING TO BE $25, AND $50 FOR SUBSEQUENT OCCOURENCES, PLUS LABOR COSTS.

OH MY ACHING ANKLE....TIME TO CLOSE THIS REPORT.

DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

SUNNY AND NICE TODAY.....AROUND 30.

ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS OF DISCUSSION AT THE SUPERVIORS MEETING THIS MORNING, WAS ONCE AGAIN THE WEATHER AND HOW IT EFFECTS COUNTY ROADS.
JACKSON COUNTY ENGINEER CLARK SCHLOZ SAID AS OF FEB 27TH, THE DEPARTMENT HAD SPENT $482,000 FOR LABOR AND MATERIALS AND THAT IS ABOUT $130,000 OVER BUDGET AND THE TOTALS DO NOT INCLUDE FUEL COSTS.
SCHLOZ SAID OVER THE WEEKEND, THE TEMPERATURES WENT FROM 10 DEGREES TO NEAR 60 DEGREES, AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF MELTING OF SNOW AND ICE.
HE SAID WATER IS FLOWIGN OVER ROADS AND THE COUNTY ROADS ARE VERY
SOFT. AND HE BELIEVES IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.
HE COMPARED THIS SPRING TO THAT OF 1997 WHEN COUNTY ROADS WERE NEARLY
IMPASSABLE IN PLACES. SCHLOZ SAID HIS OFFICE HAS HAD MANY CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HAPPY. SUPERVISON JACK WILLEY SAID IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO BE EVERYWHERE AT THE SAME TIME AND THE CREWS WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY.

AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CRACK DOWN ON RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT SHOVELING
THEIR SIDEWALKS. DURING A LENGTHY DISCUSSION LAST NIGHT, COUNCILMAN
GALEN SAUNDERS SAID HE HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS FROM RESIDENTS LIVING ALL OVER MAQUOKETA AND THEY TOLD HIM OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH NOT SHOVELING THEIR SNOW MANY TIMES THIS WINTER. SAUNDERS
SAID HE HATES TO SEE T HEM GET A FINE, BUT THEY ARE GETTING USED TO NOT SCOOPING THIER SNOW. HE SAID IF RESIDENTS ARE FINED FOR NOT SHOVELING AND THEIR NAMES ARE MADE PUBLIC, MAYBE IT WILL WAKE UP OTHERS WHO ARE NOT SHOVELING. POLICE CHIEF KORANDA SAID THE OFFICERS ARE WATCHING FOR OFFENDERS AND THEY HAVE ISSUED WRITTEN WARNINGS THIS YEAR.
HE SAID IN HIS 20 YEARS ON THE DEPARTMENT, THEY NEVER HAVE CHARGED SOMEONE.

WHAT A WINTER THIS HAS BEEN!

THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY
THE KMAQ 50TH ANNIVERSARY RADIO FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH. TO BE ELIGIBLE, JUST EMAIL YOUR NAME, ADDRESS , PHONE NUMBER, AND COMMENTS IF YOU WISH TO MAKE SOME, TO kmaq@kmaq.com OR MAIL THIS INFORMATION TO
KMAQ, BOX 940, MAQUOKETA, IA. 52060.
DENNIS VOY

Monday, March 03, 2008

IT WAS IN THE 50'S SUNDAY. NICE.
THEN RAIN STARTED LAST NIGHT AND TURNED TO SNOW EARLY THIS MORNING.
NEARLY AN INCH OF RAIN AND A GOOD INCH OF SNOW.
TODAY, PARTY SUNNY, BUT COOL AND WINDY. LITTLE OR NO SNOW IS THE FORECAST FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, BUT TEMPERATURES WILL BE MOSTLY
AROUND 30 ALL WEEK LONG. WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER WEEK FOR SOME
WARMER WEATHER.

MAQUOKETA FIREMEN WERE CALLED TO A CHIMNEY FIRE SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE DON AND BECKY KUTCH RESIDENCE JUST EAST OF MAQUOKETA. IT WAS QUICKLY
PUT OUT AND FIREMEN WERE AT THE SCENE ABOUT 40 MINUTES.

ABOUT 350 PEOPLE ENJOYED "THE ODD COUPLE" THIS PAST WEEKEND AT THE OHNWARD FINE ARTS CENTER, PUT ON BY THE PEACE PIPE PLAYERS. GOOD SHOW!
SOME REALLY FINE PERFORMANCES!

ABOUT 500 STEAK DINNERS WERE SERVED FOR THE LOVE THE FIREMEN BANQUET
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IN MAQUOKETA. THE EVENT SPONSORED BY THE MAQUOKETA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 28 FIRE DEPARTMENTS
HAD REPRESENTATIVES THERE. AFTER THE DINNER AND PROGRAM, MANY MAQUOKETA AREA CIITZENS JOINED THE FIREMEN FOR A BENEFIT DANCE, WITH MUSIC BY "JAMMER". THE EVENT WAS TERMED A BIG SUCCESS AND WAS A THANK-YOU EVENT FOR THE FIREMEN WHO FOUGHT THE TRAGIC DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA FIRE BACK ON JANUARY 19TH. ALL THOSE WHO LOST THEIR BUILDING AND BUSINESS THAT NIGHT WERE ALSO PRESENT FOR THE DINNER. KMAQ PRESENTED
A DVD OF FIREFIGHTER PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE FIRE.

ANOTHER 10 GALLON GASOLINE DRIVE-OFF SUNDAY AT CASEY'S CONVENIENCE
STORE IN MAQUOKETA.

MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

LONGTIME MAQUOKETA CARPET LAYER, VERN LANGE, DIED SATURDAY AND COMPLETE OBITUARY CAN BE READ AT www.carsonandson.com

JACQUELINE "JACQUE" HARDIN, AGE 61, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED THIS MORNING AT MERCY HOSPITAL IN DUBUQUE. SHE WORKED FOR ME AT THE THEATRE YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN A FRIEND OVER THE YEARS, ALONG WITH HER HUSBAND, STAN, WHO ALSO WORKED FOR KMAQ AS AN ANNOUNCER. HER DAUGHTER MAGGIE
AND FAMILY LIVES IN DUBUQUE. ARRANGEMENTS ARE PENDING AT CARSON AND SON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

CHECK THE PHOTO OF CARL MUHLHAUSEN BELOW.

DENNIS VOY
THE KMAQ 50TH ANNIVERSARY RADIO WINNER FOR FEBRUARY IS WELL KNOWN
MAQUOKETA RETIRED BUSINESSMAN, CARL MUHLHAUSEN, SHOWN ABOVE.
LAST FRIDAY, JUST MINUTES BEFORE THE DRAWING WAS HELD ON KMAQ'S "JUST
TALK" SHOW, CARL SAID TO HIS WIFE...."I'm going to win that radio!" AND THEN
THEY BOTH WERE SURPRISED AND CHUCKLED WHEN HIS NAME WAS READ.
CARL OWNED AND OPERATED CARL'S DX ON EAST PLATT FOR MANY YEARS.
HE STARTED LISTENING TO KMAQ ON THE FIRST FULL DAY OF BROADCASTING,
AUGUST 26, 1958. WAS A GOOD KMAQ ADVERTISER OVER THE YEARS TOO.
THANKS CARL, FOR BEING A GOOD KMAQ LISTENER OVER THE YEARS. NOTE, THE RADIO ALSO CAN PLAY CD'S, AND SO, WITH THE RADIO, WENT RED HENTON'S NEW
CD. CARL PICKED UP THE RADIO TODAY AND WE TOOK HIS PICTURE IN OUR
INTERVIEW STUDIO. CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT. BUT...CARL BROUGHT IT BACK TO KMAQ A COUPLE HOURS LATER , AS WHEN HE TOOK IT OUT OF THE BOX, THERE WAS NO CORD. SO, WE HAVE TO GET A REPLACEMENT TOMORROW.
ANOTHER NEW RADIO WENT INTO THE KMAQ WINDOW TODAY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH. WE'LL HAVE A PHOTO OF IT HERE TOMORROW. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE DRAWING OF 10 MORE RADIOS THIS YEAR, JUST EMAIL YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER AND WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED LISTENING TO KMAQ. OTHER COMMENTS WELCOME TOO IF YOU LIKE. IN AUGUST, WE'LL BE READING ON THE AIR, SOME OF THE COMMENTS RECEIVED. IF YOU REGISTERED EARLIER...NO NEED TO DO IT AGAIN. AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING KMAQ CELEBRATE THE BIG 50.
DENNIS VOY