Monday, June 30, 2008

NICE DAY TODAY.....PRETTY GOOD FORECAST FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK FOR MAQUOKETA. MIGHT GET SOME RAIN ON WEDNESDAY.'

TWO BIRTHDAYS TO NOTE....

JERRY RASMUSSEN, LONGTIME MAQUOKETA BUSINESSMAN, RETIRED OVER 25 YEARS, IS 88 TODAY. HE AND DOROTHY OWN A CONDO LOOKING OVER THE MAQUOKETA GOLF COURSE AND HE HAS COFFEE WITH US EACH MORNING AT THE DECKER.

AND SARA HURST COOPER, OF 302 SOUTH 2ND STREET IN MAQUOKETA (LIVES WITH RELATIVES) IS 100 TODAY. I INTERVIEWED HER EARLIER THIS MONTH. VERY SHARP LADY AND DOESN'T LOOK 100. HER GRANDFATHER WAS ONE OF THE FAMOUS HURST BROTHERS, ALFRED HURST. THE OTHER WAS ABE HURST.

ORGANIZERS OF THE FIRST EVER TIMBER CITY DAYS FESTIVAL THIS PAST WEEKEND SAID TODAY IT WAS A SUCCESS AND THAT THEY WILL HAVE IT AGAIN IN LATE JUNE NEXT YEAR.

THE NEW NO SMOKING LAW IN IOWA GOES INTO EFFECT TOMORROW.
NO SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES, INCLUDING BARS AND RESTAURANTS.
QUITE CONTROVERSIAL. SMOKING WILL BE ALLOWED IN CASINOS.

BOTH THE MAQUOKETA GIRLS AND BOYS TEAMS END UP THE CONFERENCE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON TONIGHT AGAINST VINTON.
THE BOYS HERE, THE GIRLS AT VINTON.'

THERE WERE 70 CAMPERS FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL SAGE ROSENFELS FOOTBALL CAMP
LAST SATURDAY IN MAQUOKETA. THAT WAS DOWN FROM LAST YEARS. THERE WERE 23 COACHES AT THE CAMP.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY
SATURDAY, DURING TIMBER CITY DAYS IN MAQUOKETA, THE MAQUOKETA ART EXPERIENCE STARTED WITH A BLANK 3 BY 4 FOOT WHITE CARD AND INVITED THE PUBLIC TO CONTRIBUTE TO A PAINTING OF THE DAY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, SHOWN ABOVE IS THE PAINTING THAT HAD MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE
SOMETHINGN TO IT. THEY CREATED AN INTERESTING PIECE OF "HODGE-PODGE"
ARTWORK. AND, THEY HELD A $1 RAFFLE SO SOMEONE WOULD OWN IT. THE 2008 TIMBER CITY DAYS PAINTING WAS WON BY HEATHER RICKERTSEN OF DUBUQUE.
CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT IS AMATEUR PAINTING NIGHT DOWNTOWN AT THE
STUDIO. STOP BY AND WATCH... OR TAKE UP A BRUSH. ANY QUESTIONS, CALL
BOB OSTERHAUS.
ONE MORE THING...TODAY IS LONGTIME MAQUOKETA BUSINESSMAN, TIMBER CITY PROMOTER AND LOCAL HISTORIAN JERRY RASMUSSEN'S 88TH BIRTHDAY.
ONE CAN "GOOGLE" JERRY'S MEMORY FOR MANY INTERESTING MAQUOEKTA STORIES OF THE PAST. HE HAS A TERRIFIC MEMORY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRY.
HE COMES TO COFFEE EVERY MORNING AT THE DECKER. HE AND DOROTHY LIVE IN THEIR NICE CONDO OUT ON THE EDGE OF THE MAQUOKETRA COUNTRY CLUB,
WHERE HE STILL GOLFS REGULARLY.
DENNIS VOY

Sunday, June 29, 2008



THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT UP AT 7....A BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE MORNING. NOW, AT 11 WE ARE HAVING SOME LIGHT RAIN. HUNDREDS SHOWED UP THIS MORNING FOR THE 7 AM UNTIL 12 NOON BREAKFAST AT THE NEW MAQUOKETA FIRE STATTION. ALL WERE IMPRESSED AT HOW NICE A BUILDING IT IS. MANY TOOK A TOUR, BUT I UNDERSTAND A FORMAL RIBBON CUTTING AND GRAND OPENING WITH TOURS IS COMING SOON, FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T ATTEND THE BREAKFAST TODAY. I THINK IT MIGHT BE SAFE TO SAY THAT MAQUOKETA NOW HAS HE NICEST VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION IN THE COUNTRY. MORE PHOTOS BELOW. ALSO PHOTOS FARTHER DOWN FROM YESTERDAY'S TIMBER CITY DAYS EVENTS, ALONG WITH A SATURDAY DAILY REPORT.

DENNIS VOY

THE SERVING AREA WAS IN THE OLD SECTION OF STATION, ON NEW WHITE TABLES.
FIREMEN, WIVES, AND CHILDREN IN FIREMAN SHIRTS KEPT BUSY CLEARING TABLES.
PANCAKES, SAUSAGE, SCRAMBLED EGGS, APPLE SAUCE, JUICE, MILK AND COFFEE.
GOOD BREAKFAST. SHIRTS FOR THE SEPTEMBER FIREMEN'S CONVENTION IN MAQUOKETA WERE ON SALE. ALSO A RAFFLE FOR A STEAK DINNER OR TOYS.
DENNIS VOY
THIS IS UPSTAIRS....AN UPSTAIRS LOBBY AREA.....WITH LARGE BAY WINDOWS
LOOKING OVER THE PARKING AREA, THE COURTHOUSE AND DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA. ANOTHER NICE PUBLIC REST ROOM OFF THIS AREA.
DENNIS VOY
FIRE CHIEF MARK BECK STARTING A TOUR IN THE ENTRANCE LOBBY, WHICH HAS A
STAIRWAY UPSTAIRS TO LEFT (A STAIRWAY ALSO IN THE REAR) AND A PUBLIC
RESTROOM. FIREMEN HAVE THEIR OWN LARGER RESTROOM WITH SHOWERS.
DENNIS VOY
FIRE CHEIF MARK BECK'S OFFICE.
DENNIS VOY
LOOKING DOWN AT THE PARKING LOT FROM THE UPSTAIRS LOBBY OR LOFT.
DENNIS VOY

Saturday, June 28, 2008

WINDY AND WARM THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE TIMBER CITY DAYS IN MAQUOKETA.

THE 9TH ANNUAL TIMBER CITY ADVENTURE RACE RESULTS: A TOTAL OF 74 REGISTERED TEAMS ENTERED (DOWN FROM LAST YEAR) WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM IOWA, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK AND
CALIFORNIA. MAQUOKETA WINNERS, EITHER FIRST OR SECOND IN THEIR
DIVISION: DARYL DAVISON...JASON GILMORE...BRANDON STARR...MARTY DAVISON...BUDDY ATIENZA...NATE MOORE...JOSH WING...MICHELLE WING...
CAROLYN MARTIN...GREG MARTIN....MATT MICHEL....STACIE MICHEL....JEFF SWANSON....DAN RATCLIFF....DAVE VAN ZUMMEREN....KEVIN BURNS....ANN
BURNS.
THE BIKE RAFFLE WINNER WAS MARY ANN WILLEY OF GREENVILLE, ILLINOIS.
A GRILL WAS WON BY JAKE SCHWENKER OF MAQUOKETA.....VOY THEATRE TICKETS WON BY MARY SCHMIDT OF MAQUOKETA....DAIRY QUEEN CERTIFICATES WON BY GREG MARTIN, JOHN WOLTER AND MARA NISSEN OF MAQUOKETA.

A COUPLE PHOTOS BELOW TAKING AT THIS AFTERNOON'S ACTIVITIES IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA. THE GARDEN TRACTOR PULL WAS THE BIGGEST AND MOST POPULAR ATTRACTION.

HAVE A NICE SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY.

DENNIS VOY
THE DUNK TANK WAS POPULAR. HERE MY GRANDSON, JACOB CLAUSSEN OF BETTENDORF, AGE 5, GETS READY TO DELIVER. TWICE HE DUNKED THE
GIRL. HE WAS PRETTY PROUD.
DENNIS VOY
FIREHOSE COMPETITION FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES IN THE CITY PARKING LOT
OFF OF WEST PLATT STREET. GOOD WEATHER BROUGHT GOOD CROWDS, DESPITE THE HIGH WINDS. LOTS OF FOOD TOO....PIZZA....PORK BURGERS GRILLED BY
THE JACKSON COUNTY PORK PRODUCERS AND ICE CREAM. THIS EVENT SPONSORED BY THE MAQUOKETA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MOST EVENTS FOR THE KIDS WERE FREE.
DENNIS VOY
DENNIS VOY
THE GARDEN TRACTOR PULL WAS VERY POPULAR THIS AFTERNOON AT TIMBER CITY DAYS IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA. BUT FIRST, THEY NEEDED TO HAUL IN OVER 15 LOADS OF DIRT TO FORM THE PULLING TRACK.
DENNIS VOY
IT IS NEARLY 11 A.M. THIS SATURDAY MORNING, AND THE PHOTO ABOVE I TOOK MINUTES AGO FROM IN FRONT OF KMAQ, LOOKING NORTH ON MAIN STREET.
THE 9TH ANNUAL TIMBER CITY RACE IS GOING ON NOW. THE FIRST CANOE WAS
PUT-IN AT CANTON SHORTLY AFTER 7:30 THIS MORNING. THE PARTIPANTS CANOE THE FIRST 8 MILES....THEN BIKE ANOTHER 15 MILES....AND THEN RUN THE FINAL PART OF THE COURSE FROM HURSTVILLE TO THE FINISH LINE IN FRONT OF KMAQ. A BEAUTIFUL MORNING FOR THIS RACE....TEMPERATURE AROUND 70 AND A 15 MILE-PER-HOUR BREEZE. TROPHIES TO THE WINNERS WILL BE PRESENTED
EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. MORE ABOUT THE RACE LATER TODAY ON THIS SITE.
TIMBER CITY DAYS STARTED LAST NIGHT WITH KIDS GAMES AND A TEEN DANCE.
IT WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE FIREMEN'S BREAKFAST AT THE NEW FIRE STATION
TOMORROW MORNING. MAYOR MESSERLI AND FIRE CHIEF BECK WILL GIVEK TOURS FO THE NEW FIRE STATION WHILE THE BREAKFAST IS BEING SERVED.
THANKS FOR CHECKING IN. MAY HAVE ANOTHER REPORT LATER TODAY.
CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY


Friday, June 27, 2008

WE HAD SOME LIGHT RAIN THIS MORNING...THEN CLOUDY....THEN SUNSHINE, WHICH WE HAVE NOW. THE RELAY FOR LIFE FROM 6 P.M. TONIGHT UNTIL 6 A.M. TOMORROW MORNING, IS BEING HELD OVERNIGHT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, BUT INSIDE INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE.
THE TIMBER CITY DAYS TEEN DANCE FOR TONIGHT WAS MOVED INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM AROUND NOON TODAY AND NOW HAS BEEN MOVED BACK TO THE
DOWNTOWN PARKING LOT THAT HAS BEEN FENCED OFF FOR THE WEEKEND
EVENTS DOWNTOWN.

THE JACKSON COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARD LAST NIGHT APPROVED HIRING THE
VANGUARD COMPANY OF CEDAR RAPIDS TO DO NEW RESIDENTIAL APPRAISALS FOR
THE COUNTY, AT A COST OF $627,669. THE APPRAISALS WILL BE DONE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. AND THE END RESULT WILL BE HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES FOR
MOST IF NOT ALL.

MONDAY NIGHT, PUTTING UP TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT WEST PLATT AND MCKINSEY DRIVE WILL BE DISCUSSED BY THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL.

DON REYNER, AGE 80 OF MAQUOKETA.....BOB DEMOSS, SR.,AGE 79 OF MAQUOKETA....
AND CHIZUKO STOLTENBERG, AGE 80, OF BALDWIN.....FOR ALL THREE....THEIR COMPLETED OBITUARIES ARE POSTED NOW AT www.carsonandson.com

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. NEARLY 700 HITS TO THIS DAILY REPORT THE PAST 24 HOURS....GROWING. THANKS!

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, June 26, 2008

THIS BUILDING WAS A LUMBER YARD ON EAST PLAT STREET IN MAQUKETA FOR MANY YEARS. A FEW YEARS AGO, PAUL HAHLE BOUGHT IT AND DID EXTENSIVE
REMODELING TO THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE. IT IS NOW A FINE LOOKING BUILDING AND FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, HE HAS USED IT FOR HIS FLOOR COVERING
BUSINESS. NOW, IT ALSO INCLUDES A LARGE GIFT AND HOME DECOR SHOP, OPERATED BY THE GALS THAT WORKED AT THE (NOW BURNED-OUT) HALLMARK STORE IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA. A REALLY NEAT GIFT SHOP....3 OR 4 ROOMS IN FACT. "THE OLD LUMBER YARD"....THE NAME TODAY....IS HAVING A GRAND OPENING OF THE GIFT DEPARTMENT AND ANNIVERARY CELEBRATION OF THE CARPET DEPARTMENT, TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY. SPECIALS...WINE TASTING...
REFRESHMENTS...AND DOOR PRIZES.

THANKS FOR THE VISIT. BEFORE YOU LEAVE, PLEASE READ THE THURSDAY DAILY REPORT BELOW....AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY CLUB ICE CREAM SOCIAL PHOTOS BELOW THE NEWS STORIES.

DENNIS VOY
PARTLY SUNNY TODAY AND IN THE MID-70'S. RAIN EXPECTED TONIGHT.

ELAINE MERCADO WILL BE RETIRING AS THE LEAD EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST
WITH IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AFTER 25 YEARS. KARIN TILL HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO TAKE OVER HER POSITION JULY 1ST. THANKS TO ELAINE FOR A JOB WELL DONE AND CONGRATUATIONS TO KARIN.

A VETERAN MAUOKETA TEACHER HAS BEEN NAMED THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT CARDINAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TO REPLACE DAN RATCLIFF WHO RESIGNED TO TAKE A JOB IN OELWEIN. BOLLMAN WILL BE PAID $60,000 AND WILL START AUGUST 1ST. THERE WERE 28 CANDIDATES FOR THE JOB. BOLLMAN HAS TAUGHT IN THE MAQUOEKETA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR 22 YEARS. SHE RECENTLY RECEIVED A MASTERS OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP FROM WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.

RICK BICKFORD, AGE 69, OF BELOIT, DIED YESTERDAY AT THE BELOIT HOSPITAL.
THE FUNERAL WILL BE MONDAY. HE WAS A 1956 GRADUATE OF MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, JEAN, THREE DAUGHTERS, SIX GRANDCHILDREN AND 8 BROTHERS AND SISTERS, INCLUDING JAKE, DEAN AND
BRAD ALL IN MAQUOKETA.

FORMER MAQUOKETA RESIDENT, BARBARA DUGAN, AGE 63, OF MAPLE PLAIN, MINNESOTA, DIED TUESDAY AFTERNOON IN MAPLE PLAIN.
SURVIVORS INCLUDE HER MOTHER, BERNICE HILL OF MAQUOKETA AND A SISTER, AUDREY WILMS OF MAQUOKETA.

BOB DEMOSS,SR. AGE 79, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED YESTERDAY AT FINLEY HOSPITAL IN DUBUQUE. SERVICES PENDING AT CARSON AND SON.

MADDY BOHANNON, AGE 9, OF DEWITT AND FORMERLY OF MAQUOKETA, DIED YESTERDAY AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS, AFTER A BATTLE WITH CANCER.
MADDY IS THE DAUGHTER OF JEANIE MANNING OF DEWITT AND STEVE
BOHANNON OF MAQUOKETA. SERVICES PENDING AT LAHEY FUNERAL HOME
IN MAQUOKETA.

DON REYNER, AGE 80, OF MAQUOKETA, DIED YESTERDAY AT THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.
HE WAS A LONGTIME EMPLOYEE OF THE POST OFFICE. SERVICES PENDING AT
CARSON AND SON.

CHECK THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL PHOTOS BELOW.

TAKE CARE.

DENNIS VOY
THERE WAS A NICE TURN-OUT LAST NIGHT FOR THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY CLUB
33RD ANNUAL ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND BAND CONCERT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IN
MAQUOKETA. MOST BROUGHT THEIR LAWN CHAIR AND LISTENED TO THE
MUSIC OF TIMBER CITY BAND, DIRECTED BY JAY KAHN. THE MUSIC CAME AFTER CAKE AND ICE CREAM WAS SERVED AT NEARBY BOYER HALL. FOUNDED AS THE
AUSTIN AVENUE BAND IN 1973 BY MAQUOKETA TEACHERS EDD AND JUDY SCHEER, THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO TIMBER CITY BAND IN 1986. LAST NIGHT, THEY DID OVER A DOZEN NUMBERS FROM "I GOT RHYTHM" TO "A DAY AT DISNEYLAND".
ALSO, AN OVERTURE TO "THE MAGIC FLUTE" WITH GUEST DIRECTOR BRIAN HUGHES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. I ALSO LIKED "THE HAPPY WANDERER" AND "A WALK IN THE BLACK FOREST". THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY THANKS THE BAND FOR THE GREAT MUSIC AND THE SENIORS WHO ATTENED THE FUN EVENING.
SEE A COUPLE MORE PHOTOS BELOW AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN CLICK-IN THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY
HERE'S THE ICE CREAM SOCIAL KING OF MAQUOKETA, MAQUOKETA ROTARIAN
TED MAZE. AGAIN LAST NIGHT, HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY
CLUB 33RD ANNUAL SENIOR ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND BAND CONCERT AT THE JACKSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. TED IS SEMI-RETIRED FROM MAQUOKETA
LUMBER COMPANY WHICH HE SOLD TO HIS SON, MARK SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
DENNIS VOY
THE LINE WAS LONG FOR THE CAKE AND ICE CREAM LAST NIGHT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS IN MAQUOKETA. PAST ROTARY PRESIDENT JOHN GILROY OF DEWITT SERVES THE ICE CREAM AND ED TUBBS AND TOM SCHUELLER OF MAQUOKETA ARE HELPING AS NEEDED. THE SENIORS CHOSE THEIR OWN TRAY WITH CAKE OF CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT FOR THE 33RD ANNUAL MAQUOKETA ROTARY CLUB ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND BAND CONCERT.
DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

SUNNY AND WARM THIS AFTERNOON...HIGH OF 82. RAIN IN FORECAST FOR
TONIGHT.

THE JACKSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE FAGERLAND FAMILY HAS MADE A LARGE DONATION TO THE SOCIETY FOR THE
CLINTON ENGINES PROJECT. THE AMOUNT NOT GIVEN. THE GIFT WAS PRESENTED BY EVELYN FAGERLAND AND DAUGHTERS, KAREN SLATTERY OF MAQUOKETA, KENDRA BECK OF MAQUOKETA AND KRISTA GRAND TO PRESTON.
EVELYN FAGERLAND HASA BEEN A MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY GOVERNING BOARD FOR 12 YEARS. HER LATE HUSBAND JOHN, WAS PARTNER
WITH ED TUBBS, IN OWNERSHIP OF THE MAQUOKETA STATE BANK, AND THE
BANKS THAT FOLLOWED. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PLANS TO NAME THE NORTHEAST EXHIBIT ROOM IN THE FORMER CLINTON ENGINES ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, THE "FAGERLAND ROOM". THE NEW MUSEUM IS SET TO OPEN
IN AUGUST 16TH. THE OUTSIDE LOOKS GREAT! I HAVE NOT BEEN INSIDE. G.L. STOCKHAM AND SON CONTRACTORS, IS THERE DOING FINISHING WORK DAILY, WITH GUIDANCE BY RETIRED MARINE GEN. CHARLIE MITCHELL (CURATOR OF MUSEUM, BONNIE WELLS MITCHELL IS HIS WIFE) AND RETIRED ATTORNENY ASHER SCHROEDER. WHEN DONE, IT WILL REALLY BE SOMETHING TO SEE. PUT IT ON
YOUR SCHEDULE FOR YOUR NEXT VISIT TO MAQUOKETA. AND IF YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE SOME CASH TO IT, MAIL YOUR CHECK TO ME AND I WILL FORWARD IT
TO ASHER. THEY NEED A LOT MORE MONEY THAN HAS ALREADY BEEN RAISED.

THE JOBLESS RATE FOR JACKSON COUNTY IN MAY WENT DOWN TO 4.4 PERCENT
FROM 5 PERCENT IN APRIL.

THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS STARTING TO COOL DOWN, BUT NOT
DEAD. MOST MAQUOKETANS ARE CROSSING THEIR FINGERS IT WILL GO.
IF SO, CLEANUP WILL BE FAST AND WILL NOT BE COSTLY TO THE CITY.
EVERYONE IS GETTING TIRED OF LOOKING AT THE BURNED OUT BUILDINGS.
IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER 6 MONTHS SINCE THE FIRE.

DICK'S SUPER MARKET SALE IS OVER AND THE STORE IS CLOSED. THE GAS STATION IS STILL OPEN.

HEADING SOON TO THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY ICECREAM SOCIAL. NANCY BAKED TWO CAKES...ONE FOR ME AND ONE FOR HER. WE ARE BOTH MEMBERS OF THE ROTARY.

THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY
WEDNESDAY MORNING....AND WE HAVE HAD LIGHT RAIN. MORE COMING.

TONIGHT, THE 33RD ANNUAL MAQUOKETA ROTARY CLUB ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND BAND CONCERT AT THE JACKSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN MAQUOKETA, STARTING AT 6:00 P.M. THE ROTARY BEGAN THIS SUMMERTIME EVENT IN 1976, DURING MAQUOKETA'S ONE-WEEK U.S. BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AND I WAS ON THE MAQUOKETA CELEBRATIN COMMITTEE. THE SOCIAL HAS BEEN HELD EVERY YEAR SINCE AND THE CHAIRMEN CONTINUES TO BE ROTARIAN TED MAZE. IN THE EARLY YEARS, THE ICE CREAM WAS HOME-MADE ON A BUNCH OF ICE CREAM MAKERS THAT WE PLUGGED IN TO EVERY AVAILABLE OUTLET.
MOST OF THE TIME, WE (I'M A ROTARIAN SINCE 1965) HAD THE EVENT AT THE FIRST WARD PARK. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE MOVED IT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS, IN THE OUTDOOR SHELTER ADJACENT TO BOYER HALL. SO, IN CASE OF RAIN, IT CAN EASILY BE MOVED INDOORS. THE MAQUOKETA TIMBER CITY BAND
DIRECTED BY JAY KAHN, GIVES THE CONCERT. IT IS MADE OF MUSICIANS (FORMER HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE BAND PEOPLE) WHO LIKE TO GET TOGETHER IN THE SUMMER TO PLAY SOME OF THE FAVORITE MARCHES THAT THEY PLAYED YEARS AGO. IT IS A FUN EVENT AND ALL SENIORS IN MAQUOKETA AND THE SURRONDING AREA ARE INVITED. NO CHARGE AND BRING YOUR LAWNCHAIRS.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE PHOTO BELOW, THAT I POSTED YESTERDAY, OF
VAUGHN MONROE WHEN HE VISITED MAQUOKETA. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I GOT A SURPRISE EMAIL THIS MORNING FROM SOMEONE THAT GAVE ME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VAUGHN MONROE APPEARANCE. AND I HAVE SOME CORRCTIONS ALSO. THE EMAIL CAME FROM SALLY SCHROEDER, WHO IS THE DEAN FOR HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES AT THE DES MOINES AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN ANKENY. SHE SAID: "DENNIS, I LIKED YOUR PICTURE OF VAUGHN
MONROE! I WAS IN THE MISS JACKSON COUNTY PAGEANT IN 1966 AND HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF MR. MONROE BEING IN THE PARADE, MCING THE PAGEANT AND EVEN GIVING ME A KISS AS FIRST RUNNER-UP." I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THE EVENT WAS NOT IN THE 70'S AS I SAID. CLINTON ENGINES WENT BANKRUPT IN 1966 AND
LOWELL HAAS WOULD HAVE LEFT MAQUOKETA SOMETIME SOON AFTER THAT.
I EMAILED SALLY BACK FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HERE IT IS.
SALLY'S MAIDEN NAME WAS SPIELMAN. HER MOTHER WAS THERESE JANSEN, WHO RAN THE NURSING HOME ON CLARK STREET. SHE MARRIED BILL SCHROEDER AND BOTH ARE 1965 GRADS OF MCHS AND WILL CELEBRATE THEIR 40TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY NEXT MONTH. HER FATHER-IN-LAW IS ASHER SCHROEDER HERE IN MAQUOKETA. SHE SAID IT WAS A "MISS JACKSON COUNTY" PAGEANT, NOT
"MISS MAQUOKETA" AND IT WAS AN OFFICIAL MISS AMERICA PAGEANT. SHE SAYS SHE REMEMBERS GOING TO DAVENPORT FOR THE MISS IOWA EVENT. SHE GOES ON TO SAY THAT IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1966, BUT THE TROPHY SAYS 1967. SHE
WAS IN NURSING SCHOOL IN DUBUQUE THOSE YEARS AND HER NURSING CLASS RECENTLY HELD THEIR 40TH REUNION.
SO...THAT'S THE STORY UPDATE. VAUGHN MONROE APPEARING IN MAQUOKETA 42 YEARS AGO THIS SUMMER. THE INTERNET HAS A LOT ABOUT HIM.....JUST GOOGLE HIS NAME. HE DIED YOUNG, ON MAY 21, 1973. NOW...ONLY THING I STILL HAVE NOT TOLD YOU.......WHO WAS THE 1ST PLACE WINNER OF THAT 1966 PAGEANT. I'M SURE WE'LL FIND THAT OUT TOO.
THERE WAS A TUESDAY DAILY REPORT....BELOW. AND...I MAY HAVE THE REGULAR WEDESDAY REPORT LATER TODAY. HAVE A GOOD WEDNESDAY.
DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

ANOTHER NICE WARM DAY IN MAQUOKETA.

THE MAQUOKETA BOY'S BASEBALL TEAM LOST A DOUBLE-HEADER LAST NIGHT
TO BENTON COMMUNITY, 9 TO 5 AND 8 TO 2.
MAQUOKETA OVERALL HAS 3 WINS AND 16 LOSSES. IN THE WAMAC CONFERENCE,
1 WIN AND 11 LOSSES.

AND.. THE MAQUOKETA GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM SPLIT A DOUBLE-
HEADER HERE IN MAQUOKETA LAST NIGHT, ALSO TO BENTON COMMUNITY,
WINNING THE FIRST GAME, 6 TO 0 AND LOOSING THE SECOND GAME, 1 TO
0. MAQUOKETA IS 20 AND 11 OVERALL AND 12 AND 6 IN THE WAMAC.

A LOUISIANA RESIDENT WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT THIS MORNING AT ABOUT 6:10 A.M. AROUND 10 MILES NORTH OF MAQUOKETA ON FOUR-LANE 61. HE WAS ONE OF THE PASSENGERS IN A CAR THAT WAS GOING SOUTH AND FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE IT ROLLED
SEVERAL TIMES. THE MAN KILLED WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT.
THREE FROM THE CAR WERE TREATED AND RELEASED AT THE MAQUOKETA HOSPITAL.

THE MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1938 HELD ITS 70TH CLASS REUNION
SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2008, AT THE DECKER HOTEL. CLASS MEMBERS ATTENDING WERE: GLEN HENTON OF MAQUOKETA....JEANETTE KREIBLE MOIAN OF LIVONIA,
MICHIGAN....MAX MOELLER OF SAFFORD, ARIZONA....DILMAN DOLAN OF EASTHAMTON, MASSADCHUSETS....TRIULA SAUNDERS DALTON OF NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA....JERRY AND DOROTHY RASMUSSEN OF MAQUOKETA....AGATHA EARLES CARR OF GARNETT, KANSAS....GLATHA HUTE WINCHIP OF MAQUOKETA....DORIS BUDDE DUTTON OF ELDRIDGE, IOWA....MARY REGENWETHER SCOTT OF MAQUOKETA....GERALDINE EASTON PITHAN OF MAQUOKETA AND JOHN GOODAL OF BETTENDORF.

THE EMELINE ALL SCHOOL REUNION WILL BE HELD AT THE EMILINE SCHOOL THIS SATURDAY, J UNE 28, 2008, FROM NOON UNTIL 4:00 P.M. A POTLUCK (BRING YOUR OWN TABLE SERVICE) AND BRING YOUR OLD SCHOOL PICTURES AND SHARE OLD SCHOOL STORIES. ANY QUESTIONS, CALL SHERRI "WELLS' REID AT 563-652-4954 OR AT NIGHT, CALL 563-485-3053 OR CALL JOANN "HEISTER" JONES AT 563-652-2966.

TWO MAQUOKETA RESIDENTS, JULIE MORRIS AND VERNIS OSBORNE, REPORTED THEIR VEHICLES HAD BEEN ENTERED OVERNIGHT LAST NIGHT....ON NORTH DECKER STREET AND NORTH DEARBORN.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.
CHECK THE PHOTO BELOW AND CLICK-IN TO ENLARGE.

DENNIS VOY

A KMAQ 50TH ANNIVERSARY PHOTO! THIS WAS TAKE IN THE 70'S ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THE DECKER HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA. VAUGHN MONROE, FAMOUS DEEP-VOICED SINGER AND BAND LEADER, WAS WORKING AS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR RCA. MERLYN YEAGER, THE LOCAL RCA DEALER AT THE TIME, ARRANGED TO HAVE MONROE IN TOWN FOR A WEEKEND TO PROMOTE RCA AT HIS STORE AND ALSO TO BE THE EMCEE OF THE SATURDAY NIGHT "MISS MAQUOKETA PAGEANT". HERE HE WAS WELCOMED TO MAQUOKETA BY MAYOR BEN JACOBSON (YOU CAN JUST SEE HIS HEAD) AND BY MAQUOKETA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT LOWEL HAAS. THE EVENT WAS BEING BROADCAST ON KMAQ ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE DECKER AND I AM HOLDING THE MIKE AND PICKING UP THE COMMENTS MADE TO MONROE. LATER ON THAT DAY, I MADE A LONG INTERVIEW WITH HIM FROM THE PAGEANT REHERSAL AREA. NICE GUY....AND EASY TO INTERVIEW. SOMEWHERE HERE AT THE STATION I HAVE THE TAPE OF THAT INTERVIEW. I DON'T BELIEVE LOWELL HAAS IS STILL LIVING. HE WAS AN ENGINEER WITH CLINTON ENGINES HERE IN MAQUOKETA. BEN JACOBSON
WAS MAYOR ON TWO OR THREE OCCASSIONS. IN 1969 I DEFEATED HIM FOR
MAYOR BUT WE REMAINED FRIENDS UNTIL HE DIED IN 1976 OR 1977. DURING MY TIME IN MAQUOKETA, HE OWNED AND RAN HIS OWN HARDWARE STORE, RINGLEP HARDWARE, ON THE CORNER DOWNTOWN, ONE OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE JANUARY FIRE. IT IS STILL STANDING BUT WILL PROBABLY BE TORN DOWN THIS YEAR.
MERLYN YEAGER NOW FARMS NEAR THE MAQUOKETA AIRPORT.
DENNIS VOY

Monday, June 23, 2008

WE HAD NICE WEEKEND WEATHER. TODAY ALSO NICE.

A MAQUOKETA RESIDENT, ALEXIS HOEGER, AGE 15, WAS IN A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 2:30, 2.5 MILES NORTH OF MAQUOKETA ON 91ST STREET, JUST OFF HIGHWAY 61. THERE WERE 3 PASSENGERS IN THE CAR THAT WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ROLLED, COMING TO REST ON ITS TOP. PASSENGERS WERE CHUCK CASEL, HAILY MCLAUGHLIN, AND BILL EDWARDS. NO ONE WAS HURT. CHARGES ARE PENDING. DAMAGE TO THE CAR, ABOUT $5,000.

TRUDI LOPP AND ROBERT CASALI OF MAQUOKETA ARE THE PARENTS OF A BOY BORN JUNE 14TH AT THE HOSPITAL HERE IN MAQUOKETA.

MAQUOKETA WILL HAVE THE FIRST ANNUAL TIMBER CITY DAYS THIS COMING FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. FRIDAY NIGHT, THE JACKSON COUNTY RELAY FOR LIFE OVERNIGHT EVENT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. MOST ACTIVITIES WILL
TAKE PLACE IN THE CITY PARKING LOT DOWNTOWN, OFF WEST PLATT STREET.
FRIDAY NIGHT, KID'S ACTIVITIES, FOOD VENDORS AND A TEEN DANCE.
SATURDAY, THE ANNUAL TIMBER CITY ADVENTURE RACE....CANOE ON MAQUOKETA RIVER, BIKING AND WALKING....ALL MAKE UP THE COMPETITION. MORE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES DURING THE AFTERNOON. ALSO A GARDEN TRACTOR PULL AT 1 SATURDAY AFTERNOON. MAQUOKETA ART EXPERIENCE ON SOUTH MAIN STREET. PLUS.....MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC.
"LIVE MUSIC" STARTING AT 2:30 SATURDAY AFTERNOON, BY RED HENTON...A KARAOKE DJ AT 4:00 P.M. AND THE POPULAR ROCK BAND JAMMER FROM 8 'TIL MIDNIGHT.
THERE WILL BE A BEER TENT AND FOOD VENDORS DURING THE DANCES.
SUNDAY MORNING, THE FIREMEN'S BIG BREAKFAST AT THEIR NEW FIRE STATION.
FIRST CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE NEW STATION. THIS EVENT SPONSORED BY THE MAQUOKETA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ADMISSION IS FREE. BRING LAWN CHAIRS.

ARNOLD AND SUE KORANDA ARE HOME FOR A VISIT. THEY NOW LIVE IN DADE CITY, FLORIDA. ARNOLD ENJOYS THIS DAILY REPORT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK. CHECK THE PHOTOS BELOW THAT I TOOK YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

DENNIS VOY
JACKSON COUNTY'S ONLY WINERY IS FAMOUS IN THE AREA AND IS LOCATED ABOUT 2 MILES NORTH OF BALDWIN. LOOK FOR THE SIGNS. TABOR HOME WINERY AND VINEYARDS CELEBRATED ITS 12TH ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY AFTERNOON
WITH MUSIC, WINE, CHEESE AND SANDWICHES. NANCY AND I ATTENDED AND THERE WAS A NICE TURNOUT. THIS PHOTO IS OF THE GIFT STORE ON THE RIGHT,
AND THE WINE MAKING IS IN THE LEFT PART OF THE BUILDING. OTHER PHOTOS BELOW. CLICK-ON EACH PHOTO TO ENLARGE THE PHOTO.
DENNIS VOY
WINE SAMPLES ....AND WINE FOR SALE.,... AT THE WINE STAND. TO THE LEFT,
OWNER PAUL TABOR IN BLUE SHIRT....AND ON THE RIGHT, LETTING GUEST
TASTE TABOR WINES, PAUL'S MOTHER WHO LIVES IN THE OLD TABOR STONE
HOUSE RIGHT ACROSS THE ENTRANCE TO THE WINERY.
MUSIC, WINE AND SNACKS WERE ENJOYED BETWEEN 3 AND 6 P.M. IN THE SHELTER
NEXT TO THE BARN, AT TABOR WINERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
THE OLD BARN AT TABOR WINERY AND VINYARDS. ENTERTAINMENT WAS IN THE OPEN AREA WHERE THE STEPS LEAD TO.
GRILLED BRATS AND MORE WERE SERVED AT THE TABOR WINERY OPEN HOUSE.

Friday, June 20, 2008

YESTERDAY, WAS AGAIN A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
TODAY, STARTED OUT SUNNY AND NICE.
THEN IT RAINED LATE THIS MORNING .. A QUICK SHOWER.
NOW THIS AFTERNOON, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE GOING THROUGH JACKSON COUNTY. A DISAPPOINTING FRIDAY SO FAR. MAYBE IT WILL GET BETTER FOR TONIGHT.

THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A PAY INCREASE OF 3.75 PERCENT
FOR PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYES.
AND, AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEEK, MAYOR MESSERLI SAID HE WANTED TO CORRECT SOME INFORMATION SAID AT A PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING
THAT THE NEW MAQUOKETA FIRE STATION, NOW COMPLETED, WENT OVE BUDGET.
MESSERLI SAID THE BUDGET TO BUILD WAS $1.6 MILLION AND THE ACTUAL COST, $1.3 MILLION....SOME $290,000 UNDER BUDGET.

WINNERS IN THE HOMETOWN PRIDE CONTEST HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED.
THE JACKSON COUNTY MASTER GARDNERS HOSTED THIS CITY-WIDE CONTEST TO ENCOURAGE BEAUTIFICATION OF FRONT YARDS. FIRST PLACE AND $30 IN CHAMBER BUCKS WENT TO GARY AND ALICE MOHL AT 802 GRANT STREET.
SECOND PLACE AND $20 IN CHAMBER BUCKS WENT TO JAN AND LARRY WARD AT 316 S. MAIN STREET AND THIRD PLACE AND $10 IN CHAMBER BUCKS WENT TO DIANA AND JAMES THOMAS AT 503 BUTTERNUT IN MAQUOKETA. A COMMITTEE OF MASTER GARDNERS DID THE JUDGING, WHICH HAD AN EMPHASIS ON RED, WHITE AND BLUE FLOWERS AND PLANTS. TEH CONTEST WAS HELD IN PREPARATION FOR THE TIMBER CITY DAYS CELEBRATION THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 27-29 AND THE STATE FIREMEN'S CONVENTION IN MAQUOKETA THE WEEK OF SEPT 3-6.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

ANOTHER SUPER DAY IN IOWA...GREAT WEATHER.

THE FEMA MAN HAS BEEN IN TOWN AND JACKSON COUNTY MAY GET SOME
FEMA FUNDS BECAUSE OF THE FLOOD ON THE MAQUOKETA RIVER.

WORK IS PROGRESSING ON THE NEW SOUTH WALL OF THE DENTAL BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA, DAMAGED BY THE JANUARY FIRE. NEXT WEEK,
AN ANNOUNCEMENT IS EXPECTED ON THE REST OF THE BURNED OUT PROPERTIES.

THE OLD OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL HAS OPENED AND THERE HAVE BEEN A BUNCH OF KIDS USING IT.

THE DICK'S SUPER MARKET SALE CONTINUES. NOW..EVERYTHING IS MARKED DOWN 50%. THE STORE IS STARTING TO LOOK BARE AND IS NO LONGER OPEN
EVENINGS. FAREWAY WILL MOVE INTO THE BUILDING THIS FALL.

THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, June 16, 2008

NICE DAY TODAY....HIGH OF 71. NO RAIN IN FORECAST FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.

IN THE JUNE 3RD PRIMARY ELECTION, THERE WERE NO LOCAL CONTESTS.
AS A RESULT, 481 PEOPLE WENT TO THE POLLS IN JACKSON COUNTY TO VOTE ANYWAY. THAT IS 3 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. FOUR WORKERS WERE AT EACH PRECINCT DURING THE DAY. FOR INSTANCES LIKE THIS, THE LAW NEEDS TO BE CHANGED SO THAT VOTING HOURS CAN BE REDUCED.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

681 WENT TO THE FATHER'S DAY BREAKFAST AT THE MAQUOKETA AIRPORT YESTERDAY, SPONSORED BY THE OPTUIMIST CLUB. BECAUSE OF OVERCAST SKIES, THERE WERE ONLY 7 PILOTS THAT FLEW IN. IN THE 50-50 DRAWING, THE $250 WAS WON BYH ROGER STEWART.

CHECK THE PHOTO BELOW, AND NEWS BENEATH IT, THAT I ENTERED HERE THIS MORNING.

HAVE A GOOD MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY.

DENNIS VOY

DENNIS VOHY
WHAT A WEEK IN IOWA! THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT US IN EVERY OTHER STATE.
THE FLOODING WAS UNBELIEVEABLE AND NOW THE CLEAN-UP BEGINS. I-80 IS STILL CLOSED FOR MANY MILES, AND TRAFFIC HAS BEEN HEAVY ON 4-LANE 61
BETWEEN DAVENPORT AND DUBUQUE. THE MAQUOKETA FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND WEATHER WAS PRETTY GOOD. NICE TURN-OUT FOR THE OPTIMIST CLUB FLY-IN, DRIVE-IN BREAKFAST AT THE MAQUOKETA AIRPORT. WE DID GET A LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON STORM AND THAT CAUSED THE STOCK CAR RACES TO BE CANCELLED SATURDAY NIGHT. TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND WE ARE EXPECTING GOOD WEATHER ALL THIS WEEK. TWO WEEKEND DEATHS. ALFRED VOZENILEK, AGE 74, OF MAQUOKETA AND GRACE RECHTFERTIG, AGE 91, OF MAQUOKETA....AND FULL OBITUARIES CAN BE READ AT www.carsonandson.com
AND, DR. JEFFREY ANDERSON, AGE 48, OF BETTENDORF, DIED LAST WEEK AND HIS FUNERAL IS TOMORROW. HE WAS A FORMER MAQUOKETA RESIDENT. HIS DAD WAS KEN ANDERSON WHO WAS THE MANAGER OF THE GIBSON DISCOUNT STORE IN MAQUOKETA MANY YEARS AGO. I MAY HAVE ANOTHER REPORT LATER TODAY.
THE PHOTO HERE IS OF THE CAMPGROUNDS AT THE HORSESHOE POND PARK JUST SOUTH OF MAQUOKETA. THE PARK IS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD, IS LOOKING BETTER EVERY YEAR AS THE TREES GROW AND IS BEING USED EXTENSIVELY EVERY WEEK. THE CAMPGROUNDS WERE A GOOD ADDITION TO MAQUOKETA. OFF TO THE LEFT IS THE ROAD TO THE POND, WHICH ALSO IS POPULAR FOR CAMPERS ALONG THE SHORE AND FISHERMEN. HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
DENNIS VOY

Thursday, June 12, 2008

IT HAS BEEN RAINING AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON IN MAQUOKETA AND MORE RAIN
IS FORECAST FOR TONIGHT.
NEVER HAVE WE HAD SO MUCH RAIN AND FLOODING IN IOWA. THANK GOODNESS IN MAQUOKETA THAT THE MAQUOKETA RIVER ONLY FLOODS SOME FARM GROUND JUST NORTH OF TOWN.

JACKSON COUNTY HAS BEEN DECLARED A DISASTER AREA BY GOV. CHET CULVER.
THAT MEANS PUBLIC ENTITIES WILL BE ABLE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH ANY FLOODING. AND IT MEANS THERE'S MONEY FOR TESTING
OF WELLS IN THE COUNTY. IF COUNTY RESIDENTS SEE A CHANGE IN THE WELL WATER SUCH AS TASTE OR CLARITY, THE WATER SHOULD BE TESTED FOR E COLI
BACTERIA.

AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS DRIVING ON SOUTH OLIVE YESTERDAY MORNING AND HIT THE MITCHELL-MASKREY MILL....TWICE. MAQUOKETA POLICE OFFICER DARREN RISINGER CHARGED 11 YEAR OLD BRIANNA SHOOP OF MAQUOKETA WITH HAVING NO DRIVERS LICENSE. SHE LOST CONTROL, HIT THE MILL AND THEN DROVE OFF AND A FEW FEET LATER, HIT THE BUILDING A SCOND TIME, TAKING OUT A SUPPORT BEAM BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. $8,000 DAMAGE TO CAR SHE WAS DRIVING ..A 99 DODGE..AND $2,500 TOTHE BUILDING. NO INJURIES. 11 YEARS OLD.

IOWA'S OLDEST RESTAURANT, BREITBACH'S COUNTRY DINING, IN BALLTOWN,
A KMAQ ADVERTISER, WILL OPEN THIS WEEKEND IN A NEW BUILDING THIS WEEKEND. THE OLD ONE WAS DESTROYE BY FIRE ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
OWNER MIKE BREITBACH SAID PEOPLE WILL BE SHOCKED TO SEE THE NEW BUILDING WHICH HE SAID HAS RETAINED AN OLD FASHIONED COUNTRY LOOK.
HE SAID IT SMELLS NEW, BUT DOESN'T LOOK NEW.

MARTHA BRADLEY, 91, OF MAQUOKETA DIED TUESDAY AND HER FULL OBITUARY CAN BE READ AT www.carsonandson.com

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND FRIDAY.

DENNIS VOY
THIS IS JUDY PORTZ OF BELLEVUE, WINNER OF THE KMAQ 50TH ANNIVERSARY RADIO FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2008. CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
BELOW, SEE A PHOTO OF THE JUNE RADIO.
DENNIS VOY
THIS IS THE JUNE KMAQ 50TH ANNIVERSARY RADIO (UNDER COUNTER MODEL)
TO BE DRAWN FOR JULY 1ST. OVER 500 HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE MONTHLY DRAWING AND ANYONE STILL NOT REGISTERED CAN SEND THEIR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER AND WHEN THEY STARTED LISTENING TO KMAQ TO:
EMAIL, kmaq@kmaq.com OR MAIL TO P.O. BOX 940, MAQUOKETA, IA 52060,
OR DROP OFF AT KMAQ'S STUDIO/OFFICE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA.
MANY ARE ALSO MAKING COMMENTS AND MANY OF THOSE WILL BE READ ON THE AIR DURING AUGUST, ANNIVERSARY MONTH.
DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

SUNSHINE TODAY, THEN CLOUDS AND LIGHT RAIN, THEN SUNSHINE AGAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON. AND WINDY. HIGH OF 75.

CAST MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR "THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN
TEXAS" MUSICAL SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF JULY AT THE OHNWARD FINE ARTS CENTER IN MAQUOKETA. MISS MONA WILL BE PLAYED BY LAURIE HELMERS.
SHERIFF ED EARL DODD WILL BE PLAYED BY RICH HAINSTOCK AND BILL HESSEE WILL BE MELVIN P. THORPE. JUNE WAHL WILL BE MILL WULLA JEAN. TOM STEWART MAYOR RUFUS POINDEXTER, TIM TAYLOR AS EDSEL MACKEY, GREG GEIER AS THE GOVERNOR AND KAITLIN LUETT AS IMOGEN CHARLENE. OTHER CAST MEMBERS INCLUDE: RACHEL HOYLE, LINDSEY ALDEMAN, ANGELA RULEY, ERICA BARKER, ROBYN LANE, SHAWN VASQUEZ, TRACY TAYLOR, SARA CRITTENDON, SHAYLA EVANS, ERICA MEISLAND, DANIELLE DIETZ, CINDY SELLNAU, SHAWNA
MERRICK, KAY MANUEL, KELLY MEISLAND, BRITTANY REGAN, ASHLEY STARR, APRIL EVERDING, ANDREW STEWART, ALI SIMPSON, JAKE HAYWARD, LEVI MCCLIMON,
ZACH KROTZ, T.J. POLK, MATT HAINSTOCK, AND NEIL GRANT.
THE MUSIC DIRECTOR WILL BE PAM CRAWFORD. SHE WILL ALSO BE PRODUCER.
DAN PINION, DRAMA DIRECTOR. JAY KAHN, INSTRUMENTAL DIRECTOR AND MARY GILMORE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WITH ERICA BARKER IN CHARGE OF CHOREOGRAPHY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE BUSY THIS SUMMER.

THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY
THE MAQUOKETA RIVER LOOKING SOUTH FROM WILDWOOD ACRES NEAR CANTON IN NORTHERN JACKSON COUNTY. I TOOK THIS PHOTO A FEW DAYS AGO, BEFORE THE FLOODING THIS WEEK. QUITE A SCENE, HUH! BEAUTIFUL JACKSON COUNTY! CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

IOWA IS HAVING FLOODS ALL OVER. THE MAQUOKETA RIVER IS FLOODED AGAIN.
SEE PHOTO BELOW. WE GOT A HALF-INCH LAST NIGHT.....AND SO FAR, 4 AND 1/2 INCHES THIS MONTH. GOOD FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, BUT MORE RAIN COMING THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. SEVERAL ROADS IN JACKSON COUNTY ARE CLOSED BECAUSE OF FLOODING.

MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL HAS A NEW PRINCIPAL, HIRED LAST NIGHT BY THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL BOARD. HE IS MARK VERVECK OF ROCKWELL, IOWA.
HE STARTS AUGUST 1ST, AT $83,500 A YEAR. HE HAS BEEN PRINCIPAL AT ROCKWELL-SWALEDALE SINCE 2000.

CLICK-ON PHOTO BELOW TO ENLARGE IT.

SORRY FOR SHORT REPORT.

HAVE A GOOD TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

DENNIS VOY
WE HAD MORE RAIN LAST NIGHT AND THE MAQUOKETA RIVER IS AGAIN IN FLOOD STAGE. I TOOK THIS PHOTO THIS AFTERNOON LOOKING NORTH, OF THE OVERFLOOR LAKE NEXT TO THE BRIDGEPORT BRIDGE JUST NORTHEAST OF MAQUOKETA ON THE ROAD TO ANDREW. BOTH SIDES OF BRIDGE LIKE THIS.
CORN HAD BEEN PLANTED THERE IN MAY.
DENNIS VOY

Monday, June 09, 2008

MAQUOKETA HAD OVER 2 INCHES OF RAIN AGAIN OVER THE WEEKEND. DEWITT
ALSO GOT LOTS OF WIND DAMAGE. FOR THE FIRST 8 DAYS OF JUNE, THE RAINFALL TOTAL IN MAQUOKETA HAS GONE OVER 4 INCHES. THE MAQUOKETA RIVER
IS NEAR FLOOD STAGE AGAIN AND BOTH SPRUCK CREEK PARK AND SOUTH SABULA LAKE PARK IN JACKSON COUNTY ARE CLOSED BECAUSE OF HIGH WATER ON THE
MISSISSIPPI. SOME DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED IN THE COTTONVILLE AREA OF JACKSON COUNTY LAST NIGHT. A ROOF CAME OFF A LARGE SHED AT THE GARY
KUNDE RESIDENCE. AND, A DUBUQUE WOMAN RECEIVED POSSIBLE INJURIES AFTER A TREE FELL ON HER VEHICLE AT 7:30 LAST NIGHT ON HIGHWAY 62, ONE MILE NORTH OF MAQUOKETA. THIS HAPPENED DURING THE STORM.

A MILES MAN, DUSTIN RADA, AGE 19, DROWNED FRIDAY EVENING IN SOUTH SABULA LAKE IN SABULA. SHERIFF RUSS KETTMAN SAID RADA, ALSO KNOWN AS DUSTIN MOSS, WAS SWIMMING AT THE LAKE AND APPARENTLY WENT TOO CLOSE TO THE TUBE WHICH EMPTIES INTO THE LAKE. THE CURRENT TOOK HIM UNDER.
KETTMAN SAID HE YELLED FOR HELP AND THEN WENT UNDER.

FORMER MAQUOKETA RESIDENT, GEORGE PICKUP, HEAD BASKETBALL COACH AT DEWITT, LAST WEEK WAS NAMED THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN DEWITT
PRINCIPAL. HE HAD BEEN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SINCE 2007.

BARB GEBHART, 46, OF ANDREW DIED SATURDAY AT FINLEY HOSPITAL IN DUBUQUE.
SURVIVORS INCLUDE HER PARENTS, ROBERT AND PHYLLIS BRINKER OF MAQUOKETA. THE COMPLETE OBITURARY CAN BE READ ON THE LAHEY FUNERAL HOME WEB SITE.

MARGARET HAHN, AGE 96 AND DONNA HENRY, AGE 85, BOTH OF MAQUOKETA, DIED SATURDAY AND THEIR OBITUARY CAN BE READ AT CARSON AND SON WEB SITE.
ALSO, FORMER MAQUOKETA RESIDENT, HOWARD GISEL, 95, DIED LAST THURSDAY AT SAVANNAH, GEORGIA AND HIS OBITUARY IS ALSO ON THE CARSON SITE.

SEE TWO PHOTOS BELOW TAKEN BY ME AT THE ADAM AND AMY HEPKER WEDDING
THIS PAST SATURDAY.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY

NANCY AND I ATTENDED A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT THE COLLEGE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE AT MID AMERICA UNIVERISTY IN OLATHE, KANSAS, JUST ACROSS THE STATE LINE FROM KANSAS CITY. IN THE 3:30 P.M. CEREMONY, ADAM HEPKER (SON OF LEIGHTON AND CINDY OF MAQUOKETA) MARRIED AMY NUNAMAKER (PARENTS CHUCK AND KATHY FROM OVERLAND PARK, NEXT TO OLATHE) AND THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN SOON AFTER AT THE RECEPTION AT THE HALLBROOK COUNTRY CLUB. QUITE A FEW PEOPLE FROM MAQUOKETA MADE THE TRIP TO THE WEDDING. ADAM AND AMY ARE ON THEIR HONEYMOON THIS WEEK AND WILL RETURN TO THEIR NEW APARTMENT IN OLATHE. BOTH WILL TEACH THIS FALL. CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE. SEE PHOTO BELOW ...ALSO TAKEN AT THE WEDDING RECEPTION.

DENNIS VOY .. PHOTO BY NANCY MOORE

ATTENDING THE ADAM AND AMY HEPKER WEDDING, THE THREE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF PHOTO ARE ALL FORMER MAQUOKETA RESIDENTS. THEY ARE: FORMER MCHS BASKETBALL COACH (WAS ASSISTANT TO ROCKY PAST TWO YEARS) BILL FLEMMING, NOW RETIRED.....HIS SON DAN FLEMMING, WHO LIKE ADAM, PLAYED BASKETBALL FOR MCHS AND MID AMERICA UNIVERSITY AND IS NOW A PILOT.....AND ROCKY LAMARR, HEAD BASKETBALL COACH FOR MID AMERICA (WENT OVER 500 WINS THIS PAST SEASON).

Friday, June 06, 2008

A HALF INCH OF RAIN OVERNIGHT AGAIN....NEARLY 2-INCHES TOTAL THIS WEEK.

THE NEW CONCRETE AT THE SENIOR CENTER PARKING LOT IN MAQUOKETA GOT HIT FOR A 3RD TIME WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

GIRL BORN JUNE 5TH IN DAVENPORT TO TIMOTHY NELSON AND LAURA
WESTPHAL OF MAQUOKETA.

SUPT. HUCKSTADT GOT A 10% RAISE THIS WEEK.

NEXT REPORT MONDAY.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

FOGGY THIS MORNING, THE PARTLY CLOUDY UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON WHEN THE SUN CAME OUT. HIGH TODAY 70. HEAVY RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST FOR LATE TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

THERE WERE 33 THAT APPLIED FOR THE JOB OF MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. FIVE WERE INTERVIEWED THIS WEEK AND NOW TWO FINALISTS
WILL BE INTERVIEWED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD TOMORROW NIGHT. THEY ARE,
KARLA MCCLURE, ASSISTANT DEAN AT ASHFORD UNIVERSITY IN CLINTON AND
MARK VERVAECKE, CURRENTLY PRINCIPAL AT ROCKWELL-SWALEDALE HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS POSSIBLE THE SCHOOL BOARDL COULD HIRE A NEW PRINCIPAL AT NEXT MONDAY NIGHT'S REGULAR MEETING.

THEN,BACK TO WORK AGAIN, AS THE CARDINAL ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL RESIGNED TODAY TO TAKE THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL POSITION AT OELWEIN, WHERE HE LIVED BEFORE AND WHERE HIS WIFE TEACHES. DAN RATCLIFF HAS BEEN PRINCIPAL AT CARDINAL FOR 2 YEARS.

BETTY MILLER HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT CLINTON ENGINES, IT'S FOUNDER DON THOMAS, AND IT LISTS HUNDREDS OF FORMER EMPLOYEES. SHE TOLD ABOUT IT TODAY AT THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY CLUB AND WILL HAVE A BOOK SIGNING
EVENT TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM, WHERE IT WAS PRINTED. COST OF IT, $20. SOUNDS LIKE A BOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT. MORE ON IT LATER.

SARAH HURST COOPER OF MAQUOKETA TURNS 100 JUNE 30TH. I TALKED TO HER ABOUT AN HOUR THIS AFTERNOON AT HER HOME. LOOKS GOOD...LOOKS NO WHERE NEAR A HUNDRED AND HAS GOOD MIND AND RECOLLECTION OF THE OLD DAYS.
HER GRANDFATHER STARTED COMMUNITY OF HURSTVILLE. HER UNCLE BOUGHT THE SOUTH MAIN HOTEL AND RENAMED IT THE HURST HOTEL. HER BROTHER
WAS A POSTAL WORKER AND ACTIVE IN THE COUNTY FAIR. SHE WAS BORN IN A BIG HOUSE IN MAQUOKETA THAT IS BEING RENOVATED BY KEN MOORE. WILL HAVE MORE ON HER LATER IN MONTH.

MAQUOKETA STATE BANK "FAMILY NIGHT" TONIGHT AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE, STARTING AT 6 P.M. THE CATTLEMEN AND PORK PRODUCERS WILL BE DOING UP BURGERS ON THEIR BIG GRILLS....THERE WILL BE FUN FOR THE KIDS AND THE 61 TRAIN WITH NEW ENGINE WILL BE GIVING THE KIDS A RIDE AROUND THE GROUNDS.
ALL FREE, ENDING WITH A FAMILY MOVIE AT 8:45 TONIGHT. TODAY WAS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL IN MAQUOKETA.

THANKS FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

MOSTLY CLOUDY DAY TODAY....A HALF-INCH OF RAIN THIS MORNING AND A HIGH
TODAY OF 64.

THE MAQUOKETA GIRL'S SOFTBALL TEAM WON A DOUBLE-HEADER OVER WATERLOO COLUMBUS LAST NIGHT, 1 TO 0 AND 7 TO 0 AND IMPROVED THEIR RECORD TO 7 AND 1 AND 6 AND 0 IN THE CONFERENCE.
THE MAQUOKETA BOYS BASEBALL TEAM IS OFF TO A BAD START. LAST NIGHT,
THEY LOST A DOUBLE-HEADER TO WATERLOO COLUMBUS, 12 TO 7 AND 11 TO 1 AND THEIR RECORD IS NOW 1 AND 10 AND 0 AND 6 IN THE WAMAC.

THE NEW CONCRETE PARKING LOT AT THE JACKSON COUNTY SENIOR CENTER IN MAQUOKETA (NEARING COMPLETION) WAS VANDALIZED AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME
IT WILL NOT HAVE TO BE RE-DONE.

MAQUOKETA POLICE OFFICERS AND DISPATCHERS WILL RECEIVE 3.75 PERCENT
PAY INCREASES STARTING IN JULY AND OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THE CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT APPROVED THE AGREEMENT.

THE NEW DOWNTOWN FLOWER POTS WITH FLOWERS PLANTED BY THE MAQUOKETA MASTER GARDNERS, LOOK GREAT. BUT, THEY WILL LOOK BETTER WHEN THE
FIRE MESS IS HAULED AWAY.....HOPEFULLY VERY SOON.

SHORT REPORT, SORRY.

TAKE CARE.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, June 02, 2008

GOT UP TO 80 TODAY AND THEN LIGHT RAIN THIS AFTERNOON. RAINY FORECAST NOW UNTIL WEDNESDAY. THE FLOOD WARNING FOR THE MAQUOKETA RIVER HASA BEEN CANCELLED.

ELECTION DAY TOMORROW BUT NO CONTESTED RACES IN JACKSON COUNTY.

A BELLEVUE WOMAN, ANN GOETZ, AGE 48, DIED FROM INJURIES IN A MOTORCYCLE-CAR ACCIDENT YESTERDAY A MILE SOUTH OF LAMOTTE. THE STATE PATROL SAID JOEY EVANS, AGE 17,OF MAQUOKETA, WAS DRIVING A VAN NORTH ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOETZ WAS DRIVING HER MOTORCYCLE SOUTH. EVANS MADE A LEFT TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF THE GOETZ MOTORCYCLE. SHE HIT THE EVANS VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND WAS THROWN FROM THE CYCLE.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

CATHERINE YOERGER, 88, FORMERLY OF MAQUOKETA DIED YESTERDAY.
HER COMPLETED OBITUARY AT LAHEY WEB SITE.

CHECK PHOTO AND STORY BELOW ON MAQUOKETA HIGHS SCHOOL GRADUATION
YESTERDAY.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY
THE 130TH ANNUAL MAQUOKETA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES WERE HELD AT 2 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN THE 840-SEAT OHNWARD FINE ARTS AUDITORIUM IN MAQUOKETA AND IT WAS A FULL HOUSE, WITH MANY WATCHING THE EVENT ON TV MONITORS IN THE DREW ART GALLERY OF OHNWARD.
SHOWN ABOVE TO THE LEFT, KIMBERLY MICHELLE LYON, THE SALUTORIAN OF THE CLASS, WITH A GPA OF 3.95. HER PARENTS ARE MARK AND JULY LYON OF MAQUOKETA. IN THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT, THE VALIDICTORIAN, MICHELLE CORRINE EBERHART OF RURAL DELMAR, DAUGHTER OF JOE AND DA VONNE EBERHART. HER GPA WAS 3.98. CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN MAQUOKETA FOR THE 125 GRADUATES. THE STUDENT SPEAKERS WERE CALLIE COATES, STEPHANIE TILL AND MICHELLE EBERHART.
ALSO RECOGNIZED WERE LONGTIME TEACHERS AT THEIR FINAL GRADUATION.
THE MOST SENIOR HONORED WAS DENNIS STREETS, FINISHING UP 42 YEARS WITH THE DISTRICT. PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, ANNE HAWKS HANDED OUT THE DIPLOMAS.
DENNIS VOY