IT WAS NICE YESTERDAY, NOT BAD TODAY (SO FAR) BUT COOL AND WET WEATHER FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, MOTHER'S DAY.

A NEW COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION HAS FORMED IN MAQUOKETA TO SUPPORT CURRENT ARTISTS IN THE MAQUOKETA AREA AND ATTRACT NEW ONES.
THE MAQUOKETA ART EXPERIENCE WAS ANNOUNCED DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY AT THE OHNWARD FINE ARTS CENTER IN MAQUOKETA. WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED MAQUOKETA ARTIST ROSE FRANTZEN AND HER HUSBAND, CHUCK
MORRIS, WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FORMATION OF THE CONCEPT. MAQUOKETA BUSINESSMAN AND FORMER ST. REPRESENTATIVE, BOB OSTERHAUS,
HELPED FORM THE COMMITTEE AND $30,000 HAS BEEN DONATED FOR THE START-UP, BY INDIVIDUALS AND THE MAQUOKETA AREA FOUNDATION. THE BOARD MEMBERS OF THE NEW ORGANIZATION ARE: BOB OSTERHAUS, AL TUBBS, JOHN GILROY, RICK DECKER, TOM BREUCH AND STACY DRISCOLL. THE IDEA IS FOR ARTISTS TO HAVE A PLACE TO OFFER WEEKLONG ART WORKSHOPS AND HAVE A RESIDENCY IN MAQUOKETA TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK. CURRENTLY, ARTIST DAN BERGENSKE FROM WISCONSIN WILL BE IN RESIDENCE THROUGH THIS MONTH.
ROSE FRANZEN HAS BEEN OFFERING WORKSHOPS THE PAST YEAR AT HER OLD CITY HALL ART GALLERY AND THE VACANT CHURCH SHE PURCHASED FOR ART WORK NOT FAR FROM HER MAIN GALLERY. AND TWO EMPTY BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA HAVE BEEN PURCHSED BY ARTISTS ARE ALREADY OPEN. LOCAL CITIZENS AND TOURISTS WILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A WIDE VARIETY OF LOCAL ARTWORK. A WINE AND CHEESE FUND RAISER HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MAY 30TH FROM 5 UNTI 8 P.M. AT THE NEW DOWNTOWN STUDIO AT 103 SOUTH MAIN STREET. DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA NEEDS A LIFT! THE MAQUOKETA ART EXPERIENCE MAY TURN OUT TO BE JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR....LET'S MAKE THAT, ARTIST....ORDERED! I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED RIGHT HERE IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD.

THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL MAY RESTRICT FIREWOOD COMING INTO THE CITY TO COMBAT THE EMERALD ASH BORER. THIS WEEK, COUNCILMEN DIRECTED THE CITY STAFF TO DRAW UP AN ORDINACE WHICH WOULD PREVENT ANYONE FROM BRINGING FIREWOOD INTO THE CITY. THE EMERALD ASH BORER HAS BEEN FOUND IN WESTERN ILLINOIS. IF THE BUG SPREADS TO IOWA, IT COULD DO WHAT DUTCH ELM DISEASE DID MANY YEARS AGO. AGAIN, I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE WILL LIKELY CREATE LOTS OF DISCUSSION.

DENISE NEMMERS, AGE 48, OF LAMOTTE, DIED THURSDAY AT HER HOME.
SHE HAD WORKED SINCE 1978 FOR MAQUOKETA DENTIST DR. CLYDE OVERTURF,
AS A REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT AND OFFICE MANAGER.
HER FUNERAL IS MONDAY AT A DUBUQUE FUNERAL HOME. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER HUSBAND, PARENTS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS...HAVE A GREAT DAY TOMORROW!!

DENNIS VOY

THE NEW SANDBOX AT MY DRIVE-IN THEATRE. VERY POPULAR WITH KIDS AND PARENTS LAST NIGHT, FIRST NIGHT IT WAS USED. THAT'S ME WITH
GRANDSON JACOB CLAUSSEN FROM BETTENDORF. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WERE HAVING FUN IN THE 10 BY 10 FOOT SANDBOX. BUILDT BY ALFRED WITT, WHO DOES THE MOWING AND YARDWORK AT THE THEATRE. THE SANDBOX IS LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE 9-SEAT SWINGSET. WE ALSO HAVE FOR THE KIDS, A RUBBER-TIRED TRAIN (NEW MOTOR ON ORDER) AND VOLLEYBALL COURT. PLUS, THE KIDS BRING ALONG FRIZBEES AND BATS, BALLS AND GLOVES. MANY FAMILES ARRIVE UP TO 3 HOURS BEFORE IT IS DARK AND SHOWTIME. MANY ALSO BRING THEIR OWN FOOD AND DO SOME TAILGATING BEFORE SHOWTIME. IT'S FAMILY FUN AT THE 61.
PHOTO BY NANCY MOORE.
DENNIS VOY