HOT TODAY, BUT A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN YESTERDAY. 1/10 OF AN INCH OF RAIN LAST NIGHT. JUST OVER 4 INCHES SO FAR THIS JUNE.
THE MAQUOKETA HOSPITAL BOARD WILL LOOK AT SOME ADDITIONAL CUTS NEXT MONTH AFTER THEY APPROVED A BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR WHICH HAS AN OPERATING DEFICIT. DURING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S BOARD MEETING, THEY APPROVED NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WHICH INCLUDES AN APPROXIMATE $400,000 OPERATING LOSS BEFORE TAXES. ADMINISTRATOR CURT COLEMAN SAID THE BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE THE NEARLY $500,000 ALREADY CUT FROM THE BUDGET. COLEMAN SAID HE WILL ASK THE BOARD TO TAKE A LOOK AT POSSIBLE CUTS IN AREAS WHERE THE HOSPITAL DOES NOT GET MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENTS. THOSE ARE THE SKILLED NURSING AREA, DIALYSIS, AMBULANCE SERVICES, HOME HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MEALS ON WHEELS. BOARD MEMBER GLORIA JORGENSEN SAID BUDGET CUTS SHOULD NOT BE A BIG SURPRISE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SHE SAID IF THEY (THE BOARD) DON'T DO SOMETHING TO ADJUST THE BUDGET, THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE A HOSPITAL.
NEW REGIONAL EXTENSION DIRECTORS FOR IOWA WERE ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY.
IN THE STATE, THEY ARE CUTTING FROM 99 COUNTY DIRECTORS, TO 20 REGIONAL DIRECTORS. BRUCE BEARINGER WILL BE THE NEW EXTENSION DIRECTOR FOR JACKSON COUNTY. HE HAS HAD THAT POSITION IN BUCHANAN COUNTY.
HE WILL ALSO HAVE DUBUQUE AND DELAWARE COUNTIES. HE STARTS AUGUST 1ST.
MONDAY NIGHT, THE MAQUOKETA GIRLS HIGHSCHOOL SOFTBALL TEAM WON A DOUBLE HEADER OVER SOLON, 2 TO 0 AND 4 TO 0. HAILEY BICKFORD AND BROOKLYN KORANDA THREW THE SHUTOUTS. THE CARDINAL GIRLS ARE HAVING A GOOD SEASON. THEY ARE 19 AND 6 OVERALL AND 14 AND 4 IN THE WAMAC CONFERENCE.
THANKS FOR THE VISIT. CHECK THE NEW PHOTOS BELOW. CLICK-ON THEM TO ENLARGE THEM.
DENNIS VOY
THERE HAS BEEN A BIT OF A POPULATION EXPULSION AT THE HURSTVILLE INTERPRETIVE CENTER MARSH. SIX BABY TRUMPETER SWANS (CYGNETS) HAVE HATCHED NORTH OF MAQUOKETA AND THEIR PARENTS ARE PART OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TRUMPETER SWAN REINTRODUCTION PROGRAM. THE BABIES HATCHED TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 16TH. VISITORS CAN VIEW THE ACTIVITES OF THE FAMILY, SHOWN ABOVE, FROM A SPOTTING SCOPE ON THE EAST DECK OF THE HURSTVILLE CENTER. VISITORS ARE ASKED NOT TO APPROACH THE FENCE OF THE SWAN ENCLOSURE TO VIEW THE SWANS. CLOSE APPROACHES AGITATE THE ADULTS AND DISRUPT THE CYGNETS RESTING AND FEEDING TIMES. THESE CYGNETS WILL BE RELEASED INTO THE WILD IN THE SPRING OF 2010 WHEN THEY ARE A YEAR OLD. ON WEEKENDS, VOLUNTEERS AT THE CENTER WILL ALSO HAVE SWAN FEATHERS, A TAPE RECORDING OF SWAN SOUNDS AND OTHER ITEMS TO SHARE WITH VISITORS. THE HURSTVILLE INTERPRETIVE CENTER IS OPEN FROM 8 A.M. UNTIL 4 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND NOON UNTIL 5 P.M. SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. THERE IS NO ADMISSION CHARGE.
DENNIS VOY
I TOOK THIS PHOTO AT THE EAGLES CLUB TODAY JUST AFTER THE WEEKLY MAQUOKETA ROTARY MEETING. AT LEFT, BOARD MEMBER GUS GLASER.
HE SOLD THE MOST DUCKS FOR THE DUCK RACE, OVER 100. SECOND FROM
LEFT, ROTARY TREASURER ASHER SCHROEDER, ABOUT TO PRESENT THE
$1,000 CHECK (LESS TAX) TO FRANNI DEXTER, WHOSE DUCK WON THE RACE
SUNDAY. SHE'S FROM RURAL LOST NATION. AND TO THE FAR RIGHT, ROTARY MEMBER ST. REP. TOM SCHUELLER OF MAQUOKETA. HE SOLD THE WINNING DUCK TO FRANNI. SHE'S HOLDING HER WINNING DUCK (#699) AND OF COURSE, GETS TO KEEP IT. SHE MAY SPLIT HER WINNINGS WITH HER 6 CHILDREN. HER HUSBAND
WORKS AS AN ENGINEER FOR AN AVIATION COMPANY IN THE QUAD CITIES.
DENNIS VOY.
