Monday, May 23, 2011

LESS THAN AN INCH OF RAIN OVER THE PAST WEEKEND.
SATURDAY WAS ESPECIALLY NICE AND NO RAIN AS HAD BEEN FORECAST.
TODAY, SUNNY AND HIGH OF 80.

MAQUOKETA'S GRADUATION IS THIS SUNDAY AT 2 IN THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL GYM.

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE AT 7 THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE OHNWARD
FINE ARTS CENTER, SPONSORED BY MANY OF THE 2011 GRADS AND COMMUNITY
CHURCHES.

TWO MINOR ACCIDENTS OVER THE WEEKEND. JORDAN MORALES, AGE 25, OF
MAQUOKETA WAS IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT SATURDAY AFTERNOON ON HIGHWAY 61. HE LOST CONTROL, OVERCORRECTED, SKIDDED AND WENT INTO A DITCH
AND HIT A FENCE. $2,000 DAMAGE TO CAR REGISTERED TO ABBY BOLLINGER
OF MAQUOKETA. NO INJURIES.
AND..
RYAN EARLES, AGE 18, OF MAQUOKETA, GOING SOUTH ON NIAGARA WAS STRUCK BY CAR DRIVEN BY ALICE STERBENZ, AGE 22, OF MAQUOKETA. NO INJURIES AND
NO CHARGES.

LARRY HAGER'S 90TH BIRTHDAY IS ON JUNE 10TH. YOU CAN SEND A CARD
TO 514 C.E. OLIVE ST., NUMBER 510, MARSHALLTOWN, IA. 50158.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

DENNIS VOY

Saturday, May 21, 2011

THE NEW SEATS IN VOY 3 SMALL AUDITORIUM ARE A HIT. TOO DARK IN
THE AUDITORIUM TO TAKE A PHOTO OF ALL 77.
CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
HOPE YOU TOO CAN ENJOY A MOVIE SOON AT THE VOY 1, 2 OR 3.
IT IS THE SEASON FOR MANY NEW, BIG PRODUCTION MOVIES.
HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A LOT OF HITS.
NOTHING LIKE SEEING A MOVIE AT A THEATRE ON THE BIG SCREEN.
ASK HIM...OR ASK HER...TO GO TO A MOVIE WITH YOU THIS WEEKEND.
DENNIS VOY
LIGHT RAIN IN MAQUOKETA THIS MORNING.
YESTERDAY, HIGH OF 80.

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY WISHES TO VIVIAN MILLER OF MAQUOKETA.
SHE LIVES IN A MOBILE HOME HERE IN MAQUOKETA. SHE AND HER LATE HUSBAND
CURLY OPERATED THE POPULAR "SOUTH INN SUPPER CLUB" BACK IN THE 50'S
AND INTO THE 70'S.

HAPPY 90 TH BIRTHDAY WISHES TOMORROW TO ED SEEBERGER OF MAQUOKETA.
HE WAS A CAR SALESMAN FOR MANY YEARS AND THEN SOLD REAL ESTATE AFTER.
CONSIDERED BY MANY AS ONE OF MAQUOKETA'S BEST ALL-TIME SALESMEN.
HIS WIFE IS NO LONGER LIVING AND ED LIVES IN HIS HOME ON SUMMIT
STREET.

LARRY HAGER, FORMER SIGN PAINTER IN MAQUOKETA, NOW LIVING IN
MARSHALLTOWN, IS ALSO CELEBRATING HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY. BIRTHDAY
WISHES TO HIM!

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, May 19, 2011

SUNNY AND 72 TODAY.

THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK AGREED TO HIRE AN ENGINEER
TO LOOK AT BUILDING A WIND TURBINE AT THE YMCA SITE, TO SERVE
THE Y.
COST WILL BE $5,000 TO FIND OUT IF THERE WILL BE ENOUGH WIND TO
MAKE IT FEASIBLE. SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, DOESN'T IT?
THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE WIND TURBINE WILL BE MORE THAN $500,000 AND OF THAT, THE CITY'S COST WILL BE ABOUT $171,000....NOT COVERED BY GRANTS.
THE CITY HAS BEEN TOLD IT WOULD REDUCE THE ELECTRIC BILL BY 25%
AND STILL LEAVE A MONTHLY BILL OF $4,500. IT WAS MENTIONED AT MEETING BY COUNCILMAN AMY MOORE THAT A STUDY AT THE MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL
SOME TIME AGO, SHOWED THE WIND SPEEDS IN MAQUOKETA ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO RUN A TURBINE SUCCESSFULLY. SHE BELIEVES THERE ARE A LOT OF RISKS
IN THE PROJECT. AND I AGREE.
AND...NO ONE...HAS MENTIONED SOLAR ELECTRIC AS A POSSIBILITY INSTEAD
OF WIND. QUIET AND GROWING IN POPULARITY!

THE MAQUOKETA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION HELD THEIR ANNUAL END OF YEAR
DINNER LAST NIGHT WITH ABOUT 75 IN ATTENDANCE. THEY HANDED OUT
A COUPLE MAJOR AWARDS. THE MAQUOKETA KIWANIS CLUB WAS THE
RECIPIENT OF THE "FRIEND OF EDUCATION" AWARD AND IT WAS ACCEPTED BY
KIWANIS MEMBER KATHY SEYFERT. AND THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
WENT TO LONG TIME HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER RANDY SPRINGER.
SPRENGER WAS ONE OF FOUR VETERAN RETIRING TEACHERS WHO WERE ALL HONORED AT THE DINNER. THEY OTHERS WERE SUE HASS, DAN PINION AND
MARK HILLEBRAND. THE OUTGOING CO-PRESIDENTS OF THE M.E.A. ARE KATHY QUINLAN AND TOD BOWMAN. NEXT YEAR'S CO-PRESIDENTS WILL BE MINDY
ORRIS AND PAULETTE HORNER.

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE VISIT.

DENNIS VOY
THE VOY 1 THEATRE IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA NOW HAS A LONG NEEDED NEW
ROOF! THE OLD WAS A PAPER AND TAR ROOF AND HAD TO BE RE-DONE EVERY
5 YEARS OR SO. NOW, THE WAY TO GO IS WITH RUBBER ROOFING, AS SHOWN
HERE. IT LASTS UP TO 20 YEARS OR MORE. SHOWN HERE ON THE ROOF IS
CLAY ROMER, OWNER OF CONNELL SUPPLY COMPANY, IN MAQUOKETA, SERVING
THE KMAQ AREA ROOFING NEEDS FOR OVER 50 YEARS. CLAY'S DAD, DUB,
STARTED THE BUSINESS AND PASSED AWAY AT AGE 90 THIS PAST JANUARY.
CONNELL SUPPLY COMPANY WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST ADVERTISERS IN 1958 AND
HAS BEEN ADVERTISING THE BUSINESS ON KMAQ ALMOST DAILY SINCE. IN THIS
PHOTO, WE ARE LOOKING TO THE WEST AND MAIN STREET IS BELOW. CLICK-ON
PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT!
DENNIS VOY
HERE, CLAY IS STANDING NEXT TO THE NEW AIR-CONDITIONER ROOF UNITS ON THE NEW WHITE RUBBER ROOF. THEY WERE INSTALLED BY WELL'S HEATING AND
AIR-CONDITIONING IN MAQUOKETA, AND WILL COOL THE VOY 1 THEATRE
AUDITORIUM. STICKLEY ELECTRIC WIRED THE UNITS.
THE SMALL VOY 3 AUDITORIUM NEW SEATS ARE IN, ALONG WITH NEW
CARPET FROM THE OLD LUMBER YARD GIFTS AND FLOOR COVERING IN
MAQUOKETA. THERE IS ALSO NEW AISLE LIGHTING. THE LARGE AUDITORIUMS EACH HAVE AROUND 200 SEATS. THE VOY 3 NOW HAS 77 NEW SEATS FROM IRVING SEATING IN MICHIGAN. THE NEW SEATS WERE INSTALLED BY DALE SCHMIDT CONSTRUCTION OF MAQUOKETA, WITH LONGTIME EMPLOYEE CLIFF MERRICK DOING THE WORK. FLOOR PAINTING WAS DONE BY PAT FIER, WHO DOES PART TIME PAINTING. HE ALSO HELPED CLIFF ANCHOR THE NEW BROWN SEATS.
I THINK YOU WILL LIKE THE NEW LOOK OF THE VOY 3. THE NEW SEATS WERE LONG OVER DO. THE RE-DONE AUDITORIUM WILL OPEN FRIDAY NIGHT AND THE MOVIE WILL BE "WATER FOR ELEPHANTS". SOON, WE WILL ALSO BE DOING SOME PAINTING OF THE FRONT OF THE VOY 3 BUILDING, THAT WAS CINEMA MOVIE RENTALS. MORE ON THAT LATER. ALSO, COMING HERE SHORTLY WILL BE A PHOTO OF THE NEW SEATS. AS ALWAYS, CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

PARTY SUNNY AND 60 THE HIGH TODAY!

A RURAL MAQUOKTA MAN, MIKE NICKESON, HAS BEEN HIRED AS THE NEW
MANAGER OF THE MAQUOKETA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITY. HE WILL
START JUNE 1ST AND WILL REPLACE DOUG OWEN WHO IS RETIRING.
HE HAS BEEN WORKING AROUND 11 YEARS FOR ALLIANT ENERGY IN DUBUQUE.
THE MOST RECENT JOB WAS AS A FACILITIES MANAGER. HE IS A GRADUATE
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT PLATTVILLE WITH A DEGREE IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING. HERE IN MAQUOKETA, HE IS A MEMBER OF THE HOSPITAL
BOARD. HIS WIFE IS THERESA AND THEY HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND LIVE ON THE
CAVES ROAD NORTHWEST OF MAQUOKETA.

THE GATEWAY AREA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HELD ITS ANNUAL
MEETING MONDAY IN DEWITT. AT THE MEETING, THE MAQUOKETA YMCA
WAS GIVEN THE "GOOD NEIGHBOR" AWARD. THE RED CROSS OFFICE IS IN CLINTON AND SERVES BOTH JACKSON AND CLINTON COUNTY.

GOOD NIGHT FROM MAQUOKETA.

DENNIS VOY

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

SUNNY AND WARMER TODAY...HIGH OF 66. MORE NICE WEATHER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

McDONALDS ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE DRIVE-UP WINDOW AT BOTH
MAQUOKETA AND DEWITT McDONALDS WILL BE OPEN 24 HOURS ON FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY NIGHTS, STARTING MAY 20TH.

THE IOWA LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO PASS A NEW BUDGET. THERE ARE 3 PLANS...THE HOUSE VERSION, THE SENATE VERSION AND GOV. BRANSTAD'S VERSION.
OUR LEGISLATORS, SENATOR TOD BOWMAN OF MAQUOKETA AND ST. REP.
BRIAN MORE OF ZWINGLE WERE ON "JUST TALK" TODAY ON KMAQ AND
TALKED ABOUT THE PLANS. REPUBLICAN MOORE SIDES WITH HIS PARTY'S EFFORT TO SET ALLOWABLE GROWTH AT ZERO PERCENT WHILE DEMOCRAT BOWMAN
WOULD LIKE TO SEE A 2 PERCENT ALLOWABLE GROTH. MOORE LIKES THE IDEA OF A TWO YEAR BUDGET WHILE BOWMAN ONLY WANTS TO PASS A ONE YEAR BUDGET.
BOTH ALSO TODAY SPOKE AT THE MAQUOKETA CHAMBER LUNCH AND THINK IT
MAY BE JUNE BEFORE THE ISSUE OF THE BUDGET CAN BE RESOLVED AND THE SEASON CAN BE GAVELED TO A CLOSE.

A BIRTH: SASHA ROSENFELS AND SEAN GILLON OF SAN FRANCISCO ARE PARENTS OF A GIRL, BORN MAY 6TH. MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS ARE JAMIE AND
ROBERT ROSENFELS OF IOWA CITY AND FORMERLY OF MAQUOKETA.

BOB BROWN, WHO WAS KMAQ'S FIRST MANAGER IN 1958, AND LIVED
IN MAQUOKETA WITH HIS WIFE ELAINE AND CHILDREN, WILL BE 90 THIS
SATURDAY. HE WAS HERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND THEN WENT TO
FORT ATKINSON,WISCONSIN TO MANAGE A NEW STATION FOR
THE THREE MEN THAT OWNED KMAQ AND WERE FROM MONROE, WISCONSIN.
I HAVE KEPT IN TOUCH WITH BOB AND ELAINE SINCE THEN. THEY STILL
LIVE IN THEIR LONGTIME HOME IN FORT ATKINSON. GRANDKIDS KEEP THEM BUSY. I BOUGHT KMAQ FROM THE THREE MONROE MEN IN 1965. ONLY ONE IS STILL LIVING, NATE GOETZ IN FLORIDA , AND HE IS 85. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB.

ENJOY THE WEATHER.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, May 16, 2011

YUMS (BUILDING THAT FOR A LONG TIME WAS HOME OF DAWN'S DINER)
OPENED TODAY ON EAST PLATT STREET. SANDWICHES, PIE AND ICE CREAM
AND MORE. I'LL HAVE MORE ABOUT IT LATER. HEARD SOME GOOD
REPORTS TODAY! CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT. CLICK A SECOND TIME
TO MAKE PHOTO EVEN LARGER.
DENNIS VOY
SUNNY TODAY, HIGH OF 62.
MORE OF THE SAME COMING.....A LITTLE WARMER TOMORROW.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

THE MAQUOKETA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITY BOARD MEETS TOMORROW
AND IS EXPECTED TO HIRE A NEW GENERAL MANAGER, TO REPLACE DOUG OWEN
WHO RETIRES IN JUNE.

SORRY FOR THE SHORT REPORT.

DENNIS VOY
YESTERDAY, NANCY AND I TOOK
A SUNNY, SUNDAY AFTERNOON
DRIVE TO CEDAR RAPIDS TO
VISIT CZECH VILLAGE, HOME OF THE NATIONAL CZECH & SLOVAK MUSEUM AND LIBRARY. THE WEEKEND WAS THE 34TH ANNUAL "HOUBY DAYS". "HOUBY" IS THE CZECH
NAME FOR MUSHROOM. THIS MUSHROOM WEEKEND EVENT
FEATURED CZECH MUSIC, DANCING, A CARNIVAL, CRAFT
TENTS, ALL KINDS OF FOOD STANDS, GAMES AND MORE.
MAIN STREET INCLUDES A
LARGE CZECH BAKERY AND FEATURES THE CZECH KOLACHE. I HAD A CHERRY KOLACHE-----VERY GOOD! THIS WHOLE AREA WAS REALLY HIT HARD BY THE 2008 FLOOD AND IS REBUILDING. THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED AND WILL BE MOVED ACROSS THE STREET TO HIGHER GROUND AND OPEN AGAIN NEXT SPRING. WE VISITED A NEW, SMALLER CZECH MAINSTREET MUSEUM THAT HAS FACTS AND PHOTOS OF THE FLOOD AND WILL BE KEPT OPEN PERMANENTLY FOR TOURISTS. VOLUNTEER SHIRLEY ALEXANDER GAVE US ONE-HOUR TOUR OF THE INTERESTING DISPLAYS. CEDAR RAPIDS HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST CZECH AND SLOVAK COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY. PROGRAM YOUR GPS TO 87 SIXTEENTH AVENUE SW AND PAY A VISIT. CLOSED SUNDAYS. CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT. GOOGLE CEDAR RAPIDS CZECH VILLAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
DENNIS VOY
ON MAIN STREET OF CZECH
VILLAGE, IS THIS SIGN.
I HAD TO TAKE A PICTURE
OF IT.....
NOTICE....
DVOY
IN CZECH, DVOY IS PART OF A
CZECH SLOGAN FOR A
DETECTIVE AGENCY BUSINESS.

Saturday, May 14, 2011


ANOTHER WET DAY IN MAQUOKETA!

RAINING NOW! IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER TOMORROW WITH SUNSHINE AND MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WILL BE SUNNY AND IN 60'S ... SO.... BETTER WEATHER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

WE JUST GOT BACK FROM DINNER AT
THE PUB CLUB
IN DOWNTOWN LOST NATION!
NANCY AND I EACH ENJOYED
THEIR SATURDAY NIGHT PRIME RIB SPECIAL. NEW OWNERS,
FROM MAQUOKETA, ARE SHOWN HERE! THEY ARE JAKE AND ELIZABETH HAYWARD WHO TOOK OVER THE LONGTIME BAR AND RESTAURANT ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND ARE HAVING FUN LEARNING THE BUSINESS.
JAKE IS A 2004 MCHS GRAD AND HIS PARENTS ARE MR. AND MRS. BILL HAYWARD OF MAQUOKETA. ELIZABETH (MCHS 2005 GRAD) IS THE DAUGHTER OF DWAYNE AND BECKY HEINRICH OF BALDWIN. JAKE AND ELIZABETH HAVE TWO BOYS, AGES 5
AND 1. JAKE WORKS FOR KEVIN AMBROSY CONSTRUCTION DURING THE WEEK AND ELIZABETH WORKS STRICTLY AT THE RESTAURANT AND JAKE TENDS BAR NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS. THEY ARE CLOSED MONDAY AND DURING THE WEEK, OPEN FOR
NOON LUNCH FROM 11 UNTIL 1:30. SATURDAY'S THEY OPEN AT 5 AND SUNDAYS AT 10:30 FOR BRUNCH. CHERYL HINTZ HAS BEEN AND IS STILL THE MAIN COOK
FOR THE BUSINESS. GO IN THE FRONT DOOR AND TO THE LEFT, IS THE DINING ROOM WITH SALAD BAR AND TO THE RIGHT, THE BAR AND ALSO SEATING FOR
DINNER. TO THE REAR OF THE BAR AREA IS A SMALL POOL ROOM.
BEST OF LUCK TO JAKE AND ELIZABETH WITH THEIR NEW BUSINESS. THEY
WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE IN MAQUOKETA.
CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
HAVE A GOOD SUNDAY AND WEEK AHEAD!
DENNIS VOY

Friday, May 13, 2011

NOT A VERY NICE FRIDAY....HAVE HAD RAIN AND MORE COMING
AND BACK IN THE 50'S. REST OF THE WEEK WILL BE THE SAME.
MONDAY LOOKING BETTER....SUNNY AND WARMER THEN.
BUT, WE NEEDED THE RAIN TODAY.

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, I WAS UNABLE TO DO THIS REPORT AS THE BLOGGER
WAS DOWN AT THEIR END. CAME BACK SOMETIME OVERNIGHT. THIS
HAPPENS NOW AND THEN.

THE DUBUQUE CIVIL AIR PATROL WILL BE SEARCHING TOMORROW FOR THE BODY
OF THE SNOWMOBILER WHO PLUNGED THROUGH THE MAQUOKETA RIVER ICE
IN JACKSON COUNTY BACK ON JANUARY 22ND. IT WILL BE A TRAINING
MISSION FOR THE PATROL. THE BODY OF SHAWN BERTHEL WAS NEVER RECOVERED AFTER HIS SNOWMOBILE WENT UNDER THE ICE.

IT IS 1:35 AND REALLY RAINING HEAVY NOW, AS IT DID ALSO JUST BEFORE NOON.
AND THE RADAR SHOWS MORE COMING FOR MOST OF THE AFTERNOON.

A FIRE YESTERDAY IN ONE OF THE GARBAGE TRUCKS OWNED BY ROCKWELL
CLEAN-UP. THE FIRE STARTED INSIDE BIG BOX WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS
PARKED IN A SHED AT ROCKWELL'S NORTH OF TOWN. A FIREMEN PUT ON
AN AIR-PACK AND BACKED THE TRUCK OUT OF THE BUILDING, SO THE BUILDING
WAS NOT DAMAGED. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE.

THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL BOARD THIS WEEK SETTLED WITH THE NON-TEACHING UNION....AT A 15-CENT AN HOUR INCREASE. THE BOARD IS STILL NEGOTIATING
WITH THE TEACHER'S UNION.

THE MAQUOKETA BOWLING ASSOCIATION ANNUAL BANQUET WAS HELD
WEDNESDAY NIGNT AT THE EAGLES CLUB. IN THE AFTERNOON, SOME OF THE
MEMBERS PLAYED GOLF AT PRAIRIE CREEK GOLF COURSE AT THE SOUTH EDGE
OF MAQUOKETA. IN FACT, A DUBUQUE BOWLING ASSOCIATION MEMBER,
81-YEAR-OLD BILL TUCKER ACED A HOLE-IN-ONE ON THE 135-YARD 4TH HOLE,
USING A 5-WOOD. HE WAS PLAYING WITH JAKE BICKFORD OF MAQUOKETA AND
CHARLIE KUTSCH OF THE DUBUQUE BOWLING ASSOCIATION. AT THE AWARDS
PART OF THE EVENT, JAKE BICKFORD WAS NAMED AN HONORARY MEMBER
OF THE ASSOCIATION. THE SPONSOR OF THE YEAR AWARD WENT TO
DUNES SCHROEDER OF MAQUOKETA. DUNES IS A FLORIST. VERL HOWELL
OF MAQUOKETA WAS NAMED TO THE ASSOCIATION'S "HALL OF FAME".
ROB HECK OF MAQUOKETA WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT FOR 2011-2012.

THE MAQUOKETA BOY'S GOLF TEAM HAS QUALIFIED FOR THE DISTRICT
TOURNAMENT NEXT WEEK. YESTERDAY, IN THE SECTIONAL AT SOLON,
THEY TOOK 3RD PLACE. THE TOP 3 TEAMS GO ON TO DISTRICT.
FOR MAQUOKETA, ALEX BECK SHOT A 79. KYLE CLARK AND CONNER TAYLOR
EACH CARDED 80'S. TY THEDE HAS AN 81. THE DISTRICT NEXT WEEK WILL
BE AT WILLIAMSBURG.

HOW'S YOUR GOLF GAME THIS YEAR?

FAMOUS MAQUOKETA ARTIST PAT COSTELLO AND WIFE JOAN HAVE SOLD THEIR HOUSE AND WILL HAVE SOME THINGS ON SALE AT THEIR PLACE TOMORROW, ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE MAQUOKETA COUNTRY CLUB. LATER, THEY WILL HAVE A PUBLIC AUCTION. HE AND JOAN WILL LIVE AT THE MILL THIS SUMMER AND THEN MOVE TO ARIZONA THIS FALL. THE WEATHER THERE WILL BE BETTER
FOR A HEALTH PROBLEM JOAN HAS. IT WILL BE SAD TO SEE THEM LEAVE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. THE MILL JUST EAST OF TOWN THAT THE FAMILY RESTORED 30 YEARS AGO, IS NOW OWNED BY HIS DAUGHTER(TRACY TAYLOR) AND SON-IN-LAW AND IS USED AS AN EVENT CENTER, POPULAR ESPECIALLY FOR WEDDINGS. THEY HAVE IT FOR SALE BUT WILL CONTINUE TO RUN IT THROUGH THE SUMMER. LOOKING TO OWN A NICE BUSINESS IN MAQUOKETA? CHECK THIS OUT!
YES, PAT STILL DOES A LITTLE PAINTING. I HAVE ONE OF HIS ORIGINALS IN MY LIVING ROOM AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU DO ALSO.

WE STILL HAVE 14 SEATS LEFT ON THE KMAQ TRI-STATE TOURS BUS GOING TO THE
ST. LOUIS-MILWAUKEE GAME UP AT MILLER PARK SUNDAY AFTERNOON,JUNE 12TH.
JOIN LEIGHTON AND CINDY HEPKER ON A FUN TRIP TO THE BEAUTIFUL PARK
WHERE THERE WILL BE AROUND 40,000 FOR THE GAME. IT WILL BE A FAMILY BUS, AND WITH SCHOOL OUT, A GOOD TIME TO TAKE THE KIDS OR GRANDKIDS. GREAT BASEBALL. GREAT PEOPLE WATCHING. GREAT WISCONSIN BRATS AND MILWAUKEE BEER TOO. AND A GREAT CHANCE IT WILL BE A WIN FOR THE FIRST PLACE CARDS. THEY ARE IN FIRST PLACE TODAY ANYWAY. MIGHT CHANGE BY THEN.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Thursday, May 12, 2011

THE MAQUOKETA ROTARY CLUB 56TH ANNUAL SCHOLAR DINNER WAS HELD
LAST NIGHT AT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. THE TOP TWENTY 2011
MCHS GRADUATES WERE HONORED AFTER THE DINNER AT 6 P.M. MORE ABOUT
THE DINNER WITH PHOTO BELOW. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EVENT WAS ROTARIAN
JOHN GILROY ASSISTED BY ROTARIAN SUPT. DR. KIM HUCKSTADT. ROTARIAN
PASTOR ERIC ELKINS GAVE THE INVOCATION AND HE AND ROTARIAN FLORIAN
STEFFEN INTRODUCED EACH SCHOLAR AND GAVE HIGHLIGHTS OF THEIR
HIGH SCHOOL DAYS AND SOME OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. IN THE PHOTO
ABOVE, THE TOP 20.
FIRST ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: KASSANDRA FAULKNER, DAUGHTER OF JASON FAULKNER AND VIRGINIA SEAWRIGHT....BRITNEY BICKFORD, DAUGHTER OF TRAVIS BICKFORD AND JENNIFER WIEBENGA....BRETT TRACY, DAUGHTER OF JASON AND JESSICA TRACY....CATHERINE VAZQUEZ, DAUGHTER OF DAVID AND SHAWN VASQUEZ....ALYSIA HORCHER, DAUGHTER OF MARK HORCHER AND SUZANNE GLUSIC...AND MATTHEW LYON, SON OF MIKE AND ARLENE LYON.
MIDDLE ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: JASMINE FRANCOIS, DAUGHTER OF NICHOLAS AND MARIVIC FRANCOIS....AMANDA KEENEY, DAUGHTER OF BRIAN AND PAM KEENEY....
CATLYN HAYWARD, DAUGHTER OF MIKE AND CHRIS HAYWARD....LOUIS KEITEL, SON OF JIM AND KATY KEITEL....SHELBY WIRTH, DAUGHTER SCOTT AND MARY KAY WIRTH....BAYLOR SHANAHAN, SON OF BOB AND BECKY SHANAHN....AND TATE HUCKSTADT, SON OF KIM AND LUANN HUCKSTADT.
BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: MATTHEW LANE, SON OF ROBERT AND DEBRA LANE....
JEREMIAH GERARDY, SON OF RICHARD AND RENEE GERARDY....BRADY WHITNEY, SON
OF SCOTT AND JEAN WHITNEY....TRAVIS REGAN, SON OF MICHAEL AND CHERYL REGAN....ERIC CALLAHAN, SON OF TOM AND KIM CALLAHAN....ISSAC KINRADE, SON
OF STEVE AND JULIE KINRADE AND JASON SHUSTER, SON OF DONALD AND BARB SHUSTER.
CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT. CLICK A SECOND TIME AND THE PHOTO
GETS EVEN LARGER.
DENNIS VOY
THERE WAS A LOT OF HELP
FOR THE SERVING OF THE DINNER LAST NIGHT. IT WAS
SERVED BY THE METHODIST WOMEN'S AUXILIARY, TO THE
RIGHT IN THIS PHOTO. NOTE
THE FRESH FRUIT....I HAND
A SECOND HELPING OF IT.
THE DINNER CONSISTED OF
CHICKEN, CORN, POTATOES,
FRUIT AND APPLE PIE AND
ICE CREAM. THANKS LADIES!
GREAT MEAL! SORRY A COUPLE
ARE HIDDEN IN BACK ROW.
CLICK-ON THE PHOTO TO
ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

90 DEGREES IN MAQUOKETA!
TOMORROW WILL BE A LITTLE COOLER!
SHIRLEY WOULD FEEL AT HOME HERE!

MINOR ACCIDENT YESTERDAY IN MAQUOKETA. TOM TUBBS, 67, OF MAQUOKETA,
BACKED INTO A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY ALI LAI OF MAQUOKETA, AGE 16.
NO INJURIES. MINOR DAMAGE.

HUSCO INTERNATIONAL OF MAQUOKETA HAS BEEN NAMED AN HONORARY SPONSOR FOR THE 2011 TIMBER CITY DAYS AND ADVENTURE RACE, JUNE 24 AND 25. THEY DONATED $2,000 TO THE EVENT. HUSCO'S COMPANY NAME WILL BE ON PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS. HUSCO HAS BEEN IN THE BIG SOUTH INDUSTRIAL PARK SINCE 2008. THEY OCCUPY ABOUT 75,000 SQUARE FEET IN THE GENERAC BUILDING.. THEY EMPLOY 105 PEOPLE WITH 54 OF THOSE LIVING IN MAQUOKETA. AND PLANS CALL FOR A 7TH LINE TO BE INSTALLED IN AUGUST.

KEEP COOL!

DENNIS VOY

Monday, May 09, 2011

CLOUDY THIS MORNING AND SUNNY THIS AFTERNOON....TODAY'S HIGH, 70.
TOMORROW, SUNNY AND HIGH IN UPPER 80'S. WILL BE IN 80'S ALSO
WEDNESDAY AND BACK TO 70'S THURSDAY.
BY THE WAY, WE HAD NO RAIN SATURDAY AND STOCK CAR RACES WERE
HELD. ONLY MAQUOKETAN TO TAKE A FIRST PLACE WAS JAKE
BOWMAN IN THE IMCA MODIFIED DIVISION.

A TRUCK FULL OF POT ASH PARTIALLY SPILLED NEAR THE CAVES ROAD
SATURDAY MORNING. AS THE DRIVER (GERALD BARESEL, 53 OF ANDREW)
WAS MAKING A TURN, THE WEIGHT SHIFTED IN THE BOX CAUSING THE VEHICLE
TO BECOME TOP HEAVY AND THE TRUCK FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE, SPILLING OUT
PART OF THE LOAD. THE MAQUOKETA RESCUE SQUAD WAS CALLED BECAUSE
OF THE SPILL. BARASEL WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED AND DAMAGES AMOUNTED TO $7,500 TO THE 93 GMC REGISTERED
TO INNOVATIVE AG SERVICE OF MANCHESTER.

MAQUOKETA POLICE CHIEF BRAD KORANDA HAS NAMED BRENDAN ZEIMET AS THE NEW SERGEANT OF THE DEPARTMENT, REPLACING ROBERT SIMONSON WHO
RESIGNED LAST YEAR TO TAKE THE CHIEF OF POLICE POSITION AT ANAMOSA.
THERE ARE TWO SERGEANT POSITIONS. THE OTHER IS KENNY SPARKS.
ZIEMET HAS BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR 10 YEARS. HE IS CURRENTLY
THE K-9 OFFICER AND WILL CONTINUE IN THAT POSITION ALSO, UNTIL THE DRUG DOG RICKI RETIRES. CHIEF KORANDA SAID THE SERGEANTS WORK MOSTLY NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS AS PART OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT. ONE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS IS THE
RESIGNATION OF COLLIN GISEL AS GIRL'S HEAD GOLF COACH. HE WAS ALSO
AN ASSISTANT IN OTHER SPORTS AND IS GOING TO A NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT THIS
FALL.

THE PROM WAS SATURDAY NIGHT. THE KING WAS CALEB CLAUS AND THE
QUEEN TORI SCHMIDT.

IN MY STORY YESTERDAY (WITH PHOTO) OF THE VFW DISTRICT MEETING IN MAQUOKETA, I MENTIONED THAT TOM WATTERS OF FULTON, WAS ELECTED "SURGEON" FOR THE DISTRICT, BUT I FAILED TO MENTION THAT HIS WIFE, ANGIE, WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE 2ND DISTRICT VFW AUXILIARY. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH!!

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN.

DENNIS VOY

Sunday, May 08, 2011

THE MAQUOKETA VFW POST 3633
WAS HOST SATURDAY TO THE 2ND DISTRICT MEETING. THE
EVENT STARTED WITH A NOON
DINNER AT THE EAGLES CLUB.
ABOUT 40 PEOPLE FROM THE
DOZEN VFW POSTS IN THE
DISTRICT WERE REPRESENTED.
ABOUT HALF WERE POST MEMBERS AND THE OTHER
HALF WERE VFW AUXILIARY
MEMBERS. EACH HAD THEIR
SEPARATE MEETING AFTER DINNER. OFFICERS WERE ELECTED AND MAQUOKETA VFW POST COMMANDER TOM WATTERS OF FULTON WAS ELECTED THE "SURGEON" FOR THE 2ND DISTRICT. TOM'S WIFE, ANGIE, WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE
2ND DISTRICT VFW AUXILIARY. SHOWN ABOVE RIGHT ...THE POSTS ARE LINED UP FOR THE "LOYALTY DAY" OBSERVANCE. EVERY YEAR FOR OVER 40 YEARS, THE VFW (VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS) CELEBRATE LOYALITY DAY ON MAY 1ST, OR NEAR THAT DATE. LOYALTY DAY....STRESSING THE POINT THAT VFW MEMBERS ARE LOYAL TO THEIR COUNTRY AND THEIR FLAG. MAYOR JASON HUTE WAS A GUEST AT THE CEREMONY, WITH A WELCOME TO MAQUOKETA. THE SPECIAL GUEST WAS THE
VFW STATE COMMANDER, DARRELL BLASBERG OF WAVERLY. THE EVENT ENDED
AROUND 4 P.M. COMMANDER BLASBERG SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST ATTENDED DISTRICT MEETINGS HE HAS ATTENDED. ONLY THE DEWITT VFW POST WAS
ABSENT. THE MAQUOKETA VFW POST MEETS AT 7 P.M. THE THIRD WEDNESDAY
OF EACH MONTH, AT THE EAGLES. THE POST SOLD THEIR POST HOME NORTH
OF MAQUOKETA LAST YEAR, TO MAKE OPERATING DOLLARS GO FARTHER.
ANY VETERAN, MAN OR WOMAN, THAT SERVED OVERSEAS SHOULD CONTACT
COMMANDER TOM WATTERS, QUARTERMASTER ROGER SCHNOOR, OR ME (I AM
A MEMBER) ABOUT JOINING THE LOCAL VFW POST AND SUPPORTING VETERANS
PROGRAMS. CLICK-ON THIS PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY

Friday, May 06, 2011

NICE DAY TODAY...HIGH OF 70.
RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST AGAIN FOR TOMORROW AND SUNDAY.

THE STOCK RACING SEASON GETS UNDERWAY AGAIN AT 6:30 TOMORROW
NIGHT AT THE RACEWAY IN MAQUOKETA. BOB WAGNER HAS BEEN
THE PROMOTOR OF RACES FOR MANY MANY YEARS. DOES A GOOD JOB.
APRIL WEATHER GOT HIS SEASON OFF TO A SLOW START.

EDDY ORTELL, WELL KNOWN IN THE MAQUOKETA AREA, CELEBRATED HIS
92ND BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK. LIVING NOW IN LAVERNE, CALIFORNIA.

ANDREW JOHNSON, A MEMBER OF BOY SCOUT TROOP 68 IN MAQUOKETA, HAS
RECEIVED HIS EAGLE SCOUT AWARD. HE'S A SENIOR AT MCHS AND THE SON OF LORI JOHNSON OF MAQUOKETA AND JOE JOHNSON OF OTTUMWA. HE WILL
ATTEND IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY THIS FALL AT AMES AND WILL MAJOR
IN ENGINEERING.

MAQUOKETA'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DAY IS SUNDAY, MAY 29TH AT 2 P.M. AT THE HIGH SCHOOL GYM.

TODD MANG HAS RESIGNED FROM THE MAQUOKETA CITY COUNCIL. HE HAS
SERVED FOR 2 YEARS AND HAD 2 YEARS LEFT. A WORK SHIFT CHANGE (HE WORKS OUT OF TOWN) WAS THE REASON GIVEN, AS HE SAID HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE
TO SERVE HIS WARD AS HE SHOULD. MAY 13 THE RESIGNATION BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. HE ALSO IS OWNER OF T "N" T CONE SHOP AND RESTAURANT ON
EAST PLATT IN MAQUOKETA.

FORMER MAQUOKETANS MARY JOY AND JERRE STEAD HAVE DONATED $10 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

DENNIS VOY

Monday, May 02, 2011

SUNNY AND 55 TODAY. GOOD PLANTING WEATHER. MORE OF THE SAME
TOMORROW AND WEDNESDAY. RAIN COMING BACK THURSDAY.

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY TODAY TO ERGON PENNINGROTH, A LONGTIME KMAQ
LISTENER. FAMOUS FOR HIS KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL HISTORY AND HIS
STORIES ABOUT THE EXTREME HEAT IN THE SUMMER OF 1936. HE AND HIS WIFE MARGE FARMED IN THE ELWOOD AREA AND RETIRED TO MAQUOKETA IN 1988.

THANK YOU ALLEN BODKIN....FOR BEING THE FIRST DAILY REPORT READER TO BUY
SOME ROTARY DUCKS FROM ME....$20 WORTH. HE WILL NOW HOPE ONE OF
HIS 11 DUCKS WILL BE ONE OF THE RACE WINNERS. ALLEN, FORMER RESIDENT
OF MAQUOKETA, NOW LIVES IN IBERIA, MISSOURI. I WAS EXCITED WHEN
I GOT HIS CHECK THIS MORNING.

MAQUOKETA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER BILL SCHWENKER ANNOUNCED ON KMAQ'S JUST TALK SHOW THIS MORNING THAT HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION. HE
HAS SERVED FOR 18 YEARS. THAT'S A LOT, BUT NOT A RECORD. BUT
MAQUOKETA IS KNOWN FOR HAVING LONG MEETINGS, SO TIME-WISE....IT PROBABLY IS A RECORD.

PARENTS OF 14 YEAR OLD DYLAN SCHICK HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR IGNORING
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS. DYLAN MISSED OR WAS TARDY
55 OUT OF 118 DAYS AND OFFICERS SAID PARENTS STACY LESLEIN, AGE 37 AND
WILLIAM SCHICK, AGE 43, FAILED TO REQUIRE THEIR SON TO ATTEND SCHOOL
AT HILLCREST.

A WORKROON AT THE MAQUOKETA AIRPORT WAS BROKEN INTO OVER THE
WEEKEND. FRANK GOODENOW WHO HAS A SHOP OUT THERE REPORTED
THE BREAK-IN AT A HANGAR AND HIS SHOP. SOME ITEMS WERE TAKEN.

MAQUOKETA COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT. THEY ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
PUTTING A PRICE TAG ON THE FIRE PROPERTY DOWNTOWN AT $200,000.

JERRY MANNING, AGE 69, DIED YESTERDAY. LONGTIME EMPLOYEE WITH
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, FIRST AS A DEPUTY AND THEN JAIL
ADMINISTRATOR. HE AND HIS WIFE CLEO ALSO RAN MANNING'S NURSING
HOME FOR MANY YEARS AND HE WAS A GOOD FISHERMAN AND WON
FISHING DERBIES REGULARLY. NICE GUY. HIS FULL OBITURARY IS
ON CARSON AND SON'S WEB SITE.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

DENNIS VOY