Dennis' Daily Worldwide Report

Little thuner and lightning storm about 5:30 this morning..the rest of day pretty good with high in 70's.....Ron Paulsen last night rolled a 300 game at Timber Lanes here in town......Maquoketa firemen spent 30-minutes fighting a grass fire last night around 6 just East of Maquoketa. Tis the season for grass fires....Couple minor car accidents over the weekend...so, slow news day today. Sorry for the short report.
Dennis Voy
- Monday, March 30, 1998 at 15:06:05 (EST)

Spring weather continues this weekend...above normal temperatures.....the Dairy Queen is open for another season....lawns are being raked all over...a beautiful time of the year.......ITS A GIRL! To David and Maureen Moos of Crystal, Minnesota, regular readers of this daily report. Congratulations Sis and Doostee (nicknames)..can't wait to see little Celine. She was born Friday, weighs 7 pounds 12 ounces, is coming home today from hospital to be greeted by Grandmother Dottie Bayles of KMAQ and Great-grandmother Elenor Bayles, also of Maquoketa......Here's one for the books...actually two for the books. Friday afternoon Terry Ricklefs, age 29, of Maquoketa was arrested for OWI, while driving his garden tractor and struck a neighbors shed in Yarolem Trailer Court. Then..two hours later, a friend or relative of his, Dean Riordan of Maquoketa was also charged with OWI, to the same location where he also was arrested for driving while influenced, a garden tractor. He was ALSO charged with child endangerment as his two year old daughter was riding along on his lap.....Camilla M.Beck, age 84, died Friday evening at the local hospital and services will be tomorrow at Carson & Son FuneralHome in Maquoketa. She had no survivors in or from Maquoketa. Much of her life spent in Andrew area........Have a good week everybody.
Dennis Voy
- Sunday, March 29, 1998 at 13:42:18 (EST)

Windy again and a high of 74...about l5 degrees above normal for this time of year. Tomorrrow and Sunday, dry and in 60's, so it should be a nice weekend.....I took a KMAQ TRAVEL bus to the Lady Luck Riverboat Casino at Bettendorf today. About 34 on the bus and there were some winners. I think I came out ahead abaout 5-bucks. Had a good buffet lunch courtesy of the Casino and I noticed that their 15-million dollar hotel next to the boat is almost done. When opened, it will be quite a complex.....Tri-State Tours with about 50 drivers, has one lady driver and she was our driver today. Nice lady and did a great job. Driving a bus on a windy day like today isn't easy either.....Tom McClimon, age 55, of Maquoketa, died today at his home following a length illness. He is survived by his wife Roberta, a son in Columbus, Ohio, his parents, Paul and Marie McClimon of Lost Nation and others not in the Maquoketa area....Nothing more for today. Short report, sorry. Have a good weekend.
Dennis Voy
- Friday, March 27, 1998 at 18:36:19 (EST)

Very windy and 73 for a high today. Rain in forecast for tonight......The Jackson County Public Hospital Board met this week and bought some new equiment. A colonoscope for $18,900 and a Gastroscope for over $20,000. Over 250 procedurres a year a done here to do internal viewing and minor surgery for the colon and esophagus areas.....Also coming soon, approved for purchase earlier, a new operating table and new operating room lighting....with a total cost of over $100,000......The annual Hospital Foundation Golf Outing has been set for June 3rd. Details later. If you are a golfer, plan to come and play...and the financial picture of hospital remains favorable....as the profit increased to $129,000 in February and nearly $900,000 for the fiscal year....Sally Carstensen of Clinton, age 68, died yesterday. Survivors include a sister, Helen Shady of Maquoketa and a brother, Howard Johnson of Maquoketa......and Jack Taylor, age 72, of Wyoming, Iowa died yesterday. Surivors include a sister, Margaret Bartels of Maquoketa......And that's it for today.
Dennis Voy
- Thursday, March 26, 1998 at 18:24:35 (EST)

Partly sunny and in the 50's today, heading for the 60's tomorrow......Just got back from an afternoon reception at the VFW Post Home just north of Maquoketa, where a Van Load of VFW State Officers visited Maquoketa for 45-minutes, another stopover on a Statewide tour. This is done once a year to help with the membership campaign. The VFW and Legion both are loosing members and have a membership problem. There were just 5 of us to welcome the State Group today, lead by Commander Bill Merrick. Muriel Allen fixed some cake for everyone.....and I had a piece, then took a second. Have you ever done that? LeRoy Bickford was there. He's a good VFW man. Born in 1925 up by Fulton...he looks a lot younger.......Had Rotary meeting today and met an architect that was the guest of Maquoketa State Bank President, Al Tubbs. They are working on a plan to expand MSB'sWest Side office. The job will be done this year. MSB, like KMAQ, is celebrating their 40th Anniversary today. I'm sure their celebration will be bigger than KMAQ's. KMAQ's birthday is in August and theirs is in September. Saw Dr. Broman at Rotary and he's still working part-time at a Clinic in Davenport. One of those guys that retired a few years ago, and came out of retirement because he missed work.....Dr. Melvin Bernard sat next to me. He's still a Maquoketa Optomitrist, but not working full weeks anymore. He's been serving this area for nearly 50 years and still like hunting too......Also at my table, longtime Maquoketa Pharmacist Ken Skelly. Now retired. His wife died a few years ago. He ran the popular Snow White Pharmacy for many years in downtown Maquoketa. He has a son that is an Optometrist in Davenport and Maquoketa......School Board met this week and approved salary increases for administrators and other non-teaching positions in the District. Top salary goes to the School Superintendent of course, and this coming year, for the first time, it will be over $70,000....I'm taking off to the beauty salon right now to get a haircut. Talk to you tomorrow.
Dennis Voy
- Wednesday, March 25, 1998 at 17:10:54 (EST)

Cloudy most of day and high of 52....A well-known Maquoketa businessman has thrown his hat in the ring and will run for the Jackson County Board of Supervisors. He is Mick Clark who lives just North of Maquoketa and operates Clark Saw Center. He has operated the business for around 25 years and therefore knows a lot of people in Jackson County. He will run as a Democrat and will oppose current Republican Jack Willey of Maquoketa. The word is this could be an interesting race. I heard from two different souces today that former Sheriff Bob Lyons will be helping with the Clark campaign. Clark's wife has worked for many years at the Maquoketa State Bank. Jack has been a hard worker and has done a good job and incumbents are favored in most elections, but this could be an exciting race.....And that is all I have for today. Must run as I work the theatre tonight. Titanic, now the Oscar Winner for Best Picture, starts at 7. See you tomorrow.
Dennis Voy
- Tuesday, March 24, 1998 at 18:36:49 (EST)

Partly sunny and in 40's today......An 18-year old Oxford Junction man was killed in a one-vehicle accident at 1:12 A.M. yesterday a mile south of Baldwin. Dead is Dean A. Feuss. He was not wearing a seatbelt when his pickup couldn't negotiate a curve and rolled several times. A passenger, 29-year-old Scott Benischek of Lost Nation and is listed in stable condition at the hospital here in Maquoketa. Feuss was a grandson of Norma Merrick of Maquoketa.....Had a chat this afternoon with Bob Mitchell over at Mitchell-Maskrey feed mill in downtown Maquoketa. He retired a few years ago and his son Bob, Jr. is running the place, which is one of Maquoketa's oldet business places. Bob still helps out at the Mill when needed, generally a couple hours a day. Feels good, but found out not long ago that he has diabetes and so is watching it and has it under control..... Titanic was #1 in the Nation again over the weekend, l4th weekend in a row, a new record, and also number 1 in Maquoket as well....Will it get the Oscar for best picture tonight?? I hope so.....The KMAQ 1ST ANNUAL SENIOR FAIR is just around the corner, ... Thursday and Friday, April 2nd and 3rd at the Pearson Center on the fairgrounds. More later. And so long for another day.
Dennis Voy
- Monday, March 23, 1998 at 16:59:47 (EST)

TWO DAY REPORT...... NICE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND, SUNNNY AND IN 40'S AND EVEN BETTER WEATHER IS IN FORECAST FOR LATER THIS WEEK. ABOUT TIME......MAQUOKETA IOWA HAWKEYE WRESTELER Eric Juergens took 3rd in the Nation at the NCAA Tournament this past week in Cleveland. And he therefore is designated as an All American. Not bad, considering he is just a Hawkeye Freshman and has 3 years remaining at Iowa.......Jack Marlowe's farewell open-house is this coming Thursday, at the Maquoketa Sentinel-Press, sponsored by the newspaper. He is retiring from his reporter job after being with the paper 32 years. Most of his writing over the years has been in the Sports Department. A community event is also being planned. A popular guy! My theatre, THE VOY 3 THEATRE Saturday was 25 years old. Opened for the first movie, "PETE 'N' TILLIE" on Wednesday, March 2l, 1973. The theatre has 224 seats and we had 226 admissions for the first show. Don't know, but 2 must of stood the entire show. Nancy and I watched the movie with Bob and Ann Osternaus and Bob and Mim Stockham. Stockham & Son was the contractor for the theatre, which was just a single screen then, in the space on Main Street that had been the location of Millwright Implement. That building was taken down and a new one for theatre buildt in its place. I added the Voy 2 in February 1975 and the Voy 3 in June of l981. The first manager of the theatre was Bob King and he left after about a year to take a job in the Quad Cities and then a couple years later, was murdered in Kansas City. The victim I believe of a burglary. He was a nice guy and did lots of kids clown shows, dressed up as "Roundy The Clown". My second theatre manager was Jack Jones of Maquoketa, in late 1974. He was just finishing up college when he took the job. His dad was an insurance agent in Maquoketa and is now retired. Jack, a bachelor, is still the manager and also helpks oversee the 61 Drive-In Theatre south of Maquoketa that I purchased in 1972. Before the Voy Theatre, Maquoketa had for many years, the PASTIME THEATRE, a 600 seat theatre that was located in the main block and that was torn down in 1973 to make way for a new Schultz Brothers Variety Store. I owned t he PASTIME its last 3 months of operation. Now, there is no longer a variety store in the building, but a telemarketing firm instead. The movie business has been fun, but not very profitable. It is a business that has lots of ups and downs, all depending on the quality of movies. You can go along nicely for a month or two with lots of business, then hit a slow period with unpopular movies. Most big movies come out only during Holidays and during summer months. As a theatre owner, I've enjoyed a lot of good movies the past 25 years, seen where you SHOULD see a movie......on the BIG SCREEN at a movie theatre, enjoying the great popcorn that only a theatre can give you. If you havn't been to the "VOY THEATRE" for a long time....little has changed....its looks almost exactly the way it did when it opened 25 years ago. Most people like it staying the same...whenever they attend, it breaks back memories of past days when they were younger. But, I DO have some changes in mind for the theatre, and will get at them one of these days, or years. RADIO has been my #1 love, but I have enjoyed the theatre biz also over the years, and will probably be involved with both for a few years more, God willing. Think about this, both the theatre business and radio are every day of the week, and day and night hours. As my wife Nancy will attest to, I've spent lots of hours away from home, at the "shop". Sorry, for the long report today. Have a good week ahead.
Dennis Voy
- Sunday, March 22, 1998 at 13:18:27 (EST)

Happy First Day of Spring. We had some sunshine this morning, and got up to 39. We are supposeed to have mid 50's weather by Wednesday of next week....At the Jackson County Board of Supervisors meeting this week, Butch Watters was recognized for 20 years of service with the county as a maintenace person at the Court House. Good fellow. Like Country Music...listens to KMAQ a lot and likes to travel. Has gone on quite a few of our bus trips. He's a bachelor. Everyone downtown knows Butch.....Eric Juergens is wrestling in the NCAA tournament in Cleveland. He's from Maquoketa and a Freshman on the Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling Team at 118. He was his first two matches yesterday and his 3rd match this monring, to get him in the Final 4 at his weight and that alone gives him All American status....and just a Freshman. He did loose his match this afternoon but still has "wrestle-back" matches tomorrow. Doc Paul Koob is out there and is giving us radio reports after each match. I understand there are a few others there from Maquoketa. Anyway, I'll probably have more on him on tomorrow's report.......And that's its for today....have a good weekend. My theate manager is going to Arizona tomorrow to visit his folks for a week, so I'll be the theatre manager starting tomorrow and through the following Saturday. A few long days coming up but hopefully I'll still find some time each day to put the daily report up here. We start our 14th week of Titanic tonight here in town and tomorrow, the Voy Theatre is 25 years old. More on that tomorrow. Oh, one more thing. Today I attended an Open House for the retirement of Allen Cook. He has been owner of Kellams and Bertsch Heating and Air Conditioning for many years and has sold to his son Lee. He started with the company in 1957, after service in Korea. The business is located just behind the Maquoketa State Bank. For over 25 years, or longer, when we had a problem here at KMAQ and gave Al a call, he was here in less than a hour. He likes to travel with his RV and so we with he and his wife a happy and long retirement. He has been a fine businessman and KMAQ advertiser and has served his community well.........Another plumbing and heating firm....Well's Heating...owned by Brent Wells, is closing their retail store on the hiway 61 bypass, but will continue to sell and service furnaces and air-conditioners. He lives out at the Bluff Lake, where his wife Linda is owner and manager of the famous Bluff Lake Catfish Farm Restuarant.....Back to Al Cook. Today was also his 62nd birthday and last night, he and his wife and one their kids and spouse went out for dinner in one of the larger neaby cities....ordered a drink...and he along with his daughter was "carded". He really got a kick out of that. He does look young for his age, no gray hair either. Well...for a second time, I'm going to try and end this for today. Come back tomorrow.
Dennis Voy
- Friday, March 20, 1998 at 18:43:07 (EST)

Bad icy weather didn't arrive last night or today...thank goodness.....Nothing new today except I have a few more details on the big "grant" that Sunshine School got this week, since some of you might have gone to "Sunshine" years ago. It is a $350,000 Community Block Grant and will be used to build a 6,000 square foot addition to the present building on Cressland, behind the Jack & Jill Store. The present building is 7,200 square feet and has been Sunshine's home since 1989. Sunshine is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. Nancy Moore, Sunshine director over all those years, said they, the staff and board, are extremely excited about the grant. She said $76,000 will have to be raised locally for matching funds and that they hope to break ground this year. They will also buy two empty lots next to their site and then expand their playground on to this last, since the present playground will be partially used for the new building. Sunshine has grown over the years. Currently more than 300 youngsters are enrolled and is State-licensed for children from two weeks to age 12. Moore said around 100 kids each lunch there every day. Maquoketa is fortunate to have a Pre-School and Daycare facility like this and fortunate now that funds are being provided to make it an even better place for the young ones.......Have I mentioned.....my oldest son Rick is leaving the U.S. Marines after a dozen years. Wants a change. He is stationed in Alabama but has been up here the last couple weeks with wife Sheri and 7-month old Cassie moving into a home they bought in Bettendorf. So, they are just 40 minutes from Maquoketa and 20-minutes for Sheri's folks in LeClaire. Rick will need to go back down for a few weeks and get discharged officially and then is hoping to get on with a City Police Force in the QuadCities area. He has been in Law Enforcement his entire stay in he Marines and plans to continue as a Marine through their "reserve" program. Sheri no longer works...is just a housewife and mother and very good at both......and so much for today.
Dennis Voy
- Thursday, March 19, 1998 at 17:33:24 (EST)

I'm not going to even talk about the lousy weather....Larry in Omaha, nice hearing from you and glad you found the KMAQ Web Site.....Business news...Two Brothers Restaurant on East Platt Street (used to be Hayes Cafe) has announced that they have hired some of the bakers from the closed Dolch's Bakery and are going to bake things in their restaurant, to serve their restaurant customers or for carryout......The VFW St. Pat's Day corned beef supper was good last night...they served around 80 and made a few dollars.....The City bought a little house on Summitt Street earlier this year, next to the 5th Ward Park and at their council meeting Monday night announced that a group of MCHS students....probably from the shop class...are going to tear down the little house for the city. That land will then be used for more parking at the popular park.....Mary Clark, age 45, died Monday evening at Finley Hospital in Dubuque from Cancer. Services will be Friday at Carson & Son. She is survived by her husband Alvin, 2 daughters Amanda and Rachel both at home and a sister, Martha Zaruba of Maquoketa, plus a sister and 2 brothers that live out of town.....Andrea Faulkner of Maquoketa is the parent of a boy born Sunday at a Clinton hospital......The Maquoketa BPW Club....Business and Professional Women's Club...meets for dinner tomorrow night at the Decker Hotel and then will come across the steet visit KMAQ and I'll give them the 25-cent tour. If ever you visit Maquoketa and want that tour, stop in.....Councilman Neal Morehead spoke to Rotary today and said there is a company looking at Maquoketa that would hire 200 people. That would be nice. I'll keep you posted....He also said that Sunshine School in Maquoketa has recieved a $300,000 "grant" to expand. More on that later also......I'm off to church...Lenten service at First Lutheran....soup supper in the church basement before the service. Talk to you tomorrow.
Dennis Voy
- Wednesday, March 18, 1998 at 18:31:39 (EST)

Happy St.Patricks Day....again it was fun today to play a few popular Irish Songs.....No parades in our town, but the VFW Post will have their annual Corned Beef St. Patrick's Day Supper at their Post Home just north of Maquoketa...that is open to everyone. I might make it out myself......Terrible weather day...rained all day...high of 36 and sleet forecast for tonight with more of the same tomorrow. The rest of the week doesn't hold much promise and Friday is the first day of Spring.....In Political news...J.C. Engel has annouced that he will run for re-election to the Board of Superviors. He is completing his 2nd four-year term. He, like Jack Willey, is a Republican and both he and Jack were elected to t he Board at the same time. J.C. farms East of Maquoketa.....Also, County Treasurer Al Tebbe of Springbrook has announed that he will seek re-election. He has been in the Treasurer's office since 1964......The City Council met last night and is in the process of buying some downtown properties, for possible development of an apartment complex. The are going to buy the corner building across from City Hall that is now owned by S & S Auto, and is also the home of Davison Autobody. Years ago, that was home of Kirk & Otting Motors and later Bob's Auto. They also want to buy the buildings to the West and South of S & S....now owned by Attorney Peckosh. One of the buildings was the home of Hayes Brothers Dairy years ago and the other was the home of Harrington Appliance years ago. They also announced the intended purchase of the Eloise Evans home at the South end of that block. Evans died recently. Eventually, the City would end up with all the land of the entire EAST HALF of that block. Good idea. It will do away with some old eyestore buildings and create some land for new business or apartments devleopment......In Sports..at the State Boy's Tournament in Des Moines this afternoon, Cascade won their opening game. Cascade, about 40 miles northwest of Maquoketa shared the Big Bend basketball crown with Maquoketa this season.....Janet Root of Andrew is the new Administrative Assistance at the Jackson County Public Hospital, to replace Linda Sturtz who left to take the Chamber of Commerce job in Maquokta. Root has been with the hospital quite few years, starting at the switchboard after high school, and working later in Data Entry and in Medical Records.....and that will do it for today. Thanks for stopping by again.
Dennis Voy
- Tuesday, March 17, 1998 at 18:30:55 (EST)

Cold and cloudy again......A well-known retired Maquoketa businessman died today. Services will be Thursday at Carson & Son in Maquoketa for 72 year old Ronald "Rocky" Rockwell. He owned and operated Rockwell Clean-Up in Maquoketa for over 40 years, retiring in l996. Two sons, Cecil and Jeff still run the business. Another son, George, lives at Oxford Junction. He is also survived by his wife, Ethel and 3 daughters, Sharon of Amana, Sherryl Caven of Maquoketa and Shiela of Anamosa. Also a sister, Nora Jean Beaver of Maquoketa. He died at his home this morning and had been receiving treatments for Cancer.......Rex Bradley Jr. of Maquoketa, age 53, died today and services will be Wedneday at Carson's. He is survived by his mother, Martha Bradley of Maquoketa and 2 daughters, including Becky Koranda of Maquoketa....At the Iowa Boys State Tournament this week, Dick Wold, MCHS Principal, will receive an Administrator Award during half-time of the Class 3-A title game Saturday night...a nice honor for Dick. He has been in the Maquketa school system for 33 years....Not much else to report today. Check back again tomorrow.
Dennis Voy
- Monday, March 16, 1998 at 17:25:54 (EST)

Cloudy and cold today again......Half the town is going to the fairgrounds today for the 14th annual IOWA'S BIGGEST GARAGE SALE inside the Pearson Center, sponsored by the fairboard. At 8:30 this morning, there was a block-long line waiting to get in and see what the 80 exhibitors had to sell. Good money maker for the fairboard, as they get $1.50 admission from the approximately 3,000 who attend, plus they get space rental from the 80 exhibitors, plus the food stand. It is special events like this, plus weekly Bingo, summer stockcar races, and many other events at the Pearson Center, that all are responsible for our Jackson County Fair Association being "financially strong". The County Fair itself just breaks even, so the other events are necessary. The manager of the Fair Association is Tom Callahan and he is in his l8th year at the job. There is a good possibility that famous country singer Ty England will entertain at this year's fair. The dates are, July 29 - August 2....first time in a long time that it will extend into August. So, put it on your calendar and come to Maquoketa that weekend. The fair carnival no longer has "ringee-dingee-dingdong" shows....I think when Buddy Olson was Police Chief he had those stopped. If I remember right, Buddy had to check on them every night and got tired of doing it. When I was about 20, I and Bob Shollenberger (no longer living) decided to take in a show on night. When we went in, no one was around. But while we still watching the show, some of the cast members put on a free show out front at the tent extrance, to entice people to the next show. Anyway, when Bob and I came out, there were about 75 people watching who had just attended the show. We both sheilded our face and walked quickly down the midway. Those were double-admission shows. You paid one admission to get in and then later, were asked to pay another admission to see "MORE"....that's "more" of the show.....of course, Buddy didn't have to pay. Don't know how I got on to this topic today....just "filler" I guess for another slow day in Iowa. THOSE WERE THE DAYS. Some of you are maybe aware of the "ringee" shows here on the internet. Anyway, we still have a fun county fair in Maquoketa and its if one of the top ones in the State.....Back to Bingo a moment. In Maquoketa, one can play Bingo every Tuesday night at he fairgrounds. Around 200 play each week and also one Saturday a month, they have an afternoon and evening session that attracts up to 500 players. And..the local Eagles Club on East Platt Street, has Bingo every Thursday night and every Sunday afternoon. I have no idea what their average attendance is. Bingo is popular. THe Rotary has a Bingo stand at the fair and of course, we also have our daily Radio Bingo Show every afternoon weekdays here on KMAQ.....No "real" news today...sorry. Have a good week.
Dennis Voy
- Sunday, March 15, 1998 at 12:26:27 (EST)

Sunny and cold day again......At 11:l5 this morning, the power went off in Maquoketa. The entire city was effected when an IES feed-line lightning arrestor West of Maquoketa failed, apparently caused by fatigue. The city light plant generators were started-up and section by section of the city had power restored. It took 15 minutes for the first area of town, downtown, to get power and the entire city was restored within and hour. Sure is nice of have our own power plant available when a problem like this develops. KMAQ had to wait a little longer before getting back on. Our transmitters are located outside the city northeast of Maquoketa and so we had to wait for IES to have power restored before we could go back on the air. In other words, we have to power sources serving us with electricity at any time...one service at our studios in downtown Maquoketa and another electrical service for our transmitter site. Maybe once a year we have a problem at either or both places.....Nothing else new....the power failure was our big excitement today. Will try to have a report tomorrow, but if not, for sure on Monday. Have a good Sunday.
Dennis Voy
- Saturday, March 14, 1998 at 18:28:39 (EST)

No change in weather...still waiting for some 40' weather again.....NOTHING IS NEW...just routine things. OH, ONE MORE POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Phil Tabor, Jackson County Attorney, announced today he will run for re-election. No one else has filed for the position. His wife is also an attorney and I heard maybe should would run instead of her husband, but apparently that was just a rumor....Sorry there isn't more. Even local sports is over now for awhile. The Hawkeye Women are in the NCAA Tournament, so we hope they win tonight. The St.Louis Cardinals are doing pretty good Spring Training games. We start our l4th year of broadcasting Cardinal games on Tuesday, March 31, when the Cards open the season at LA against the Dodgers in an afternoon game. Have a good weekend.
Dennis Voy
- Friday, March 13, 1998 at 16:52:57 (EST)

HI. Its still cold in Maquoketa. Two above this morning and in the 20's today, heading for 30 tomorrow.....Some of you in Maquoketa were not able to bring up this DailyReport the last few days. Glad to have you back. It was a "Maquoketa only" problem and glad that it has been repaired.....Iowa lost last night and their fairly successful season is over.....The Jackson County Board of Supervisors met this week and first held a public hearing on the proposal to buy $160,000 worth of new electronic voting machines and since there were no objectors, they voted to go ahead and buy the machines....State Representative Bob Osterhaus of Maquoketa called Wednesday, yesterday, a great day for many Iowa children. Some 55,000 chidren in families without health insurance will receive coverage through a new state program. These are children whose parents work but whose employer does NOT provide health insurance coverage......Henry J. Flagel of Maquoketa and longtime Preston farmer, died yesterday and services will be Saturday at Carson & Son in Maquoketa....Services for 94 year-old Elmer L. Kinrade of Maquoketa will be held Monday. He died today at the Crestridge Nursing Home in Maquoketa and is at the Haylock, O'Hara and Lahey Funeral Home. Survivors include this wife Marcella and a daughter-in-law, Helen Kinrade of Maquoketa.....Former Congressman Jim Lightfoot was in town today and spoke to the Kiwanis Club. He is the front-runner Republican Candidate for Governor of Iowa. Governor Branstad will not seek re-election this year....Well, it is almost time to play Radio Bingo on KMAQ (3:30) and it is my day to call out numbers for the blackout game, so will close for today. Have a good night and a lucky Friday the l3th tomorrow.
Dennis Voy
- Thursday, March 12, 1998 at 16:19:31 (EST)

Same as yesterday...sunny and cold today and heading down to zero tonight, but 40 degree weather coming Sunday...... Got e-mail today from Charlie in Carlsbad, California.....bragging again about the weather out his way....and snickering about our cold. Sure Charlie..California and all that rain...and we all know some day...a big one and you are going to chip off of the U.S. and fall into the ocean. Take your computer with you so I can e-mail you then. Anyway, good hearing from you again Charlie...come see us some time.....and...thanks to Tom and Lanny in South Dakota for their Guest Book entry. They didn't say how weather has been there. Hope you like it out West and keep checking our Web.....The North Cedar girls basketball team lost their opening game today at the State Tournament this afternoon, but almost won and if they had, it would have been quite an upset as they played Solon, top rated team in State. We did the game on KMAQ......and that concludes our high school basketball for another year.....Iowa plays tonight in NIT tournament at 9 against Georgia.....One more note on basketball. Former Sheriff Bob Lyons's son, Don, is head coach for Denison High School girl's team and they are at State and won their opening game today. Saw Bob at the bank today and he's going out tomorrow to see their second game. Bob looks good and apparently is enjoying retirement....and so much for another day.
Dennis Voy
- Wednesday, March 11, 1998 at 20:26:23 (EST)

HI. Sunny all day but only 20 for a high. Got down to 7 last night and tonight, they predict down to 5.....NOT MUCH NEW... Last night, another Maquoketa bowler rolled a 300. Congratulations to Brian Shea. And, also last night, Lane Wolters rolled a 799......Maquoketa will have a 2nd Annual Flag Festival. First was held last year on Flag Day. But, for some reason, this year it will NOT be on Flag Day, but on June 20th. Again, lots of things for all ages are being planned. Might be a good weekend to visit Maquoketa.....Stock Car Racings is just around the corner as another season begins April 25th and the races will continue until late September. All races on the fast track at the fairgrounds in Maquoketa......Have a good nigh.
Dennis Voy
- Tuesday, March 10, 1998 at 20:58:56 (EST)

The snow has ended and in fact, some, but little, melted today. We got about 4-5 inches. Sunshine but only 28 today and the rest of the week will also be cold. But we were lucky......many parts of Iowa to the West and North got a lot more snow. Even Bellevue and Andrew didn't have school today......Jack Willey announced today that he will run for re-election to the Board of Supervisors. No word yet from Supervisor J.C. Englel as to his plans. Dave Kendall, the 3rd Supervisor, still has 2 years to go on his current term. March 25th is the deadline for candidates to file, so still plenty of time for filing......In business new, a new store has opened on East Platt Street, just a short distance from Main Street. It is called "PENNY PINCHERS" is and owned by Mr.and Mrs. Duane Heinrich. It is a consignment store, but not clothes, so I hear...furniture, household items, etc. Duane works fulltime at the Maquoketa State Bank. Good to see another empty store filled and open for business.....Linda Sturtz started her job today as Executive Director of the Maquoketa Area Chamber of Commerce.....Nationwide and here in Maquoketa...Titanic was the #1 movie again this past weekend. But, because of the weather, attendance was not as high as expected.....Attendance was also way down, because of the weather, at the annual Doll Show in Maquoketa Sunday......That will do it for today. Thanks for checking in.
Dennis Voy
- Monday, March 09, 1998 at 21:57:19 (EST)

Snow is coming...so they say. None today but could have 6 inches by tomorrow at this time. Worse to the West.....Florence Reichlilng, age 86, died today. Services will be at Haylock, O'Hara and Lahey Funeral Home here in town. She is survived by 3 sisters in Maquoketa...Mereta Ripple, Bertha Schwenker and Leona Mayberry. Also a brother Leonard Campbell of Maquoketa. One daughter, in Overland Park, Kansas. Her name is Jeanne Risser. Mrs. Reichling and her husband, and his twin brother, ran Reichling Brothers Oil Company for many years. Both are dead, but another brother Dude and his wife Wilma still live in Maquokta. Dude is retired from his gas station business. Mrs. Reichling was a 53 year member of the Legion Auxiliary here in town and a Past President of the Post.....That is it for today...check tomorrow and find out how much snow we got from this new winter storm. You'll also find out if Calamus-Wheatland will go to the State Boy's Tournament. Cascade beat Bellevue last night, so Cascade is going.....Have a nice Sunday.
Dennis Voy
- Saturday, March 07, 1998 at 19:59:08 (EST)

Some sunshine today, with a high around 40. No report yesterday because......I forgot. Now, that's being honest, right?......Maquoketa LOST last night to Davenport Assumption by 11 points and ended their season. Davenport Assumption now plays Cedar Rapids Prairie next Tuesday for the right to go to the State Tournament. Maquoketa will have most of the players back next year so......it a "wait until next year" scenario.......Tonight, Cascade beat Bellevue and will go to State. Tomorrow night, Calamus-Wheatland plays their Sub-State game and the right to go to State. And if they win, will be the only team in the KMAQ-areaa to go to the Boy's State Tournament. Next week, the girls tournament will be held in Des Moines and we'll have one team from this area....North Cedar. County Recorder Shirley Ritenour announced today that she will be a candidate for re-election. Earlier this week, Phyllis Gerlach of Andrew announced she also would be a candidate for Recorder. She is a Democrat and was a Deputy in the office for 8 years until she was fired byh Ritenour in September of 1995. Shirley is from Preston. So, this should be an interesting race.........The city is advertising for help at the swimming pool this summer. A sign of Spring.....Speaking of Spring...here in the midwest, Spring officially begins two weeks from today, at 1:55 P.M. CST......A big TOY, DOLL AND BEAR show will be held this Sunday at the fairgrounds. It is an annual event and draws people from several states. Seventy five dealers have signed up for show,and will have over 200 tables for displaying. Good for the town as people will need to eat, buy gas, etc...and good for motels too.....Well..time to close....have a good weekend.
Dennis Voy
- Friday, March 06, 1998 at 22:28:40 (EST)

SORRY, NO REPORT TODAY
Dennis Voy
- Friday, March 06, 1998 at 22:05:51 (EST)

A tiny bit of sunshine today.......50 people showed up last night at city hall last night to hear the presentatiion by the Auditorium 2000 Committee to the Maquoketa Community School Board. No action taken. There were a few talking against the idea of the Bond issue to help pay for the 600 seat auditorium. The two big questions today. 1/ Will the school Board call for a bond election?? I'm note sure they know yet. and 2/ If they do, can it pass? I believe it might....but I wouldn't bet on it.......Maquoketa Country Club board meets tomorrow night and it is believed they will announce a new manager for the Country Club at the meeting. I'll keep you posted......Short report today, sorry about that. Maybe there will be more tomorrow.
Dennis Voy
- Wednesday, March 04, 1998 at 17:56:39 (EST)

Cloudy and cold again, with very light snow on and off all day long....The Maquoketa City Council met last night. Earlier this year, they voted to give $10,000 a year to the Auditorium 2000 Fund, but last night, voted to take it out of the budget on a 4 to 2 vote. It is unclear about future years. This was a setback for the auditorium committee, who meet tonight with the school board to talk about a bond election for the auditorium. So, I will have more about this on tomorrow's report.....Peoples Natural Gas representatives appeared before the council to inform them that they will close the business office in Maquoketa March 31st, and consolidate with the Dubuque office. No surprise, this was rumored for a long time. The service people will still be here, but the 3 office persons will be offered a job elsewhere with the company. Kind of sad, as another building becomes vacant. Gas company has been in Maquoketa since 1957 or 1958. The building is a modern one about 25 years old that is behind the Maquoketa State Bank and across the street from the telephone office that was also closed years ago, except for automated equipment and a serviceman or two. So, I am sure the gas building will be bought by someone quickly and another business will be in it before summer......Kind of unusual...two Maquoketa men, both 44, in a two car accident. Charles Mendel struck the rear of a car driven by Gary Schlapia. Both driving trucks. Mendel's damage around $2,500 and Schlalpia's just $500, but a little older model. Mendel was charged. Mendel has a heating and air-conditioning business across from the city ball park, where Larry Hager had his sign shop for many years.......Cleo Cook, 79, of Maquoketa died yesterday at the Crestridge Nursing Home in Maquoketa. Services will be Saturday at Carson & Son Funeral Home. Survivors include a daughter, Karla of Canton and 3 sons, Owen of Minnesota, Leon Brown of Rapid City, and Gary Brown of Roseville, California.....Graveside services for John Q.Robinson, formerly of Maquoketa, will be Saturday at Mount Hope. Carson and Son in charge of arrangements. He is survived by a daughter, Ann Miller of Erie, Illinois and a son, John, Jr. at LaFeyette, Indiana. He was a newspaperman all his life and owned and operated the former Maquoketa Community Press for several years......Maquoketa beat DeWitt last night by at least 10 points. Their next opponent will be Davenort Assumption, the #1 rated team in the state. So, looks pretty bleak for the Cardinals. The game is Thursday night....Time to close for another day. Come back tomorrow.
Dennis Voy
- Tuesday, March 03, 1998 at 17:35:26 (EST)

Cloudy and high today, 37......Local news consisted mainly of court news today, which we don't include here..also a couple non-injury accidents.....Services for Glatha Sellers, age 91, of Maquoketa will be tomorrow afternoon. She is survived by a brother, Ken of Decorah and was a telephone operator in Maquoketa for 36 years, until retiring in 1964......Services for 86 year old Carson Nims of Pass Christian, Mississippi and formerly of Maquoketa, will be Wednesday at Carson and Son in Maquoketa. Survivors include a son, John Zismer of Maquoketa and another son, Ted Nims of Andrew, also a brother Paul Nims of Clinton. He was a Jackon County Farmer and Plumber in the mid 40's to mid 70's....A Memorial Mass for Susan Costello of rural Maquoketa will be held Thursday morning from the catholic church here in town. She died Sunday morning and is at Carson & Son Funeral Home. She is survived by her husband, Jerry, 2 daughters and 2 sons all at home and her mother, Mrs. Arnold, "Merigene" Stamp of Maquoketa. She was 44.....and services for 89 year odl John Q. Robinson of Prophetstown, Illinois and formerly of Maquoketa are pending at Carson's. He died yesterday at a nursing home.....Who will win tonight's tournament basketball game at the MCHS gym between Maquoketa and DeWitt?? Maquoketa is favored. I'll have the score tomorrow on this report. Sleep well.
Dennis Voy
- Monday, March 02, 1998 at 18:43:22 (EST)

IT IS SNOWING IN MAQUOKETA...JUST A LIGHT SNOWFALL. IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING BY THE WEATHER BUREAU THAT THIS PART OF IOWA RECEIVED NO MEASURABLE SNOW IN FEBRUARY.....MAQUOKETA HAS A STATE WRESTLING CHAMP. AT 130 POUNDS, COLE PAPE WON LAST NIGHT AT VETERANS AUDITORIUM IN DES MOINES TO TAKE FIRST PLACE AT HIS WEIGHT IN CLASS 2A. HE IS JUST A FRESHMAN. LUCAS KLUEVER LAST NIGHT WAS PINNED IN THE FIRST PERIOD BY AN EXCELLLENT WRESTLER WHO HAD BEEN TO STATE 3 YEARS BEFORE. TODAY, THERE WILL BE A WELCOME HOME AT 4 AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. MAQUOKETA HAS HAD A STATE CHAMPION 6 OF THE LAST 7 YEARS, WHICH SPEAKS WELL FOR THE WRESTLING PROGRAM AT MAQUOKETA HIGH, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF COACH JEFF TAMPIR.....NEXT TO GO TO DES MOINES, GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS. WE WILL HAVE ONE TEAM THERE FROM THE KMAQ AREA, NORTH CEDAR. NORTH CEDAR IS A DISTRICT ONLY A COUPLE YEARS OLD THAT INCLUDES STANWOOD, CLARENCE AND LOWDEN. KMAQ WILL BROADCAST THEIR STATE GAME(S)......THE BOYS STILL ARE IN TOURNAMENT PLAY, SO WE DON'T KNOW YET WHO WILL GO FROM OUR AREA. PRESTON HAS A GOOD CHANCE TO GO TO STATE. ALSO NORTH CEDAR. MAYBE MAQUOKETA. THE CARDINALS WILL PLAY THEIR FIRST TEAM TOMORROW NIGHT, AT HOME, AGAINST DEWITT, A TEAM THEY HAVE DEFEATED ALREADY TWICE THIS SEASON. I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. IOWA WON LAST NIGHT AND STILL HOPES TO BE INVITED TO THE NCAA TOURANAMENT. MUCH DEPENDS NOW ON HOW THEY DO IN THE FIRST-EVER BIG TEN TOURNAMENT THIS COMING WEEK. IOWA PLAYS FRIDAY......GLATHA SELLERS, AGE 91, DIED YESTERDAY....A WELL KNOWN MAQUOKETA SENIOR CITIZEN. SERVICES ARE PENDING AT CARSON AND SON....WELL, GUESS THAT'S IT FOR TODAY. HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD WEEK. THANKS FOR CHECKING-IN.
Dennis Voy
- Sunday, March 01, 1998 at 12:33:53 (EST)