Today's Feature

Budget Wrapped Up.

The City Council Budget Ways and Means Committee met Monday evening in a regular session. The committee began by reviewing the status of the Fiscal Year 2009 budget. City Administrator Tom Short said that with the cuts made at the previous meeting, the budget showed an ending balance of $467,000 in the General Fund.

The committee approved a motion to appropriate the funding necessary for the implementation of the recent City salary study recommendations, along with a 2% cost of living adjustment. The changes left approximately $300,000 remaining in the balance.

The committee also agreed to appropriate funding for the lease of the driving range near the Municipal Golf Course, and funding for the purchase of a token-operated ball dispenser. Parks Director Alan Bull was present at the meeting to discuss the driving range with the committee.

Bull gave a short recap of the events leading to the availability of the range, saying that the owner had retired and wanted the range to still be operational. Bull said that it was the owners eventual intent to sell the property but that leasing was an option currently. The lease price is $4,000 per year, and includes use of the range, a building on the property, equipment, baskets and register. Bull said he felt it was a necessary addition to the golf course.

"Its just something that every golf course needs," said Bull.

A token-operated ball dispenser would allow for the range to operate practically without any supplemental labor, Bull added. Bull said the lowest price he found for dispensers was roughly $4,000.

Bull added that the owner had provided income documents, and utility costs.

"It looks like it would actually turn a profit," said Bull.

The committee agreed unanimously to allow an appropriation for the purchase of the ball dispenser and for the lease. Funding is to be appropriated out of this Fiscal year’s budget.

Senator Nodler on Recent Severe Weather.

News release.

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, today commented on the situation in Southwest Missouri after severe storms and tornadoes hit the area on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Jasper and Newton counties have been included as some of the hardest hit areas, and the National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado did touch down in Newton County. State agencies have been sent to the area to set up shelters, help clear debris, and help with recovery efforts. The State Emergency Management Agency has confirmed 15 Missouri deaths, 13 of which were in Newton County.

"This devastating weather has caused severe damage in our community, and has taken the lives of 15 Missourians. My thoughts and prayers are with the families that are mourning the loss of their loved ones today. As a lifelong resident of Southwest Missouri, I know that our community is strong and we will band together to support each other during these hard times.

"Our first priority in this sort of urgent situation is to secure the safety of residents and families in the area - a task that local law enforcement, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Missouri National Guard have been focused on. As recovery efforts continue, I will stay committed to making sure that those affected by these severe storms have access to state assistance."

- State Senator Gary Nodler

Mornin'
I know people that say they can actually tell the difference in the taste of different colored M&M’s. Now they may have some type of supersensitive taste buds, but I lean more toward thinkin’ they’ve got an over active imagination.

I suppose there are those who can tell the difference ‘tween the smell of a red rose and a white rose. That wouldn’t surprise me much. The difference ‘tween roses and M&M’s bein’ that roses, even though man has tinkered with them, still come from nature. Nature has a way of makin’ things different. Man, on the other hand, likes to keep things consistent. Nature thrives on variety, humans on the mundane. Maybe it’s cause of nature’s unpredictability that humans try to control things so much. We feel it makes us more human for some reason.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Here's A Tip
By JoAnn Derson

• Here’s a great way to get a charcoal fire started. Use a coffee can with both ends removed. Punch holes in the bottom third of the can. Put it in your grill, add two or three crumpled newspaper sheets to the bottom and then pile the charcoal briquettes on top to about two-thirds full. Light the newspaper through the bottom holes and wait for the fire to get all the briquettes nice and hot. Remove with tongs and the briquettes spread out like magic, ready to use. Happy grilling!

• F.F. from Colorado writes with a great tip for cleaning vases: "Two tablets of Alka-Seltzer in a flower vase filled with water will make the stains fizz away."

• "When boiling eggs, put about 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar into the water. It makes the shell pull off with ease. Also, if you like, after boiling for about five minutes, you can turn off the burner and put a lid on the pot. The eggs will keep cooking." -- S.H. in Ohio

• To get the most out of increasingly expensive facial creams, moisturizers and foundation, make sure you apply them in the correct order and give them some time to be absorbed into the skin. Use toner first, then any serum products, then moisturizers (give it a full three minutes to soak in) and then sunscreen. Then you can apply your makeup products.

• "Lip balm makes a nice pinch-hitter for lotion if you have dry hands, especially if your knuckles and nail beds are looking dry." -- V.L., via e-mail

• Recipe Substitutions: If you need 1 cup of corn syrup, dissolve 1 cup white sugar in 1/4 cup of hot water.