The City Council approved bids on just over $60,000 worth of equipment for the Parks Department during the regular Council meeting last Tuesday. The list of machinery included a Cushman Sprayer, a bunker rake, front mower and a spin grinder for sharpening mower blades.

The Council also approved a bid of $134,807 from APAC for traffic signals and intersection improvements at Garrison and Chestnut. The budget allocated approximately $100,000 for the job so the project was referred to the Budget Ways and Means Committee to look for possible funding for the amount over budget. The Public Works Committee rejected all bids once on the project because of the higher than expected cost. The approved bid was submitted when the job was rebid and the project was revised to lower the cost. A bid was also submitted by G&G Construction for $146,121.

The long awaited approval of the annual contract with Victorian Carthage for marketing services was finalized during the meeting. The Council also heard the first reading of Council bill 00-68 which would set the tax levy at last year’s level.

Back To Our Regular Schedule!!

by Robin Putnam, artCentral

We’re getting things back to normal around here.........it’s pretty quiet these days and the driveway just isn’t as decorative. Having 31 kids in and out of here sure kept everyone hopping !!

So....getting back into our regular schedule means we are preparing for our next opening reception!!

August 25th we will be welcoming two artists from Kansas City, David Matthews and Amanda Thweatt.

David will be showing his oil paintings he calls "figurative landscapes with abstract qualities" and Amanda will have large colorful drawings using pastel, pencil, tempera and stains.

We are all looking forward to bringing you these very talented artists. Both are graduates of the Kansas City Art Institute and have studied art in Italy and France.

As usual the reception is from 6-8pm and refresh- ments are served. Everone is invited and well-behaved children are always welcome.

Our sculpture session met the first Thursday in August under the new set up. We are now combining sculpture and drawing in a three hour session.

Sculpture people are paying for one month in advance to secure their spot and to insure the model will be paid and the drawing people will pay each time they attend. The first two hours it is an extended pose with the last hour being a number of poses. We are also using two models who are taking turns each week.

This way the artists get the opportunity to produce more than one piece in more than one pose !! We thank David for his organizing these sessions and connecting with the models !!

We are still looking for volunteers to sit on our Board of Directors. It’s VERY easy and only takes about an hour and a half of your time each month. Please consider lending us a helping hand.

We would be ever so grateful !! If in-terested just call us and we can discuss it !! Our next Board meeting will be August 15 at 7pm, here.

More.......next week. 358-4404. 1110 E 13th & www. ozarkartistscolony.com under organizations. Our hours are Tues. - Sat. 9am - 3pm.

The Council authorized the Mayor to sign the deal with the Post Office at this week’s meetin’. The immediate result is the City losin’ a parkin’ lot and gainin’ $65,000.

Long term most were thinkin’ that havin’ the main Post Office downtown will be a benefit. With the planned addition to the existin’ space it should mean they won’t consider another location for some time ta come. Although some may have favored the facility bein’ relocated farther south in town, options also included movin’ at least part of the operation outside of City limits.

Hopefully the parkin’ spaces lost will be more than compensated for by keepin’ the downtown area as the hub of activity for the future. Some adjustments to the drive up drop boxes should help the traffic.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Oak Street health & herbs

Natural Nutrition

by Mari An Willis

Plantain, that shiny wide-leafed plant that wants to grow so profusely in our yards came in very handy for me the other day when I was painting the porch and invaded a wasp nest! Thought I had gotten rid of them all, but one hit me about 15 minutes into the job. It only took me a few seconds to spot, pick and chew some plantain leaf to apply to the sting. In about 3 minutes much of the swelling and sting was gone. I find it works well in cases of other bites and stings also.

A few other herbs of interest.

GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE: as long ago as 1930, this herb was researched for its’ effects on supporting healthy blood glucose levels. Further studies have confirmed that Gymnema induces the pancreas to secrete insulin, helping the body to naturally metabolize glucose.

SPIRULINA: is a blue-green microalgae commonly found in Hawaii. This "superfood" includes protein, B-12, trace minerals and vitamin A. It is easily digested and absorbed. Some use it for diet food while others use it when recovering from illness. Either way, it is a power packed food supplement.

BITTER ORANGE: has been known to increase metabolic action. It is frequently found in diet formulas. In the Materia Medica 9th edition, it is described as beneficial for headache with nausea, vomiting and vertigo.