The Airport Relocation Committee has voted to recommend to the full City Council that condemnation procedures should proceed by August 15 on the properties proposed for a new airport just north of the City.

According to minutes of the meeting "After lengthy discussion the Committee strongly believes the appraisals on the tracts of land required for a municipal airport were more than fair based on the process the City followed in acquiring those appraisals, and the responses from the owners of the property to the City’s formal offers were unacceptable..."

Committee member Bill Johnson moved for the recommendation of condemnation and the Committee unanimously approved. Although not on tonight’s regular Council agenda, a decision would be necessary soon to meet the recommended date.

Members of the Committee present included Chair Mike Harris, Ray Grace, Bill Johnson, Art Dunaway, Max McKnight, and Tom Short. Member John Cuaderes was absent.

Social Security Celebrates 65th Anniversary.

news release

On August 14th Social Security will be celebrating its 65th birthday. This would be a good time to review what the program has come to mean to you, your family, our community and all of America. Social Security has been called the most successful and most popular domestic government program of the 20th century, with good reason.

Without Social Security our community would be a vastly different one. It keeps 47 percent of its beneficiaries in our community above the poverty line. Because of Social Security, since 1959 the poverty rate among the elderly has declined by 70 percent, and today keeps 1.1 million children out of poverty in this country.

Did you know that in Jasper, McDonald and Newton counties over 37,000 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income checks are paid each month, or that over $24 million in benefits are paid out each month in these counties? Chances are, you know someone who receives a Social Security check, because 1 out of every 5 citizens in Southwest Missouri receive a check from Social Security.

"I’m not worried about Social Security... I’m too young to worry about retirement." I have heard this comment a number of times during my 15 years of proud employment with Social Security. One of the most common misconceptions is that Social Security is just a program that will help supplement your income for the "golden years". Did you know that over 9.7 million of Social Security beneficiaries in our country are under the age of fifty? Did you know that almost three thousand children under the age of 19 receive a Social Security check in Jasper, Newton and McDonald counties? Or that in the State of Missouri over 85 thousand children under the age of 19 receive a Social Security check? They receive these checks because a parent has retired, became disabled or is deceased.

Social Security is much more than retirement. Today, your Social Security program provides help to more than 6 million disabled workers and their families, and more than 7 million family members of deceased workers. Social Security has become the foundation of our nations economic stability. That’s why it is so important that we not over-look August 14th the 65th birthday of Social Security. This is a very important milestone for our nation and our community. On August 14th I would like to personally invite all citizens in Southwest Missouri to stop by your Joplin Social Security office for refreshment, prizes and to learn more about Social Security. I look forward to seeing each of you!

Dedicated to public services, I remain.

Mark Sparks

District Manager

Joplin Social Security Administration

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin
State Representative, District 126

Sometimes a victory is late in coming, but it doesn’t make it any less sweet. I’ve told you that the main issue I work on is making sure I do all I can to keep your tax dollars from being wasted. As a member of the Budget Committee, I spend most of my Session time scrutinizing the state budget.

One of the items that irked me to no end was a contract offered to the recently resigned Central Missouri State University president. He had resigned in Oct. but then signed a three year contract on Dec. 2. Listen to these numbers. He was to get $152, 850 in salary and $180, 969 in benefits while on leave until Oct. 31.

Then, for the next two years he was to receive $76,994 in salary and $66,801 in benefits. Additionally, he was to receive the use of a car, cell phone, office equipment that he would be able to keep upon retirement, $15,000, some health benefits and almost $77,000 per year for entertainment and travel for him and his wife. In return he was to do fundraising for the college, but with no specific obligations. Good work if you can get it!

When the budget got to the floor for debate, I offered an amendment that removed a like amount from the CMSU budget. My argument was that if they had that kind of money to throw around, then apparently they had too much.

I knew from the start that it wouldn’t pass, or even that it was a good solution to the problem. I did it solely to call more attention to the situation and to let the board at CMSU know that they were being watched.

As expected, my amendment failed on a voice vote, but only after being debated and reported on in the statewide media.

I figured things would go on as before, but maybe other college and university boards would be more careful in the future when spending your money. Imagine my surprise when a reporter called me this week to ask what I thought about the CMSU board voting to nullify the contract.

Naturally, I was happy to hear it, not because it meant my efforts weren’t wasted, but because it was a victory for the citizen taxpayers of Missouri.

I’m sure this will end up in court before it is all said and done, but the wheels to stop this waste of money have been set in motion.

Sometimes victories in Jefferson City are few and far between. It is nice to win one once in a while.

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, or advice.

Looks like the new airport issue is reachin’ critical mass again. All the pieces have been put in place, some fundin’, appraisals of proposed property, and offers have been made. From the minutes of the Airport Appraisal Committee, evidently property owners aren’t rushin’ in with open arms to accept.

The Council, for the last couple a years, has not been pushed to make any critical decisions on the matter. There has been some general support for the idea of a new airport, just no particular details. Up ta know it’s been more of a wait and see type a thing.

Now it’s down to the worth of each of the pieces of property. For the owners, and maybe more to the point, for the City.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

HEALTH NOTES: Most children enjoy playing with toy tea sets. But some of these sets can be dangerous to your child’s I.Q. development.

Over the past several years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recalled eight brands of children’s ceramic tea sets imported from China. They contained lead levels which could lead to lead poisoning for any child who ate or drank from the dishes or cups.

A newsletter from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., noted that when lead is ingested, it circulates in the blood, but is gradually stored in the bones and teeth.

Lead poisoning can lead to irreversible brain damage, including mental retardation.

The child may also develop learning and behavior problems.

The same newsletter suggests that if you have copper plumbing in your house or apartment, that you never make up infant formula with the "first draw" water.

Lead can leach overnight from the solder used to weld water pipes together. It can then concentrate in the water overnight. Let the tap water run a few minutes each morning before using it in infant formula, or, indeed, for any purpose.