Proposed Roundabout Discussion.

A representative of the Missouri Department of Transportation is scheduled to attend the regular City Council Public Works Committee this afternoon at 4 p.m. in City Hall. The purpose of the meeting is centered around the discussion of a proposal by MODOT to construct a "roundabout" at the intersection of Airport Drive, Grand and Fairlawn Drive. Grand and Fairlawn Drive are currently maintained and under the control of the state as part of Highway 571.

Mayor Kenneth Johnson announced the meeting at the last regular Council meeting and ask that Council members attend the meeting if possible to hear the proposal. The meeting will be open to the public for comments.

The Public Services Committee will meet at 7 p.m. in City Hall. The committee usually meets on the first Monday but was postponed due to the Christmas Parade.

The agenda includes the consideration and discussion of glass bottle restrictions for City property. The Public Service Committee oversees the Park Department. A discussion of the City’s agreement with Victorian Carthage is also scheduled.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin
State Representative, District 126

I hope that all of you had a great Thanksgiving weekend. It is hard to believe the year went by so quickly and we will be starting the new Legislative Session in only 5 weeks. It is hard to believe this is the start of my last term. I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated you letting me be your representative these last few years. I sincerely hope I haven’t let you down.

In just a couple weeks the Freshman Tour will be taking place around the state. That is the tour of the state that is made available to the newly elected representatives and senators. It involves a wide variety of stops ranging from prisons to colleges, to state hospitals, to public schools, to stadiums and anything else you can squeeze into 3 weeks on a bus. I took the Tour as a freshman representative in 1990 and then went again in 1994, 1996, and 1998 as one of the ‘veteran’ chaperones. When I took the tour, the only veteran legislators that went along were democrats.

Needless to say, we spent 3 weeks getting only one side of the story. I suggested in ’94 that we send along a veteran republican for a little balance. The democrats didn’t think much of the idea and fought it hard. The republicans thought it was a great idea, but no one wanted to spend 3 weeks in December on a bus. I was so convinced that it was needed, that I agreed to go and I think that I learned as much as the freshmen. It really opened my eyes as to how much we are adding to the state property rolls every year. We see it on paper in the budget, but it makes more of an impact when you see it in person. It has confirmed my belief that we are spending way too much money on things that we, as a state, don’t need.

I won’t be going on the tour this year. It is time for some of the new folks to start taking over. As I mentioned at the first of this column I can’t run for the House again, so it is important for the ones that can run again to take the reins. The tour will be stopping in Lamar this year to visit the High School. That is the first time in recent memory the tour has stopped in Lamar. Recent years have included stops in Nevada, Joplin and Mt. Vernon. Superintendent Barbara Burns has done a great job with the school district and the A+ program there is being held out as a model of a successful program for the freshmen.

It was tempting to write about the election mess down in Florida, but that seemed almost too easy. Maybe in the next week, it will come to an end, but in the meantime Al Gore is demonstrating why I am a republican.

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.

Some Council members expressed doubt at the feasibility of a "roundabout" out at Airport Drive durin’ the last Council meetin’. I’ve never had much experience with drivin’ round in circles, but the term roundabout sounds like it should go well with our double-decker bus. It’ll be interestin’ to see if the representative from MODOT has an English accent.

From what I’m hearin’, MODOT is sold on the idea of these circular intersections. Apparently they have used them with some success in other locations. The intersection at HH and Chapel Road is another spot that may get considered for a similar remodelin’. A circle interchange is in the plans for the Myers Park Development too. We may end up bein’ the Tricircle City.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

Health & Nutrition by Judith Sheldon

THE EGG AND US: Eggs, and dishes containing eggs, may soon come with at least one risk factor removed.

Egg yolks continue to be a source of saturated fats and anyone wishing to cut down on fat to help reduce LDL cholesterol levels in their blood should continue to eat whole eggs in moderation, or, in amounts allowed by their doctor-approved diets.

However, the risk of contracting salmonella poisoning from eggs and products made with uncooked eggs (such as ice cream) may soon become practically nil, thanks to several Purdue University researchers who have developed a process for pasteurizing eggs in the shell to kill salmonella bacteria.

Although it’s been known for a long time that heat can kill the bacteria - which is why eggs are relatively safe when cooked thoroughly - that same heat will cook an egg in its shell, which would make it unmarketable for obvious reasons.

But with the new process at Purdue, an egg can be put through a new low-temperature, long-time pasteurization process which will kill the bacteria, but won’t solidify the yolk or egg white. It’s estimated this will add only a few cents per dozen to the cost of eggs.