The Finance and Personnel Committee is sponsoring a proposed Council Bill that would create a Care Leave Policy for City employees. Under the plan, employees could voluntarily donate a portion of their accrued vacation, personal leave day or compensatory leave for the benefit of another employee.

A pool of the accumulation of time would be available for any employee to use after their own personal time has been exhausted. To initiate the pool, the City would match on an hour to hour basis the contributions from donors for the first year of the program up to a total of one hundred hours of time, which ever comes first.

A City-wide committee of seven members, appointed by the Mayor, would be responsible for administering the Care Leave Program.

The amount of Care Leave the employee is eligible to receive would be based on a physician’s statement containing the medical diagnosis and prognosis. The maximum amount of Care Leave an employee could receive would be ninety days per qualifying illness or injury.

The hardest thing about the high gas prices is tryin’ to stop the pump right on the money when ya put in your dollar’s worth. That money gauge is spinnin’ so fast it gets pretty tricky tryin’ to stop it without goin’ over a few cents.

‘Course I don’t suppose many worry about puttin’ is just a buck’s worth any more. Prob’ly more than that evaporates when ya open the spout.

Those of us who ‘member puttin’ in a couple a dollars worth and makin’ it through a weekend are mostly grandparents now. Make for good stories ‘bout the good old days, but puts some distance ‘tween us and the younger crowd I’m sure. I guess for the price of a coke and candy bar you can still get for a gallon of gas, ‘cept no one gripes at the soft drink folks.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

Kids everywhere are on the go this summer. For many young travelers, getting there may mean flying alone.

If you are like many parents, sending a preteen or teen on a solo journey isn’t so easy the first time. A friend of mine recalls sending her 12-year-old daughter on her first unaccompanied flight. When her daughter called to say she had arrived safely, my friend hung up the phone and exclaimed with relief, "The Eagle has landed ... One small step for Erin, one giant leap for her mother!"

Here are some basic tips to help ensure a safe and enjoyable flight for your child:

• Request a guide brochure for unaccompanied children and teens from your airline, which outlines rules, regulations and helpful safety tips.

• Call the airline at least 48 hours ahead of the flight to request a kids’ menu.

• Flight attendant Julia Applegate of Northwest Airlines reminds parents to be attentive to every detail of their child’s itinerary, including making sure the child gets on the correct plane. During hectic summertime boardings, it can be confusing, especially if departure gates change at the last minute. Once your child boards, stay in the gate area until the plane is airborne.

The adult meeting your child at the destination should always call to check on the actual time of arrival of the flight. Many flights are early, leaving kids to wait with the gate agent.

• Remind your child that it is okay to ask a flight attendant to review the personal safety demonstration for them. Airplane seat belts may unfasten differently than automobile belts. Your child may also request to be moved if seated beside someone he/she is not comfortable with. Children should never give their address and phone number to another passenger even though they have enjoyed a friendly visit during the flight.