Fuel Prices Outrun Budget.

The City Council Public Safety Committee is scheduled to hear a report on the impact of higher gas prices as it relates to the Police Department’s budget during this evening’s regularly scheduled meeting.

Initial indications are that the funds appropriated for fuel will not be adequate to keep squad cars on the street through the end of the fiscal year that ends June 30. The Committee is expected to recommend adjusting the budget to assure police protection continues at its current level.

The agenda also schedules a report on the status of the Fire Department’s Engine 612 which was involved in a traffic accident recently. Repairs are in progress.

The Committee will have an opportunity to observe the new DTN Weather System and hear a report on its operation.

The weather warning system was installed at the Fire Department after the Council approved the Committee’s recommendation to lease the system. The latest weather information is transmitted via satellite to a receiver at the station and gives near real time radar readings, wind speed, and other vital weather data.

There hasn’t been much splash about the upcomin’ City elections. Mainly ‘cause there are only a couple of races bein’ run I suppose.

With the election only a couple a weeks away, ya might want ta start makin’ plans to get to the polls on April 4 (that’s a Tuesday, don’t ya know).

Folks in wards 4 & 5 will have ta make a decision. The other wards have incumbents only on the ballot.

Ward 4 won’t have anyone listed on the ballot. Jim McPheeters has registered as a write-in candidate, but ya have to write in his name and follow direction for your vote to count. Other write-ins are possible.

Ward 5 pits incumbent Don Stearnes against Lenard Harlan. Your vote still counts.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Workman's Loan

Dear Al & Kelly:
I thought our home needed to be painted and had started looking for painting contractors. I was lucky enough to talk to a nice contractor who suggested that we try a power washer first. We rented a rig and did the work ourselves and saved a bundle. It turned out that our home was just really dirty and didn’t need to be repainted after all. I’ve saved this gentleman’s number and plan to use him when it is time for a new paint job. It’s nice to know there are still some honest and helpful people around. - S.T.

Dear Kelly: I do a lot of painting in my spare time. I really enjoy it and have developed quite a flair. I like to use stencils and even do murals occasionally. Before I use a brush, I clean it really well with a brush cleaner and let it dry. Than I brush it back and forth to get rid of any loose bristles. I promise the extra time is worth it. - C. O.

Taking something apart to fix it usually isn’t the hard part. It’s getting all the pieces back together, and in the right order. A muffin pan can make the reassembly simpler.

As you take the object apart, put each piece into a separate muffin cup. Number the cups if you need to. If you don’t have a spare muffin pan or are afraid of ruining a good one, you can buy inexpensive, disposable muffin pans at a grocery store.

Better organization won’t necessarily help you get the item running again, but at least you’ll be able to keep track of your parts, and that’s one less thing to worry about.