Fireworks Sales Tax Offers Little Evidence.

Attempts by this paper to garner information about the total sales tax generated for the City by fireworks stands within city limits have been stifled.

A representative of the Missouri Department of Revenue, told this paper that that information is not to be made public.

According to the Department’s guidelines, if a request for information on a group of fewer than six businesses is submitted, they cannot release the total sales of that group or the tax generated.

Last year three businesses obtained a license to sell within the city. They included one from Diamond, one from Seneca, and one from Buffalo.

One argument presented to the Council last year, when the issue of allowing the sale of fireworks was approved, was that it would generate sales tax for the community. Until there are at least six vendors selling fireworks, the public will not be allowed to know if the argument has any justification.

The City Council is considering allowing also the detonation of fireworks within the city limits.

The map published yesterday in the Mail showed the amount of area that is by state statute illegal to shoot fireworks in. I haven’t made any precise calculations, but a general look says at least a fourth of the City is off limits no matter what the Council decides.

Course the City can impose more stringent restrictions than the state, but it can’t ignore the state statutes.

Those who are fortunate (or unfortunate dependin’ on their feelin’) to be in a "no blow" zone will still have the ability to somewhat regulate their immediate surroundings. Especially next-door neighbors shootin’ bottle rockets at their cat.

Seems a simpler solution is to leave things as they are. The Keep It Simple approach seems to be in order here.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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HERE’S A TIP

By JoAnn Derson

• "When my daughter was learning to drink from a cup, we gave her a plastic shot glass to practice with. It was a better size for her hands, and she learned really fast. In fact, she still loves it." -- T.C., via e-mail

• "I have refilled a large pump-top lotion dispenser with sunscreen. It is on a small table by our front door, and everyone is making a real effort this summer to wear sunscreen every day. We always remember when we go to the beach, but our faces, arms and legs are exposed to sun all the time, not just when we are in our swimming trunks." -- G.L. in New Mexico

• If you have a small ice-cream scoop, you can use it to measure out cookie dough. You will have more uniformly sized cookies, and they will cook better in the oven.

• "I got a great deal on a beautiful coffee carafe at a garage sale. However, it smelled musty inside and had plenty of stains. I filled it twice with very hot water, then added a denture tablet. After letting it sit overnight, I used a baby-bottle brush to give it a quick scrub. It’s fresh and clean as new now." -- K.I. in Ohio

• "Seems there’s not much you can get for a penny these days, but I have found a great use for some of mine. I sewed a row into the bottom of my light summer drapes. They put a slight weight on the billowy fabric and help it to hang super straight." -- Y.S. in Idaho

• "Little packs of sticky notes were invaluable in planning the reception seating at our wedding. We assigned different colors to groups, such as bride’s family, groom’s family, friends of the couple, etc., and wrote each person’s name on a note. It was easy to rearrange until we had properly balanced our seating chart." -- F.E. in Ontario.