From the Minutes - Public Safety.

Wendi Douglas of the Convention and Visitors Bureau was present to discuss 3 items:

• Farmer’s Market -held on Wednesday and Saturday morning through October; there has been issues with parking and the farmers having to wait to set up due to people parking in the area of the NW inside lane ofthe square. Wendi asked permission to have that area blocked off from 6:00 am through 2:00 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays to allow set up of the vendors.

Mr. Swatsenbarg made a motion to allow the inside NW lane of the square to be closed Wednesdays and Saturdays from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm from now until October for set up of the Farmer’s Market. All were in favor, motion carried and to be forwarded to Full Council.

British Motor Car Club -as in years past have requested the square be closed in conjunction with the City Sidewalk Sale. Barricades will be set up after 3:00 pm on July 22nd, which the police department would supply. Ms. Douglas asked this year, in order to provide more room for the event, that Main Street also be closed to 5th Street. The event will take place on Saturday, July 23rd•

Mr. Rife made a motion to allow the square to be closed for the British Car Club and City Sidewalk Sale and recommending closing Main Street to sth Street also, such request to be forwarded to Full Council for approval. All were in favor, motion passed.

In continuing with the Sesquicentennial Celebration the Wilson’s Battle Creek Members ofthe National Parks Service would like to have a reenactment and weapons display on July 9th at Central Park. Wendi was present to request that the ordinance of discharging weapons within the City be waived to allow this reenactment and weapons display.

After a short discussion Chairman Rifeso moved to be forwarded on to full council for their approval. All in favor, motion carried.

Jasper County Jail Count

217 June 27, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

A farmer I worked for as a kid always said he could tell it was gonna rain ‘cause he’d start seein’ turtles up on the road. Said he didn’t know why they did it. Thought they must be lookin’ for higher ground rather than get flooded in the ditch.

Now I never made a study of turtle movement so I don’t have any idea if this higher ground theory stands up. At the time I was told this bit of wisdom, I had no reason, nor stature to question it.

I did, learn early the art of pickin’ up a small land tortoise that occasioned our yard. I often wondered if the plentiful stream of water that came from the tail end was caused by a reflex of defense or fear. It was certainly an effective way to keep young boys from gettin’ too aggressive with the critters.

I’ve never had the urge to try turtle soup.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Weekly Column

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Getting a Handle on Heartburn

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: After an endoscopy, the doctor told me I have a hiatal hernia. He said nothing could be done for it and that I will have to live with it the rest of my life. He gave me no medicines or advice. I am anxious about this and would appreciate any info you can give me. -- Anon.

ANSWER: The swallowing tube -- the esophagus -- begins at the throat, travels down the chest and finally ends by attaching to the stomach. To reach the stomach, it must go through an opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest from the abdominal cavity. That opening is the hiatus. A hiatal hernia is a bulging of part of the stomach through the hiatus and into the chest cavity. Many times, a hiatal hernia causes no symptoms and needs no treatment.

At other times, a hiatal hernia produces GERD -- gastroesophageal reflux -- an upward spurting of acid and digestive juices from the stomach into the esophagus. That brings on heartburn, a common problem with many treatments. People without such a hernia also develop GERD.

Here are some tips to handle heartburn. Lose weight, if need be. Don’t eat within three hours of going to bed. Elevate the head of your bed using blocks that are 6 to 8 inches tall and placed under the bedposts. This keeps stomach juices in the stomach while you sleep. Sleep on your left side for the same reason. Don’t wear constricting garments around the abdomen or too tight a belt. Take antacids as needed -- Tums, Rolaids, Mylanta and Maalox. Eliminate any food that gives you heartburn. Usual offenders are citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions, spicy foods, fatty and fried foods, chocolate, carbonated beverages, mints and caffeinated drinks.

If these steps don’t solve the heartburn problem, try medicines called acid blockers: Tagamet (cimetidine), Zantac (ranitidine), Pepcid (famotidine) and Axid (nizatidine). In low doses, all of these can be purchased without a prescription.

The next step is medicines that turn off acid production. Prilosec (omeprazole) doesn’t require a prescription. The prescription drugs are Prevacid, Nexium, Aciphex, Protonix and Dexilant.