Tobrock Pitch For Better Pay.

First Ward Council member Chuck Tobrock voiced concerns about the proposed City budget for fiscal year 2001/2001 during last Tuesday’s regular Council meeting. Tobrock told the Council that Carthage was not keeping up with salaries paid to city employees by Joplin and Springfield.

"I think our Police Department and Fire Department are grossly underpaid," said Tobrock. "As fast as we are growing, I think we need to pay our Police Department and Fire Department more money. They’re expected to put their life on the line for our benefit if necessary and I think the benefits should be there."

Tobrock also noted that Engineering Department salaries were lower than those in Springfield and Joplin.

Tobrock also listed several areas in the Parks Department that needed attention, especially the Carter Park rest rooms.

"I think we need to give the Parks Department more money for part time help for maintaining City property," said Tobrock.

Mayor Johnson said he would like to see City employees get more money, but the funding just wasn’t in the budget.

A Recap of Friday’s Festivities!

by Robin Putnam, artCentral

Last Friday we enjoyed another fabulous evening of fun, food and friends!! The opening of our annual Membership Show was, again, filled with tons of great art and a few surprises.

For those of you more interested in the food than the art.....had you attended you would have been able to feast on Chicken & Sesame Satays, Baby Red Potatoes stuffed with leeks, bleu cheese and bacon and Smoked Salmon and Cucumber sandwiches. Mmmmm.

This years winner of Best of Show was our very own Bill Snow!! He won the honor with his newest sculpture of a polar bear done in white alabaster. We thank all the judges who forged through all the artwork to unanimously pick this exquisite piece!! Our heartfelt congratulations to Bill!!

Later in the evening we were treated to a very special performance by the Divas!! This talented three-some entertained us with an original song about art written by the lead Diva, Malvena Broadaway!! We’re not sure which was more entertaining the musical performance or the costumes they were wearing! We thank them for stopping by and we thank Richard for offering his help!!

artCamp is only a few weeks away so get your little ones signed up soon!!

FYI- artCamp 2001...........July 23-August 4, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. Cost is twelve dollars per day and the kids need to bring a sack lunch.

Classes are in order: drawing, watercolor, print-making, clay, create-a-book, Egyptian, African masks, Australian, sculpture, cartoons & comics, caricatures and painting. Sounds like 12 days of fun and art!!

More...............next week.

358-4404. 1110 E. 13th, Carthage MO

www.ozarkartistscolony.com

Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

I haven’t had much ta gripe about concernin’ the strawberry patch this year. It’s been the best crop I’ve seen (if you can call a few cups a fruit a crop) since plantin’ three years ago.

I have started pickin’ the critters a little ‘fore they are really ripe. They don’t have quite the flavor, but it seems be the only way ta beat the varmits from gettin’ at ‘em first.

From the looks of the variety of goods at the farmer’s market on the Square, the growin’ season is in full swing.

‘Course my other choice for fresh grown is corn on the cob. I’m not sure I’m up to cultivatin’ a corn crop yet. Once ya start expandin’ a garden, there always seems ta be just one more thing ta plant. Asparagus will likely be the next venture. Another couple years for any results though.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Oak Street health & herbs

Natural Nutrition

by Mari An Willis

Whew! That David Williams and his Route 66 run. Of course, many people have asked how he is training and what he is taking to keep himself fit enough to tackle a nearly 2,000 mile run unaccompanied by anyone except God and those who see fit to help along the way. David and his wife are friends of the family so I have spoken with him in detail about his LACK of training and nutritional boosts. His theory is that he could not possibly train properly so he just started out with intense focus and drive, "training along the way." In 1928 when the original bunion run was going on, those men did not have training either. Some people like to do things the "original" way. As far as nutrients, he travels light and the only thing he is taking on a regular basis is Emergen-C, which is an electrolyte, vitamin C and potassium (plus a few more) which come in very light weight packages he can just add to his water. Some trace minerals occasionally. In my opinion, that is much better than nothing which is what he originally wanted to do... "just like my forerunners." For those sore knees and joints he is using an arnica compound.

The mule club reminded me of a safe fly control recipe for use on their equines which works equally well on most outdoor pets. In the past, I have made up similar recipes and used recycled pump hair spray bottles to dispense the product.

"Safe Fly Control"

To one cup of Avon Skin So Soft, add 2 cups of vinegar and one tbsp. cucalyptus and or/ citronella oils. Add 1-3 cups of water (3c for flies) stronger for ticks. Shake well, cap tightly, and use as needed. They say Great for the trail riding season! Of course, keep out of your eyes and wash hands after applying.