Last month at the Planing, Zoning, and Historic Preservation Commission Meeting the commission voted 3-1 to recommend that the council approve the request from Jim Williams to rezone his property form apartment to local business. At the meeting the comment was made that if no one from the neighborhood objected then the commission should approve the request. City Administrator, Tom Short disagrees.

" Zoning decisions must be based on the adopted Comprehensive Plan, ordinances and the best interests of the entire community," Short stated in a memo to the Mayor and Council.

In July of 1994 the city adopted the Comprehensive Plan which indicated a number of specific goals, objectives and policies for the development of the city. Approving the rezoning request would be in conflict with the Comprehensive Plan according to Short’s memo. Short also raised the concern of spot zoning.

Spot zoning is the zoning of a small piece of land that is not in harmony with the normal zoning plan.

"Spot zoning should be for a public purpose and result in a public benefit and not solely the personal benefit of the property owner requesting the rezoning," said Short’s Memo.

A final vote by the council is schedule for the next City Council Meeting, Tuesday the 28th of January at 7:30 in the Council Chambers.

Richard Logsdon’s Oil Paintings on Display.

By Lee Sours, artCentral

The paintings of Carthage artist, Richard Logsdon, are on display at artCentral’s satellite gallery located in Shellie’s Downtown Cuisine at 207 West Third (across the street from the post office.) Logsdon’s work has been popular for years in New England. And now, folks in Carthage are becoming aware of his work. His subject matter often includes old buildings, country gatherings, and still lifes. Logsdon likes to photograph New England landscapes on his travels and then returns to Carthage to paint.

Currently on display at artCentral’s Hyde House Gallery on 13th Street is the photography of Bill Perry III. His work features the human form in mysterious looking settings. Some of the shots feature close-ups of horses. All the photographs are done in black and white using either the silver gelatin or platinum process. The opening reception last Friday was well attended. Many people came from the Joplin area. This display will continue until February 14th.

We’ve had some response for starting a pastel class. The class will meet for 6 weeks on Thursday mornings from 10 to noon. The cost will be about $33 per session.

Please call soon to reserve your spot. This should be a fun way to spend the morning and you’ll have a chance to get pointers from an excellent artist in this medium.

HOURS: T – F 11 - 5

Sunday 12 -5 Closed Mon. and Sat.

1110 E 13th • 358-4404

ozarkartistscolony.com

I’ve always thought that zoning issues are the toughest decisions for the City Council. On the one hand they wanna be "business friendly," but they also have to balance the needs of the residential neighborhoods already established.

The question raised by the request on today’s front page is the latest of several dealing with the Garrison Avenue debate of business or residential. Past decisions have favored keepin’ Garrison more of a residential area. But each request must be considered individually.

Garrison has traditionally been dotted with small business. The main question the Council has to decide is whether the Comprehensive Plan adopted in ‘94 is still applicable today. The Council approved it, it can also change it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Oak Street health & herbs

Natural Nutrition

By Mari An Willis

New Year.new diet, new resolutions, new bills, new..new...new...new. Who would have known that we would be repeating ourselves and there really is nothing new? Maybe it is just age, but I don’t think so.

Herbs certainly are not something new, but the spotlight is on them now encouraging research to tell us what is "new" with these plants which have been utilized for centuries. I am encouraged by the people who are giving an admiring glance to the Aunts and Grandmothers/fathers who were laughed at in the not too distant past. It is amazing how influenced we are by the mass media. We in the healthfood stores have been encouraging people to take Ginko Biloba ( the botanical name, not the mass medias name) for our memories and to help stay focused. Now that it has been picked up by a pharmaceutical company who has millions to spend on advertising, it has credence and more people want it. It is not that they have spent millions more researching it, but that their market had been cut into by thinking Americans who had been educated and sought out optional answers and opened doors to allow us to choose these things. I am grateful that they advertise, it makes my job somewhat easier; in that those who need media endorsement have it.

But, that is not the only place to seek advice and sit by idly waiting for what you will be told to do next. Start doing your homework and stepping out into this "new" area of healthy choices. Just recently I heard on the news that eating organic foods are good for you...maybe they should change it to the 6:00 History, because we knew that a long time ago.*