Today's Feature

Committee Not in Favor of Tax Holiday.

The City Council Budget Ways and Means Committee met Monday evening in a regular session. The committee approved a motion to opt out of the sales tax holiday. The holiday is a hiatus of sales tax primarily for computers, clothes and school supplies It begins on the first Friday of August and runs the duration of that weekend. The intended purpose of bypassing the tax for the weekend is to reduce prices for families buying school supplies for children.

If Council approves the committee’s recommendation the State’s portion will be the only tax that is suspended. The county has also opted out. The state tax level is 4.25 percent.

The committee discussed the matter and decided that the holiday would not be in the best interest of the City. The holiday has potential to bring in more business from out of state, but the committee felt it would do more harm than good. This decision does not need to be reviewed every year. If passed it would stand in place unless the Budget Committee wishes to change it.

The item will be brought before Council in the December 27th meeting.

Stench Report:
Tuesday,
12/13/05

No Stench Reported

It seems that bein’ in traffic jams and waitin’ in line have become some of the traditions that folks really look forward to this time a year.

I always use that time standin’ in line to see what the other guy has bought. I get some of my best ideas for gift givin’ by observin’ someone else’s shoppin’ cart.

The post office is prob’ly the most fun line. Ya stand around tryin’ ta guess what’s in the packages. Helps pass the time. I’m sure the postal clerks get a big thrill bein’ told ‘bout ever’one’s shoppin’ experiences. I wonder if they’re the ones who do their shoppin’ in July.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

• Buy an extra gift and wrap it, just in case you have forgotten someone. Pick something gender-neutral. That way you won’t be caught off-guard if someone you forgot to put on your list stops by with a gift for you. You can keep it for yourself if it goes unneeded.

• "If you are a re-gifter, always document from whom and in what year you received a gift. Then re-gift it to someone who will have little or no contact with the original giver. For example, if Aunt Emily from out of town sends you a lovely soap basket that you would never use, you could re-gift it for your office party." — C.K. in Iowa

• Run out of wrapping paper? Here are some potential alternatives: plain brown shopping bags, cut open and decorated with stickers or markers; several layers of tissue paper; fabric and a nice bow; aluminum foil (if you can avoid overhandling it) makes a lovely wrapping; and handle bags from stores can be converted by gluing or taping the front of a Christmas card over the store logo, if it’s small enough.

• "If your knuckles get chapped and dry during the cold season, try rubbing a little Chapstick into them. It works for me." — P.E. in Minnesota

• "Whenever I purchase picture frames for gifts, I always try to put a photo in it of the person I am buying it for. Sometimes it is a photo of us together, and that is usually nice." — R.A. in Arizona

• "Short of towel bars in your bathroom? Use an extension rod over the bathtub (out of sight, behind the shower curtain). It’s nice for hanging hand-washed items too." — E.M. in Wisconsin