Today's Feature

Operating Through March 6.

Renewable Environmental Solutions (RES) will be operating at full production through March 6. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved the operation which began late last week. During this time DNR will monitor the results and evaluate the performance of RES.

The operation is currently using a mixture of Butterball feed stock and a benign combination of grease and vegetable oils, as opposed to the 100% feed stock that is normally processed there.

The authorization requires the maintenance of current odor control equipment and seals outside the process building, inspection of equipment and the submittal of formal response in the case of odor complaints. Other control measures include the routing of trucks delivering the materials to the plant. According to a news release from DNR, if problems arise during the trial period, the authorization to operate will be revoked. If the trial run is without complications, RES will be permitted to move forward.

Prior trials operations were conducted February 1-15. The department allowed RES to operate three days each week using the same mixture of materials.

Investigation Focused on Subcontractors.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents recently arrested 65 illegal aliens working on the construction of a warehouse distribution system for Schrieber Foods.

According to Carthage Police Chief, the focus of the investigation was not Schreiber, but the subcontractors hired to do the construction. The Carthage Police Department was contacted by ICE for information several weeks prior to the arrests.

ICE obtained a Federal criminal search warrant and made the arrests on February 22. Reich Installation Services Inc. of Pewaukee, Wisconsin employeed 28 of the 56 that were arrested. Reich is under investigation by the ICE for repeatedly hiring illegal aliens.

Stench Report:
Friday,
2/24/06

No Stench Detected.

I’d give anything to be half as smart as I thought I was when I was twenty. What I’m afraid of is that I’m only ‘bout half as smart as I think I am now.

Prob’ly the worst thing about gettin’ some a that mature experience under your belt is ya start realizing just how much ya really don’t know about a lotta things.

So ta my way a thinkin’, the more ya know, the dumber ya feel.

‘Course you can always go outa your way ta find onea those smart twenty-somethings that know it all. Usually after a while ya start ta feel a little better just knowin’ that in another ten or fifteen years, they won’t be as smart as you think they are now.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Get Ready for Spring

Q: I have a couple of bare spots on my lawn, and a friend said I should seed them before spring so that the grass will begin re-growing right away. What do you recommend? -- John in Atlanta

A: Since you live in an area with relatively warm winters, pre-seeding the bare spots may be all right. In places where the ground typically freezes, however, pre-seeding should be done in late fall, after the first hard frost, before the ground is frozen.

Another method is to wait until the start of the growing season and then rake the bare spots with a thatching rake to turn the soil somewhat. Wet the bare spots down and seed them.

Purchase new or replacement tools, and sharpen and weatherproof them. Brush up on your knowledge of plant nutrients. Even if nothing is growing right now, there’s plenty of prep work to be done.