Today's Feature

To Discuss Leaf Collection Bids.

The City Council Public Works Committee will met this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Items on the agenda include a discussion of a bid for a leaf collection system. This possibility of using a leaf collection system for the City has been discussed many times by various City boards over the past several years.

In December of 2005 City Administrator Tom Short informed the Public Works committee that the City had applied for a Region M solid waste grant for the purpose of purchasing a leaf collection system. The matching grant was approved in the amount of approximately $73,862, the City’s portion being $8,765.

Throughout 2006, City officials including former Mayor Kenneth Johnson researched using a leaf collection system, even traveling to neighboring communities who use similar systems for collecting leaves. The bid openings were held in the fall of 2006 at which point one bid was submitted. The committee had taken no action on that bid but it will be brought back for further discussion in this afternoon’s meeting.

Public Works Director Chad Wampler said that if the bid is accepted, it is still to be determined how the City will decide to implement the collection system.

Items of new business on the agenda include the discussion of the City policy for Snow and Ice removal. This discussion is to be led by Street Commissioner Tom Shelley.

It’s always a relief ta see that lucky golf ball flyin’ from under the mower through the air headin’ for the neighbor’s picture window. Or ta know as you unwrap that bailin’ wire from around the blade that ya won’t have ta worry ‘bout trippin on it.

Now, discoverin’ that ground level water sprinkle that didn’t get pulled up last fall can be a little disheartening. But all it means is that ya get the mower blade sharpened a little early this year.

All of these joys come if, in fact, you are one a the special people who can go to the garage and start the mower without first havin’ to figure why the choke was always stickin’ ‘fore the thing will start.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

To Your Good Health
By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Lice Invade School

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: An outbreak of lice hit my 8-year-old son’s school. He brought home a sheet of instructions about what to do for any infected child. He was infected. He catches everything. We followed the instructions, but he hasn’t been allowed back into school. They say he still has lice. What are we supposed to do? He’s not scratching like he was. -- C.P.

ANSWER: Mothers are horrified to learn their child has picked up lice, usually at school. Sometimes schools enforce unreasonable regulations for permitting children to return to classes.

Head lice spread via close contact of the uninfected with the infected and through sharing hats and combs. A female louse is a true reproductive machine. She lays more than 100 eggs, called nits, which stick to hairs. In eight to 10 days, the nits hatch and rapidly mature into adults. When the adult louse pierces the skin to obtain a blood meal, she simultaneously salivates. The saliva induces an intolerable itch. Adult lice can live for 30 days on the scalp. On inanimate objects they live only about three days.

There are four commonly used medicines -- Nix, Elimite, Rid and Ovid -- that usually eliminate the pests if directions for application are followed to the letter. Most of these products require a second application.

In Britain, it’s common not to use medicines. The infected person’s hair is wetted, and a fine-toothed comb is run through the wet hair. This procedure is repeated four days in a row. The comb is washed in hot, soapy water after use. Adopting this treatment might get your son back to his school desk.