Today's Feature

MGE Announces New Rates.

News release

Missouri Gas Energy (MGE), a division of Southern Union Company (NYSE: SUG), today received approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) to implement a new rate structure and an overall increase in revenues of approximately $27.2 million, or $4.5%. This results in an increase for residential customers of approximately $3.60 per month.

The new rate structure approved by the commission produces an improved rate design that should stabilize MGE’s revenues and reduce the impact of weather-related fluctuations on bills for the Company’s approximately 510,000 customers. The cost to deliver gas to a customer will consolidate the previous consumption based energy charge and the residential customer charge into one single, fixed monthly amount. This means that the portion of the residential bill that goes to Missouri Gas Energy will not change no matter how much gas is used. MGE will be initiating and funding conservation programs within its service areas to assist customers in reducing their overall energy bills.

In addition, the revenue increase will help the Company recover increased expenses associated with operating, maintaining and enhancing its 8,000 mile distribution system, as well as the cost of substantial capital expenditures MGE has made for safety projects, public improvement relocations and new construction. The revenue increase is not related to "cost of gas" charges, which make up more than 70% of the overall customer bill, fluctuates up and down based on the market price of gas and individual customer usage and from which MGE receives no financial benefit.

The new rates will go into effect March 30, 2007.

I suppose most of us wish at times we could be a little more like Spock in that respect, yet prob’ly one of the most basic human characteristics is the fact that we can get a little stirred up ever’ now and then.

It’s only natural for folks to be emotional ‘bout things that are important to them. And community concerns are bound to stir folks up a little. Typically the ones involved are those that have shown the ability to get the ball rollin’.

It looks ta me like a community should be able to express differences and still keep the ball of progress rollin’.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Natural Nutrition
By Mari An Willis

Our bodies have a given ability to neutralize many harmful chemicals if the proper nutrients are present in our bodies to do so. In some recent reading I came across an article about chemical sensitivities which shed some light on the option of prevention. The nutrients mentioned were: molybdenum, glutathione and Coenzyme B.

Molybdenum is required to activate the enzymes which can neutralize sulfites and aldehydes. It appears that this trace mineral is among the many which are often lacking in today’s diet.

Glutathione (GSH) is perhaps the most important shielding and cleansing molecule in the human body according to research done by the Mayo Clinic. It helps the liver in its cleansing functions and serves as part of a critical antioxidant enzyme.

Coenzyme B2 is said to support both the functions of molybdenum and GSH helping to "recycle" it until it has been completely utilized.

Since I can’t personally (or even collectively) stop the bombardment of airborne pollutants or chemicals released into our soil and water, it is nice to have found the above information.

This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. References available by request. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

artCentral
Art Notes from Hyde House
By Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

We are entering into a bit of down time at the Hyde House. The wonderful show of Mary Lou Reed’s beautiful pastels has moved out, three sold, six paintings to an exhibition at a gallery in Kansas City and the rest to soon hang at our satellite gallery, The Atrium, inside the Sirloin Stockade on Central. Mary Lou was very pleased to have some of her paintings accepted to go to Kansas City, and we are so thrilled for her! We also will soon lose the great oil paintings of Frank Young as well, but look forward to hanging a larger Main Gallery show for him next year.

So the galleries are closed for a time as we begin to get ready for the very large and exciting ceramics and pottery exhibit that will be coming into both galleries in April! This huge showing will include multiple works from some 18 ceramics artists from the area, representing several towns. The group is known as the "Midwest Pottery Artists" and in addition to the art show inside the house in the two galleries they will be hosting an outside pottery fair on the grounds of artCentral’s Hyde House on Friday evening and all day the following Saturday. This fair will feature booths and tents of each artist’s work and promises to be a fun event both from our viewpoint, as interest to the community, and from theirs, as a successful sales event! Watch for more information on the various artists as well as for descriptions of the work that they will be bringing for this new show. Our very sincere thanks go out to Beimdiek Insurance Co. for acting as underwriter for this big show. Beimdiek’s have been long time supporters of artCentral and art events here at the Hyde House and have supported various fundraisers and events in the past as well as being long time members of artCentral. They have lent to us Joann Evans as a past member of the Board of Directors and we enjoyed Joann’s service on the board for several years. Without community support such as their’s, events like this upcoming one could not take place, and so in behalf of the board I thank Steve Beimdiek for his very generous support.

Next week I will go into some detail about what we expect to see coming from our ceramics artists. Meantime, things will be a bit quiet as we see our grounds begin to green, and prepare them for this great outside fair in April!