Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Monday, December 27, 1998 Volume VII, Number 135

did ya know?
Did Ya Know?. . .Musician Mike Byrd, a Billboard Award Winner, will be performing at Stone's Throw Theater December 31 from 8-9 p.m. Reservations are required, tickets are $20 each. Call 358-9665 for more information. Performance is followed by Buffet Dinner & Mystery Theater.

today's laugh

In school a boy was asked this question in physics: "What is the difference between lightning and electricity?"

And he answered: "Well, you don't have to pay for lightning."

A teacher had told her class of youngsters that Milton, the poet, was blind. The next day she asked if any of them could remember what Milton's great affliction was.

"Yes'm," replied one little fellow;

"he was a poet."

Mother (telling fairy stories)-"Once upon a time-"

Little Boy-"Mummy, do fairy tales always begin like that?"

Mother-"No, darling; sometimes they begin, 'Awfully sorry my dear, to have been detained at the office again tonight."

"Do you save up money for a rainy day?"

"Oh no, I never shop when it rains."

1898
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

All Had a Fine Time.

Attorney J.B. Lloyd and the party with which he has been hunting and fishing on Dry Fork, twelve miles northwest of the city. They have all been having a fine time and have caught all the bass and shot all the quail the crowd could eat. Mr. Lloyd had heard nothing of the reports concerning his demise which were circulated about town during his absence and was much chagrined when he was told of them.

At Work on the Bridge at Brown's Ford.

The work on the new bridge spanning Spring river at the old Brown Ford, nine miles north of Oronogo, is progressing nicely. The dirt approaches have been finished, the embankments ripraped with stone and the work on the stone piers is quite near completion. A bill of $1,500, being 70 per cent of the work now done and still unpaid was allowed in county court this morning.

Today's Feature

Park Board Dissolved.

The ordinance that moves the City Parks and Recreation Department directly under Council control passed 10-0 at last Tuesday's regular Council meeting. The actual transfer of power will come in early January during a meeting of the Public Services Committee. The ordinance significantly alters the responsibilities of the Committee which has, up to this point, mainly concerned itself with the operation of Memorial Hall. The ordinance also places the Civil War Museum under the direct supervision of the Committee.

According to Mayor Kenneth Johnson, employees he has spoken to are comfortable with the change. The Park System has used the City salary and benefit guidelines for the department for several years and there will be little change for most employees. Parks Administrator Alan Bull will continue in his position.

In a separate action the Council approved a lease arrangement that will allow the City to draw approximately $1.2 million for the expansion of the Fair Acres Sports complex. Payments to be made with ten, $150,000 annual grants from Steadley Trust.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

Most likely folks usin' the parks in the City won't notice the change in control from a Park Board to the City Council. The members of the Public Services Committee will see an immediate increase in the amount of their work load.

Havin' attended a fair number of Park Board meetin's in the past, I came to appreciate the amount of time contributed by those who volunteered to serve. Along with the day-to-day maintenance of a good amount of raw land, the Board also has ta deal with the park equipment, the swimmin' pool, the golf course, and the Fair Acres Sports Complex. Most of the fundin' comes from the park tax levy, with the City helpin' out for capital improvements and equipment.

Those who have served on the current Park Board, and those past, should be proud of the system they are turnin' over to the City.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin'.