Mayoral Power May be Expanded.

City Administrator Tom Short presented a resolution to the Public Works Committee Tuesday which would give the mayor the authority to establish temporary administrative procedures when necessary during or following an emergency. The mayor would then report his actions to the Council at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

This resolution came about as a result of discussion at the last Committee meeting concerning waiving drop-off fees at the landfill for limbs and branches following severe weather. The resolution would not only give the mayor the ability to waive fees but also to take other actions he thinks necessary. Following such action by the mayor, Council members would have the opportunity to ratify, discuss or change the mayor’s actions at the next Council meeting.

"This has a bigger potential than just waiving fees," said Committee Member Trisha Burgi-Brewer. "If a tornado that goes through the City for example, this really gives him the power which I think he needs.. This is great."

Committee Member Larry Ross moved to recommend the resolution to the full Council, and his motion passed unanimously.

Partnership Benefit Kids.

news release

When two dynamic groups join forces for a worthwhile cause, awesome things happen. The McCune-Brooks Health Care Foundation has partnered with the Make-A-Wish foundation of Missouri in a move that should prove beneficial to both organizations.

Chris Greicius was the Phoenix boy whose memory inspired the creation of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Diagnosed with Leukemia Chris, at age seven, just wanted to be a police officer for a day. In 1980 his wish was granted by his mother and friends of hers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Eighteen years later, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is still granting wishes and has granted more than 50,000 wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. Make-A-Wish has earnestly agreed to join forces with the McCune-Brooks Health Care Foundation in helping to plan and implement fund raising programs that will help target more of these children in our immediate area.

The McCune-Brooks Health Care Foundation is a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing strong relationships in the community to ensure that McCune-Brooks Hospital fulfills its mission. And just what is the Foundation's mission? Most important, making sure the public is aware of the needs of its hospital and, at the same time, is provided with ample opportunities to make tax deductible gifts to help fulfill these needs. In order to continue provide our community with exceptional health care services, additional funds must be raised. Now, with the involvement of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, our community has the distinctive opportunity of being able to help satisfy the immediate desires of seriously ill children in our area, as well as helping to fulfill some of the more comprehensive needs of McCune-Brooks Hospital.

Hold March 6 open, on your calendars, for the first annual Make-A-Wish/Health Care Foundation event.

Tree Care Seminar.

The Carthage Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation will be holding a workshop devoted to tree care. The daylong workshop will be held at the Carthage Municipal Park on Thursday, March 11th. Speakers will be Justine Gartner, Urban Forester; Lynn Barnickol, Forestry Program Supervisor; Tim Frevert, Landscape Architect and Gary Smith, District Forester.

Topics will include: Hazardous Tree Identification, Right Tree in the Right Place, Roots, Chain Saw Safety, Chain Saw Cutting Techniques, Tree Pruning Techniques and a "Hands On" Demonstration of Proper Chain Saw Use. For further information or to register you may call the Carthage Parks and Recreation Department at (417) 237-7035. Registrations must be received by Monday, March 8th.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly.

The Missouri Property tax credit is available to Missouri residents over the age of 65 who have income less than $25,000 for single and $27,000 for a married couple. Individuals over 60 who receive surviving spouse benefits also qualify. Persons age 18-64 who are 100% disabled are also eligible.

The credit allows you to receive a refund of all or part of your real estate taxes paid on your home. Residents of nursing homes and renters are also eligible for a refund based on room and board or rent paid during the year.

Volunteers with the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program will be available beginning in February 1999 to assist those wishing to file for this credit. Before you get an appointment to see a counselor gather your income verifications (Social Security 1099 form W-2, dividend and interest statements, veterans and other pensions), paid tax, rent or room and board receipts. If you have any questions about this credit, call the VantAge Point at (417) 627-0600.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

I let Groundhog Day slip right by without even a second thought. I suppose with the kind of weather we've been havin', the thought of extendin' the winter was much of a concern.

I never know what exactly it means when the varmit see his or her shadow. If he does or doesn't, it's supposed ta mean six more weeks of winter from what I remember. This hole thing is just a little more than I can grasp I guess. Maybe it's 'cause there aren't that many ground hogs in these parts. I can't recall ever seein' one anytime, let alone in the dead a winter.

As you can prob'ly tell, growin' up in this part a the country, I expect ta know what the weather is gonna be when I look out the back door 'fore breakfast. That must be why some say I wake up in a new world ever' mornin'.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin.'

by

Workman's Loan

The Super Handyman

Here's a nifty storage idea that's a cinch to install: Attach jars to your garage or shop walls to hold your hardware.

Use screws or nails to secure the jars' lids right to the wall or studs so that the jar will screw into the lid and will be sticking out horizontally. Actually, it works better if you can hang them at an angle, so that when you unscrew the jar, the contents don't spill out. If the ceiling in your workshop is low enough, you can attach the lids to ceiling joists.

Because you're using clear jars, it's easy to see what's inside each one. We recommend plastic jars, like the type and size that peanut butter comes in. With plastic jars, you won't have to worry about broken glass if you accidentally drop one.

The jars don't take up much space, but they can hold quite a bit of stuff.

Dear Al: I have been given more than my fair share of tools over the years and I have found a good way to keep up with all of them. I put bands of different colored tape on each tool. The blue-taped ones go in my shop. The red ones go inside the house and the day-glo-taped tools go in the cars.

The day-glo tape can alert other drivers of your problem before they get right up to you.

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