Gov. Nixon - legalizing tractor parades.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Standing next to an antique 1951 John Deere Model A tractor on the South Lawn of the State Capitol, Gov. Jay Nixon signed HB 93 & 216 Friday, a bill to make tractor parades in Missouri legal. Gov. Nixon was joined at the signing by bill sponsor state Rep. Mike Thomson of Maryville; by state Sen. Frank Barnitz of Lake Spring, who handled the bill in the Senate.

"Agriculture has been the backbone of Missouri’s economy ever since statehood, and is a rich part of our heritage," Gov. Nixon said. "Tractor parades give Missourians the chance to see the wonderful pieces of machinery that helped make Missouri an agricultural powerhouse."

The bill allows tractors to be driven on Missouri roadways in parades by licensed drivers during daylight hours for fund-raising events, with the approval of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The majority of bills passed by the 2009 General Assembly were presented to the Governor Friday. Gov. Nixon has until mid-July to sign or veto those bills.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

 

I’ve never understood why they put an eraser on a red pencil. In the first place, those wieldin’ such an instrument is supposed ta be lookin’ for mistakes, not makin’ ‘em. But even more to the point, as a youngster I saw more than one attempt to erase a red check mark on a less than perfect paper. I never saw anyone ever successfully erase a red mark.

Typically, after a futile attempt, there would be some effort to hide the mark with a doodle or two, or a random line meant to cover the obvious.

‘Course these observations were at the relatively young age of under 10. Those attemptin’ to fool their parents or other classmates hadn’t yet grasp the real art form of hidin’ mistakes. One lesson was ta never use a red pencil

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am taking my two teenage boys backpacking in the Southwest this August. It will be hot and dry, and I am preparing for those conditions. I need some guidance on what fluids to drink. I was taught that drinking plain water is the best way to stay hydrated. My older son says his class was told not to drink plain water, because it could cause brain damage. What is this all about? -- F.W.

ANSWER: It’s all about becoming sodium-depleted and having the brain swell as a result. The condition is hyponatremia.

It used to be taught that, when exercising in hot weather, people should guzzle water at every opportunity, even when they don’t feel thirsty. That can be dangerous if the exercise lasts for hours and hours and if the only liquid drunk is water. Too much water dilutes body sodium. That, in turn, can cause brain swelling and, in the extreme, death.

Up-to-date advice is to let thirst be a rough guide for how much liquid you drink. If people are engaged in prolonged exercise, it is good to include some salt in the program. Half a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in a quart of water can keep body sodium levels from dropping. For you and your sons, it would be advisable to salt your food and to eat some salty snacks -- another way to ensure body sodium doesn’t bottom out.

Hyponatremia is uncommon. Dehydration is common. For most, drinking water as a replacement fluid in hot weather is fine. It’s not going to lead to a dangerous drop in body sodium. Only those who lose lots of sweat for long periods of time run the risk of hyponatremia by drinking pure water.

This is advice that doesn’t apply only to athletes or backpackers. It applies to all those who are out working in hot weather and sweating up a storm.