Alley Trash Pick Up Would Be Stopped.

The City Council heard the first reading of Council bill 09-31 last Tuesday at their regular meeting. The bill would authorize the Mayor to extend and modify the contract for trash hauling with Allied Waste Services. The extension of the contract would be for five years.

The provisions of the modifications would include an increased rate for residential customers of about one dollar per month. In addition, the service would be changed to an automated system that would require the use of a container supplied by the hauler. These will be provided free of charge.

Due to the mechanism that would pick up the containers, residential customers will typically be required to roll the container curb side. Few alleys will be wide enough to accommodate the modern equipment.

Public Works Director Chad Wampler told the Council that a sample container is at the Public Works building at 7th and Orchard if anyone would like to see it. The Council is scheduled to vote on the bill May 12.

artCentral

ART NOTES from Hyde House

by Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

Excitement builds as we introduce Friday night a new artist to our area, and her unusual and playful work in a new exhibition entitled "An American Fairytale". Martha Goldman moved to Joplin recently, and is becoming involved in that art community as well as the art community of Springfield. This will be her first major exhibition in our area however, and she presents all new work from current topics that she finds compelling as well as disturbing. As viewers will be surprised to see, however, her playful subject matter is represented in unique, colorful, and sometimes risqué ways! We certainly have not had anything quite like these paintings before, with their jewels and trims, tassels and ribbons. She says, "The cute/pretty appearance of the paintings is akin to a sugar coated pill. It creates a chiaroscuro of dark subject matter presented in a light and gay style. In the end, my intention is to make the viewer aware and stake stock of our mistakes, have a laugh, and inspire to make the best of our future". We invite all members, patrons and guests to the opening reception for Martha Goldman Friday night at 6:00 when we will unveil these 15 new paintings and hope that many will take advantage of this show as it remains in our gallery through May 17th, Fridays and weekends from noon until 5:00, and as always, admission is free.

Swine Flu

FACT SHEET

4/27/09

FS1043

What is swine flu?

Swine influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. In late March and early April, cases of human infection with H1N1 swine flu were reported in several countries and US states.

How is swine flu spread?

Swine flu is spread like seasonal flu, when a person coughs or sneezes, sending contaminated respiratory droplets into the air where another person may inhale them. Sometimes people may become infected by touching a contaminated surface or object and then touching their own eyes, nose or mouth.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and may include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, runny or stuffy nose and fatigue. Some people have reported nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause underlying chronic medical conditions to worsen.

Who is at risk for getting swine flu?

Cases of swine flu have most commonly occurred in people who have direct contact with infected swine. People can also get sick from other infected people. A person who has swine flu may be able to infect other people one day before his/her symptoms develop to seven days after showing symptoms.

What is the best way to protect myself against swine flu?

At this time the public is encouraged to protect themselves by following common sense, proven disease prevention methods, including—

• Frequent hand washing with soap and water,

• Keeping a distance of at least six feet from people who are sick, and

• Avoid touching your own eyes, mouth or nose.

Individuals who are sick are encouraged to protect the community by —

• Staying home while ill,

• Covering their cough or sneeze, and

• Avoid sharing personal items such as utensils, drinks or a toothbrush with family members.

What should I do if I develop symptoms of swine flu?

People who develop flu-like symptoms AND have a history of recent travel to a location where cases of swine flu have been confirmed, or have had close personal contact with someone who has a confirmed case of swine flu, should contact their health care provider.

How is swine flu treated?

Two antiviral medications are currently proving to be effective against the strain of swine flu currently circulating in the United States. However, antiviral medication may not be necessary for most people to recover from flu viruses. A decision can best be made by each individual’s health care provider.

$8 Billion More for Chrysler

by Paul Kiel, www.ProPublica.org

As expected, President Obama said today at a press conference that Chrysler would be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Here’s how it will work. Chrysler will receive up to $8 billion more in loans from the Treasury: $3.3 billion in financing to carry the company through the restructuring process and then $4.7 billion more when it emerges as a new company. Chrysler will be merging with Fiat, and Obama said all the bailout money will have to be repaid before Fiat can take a majority ownership stake in Chrysler. As reported earlier, Canada will be chipping in alongside the U.S. with its own bailout money. In exchange for their aid, the U.S. will get an eight percent stake in Chrysler and Canada a two percent stake.

Our bailout database has been updated to reflect all this and shows that U.S. commitments now total $12 billion. The total for the auto company bailout now stands at $34.78 billion. That figure rises to $39.78 billion if you figure in aid the U.S. has provided to Chrysler’s and GM’s parts suppliers.

More aid to the auto companies is on the way. Obama said that Chrysler’s financing arm, which has received $1.5 billion in aid,would have required "an unacceptably large stream of taxpayer money to remain viable"—and so it won’t be getting any more aid. GMAC, GM’s financing arm (which has received $5 billion so far), will be stepping into the breach, though not without some more government help. Obama said GMAC would be getting more money, but didn’t say how much.

The Treasury has also launched a program to guarantee warranties for cars sold by GM and Chrysler. It committed $280 million to backstop Chrysler’s warranties as it goes through restructuring.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

Jinks (or Jinx ?), ya owe me a coke.

I don’t know how many times that phrase was repeated durin’ my childhood, but I can’t remember ever bein’ treated to a cool soft drink as a result. For some reason this phrase was primarily used as an excuse to punch your buddy’s arm five or six times. Each punch was supposed to add to the number of cola’s you would get.

I don’t know where this stuff comes from. I prob’ly learned the trick from my older brother, but he didn’t have any siblings to teach him. The power of peer education I suppose. It’s amazin’ what kids learn from other kids. Not so amazin’ that they learn it I suppose, but more that they seem to retain it more than they do traditional type learnin’. Who da thunk it?

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Robinson Family Health Center

Journey Along the Wellness Path

by Leesa I. Robinson, N.H.P.

As we consider our health as a priority it is good for us to look closely at what encompasses a wellness practitioner. The goal of a wellness practitioner is to help each individual proactively reach for their highest wellness potential whether it be during times of a health crisis or during regular maintenance.

Their active strategy makes them the ideal motivator to empower each client to be and stay proactive. The practitioners role is that of a partner or coach; a guide of sorts for each individual and their unique needs and changes as they cycle through life from birth to the grave.

An expert wellness practitioner realizes that health and healing is a process and is a lifetime involvement that comes from the inside out and from above down. He or she realizes that we never really arrive at a point where there is no room for improving. Perfection is never the end goal but quality of life and excellence are in the forefront.

In this inside-out care, fear-driven guidelines are left out and proactive guidelines are implemented. A true wellness practitioner walks the patient through various health components such as proper and individualized nutrition, maximized nervous system function, appropriate exercise, rest management and other health-related lifestyle needs.

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." Thomas Edison