The City Council Public Safety Committee heard from a half dozen downtown merchants and concerned citizens during the regular monthly meeting in the Police Department Monday evening. The main topic of concern was night time activities on and around the Square. The group stated that it was not at the meeting to be critical of the Police, but to increase awareness that activity witnessed two or three years ago was beginning to occur again.

Most of the complaints were centered around the level of noise generated and an overall atmosphere of rudeness toward adults. Some felt there was an increase in consumption of acholic beverages as indicated by litter seen the morning after.

Captain Kevin Davis of the Department told the group that police presence on the Square was still a high priority, but a temporary shortage of personnel and other calls for service did not allow officers to spend as much time in the area as they did previously.

In other business the Committee approved bids for new police vehicles and rejected bids for a four wheel drive pickup for the Fire Department.

A farmer I used ta work for while I was in high school always told me that if ya see turtles on the road it means it’s gonna rain. Said they could sense the comin’ weather and headed for higher ground. I never was convinced completely, but I always try to remember when I see the creatures ploddin’ on the roadways.

I always look in the rearview mirror when I pass over turtles with the car. Some pull their head in and just wait, others just keep wigglin’ along like nothin’ happened. I can’t imagine what a turtle must be thinkin’ when a vehicle whizzes over ‘em. Maybe they figure it was one a those quick thunder storms movin’ through, or a giant crash of thunder. You’d think the hot pavement would stick to their little feet as long as they take ta get on the other side. Maybe they’re just hopin’ for rain.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

For a summer parade that’s lots of fun, gather kids of all ages in your neighborhood or apartment building. Decorate bikes, trikes, in-line skates and wagons, wear a funny hat and strike up the band! A couple of families with a few motivated kids is really all it takes.

Here are some ideas to stage the high-spirited event:

• Make and deliver fliers to announce the parade. Designate a place where youngsters can bring their bikes for a pre-parade decorating party. Tie ribbons, streamers and flags to bikes and wagons. Make signs and banners.

• Put your child’s teddy bear and stuffed animals on parade, too. Attach a mini garden fence to the long sides of a wagon to make it look like a circus wagon. Fill it with favorite stuffed animals. Set a battery-operated cassette player next to the animals to play festive marching music. Dress like a clown and bring along the kids dressed as the circus ringmaster and tightrope walker.

• Teens will enjoy participating, too. They can hand out brochures along the parade route or wear a sandwich board advertising their services for mowing lawns, babysitting, collecting mail and papers for vacationers.

For even more fun, make the day a real picnic and top off the event with a potluck meal or ice cream social. Your driveway, yard or a nearby park can be the gathering spot. If you have a meal, each family should bring their own plates, utensils, beverage and main dish, salad or dessert to share.

For a dessert bar, set up big tubs of ice cream on a picnic table. Ask families to bring their favorite toppings.

The kids may perform with juggling acts, magic shows and songs. At our last neighborhood bash, kids took turns on a pogo stick while dodging a few brave souls on homemade stilts. All to the tune of "Stars and Stripes Forever"!

Be sure to plan a few games everyone will enjoy, such as an egg toss, water-balloon volleyball and relay races. Encourage participants to match up with new families on the block so everyone gets acquainted.