City-wide Leaf Collection.

(reprinted from earlier edition as a reminder for interested citizens.)

The City-wide leaf pickup program will run from November 1 through December 30, 2011. Citizens should call the Street Department at 417-237-7020 to be placed on the list for leaf pickup when the leaves are ready for removal.

Leaves should be placed in a narrow pile or row, in the grassy area between the sidewalk and the curb, but not in alleys. If the area is without curbs, leaves should be within five feet of the street. Leaves should not be raked into the street or into drainage ditches or swales.

Leaves should not be in cans or in plastic or paper bags. Only loose leaves will be collected. Areas should be free of tree limbs, rocks or other foreign objects.

Parked vehicles should be at least 15 feet away from the pile. City workers will not return to leaf piles that are passed over due to vehicle obstruction.

If leaves are not collected immediately the City asks that residents remain patient. A collection order will be observed all week, despite inclement weather or unforeseen delays.

Jasper County Jail Count

177 November 18, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

I was talkin’ to a guy the other day and he said for some reason it seemed his work load was gettin’ heavier. All the sudden he looked up and he was buried with things to do and not enough time ta get ‘em done. The makin’s of frustration.

I was amazed when someone pointed out to me that frustration isn’t the result of not bein’ able to do somethin,’ but the result of knowin’ you can do somethin’, but for some reason it’s just not gettin’ done.

Frustration is havin’ a handle break on your shovel ‘bout half way through diggin’ a hole. Or havin’ the computer crash just seconds before ya save those last few changes. Although throwin’ a broken shovel handle halfway down the block can relieve some of that tension, I wouldn’t recommend the same remedy in the case of the computer.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Weekly Column

Cedar or Vinyl Siding?

Q: I have a 31-year-old raised ranch with cedar shake siding. The south side of the house gets all the sun and the shakes are dilapidated. To re-side with vinyl on all sides, the estimated cost is $10,000. Is it advisable to try and replace the shakes only on the one side? Will this reduce its resale value? -- Punyada B., Middlebury, Conn.

A: That’s a tough call, because siding material is such a personal choice. I know for sure that the damaged and deteriorating siding is affecting the value of your home, and that a quality repair will maintain or raise that value.

My question to you is this: If it will cost $10,000 to sheathe the entire house in vinyl siding, what will it cost to just redo the cedar shakes on the one side? If the cost is less or comparable, then consider going with new cedar shakes.

There are at least an equal number of benefits to cedar. You’re maintaining the house, which will maintain its value. Cedar is a "green" choice of material (it’s renewable and has less environmental impact), and it lasts just as long as vinyl siding when properly cared for. New cedar will look strikingly different in color from the older shakes on your home, but there are methods to "weather" it so it will blend a bit better. Plus, there are homebuyers who will specifically want all-cedar siding, rather than a mix of siding materials. Learn more about cedar siding by visiting http://www.cedarbureau.org.

If you decide to use vinyl siding on that one side, make sure the contractor knows his material and knows how to prevent deterioration at the corners where the vinyl meets the cedar siding on the rest of the house. Certain materials will speed up deterioration of the wood shakes, and colors leaching from the shakes could stain the edges of the siding. A good buffer material will be needed between the two.

If you redo the entire house in vinyl, then read up on the care and maintenance of vinyl siding. While it does needs less maintenance than wood siding or shakes, vinyl siding is not repair- or maintenance-free. It must be protected from extreme heat (such as barbecue grills) and corrosive chemicals, and should still be cleaned on a regular basis.