High Hall Bids.

The City Council Public Services Committee wants more information before making a recommendation on the bids received for renovation of Memorial Hall.

Dalton-Killinger of Joplin submitted the low bid of $1,038,000 according to City Administrator Tom Short. The project had been estimated to cost $809,000. Architects fees and other contingencies would push both totals higher resulting in a final cost of approximately 30% higher than estimated.

Other bids submitted were from R.E. Smith of Joplin, Crossland of Columbus, Kansas, and G&G of Carthage. G&G submitted the high bid of $1,203,000.

The project gained support of the Council last year when the Missouri Veterans Commission approved a grant for $370,000 toward improvements for the Hall. The City budgeted approximately $400,000 and has applied for additional funding from the Steadley Trust and the Boylan Foundation.

Short says that options include rebidding the project or scaling back on the scope of the project to meet funding levels. There is some Council opposition to the project.

When the initial idea for renovatin’ Memorial Hall was presented to the Council the total cost to the City was represented to be around $200,000. The pitch was that the Veterans Commission would put in $400,000, Steadley Trust and the Boylan Foundation would be asked to put in $100,000 each for a total cost of $800,000.

Most on the Council were convinced $200,000 was an affordable amount that wouldn’t strain the City budget.

As time progressed, the anticipated funds comin’ from Steadley and Boylan was looked upon as "extra" fundin’ for expansion of the project by some Council members. Since the City had to commit the $400,000 to get the Veterans grant, they wanted to count it as spent no matter what other funds came in. Even if all the grants come in, the City now is lookin’ at close to half million.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

When the weather forecast calls for rain, surprise your kids with a new idea they’ll enjoy both indoors and out. They can express themselves creatively with a little help from Mother Nature when they make rain paintings.

First, gather all your supplies. Besides rain gear, you’ll need a sheet of drawing paper, nontoxic washable markers (colored sidewalk chalk also works) and a cookie sheet or tray.

Place the paper on the cookie sheet or tray and draw a picture. Your child may be inspired to draw and color geometric shapes and designs or, perhaps, the rainy day scene you see out your window.

When complete, check the weather outside and wait until there is a light drizzle or misty rain. Put on your raincoat and set the artwork outside on a picnic table or your porch for a few minutes. The colors your child has drawn will "bleed" to create a pretty painting. Bring the tray inside and set the picture on newspaper to dry.

If your child loves to paint with a brush, here’s another idea to try when the rain is pouring down. First, put a sheet of drawing paper on a tray and set it outside until the paper is very wet. Set the paintbrush in the rain too.

Bring the tray and brush inside and set them on a newspaper-covered table. Pour small amounts of nontoxic watercolor paint (from tubes) or liquid tempera paint onto plastic plates.

Let your child experiment with the colors as he/she applies the paint from the wet brush to the wet paper. Dip the brush in a cup of water when necessary. When the picture is complete, remove the drawing from the tray to dry.

Note: Do not go outside to do these activities if there is lightning.

If you live in a dry climate, use a misting bottle to wet the paper.

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