High Cost of Health.

The City Council Finance/Personnel Committee was informed of preliminary figures for City health insurance costs for the upcoming year during yesterday afternoon's regular meeting.

The City is self insured up to an amount of $35,000 of claims per year per employee. Any claims over that amount are paid by a specific reinsurance company.

The rate for an employee for that reinsurance last year was $25.91 per month. Estimates are that the rate for next year will raise to as much as $52.07.

The City funds it’s portion of the plan for employees. The amount set aside for claims last year was $129.57 per month per employee. That amount is estimated to need to increase to about $138 per month per employee for next year.

Including self insurance, reinsurance, life insurance and miscellaneous administration fees, the City currently funds a total of $187.53 per employee per month for health insurance. Employees wishing to include their family on the plan pay $60 per month with a total City funding of $370.73. That could raise to as much as $440 next year.

I reached to reset the trip meter on the dash of the car the other day, felt a tinge of guilt and fear. I realized that I had my arm stuck through the steering wheel.

Now with the new fangled power steerin’ on vehicles of today, there is little risk. But when I was learnin’ to maneuver a tractor ‘cross a plowed field, the one thing that was stressed to me by an obviously experienced farmer was ta never reach through the wheel. Hit a furrow just right and the steering wheel on that old John Deere spins like a pinwheel.

I’m wonderin’ how many things we do without really bein’ aware of ‘xactly why we do ‘em. Just cause we were taught. I don’t suppose there’s much to fear ‘bout gettin’ a broken arm while drivin’ down the interstate, but I ain’t gonna chance it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

Recycle an old pair of jeans and make a trendy shoulder strap ‘pocket purse’ your preteen daughter can use this spring. If she is having a sleepover party, pull the supplies together and let the girls loose to create and design their own purse to keep. It’s a "make and take" project everyone will remember.

To get started, cut out the back pocket from a pair of old jeans (the heavier the jean fabric the better), cutting along the outside of the pocket. Cut very close to the pocket’s top stitching without cutting the pocket. Don’t limit yourself to blue jeans. For our purses, we used pockets from pairs of black and yellow jeans we picked up for under a dollar at a garage sale.

For a shoulder strap, determine the length of cording or ribbon that suits the child’s height and handstitch the ends to the top side edges of the pocket opening. Old woven sashes or cotton belts (with buckles cut off) also work well.

Scout around the house for interesting items to decorate the pocket purse. Attach the items with fabric glue or assist children with a glue gun. Here are some ideas for different styles:

JAZZY: Glue a fringe trim to the side and bottom edges. Glue big rhinestones to the front of the purse for an eyecatching accent.

ROMANTIC: Glue a square of lace to the front. Add items from old costume jewelry such as pearls, beads, silk flowers and a tiny brooch.

ARTSY: Use fabric paints to paint a picture or abstract design. Embellish with glued-on buttons, coins or charms.