Today's Feature

Council Meets Tomorrow.

City Council will meet tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Items on the agenda will include the second reading of an ordinance establishing a permit process and fee for new driveway construction. The item is related to a Council bill in its first reading which would prohibit parking in front yards in the City.

No Fee For Permanent Disabled Placards.

News release.

Responding to a ruling by the U.S.. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, the Missouri Department of Revenue announced today that the department’s motor vehicle license offices will no longer charge a fee for permanent disabled placards.

The court of appeals ruled Tuesday that federal law prohibits charging for permanent windshield placards, but stated the fee for temporary placards ($2) may remain in place. The ruling referred only to future fees and does not dictate the refund of any past placard fee collections. The department has elected not to seek review of this decision from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Since the court did not call for an end to temporary disabled placard fees, state law requires the department to continue charging for temporary placards as the department has no authority to cease collecting that fee.

At the end of fiscal year 2005, there were 365,407 active permanent disabled placards.

Customers with questions may contact the department at (573) 751-4509. Call centers and central offices are offering expanded hours. Customer service staff is available to help from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Information about taxes, motor vehicle titling and registration, and driver licensing is also available online at www.dor.mo.gov

Stench Report:
Friday,
1/20/06

No Stench Detected

I’m sure there are things that will aggravate the cold/flu symptoms, but I’m guessin’ the most critical component of a cure is time.

The advice I’ve followed for years is ta soak in a hot tub a water and get the body temperature up and keep it up by stackin’ as many clothes or blankets on as you can muster. The theory as I understand it is that the virus can’t tolerate the high temp and it kills ‘em off. ‘Course only time will tell.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Removing Stain From Wood Table

Q: I have red dye from a candle on my oak end table. I tried the suggestions of toothpaste and a cloth and hot iron, but neither one worked. Is there any way to get rid of the red dye? This is dye and not wax. Thank you! -- Gen

A: Believe it or not, rubbing an eraser (the kind on the back of a pencil) along the grain of the wood may remove the dye. However, if the stain has set well, you may have to go with more drastic steps.

A finished/varnished table may need to be stripped and refinished. On an unfinished table, you could try bleaching the stain. Chlorine bleach is effective on dyes. You can try household-strength bleach or make a stronger solution from a swimming-pool bleach called calcium hypochlorite, which is sold dry at pool-supply stores. Mix it with a small amount of water. The bleaching process may take a couple of applications or more. Dab the bleach directly onto the stain and let it sit for a few minutes, then blot it up and check how much the stain has lightened.

The stain may bleach completely away, but not always. So, if a full day’s bleaching only lightens the stain a bit, go ahead and clean the area with a damp cloth, let it dry thoroughly, and sand the surface with fine-grit sandpaper, which may take a bit more of the stain out.