Fire Substation Bids Considered.

The Public Works Committee is scheduled to discuss the bids for construction during this afternoon’s regular meeting at 5:15 in City Hall.

Three bids for the construction of the new fire substation in the base of the south water tower will be reviewed and then submitted to the full Council.

Sprouls Construction of Lamar submitted the low bid at $183,000. Branco Enterprises of Neosho was next at $247,000. G&G Construction was the high bidder at $253,572.

The large difference between the low and the high bid drew some concern after the bids were opened. City Director of Engineering Joe Butler advised the Committee at its last meeting that he would check the bids for mathematical errors or discrepancies and report back to the Committee today. Approximately $185,000 was allocated by the Council for the project. Some of that funding has already been spent for engineering and plans.

The bids were for interior construction only and do not include any allowance for parking or driveway construction.

A south substation has been included in the Fire Department’s long range plans for several years. Over the last few years, various sites were considered and initial negotiations for property and cost estimates were initiated.

The idea of placing the facility in the base of the new water tower was investigated by Fire Chief John Cooper and presented to the Public Safety Committee a couple of years ago.

According to Cooper, the addition of the substation will no add to the personnel roster or need additional major equipment. The facility would have space to house three persons, but Cooper says that he expects no more than two personnel would be stationed at the site.

The lower level of the facility would have room for two fire trucks and equipment. The second level would include the bunk room, locker room and open area.

The planned extension of George Phelps Blvd. will serve as the main service road for the fire trucks. City officials hope that the driveway/parking area can be completed as part of the street construction to keep that cost down.

The Committee agenda also includes a scheduled update on the City’s Housing Rehabilitation program and reports from staff.

Workshop For Retailers.

news release

The Missouri Main Street Program is pleased to provide "Creating World Class Retailers," a workshop conducted by Jon Shallert on Monday, October 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The session will be held at Ozark Mountain Bank, 400 S. Commercial, Branson, and is available to Downtown merchants, Main Street Carthage volunteers, staff and board members.

Shallert brings a wealth of retail experience from his work in numerous downtowns throughout the country. Prior to starting his retail-consulting firm, Shallert and Associates, Sorrento, Florida, Shallert spent ten years with Hallmark Cards, where he was instrumental in Hallmark's national "reinvention" of the traditional card and gift shop.

This ultimately created a nationwide network of "destination" gift shops. He was also responsible for sales development, retail site selection, lease analysis and sales forecasting.

He advised owners on methods to improve their total store profitability and assisted them with all aspects of their store remodeling, relocations and expansions. His presentations earlier this year at the Main Street National Town Meeting in San Diego were standing room only.

To make your reservations call 358-4974.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

Football weather!

It’s amazin’ how the feel of the atmosphere can make your mind stop in a certain place in time. I suppose it’s similar to the reaction most have ta hearin’ an old tune on the radio. For a few seconds, ya actually feel like you are in another place.

I’d guess that some react with a negative thought when they hear particular music or remember a day when the weather was similar. Guess I just don’t pay much attention to those experiences.

Football was a positive experience for me even though I was rewarded with a broken collar bone and a smashed finger. Those things just don’t come to the forefront for some reason. ‘Course those blows to the head may have some bearing on my memory.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin.’

by

McCune Brooks Hospital

Natural Nutrition

FOOD FACTS: My brother had a kindergarten teacher from the Deep South who taught the class a song called "Picking Up Pawpaws and Putting Them In My Pocket." All these years later, I not only know what pawpaws are, but if I were under a pawpaw tree shedding pawpaws (the largest fruit native to the U.S.A.) I’d pick them up and pocket them, too.

Pawpaws have all sorts of potential besides being a tasty food product. Apparently, the bark and twigs of the pawpaw tree and the seeds of the fruit contain asimicin, which could produce an effective botanical pesticide.

When tomatoes were first brought from the New World to Spain and Italy, they were considered as garden ornaments. Although there were reports the Central American Indians ate tomatoes, Europeans believed them to be poisonous. They were also thought to be the original Golden Apples that led to the abduction of Helen of Troy and the long war that followed. (Their name in Italian, pomidoro, means apple of gold.)

We now know they’re not just a tasty (and safe) food, but the lycopene in tomatoes could help reduce the risk of cancers of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, and pancreas, as well as cervical and prostate cancers. Lycopene may also be helpful with some of the problems associated with aging.