The Mayor’s Corner 03/13/2019

Mayor Diana Thomas

Hopefully everyone remembered to spring forward last weekend. If not, you’re probably missing out on a few things. The attempt on the part of one Idaho legislator to take us off daylight savings time failed so we keep jumping back and forth.
Chief Nyce said this morning daylight savings time is a good time to remind us all to check and change the batteries in our smoke detectors and other home monitoring systems. If you don’t have them in place now is the time to get them installed.
Chief also asked me to remind the public that there is open burning, seven days a week from 8 am to 6 pm unless air quality dictates closure or there are windy conditions. Spring is about here so gardens are calling to dedicated gardeners and getting that debris taken care of is a challenge. The Adopt-a-truck is available and later in the spring, the City will be doing alley clean up.
Please remember the burning guidelines: 1) Open burning is approved for small fires of yard/garden debris and branches, no burning of fresh cut grass because, of course, it won’t burn, just smoke. 2)This time is not intended to burn down unwanted structures or melt plastic off metal, tires, garbage or dead animals. 3) Must be a minimum of 20 feet from structures, water source should be available and the fire must be attended. 4) Please remember to call dispatch to make them aware you are burning and if the burning is offensive to neighbors, you will be asked to extinguish the fire. 5) Approved firepits/fire rings/ and fire chimneys are allowed. Contact the fire department if you have questions about your situation. 208-414-1483 or 208-642-0357.
The City coordinates with Washington County in carrying out a burn ban from June 1-October 20th each year. Watch the local media for information regarding this ban.
Union Pacific Railroad is planning to replace the rail lines on W. 3rd Street and do some clean up in the area this month. West 3rd, south of Commercial Street, will be closed from March 18th through March 21st. Traffic will need to detour around the area for the entire week. Please plan you travel in this area.
I learned a new word thanks to my friend, Lyle. He sent me some more wisdom this month. The word I learned is “paraprosdokians”. The explanation is “playful twist in language that throw you for a loop making and causing you to double-back when the latter part of a sentence surprises you”. Comedians use them a lot. My friend, Perry Kelley, uses them lots too. Examples: “Where there’s a will, I want to be in it. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong (sounds like politics). One of my favorites: “We never really grow up—we just learn how to act in public.” Just some smiles for the week.
The Parks and Streets Departments spent time repairing the fencing around the tennis courts last week and along the canal at the north end of the Memorial Park. They also finished the parking area at the soccer field. Hopefully, this will take some pressure off parking on Park Street during the games.
Don’t forget the WHS production of ‘Cinderella’ this week and, of course, the St. Patrick’s Day dinner at St. Agnes on Sunday. This is always a great meal.