Today's News

The Springfield City Council discussed several improvement projects at Idle Hour Park at its Tuesday night meeting. Park director Bernard Smalley said several of the light poles on the upper ball fields need to be rewired, while the lower softball field needs to be raised to alleviate a drainage problem. Public works director Glenn Mattingly said expansion of the concession stand needs to be looked at as well.

Smalley said the city will host the District 5 Little League softball tournament in 2011, and these changes need to be made.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) announced that it has certified a petition for asparagus and catfish under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program. Beginning June 25, 2010, U.S. asparagus and catfish producers nationwide will have 90 days to apply for training and benefits.

There are a few problems that have been showing up in gardens lately, specifically cucurbits.  This includes cucumber, squash, and melons.  Bacterial wilt is showing up sporadically, and I am sure it’s going to hit many of you who have cucurbits in the next few weeks.  Bacterial wilt causes plants to wilt slowly over a few days; they freshen up at night and then wilt during the day, and eventually wilt and die.  The problem is a bacteria that enters the plant and blocks the flow of water and nutrients.

These days, the only smoke you’ll find in Cecconi’s Restaurant in Springfield is coming off the grill. That’s because co-owner Vhonda Barlow decided to make the business smoke-free on July 6. Barlow said the move has generated some talk, but for the most part, the feedback has been positive.