Heard on the Street

CRUISIN' WITH THE OLDIES?

Have you noticed the abundance of PT Cruisers in the city? The retro, jalopy look of the new line from Daimler-Chrysler appears to intrigue baby boomers who longingly hearken back to the days when a slow drive through Steak n Shake or Taylor's was a great adventure. Online, Web sites related to the PT abound, offering everything from links to screen savers to PTCruiserCam footage. The little cars sell like hotcakes. "They're all presold," said Shane Nelson, at Heritage Chrysler Jeep in Ozark. "The minute they get here, they've already got an owner with a deposit on them." His company has already sold between 20 and 30, Nelson said.

AND SPEAKING OF CARS

Hats off to John Youngblood, whose dealership has donated a new Kia Rio to be given to a lucky teen for good school attendance. Noting the proclivity of teenagers for car wrecks sometimes even in their own driveways, as in the case of one young woman we know perhaps the district could also solicit a car from Volvo with its side airbags and roll bar, or maybe a vehicle from the folks who make those big ol' Humvees ...

QUICKIES

Two times in a row City Council has sped through its agenda, our reporters have noted. This past week's meeting was just about 30 minutes long, and the previous meeting took about 50 minutes. Is city government becoming more efficient ... or is it just a good night for TV?

IT'S ONLY FEBRUARY

While the cardinals sing their little hearts out portending an early spring, don't let the redbirds lift your hopes too much. The vernal equinox, when spring officially arrives, is more than five weeks away, March 20. Many an Ozarker recalls March weather that brought tons of snow and frigid temperatures. We hope for early spring as we open that new utility bill for January. Meanwhile, keep the bird feeder full.

QUEEN OF THE WEST

Dale Evans, role model for millions of young women in the '50s and '60s, has ridden off into the sunset. Not only was she the wife of singing cowboy Roy, she was mother to many children her own, adopted and foster. Evans, who sang with her husband in multiple Westerns of yore, wrote their television show's theme song, "Happy Trails," as well as the gospel standard, "The Bible Tells Me So," known better to little kids as "Jesus Loves Me." A clear picture comes to mind of Dale on her horse, Buttermilk, riding side-by-side with Roy on his trusty steed, Trigger. Vaya con Dios, y'all.

HISTORIC SPRINGFIELD

Take a look at the new sign on the south side of the Heer's building downtown and you can get an idea of what it looks like under its facade. Nice, huh? That sort of thing is important to those who make up Historic Springfield Inc., a public benefit corporation. The corporation has announced Community Impact: Historic Springfield's Five Best Preservation Values, a ranked list of specific historic resources. They are, in order, the Midtown Historic Neighborhood; the Mansfield Opera House; the 700 block of East Walnut Street; 331 South Campbell; and the Christian Science Church. The last structure, owned by the city, is targeted for demolition. Those who remember the early Sunday morning demise of the old Frisco Depot downtown might appreciate the efforts of preservation groups like Historic Springfield. The old depot was demolished even as plans to develop it as a shopping mall were being considered.