Heard on the Street

FLOOD PLAIN. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reviewing flood plain maps for Springfield, a regular occurrence, and city staff has made its comments on the preliminary changes suggested by the governmental agency. After a final version is issued, public notification of the changes will be made followed by an opportunity to appeal the flood plain boundaries. Todd Wagner, a professional engineer in the Public Works Department, said a consultant for FEMA had reworked the runoff calculations for the entire city. In the preliminary maps "any property in the downtown area around Jordan Creek all the way across to Wilson Creek is probably the area of greatest impact" of the proposed new flood plain," Wagner said. "Generally, they've all gone up." Wagner said the city submitted its comments on the changes to FEMA. He said those comments reflected instances where city engineers thought the consultant for FEMA had made errors. "There are a lot of details and technical stuff" that goes into the calculations. An expanded flood plain would have consequences for property owners in the affected areas. Buildings or homes currently in flood plains could see insurance rates go up. Property included in the new areas could be required to get flood insurance now when purchase of the property is financed or it's refinanced. Though FEMA has not said when it will issue its final proposal for flood plain boundaries, Wagner said he expected revisions to take place through the rest of this year, with a final version set in 2000.

OVER AND OUT. Free Press of the Ozarks has published its last number with Volume 2, Issue 29. In the 2-year-old tabloid's March 4 issue, Editor Patrick Bills announced the publication's end. "It's been a fun ride, and we really appreciate all your support, but the party's over, and it's time to go home," Bills wrote. The Free Press went weekly in 1998, after initially coming out every other week with its self-professed alternative content. Bills said the end came after getting "tired of working so hard for so little pay. So the towel's in the ring."

WRITE ON. The Writers Hall of Fame has named its 1999 inductees. The authors to be inducted at the Springfield group's fifth annual Reader's Theater and Induction Banquet April 29 are Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, the Poplar Bluff native who created and wrote for the television shows "Designing Women," "Evening Shade" and "Hearts Afire"; Michael Wallis, author of, among others, "Route 66: The Mother Road"; Dr. Billie Davis, author of "I Was a Hobo Kid"; and John Neihardt, author of "Black Elk Speaks" and "The Cycle of the West." Neihardt, who was the poet laureate of Nebraska, is this year's posthumous inductee. The banquet is scheduled for April 29 at Highland Springs Country Club. Tickets are available for $25 by writing the Writers Hall of Fame, PO Box 6022, Springfield 65801.

POET'S CORNER.

Roy Roberts is no longer living

We pumped him full of dope

Mel was not as forgiving

With just a letter from the pope.

SLICE OF NICE. The Beaux Arts Ball is set for 6:30 p.m. March 27 at Highland Springs Country Club. The semi-formal ball is the highlight of the Midwest Regional Forum of the American Institute of Architecture Students. The Beaux Arts Ball raises money for the Drury College chapters of Habitat for Humanity and AIAS with an auction of donated art. The Wayne Johnson Quartet is set to play before and after the auction, and Michysksaseal will play during the dance. Tickets for the event are $10 for AIAS members and $15 for others. Call 873-7288 for tickets and more information.

TWICE AS NICE. The Capitol Steps will perform at 8 p.m. March 26 at the Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, a part of public radio station KSMU's 25th anniversary celebration. The group is a political satire troupe comprised of current and former congressional staff members. The group performs regularly on shows broadcast on public radio. Tickets for the performance are $21. Entrance to a reception following the performance, as well as a ticket to the show, can be had for $50. Either is available by calling the Hammons Hall box office at 835-7678.

THRICE AS NICE. An auction of artistic chairs to be held March 23 will benefit First Night Springfield. The chairs, created by "some of Springfield's most talented artists. We think," according to a release from Urban Districts Alliance, will be auctioned off to the highest bidder beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Discovery Center. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. to give potential bidders a chance to preview the chairs. Tickets are $20. For more information on how to purchase tickets, call UDA at 831-6200.

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