Overheard

On Oct. 15, Branson entertainer Yakov Smirnoff perhaps went where no comedian has gone before. Smirnoff had a 45-minute teleconference with astronaut Clayton Anderson, a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station. Anderson was part of Expedition 15, which launched in April. “I learned how they use their space – no pun intended – efficiently by mounting their stationary bike on the ceiling. I mentioned to Clay that I might want to try that at home tonight; he suggested that I check with my insurance agent first,” Smirnoff said on his Web site, www.yakov.com. “Along with learning about the astronauts’ space adventures, we also discussed how the world has changed so dramatically that now Clay is on a space station with two Russian cosmonauts. They like to eat American freeze-dried barbecue ribs, and he likes to eat Russian hydrated borscht.” On a more serious note, Smirnoff said, “I’m honored to create laughter for these real-life heroes.” He conducted the teleconference at the University of Missouri’s TeleCenter Network facility in Reeds Spring.

Save the Rain

James River Basin Partnership and Meek’s have partnered to encourage the use of rain barrels in the Ozarks. An average home with a roof size of 1,000 square feet will generate approximately 600 gallons of water from one inch of rainfall. Collecting this water with rain barrels helps reduce the demand on public and private water supplies, and reduces pollution, flooding and erosion in local waterways by reducing storm-water runoff. Water can then be used to water indoor and outdoor potted plants, clean gardening tools or wash cars. Barrels can be purchased at 21 Meek’s locations in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas for $100 apiece. JRBP’s Web site, www.jrbp.missouristate.edu, also provides instructions on how to make a rain barrel. For more information, call JRBP at (417) 836-8878.

Slice of Nice

Harter House supermarkets in Springfield raised $37,000 for digital mammography equipment at St. John’s Breast Center. The locally owned company donated 5 percent of all meat sales during two weeks in September at Harter House locations on Eastgate Avenue and Republic Road. Harter House vendors and customers, who purchased breast cancer awareness ribbons in the stores, also contributed. Digital mammography reportedly has advantages over traditional film-screen mammography for detecting some cancers.[[In-content Ad]]