Scott City's mayor governs through injuries

When Randy Kiplinger stood before the City Council in Scott City Monday night to complain about a drainage ditch, Mayor Tim Porch broke into a grin. Kiplinger and Porch were both wearing neck braces.

"A broken neck is nothing to laugh at," the mayor said apologetically.

Actually, Kiplinger has herniated discs. Porch broke two vertebrae in his neck May 18 when he fell off the balcony at his family's hunting cabin near Clear Lake.

The mayor and a friend were there to do some work on the cabin. Porch got out of bed at 2 a.m. to go to the bathroom, a task he has performed often in the past. This time he took a header off the balcony.

The mayor also has 12 staples in his head, a broken right hand, a broken foot and a broken toe on the other foot.

Porch carried on the business of the city without a misstep.

Cemetery changes

Councilman Norman Brant announced that new rules are being formulated for city-operated Lightner Cemetery, where a profusion of "trinkets" placed on and around graves has made mowing almost impossible.

Brant said one grave currently has 39 trinkets on it. Among the trinkets to be found on graves in the cemetery are car trophies, golf balls, rocks, yard ornaments, bird feeders and wind chimes.

The new rules will allow only flowers on top of the tombstone or within 1 foot of the front of the tombstone. Only one shepherd's hook per grave will be allowed. Trinkets and plants will be banned.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182