The right of the people to seek a redress of grievances is fundamental to our form of representative government.

The wording and extent of a proposed smoking ban in Sedalia again dominated discussions during Thursday night’s meeting of the Sedalia City Council.

I would like to respond to a letter to the editor from Gabriele Leiter-Jones on March 1. This letter criticized the House Republicans for their failure to take action on a minimum wage bill.

Cindy Birdwell has been recently elected as the treasurer for the Central District Business Teachers Association. She is the business instructor at Otterville School along with yearbook, senior class and FBLA adviser.

The Sedalia City Council will hold a work session on Monday to discuss a possible smoking ban ordinance for the city.

I, like everyone else, love to read Sedline (knowing comments are not signed), where the writers have come up with the idea that I will support smoking in certain public places. Yes, I do support leaving the private clubs and the bars that do 70 percent of their gross sales with liquor by the drink sales. Restrictions, with teeth (if I have my way), will be in place to monitor the bars. All others, including bingo at the VFW and Moose Lodge will come under the smoking ordinance. Yes, I would like to see the final draft placed on the ballot for a public vote at the next general election. I don’t think I have enough support with the council to get this done. Ever felt like the new kid on the block? That’d be me.

After its regular meeting Monday the Sedalia City Council celebrated Ken Norton and his 28 years as a Ward 4 councilman.

It was a full house at council chambers Monday during a special Sedalia City Council work session to discuss a possible smoking ban ordinance.

During a meeting earlier this month, the Sedalia City Council asked city staff to look into drafting an ordinance banning smoking in public places. On Monday, citizens are invited to attend a special work session on the ordinance and voice their opinions about what council should consider.

What’s going on with (Missouri House Speaker) Tim Jones and (state Rep.) Denny Hoskins? Why do we bother electing people if their bosses and the money people will just remove them if they don’t vote the way they are told? Shame on you.

The governor is for it. Health care providers are for it. Seniors are for it. Business groups are for it.

Most of you know, I am newly elected to your Sedalia City Council. I’m looking forward to being a working part of it. Exactly how this smoking thing has got on the top burner with every bar owner, bingo parlor and private club manager in Sedalia blows my mind. My phone has been ringing off the hook — one bar owner after another and major concerns with both Moose and VFW management.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2591 in Sedalia elected officers for 2013-2014 on April 15.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4195 met April 5 at the post in Knob Noster. Officers for the new year were elected. They are Michael Fisk, commander; Jack Andrada, senior vice commander; Emmette Smelley, junior vice commander; Jim McCoy, quartermaster; Leo Watson, chaplain; Jeff Willming, judge advocate; Randy Sellers, surgeon; Bill Wheat, officer of the day; Edward “Bruce” Cantey, third-year trustee; David Koehler, second-year trustee; and Gary Swearingen, third-year trustee.

Hannah Anderson and Mikayla Acklin, of the Searchers 4-H Club in Cole Camp, were among the 360 people to attend the largest state 4-H Teen Conference in Missouri history March 29-30 at the University of Missouri.

“The editorial in this morning’s paper (April 13-14, “Play outrage missses CASA’s vital mission”) about “The Vagina Monologues” was excellent. Whether we like it or not, we have to admit the sexual abuse of women and children is real and we have to address it. The word ‘vagina’ is upsetting to us but it does get our attention and I think that was its intention.”

It has been an eventful first week as your editor.

Do you consider yourself civilized? Is the United States a civilized country?

Roger Austin was recently named as Simmons First National Bank’s new Sedalia community president.

Spring is here, but during its meeting on Monday the Sedalia City Council will focus on snow as it votes to approve several winter weather-related ordinances.

Spring is the time of renewal, the annual shaking off of the confines of cold and the doldrums of inactivity. Gray skies and brown lawns — or worse, dirt-dingy snow leftovers — give way to bursts of bright blue and vivid green. The warmth of the sun injects vitality into our lives, filling us with promise of the season ahead. Spring means baseball and firing up the grill and fresh air.

MONDAY

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2591 will host election of officers at 7 p.m. Monday at 121 S. Ohio Ave. All members are encouraged to attend.

(NAPSI)—Those with an interest in events in North Africa may already be aware that the push toward democratic reforms in the region did not begin with what is known in the West as the Arab Spring.