Worried that a city commission blank check might dampen private fund-raising efforts, the commission agreed to match each dollar contributed toward a new city hall kinetic sculpture, “Flame,” until the fund drive reached its $35,000 goal. Lin Emery of New Orleans was the artist and the city commission “sweetened the pot” by adding $3,000 in seed money for the work.

County commissioners moved ahead with plans to establish a new ambulance station at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.