LEBANON - Members of the Oregon Army National Guard's A Troop, 1-82nd Cavalry will see yellow ribbons lining Main Street in Lebanon before they depart for Iraq next month.

Dianne Barricklow with the Guard's Family Readiness Group received permission from the Lebanon City Council this week to put up the ribbons sometime before the April 1 departure date.

Barricklow said city employee Gary Black, who serves with a different Guard unit, and Nancy's Florist of Lebanon said they would help with the project.

The unit has members from around Oregon but most are from Albany, Lebanon and Sweet Home.

Councilors said they would be glad to be part of the yellow ribbon project, which Barricklow said was the second of its kind for the group.

"I know when I deployed the first time, when I came back, it was phenomenal to see the support," said Councilor Tim Fox, a staff sergeant with the National Guard.

Barricklow agreed: "Lebanon is one of the most supportive little towns ever."

In other business Wednesday, the council:

• Discussed the possibility of cutting meetings back from two per month to one, unless pressing city business necessitates a second meeting. The idea is to save money by cutting back on staff time, City Manager John Hitt said.

Councilors did not take a formal vote but agreed to hold just one meeting, on the second Wednesday of the month, for the next few months on a trial basis. The second meeting in March already has been canceled because schools will be observing spring break.

• Heard an update from the Lebanon Public Library on a suggestion to dedicate space within the new library, once finished, to the Western University of Health Sciences medical college to be constructed at the north end of town.

Hitt said city and library officials talked about having a section of books and materials specifically for the college's use, in exchange for a stipend of possibly $10,000.

No formal decisions have been made, Hitt said. A memorandum of understanding will come before the council at a later date.

Say goodbye

The public is invited to say goodbye to the Oregon Army National Guard's A Troop, 1-82nd Cavalry at an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the armory, 350 Maple St. People are invited to come shake the soldiers' hands and wish them luck as they depart for Iraq, said Dianne Barricklow of the Family Readiness Group.