Today's Feature

Council Meets Tonight.

Carthage City Council will meet for the final time in 2008 this evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Items on the agenda include a proclamation honoring Carthage Police Department Detective LaVerne Williams, who is retiring on December 31, 2008.

Council is also scheduled to hear the second readings of two ordinances entering into agreement with Blevins Asphalt for milling and overlay projects at Oak Street and Baker Blvd., and Fairview and Baker Blvd. A resolution will also be heard concerning annexation of property at 15740 W. Fir Road as requested by Forest Park Baptist Church.

Youth Basketball and Cheerleading.

Sign-ups for the Fair Acres Family YMCA’s Youth Basketball & Cheerleading programs are taking place now at the Y, located at 2600 Grand Avenue in Carthage.

Basketball and Cheerleading are open to all boys and girls ages 4 years through 6th grade. Youth are organized by age or grade groups.

Cost to register for YMCA Youth Basketball or Cheerleading is $20 for Y-Members and $35 for Non-Members.

Registration is open through January 7th. Practices start the week of January 19 and games will run January 31 through March 7, 2009. Games take place on Saturdays with practice during the week.

Jonathan Roberts, Program Director of the YMCA, said, "Volunteers are critical to our youth sports program. We encourage parents to get involved as coaches, assistant coaches, timekeepers, scorekeepers, officials and in other capacities that render support to their children. Please let us know of your willingness to help at the time you register your child."

More information about the YMCA Youth Basketball program may be obtained by contacting Jonathan Roberts at the Fair Acres Family YMCA at 417-358-2070 or by visiting the Y’s Website at www.fairacresymca.org.

Mornin'
The constant barrage of TV ads is a reminder of how close we’re gettin’ to Christmas. I’d reckon even the most devout Scrooge would hafta be hummin’ a little "Jingle Bells."

As little as I like bein’ hammered with all the ads, I appreciate those that come straight at ya. "We’re the best, we’re the cheapest, we’re convenient," that sort a thing. I figure those ads are at least providin’ some sort of "shopper" service.

The ones I don’t care for as much are the ones that play on whatever sentiments you may have for the season. The ones that suggest you’ll feel young again by shoppin’ at their store, or the ones that depict memories of the "best gifts ever." I suppose with the political season over, those ad campaign people need work just like the rest of us.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you please tell me what causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease? What can be done to prevent kids from getting it? -- A worried grandmother of four grandchildren

ANSWER: Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a viral illness most often occurring in children younger than 10. The virus’s name is coxsackie virus, from the name of the New York city where it was first found. It causes tiny blisters on the tongue, in the throat and on the palate, gums and lips. The blisters break to form shallow sores. The hands, fingers, feet and groin can also break out. The illness peaks in summer or early fall. It’s usually a mild illness that’s over in one week. There is no prevention for it, and there is no medicine for it.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Sometimes I jerk awake just before falling asleep. Why? Can anything be done about it? -- J.A.

ANSWER: That happens to lots of people, and sometimes it happens when a person is just wakening. There’s a temporary disconnect between the brain and muscles at those times, and it results in a short jerk. It’s not a sign of any illness.

I don’t know of any treatment for it. Most people fall asleep shortly after it happens.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is eating cereal with added vitamins and minerals as good as taking a vitamin pill each day? -- M.L.

ANSWER: Sure it is. A well-balanced diet provides all the needed vitamins and minerals. The catch lies in eating such a diet. Our ancestors survived pretty well without taking vitamin pills.