Today's Feature

Hensley To Run for Assessor.

Brent Hensley on Thursday morning announced that his intention to run for Jasper County Assessor in the upcoming Primary election. Hensley said: "I look forward, over the next few months of this campaign, to differentiate myself from the other fine folks that seek to serve, to further define my goals and outline my plans for making the office of Jasper County Assessor a progressive, people oriented yet technically sophisticated office that observes the discipline of state regulations and yet recognizes the human element in every interaction."

Hensley added, "For the first half of my professional career I’ve worked hard and have been successful in a large corporate environment, I’m now ready to devote my professional life to serving citizens of Jasper County on a personal, family level."

Seven County positions will be up for election in the Primary election, which is to be held on August 5, 2008. Those positions include Eastern District Commissioner, Western District Commissioner, Sheriff, Assessor, Treasurer, Public Administrator and Coroner. Filing for candidacy officially opens on February 26th and ends on March 25th.

Street Department Keeps Busy.

The freezing rain that fell on Thursday morning once again kept the Carthage Street Department occupied with cleaning streets and picking up fallen limbs. Street Commissioner Tom Shelley recently told the Mornin’ Mail his concerns about the weather trends so far this year, saying it seems like precipitation is a weekly occurrence

Shelley commented about Thursday’s freezing rain.

"It could have been worse," said Shelley. "We’re lucky the temperature was what it was. If it comes again tonight, it could be a real mess."

This year the Street department has devoted many hours of ice storm cleanup to fallen limbs, having helped monitor the landfill during J&R Disaster Services’ contracted limb cleanup for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. That cleaning has tapered off, according to Shelley, though he expressed concerns about the remaining trees.

"I don’t think the limbs can take much more."

Shelley said the department is trying new shifts of six-hours-on, six-hours-off for employees, which is so far working better than 12 hour shifts.

Mornin’

I was prob’ly four or five when I decided it was time to become more mobile and I had matured to the age that I could see definite advantages in havin’ my own set of "wheels."

In real life, learnin’ to ride a bicycle is not the scene they portray on the Geritol commercials. The one where the grandpa gently pushes the two wheeler as the youngster gleefully takes off after a couple of near falls. Ask my elbows ‘n knees and they’ll tell ya.

From my first real experience solo I learned the hazards of goin’ round corners too fast. I learned of going up hills too slow. I even questioned the wisdom of the bike maker several times. Not least of which was the classic question of why boys bicycles had to have that dang bar in such a hazardous position when girls bikes didn’t.

This is some fact, but mostly,
Just Jake Talkin’.

Why bother to take vitamins? What is the "right" way to eat? Our fast food society looks at a salad bar and that is our answer to all our nutritional needs. Our local drive thru establishments probably account for 30-50% of meals for an average family. This, my friends, is what we call "filler food." It fills us up, but does not meet our bodies’ needs.

According to recent studies, the average American is deficient in trace minerals, enzymes and vitamins. It has been stated that a B-12 deficiency may account for early dementia, a lack of chromium may result in hypoglycemia or diabetes, mineral shortages aggravate arthritic conditions, preservatives and additives may be a major cause of behavioral problems and on and on. The ideal is to get all we need from our food, but if you know you are among the millions of Americans who are not eating plenty of fresh vegetables, grains, fruits, dairy and meat on a daily basis or if stress depletes your intake; vitamin and/or herbal supplementation may be necessary. Ask your professional practitioner, read some books and listen to your body.

This brief rundown may give you some ideas: Vitamin A - necessary to new cell growth. Helps fight infection. Beta-carotene is a precursor to A, and has received lots of press as an antioxidant. Vitamin K - essential for normal liver functioning and maintaining vitality. Required for blood clotting. Zinc - a necessity in healing process. Aids enzymes in digestion. Important for healthy reproductive organs, especially in men. Vitamin B-12 - powerful blood building factor. Important factor in maintaining a healthy nervous system, including brain cells. Energy.

CRUISIN'
By Greg Zyla

Classic-Car Buff

Q: Greg, I really enjoy your column on classic cars and the hobby of car collecting and restoring. I currently buy Hemmings Motor News and read it every month. I also like eBay very much, and check on that site for classic cars. What other publications do you read, and what online sites would be of interest to me? I am retired, got a computer not long ago, and enjoy your articles and the computer. -- Bob P., Maryland

A: First, congratulations on buying a computer and merging online and print into your daily collector-car hobby activities.

As for my favorites when it comes to cars and the hobby, I subscribe to print publications Hemmings Muscle Car Magazine, Super Chevy, Hot Rod, Car Craft, and Auto Roundup Magazine -- all well worth the price. I, too, browse eBay, Hemmings and Auto Roundup sites regularly, and a new Internet site I highly recommend is called ClassicCars.com, a company launched by Roger Falcione.

Falcione has a history of success with e-commerce and online automotive sites, including GoRacing.com and MotorWeb.com, both highly regarded in auto racing and specialty auto-parts segments, respectively.

Currently, ClassicCars.com offers alternative ways to connect buyers and sellers nationwide, with vehicles ranging from $1,000 to $1 million plus. Based in Phoenix, Ariz., Falcione’s ClassicCars.com has 10,000 vehicle listings and $250 million in online inventory.

So get ready, Bob, and enjoy both print and online, and get ready for quite an experience when you go to www.classiccars.com.

artCentral
By Sally Armstrong

We complete the first show of the year this weekend, and I want to thank Linda Teeter of Joplin for an interesting display of her photography, both in the Main show of the GALACTIC WAR series as well as her more general subject display in the Member Gallery. Before we begin talking about the new show that goes up in March, I want to draw your attention to a series of workshops that will be beginning at the Hyde House, the first on Tuesday, March 4th. This is a lecture- workshop series of four, one each quarterly, directed to artists, art students, and those who deal with artists as a business. Led by Joplin resident Michael Bell, we hope our artist members and non-members alike will join us in the evening at 6:30 for an informal "round the table" time with Michael, gleaning from him words of wisdom from the art world. Michael Bell returned to Joplin recently as a retired museum curator, having spent time in several museums around the country. A third generation Joplin native, Michael is currently the curator of VISUAL ART ACCESS. Founded in 1987, VAA has taught career self-management with more than 1500 artists individually nationwide, and hundreds more in large groups from New York to California. Mr. Bell worked in art museums for more than 30 years, and is a qualified appraiser of contemporary and fine arts and crafts. Michael has been featured at SPIVA FOR THE ARTS in simular formats, and we are excited to offer this series of 4 workshops here at Hyde House this year beginning with the first entitled, CREATING A PORTFOLIO. This is a process that every artist and art student struggles with, and yet needs to be able to do. A Portfolio is the body of work that an artist shows to prospective buyers, clients, museums and galleries as well as prospective employers or colleges. This is the work that enables him or her to be received. Michael will overview the process, offer tips, and invites artists and students to bring with them their current portfolio if they desire, for discussion. Cost for the class is a donation of $25.00 each, or $80.00 for the series of 4, for non-members, a discount of 10% to members. Call me for more information, and mention this to young artists in your homes. It is not too soon for them to have this knowledge and begin building their portfolio with the work that they are doing now. I can be reached at 417 358 4404.

TOP TEN MOVIES

1. Meet the Spartans (PG-13) Diedrich Bader, Kevin Sorbo
2. Rambo (R) Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz
3. 27 Dresses (PG-13) Katherine Heigl, James Marsden
4. Cloverfield (PG-13) Michael Stahl-David, Jessica Lucas
5. Untraceable (R) Diane Lane, Billy Burke
6. Juno (PG-13) Ellen Page, Michael Cera
7. The Bucket List (PG-13) Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman
8. There Will Be Blood (R) Daniel Day-Lewis, Mary Elizabeth Barrett
9. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG) Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger
10. Mad Money (PG-13) Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

Pulled-Chicken Sandwiches

Transform rotisserie chicken into a tangy, barbecue-sauced sandwich filling in just minutes.

PREP:10 minutes COOK:5 minutes MAKES:6 servings

1 small (2 to 2 1/2 pounds) rotisserie chicken
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
6 Kaiser rolls, split
1/2 pound deli coleslaw
Carrot and celery sticks

1. Remove skin and bones from chicken; coarsely shred meat.
2. In 2-quart saucepan, combine chicken, barbecue sauce, water and vinegar. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until hot, stirring frequently.
3. Spoon chicken mixture onto bottom halves of rolls and top with coleslaw and top halves of roll. Serve with carrot and celery sticks.

Each serving: About 405 calories, 11g total fat (3g saturated), 87mg cholesterol, 870 mg sodium, 40g carb., 2g fiber, 34g protein.