Today's Feature

MSSU Chairman of the Board Predicts "No Deal."

Missouri Southern State University President of the Board of Governors Dwight Douglass told the Mornin’ Mail yesterday that he feels it is likely that the University will not be occupying the former McCune-Brooks Hospital building.

"It’s unfortunate for all of us, said Douglass.

He said that the university was in a "really, really tight situation financially" and did not have the money to make approximately $400,000 in repairs that were recommended by an engineering study.

Although the Board has not taken any formal action yet, Douglass said it "will likely not be able to pursue this project."

The Board is scheduled to meet on March 14 and Douglass will request that the discussion concerning the McCune-Brooks building be held during the public open session.

Douglass said that if the Highway Patrol Crime Lab still wants to relocate to Carthage, that would be between those parties. Mayor Woestman has indicated an interest in that proposal.

Mornin’

Of course the Cool Hand Luke line has ta come to mind. For those too young ta know, or too old to remember, "What we have here is a failure to communicate."

What the City of Carthage understood as a commitment, the MSSU Board understood as an agreement to consider a commitment. In fact, there was never a legally binding agreement put to paper. Just a hand shake of sorts with an understandin’ that this deal should work for ever’one concerned.

‘Course the initial concern of the City is maintainin’ the building. Mayor Woestman is thinkin’ it woulda been nice to have some kind of indication from MSSU so some plans could be put in place.

I’m thinkin’ a crime lab and that new Justice Center would be a good fit.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Natural Nutrition
By Mari An Willis

School’s been back in session for a couple months or so now and we are beginning to see an upsurge of the contagious conditions often associated with daily gatherings of large groups of people who share the same furniture, bathrooms, air and drinking facilities. We cannot be too careful these days. Certainly an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Wash hands frequently and keep them out of your mouth. If biting nails keeps them in your mouth, add some extra B-vitamins to your diet and some hot stuff under the nails for a few days. Don’t lay your head on the desk for a quick nap!!! Realistically, students are not the biggest reader of this column so you, as parents or grandparents must pass the word. I know that as a child we were reminded frequently to wash hands, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. I notice that many adults and children alike do not practice that easy prevention technique. Bathroom. .. well, it is important to put paper around the seat if you happen to be a sitter! Much more important than one may think. Wouldn’t it be nice id ALL bathrooms had to have those handy "seat covers"? Of course, wash hands!!!

This all sounds so simple, but our country as a whole has forgotten to teach the basics of health. We are coming around because so many are getting sick. Hepatitis is more prevalent than we would like as is tuberculosis. These are certainly much easier to prevent than to cure.

artCentral
Art Notes from Hyde House
By Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

Last evening a few of us enjoyed a very fine presentation by retired art curator Michael Bell of Joplin as he brought a wonderful and informative program/workshop to artCentral entitled "CREATING A PORTFOLIO". For about two hours, Mike gave us the basic principles of both the physical artist’s portfolio and the creation and content of the same, as well as the more modern and currently used "technological portfolio" which is usage of the web to create a personal website as well as the creation of digital presentations on CD Rom. It was all extremely basic knowledge to those who might be involved in the current art "scene", students from major art schools, as my daughters are, are taught this stuff in the curriculum. For those of us from a different generation, it was all new. This is the first in a series of four workshops Michael will conduct this year, and my only disappointment was that more were not here to take advantage of the opportunity! I will send out cards again next time, but will try to follow up with reminder emails or calls, as I know that far more in our community would benefit from this information. I have noted this before, that our area of the country has a far larger number than normal of fine artists working. Our membership of 195 has 100 persons who note on their cards returned to me that they are involved in one or more medias. Some are recreational artists, it is true, but many are involved in the sales and show arena, and would benefit from an expert’s knowledge in the various areas that we find ourselves dealing with. I hope that if you are reading this today you will make a mental note to keep the date of June 3rd in mind or on your calendar for the second of our presentations entitled "BUILDING A CAREER" in the area of the arts. Non members are welcome as well!