Today's Feature

Election Day Information.

Today is Election Day and the following information contains the items of City and County interest that will be on the ballot. This information is received from the Jasper County Clerk’s office.

A proposed annexation for the City of Carthage is on the ballot, which reads as follows;

"Shall the City Limits of the City of Carthage, Missouri be extended so as to embrace and include all that territory located in the County of Jasper, Missouri, commonly known as the Southwind Acres annexation area and legally described below?" (legal description follows on ballot).

Several candidates for Jasper County offices are also on the ballot. They are listed below;

For Commissioner of the County Commission Eastern District: Jim Honey (unopposed)

For Commissioner of the County Commission Western District: Darieus K. Adams (unopposed)

For Sheriff: W. Archie Dunn (unopposed)

For Assessor: Connie Alumbaugh-Hoover (unopposed)

For Treasurer: Wilma "Jeannie" Wells (unopposed)

For Public Administrator: Angie Casavecchia Ashens (unopposed)

For Coroner: Rob Chappell, J.D. Love

The following is a list of polling places for the various Wards in Carthage, received from the Jasper County Election office.

Ward 1: Carthage Memorial Hall

Ward 2: Carthage Memorial Hall

Ward 3: First Christian Church Light House

Ward 4: Church of the Nazarene

Ward 5: Fairview Christian Church

Public Works Meeting Cancelled.

The City Council Public Works Committee meeting scheduled for this afternoon has been cancelled due to lack of business.

Mornin'

As informative and unbiased as they are, I’ll be glad to see the political tv ads come to a halt.

I don’t know ‘bout the rest of the country, but there seemed to be a larger number of national ads in this area this year. Maybe I’m just becomin’ less tolerant of commercials in general on tv. There are several that just plain irritate me.

I’m sure you have your favorite bad commercials. I try not to watch ‘em. Switch the channel or turn the volume down.

Somehow they seem to know what we watch on tv. Now I’ve never been asked, but the reports of ratings indicate they are able to know. I’m hopin’ they are payin’ attention. I don’t know if turnin’ away from offensive commercials help, but I’m doin’ my part.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

To Your Good Health
By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Pierced Ears Reject Earrings

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: When I turned 24, my pierced ears started to reject (bleeding, itching, swelling) my earrings. I have used 14-karat gold, sterling silver and cheap metal earrings. What is the cause? Is there a solution? -- E.L.

ANSWER: That reaction suggests allergic contact dermatitis, a sensitivity your skin has developed to the metal in your earrings. Nickel is the metal most often responsible. If the gold is 14 karat, it probably contains nickel. Silver jewelry is usually safe, but the clasps and solder on it can have nickel.

If this is allergic contact dermatitis, the best treatment is stopping the use of the offending earrings. To be sure that this is nickel sensitivity, a dermatologist can give you a skin test for it.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My father is in the last stages of Alzheimer’s disease. He is in a nursing home and is bedridden for most of the day. He doesn’t recognize my mother or me. We cannot communicate with him.

My mother is worried that he might be feeling pain and is unable to tell anyone. Is there some way I can assure her that he is not suffering? This is most important to my mother. -- J.F.

ANSWER: If your dad reacts to a pinch, he can feel pain and he can communicate the feeling as we all do -- by wincing. It’s a reflex that most often remains intact even in the late stages of Alzheimer’s.

The staff at the nursing home is instructed to pay careful attention to any signs that a patient is in discomfort. They take particular care to inspect all patients for any signs that the skin might be breaking down to form a bedsore.