Today's Feature

Recommend Board Composition Change.

Earlier this week the City Council Public Services Committee approved a motion to recommend to Council a change in the composition of the McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital Board of Directors. McCune-Brooks CEO Bob Copeland was present at the meeting to speak to committee members.

McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital is owned by the City of Carthage. City ordinance currently requires that 3/5 of the hospital’s board of trustees be comprised of City residents. Copeland told the committee that recent state legislature, on which the City’s ordinance is based, had been amended changing Missouri’s residency requirements for City-owned hospitals. The new legislature broadens the field of residency to the entirety of the state, instead of limiting it to the City, according to Copeland.

Copeland told the committee that he felt this was too broad, but did request a change in the percentage of Carthage residents serving on the board.

Copeland’s request for an ordinance amendment was that all of the board members must reside in Jasper County, and of those, 1/3 must reside in the City limits of Carthage.

"It would ensure a fair representation of patients," said Copeland.

Copeland added that Sedalia, one of the other 4 cities in Missouri with a City-owned hospital, has amended its ordinances to reflect the state changes.

Committee Chair Bill Welch noted that the Mayor is responsible for the appointment of board members for the hospital, and would still have control over the composition of the board with the new ordinance, adding that the entirety of the board could be Carthage residents.

Committee members agreed that the change would allow for a larger pool of candidates for the board.

A motion was unanimously approved to recommend to Council an amendment to the ordinance pertaining to the composition of the hospital board.

Mornin'
Halloween is over, the elections are over, now it’s time to turn our attention toward that annual celebration of excessive gluttony, Turkey Day.

Oh sure, there are those who would tell you the holiday is more about gatherin’ of family and takin’ comfort in the efforts and rewards of the harvest. But then, by the last reckonin’ I heard, less that 2% of us actually take part in a real harvest any more.

‘Course gettin’ the family to actually sit down at the table and share a meal prob’ly is somethin’ out of the ordinary these days. Typically at our family Turkey Day, the table is so full a food no one can sit at the table anyway.

I guess when it comes down to it, Thanksgivin’ is a family day. The food is just serendipity.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

I got my driver’s license about five months ago. I drive a 2006 Toyota Highlander, and each day I get on the highway and drive 45 minutes to get to school. When I get onto the highway, I like to floor it and accelerate as quickly as the V-6 can take me. I just love hearing the roar of the engine. Then, as soon as I get to 65 mph, I quickly let off the pedal and cruise at the speed limit. Is it bad for me to "floor it" a lot, and will that hurt the engine? Or is it fine? I would hate to mess up the new car my parents just got me. Thanks! - Neil

TOM: Neil, we want to thank you.

RAY: Yes. This is one of the worst things you can do to your car. We count on behavior just like this to provide a steady income for us at the garage.

TOM: Right. And one of my kids is still in college, so keep it up, Neil.

RAY: The reason it’s bad is that when you floor the gas pedal, you start a chain reaction that slams one expensive component into the next. The pistons slam the connecting rods. The connecting rods slam against the crankshaft. The crankshaft slams the transmission. The transmission slams the axles, and on down the line.

TOM: When those parts are whacked around like that by the torque you create, they wear out and break faster. That’s how we mechanics make our boat payments every month.

RAY: So, if you want your car to last as long as possible, accelerate gently. IT’s fine to go 65 mph - that’s no problem. But get there smoothly. The same is true for driving around town.

TOM: And if you take our advice, Neil, you’ll find that, as a bonus, your gas mileage will improve measurably - enough so that you can afford to buy one of those NASCAR CDs of the sounds of roaring engines you like so much.