Today's Feature

Annexation Election Today.

The question of whether or not Southwind Acres becomes a part of the City of Carthage will be answered today at the polling booth. The issue will need to win two-thirds of the votes cast to be approved.

The area, just south of Wal-Mart, (see map inside) is comprised of a few dozen homes that residents say should stay outside of City limits. They have rejected the invitation of the City to become a legal part of Carthage and voted last November a resounding no in that attempt to resolve the issue.

The City has held several open forums on the subject and have attempted to convince those living in the area that being a legal part of the City would be to their benefit. The main benefit presented was hooking up to the City water and waste water system. The acreage currently uses individual wells and septic tanks. The cost of the improvements would be borne by the residents.

Polling places are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Mornin'

One a the latest topics to be revisited is the idea of lettin’ folks operate a business outa their home. Havin’ been one a those who originally worked from the kitchen table myself, I know the advantage of not openin’ a storefront. The problem that usually comes up when this discussion is initiated is where do ya draw the line?

A phone call to a Council member requestin’ information on openin’ a taxidermy outfit in the family garage rekindled the age old question of business vs. residential zonin’.

If cuttin’ up dead animals is a possibility, why not pig farmin’? (By the way, havin’ some farm animals are still legal in Carthage, as long as neighbors don’t raise a stink).

It’s the classic debate over individual vs. state rights. Always a worthy topic.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin.’

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: A commercial I saw on TV had a grandparent and grandchild talking about peripheral artery disease. It got me wondering if I have it. I got the idea that many older people do. I am 78. What are its signs? -- K.M.

ANSWER: Peripheral artery disease, PAD, also called peripheral vascular disease is a common condition in older people, but not every senior citizen has it. Close to 15% of those over 70 do.

Here "peripheral" refers to the legs. "Artery disease" is artery clogging, the same process that goes on in heart arteries and culminates in a heart attack. High blood cholesterol, blood fats, blood protein and platelets aggregate on an artery wall, eventually blocking circulation to the tissues fed by that artery.

Blood doesn’t reach leg muscles in a sufficient amount to support those muscles when they’re active. The common sign of PAD is calf pain while walking. The pain leaves when the person stops walking. The pain indicates leg muscles aren’t getting enough blood.

A simple office test to detect PAD is to compare blood pressure taken at the ankles with blood pressure taken in the arms. The two readings should be close. With PAD, the ankle blood pressure is lower than arm pressure due to the obstruction to blood flow.

If the doctor does confirm a diagnosis of PAD, prescription medicines help blood get around artery blockages.