Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Thursday, September 10, 2009 Volume XVIII, Number 58

Did Ya Know?...The New Life United Methodist Church, 1/2 mile north of Leggett corporate office, will hold an all you can eat pancake feet Sunday Sept. 13 from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. $5.

Did Ya Know?...The Carthage VFW will sponsor a dance with the Country Boys Sat. Sept 12 from 8 p.m. until 12.p.m. $4

Did Ya Know?...The New Life United Methodist Church, 1/2 mile north of Leggett corporate office, is offering free coffee each weekday morning. Homemade cinnamon rolls are also available.

today's laugh

One day, two rednecks named Bubba and Earl were driving down the road, drinking a couple of cold beers.

The passenger, Bubba, said "Lookey thar up ahead Earl, it’s a po-leece roadblock! We’re gonna get busted fer drinkin’ these here beers!"

"Don’t worry Bubba," Earl said. "We’ll just pull over and finish drinkin’ these beers, peel off the label and stick it on our foreheads, then throw the bottles under the seat. Just let me do the talkin’, okay?" said Earl. They finished their beers and slapped the labels on their foreheads.

When they reached the roadblock, the sheriff said, "Have you boys been drinking?"

"No sir," said Earl, "we’re on the patch."

1908
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

Friends Prevent a Fight.

Wink Reno and Ol Hart got into trouble with each other about noon today after bumming around together all morning. The trouble is said to have grown out of badinage which one or the other thought was carried to far. The trouble occurred in the billiard parlor in the Harrington block. Only one blow was struck, when friends interfered, and the only marks resulting from the encounter were a few scratches on the combatants faces. They were hustled outside, still in no good humor towards each other, but before hostilities could be renewed Policeman Hurst put both men under arrest, and their case will be heard in police court tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock.

James Reed expects to go to Rolla in a day or two with Prof. Cowles, and will enter a regular course in the state school of mines there.

Today's Feature

United Way Kick Off.

Carthage Area United Way, Inc. will kickoff their 2009/2010 Campaign Thursday, September 10, 2009. Lora Phelps, Volunteer Campaign Chairman will announce the goal and introduce the volunteer cabinet at the noon luncheon kickoff to be held at Broadview Country Club in Carthage. The generous sponsors for this year’s kickoff luncheon are

Hometown Bank, Southwest Missouri Bank & UMB Bank

Report Luncheons are scheduled for noon, October 22nd with a "Tailgate" theme and November 19th with a "Give Thanks" theme at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, Carthage. The Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony is scheduled for noon, February 4, 2010, also to be held at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center.

The Carthage Area United Way supports 16 non-profit agencies that provide services in the local area.

Anyone wishing to Give-Advocate-Volunteer in the campaign is asked to contact the Carthage Area United Way office at (417) 358-2948

artCentral

ART NOTES from Hyde House

Sally Armstrong

If you read my column last week, you know that we are now planning for our next exhibition here at Hyde House Gallery, opening September 18th at 6:00 with the reception for the featured artists Gregory Krepps, Pittsburg, Kansas and Jed Schlegel of Joplin. Their joint show of new ceramic work is entitled "LINE & SHADOW" and will remain in the gallery through October 4th. These men are both experienced potters with many exhibitions under their belts and working full time at their art. Last week I told you a bit about Gregory Krepps and his pinched pot technique way of working. Jed Schlegel works in an entirely different way with clay and with color. Where Gregory’s pieces reflect only neutral creams and grays, typical of the burnished method of finishing and firing, Jed incorporates color, and different colors, into his work. His work with clay for more than twenty years is in white stoneware and porcelain, fired to cone 10 in a gas reduction atmosphere. Most of his work is wheel thrown and then altered. Attention to form and an emphasis on craftsmanship are the foundational elements and the driving force of what he does. His inspiration is often derived from nature or the very process of working with the clay. The marks left on the surface from the hand or tools, the twist imparted by the wheel, can solidify his current direction or inspire a new tangent. He hopes to create pieces that beg one to reach out and touch the surface or follow the edge of the form with one’s hand and eyes or to incite curiosity as to what journey the clay must have taken to end up in its final form. Jed works in a large home studio in Saginaw, and has taught ceramics at MSSU in a continuing education format. His work has been exhibited in many prestigious exhibits and venues which include Tulsa & Bartlesville, OK, Coffeyville, Salina, & Leavenworth, KS, Phoenix, AZ, Los Curses, NM, Natchez, MS, McAllen & St. Angelo, TX, East Petersburg, PA, Carbondale, CO, Fayetteville, AR, and of course Springfield and at SPIVA in Joplin, where he served as a board of directors member in 2004-07.

Despite Stimulus Dollars, School Resumes With Ranks of Teachers Much Reduced

by Christopher Flavelle, ProPublica

It’s back-to-school time, and the kids aren’t the only ones with the jitters. The New York Times reports that $100 billion in stimulus money for education hasn’t been enough to prevent "the most extensive school layoffs in several decades" as school districts cope with falling tax revenue. Funding cuts have also led to salary cuts, larger class sizes and fewer support staff, including librarians, nurses, cooks and bus drivers.

The Wall Street Journal reports on the challenges facing businesses as they try to manage stimulus-fueled growth spurts. According to the Journal, companies are forced to balance between stretching their existing staff too thin and expanding at a rate that can’t be maintained once the stimulus money runs out two years from now. In the money quote, Mark Green, a consultant for family firms, says that, managed poorly, "growth is a great destructor of business."

The Houston Chronicle reports that Texas Gov. Rick Perry, an erstwhile opponent of the stimulus package, is now using stimulus funds to his political advantage. Of the $90 million in stimulus-funded crime grants headed for local law enforcement agencies in Texas, Perry’s office determines how to distribute 60 percent, about $54 million. Perry has used similar law enforcement grants for political gain in the past, according to the Chronicle: In 2006, they "helped Perry win the endorsement of border sheriffs."

NASCAR THIS WEEK

By Monte Dutton

Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Carl Edwards Is All About the Chase

The current season has brought Carl Edwards considerable doses of both good and bad news.

The good news is that Edwards is fifth in the Sprint Cup standings and virtually assured of a spot in the Chase. The bad news is that Edwards, who won more races (9) than anyone else in 2008, still hasn’t won a race this season at the Cup level.

Edwards, 30, has come close. His seven top-five finishes are exceeded only by point leader Tony Stewart (13), Jeff Gordon (11), Jimmie Johnson (9), Denny Hamlin (8) and Greg Biffle (8).

The Nationwide Series race in Montreal brought a new achievement, however. Edwards passed Marcos Ambrose on the final lap to win the 23rd series victory of his career, and third this year. It was Edwards’ first triumph on a road course.

His primary attention, of course, must be directed to the Sprint Cup Series and the Chase.

"I go do the best I can," said Edwards. "If I win the next 10 in a row, that’s what happens, and if we don’t win one, we don’t win. All I can do is the best I can, and I put more pressure on myself than anyone.

"Right now -- as much as people would like to write the story, ‘Hey, they broke through and got a win this season’ -- I’m way more interested in being in the Chase and winning the championship. That’s the key."

A year ago, Edwards, who is from Columbia, Mo., finished second to Johnson in the final Cup standings. In 2005, he was third behind champion Stewart and Roush Fenway teammate Greg Biffle. In only his fifth full season at NASCAR’s top level, Edwards already has 16 career victories.

"You could definitely win a championship without winning races," said Edwards. "I’d rather not win one that way.

"I drive as hard as I can. I try to get everything I can. At the end of the race, you get your result. If it’s a win, then that’s great. If it’s 20th and you did your job right, that’s all a person can do. ... I’ll just keep driving."

***

Monte Dutton has covered motorsports for The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette since 1993. He was named writer of the year by the National Motorsports Press Association in 2008. His blog NASCAR This Week (http://nascar.rbma.com) features all of his reporting on racing, roots music and life on the road. E-mail Monte at nascar_thisweek@yahoo.com.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

I’ve learned not to take it personal.

Bein’ associated with newspaper types, it’s not unusual that my unexpected presence brings an involved discussion to a halt. ‘Course the main thing I’ve learned is that there are some things that are just none a my business. Believe it or not, there are some things that I just don’t really want ta know.

If you’ve ever sat through a detailed epic of your nephew’s bout with car sickness on the way to the Thanksgivin’ dinner your tryin’ to eat, you understand what I mean. It’s all real interestin’, but ya really don’t want to hear about it right now. Maybe later, after a little nap. Maybe then I’ll be up to defendin’ myself with a story or two of my own.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.