Main Street Plans for 2000.

Members of the Main Street Carthage Board met yesterday for an afternoon planning session for the upcoming year.

New members of the Board include Ron Graber, Ed Grundy, Mike Harris and Louise Petersen.

The Board elected officers for the new year. Sue Vandergriff was elected President, Sandy Shuske was elected Vice-President, Sherry Allan was elected as Secretary, and Ed Grundy was elected as Treasurer.

Mike Tichenor and Donna Harlan continue their terms on the Board.

Cindy Harding, Harry Putnam, Ruth Overton, and Barb Vandergriff will serve as ex-officio members of the Board.

The vision of Main Street Carthage, Inc. includes a variety of quality shops housed in clean, preserved, well-kept buildings that demonstrate the community’s pride in its past and commitment to the future.

The vision statement says that "Fulfilling this vision will provide Downtown Carthage with a strengthened local economy that will produce greater stability and an increased number of successful merchants and satisfied customers."

CW&EP Telephone Survey Only.

news release

We have been told of a customer being contacted by someone who identified themselves as being a part of the CW&EP customer survey and requested to visit the customer in their home. This is a telephone only survey.

Please notify the community not to allow anyone into their home identifying themselves as CW&EP personnel conducting a survey.

The CW&EP survey is just a series of questions regarding customer satisfaction.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin

State Representative, District 126

The biggest thing to happen this week was the Governor’s State of the State Address. That is the annual event where the governor lays out his legislative agenda and budget proposal to a joint session of the House and Senate. Ever since I have bee involved with the budget process, I have been a little confused and very annoyed with the weight given to the governor’s budget recommendations.

The Constitution of Missouri clearly states that all spending bills are to originate in the House of Representatives. The way it has worked the last seven years is that the governor’s budget is the starting point and unless changes are made, that is what becomes law. The problem is that since Gov. Carnahan has the Budget Committee Chairman and the Speaker of the House marching in lock step with him, it is very difficult to make changes.

Further adding to his process is the practice the governor has of waiting until the budget process is almost complete and then announcing that he has "found" some more money and wants it spent in a particular area. Where did he "find" it? Was he holding it in his desk drawer? In the final days of the budget process, we are constantly being given a ‘Governor’s amendment’ to spend money here or there.

According to the Constitution, members of the House and Senate are supposed to be the only ones to be allowed to offer amendments to pieces of legislation. All the governor is supposed to be able to do is offer suggestions, just like any other citizen. Yet again, the ‘Governor’s amendments’ are treated as sacred cows by the democrat leadership and majority. This completely defeats the notion that spending is to originate by those elected officials closest to the people.

Besides the budget, Gov. Carnahan was supposed to lay out his legislative agenda. I don’t know if he is laying low because of the upcoming election, or if he just doesn’t know what to do. But all he did was point out problems and blame republicans. He offered no ideas or solutions for the two biggest problems facing the state, education and transportation.

All he could do was criticize the solutions and ideas that we have proposed in these two critical areas. If he is unwilling or unable to lead, he should get out of the way and let us implement our ideas. For him to blame republicans is ludicrous. Democrats hold the majority in both the House and Senate as well as all statewide offices.

They have the votes to pass anything they want and yet we have all these problems. We don’t have the votes to pass anything, and yet we are the only ones offering any ideas, only to have them never reach the floor for debate. Hopefully, this year will be different.

Recent actions and statements by Gov. Carnahan have shown that he is a regular reader of this column, so; Hi Mel, have a great weekend! I’ll see you on Monday.

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, or advice.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

Played a little ball out in the yard with one a the grandkids over the weekend.

"My grammy is almost as old as you," I was informed. I suppose most four year old’s make comparisons of different sets of grandparents, I have learned to not take any of their observations too personal.

"Yea," he continued, "she’s really old."

Now I don’t exactly know how old that makes myself, and I didn’t force the issue.

I’d have ta guess that in time the kid will come to appreciate "mature" individuals and more carefully craft his insights, or keep ‘em to himself.

I remember my grandparents sayin’ they wished they had the energy us kids had. I’m still learnin’ to appreciate the wisdom of those "old folks."

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

SOYBEANS: A "MIRACLE" FOOD? Researchers are learning more about soybeans every day. Besides being an excellent high fiber, low fat food source, soybeans may also provide protection against many conditions including cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis.

According to an article in the Lifetime Health Letter of the University of Texas, there seems to be a link between consumption of soy products and a lowered risk of developing cancers of the breast, colon, lung, and prostate.

A diet rich in soy products also appears to be helpful in lowering cholesterol.

Scientists who are studying soybeans for their "protective" qualities are centering their research on substances in soybeans called phytochemicals. These are small plant-derived molecules that are related to vitamins. One group of phytochemicals called isoflavones is of special interest since they have chemical similarities to estrogen and may be helpful in preventing or treating osteoporosis.

Four of the most popular varieties of soy products are tofu (soybean curd), soy protein, soy milk, and miso. For information about soybeans, including recipes and cooking tips, call the United States Soybean Board at 1-800-TALK-SOY.