Fuel, Insurance Add to City Costs.

The recent vote to increase the City’s contribution to the partially self funded City health insurance program will increase upcoming budget requests by all departments. Employees will also see an increase in the amount they pay for family coverage, up from $40 per month to $60 per month beginning July 1, 2000.

The impact on the City budget will be to increase the health insurance cost by approximately 16%. That will result in an approximate $50,000 increase over the estimated $314,000 cost of health insurance last year.

Increased fuel prices are also impacting budget estimates for the City. Both the Street Department and the Police Department are projecting fuel costs to exceed budgets by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. The Street Department is requesting an increase in its fuel budget for fiscal year 2000/2001 of almost 19%.

By ordinance, the City holds a reserve equal to 25% of its general operating budget. The Council appropriated just over $6.5 million for operations and approximately $1.7 for capital improvements last year.

Red Cross To Sponsor Trip.

news release

As a fundraiser for local programs, the Carthage office of the Southwest Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross is organizing an afternoon trip to Springfield May 7th. Plans call for seeing a production of Blythe Spirit at the Landers Theatre followed by dinner at Steak and Ale before returning home. Cost of the trip is $50 and includes transportation, theatre and dinner. For more information or reservations call Mary Barksdale at the Red Cross office in Carthage: 358-4334 or call the Joplin office at 624-4411. Reservations MUST be made before April 12th.

The Landers Theatre is a National Historic site and is Missouri’s oldest and largest Civic Theatre. Built in 1909 the brick and terra cotta building has been in continuous use either as a legitimate theatre or a motion picture house since it opened with THE GOLDEN GIRL in September 1909.

Lillian Russell, John Philip Sousa and Fanny Brice have all appeared on the Landers stage. In 1928 the theatre became the 35th facility in the world to acquire "talkies" and continued as a movie theatre until 1970 when it was purchased by Springfield Little Theatre.

A number of major restoration projects have been undertaken to return the facility to its original elegance. The installation of a new roof, new interior paint and plaster, new lobby flooring. new lighting and sound systems, and new restrooms have all been completed. Carpeting, recreated by the mill that furnished the original floor covering has also been installed.

BLITHE SPIRIT is a supernaturally funny comedy by Noel Coward. Charles has remarried after the premature death of his first wife, Elvira. He is quite content with new spouse Ruth, until the eccentric and psychic Madame Arcati manages to conjure up Elvira’s spirit...and Elvira is not exactly thrilled with Charles’ new life. Her haunting and taunting, presented with the wit and whimsey that only Noel Coward can create makes for an afternoon of high humor and other worldly entertainment.

We will have dinner at the Steak and Ale in Springfield before returning home about 8:30 or 9:00 p.m.

Life Drawing Sessions To Begin April 6th.

by Robin Putnam, artCentral

Well, again this last Friday evening we had a great time !! The artists were here and some of them had quite a drive to get here. It was good for everyone since they stayed overnight and took in some of this lovely town’s more inter-resting places.

The artwork here now is truly wonderful. We sold some of the pieces Friday !! The talent these women have is awesome !! Every one of the pastels are simply breath-taking !!

We’re sure to sell many more before this show is over..............you better hurry in so you’ll have a better selection !!

We had a great opportunity that night to show off our new additions !!

The weather was soooo nice we had a number of people out walking the paths in our yard as well as wanting to take a peek inside the Kid’s Studio and pottery rooms. So far everyone has been really impressed with the remodeling and our plans to put it all to good use !!

April 6th will be the first Life Drawing Session. The model is all set and he lives here in town so that’s con-venient. Again it’s for anyone interested in the artistic study of the human form. You should bring your own materials and be here ready to go by 6 o’clock.

Once we get past the first meeting everyone will know more about how the whole thing will go. We don’t usually call each individual so it’s up to YOU to remember. If Dave (our volunteer coordinator) can make it to each session he will keep everyone informed and most likely give out his phone number for you to call him with questions, com-ments or ideas. We really appreciate his setting all this up for us !! Three cheers for Dave !!

We will add the drawing session info to our answering machine message and if there is a cancellation it will be there also.

We want to thank Michele Hansford for getting us included in the new Carthage brochure !! Thanks for thinking of us !! We really appreciate it !!

More.......next week. 358-4404. 1110 E 13th & www. ozarkartistscolony.com under organizations. Our hours are Tues. - Sat. 9am - 3pm and Sundays 12 - 4pm.

The Mayor had an appreciation breakfast for the folks who serve on the various City boards and committees yesterday mornin’. Most of the folks don’t get much in the way of recognition for the time and effort they put in for the good of the community.

At one time I tried to count up all the volunteers I could think of that served on all the various boards and such in the City. I got up to near a thousand and hadn’t even counted the many church, parent organizations, and youth sports type folks.

Makes ya wonder some times if there is anyone that doesn’t volunteer some time over the course of a year to a worthy cause.

Now that would be a feed.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Oak Street Health & Herbs

What is it about garlic? Garlic has been the subject of many studies over the past centuries either through observation techniques or though scientific procedures.

In the original Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss, he states that garlic probably originated in central Asia, is cultivated in many countries and grows wild in Italy and southern Europe.

It was given to the slaves building the pyramids to increase their stamina and strength and to protect them from disease. It was used as a preventative against cholera, typhoid fever, and amebic dysentery. "Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used garlic as a laxative, a diuretic, for tumors of the uterus, leprosy, epilepsy, chest pains, toothaches, and for wounds incurred during battle. Aristotle also mentions the value of garlic and Aristophanes used garlic as a treatment for impotence."

During both World Wars it was used as an antibacterial and strong disinfectant. A dilution with water was used to kill the germs which caused cholera and typhoid fever. In 1989 it was described as a "Designer Food," the odor had been removed and it had become a much more acceptable form of treatment for all forms of ailments form high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease to the prevention of colds and flu. It has been used in the elimination of pinworms in children, as well as adults.

Herbert Peirson, Ph.D., formerly of the National Caner Institute and now with the Preventive Nutrition Consultants stated, "Several different studies have shown a link between garlic and lower incidences of stomach cancer. Another study shows lower rates of colon/rectal cancer." He added that garlic seems to enhance the immune system.