According to the Carthage Police Department 1999 year end report, which was delivered to City officials last week, overall reported crime (973) was down slightly compared to 1998 (1002). Two categories of crime saw a large percentage increase, rape, up from zero in 1998 to two in 1999. Auto theft rose from 15 reported in 1998 to 37 reported in 1999.

Motor vehicle traffic accidents rose only slightly from 339 in 1998 to 348 for 1999. The report gives a description of a "typical" scenario in an accident in Carthage. The scenario given lists the leading cause/factor, along with the percentage of accidents in which it occurred.

"Your are a 16-20 (23%) year old, male (55%) resident (70%) of the city. You are driving a passenger car (56%) and driving straight (56%) down a dry (80%) street. It is daylight (78%) and between the hours of 11 AM and 7 PM (55%). As your are driving, it is noted that your are using the car’s shoulder and lap (67%) restraint system. Your car is covered by insurance (76%). You and all other participants were not injured (71%). You did not leave the scene (84%)."

JASPER COUNTY YOUTH FAIR BOARD MEMBERS TO FINALIZE PLANS
FOR 2000 FAIR.

news release

Members of the Jasper County Youth Fair Board are in the process of finalizing plans for the 2000 fair. The annual event which recognizes area youth for achievements and accomplishments will be held during the week of July 10th.

The Queen Pageant will serve as the opening ceremony with other events to be held through out the week. Additional activities will include livestock shows, Bar-B-Que, 4-H and FFA exhibits, a Kountry Kritters Pet Show for young participants, a pig scramble and more.

A carnival has been added to this year’s schedule along with a community breakfast.

Fair books have been distributed to organizations who have registered for particpation in this year’s fair. Members of these organizations need to contact their club leader or advisor for an exhibitor’s book.

The board will hold its final planning meeting on Wednesday, May 10, 2000, 7:30 p.m., Carthage Senior High School’s Vo-Tech Building, 609 River St, Carthage.

Superintendents and chairmen of fair shows and activities are expected to attend and will submit their final report for this year’s fair.

All trophy and recognition sponsors must be secured and submitted at this meeting.

All persons who have an interest in the Jasper County Youth Fair are invited to attend the May meeting. Persons having additional questions may contact Tom Ziler, fair board president.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin
State Representative, District 126

We are down to the last week of this year’s Session and already Governor Carnahan is talking about calling us back in for a Special Session. I guess some people just can’t get enough of government!

This week we heard a proposal in the Rules Committee that would reduce the size of the House of Representatives by 58 members. The reason I picked this issue to write about is that I am curious what you think it. I can see the advantages and disadvantages and don’t have any strong leanings either way, and yet it could reshapre the future of Missouri politics for decades to come.

The most obvious advantage would be the financial savings. The State would save the salaries and retirement of the 58 legislators. There is a valid argument as to whether or not there would be any money saved with the expense accounts of the Legislature. We receive an expense account of $1000.00 per month, out of which we pay for postage, travel within the district and the state, office equipment and supplies, and any other expenses related to the office. It takes almost an hour to drive from one end of my district to the other, so a lot of my monthly expense account is from in district travel. If the districts were larger, there would be more travel expense, office supplies and more postage per legislator.

The obvious disadvantage is that House members wouldn’t be as accessible to the public. That is just a matter of numbers. In my current district I have about 32,000 people. Under the new proposal each district would have about 50,000 people. It is a simple fact that it is easier to spread yourself among 32,000 people than it is among 50,000 people. Also, there is a very good chance that with fewer and bigger districts, there will be fewer rural legislators and more urban legislators elected. It is a simple fact that candidates from urban areas have an advantage when running against candidates from rural areas, simply because of the population advantage.

There is also talk of being able to pass legislation easier with less members. Considering that with the current democrat leadership in the House most bills that pass either end up costing you money or freedom, I’m not sure that is a good thing either.

If the Legislature passes this bill, it still has to be voted on by the public, so you may end up playing a big part in shaping the makeup of the Legislature for years to come.

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.

Carthage Community Band Performance.

news release

The Carthage Community Band, under the baton of Marvin VanGilder, will perform at 2:45 p.m., Saturday the 13th of May, at the Civil War Arena, just north of the city on Civil War Avenue.

The program will feature a musical theme in complement to the Civil War period. The Community Band’s concert will be preceded by a 1:30 p.m. Civil War battle reenactment and followed by a costume show of the era. Admission to the concert is free of charge.

In conclusion, the Carthage Community Band is presently accepting new musicians. Anyone who plays an appropriate band instrument is invited to join us for rehearsals every Monday night from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the basement of the Carthage Press Building, 527 South Main street.

Land Transactions

Suzanne Dazey and Carolyn A. Detert sold the property commonly known as 2130 Carrie, Carthage, MO 64836 to Amanda E. McClanahan. The transaction was handled by Carolyn K. Cole with Donal M. Myers Realty and Louise Barton with Charles Burt Home Folks.

William J. and Lana D. Griffiths, husband and wife sold the property at 2120 Whitten Road, Carthage, MO 64836. The sale was handled by Carolyn K. Cole of Donal M. Myers Realty.

Donald C. Lambeth and Linda Lambeth, husband and wife sold the property commonly known as 1003 S. Maple, Carthage, MO 64836 to Charles Edward Smith and Kimberly S. Smith, husband and wife. The transaction was handled by Donal M. Myers and Carolyn K. Cole with Donal M. Myers Realty.

I was given a copy of an article in the Clinton (Mo.) Daily Democrat the other day. In a column called Bits & Pieces, the author quoted a friend who has lived in Carthage at some time. "The dawgondest place she’s ever been," said the article.

"Unless your family has been there for a century or more and moved on higher planes, you might as well be invisible.," it quoted the friend. Guess I never made her acquaintance. I suppose there are some expectations associated with ever’one when they move into a community. I’m sure, like most small towns, Carthage has its share of folks who are slow to warm up to new arrivals. Might even be a few some might call snooty. But bein’ a part of this community doesn’t take much effort, just a little want to.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune Brooks Hospital

SMOKING AND HEALING: A few weeks ago, I did a column on how smokers heal more slowly from broken bones and other trauma than non smokers.

Now, there’s more evidence that nicotine taken in through inhaled smoke also delays healing after surgery. This supports decisions by surgeons not to perform anything but an emergency procedure on anyone who has smoked within the six weeks prior to surgery. And that includes cosmetic surgery as well as therapeutic.

A recent research program at Baylor University in Houston, Texas, used nicotine patches on people undergoing hand surgery to study how nicotine from inhaled smoke affects nerves and constricts blood vessels leading to the surgical incision.

"Each time nicotine entered the nervous system, blood flow was restricted at the site of the surgery," said Dr. David Netscher, an associate professor of plastic surgery at Baylor. "The decrease in the amount of blood flow to the incision area was significant," he added.

Insufficient blood flow can cause the skin to slough (a term used for improper healing and, eventually, death of the tissue). A skin graft may be necessary to deal with the condition. Sometimes the whole surgical procedure will have to be redone.