Beware Christmas Scams.

Attorney General Chris Koster cautions consumers to beware of holiday charity scams and offered tips to make sure their money is going to a legitimate charity.

"The generosity of Missourians is truly heartwarming, and though most charities do tremendous work and spend donations wisely, there are those that actually do little to help those they claim to support," Koster said. Koster said there are steps you can take to make sure you are not a victim of the scam artists:

· Be aware of charities that use emotional appeals for fundraising. Some key topics to look for are the use of children or mention of recent disasters, like tornadoes or earthquakes.

· Do not give to a charity that contacts you by phone. If you would like to donate to the charity, ask for a mailing address to mail your donation directly. Be sure to check out their website.

· When in doubt, call the charity yourself and ask if they are aware of the solicitations being done in their name. Many cases have been reported of unauthorized fundraising activity.

Jasper County Jail Count

?? December 17, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

I grew up hearin’ ya gota jump in and start swimmin’. The idea bein’ that ya can’t sit around waitin’ for somethin’ ta happen.

‘Course, as water safety folks will explain, its not such a good idea to jump in head first if ya aren’t familiar with the swimmin’ hole.

I’m guessin’ that most folks have felt they got in a little deeper than they anticipated ever’ now and then. That’s when the rest of the lesson comes in. "Learn from your mistakes and go on."

I suppose that havin’ an attitude that gettin’ your feet a little wet now and then is a good thing. I’d hate ta think that ever’thing has been tried that’s worth tryin.’ It’d be a shame ta not have anything left ta learn.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Weekly Column

Blame Sleep Apnea for

Daytime Fatigue

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have lived with my boyfriend for a year, and we are going to get married soon. One obstacle to marriage for me is his snoring. It’s so loud that I cannot sleep with him. He starts out with a soft snore that builds into a sound that rivals a jet engine. He says snoring is a family thing for him.

He is tired all day long. He works hard, comes home, takes a nap, eats and then says he’s still tired. He sleeps a lot on weekends, too. Does snoring have anything to do with this? -- B.K.

ANSWER: Let me describe sleep apnea, and you judge whether it applies to your fiance. Typically, it involves snoring that gets louder and louder and then suddenly stops. Silence reigns. After a short while, the snorer makes a grunting sound and the snoring cycle repeats.

The period of silence is the apnea period. "Apnea" means "no breathing." Apnea episodes last 10 or more seconds, and they end when the snorer makes a grunting sound and resumes his snoring. During apnea, blood oxygen content dips, and the dip partially rouses the person to begin breathing.

Sleep apnea is a health menace. The drop in blood oxygen has several important consequences. It affects the heart and can lead to dangerous heart rhythms. People with sleep apnea often develop high blood pressure and all the complications of increased pressure. These people do not get restorative sleep. They feel drugged during the day.

The diagnosis of sleep apnea is made with special studies done in a sleep lab. Portable equipment is available for home testing.

If your fiance is overweight, weight loss might put an end to snoring and apnea. He should drink no alcohol after 5 p.m. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine keeps air flowing past the throat obstruction that blocks its entry into the lungs. Talk your fiance into discussing these matters with his doctor.