Council Meet Tonight.

The City Council is scheduled to meet this evening in City Hall at 7:30 p.m. The agenda includes the following:

Public Hearing on annexation commonly known as 1705 S. Baker as requested by Ministerios El Jordan.

C.B. 11-12 an Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Liberty Pyrotechnics L.L.C., of Joplin, Missouri for fireworks display for the July 4,2011 celebration in the amount of $11 ,950.00.

C.B. 11-13 an Ordinance annexing certain adjacent territory into the City of Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri as requested by Ministerio EI Jordan.

C.B. 11-14 an Ordinance extending the current contract with Sprenkle and Associates, Inc. to include a new term from July 1,2011 to June 30, 2013.

Resolution No. 1633 a Resolution of the City of Carthage, Missouri, authorizing a partial release of the designated unreserved fund balance of the Golf Course Fund in an amount not to exceed $86,000 as a "set-aside" amount to cover annual debt service payments.

Jasper County Jail Count

202

May 6, 2011

We’ve decided to start includin the daily inmate count for the Jasper County Jail. There is no political motive behind the decision, just an interestin’ statistic for the community.

I’ve personally heard from the various players in the discussion concernin’ the overcrowdin’ in the jail. It appears to me that the only quick solution is for people to stop linin’ up to get in the place. Since it doesn’t seem that will happen anytime soon, some other answers must be considered.

As those consideration are bein’ made, we’ll get a feel for the boilin’ point with our "inmate thermometer" and let ya watch the simmer.

These numbers are bein’ distributed to the media by the Sheriff’s Department.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Weekly Column

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Diverticulosis Common With Age

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Will you write about diverticulosis? I was twice hospitalized for it and had to stay there 12 days in all. When I left, they didn’t give me any diet or medicines. I saw my primary doctor later, who didn’t think I had diverticulosis because they didn’t do much for me. Some tell me that you don’t have to stay on a diet or take medicine. Is that so? -- N.F.

ANSWER: A diverticulum is a tiny pouch formed by the colon lining that has been pushed through the muscular colon wall. Its size varies from 0.2 to 0.4 inches (5 to 10 mm) in diameter, about the size of a small pea. Diverticulosis indicates that the colon has sprouted many diverticula. It’s most often silent. Close to one-third of adults at 60 years of age have it. By age 80, two-thirds have it.

Diverticulosis is found in countries where grains are refined. Refined grains have lost their outer coat, the bran. Bran was, at one time, the principal source of fiber. Fiber keeps stool soft and easily pushed through the digestive tract. With too little fiber, the colon has to exert great force to move undigested food along. That force is responsible for pushing the colon lining through the colon wall to form a diverticulum on its outer surface.

When you were hospitalized, you had diverticulitis -- inflammation of diverticulum. The neck of diverticula became clogged with bacteria and pieces of hard stool. The diverticula swelled. For mild symptoms, people can be treated at home by going on a liquid diet and taking antibiotics. For more severe involvement, people are hospitalized and fed intravenously and given intravenous antibiotics.

Now that your diverticulitis has calmed down, the only diet you need follow is one with plenty of fiber -- 30 to 35 grams a day. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are fiber sources. Many cereals are filled with fiber: Fiber One, All-Bran, Shredded Wheat and cooked oatmeal are examples. You do not have to take any medicines.