Pioneer Day for Homeschools.

Homeschools are invited to a pioneer day program on Friday, October 21, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Park staff and volunteers will present stations relating to farm life during George Washington Carver’s childhood years. Stations include corn shelling, laundry with lye soap, candle-dipping, one-room school lessons, toys & games, and a storyteller.

This program is free of charge and homeschool educators are welcome to invite other homeschool families to attend. Reservations are requested but not required.

Administered by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of the Interior, George Washington Carver National Monument preserves the birthplace and childhood home of George Washington Carver, scientist, educator, and humanitarian. The monument is located two miles west of Diamond, Missouri on Highway V, then ¼ mile south on Carver Road. For more information, please call the park at (417) 325-4151 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 395 national parks.

Jasper County Jail Count

? October 17, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

There always seems ta be an exception to the rule.

Most children spend most a there wakin’ hours tryin’ to figure out such loop holes. This typically take the form of bein’ very specific in the interpretation of the rule.

"Don’t throw peas at your brother" is way too specific. To an inventive youngster this would still leave the option of carrot or green bean throwin’ available. And of course the completely different activity of droppin’ or squirtin’ various vegetables would also be outside the limits specified.

The fact is that most kids are very observant learners. The parents most likely used this "exception" rule to their advantage from time to time. This culminates in the ultimate "do as I say, not as I do" exception.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Weekly Column

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Foot Swelling a Sign of Heart Problems?

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a problem with my feet swelling. They get so big that they hurt when I walk. My doctor is puzzled. He thinks maybe it’s due to my heart pills, but he can’t change them -- my heart doctor has to. I have had two heart attacks, bypass surgery and a defibrillator put in my chest. When I’m in bed, the swelling goes down to almost normal. When I am up, it returns, even if I am sitting. I’d appreciate any suggestions. -- E.L.

ANSWER: I believe I’m safe in saying your problem is chronic congestive heart failure. Your heart is pumping so weakly that blood circulates sluggishly. When you’re up or when you’re sitting, gravity pulls fluid out of your leg’s vessels, and it is the cause of your swelling. In the horizontal position in bed, gravity doesn’t have this effect, and the fluid stays in blood vessels. The swelling is called edema (e-DEE-muh).

During the day, take frequent breaks to lie down with your legs propped up higher than your heart. When you sit, rest your legs on the seat of a chair put in front of you. Walk as much as you can during the day. The contracting leg muscles push fluid back into circulation.

Limit the salt you eat; salt makes the body retain fluid. Read food labels. Most of our salt intake comes from the foods we eat, not from adding salt at the table or in cooking. But don’t do either. Your total daily salt intake should be less than 5,700 mg, preferably 3,800 mg. If salt is on the label as "sodium," your total daily intake should be 2,300 mg or less. A better goal is 1,500 mg.

Tell your heart doctor about your swelling. He might make changes in your medicines either by increasing the dose or switching to other medicines that make the heart pump with more force.