Invitation to the Christmas Parade

From Carthage SkillsUSA.

"Once again, the season of "leaves" is upon us and as the colors begin to fade into winter it is time to begin thinking about the Carthage Christmas Parade. Carthage SkillsUSA would like to invite you to join us for the 39th annual Carthage Christmas Parade. As is our tradition, the Carthage Technical Center’s SkillsUSA Chapter will be hosting. The Carthage Christmas Parade which will be held Monday, December 5, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. This year’s parade theme is "Jingle All The Way."

"To better inform those of you who participate in our annual event SkillsUSA is a youth organization, made up of high school students who are enrolled in classes at the Carthage Technical Center. These classes cover a wide range of interests such as Digital Electronics, Health Sciences, Computer Maintenance, Carpentry, Drafting, Automotive Service Technology, and Precision Machining. The 2010-2011 school year was very successful for our chapter. Our local organization is 100 members strong and we participated in several activities throughout the year. Last year Carthage SkillsUSA took one of the largest groups ever to participate in state competitions with two state officers and six individuals qualifying for nationals.

"Our students and advisors know that it is important to give back to the community that has been so good to them. With that in mind, we are proud to sponsor this year’s parade. SkillsUSA has been part of the Carthage Christmas Parade since the beginning. As it states in the SkillsUSA creed, "We believe in the dignity of hard work and the American way of life."

"The parade will follow the same route as in years past. The route will originate at the corner of Chestnut and Main (in front of the First Christian Church). Proceed north on Main, circle the beautiful Carthage Square, then head back south on Grant street to end at Chestnut and Grant (tennis courts behind the Junior High School). The route encompasses a distance of approximately one mile.

"Trophies will be awarded to first place winners in each category IMMEDIATELY following the parade on the steps of the First Christian Church (parade starting point). Bands will be divided into sub-groups based upon their size/numbers and trophies awarded accordingly. As we have done in the past, we will present trophies for Mayor’s Choice, Director’s Choice, Best Interpretation of Theme, and Best Use of Lights. Reminder – your entry must be decorated for the season! Judging WILL NOT take place before the parade but it will occur somewhere around the Carthage square."

Jasper County Jail Count

? October 24, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

Things just seemed ta happen at our house as I was growin’ up with an older brother and younger sister. The lamp that just fell over one day. The window kicked out when someone jumped on the bed. The figurine of a little football player with its head shot off with a bb gun. (it was an excellent shot even if it was accidental by the way).

Most of the time it was pretty evident who the culprit was of course, but there were occasions when the mysterious would occur. Nobody knew anything. Us kids were fortunate to have a few neighborhood oneries who could always be called up as suspects, if the deed was outside the house at least. I don’t recall any lyin’ goin’ on, we usually fested up if ask. But if nobody asked, nobody told.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Weekly Column

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Best Way to Treat COPD? Quit Smoking

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My mother is in her early 70s. She has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD. She had a bronchoscopic exam to remove a mucus plug. She was a very heavy smoker. She still smokes. She thinks her kids don’t know, but we have seen the evidence. She is on oxygen. Her doctor thinks she has quit. What does this do to her life expectancy? How long can she live this way? -- J.S.

ANSWER: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, is two illnesses: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is a harmful stretching and destruction of the millions of air sacs found in the lungs. Through those delicate structures, oxygen reaches the blood. When they are damaged, a person cannot get enough oxygen and becomes breathless on even slight exertion. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the air passageways, the bronchi. They fill with thick, pus-filled globs of phlegm. Air cannot pass through them. A cough that produces of sticky, tenacious sputum is its chief sign.

Cigarette smoking is the major cause of COPD, but not the only one.

It’s hard to watch people ruin their own bodies and hasten death. That’s what your mother is doing. Tell her that the most important treatment for COPD is total abstinence from smoking. Abstinence allows lungs to recover from the damage done from inhaling cigarette smoke. It doesn’t achieve a complete reversal overnight. It does prolong life.

What does this do to her life expectancy? It shortens it. How long can she live? That can’t be foretold. Unequivocally, she will live longer and enjoy her life more if she never lights up again.

COPD is a major problem and the fourth-leading cause of death.