Chamber Seeks New President.

Sabrina Drackert, President-Chamber of Commerce/Economic Development Director submitted her resignation to the Chamber of Commerce Board on January 3, 2012. A search is now under way to fill this position.

The City of Carthage, Missouri, population 14,378 (2010 census) is a growing community located in Jasper County (pop. 117,404). As President of the Chamber, the successful candidate will be charged with the overall operation and financial condition of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce. The successful candidate will also ensure the Chamber is adequately staffed and funded to accomplish the mission of the Chamber.

As Economic Development Director, the successful candidate will prepare and manage major economic development activities and special projects as well as oversee strategies to enhance the economic development and revitalization of established commercial and industrial areas in the City. The successful candidate will also look to areas of business retention, expansion and entrepreneurial development.

This position requires a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, urban planning, public administration, or related field. Certification for American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) or Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) preferred.

Experience preferred of five years of progressive professional economic development experience.

Application deadline is March 16, 2012. Resumes can be emailed to steve.swearengen@heritagestatebank.com.

Flannigan to Face Opponent In Representative Race.

Cory Hyland has announced that he will run as a Republican for the newly drawn 163rd district located in Jasper County. The new 163rd district includes Carthage, Oronogo, Fidelity, and parts of Carl Junction, Webb City, and Carterville. He will face incumbent Tom Flannigan in his bid for a third term.

"It is time to force government to again work for and be accountable to the people. For far too long we have let the politicians tell us what we want to hear during election time only to run off and do as they please once elected." Hyland adds, "I for one have had enough of the continued government encroachment into our lives. We must restore our liberty and demand accountability from our public servants. I will not only provide how I voted on each and every issue if elected; I will also give an explanation as to why I chose to vote that way."

Hyland is currently working as an Information Technology Manager and Industrial Control Systems Manager at Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC in Carthage, MO.

678 Pounds of Marijuana on I-44.

On February 28, 2012, at approximately 1:17 p.m., an eastbound Freightliner, conventional, tractor-trailer truck was stopped for a commercial motor vehicle compliance check by a commercial vehicle officer on Interstate 44, near the 84-mile marker, in Greene County. Due to the suspicious circumstances discovered during the traffic stop, officers on scene obtained consent to search the vehicle. A roadside search revealed several boxes of marijuana, weighing approximately 678 pounds, located inside the trailer.

The driver, Christopher P. Williams, of Riley, North Carolina, and the passenger, Junior Jwaan Madden, of Glenside, Pennsylvania, were arrested for first degree drug trafficking and transported to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.

Jasper Dare Graduates.

Sheriff Archie Dunn has announced the graduation of the 2012 Jasper D.A.R.E. class.

The ceremony was held Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 2:00 at the Jasper Elementary School. Principal Dave Davis opened the ceremony with encouraging words for the students as well as praise for the D.A.R.E. Officer.

Corporal Matt Smith is the D.A.R.E. Officer for the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and has held that position since its inception six years ago. He spoke to the class of what great kids they are and his appreciation of them.

Sheriff Dunn was in attendance and spoke to the class; encouraging them to continue making the right choices and remember what they learned in their DARE class. If they live by what Cpl. Smith has taught them, they will go far.

34 fifth graders, from 2 classes, were presented with Certificates of Completion. DARE t-shirts and goody-bags were handed out to each graduate and were treated to refreshments afterward.

The DARE classes were asked to write an essay about what they had learned about drugs and alcohol and the ability to resist them. One winner was chosen from each class. They were awarded with a $20.00 gift card from Wal-Mart and a goody-bag.

Jasper County Jail Count

171 March 6, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

Weekly Column

CLICK and CLACK

TALK CARS

My son staunchly states that in newer-model cars (like his 2003 Lincoln Navigator), gasoline consumption is not affected by turning on the lights and/or the air conditioner because of the advancedc, high-tech electrical systems ued these days. The argument became heated, and as yet is unresolved. So I would appreciate youir settin us straight. Is there really the miracle of "free lunch"? - Dan

Ray: Of course not. When you power the headlights or the ir conditioner, that power comes from the car’s alternator. How is the alternator powered? By a belt, which is driven by the engine.

Tom: The more electrical energy you demand, the more resistance the alternator creates, and the harder it is for the engine to turn that belt. So the engine has to work harder and use more gasoline - just as it would if the car were heavier, less aerodynamic or going up a hill.

Ray: It’s not a lot more gasoline, but that’s exactly where the electrical power ultimately comes from.

Tom: The reason your son thinks that using the accessories doesn’t affect his gas mileage is because his mileage is so lousy in that ‘03 Navigator that he can’t tell when it droms by a few percent.

Ray: Right. With the air conditioner off, he gets 11.6 mgp, and with it on, he gets 11.4. To him, that’s a miracle of high-tech electronics.

Tom: But you know better, Dan. Just because something’s difficult to meausre (like my brother’s IQ), it doesn’t mean it’s not there. So the argument’s over now. Go ahead and send him to his room.

artCentral

ART NOTES from Hyde House

by Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

It is always satisfying to hang a new group of artists’ work at our local ATRIUM GALLERY which is inside the Sirloin Stockade. I went today and removed the former display, the beautiful paintings by Theresa Rankin, which had been there since after the holidays, and placed 9 new works from the exhibition by JRAC just completed here at artCentral. This display included watercolors by Tom Jones, Carthage and Joan Stattel, Joplin, oils by Karen Brust, Carthage and Nida Rudd, Joplin, pastels by Becky Golubski, Pierce City and Pam Leisenring, Joplin, acrylics by Darrel, Delores and Ashley Bilke, Joplin, and a beautiful pen and ink drawing by Sherry Pettey, Carthage, and will remain there for at least three weeks. If you missed their show just completed here at Hyde House you can still see a sampling of these local artists’ work from this new artist organization, Joplin Regional Artist Coalition. As always, our thanks to artCentral members Terry & Billie McDonald for allowing us to have this gallery space inside their popular restaurant! A two day abstract painting workshop to be presented by our next gallery artist, Dale Augustson of Springfield, is scheduled for March 31st and April 1st. This will be a very specialized class giving each adult-student a lot of attention and instruction. I still have several places available to any adult artist who might be interested in learning a bit about abstract painting from this artist. Dale Augustson uses acrylic paints, and includes in his paintings a number of multi-media "extras" so if you have never painted before, this might be a fun and less intimidating way to get started; the style will be abstract and less rigid. I would love to visit with anyone who might have questions about this class, and please don’t hesitate to email me or call the gallery for additional information. I can be reached at artcentral@suddenlinkmail.com or by calling 358-4404.