Committee Pulls Double Duty.

The City Council Public Works Committee has scheduled two separate meetings for today in City Hall.

The Committee’s regular meeting at 4 p.m. will deal with the street improvements on Airport Drive and the construction of Hornback Avenue. The Committee voted at its last meeting to reject all bids that were submitted because they were substantially higher that estimates and the scope of work had changed since the bid specifications were published.

The Engineering Department is expected to make recommendations to the Committee and some contractors are expected to attend.

The Public Works committee will meet again at 6:30 to discuss and consider the proposed changes in the City Building Maintenance Code. The meeting was set at this time to allow a more convenient time for citizens who wish to participate and other Council members who wish to attend.

The proposed adoption of the updated 2000 regulations were first submitted to the Committee last fall. Several property owners have recommended substantial changes.

Commentary
Martin "Bubs" Hohulin
State Representative, District 126

We just finished our first full week of the new Session. It has mostly been taken up with the inauguration and everyone getting settled in. Committee assignments haven’t even been discussed yet because we haven’t received word from the new Speaker yet on how many members will be on each committee. Also, in the past, there have been attempted power grabs by democrat Speakers. The usual demand was that they appoint all members to committees, both democrats and republicans. That is like allowing the opposite coach to pick your starting lineup. It will be interesting to see if there is such a power grab this year.

There has been all the usual talk about how everyone is going to work together and there will be no partisanship this year. Who knows? Maybe this year will be the year that happens. We have heard the same thing in the past, only to have debate shut off before it begins and have amendments offered by republicans ruled out of order.

The Speaker even made the statement that he might allow legislation filed by republicans to come to the floor for debate and votes. Instead of the press asking why republican ideas were never given consideration in the past, they are falling all over themselves about the new spirit of cooperation that is surely on the horizon.

As I have said before, I am willing to work with anyone that wants to truly work together. The problem in the past is that the democrats’ idea of working together in the House is that they run the show and we sit down and be quiet. If we dared express an idea, we were immediately labeled as obstructionists and blamed for the downfall of the free world. Throw in a phrase about everything being ‘for the children’ and you get a pretty good idea of how the democrats have run the Missouri House of Representatives the past decade.

Hopefully this Session will be different. As they have for the past four decades, the democrats are the majority party and are in control. They have the opportunity to set the tone for the next 2 years. I hope it is one of every voice being heard.

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your question, comments, or advice.

Master Tree Farmer Program Offered.

news release

A Master Tree Farmer Short Course will be offered in Carthage starting February 6, 2001. The program, developed by Clemson University in South Carolina, will be offered by satellite downlink from Clemson. The purpose of the course is to introduce forest landowners to forest management, stewardship considerations in resource planning, best management practices for protecting resources, how to tend and manage the woodlot to meet diverse objectives, and services and assistance available to them. The Carthage site is one of only 13 in the state downlinking the program.

Sessions will run for seven consecutive Tuesday evenings through March 20 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The short course will be held at the Jasper County Annex located at the corner of Central (96 Highway) and Lincoln Streets, Carthage.

A $40 fee covers the cost of a notebook for notes and handouts, Agroforestry Training Manual, Master Tree Farmer Training Manual, certificate, hat and patch. Participants must attend at least six of the seven sessions in order to be considered for certification.

For more information or to request a registration form, write the Jasper County Outreach and Extension Center, Courthouse Basement, Carthage, MO 64836, or call
(417) 358-2158 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email jasperco@missouri.edu.

Last day to file for City Council.

Candidates so far:

1st Ward: Charles (Chuck) Tobrock (to be vacated by H.J. Johnson).

2nd Ward: Ronnie Wells (seat currently held by Charlie Bastin who has not filed as of yesterday afternoon).

3rd: Bill Woods and J.D. Whitledge (encoumbent)

4th Ward: Carey Murphy and Bill Putnam, Jr. (to be vacated by Art Dunaway)

5th Ward: Jim Woestman (Seat currently held by Lujene Clark who had not filed as of yesterday afternoon).

If you are still considerin’ runnin’, get down to City Hall by five this afternoon with the $25 filin’ fee. You can make a difference.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

Health & Nutrition by Judith Sheldon

Studies are being done to find out if women who are released from the hospital within a day or two of giving birth face any additional risks for themselves and their babies because of these shortened hospital stays.

So far, there seems to be some evidence that adding a day to a woman’s hospital stay can be beneficial for both herself and her child. Even when a woman is in perfect health and making a normal recovery, experiencing one more day of being taken care of and, quite literally, pampered, can be emotionally helpful. After all, once she gets home, she’s not likely to find much time for herself because of her baby’s needs.

In many societies, a new mother is never left alone to deal with these new demands on her. At any given time, one or two of her female relatives will be with her until she can handle things on her own. And even then, they’re always on call when needed.

Most women in this country no longer can count on a female relative to drop everything and help her adjust to her new situation.

Some medical authorities claim that being thrust into a new and demanding environment causes some women to escape the harsh reality by withdrawing into post-partum depression.