Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Wednesday, January 16, 2002 Volume X, Number 148

Did Ya Know?. . .The Golden Reflections Senior Program of McCune-Brooks Hospital will have their next monthly program at 2 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 17th in the McCune-Brooks Hospital cafeteria. Steve Cooper, from the Carthage Crisis Center, will speak then Bingo for Fun will be played. Visitors 55 years or older are welcome to attend.

Did Ya Know?. . .The Carthage United Way will hold its Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon at 12 noon on Thurs., January 24th, at the Leggett & Platt Cornell Conference Center, Carthage.

Did Ya Know?. . .The Carthage Humane Society have pets that need loving homes. For more information call 358-6402.

today's laugh

Agent- "Don’t you wish your office furnishings insured against theft?"
Boss- "Yes, all except the clock. Everybody watches that."

The little daughter of a newspaper editor came back from Sunday School with an illustrated card in her hand.
"What’s that you have there, little one," the editor asked.
"Oh," said the child, "just an ad about heaven."

Never write when you can talk, and never talk when you can listen.

1902
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

THE BELGIAN HARE SHOW.

The Southwestern Belgian Hare Association of this city met last night at the Campbell-Wright Mercantile company’s store and arranged to have their hare exhibit here February 6 and 7, this being the earliest date on which R. J. Finley of Macon, can be secured to act as judge. He is a recognized authority on the Belgian hare and has been secured for many hare exhibits in the state, including the big one at St. Louis in connection with the "Poultry and pet stock fair" there.

It is hoped to have extensive exhibits here from Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas as well as Missouri. The minor details of arrangements will be made later. It will probably be arranged to have a Belgian hare bake for the last evening of the show, when sandwiches of hare meat will be served free. There is some fine hare stock here, as well as at many neighboring towns, and it is expected that the exhibit will be a great success.

	Today's Feature Less is More. The Budget/Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously Monday evening to reduce the amount Council members are allowed for expenses. Although the City Charter forbids members from receiving a salary, they are allowed a stipend to cover expenses of the job. For the last three years members have received $75 a month. City Clerk Barbara Welch told the Committee that the IRS has requested that the City take withholdings from the checks because the amount exceeds $600 per year. If the City takes withholdings, it would be considered as a salary and, in order to receive a salary, the Charter would need to be amended by a vote of the people. The Committee voted to recommend to the Council that members receive $50 a month eleven months of the year and $49 for the last month. The Charter does allow for the Mayor to receive a salary. In addition, to a salary of $100 per month, the Mayor currently receives $250 per month for expenses. The Committee voted to also recommend that the Mayor receive $350 salary without expenses to begin after the election April 2.
	Just Jake Talkin' Mornin', If ya take twenty-five bucks a month times ten ya end up with three grand. Plus the cost of the City matchin’ the FICA taken out of the checks and all the paperwork involved. I’m guessin’ the Council won’t buck the recommendation of the Budget Committee. If the members were in it for the money, they picked the wrong job anyway. The IRS has picked the magic number of $600 a year as the cut off for the amount you can earn without payin’ self-employment tax. As good a number as any I suppose, but a pretty low threshold. The money still has ta be declared for income tax purposes, so it’s mainly just the hassle that’s not worth the extra $300 a year I’d guess. For the City Council, $599 is where the buck stops. This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.
Sponsored by Carthage Printing Services	Weekly Column PRIME TIME WITH KIDS by Donna Erickson Welcome a new year of family life with the promise of unlimited possibilities of growing together and creating memories. In between routine chores, obligations and work, snatch moments with your kids. Whether you catch each other’s undivided attention for a minute or an hour, capturing these interludes of life fills the soul with meaning and pleasure. None of these memory builders will keep the socks sorted or the fridge stocked, but they will make the time you spend with your kids count. • Be an expert in lightheartedness. Let loose and act silly; after all, children’s humor is silly! Laugh at knock-knock jokes even if you hear the same every day. • Take nature walks, not to rush but to take it easy. Let your child guide you. Look at all there is to learn. You won’t be in a race to get anywhere. • Get messy. When you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! Get your hands dirty, throw yourself in the fray and see a playful world through kids’ eyes. • Keep imagination alive. Not everything is as it seems. Think of the crazy creatures created by the child’s mind in all of us: heffalumps and hungry caterpillars, gargoyles and trolls; a whole zoo of fantastic images to be discovered. • Bend the rules of routine, ponder wonders, savor hugs and say bedtime prayers. These shared memories are the glue that keeps families together.