Contact Chamber for Validation.

According to a memo from Director of Member Services Debra Smith the Carthage Chamber of Commerce was notified recently of a marketing firm that is calling local businesses suggesting the Chamber is supporting their advertising efforts. This is incorrect. The only entity that is currently selling advertising on behalf of the Chamber is Liberty Publishing who is working on the Chamber’s 2003 Membership Directory.

If you receive any questionable solicitations in which the Chamber is said to be in support of or given authorization for, please contact the Chamber for validation.

The Circus is Coming.

The Carthage Lions Club has announced that the Carson and Barnes Five Ring Circus is coming to Carthage. The Lions Club is hosting the circus for a second time Tuesday May 6 at 4:30 and 7:30. Tickets are available for 30% off from Wal-Mart, Lions Club Members and on-line at www.carsonbarnescircus.com.

The Carthage Lions club was chartered in November, 1921. Since that time the Carthage Lions Club has a proud history in Carthage, Missouri. The club has had two of its members go on to be District Governors and one to become an International Director. The club has been involved in many activities and has many projects throughout its long history in Carthage. The Carthage Lions club is the third oldest surviving club in Missouri.

The club has many fund raising projects such as the long standing pancake feed, broom sale, and concession stands at the Maple Leaf celebration. All the money raised in these fund raisers go back into the community to help less fortunate individuals.

From what I’m hearin’, ever’one is happy ‘bout the warmer temperatures. The predictions are for a few days in the 70’s with a little rain. More like spring I suppose.

I’m guessin’ it’s safe to plant ‘bout anything ya wanna grow at this point. Gardens should have a good start with the moisture we’ve been havin’. ‘Course the weeds in the yard have a pretty good start also.

I’m assumin’ ever’one took advantage of the warm, dry weather last weekend to get their lawns up in tip top shape. I had that in mind, but decided I’d better get the mower tuned up and ready to go first. For some reason, tunin’ up a lawn mower when it’s rainin’ just doesn’t feel right.

One fella I talked to went water skiin’ instead of mowin’. Warm weather makes folks a little crazy.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband tested positive for hepatitis C. This was a shock to both of us. He is not sick and can never remember having any liver infection. All his other liver tests are normal. What are the implications of this? Is it a death sentence? Will I catch it? How about our children? — N.H.

ANSWER: On this continent, more than 4 million people harbor the hepatitis C virus in their livers. Of that number, the virus will live in the livers of 85 percent for their entire lives. In the other 15 percent, it will go away. Most infected people do not know they are infected. They have no symptoms now, nor did they have any symptoms when they were first infected. A chance blood test reveals the infection.

That is the downside of hepatitis C infection. The upside is that only one in every five infected people develops liver cirrhosis. And the development of cirrhosis takes 20 years, a most protracted course. Even when a diagnosis of cirrhosis has been made, 80 percent live for 10 or more years. So after 30 years of playing host to the virus, the majority are alive and active. The diagnosis is not a death sentence. In some patients, however, liver cancer arises.

A small percentage of wives of infected men come down with the infection — about 2.6 percent. Infection of other household members is much less.