Commander Lou Denny of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2590, announced the kickoff of this year’s VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary ‘Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition." High school students in this area have the opportunity to compete in the 57th annual audio essay competition and win thousands of dollars in scholarships, a trip to Washington, D.C, as well as dozens of other awards.

Students begin by competing a the Local Post level. Post winners advance to District. District winners compete in the state competition. The state winner will enjoy a four-day tour of Washington, D.C. along with the winners from every state, the Pacific Areas, Latin America/Caribbean and Europe. A total of $143,500 in National Scholarships are awarded to student national finalists in addition to the scholarships and awards given at the preliminary levels of competition. The deadline date for student entry is November 1, 2003.

Interested students and teachers should contact VFW Post 2590 by phone at 358-1657 or write to the Post at PO Box 328, Carthage, MO 64836 for more information.

I still expect to hear a bell ring when I pull up to the gas pumps. ‘Course there is little reason to announce your presence these days since there is no one rushin’ out ta wash your windshield.

I do find myself tryin’ to avoid passin’ by the pumps when I’m just stoppin’ for a coke. I feel a little silly when I realize I’m tryin’ to avoid ringin’ the non existent bell.

I suppose anyone under the age of 18 doesn’t have any idea what I’m talkin’ about. Talk to your parents, they should be the ones to explain such things.

I’d think some marketin’ savvy chain of convenience stores would put the bell back. It would make your customers feel important to know they are bein’ announced.

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: I am a woman in my late 50s with a humiliating condition — hair growth on my chin and above my upper lip. I asked my doctor what I could do about it, and he told me to shave. I left his office in tears. I don’t want to shave. I know that promotes hair growth. Please help. — R.Z.

ANSWER: Let me kill the shaving-causes-hair-growth idea quickly. Even though that’s an often-repeated statement, it is not true. Some women experience facial-hair growth as they get older merely as a genetic trait. Perhaps you can recall if your mother had the same problem. How about sisters?

Regardless of inheritance, as an aftermath of menopause, there is a change in a woman’s female-to-male hormone balance. (Women do make male hormones.) The male hormone production slightly increases, and the female hormone production plummets. Hair begins to grow in places where it grows on men — above the upper lip, the chin, the cheeks and between the breasts.

The solution to your problem is to resort to methods that attack hair follicles, such as electrolysis or chemical hair removers. Vaniqa is a prescription cream that retards hair growth. Spironolactone, flutamide and finasteride are oral prescription drugs that block male hormone action on hair follicles.