County Clerk Ron Mosbaugh reported on the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) that is to replace the current punch card system of voting with optical scanners at polling locations.

Mosbaugh stated that President Bush signed the law in 2002 to replace the punch card system and that federal funds are provided through the Missouri Secretary of State to local election authorities as part of a punch card buyout program.

Jasper County currently services sixty- six polling locations with the punch card system. The buyout program will fund Jasper County $3,192.22 for each punch card system machine, the new optical scanner costs $5,500 each. Jasper County will have to pay the difference of $2,307.78 for each scanner, resulting in a total cost of $152,313.48 for the sixty-six locations. Jasper County could consolidate several locations to lower the expenses to $103,850.10 with fourty-five locations.

Mosbaugh explained that Jasper County had until December 31,2005 to participate in the buy out and that the new scanners would have to be in place by the August 2006 Primary election.

"This does not include the cost of training," said Mosbaugh.

Presiding Jasper County Commissioner Chuck Surface stated that people who are smart enough to vote are smart enough to punch a card.

"We don’t have the funds to change to a feel good system," said Surface. "If they (HAVA) want us to change, they need to pay for them."

Eastern District County Commissioner Jim Honey stated that he agreed with Surface this issue.

Mosbaugh expressed concern that HAVA would have their lawyers in place to come after Jasper County if they didn’t change systems.

"And we have our lawyer in place in case they do," said Surface.

April Events Coming Up.

By Lee Sours, artCentral

Our March exhibits consist of paintings by Bobby Williams and Joe Leiter in the gallery at artCentral and oils and pastels of Judy Maurer at Shellie’s restaurant. Then in April we have several exciting things planned.

April 7th is the deadline to have posters delivered to artCentral for the Art of Discovery contest. This contest is for young people of ages 8-14. The posters should relate to the Lewis and Clark expedition. Call 358-4404 to receive an entry form. Winners will receive a tuition paid day at artCamp which is scheduled for the last two weeks of July.

On April 16th we’ll have the wildlife watercolors and taxidermy of Kevin Guinn in the Main Gallery. The Members’ Gallery will showcase the young artists’ Lewis and Clark posters. On April 18th there will be a new exhibit at Shellie’s. The photography of Koral Martin will be on display through July 18.

This year’s artCamp participants will have some exciting choices of classes. We’ll have 2 French cafes in the offering. One café will feature Matisse and Monet. The students will create a water lily painting after exploring Monet’s garden at Giverny. They will design a mural with unique Matisse leaves after a visit to his museum in Nice. Then they will enjoy crepes at the café while viewing their own art exhibit and learn to speak French too!

HOURS: T – F 11 - 5

Sunday 12 -5 Closed Mon. and Sat.

1110 E • 13th 358-4404

ozarkartistscolony.com

Annual Broom Sale.

The annual broom sale sponsored by the Carthage Lions Club will begin March 29th and will continue through April 17th. Each year the Lions Club sells brooms to businesses and individuals to help raise money for their organization. The brooms are manufactured by blind individuals and come in many styles from household corn brooms to heavy duty shop brooms.

According to Lions Club member of Carthage Harold Short, locally the club has provided 14 pairs of eye glasses for children in need. They also recycle used eye glasses.

Lions Club International fact sheet that they are the world’s largest club organization with over 1.4 million members. Lions are men and women who volunteer their time to humanitarian causes, such as their service to the blind and visually impaired.

In 1990 the Lions established a SightFirst program, a $143.5 million global initiative to fight the major causes of preventable and reversible blindness. The SightFirst program has provided more than 3.4 million cataract surgeries, built and expanded 154 eye hospitals and improved eye care in 78 countries.

As far as I’m concerned, I lean toward the punch cards for votin’. Not because they are cheaper, or goin’ to some type of computerized scannin’ system would cost some money, but because I can see when a card has been punched. With all the quirks with computers I just don’t quite trust an invisible electronic "punch."

I’m sure at some time in the future folks will be able to pull up a ballot on their home computers and sign in with some secure signature and vote from the comfort of their recliner.

Results could be viewed instantly and there would be no need for reporters, printing presses or comment. Most likely the computer that kept track of all this would be located in India anyway. No use puttin’ any of our own effort into the mix.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Oak Street health & herb

Natural Nutrition.

By Mari An Willis

Hepatitis, according to Dr. Andrew Weil, is now the most common of all serious contagious diseases. It is spread through blood-to-blood contact in many ways one would not normally think of as being risky. The obvious, sharing needles, but sharing personal items such as manicure tools, razors, or toothbrushes. Just think about tattooing and body piercing, including have ones ears pierced. It has been suggested that it may soon take more lives than AIDS.

The liver is the organ which is most effected by hepatitis. The famous Naomi Judd used herbs for treating her disease. She spoke at a health food industry show and sang the praises of milk thistle. The active ingredient in milk thistle, sylimarin, has been used to treat conditions of the liver. It has been used extensively in England in the successful treatment of liver disorders including mushroom poisoning.

Dr. Weil has these suggestions for those who may have contracted hepatitis virus:

a. Very low protein, low fat diet. Avoid taking amino acid supplements.

b. Take a potent antioxidant formula and include selenium.

c. Avoid drugs and alcohol and tobacco. Check carefully with the pharmacist went taking prescriptions.

d. Drink plenty of water and take steam baths or saunas to sweat so you can release toxins.

e. Get plenty of rest.

f. Avoid exposure to chemical fumes and vapors.

e. Get plenty of rest.

* This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. References available by request. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.