The Council's Agenda.


The City Council will meet for its regular meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall. Scheduled for its first reading is the approval of McCune Brooks Hospital’s application for Certificate of Need. The McCune Brooks Hospital Board is recommending and requesting the City Council approve and support the hospital’s application for Certificate of Need with the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee to build a replacement facility.

The Certificate of Need and its approval are the first in procedures needed by McCune Brooks Hospital to move forward with their plans for a new facility.

The McCune Brooks Foundation Board made a purchase agreement with Precious Moments for 50 acres of land located on the southwest corner of HH and 71 Highways in December for $1.5 million. The land is to serve as the future site for McCune Brooks Hospital.

The Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract for sale of real estate between the City and Young and Jung Lim for 8.7 acres of property located at Myers Park for the amount of $700,000.

The agenda also includes, the Council’s vote on a resolution dedicating 4 on street parking spaces and 7 spaces in the City’s free parking lot on the corner of Howard and Fourth Street to the Drake Hotel for the exclusive use of its occupants.

The City’s support and designation of the parking spaces is needed by Economic Security Corporation in order to apply for a grant for senior housing. The spaces will still be available as public use until the pending purchase of the Drake Hotel by the ESC is finalized.

City Administrator Tom Short stated that a resolution is a "formal motion of the Council." Short explained that a resolution is a formal procedure to show the City’s support and intent to provide the spaces needed.

The Council is also scheduled to vote on a ordinance authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract with Ultreya Solutions Group for computer consulting services for the City.

USO Dance.

The Probation and Patrol Advisory Board announced that they are having a USO Dance Saturday, March 13th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m in the Carthage Memorial Hall.

Music for the dance will be provided by Dance Music Co. and DJ Steve Scott from Magic 93.9. Ticket are $5 in advance, $7 at the door and $3 Military tickets available by calling 629-3200 or 358-4663.

Proceeds from the dance will help support the Probation and Parole Citizen’s Advisory Board.

Board President Carolyn Stienbrook stated that each year the organization sends five individuals from ages 17 to 21 who have been in trouble with the law to the Missouri State Penitentiary. Their trip is one full day, in hopes they will not want to return as an inmate.

"We have a 90% success rate," said Stienbrook. "It’s a good eye opener. We also help those on parole get work boots for work, cloths, coats, and their children food to eat."

Stienbrook also reported that the board helps those who have made mistakes, not "hard core criminals."

Mornin'

Then there’s the one about the cat that was walkin’ along the muddy country road headin’ for the general store. He came upon a mouse in a rut in the road. The mouse called to the cat and asked if the feline could assist in getting him out of the rut.

The cat, amused at the rodents situation said no, he didn’t feel that he could be of assistance and went on his way.

Later in the day the cat was awaken from his nap by the mouse chewing on a grain sack.

"Get someone to help?" the cat asked.

"Nope, I got out by myself."

"I thought you said you couldn’t get out," mused the cat.

"A car was comin’," the mouse admitted, "I had too."

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Macular Degeneration: Older People’s Eye Problem

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My mother is losing her sight due to macular degeneration. I need to know if and when she will be completely blind. Secondly, is this inherited? Am I destined to have it? — K.R.

ANSWER: The macula, which is no larger than a printed "o," is the most sensitive part of the retina. The retina is the backmost eye layer, and it transmits vision to the brain. The macula provides clear, central vision, the kind needed to read a paper, sew and watch television. The first inkling of macular degeneration might be a slight smudge in the center of the visual field. When looking at a paper with intersecting vertical and horizontal lines, lines in the middle of the paper look wavy. It can progress to the point where there is a large blind spot in the middle of the visual field. How fast or how extensive it will progress is impossible to predict. Vision off to the side is retained, so most patients are never completely blind.

A little stir of hope in the macular degeneration story is the finding that a combination of beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and copper might slow its progression. For me to infer that this is a major breakthrough would be unconscionably cruel. It’s a somewhat feeble attempt to stem the advance of macular degeneration, and how much it helps an individual is another matter.