Today's Feature

Ballot Wording Finalized.

The details of the ballot wording for a proposed County law enforcement sales tax were finalized Monday. County Commissioners Chuck Surface, Jim Honey, and Dareius Adams have all three signed the Commission Order.

The ballot language will read: "Shall the County of Jasper impose a county wide sales tax of one quarter of one percent on all retail sales for the purpose of providing law enforcement services for the County?"

According to Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn, the wording of the Commission order was a matter of debate. Section 7 in its final form says that the General Budget Revenue of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office may be reduced by no more than five hundred thousand dollars from the 2005 budget and that future budget allocations from the general revenue won’t be reduced further. Dunn says he is pleased with the final result.

"I’m very excited," said Dunn. "We think this is a workable solution."

This item as originally proposed was almost not permitted to reach the ballot due to the County budget being down $200,000 from last year. The item was budgeted in the amount of $80,000 to be put on the ballot but it was recommended that the money not be used for that purpose. Dunn worked with a committee comprised of approximately 40 members from all over the County raising over $50,000 to get the item placed on the ballot.

Dunn said that the next step for the committee is to begin raising money for an advertising campaign for the issue.

Stench Report:
Friday,
08/29/05

No Stench

Sometimes I get the feelin’ that there is some semi-intelligent evil munchkin livin’ inside my coffee machine, patiently waitin’ for me to remove the pot. It usually makes that growlin’ noise right after the liquid hits the hot plate, like it had held the fluid in as long as possible.

There are reasonable solutions to this almost daily confrontation I’m sure. But the use of large hammers and other implements of destruction in the kitchen is frowned upon in my household.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Few Hepatitis B Infections Are Chronic

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have been exposed to the hepatitis B virus. My doctor says I am immune to the virus, but I have been having stomach problems for about three months. How could I be having symptoms of hepatitis B if I am immune to the virus? — W.C.

ANSWER: Let’s handle the immunity part first. If a person has had hepatitis B and recovered from it, that person’s blood tests positive for hepatitis B antibody. "Antibody" means that the person is protected from reinfection with the virus.

The same thing happens to a person who has had hepatitis B virus vaccine. That person’s blood will test positive for hepatitis B antibody. That person is immune to infection with the virus.

The signs and symptoms of infection with all the hepatitis viruses are quite similar. Initially they include loss of appetite, constant nausea, frequent episodes of vomiting and a feeling of exhaustion. People often complain of muscle and joint pains. The whites of the eyes and the skin can turn yellow.

Only a small percentage of hepatitis B patients develop a chronic infection that eventually can lead to permanent liver damage or liver cancer. Those people have symptoms other than stomach pains, and their blood tests usually show a rise in liver enzymes.

I don’t know the cause of your stomach problems, but I doubt that it is hepatitis B. I believe you can trust your doctor on this.