Today's Feature

Have Filed For Office.

Tuesday, December 13 was the first day to file for City office for the upcoming April 4th election.

Fifth ward council member and current mayor pro-tem Jim Woestman has filed for Mayor. Current Mayor Kenneth Johnson has completed two terms and is not running for office again. The mayor serves a four year term.

Other incumbent council members who have filed for candidacy include 3rd ward Jackie Boyer and 5th ward Tom Flanigan.

There are 6 council positions available including one in each ward and an additional one-year term in the 1st ward. The standard term is for two years.

Candidacy may be filed in the Carthage City Hall. Candidates must be 21 years of age and must live in the ward they are filing to represent. Candidates must also have lived in Carthage as a primary residence for at least two years.

The cost for filing is $25 or the provision of 25 signatures from the respective ward. The final date to file is January 17th of 2006.

Winter Is Best Time To Prune Trees.

News release

During winter, most are thinking about staying inside, and keeping warm. What many need to do is get out and prune their trees. This timing provides the most health benefits to the tree.

When a tree is pruned, it is wounded with a purpose. Similar to a surgeon cutting open the abdomen to remove an appendix. The pruning wound is an open injury that is exposed to infection from various pathogens. To heal, the tree must grow over the wound.

During the winter most of the pathogens of trees are dormant and not available to infect a fresh wound. A dry wound, one that is several weeks old, is also much harder to infect. To take advantage of this, Winter is the time to prune.

Pruning should be done to remove dead, broken, injured and defective limbs. Other reasons for pruning such as removing lower limbs for clearance should be done only after pruning for health reasons has been done. No more than one fourth of the live crown should be removed at any one time. If pruning removes more than this the tree may not respond well. This could cause the tree to decline, or slow growth while it grows back enough leaves.

Proper pruning methods also involve making cuts in the correct place. This creates the smallest wound the tree has to grow over. Pruning at the branch collar will accomplish this goal.

For additional information about tree pruning, call Jon Skinner, Urban Forester at the Joplin MDC office at 417-629-3423.

Stench Report:
Thursday,
12/15/05

No Stench Reported

Bein’ the Christmas season, you have to be on the look out for folks actin’ a little strange. I’ve had several occasions in the last few days where I was caught off guard ‘cause of people bein’ courteous. Maybe I just notice it more this time a year, but be on your toes.

I’ve witnessed two or three cars stoppin’ at pedestrian cross walks to let folks walkin’ get across. I know that happens on occasion, but around Christmas people seem ta be more likely to actually take a minute and consider the other guy.

What ya gotta do is watch out for the guy watchin’ out for the other guy. He may not be noticin’ you’re in a hurry and followin’ a little close when he stops in the road.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

The skin is the largest eliminative organ. Through the sweat and oil glands the body can eliminate waste material from the blood and lymph more rapidly than through any other means. Sweating has been a part of traditional medicine for centuries. The Native Americans used sweat lodges (for one reason) to help a person recover health, as did the pioneers use sweat pails. We are fortunate enough to have hot running water to which we can add a few tablespoons of ginger, lavender oil, tea tree oil, rosemary or other aromatic herbs to promote sweat. The herbs stimulate the sweat glands. After soaking in a tub for approximately 20 minutes (no longer!), wrap up in a nice flannel or wool blanket and continue to sweat. Remember to drink lots of fluids.

I have found that adding lavender oil to the bath relaxes and calms the frustration of being down with a cold and allows one to relax. Lavender oil also has antiseptic properties.

One gentleman I know swears by warm olive oil rubs to the back and chest to "cure" long congestion. His remedy is to mix it with garlic juice and massage into back and on chest. Rest 24 hours, cough lots of phlegm, and you’ll be "good as new." Or, as his friend added, just keep eating garlic and you’ll scare the cold away!