Today's Feature

Missouri Senate Second Week.

The Missouri Senate began its second week by witnessing the inauguration of Governor Matt Blunt in the House of Representatives. Other officers sworn in included the state lieutenant governor, treasurer, secretary of state and attorney general.

"I believe the installation of Matt Blunt as Missouri’s 54th governor will quickly translate into direct and tangible benefits for the people of Missouri. In southwest Missouri specifically, I know I have a much stronger advocate in our new governor, who is committed to working with me on securing funding on projects important to our part of the state like the regional crime lab in Joplin and the alternative energy program at Crowder College," said Senator Gary Nodler.

The crime lab in Joplin had its funding cut due to a reduction in funds for the Joplin Police Department by the City of Joplin. The cut resulted in a loss of one third of the money used to keep the lab open. This lab was used by many regional law enforcement agencies including the Carthage Police Department for work such as fingerprinting and DNA testing. With the absence of a lab in Joplin regional police departments have resorted to using a laboratory in Springfield, which lengthens the turnaround time for results.

By the end of this year’s regular legislative session 1500 Senate and House bills are expected to move through committees in both chambers, according to Nodler. The bills that earn the committee approval are then passed to the full Senate for approval, and then to the House.

"As in years past, I have a full slate of committee duties this session as chairman of the education committee, vice-chair of the appropriations committee and a member of six other Senate and joint panels," said Nodler.

The Missouri Senate adjourned Monday for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day and will reconvene today.

‘Course the ideal situation is to have a store that is convenient but doesn’t know it.

I liked the convenience of the ice cream store sellin’ milk outa their drive-by window at a price that was competitive with the traditional grocery. That service was halted a few weeks ago but the price of the milk stayed the same. I’m guessin’ it was so convenient that folks weren’t comin’ inside the store.

Carthage does have onea the last full service gas stations down by Memorial Hall. Now when the temperature is ten degrees, that’s convenient.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

The Cold Facts About Colds

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I would very much like to track down the person who gave me this cold so I can thank him or her. I need some information to do this. How long does it take to start feeling bad after someone passes you the cold germ? How long does a cold last? What can you take for one? How about vitamin C or echinacea? — C.R.

ANSWER: Trying to find the person who gave you a cold is an impossible task. There are too many people who harbor the virus, and not all of them have the signs of a cold when they pass it on.

Colds are mostly passed from person to person by hand contact. Then the newly infected person touches his or her eyes or nose, and a new viral infection begins. Some cold viruses can live on inanimate objects, like a doorknob or a spoon, and they can be picked up there. A third way of spread is an infected person’s cough or sneeze.

Once the virus penetrates the body, symptoms begin in one to four days. Symptoms peak on Day 5 of the illness. By another five days most people are completely better. Decongestants dry runny noses. Pseudoephedrine is an ingredient found in many of them. Over-the-counter antihistamines do the same.

Neither vitamin C nor echinacea nor zinc has been conclusively proven to shorten the duration of a cold.