Today's Feature
Flanigan Added as Special Assistant.

News release

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, today announced an expansion of his staff with the addition of Tom Flanigan, who will serve as the Special Assistant for the 32nd Senatorial District.

According to Nodler Flanigan is a distinguished citizen from Carthage, MO, whose record of community involvement is lengthy and well-rounded. Nodler said Flanigan’s contributions to the public will benefit the 32nd Senatorial District as a whole.

"Tom will be a strong supplement to my team," Nodler said. "It is important to have an active person on the ground who is accessible and attuned to the constituents’ needs."

Flanigan joins Nodler’s staff as a man experienced in public service. He has served as a member of the Carthage City Council and on various boards and commissions in Jasper County. His experiences have enabled him to learn the critical components of government at both the state and local levels.

"I am excited to have the privilege to assist Senator Nodler and the district he’s been elected to serve," Flanigan said. "As a business owner and proud citizen of southwest Missouri, I feel I can relate well to those whom the Senator represents."

Nodler said he is grateful to have had Flanigan as his friend and advisor for many years. "Now with him officially on my team, his services will improve my office’s availability to constituents."

Flanigan isn’t the first of his family to be involved with Missouri’s lawmaking process. His great-grandfather, John H. "Fire Alarm" Flanigan, also served as the House Minority Leader of the 35th General Assembly.

Flanigan will assume his role as the Special Assistant in the district for Nodler on Jan. 1. The first Session of the 93rd General Assembly convenes Jan. 5.

I suppose that all those things that were "gonna get done after the holidays" will have ta be addressed now. The list has been growin’ since ‘fore Thanksgivin’.

I’m not sure how big a list I’ve put together. Like many, I think makin’ the list was one a those things supposed ta be on the list.

‘Course the practice of makin’ resolutions always comes up. From what I’ve observed, most folks just dig out last year’s list and use it again. That is why I only make the one resolution of not makin’ any resolutions.

The most aggravatin’ problem is rememberin’ to put 2005 on checks and such. The most disturbin’ thing is how easily the year slips by.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Skipped Heartbeats Are Very Common

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am writing in hopes that you can give me some information on skipped heartbeats. I have been bothered by them for some years. The doctor gave me an ECG and said they are premature heartbeats. They make me very anxious. What causes skipped heartbeats? — Anon.

ANSWER: I could paper every story of the Empire State Building with letters asking about skipped heartbeats, so common are they.

Premature beats are extra beats sandwiched between two normal heartbeats. They are of two varieties: atrial or ventricular. Atrial premature beats arise in the upper heart chambers and are as close to being insignificant as anything can come. Ventricular premature beats arise in the lower heart chambers, and people often feel a thud in their chests with a PVC — premature ventricular beat. The early beat causes a heart contraction when it is not completely filled with blood. The next normal beat is delayed a bit, and the heart is overfilled. On that contraction people feel the thud.

Close to 60 percent of normal adults have PVCs. If the heart is otherwise healthy, if the PVCs are not all that frequent and if they don’t trigger a sustained, irregular heart rhythm, then often the best treatment is to ignore them. What causes them? Caffeine, nicotine, carbonated beverages and anxiety might bring on some PVCs, but for most people, a cause is never found.