Today's Feature

Roundabout Beautification Continues.

The "roundabout beautification" project is still in progress as reported by Public Works Director Chad Wampler at the Public Works meeting last week. Wampler told the committee that several garden clubs had been in correspondence with him and were working on initial plans and costs for the project. Wampler said more information would be available at the next Public Works meeting.

Committee member Claude Newport asked Wampler if there had been any updates to the two appeals that were submitted in December last year concerning the new floodplain area. Wampler said that FEMA had responded with an intent to postpone the finalization of the new region in order to analyze the appealed areas.

The Carthage City Council meets this evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The agenda includes an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a lease purchase agreement and accompanying acceptance certificate with Arvest Bank, for a five year lease term with an annual percentage rate of 4%, for the lease purchase of 52 Yamaha gas powered golf carts for the Parks Department.

Blunt In Carthage Wednesday.

Congressman to Conduct Viewpoint Session

News release

Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt will host four Viewpoint Sessions with the public on Wednesday, March 23. The one-hour sessions will be held in Carthage, Neosho, Pineville and Joplin.

"This is a chance for Southwest Missourians to ask questions face-to-face," Blunt, the Majority Whip in the House said. "I want to hear constituent comments as we work on reforming Social Security, simplifying our tax code, improving access to health care and strengthening national security while reducing the federal deficit. These issues are worthy of public debate and I will be delighted to listen to the ideas brought to these forums which are open to everyone in the Seventh District," the congressman said.

Congressman Blunt will be speaking in the Council Chambers of Carthage City Hall at 11:30 a.m.

This is the time a year that always confuses most folks. No matter what ya put on in the mornin’ ta wear, it always seems ta be the wrong choice by the end of the day.

Course, the best all round piece of clothin’ ever made is the overalls. Ya put on a t-shirt, a flannel shirt and if need be a jacket. As the day progresses and starts to warm up, any combination meets the need.

There was a time there where they were tryin’ to sell fancy overalls. All different colors and little flowers and such on ‘em. I can understand why that fad went away. When ya have on a pair of overalls, it just makes ya feel like ya otta be workin’.

Oh, sure, they’re great for just loungin’ around in, but overalls were meant ta be worked in. Plenty a pockets for small tools and pocket knives. That little loop on the side comes in handy for carryin’ a tennis racket.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Treatments Abound for Enlarged Prostate

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 76-year-old man who suffered a disabling stroke back in 1996. My body is paralyzed on the right side. Just a couple of months ago I was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate. It blocks my bladder. My doctor put me on Flomax, but I still have a difficult time emptying my bladder. My doctor says surgery is out. Are there other procedures that could help me? — S.C.

ANSWER: An enlarged prostate gland is something that happens to just about every man as he grows older. About half of those in their 60s have a large gland, and close to 80 percent of those past 70 have one. Not all of them, however, need treatment, for not all have symptoms.

Flomax eases the grip of muscles strangling the urethra as it passes through the enlarged gland. Another class of medicines, ones that block the action of testosterone on gland growth, can shrink the gland. Avodart is an example. It can be used in conjunction with Flomax, and the double effect can be doubly rewarding. It takes months for Avodart to achieve an effect, so patience is a must for all users.

There are many office procedures that can relieve urethral compression from the prostate. TUNA — transurethral needle ablation — is one. Other procedures involve the use of lasers. Why not ask your doctor if you are up to one of these office-based methods for relieving prostate-caused obstruction?