Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Friday, November 25, 2005 Volume XIV, Number 112

Did Ya Know?... Santa Claus will be available for photos with children both old and young, Friday, Nov. 25 at Precious Moments Park. Santa will be inside the main Visitors Center Gift Shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photos are $3 each. Candy for all children.

Did Ya Know?... The City of Carthage Recycling Drop-Off Center and Composting Lot will be closed Friday, November 25 in observance of Thanksgiving.

Did Ya Know?... The Salvation Army, 125 E. Fairview, Carthage, announces that they will begin taking Christmas Basket applications on Nov. 14 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. ending the application process on Dec. 9, 2005. Applications will be taken daily Mon. through Fri. For more info call Captain Everling or Bess Wilkes at 417-358-2262.

Did Ya Know?... The Carthage Public Library Winter Reading Club has begun! Sign up for "Wild Readings!" (P through 6th grades) or "Get Carded @ Your Library" for the young adults. Programs end March 13, 2006. For details, call 237-7040 or come by the YPL desk downstairs.

today's laugh

Father: George, if you eat any more turkey, you’ll explode.
George: That’s all right, Dad, just pass me a drumstick and stand back.

I bought a generic cat. It only had five lives. - Buzz Nutley

1905
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

Just A Bit of Sentiment.

Local Electric Cars Have Mottos on their Walls and They Do Good.

Ordinarily there’s but little sentiment in business, but like other unusual things, it is striking when found and that’s why this incident is worth more than passing interest.

Have you noticed the following lines among the glaring advertisement cards which border the interior of the Southwest Missouri Electric Railway company’s street cars? Next time you ride look beneath the caption "But once" and you will read these words; "I shall pass through this world but Once; any good therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I may not pass this way again."

These words are neatly printed on a card. The thought is unmarred by any advertisement. It is simply a motto that one might hang up in his parlor.

These advertising spaces in the street cars are leased to a big company in an eastern city. This company solicits the "ads" and sends them to the electric line company and they are inserted in their places. In the last batch of advertising cards that came to electric line superintendent Wade Gunsalus was 40 of these motto cards. They bore nothing in the way of advertisement and Supt. Gunsalus thought there had been some mistake and wrote back to the firm.

Promptly came the reply "Put them up with the ads. To be sure they advertise nothing," said the writer, "but they may do some good in this world and we will look to that for our compensation." And so, the cards were tacked up with the rest, one in every car.

It was but a week afterwards that "they did some good." It was on a car running out of Joplin. There had been a matinee and the car was crowded of women and children. Outside the smoker only one man was sitting down and near him stood a tired out old woman, her arms full of bundles. A young man standing in the smoker noted the old lady and stepping to the man sitting down asked him if he wouldn’t give the old woman his seat.

"Naw," was the reply. "It’s up to the electric line company to get her a seat. I pay my fare and I’m going to sit down." And he sat.

The conductor of the car heard this conversation and when he finished taking a fare nearby stepped to the speaker’s side, tapped him politely on the shoulder and pointed to the motto "But Once" just above him. The man read. As his eyes slowly followed the words his face grew redder and redder. He finished and there was a moment’s thought. A smile broke through his embarrassment and turning to the conductor who stood waiting he said "Well now I guess that advice is pretty good. Of course the lady can have my seat." And the tired old lady rested. The man stood up.

Today's Feature

Approved Annexation Resolutions.

Carthage City Council on Tuesday evening approved three resolutions annexing property near Precious Moments into the City. According to Public Works Director Chad Wampler 250 acres of the land annexed were property of Don Butcher and the remaining 950 acres were the property of Precious Moments.

Carthage Water and Electric Plant General Manager Bob Williams was in attendance of the meeting and spoke to the Council concerning an ordinance that would authorize the purchase of power from the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission from an upcoming power plant.

According to Williams the Plum Point Power Plant Project is a coal power plant that will be completed in the year 2010 and this ordinance would contract the purchase of 12 megawatts of capacity per hour beginning at the completion of the plant.

"This is very important to our future," said Williams of the power purchase.

Williams said that this purchase would not be for peaking power but for base load power that is used all through the year. Peaking power, according to Williams is that used during the summer and winter when the climate is more extreme.

Coal energy is a very stable form of power according to Williams and the plant is in search of the most reliable method available for long term purchases. Williams went into detail describing the breakdown of long term purchases saying that the general result is a lower price per unit.

Council member Larry Ross asked if the transmission lines for the electricity were already in place. Williams said that they were in place, but the details of prices for transmission were still being finalized. Williams added that this purchase would be in addition to CW&EP’s current contracts for electricity, saying it would be advantageous to the City to have a second source of base load power.

The item will be in its second reading at the next Council meeting.

Nodler Conference in Carthage.

Sen. Gary Nodler To Discuss Proposed Legislation in Neosho, Carthage

News release

State Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, will be holding news conferences on Mon., Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. in the Newton Hall Conference Room at Crowder College in Neosho and at 2 p.m. at the City Hall in Carthage.

He will be announcing proposed legislation that deals with concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) and entities that convert biological waste into petroleum.

"The recent permit process involving Moark’s expansion in Neosho, and the continuing controversy surrounding Renewable Environmental Solutions (RES) in Carthage, have demonstrated certain weaknesses in the regulatory process," Nodler said. "This legislation will increase the penalties for violations."

Christmas Homes Tour.

News release

The Carthage Church of the Nazarene is hosting a Christian Christmas Homes Tour. On Friday, Dec. 9 from 6-8:00 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon seven homes will be open for tours of the home and Christmas decorations at $5.00 per person. Men and women enjoying the tour can choose their own route and schedule to view all the homes. Refreshments will be served at each home.

Homes on the tour include; Leland and Deanna Conrad, 511 E. 14th St; Herman and Velma Holz, 515 E. 14th St.; Tracy and Terri Rushing, 707 Lexie LAne; George and Bonnie Earl, 715 Lexie Lane; Paco & Kathy Harris, 2526 Stephen; Rodney & Sheila Pollard, 1128 E. 13th St; and Jim and Susan Dillow, 4830 S. Deer Run Loop.

Tickets can be purchased beforehand at the church or at each home on the day of the tour. For information or to purchase tickets, call 358-4265 or 358-0883.

Stench Report:
Wednesday,
11/23/05

No Odor Complaints

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin'

I can remember my grand dad sittin’ ‘round with my dad and uncles playin’ Cribbage after Thanksgivin’ dinner. I wasn’t old enough ta play and was more interested in crawlin’ in my grand dad’s old Buick to learn the game.

All I really remember is the Cribbage board they used ta keep score. I reached once to pull out onea the pegs and thought I was gonna lose my hand. I knew at that point Cribbage was much too serious of a game for a five year old.

The tradition of game playin’ after a holiday dinner has continued over the years. Usually the younger kids bring their own entertainment and the adults gather in their own area. Occasionally I’ll see a small hand reachin’ up over the edge of the table. Sometimes it’s hard to remember it’s only a game.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.