Today's Feature

Damage to Junior High.

News release

The roof on the two-story wing of the Carthage Junior High School sustained damage Sunday night from strong winds. The rolled shingles and styrofoam underlayment were peeled back from approximately one-third to one-half of the roof, begining at the southwest corner of the building. Debris was dropped into the junior high courtyard and scattered at least as far north as the football stadium. Administrators and maintenance staff were busy early this morning assessing the damage and cleaning up debris.

The students and staff are not at risk. The second story classrooms in this wing are safe for occupancy since a concrete deck remains above the ceiling tiles. However, plans are being made to relocate these classes if necessary in case of rain, as leakage could occur.

Renewal of Superintendent’s Contract.

News release

The Carthage R-IX Board of Education unanimously approved the extension of Superintendent Dr. Gary Reed’s employment contract at the Monday, November 21 regular meeting of the Board. This two year contract is for a period from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2008.

Board President Tony Diggs stated, "We believe Dr. Reed can provide the necessary leadership as the district pursues a bond issue to construct a new high school." The Board may ask voters to approve an extension of the current tax levy through 2026 to construct a new high school. Student enrollment is at an all-time high and many shcools, especially the junior high, are severely overcrowded. The new facility would serve grades nine through twelve, and grades seven and eight would be moved to the current high school. Grades five and six would occupy the current junior high, creating additional space in all elementary schools for kindergarten through fourth grade.

Mr. Danny Lambeth, School Board Vice President, stated, "The administration, under Dr. Reed’s leadership has positioned the district very well financially for the next several years as the new state funding formula is implemented. Steps have been taken which will significantly increase state revenue with no additional local cost."

The board will continue to provide opportunities for public comment and questions as it seeks to meet the needs of the children of the community.

For further information contact Mr. Diggs at 417-358-2455.

Stench Report:
Monday,
11/28/05

No Odor Complaints

Now they’re even educatin’ us ‘bout the towns where different cars are made and introducin’ us to those that make ‘em. Now I believe in makin’ an informed decision, but if it gets down to pickin’ which township the factory is in, it’s gone a little too far.

Sometimes I wonder if they’re just seein’ how much bull the consumer can actually absorb.

It’s little wonder that we have so much psychological trauma workin’ its way through the masses. It must be devastating to learn that some minute detail escaped our attention and you’ve got to live with a socially unacceptable auto for five years. All from the country that invented rock-and-roll.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Prostate Cancer’s Spread Depends on Individual

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: It is commonly claimed that many die with prostate cancer, but few die of prostate cancer. That has been comforting to me for many years, but now there has been a high-profile death from prostate cancer — the actor Jerry Orbach.

Could you print a few reassuring words on the subject, please? — F.O.

ANSWER: That statement is correct, but it can’t be taken too cavalierly, or many men will be lulled into a grave misunderstanding about prostate cancer.

Close to 70 percent of men in their 70s have small islands of cancer in their prostate glands. These men are at an age when other serious health problems emerge, and those illnesses often lead to death before prostate cancer has a chance to grow, spread and kill. In 2004, more than 230,000 North American men learned they had prostate cancer. In that same year, about 30,000 died from it — a sizeable number of deaths.

Younger men have cancers that tend to be more aggressive. If an older man has a cancer that is limited to the gland and if that cancer is a "low-grade" cancer, that man can expect to live for 10 to 15 years with it.

"Low-grade" is a judgment made according to the microscopic appearance of the cancer cells. Low-grade cancers grow slowly. Generalities about prostate cancer have to be modified by the special characteristics of an individual’s cancer.