Today's Feature

Library Bids Were High.

The renovation of the Carthage Public Library will be affected, as most new construction will, by Hurricane Katrina. The price of gasoline and construction materials has elevated over the past month, and will likely stay increased throughout the rebuilding process in the gulf.

The bid openings were held recently for contractor work for the renovation of the Library. According to Public Works Director Chad Wampler 5 bids were received ranging from $4.8 million to $5.3 million. All bids received were approximately 1 million over the anticipated budget.

The Public Works department with the library are looking at alternatives that could reduce the cost of the construction. Wampler told City Council at the meeting this week that one alternative would be not using limestone veneer in the new construction.

Chainsaw Safety and Pruning Workshop.

A chainsaw safety and pruning workshop will be held Saturday, October 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Kellogg Lake. A $5 registration is required and lunch will be provided.

Stench Report:
Thursday,
09/29/05

No Odors

Time ta start puttin’ the summer toys away, gettin’ ready for cool weather chores.

In these parts the Maple Leaf Festival marks the official end of the warm weather season. Leaf rakin’ and mulchin’ the garden begins, and the wash tub is placed on the mower for the season.

For many it means the crop of walnuts and pecans will soon be comin’. In my particular instance, it means a good deal of activity by the squirrels in the neighborhood. I never seem ta be able to outsmart the critters, and I suppose they make better use of the vegetation than I would anyway. At least I don’t have ta worry bout puttin’ a pecan through my neighbor’s window durin’ the first spring mowin’.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Some common facts about some common herbs:

Echinacea: Supports the body’s natural defenses when a cold or the flu strikes;many people take it to prevent upper respiratory disorders. May help fight chronic yeast infections and speed recovery from wounds and sores. Some experts advise taking this herb for two months and then abstaining for a week or so.

Hawthorne: Supports cardiac function, including heart rate and blood flow to the heart, along with general circulatory health. Some studies indicate it may reduce blood pressure. It may ease discomforts, such as shortness of breath, swollen ankles and post exercise fatique.

Horse Chestnut: Used to relieve varicose veins and other signs of poor lower-body vein circulation, including leg pain and fatigue. Helps reduce swollen ankles. Also used in herbal ointments for hemorrhoids. Often relieves pain associated with long days on cement floors.

Turmeric: Long used in India to ease pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. May protect the liver from environmental toxins. Evidence suggests that turmeric helps reduce cancer risk, speed wound healing and reduces skin inflammation. The derivative curcumin is available in capsule form.

* This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. References available by request. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.

artCentral

artCentral exhibit stirs artist’s recollection

Before he became a full time studio artist, Andy Thomas was an advertising executive for Leggett & Platt.

Andy recalls walking down the hall one day and seeing a recently purchased painting by Bob Tommey being carried into an office. "I stopped dead in my tracks," Andy recalls , "and thought, That’s exactly how I want to paint!"

That was a long time ago, and now Andy Thomas is a well known painter with a national reputation, an artistic style of his own, and an enduring friendship with Bob Tommey.

Andy is one of the artists exhibiting in the show, Bob Tommey & Friends, which opens as part of artCentral’s 3rd Annual Maple Leaf Wine Tasting Party on Sunday, October 9, from 2:00 to 5:00pm.

For this special exhibit, Andy is loaning a painting that he and Bob Tommey painted together at a Friday night painting session "…when artCentral was down in the old county offices. It’s a painting of my kids at the creek that I started, Bob painted most of, and I finished," laughs Andy. Eventually they both signed it.

During the Wine Tasting event, Andy will sign and personalize copies of his book, The Artful Journey: The Artwork of Andy Thomas which features many of his historical and Western paintings. The cost of the book is $50.

Tickets for artCentral’s Wine Tasting event are $25 per person/$40 a couple, in advance (358-4404) or at the door. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.