Today's Feature

New President Resigns.

According to a news release issued from the Carthage Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, newly hired Chamber President/Economic Development Director Sandra Allison has resigned from her post.

The release says that due to concerns about her mother’s health and a need to remain closer to Rolla for that reason, Sandra felt she would not be able to perform her required duties as Chamber President.

The Chamber Board of Directors had already met in closed session on Thursday to accept the resignations and discuss options for hiring a replacement.

A news conference announcing Allison as Chamber President was held Friday, December 15. She was slated to begin duties in that position on January 2.

Free Week At Precious Moments Park.

Precious Moments Park is giving a gift to the community this year with a free week after Christmas. The free week will run Tues., Dec. 26 through Sun., Dec. 31. All Attractions will be free of charge.

A regular Attraction Pass cost is $12 for adults and covers admission to see two entirely different Fountain of Angels performances and the Wedding Island tour. All guests who visit during the free week will be able to enjoy these free of charge.

"This has become a tradition at Precious Moments," said Shelby Bates, Media Coordinator for the Park. "It’s a gift to our guests at Christmas."

For more information call (800) 543-7975.

Stench Report:

Thursday,
12/21/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage Square

I never knew all the words to the "over the hills and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go", but growin’ up, I made the trip several times. Made up a few words of my own.

Looks like the weather won’t be a deterrent to travel this year, so if you’re headin’ out, watch out for the other guy. There are a few who just don’t understand the spirit of Christmas.

We here at the Mornin’ Mail want to wish you and your family an enlightening Christmas and look forward to bein’ back on the street on Tuesday.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

I don’t know how people can shop for entertainment or be shop-a-holics as the massive amount of merchandise just overwhelms me...watched lots of people complain they were overbuying and knew it. Why?

If you choose to be out in the crowds, remember your immune system is working hard to keep you healthy. Beta glucan has been proven to be a very strong bolster for the immune system. When my Mother was in hospice care, it was a bad winter for flu and colds. We supplied her healthcare assistants (our family too!) with the nutritional support of this product so they would not expose our Mother to any outside colds or other uncomfortable illness. Much to their surprise they stayed healthy as co-workers became ill.

An emergency care worker was telling me the number of people who show up with indigestion after the holidays. Of course, careful handling of foods is important. If overeating is the problem, a nice comforting cup of digestion tea may be beneficial. We find that fennel/catnip tincture in a cup of hot water will settle the stomach quite rapidly. It has also made my grandkids comfortable if they have a bout of colic.

Please remember to cover if you cough or sneeze.

artCentral
Art Notes from Hyde House
By Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

As we close out the 2006 season, I wish to thank again all the artists and helpers that made it happen. Thanks to the exhibiting artists for 2006, Becki Golubski and her wonderful pet portraits, Kim Kissel and her daughter Kat and the beautiful and "funky" things that they brought, Josie Ferrantelle and her abstracts, Larry Oliver and his interesting and miraculous wood sculptures, Elizabeth Pauly and the landscape watercolors and Barbara Courtney and her oils. I thank the supporting artists who supported the Member Gallery by their offerings there, Cheryl Church, Mike Shelton and Sean Shuster. Thanks to all the member artists of artCentral who brought their work and made this year’s Member Show such a success, and to the three winners of this year’s awards, Kim Kissel, Robin Putnam and Lee Ann Sours.

And much appreciation goes out to the teachers and assistants at our children’s artCamp in July. To Anne-Marie Gailey, Andrea Land, Randy Wright, Kathleen Day and Jake Evans, the very fine teachers, and to Grant Woody who helped as aide each day. These gave alot of their summer time both in the planning and the teaching of their classes, and next year will be bigger and better. Appreciation to all the parents who brought the kids faithfully each morning, picked MOST of them up each afternoon (just a little joke there!) and especially to the students themselves who were so enthusiastic about everything they did!

A greater Board of Directors I could not ask for, and I thank each, Bill Still, Mike Shelton, Sarah Ross, Miriam Putnam, Helen Kunze, Debbie Reed, Dennis Sowers, Dean Vandergriff and long time member and President, Don Knost. Thanks to those retiring members this year, especially Robin Putnam who has joined our great advisors, Jerry Ellis and dear Sandy Higgins, who has been so supportive of me and of artCentral through her presence and her patronage.

I thank my own Intern who joined us mid-year, art student at Southern, Alyson Deboutez, who has been faithful and done a great job when I have asked her to do anything.

I thank all of our "press" people, those who cover our shows and write the articles, take the photographs. I began the year with Melissa Dunston, and now she has moved over to the GLOBE to allow Michael Davidson to step in an do an equally great job. Thanks to Ron Graber and all those at the PRESS for the opportunity of the weekly column and for the good coverage on show openings. I appreciate so much the assistance of Tricia Courtney who is the master of our website at OZARKARTISTSCOLONY.COM and the great help she has been to me this year, both there and also at the JOPLIN GLOBE. Special appreciation to Rich Brown at the GLOBE for his articles. And to the folks at KRPS and KXMS for the radio coverage on the calendars. Our friends at Carthage Printing do an outstanding job for me printing our newsletter, our invitations and running the weekly column in the MORNIN MAIL--- thank you HJ, Toni and Leighton!

So I count this column as # 51 for the year. In column #1 I asked for artists and patrons. Lastly I thank the patrons, those who have joined or renewed their memberships in artCentral this past year, those who have come to an opening or attended a function. Those patrons who have made generous donations of funds, books or art, truly our "benefactors". Those patrons who have generously given to us through existing Trusts and grants. Most sincere and grateful thanks for these things. We will need more help as we get into 2007, and we may be asking for some help from those who have not been asked before or for a long time. We are certain that you will be generous with us and we thank all the community for a great 2006 and look towards a greater 2007 to come!