Today's Feature

Police Issue "Tickets To The City."

News release

The Carthage Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with the Carthage Police Department announces the "Ticket To The City" program is back by popular demand. Starting this week, local police officers will begin summoning visitors to ‘enjoy Carthage’ as part of a program designed to acquaint out of state travelers with the finer aspect of small town life.

"It’s a positive program," said Carthage Police Chief Dennis Veach, "How often does a person get stopped (by an officer) and walk away with a gift, not a ticket? We give the tourists a chance to experience just a small part of our beautiful city, at no cost to them."

Officers approaching people do so with a smile as they present tickets valid for a variety of items including meals, old fashioned ice cream specials, and a selection of gifts provided by the many shops on and off the historic Carthage square.

"The visitors love this program, and are pleased with the generosity of the community," said Aimee Smith, Executive Director of the Carthage Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The "Ticket To The City" program was adopted by the Carthage Convention and Visitors Bureau from Main Street Carthage a few years ago and is funded by the Steadley Memorial Trust.

Committee To Meet.

The Public Works Committee will meet this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. There is no business on the agenda except for reports from the City Staff.

Tree Identification Walk Offered

News release

Ever want to know what that tree is? You could with just a little training. Tree identification is something we all can do. The problem is we need a good set of books, a person to teach us, or both to figure out exactly what the tree is. No one will know all of the trees you see. There are way too many in the world, but you can learn many of the more common ones you interact with regularly.

To help you, Jon Skinner, Urban Forester, with the Missouri Department of Conservation is offering you the opportunity to participate in a Tree Identification Walk. The walk will happen on June 6, 2006 at 6 PM in Ewert Park, Joplin. Ewert Park is located at the intersection of 7th Street and Murphy Blvd. / S. Illinois Ave. The walk is free to everyone. Several examples of good tree identification references will be available including free MDC handouts.

Stench Report:
Monday,
6/5/06

Stench Detected Sunday Evening
6/4

As ya gain some maturity ya figure that someday there will be no more stages left.

Unfortunately, I’ve discovered yet another "awkward" situation. I find myself between belt sizes. The notch that feels comfortable is just a little loose and the next notch in puts a real squeeze on the midsection. Very awkward. I don’t really care which, but hopefully I’ll grow out or in to a more comfortable stage soon.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

To Your Good Health
By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Small Vessel Disease of Brain Not a Calamity

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 71-year-old woman. I take medicine for high blood pressure and for cholesterol control. For a long time I’ve been having headaches, and sometimes I get a sharp pain on one side of my head. I think I’m going to have a stroke. I had an MRI of my brain and was told over the phone that I have small vessel disease of the brain. I was told not to worry, but the report really scares me. Would you explain what small vessel disease is? -- D.A.

ANSWER: A good number of people over the age of 70 would have a similar report on their MRI brain scans. "Small vessels" are the tiniest branches of arteries. Each small vessel serves a very limited area of brain. Small vessels are places where plaque builds up. Plaque is a heap of cholesterol, fat, blood proteins and blood platelets that clings to an artery’s wall. In time, the buildup can block the flow of blood through the artery. Blocking blood flow in a few small vessels doesn’t generally create huge problems.

On the report you sent me, the radiologist said that the changes seen "probably" represent small vessel disease. He isn’t sure, so the changes are not great and are not signs that a major stroke lies in your future.

Continue doing exactly as you have been doing. Make sure your blood pressure stays in a controlled zone. High blood pressure accelerates plaque formation. The same goes for cholesterol. You should watch your diet, steering clear of fats and too much cholesterol. Try to get some exercise every day of the week. Worrying about it is more of a threat to your health than is the report itself.