Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 Volume XIV, Number 187

Did Ya Know?... March is Disaster Preparedness Month. City and Statewide Sirens will be sounded Tuesday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m.

Did Ya Know?... Time sheets for Winter Reading Clubs must be turned in by March 15 to be eligible for drawing prizes and sign up for Awards Day with Bongo Barry! We will be "Lookin’ for Wild Things" with songs chants and musical instruments on Saturday, March 18. Call 237-7040 for more information.

Did Ya Know?... The McCune-Brooks Hospital Lab is offering free colorectal cancer screening kits through the end of March.

Did Ya Know?... The Carthage Fire Department has enacted a zero-tolerance policy on grass fires. Starting today tickets will be issued by the Police Department to those in violation of the burn ban.

today's laugh

Taxpayer: I always pay my income taxes all at once.
Tax collector: But you are allowed to pay them in quarterly installments.
Taxpayer: I know it, but my heart can’t stand it four times a year.

I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don’t even invite me. - Dave Barry

1906
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

To Submit A Franchise.

McReynolds, Attorney for Water Company, Talks of Plans.

Will Present Proposition at Next Council Meeting.

It having been reported that the Carthage Water Co. is about to submit a franchise to the city council for approval, a reporter this morning called on Sam’l McReynolds, the attorney for the company and asked him in regard to the matter.

"Yes, I am working on the details of a franchise now," said Mr. McReynolds, "such as we think will be fair and ought to be adopted. As to what I might have to say about such a franchise, I do not know that it would do any good to discuss it in advance. I will say, however, that I cannot understand the philosophy of those who intimate that the company should furnish free hydrant rental to the city in exchange for a franchise. No set of business men could afford to operate a system of city water works on that basis. People talk about the growth of this city and the business this growth would bring to the water company, but they forget that this growth brings additional burdens on the water company, which demand very large expenditures of money. Now there is the item of sewer flush tanks. It takes 20,000 gallons of water to flush these tanks. Now when the company started here there was no sewer flushing at all, where as now these 20,000 gallons of water have to be furnished free. A continuous stream of free water is kept running through the new High school building and then there are the hospital and the city library building, both getting free water where formerly there was none such to be furnished. This is all in addition to other free water which has been furnished to the city from the beginning.

"Of course the city and water company ought to get together and come to an agreement and not have business going at odds and ends as it has lately between these two. Now I have said to the company that I would never prepare and submit to this city a franchise proposition until they were able to give the city better water than in the past. I have therefore been waiting until the company has made good on this proposition to better the quality of the water. That’s why there has been delay in submitting a franchise. The company has expended over $30,000 on the improvements at the plant in the way of a filter, a new pump etc. It has increased its capacity as well as improved the quality of the water. I think it can consistently ask a proper franchise from the city, and the city should be fair with the company in the terms of the franchise. There may be some kind of give and take on both sides when the city and company try to get together on the terms of the franchise, but whatever is agreed on should certainly be fair on both sides."

Today's Feature

Student Government Day.

Today is Student Government Day. At 11:30 a.m. students from Carthage High School will assemble in the Council Chambers at City Hall to meet City officials. The students will take tours of City offices, have lunch with officials at Memorial Hall and will take part in a question and answer session.

Government day will adjourn from 3:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. when the students will meet in Council Chambers and will act as Mayor and Council members to conduct a regularly scheduled Council meeting.

Items on the agenda for the meeting include the second reading of the ordinance authorizing an electric rate increase as recommended by the Carthage Water & Electric Plant Board. This item produced no discussion during its first reading.

Other items include the first reading of an ordinance rezoning property at 1926 and 1921 South Garrison from District D and District A to District E zoning for General Business District. The Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission rejected this request and it is brought without recommendation. The item was scheduled for the previous Council meeting but was postponed.

Stench Report:
Monday,
3/13/06

No Stench Reported

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin'
I hate shoppin’ for bacon. For some time I thought I was the only one who tried to get a little meat on the slice. Since they started puttin’ the little flap on the package so you could get some idea of what you were gettin’ a few years ago, I’ve don’t think I’ve picked up a package of bacon where the flap wasn’t pulled up.

Seems that by the time I get to pickin’ out a package, they’ve all been picked through. All that’s left are the packs that nobody else wanted. I’m always left wonderin’ if someone else got that one decent package they throw in ever now and then.

Prob’ly, like me, they figure out there ain’t no difference anyway, close their eyes and grab a pack and live with it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.