Today's Feature

Ceiling Repair for Police Department.

The Carthage Police Department ceiling was under repair on Thursday following damage due to a jailbreak last week.

Last Saturday an inmate escaped by tearing a hole in the ceiling of the common shower room. The ceiling in this area was made of plaster and wire mesh and the hole allowed access to the drop-in ceiling in the main department area. Officers were soon made aware of the inmate’s absence upon serving lunch and began a search inside the building. At approximately the same time the escapee plunged through the drop-in ceiling near the Police conference room damaging several of the tiles and the wire frame of the drop-in ceiling.

The escapee then ran out of the department in the direction of the Post office and had traveled about a block when officers caught up with him and took him back to custody.

The repairs to the ceiling of the prisoner shower area and main department were expected to be completed on Thursday. Second Husband Handyman Service of Carthage was contracted to do the repair which was estimated to cost $900. Repairs include a newly-reinforced and more impregnable ceiling for the jail shower and replaced tiles and framework for the hall ceiling.

Art Competition Set for April 7.

News release

Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt has set the 10th Annual Seventh Congressional District High School Art Competition for April 7th at the Springfield Art Museum. Blunt is encouraging art teachers and young artists from high schools in the 10-county congressional district to begin planning their entries for the exhibition.

"This is a showcase event for aspiring high school art students in our district. The show gives high school students an opportunity to display their talent and examine the artwork of their peers," Blunt said. "The annual art high school art show has revealed that we have a number of gifted students in Southwest Missouri and talented art teachers who instill in these budding artists the skills, knowledge and passion for their craft."

The competition is open to high school students in the 7th Congressional District. Each high school may submit one entry for the competition. Entries may be no larger than 30 by 30 inches, including frame. Original work may include paintings, drawings, watercolors, pastels, collages, or prints. The deadline for submitting entry forms to the Springfield Constituent Service Center is April 3.

Judging will take place on April 7 by a distinguished panel of art professors from 7th District colleges and universities. The winners will be announced during a reception for the high school artists, their parents, art teachers, school administrators, district organizers and judges at 5:00 pm in the Springfield Art Museum.

The winning entry will be on exhibit in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. for one year starting in June, replacing last year’s winner, Nixa High School artist Sarah Frana’s colored pencil sketch "Symphonic Assembly." The work of the runners-up will be displayed in Congressman Blunt’s Springfield and Joplin Constituent Services Offices for the next year.

To obtain information about entering the art competition, contact Sharon Nahon (417-889-1800) in Congressman Blunt’s Springfield Constituent Services Office.

Stench Report:
Wednesday,
3/2/06

No Stench Reported.

Wood cookstoves have some charm for sure, but havin’ ta get up and stoke the fire on a cold mornin’ usually isn’t a fond memory (unless someone else did the stokin’).

Outhouses are always a good conversation generator. Cold mornin’s and hot summer days seem to be the most mentioned rememberances I hear. Thunder buckets don’t seem ta be much missed either. A simpler time maybe, but not without a price.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Why bother to take vitamins? What is the "right" way to eat? Our fast food society looks at a salad bar and that is our answer to all our nutritional needs. Our local drive thru establishments probably account for 30-50% of meals for an average family. This, my friends, is what we call "filler food." It fills us up, but does not meet our bodies’ needs.

According to recent studies, the average American is deficient in trace minerals, enzymes and vitamins. It has been stated that a B-12 deficiency may account for early dementia, a lack of chromium may result in hypoglycemia or diabetes, mineral shortages aggravate arthritic conditions, preservatives and additives may be a major cause of behavioral problems and on and on. The ideal is to get all we need from our food, but if you know you are among the millions of Americans who are not eating plenty of fresh vegetables, grains, fruits, dairy and meat on a daily basis or if stress depletes your intake; vitamin and/or herbal supplementation may be necessary. Ask your professional practitioner, read some books and listen to your body.

This brief rundown may give you some ideas: Vitamin A - necessary to new cell growth. Helps fight infection. Beta-carotene is a precursor to A, and has received lots of press as an antioxidant. Vitamin K - essential for normal liver functioning and maintaining vitality. Required for blood clotting. Zinc - a necessity in healing process. Aids enzymes in digestion. Important for healthy reproductive organs, especially in men. Vitamin B-12 - powerful blood building factor. Important factor in maintaining a healthy nervous system, including brain cells. Energy.

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

The day has finally arrived to welcome art patrons and guests back to the Hyde House for the first show of the 2006 season, "WOOF!" Pastel Pet Portraits, by Pierce City artist Becky Golubski. This show will be up until April 8th. The 20+ works are hung, the house is cleaned and the refreshments are ready. Invitations have been sent, but the interested public is also invited to attend the opening reception on Friday night beginning at 6:00. Becky will be on hand, along with a few furry-friends from the painting, dressed in their formal attire for the occasion, to meet our guests. Her framed and unframed prints will be available for sale as well as several original works.

I want to thank our various news and newspaper friends who have been generous to call on us for information. Justin Thomas, floral designer and now new-owner of "The Wild Flower" in Joplin was generous in offering fresh floral displays for each of our shows, as he already does for our sister gallery Spiva in Joplin. One of his beautiful arrangements will arrive Friday afternoon. Several individuals have volunteered to help with the service of the refreshments and I thank Miriam Putnam, Leann Colaw. Alice and Josh Habel.

Please know that on Sunday during our gallery hours of 1:00-5:00 we will be offering a second artist’s reception of sweets and coffee to celebrate the March 5th anniversary date of the first Hyde House show opening eight years ago that day. If you can’t be with us Friday night then join us Sunday afternoon after church and lunch to view the show, meet the artist, and enjoy dessert.

Speaking of food, stop in "Shellie’s" near the square for weekday lunch or weekend dinner and view the new show of 13 oil paintings hung Sunday. I think you will enjoy the color of Katherine Hyde’s work. And the menu is well worth the trip.

We are now signing up interested persons to go through a brief docent training at the gallery. This will equip individuals to guide visitors through the house and tour an exhibit. I hope to hold this class very soon as help is needed now.

Lastly, gracious thanks to the four new individuals who have volunteered to sit on our board of directors for the new term and who will join us for our next regular board meeting on March 8th. We welcome you!