Today's Feature

Referendum Continues.

Approximately 1,200 signatures are needed to repeal or submit to public vote the Council-approved ordinance banning front yard parking. The steps for a referendum were initially taken by five Carthage citizens; Regina Wells and husband, Council member Ronnie Wells, William Clyde Phillips, Chuck Tobrock and Jan Shumny.

The deadline for the collection of these signatures is April 19. According to a recent update from Regina Wells, the group that initiated the referendum is still collecting signatures actively, and are getting near to the required number.

Wells said that the overall response from the public has been positive, adding that opinions have varied widely among those who have signed. Wells referenced the opinions of some who feel the City has more ordinances than can be maintained, and of those who are in favor of the parking ordinance overall, but find it too restrictive.

"A lot of people are saying that it’s time to take care of other problems first, and then look at the parking," said Wells.

The group is still actively seeking signatures door-to-door and is encouraging phone calls from citizens wishing to sign at 359-8776 and 417-793-1699. Arrangements will be made to collect signatures of those who call.

According to City Charter, if the appropriate number of signatures is collected they will be forwarded to the City Clerk, who has 20 days to verify all of the signatures. If the referendum is determined to be sufficient, the City Charter dictates that the Council shall "promptly" consider the repeal of the ordinance. If Council does not choose to repeal the ordinance in 30 days the ordinance will be referred to a vote of the public.

The ordinance, according to information from the City Clerk, was signed into effect on February 14th. The filing date for the referendum was March 16th.

Typoglycemia

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmeneal pweor of the hmuan mnid aoccdrnig to rscheearch taem at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Such a cdonition is arppoiately cllaed Typoglycemia.

Amzanig huh? Yaeh and yuo awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt.

"House of Blue Leaves."

The Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre of Carthage, MO will be presenting "HOUSE of BLUE LEAVES" by John Guare Directed by Julie Krummel assisted by Sue Godsey with Special permission from Samuel French Inc. Financial assistance for this production has been provided by Missouri Arts Council and Schmidt & Associates, PC of Carthage.

Performances are scheduled for May 18, 19, 20, and 26, 27, 28. Reservations are required and may be made by calling Stone’s Throw Theatre at 417-358-9665 or Betty Bell at 417-358-7268 or by e-mailing reservations to bbell23@ecarthage.com. The box office will be open beginning May 15, 2006 from 10 a.m. until 12 noon.

Theatre doors open at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 18, 19, 20, 26, 27 and 28 with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m. and the performance starting at 7:30 p.m. Sundays the doors open at 12:30 p.m. with dinner at 1:00 p.m. and the performance starting at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $19.50 for adults, $18.50 for seniors over 55 and groups of 10 or more. Youth under 16 are $16.00, and children under 5 are free.

Cast includes; Doug Dickie as Artie, Sue Godsey as Bananas, Genevieve Moore as Bunny, Josh Moore as Ronnie, Drew Feathers as Billy, Liz Brown as Corinna, Becky Gooch as the Head Nun, Stacy Pope as the Second Nun, Randi Bachman-Cordell as the Little Nun, Todd Manley as M.P. and Julie Krummel as Person in White.

Zoo attendant Artie Shaughnessy dreams of being a successful songwriter. What his mistress, Bunny Flingus, who lives downstairs from his Queens apartment won’t tell him - and what his insane wife, Bananas, tries to get through to him - is that Artie’s songs stink. On Oct. 4, 1965, the day Pope Paul visits New York City, Bunny convinces Artie to call his old school buddy Billy Einhorn, a famous film director from Los Angeles, to finagle a job writing music for Billy’s movies. Chaos ensues as nothing in this dramatic farce goes according to plan.

Stench Report:
Monday,
5/15/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage
Square

That was prob’ly the time she was given the ultimate defense against such attacks. The "Sticks and stones can break my bones." If I have ta finish that old sayin’, you’ve led a very protected childhood.

I would have to guess some mother centuries ago came up with that and it will most likely never be improved upon. I would guess that those words are spoken to nearly ever’ preschooler as part of the first day ritual.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Can a diabetic safely diet? My aunt would like to lose weight. She uses insulin and tests her blood sugar four times a day. -- J.A.

ANSWER: Overweight diabetic patients are encouraged to lose weight. While dieting, they have to adjust the dose of their medicine (insulin or oral pills) to accommodate their lower calorie and carbohydrate intake. They should discuss this with their doctor.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have occasional heartburn, for which I use antacids. Is that OK? Do they cause any problems? -- O.J.

ANSWER: Antacids are perfectly OK for heartburn control. They should be taken one hour and three hours after eating and then again at bedtime.

If you find yourself having to use them daily, then you should see your doctor for medicines that suppress acid production. Furthermore, if you use antacids too frequently, they can cause a rebound increase in acid production.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have Crohn’s colitis. Would performing abdominal crunches adversely affect my condition? -- T.W.

ANSWER: Unless you were having a flare-up of the colitis, exercising -- including doing abdominal crunches -- should not cause any trouble.

Did you know that two former National Hockey League players, Theo Fleury and Kevin Dineen, are Crohn’s patients? Few sports demand the amount of physical exertion that hockey does.