Today's Feature

"Free Ride Into The New Year."

The Carthage Police Department will once again be offering free taxi rides on New Year’s Eve from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. This will apply to inside the City limits of Carthage only.

The goal is to reduce the number of impaired drives on the road and give them a way to get to and from their destination. Flyers are being handed out to all establishments that sell or serve alcohol in an attempt to get the message out to those that might not be aware of the service. The service can be requested on New Year’s Eve by calling 359-6589.

Ice/Winter Storm Debris Removal.

Official News Release from the City

Beginning January 2, 2008, the City’s contractor for debris removal from the recent ice storm (J & R Disaster Services, LLC), will start removal work throughout the City. The contractor is scheduled to make 3 passes through the City, with a minimum of one weekend between each pass, to collect vegetative storm debris from the City’s right-of-ways. The contractor cannot go on private property to remove debris. Residents therefore must stack all vegetative storm debris at the street, behind the curb line. It is estimated that the debris removal will take no longer than 30 days. Residents are encouraged to complete their work as soon as possible in order for the contractor to collect all debris.

Residents may still bring their vegetative storm related debris to the City’s demolition/composting landfill. Fees at the landfill will be waived for storm debris for Carthage citizens until February 2, 2008.

For further information or questions, please contact the City’s Public Works Department at 237-7010.

I think the new year thing is mainly an excuse to let the hair down a little after the Christmas rush anyway. More of a reward for makin’ it through the holidays than a celebration of the comin’ of a new year.

I suppose there is some significance, though. Pushin’ out the old, bringin’ in the new. The realization that another year has slipped by, and that clock that didn’t work last New Year’s Eve still hasn’t been fixed. Maybe next year.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Natural Nutrition
By Mari An Willis

When I was young, my friend’s little brother had a habit of eating small amounts of dirt and clay. I thought he was just disgusting. Why would anyone want to eat dirt? About 10 years ago I found myself paying about $30.00 for a 32 oz. bottle of "minerals" or stuff from the dirt. What is it about packaging and how had my mind changed from disgust to paying a high price to drink it?

Well, seems Philip may have had an inborn instinct that was filling a need. We now know that many of the trace minerals are no longer available in our food as the soil is depleted and we must turn to deposits in the earth to fill a nutritional requirement. I support this line of thinking because nothing is like it used to be... more worn out. The nice thing is that we can now get minerals in liquid or tablet forms and not pay the price I paid years ago. These, of course, are more than just a jar of dirt. They are processed for human consumption.

Just to name a couple of minerals;

Chromium: This is an essential mineral. It is part of the "glucose tolerance factor," helping insulin burn sugar. In studies done at the University of Texas, chromium levels were found to be low in most patients. Richard Anderson, Ph.D. of the USDA found that doses of 1,000 mcg daily for four months caused a drop in glucose and insulin levels to near normal.

Vanadium: Though not yet considered essential, accumulating evidence suggests that it soon will be. This mineral either mimics the effects of insulin or increases its efficiency, reducing both glucose and insulin levels. Type I or II diabetes have shown dramatic response to vanadium.

Of course, it is imperative that you work with your doctor when introducing anything new to your diet.

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

Now, as the art is down from our last show of the year, I wish to thank Donna Roberts once again, and Kelly Moreland, for a fine exhibition at the holiday season. To date, Donna has sold eleven paintings, and Kelly eight, with one commission. I think that is close to being the most work sold at a show since I’ve been here! Those who still have art to pick up, I have sent cards with instructions as to how that might be done, as we are still without a phone at the gallery. For those who might have missed the exhibition, you can see six of Donna’s paintings at our satellite gallery, the ATRIUM GALLERY, inside the Sirloin Stockade restaurant on Central Avenue. This group of paintings will remain on display during the holidays, and come down after New Year’s, so we hope folks will enjoy that display as they go in for holiday dining. Now, looking towards the future, the calendar is getting full for the new season, and I can tell you now that we look forward to hanging an all new show of unique photography by Linda Teeter as our first exhibition in February, and that show will feature some unique side aspects to present that work, including sound and narration, so mark your calendars for February 8th, and the Opening of that great sounding extravaganza! As for now, we here at artCentral wish everyone a Happy New Year, and a great year of art in 2008!