Today's Feature

Fireworks Public Hearing.

Carthage City Council will meet this evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Items on the agenda include a public hearing allowing citizens the opportunity to discuss Council bills regarding the sale and discharge of fireworks in the City limits.

These two ordinances were in their first reading at the previous Council meeting. Citizen H.J. Johnson urged the Council to table the ordinances and allow more time for public input. A motion to do so was approved, and the items will return for that discussion this evening. Over the course of the past week the Mornin’ Mail has published several letters to the editor concerning the topic.

The Council agenda also contains the return of an ordinance that would rezone the former Hazlett’s building at 1926 S. Garrison from "A" First Dwelling and "D" Local Business to "E" General Business. This rezoning request has been brought before Council and rejected several times, the last time being August of this year. The request historically has prompted much citizen participation from those living near the property who oppose the rezoning.

I walked by a magazine rack the other day. As I glanced at the vast numbers of "cover" stories, I kept flashin’ back and forth from "who’d want ta know that" to "Wow, I didn’t know anybody else was interested in that stuff."

I suppose someone, somewhere has a magazine that just lists all the magazines available with a brief description of what they talk about.

There were the usual home decoratin’ and how-to magazines, of course. Some a those are interestin’ ta read, but who’s got the time to do any of the projects? Maybe that’s why they’re so popular, kinda dream books. I did have time ta pick up a couple and take a peek. You can always tell the best ones by the corner bein’ folded up. It’s a sure sign it’s worth lookin’ at, even if ya don’t buy.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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

How to Deal With Expired Medicines

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a friend who takes expired medicines. He claims it’s better to do so than not to take any. What is the proper way to deal with expired medicines? -- S.T.

ANSWER: The Food and Drug Administration requires drug manufacturers to estimate the longevity of drugs both for their effectiveness and for their safety. That estimate usually is one to three years from the date the drug was packaged by the manufacturer. If the drug is repackaged before being distributed to the public, the expiration date is usually listed as one year from the date of repackaging.

Expiration dates are estimated on the conservative side.

The drug’s true life span depends on how and where it is kept. Drugs degrade more rapidly in hot, humid places, so the bathroom medicine chest is not the ideal storage place.

The military has studied this issue and has found that most medicines are safe and potent long after their estimated expiration dates. However, if medicines show any signs of degradation -- color changes, powdery disintegration, strong odor, cloudiness -- they should be discarded. Many medicines, however, are still potent and safe for one to two years after their expiration date. If there is a question about a medicine’s safety, the local pharmacist can provide an answer.

Medicines should not be stockpiled for future use, especially antibiotics. Saving them all but guarantees they will be used inappropriately and contribute to the rise of resistant germs.

Letter to the Editor.
Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Mornin’ Mail.

Good morning,

I have been reading your anti-fireworks campaign with amusement. It looks like this could be, if passed, the ending of Carthage as we know it. Too bad we don’t see this kind of interest in something of relevance.

As the "instigator" of this heinous idea, I would like to once again express my reasons for bringing this up. Of course, these thoughts could have been heard at any of several public meetings all of which were properly announced in the agendas, but it is a lot more dramatic to show up at the last minute.

The 4th of July is an important holiday for me and my family, and we celebrate it every year. Fortunately, we have a place outside of the City to do so. By the way Jake, tranquility is usually associated with a tranquil rural setting. However, I know that fireworks are constantly shot off in the City from the time the firework stands start selling them until a few days after the 4th. The evening of the 4th this year, it was constantly going on and anyone who doesn’t acknowledge this is in denial. Our Police Dept. will verify this as well as the Street Dept. who clean up the mess in the streets.

I don’t like having unenforceable ordinances; it puts both the Police Dept. and the Citizens in a difficult situation. Since this is universally done, it seems to me that we should allow this celebration of Freedom. I also understand the need for us to find ways to gain sales tax revenue to fund our ever growing need for increased services. That is why I think we should allow the sale of fireworks in the City so we can participate in the sales tax revenue. I am sure you notice the fireworks stands across the street from the City limits. The Council should have passed that ordinance even if we don’t intend to allow the legal shooting of fireworks in our City.

Personally, I don’t care if we don’t continue this process; in fact the Council wrongly "tabled" the two bills so according to my understanding of Roberts Rules of Order it is non-debatable and shouldn’t even come up again. The reality is that those who want to shoot fireworks in celebration will continue to do so. In a way it is fitting to celebrate it in this fashion, as we are celebrating the securing of our Independence from an oppressive government.

I do have an issue with the insinuation that the Council was trying to pull something over on the public. These bills went through the process just like every other bill; several committee meetings, where it was approved unanimously, to first reading. It was interesting to see how fast the votes were changing in the Council meeting though; it seems that flip-flopping is not just a national political phenomenon.

I could go on about patriotism, but I have said enough.

Thanks for listening,

Mike Harris

Councilman 2nd Ward.