Water Line Construction Approved.

The CW&EP Board approved a bid of $306,350 for the construction of a water transmission line to the newly opened Well No. 16 during its regular December meeting at City Hall. Southard Construction was awarded the contract with the low bid. The line is larger than necessary for the well, according to Business Manager Marge Housh, but an additional well may be drilled in the future that would utilize the capacity. The project is part of the utility's master plan, partially funded by the $6 million bond issue approved by voters.

The Board also heard that electrical work is being completed on the new north water tower and the installation of ground lights was completed for the new south tower.

Production Manager Bob Williams reported that he is concentrating on making sure the power plant is ready for heavy service next summer. The plant production will become even more important when a contract with Sikeston for 7 megawatts of power expires in the spring. The contract for 23 megawatts of firm power will remain in place.

The plant will add an employee after the first of the year.

Mouton Becomes City Employee Jan. 1

First New City Attorney in 24 Years.

David B. Mouton will become the City Attorney for the City of Carthage on January 1,1999. He fills the position left by David Dally who held the position for over 24 years.

Mouton graduated from Carthage High School in 1976, two years after Dally originally took office in February of 1974.

After attending Missouri Southern State College from 1977 to 1980, Mouton received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City in 1982. He then graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Law in 1985.

From 1985 to January 1992 he was an Associate of the Flanigan, McCanse & Lasley law firm and became a partner in the firm until March of 1998. In April he opened the Law Office of David B. Mouton located at in the Professional Building at 221 W. 4th. He is now a solo practitioner in general practice including litigation and municipal government law.

Mouton was married to Beverly Edwards in 1980 and they currently reside in Carthage with their children age 7 and 1.

According to City Clerk Barbara Welch, during the 24 years that Dally acted as City Attorney, he served under 8 mayors, worked with 76 different Council members, and attended over 585 Council meetings.

Dally resigned, as of December 31, after being elected Judge of the Circuit Court, Circuit 29, Division 2, in November.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin

State Representative, District 126

I don’t get it; President Clinton messes around with an intern, lies about it under oath, asks others to lie about it, gives away our satellite technology, raises millions in illegal contributions, stands in the way of a middle class tax cut, refuses to cut wasteful government spending and tries to sell our industries down the river at the Kyoto Conference, and yet the Republicans are looked at as the bad guys and are voted out of office. What has happened to the public? Have we completely lost all of our sense of right and wrong? The ironic thing about this is that all over this nation people are lamenting the fact that so much of our society is in decay. What is the wonder of this. We have reached a point where there is no consequences for our actions. To do so is to be labeled intolerant.

Everyone purports to want the same things, less crime, better jobs, better and safer schools. And yet the actions of the public and media say something different. We say we want less crime, but we have made victims of the criminals. We have made all kinds of excuses for criminal behavior.

We say they had a bad childhood. They came from a dysfunctional family. What is a dysfunctional family anyway? I don’t know of any family that gets along all the time. It would appear this is just some sort of fad excuse, kind of like Attention Deficit Disorder. We have experts saying we shouldn’t spank our kids, we should just talk to them. There are times the only language a kid will understand is a swat across the bottom.

We are doing them more harm by not teaching them the difference between right and wrong in a way they won’t forget. The same holds true for schools. We now can’t paddle a kid in school or dare give him a lower grade than some other student for fear of hurting their self esteem. I can honestly say that in my 13 years of formal schooling I don’t remember anyone being very concerned about my self esteem. There is a real world out there where performance still counts. I doubt these same people that are pushing equality for everyone would be willing to pay the same amount of money for a defective automobile as one that is defect free.

The same people that decry the lack of good paying jobs are also the first to demand that businesses spend untold amounts of money to correct environmental problems that may or may not exist. Then they demand regulations, taxes and oversight on these businesses that do nothing but subtract from the profitability and then wonder why they can’t pay more.

The fact is that every time the cost of doing business is increased, the money comes from one or both of two places. It can come from decreased benefits to employees, increased prices to customers, or both. Witness the tobacco settlement. I’m not a smoker but I have seen the price increases in cigarettes.

People seem surprised that the cost of litigation has been passed along to the consumer. The fact is that businesses are in business to make a profit. If they can’t make a profit, they can’t keep the doors open. If they can’t keep the doors open they can’t provide their employees with jobs. We can no longer continue to beat the folks that drive the economy over the head with higher taxes and regulations and expect things to get better for anyone. To borrow a line from the greatest president we have ever had, a rising tide truly does lift all boats.

What is it going to take to turn things around? I thought the answer would be simple, but now I’m not so sure. We seem to be letting ourselves believe we are the problem instead of the solution. There is nothing to be ashamed of by believing there is a right and wrong. Why do we let ourselves feel guilty about wanting to see people have to take responsibility for themselves?

We should be more worried about doing what we know is right than what we think might make someone like us, or even worse, not dislike us. Doing what is right isn’t always easy, but it is more important than ever that we start doing it.

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, or advice.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

Our Christmas gatherin's are dippin' well into the fourth generation at this point. Last year's babies are even realizin' how small the newborns are.

After a few years of relative calm (pun), the noise level at this last weekend's reunions was noticeably up a few decibels. Now our family has never been known for whisperin' at these festivities, but a voice was raised to give emphasis, or raise above the rumble for attention.

This new generation seems, at the quaint age of two or three, to enjoy just yellin' for the fun of it. 'Course this is to be expected of those with little experience in the socially acceptable increase of volume for effect, and they have yet to learn the subtle art of retreat. I can remember bein' told that I sometimes made grandparents "nervous." I think I'm beginnin' to understand.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin.'

by

McCune Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

Studies are being done to find out if women who are released from the hospital within a day or two of giving birth face any additional risks for themselves and their babies because of these shortened hospital stays.

So far, there seems to be some evidence that adding a day to a woman’s hospital stay can be beneficial for both herself and her child. Even when a woman is in perfect health and making a normal recovery, experiencing one more day of being taken care of and, quite literally, pampered, can be emotionally helpful. After all, once she gets home, she’s not likely to find much time for herself because of her baby’s needs.

In many societies, a new mother is never left alone to deal with these new demands on her. At any given time, one or two of her female relatives will be with her until she can handle things on her own. And even then, they’re always on call when needed.

Most women in this country no longer can count on a female relative to drop everything and help her adjust to her new situation. Some medical authorities claim that being thrust into a new and demanding environment causes some women to escape the harsh reality by withdrawing into post-partum depression.

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