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The Mornin' Mail is published daily -Thursday, February 19, 1998 Volume VI, Number 172

Did Ya Know?. . . About 300 people are expected to participate in the 1998 March for Parks to be held at George Washing Carver National Monument on Saturday, April 18. For more information call 325-4151.

Did Ya Know?. . . The open house for Columbian, Fairview, and Steadley Elementary Schools has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m. Congressman Roy Blunt is the featured speaker.

today's laugh

If you want to find some experts, start to do something. In ten minutes, people will come from all over the world to tell you how you’re doing it wrong.

A man bought some goldfish and became interested in trying to find out which were the males and which were the females. The petshop sent him to a goldfish expert. The expert explained, "It’s very easy. A male goldfish will eat only male brine shrimp, the female goldfish will only eat female brine shrimp."

The man asked, " How can you tell the male brine shrimp from the female?"

The expert said, "Two blocks down, there’s a brine shrimp expert."

1898
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

A BAD MAN WITH A GUN.

Last night about 6 o’clock Dick O’Rourke, a blacksmith employed at the Center Creek stone quarry, passed along Howard avenue by the Bennett block, fighting drunk. As he passed a window in the block he saw a women preparing supper at a cook stove. This aroused his drunken ire and pulling a revolver he thrust it against the window and fired. The bullet crashed through the glass, splintered the casing and then dropped to the floor.

The woman was Mrs. Maggie Johnston, who came her ten days ago from Galena, Kansas. She is a perfect stranger here and never even heard of O’Rourke until last night. The motive of the shooting could only have been "cussedness" pure and simple, as O’Rourke never saw the woman before. Had not the fellow turned the muzzle of the revolver so that the bullet ploughed into the casement she would certainly have been killed.

Night Officer Sherman Drake was on the east side of the square when the shot was fired and at once hastened to the scene. On Fourth street he passed O’Rourke, who was walking quietly along. Fred Crawford, who had witnessed the shooting, told the officer that O’Rourke was the man he wanted. In front of McMillan & Durham’s shoe store on the east side of the square he found O’Rourke. "I believe you are the man I want," said the officer, as he laid hi hand on the drunk man’s shoulder. Without a word of warning O’Rourke drew his revolver, shoved the muzzle in the policeman’s face and fired. The nervy officer was too quick for him, however. Quick as a flash he knocked the revolver aside so the bullet whistled harmlessly past his ear and buried itself in the awning above. The policeman then marched his prisoner to jail.

Just as they stepped inside O’Rourke showed fight and struck at Drake. Again the policeman was too quick for him and the Irishman went down like a beef under a straight from the shoulder smash on the nose dealt by the officer’s flat. When searched by the police $4.60 in money and a box of cartridges were taken from him. The revolver is a 32-calbre Smith & Wesson with a 6-inch barrel and is a very fine weapon.

According to the statements of all who saw the affair, O’Rourke had no reason for using a gun and his chances for a long term in the penitentiary are certainly bright.

Today's Feature

Codes, Sludge Discussed.

Discussion of updates to the BOCA Codes and National Electrical Code was the only business on the agenda of Tuesday afternoon’s Public Works Committee meeting. BOCA ( Building Officials and Code Administrators) Codes govern building, plumbing, fire safety and other areas which fall under the Engineering Department and Codes Inspector Bud Rogers.

According to Rogers, BOCA is a national organization which formulates model codes. These codes are then amended as needed by cities for local use.

"This is standard procedure that we go through when they update to bring ourselves into compliance with BOCA," stated Committee Member Bill Johnson.

The only questions came from Committee Member Art Dunaway concerning the cost of permits. The fee in question was a $2 plumbing permit charge for "new construction rough-in finish."

"Why is this so low?" asked Dunaway. "I think we need to review that."

Rogers said the fee had been set by the Council several years ago.

"That’s ridiculous," said Dunaway. "It’d cost you more to do the paperwork."

Assistant to the City Engineer Joe Butler agreed that the fees were low, but said in the past City Attorney David Dally has said it is hard to justify increasing them. Butler said he had not asked Dally about increasing any fees before presenting the updates to the Committee.

Committee members agreed that they do not want to gouge those paying permit fees, but do want to make sure the City is covering its costs and asked Butler to discuss the fees with Dally.

The Committee voted to send all other provisions to the Council for adoption.

During staff reports, Rogers asked for guidance from the Committee concerning a $475 charge for sludge removal which was incurred when the underground tanks at the airport were removed. The contract with Mid-American Environmental called for tank removal at a cost of $6000. When the bill was received there was an additional charge of $475 for sludge removal. The Council voted not to pay the additional charge.

At the February 3 Public Works meeting, Rogers distributed a memo outlining the process of removing sludge in fuel tanks and explaining the bid structure. According to his memo, sludge forms naturally in fuel tanks over the years. Once removed, the tanks must be cleaned and the contaminated product disposed of prior to disposal of the tanks.

"Please study the attached bids, you will see the base bid was for $6000 dollars, extra charges due to contamination are set," the memo states. "This committee and the council approved these bids."

"I don’t know how you can read that contract and say no, we shouldn’t pay," said Johnson.

Johnson moved that the bill for sludge removal be paid out of Council contingency funds.

"If we owe something I think we ought to pay it," said Committee Member Nolan Henry.

"I’m still against paying out money on an overbid," said Dunaway.

Committee Chair Bill Fortune, Johnson and Henry voted for the motion with Dunaway voting against.

Bids for demolition of the structure at 418 W. Central were reviewed. The five bids ranged from $4700-$8300. Butler recommended acceptance of the low bid from Dennis Neely and the Committee approved his recommendation.

Street Commissioner Tom Shelley reported that bids for a new truck had been opened and requested permission to take them under advisement until the next committee meeting. The Street Department is trading in a utility truck toward the purchase of a new one. Ten bid requests were sent out, and five bids were received. All bids were higher than expected.

Salvation Army Plans 1.1 Million Dollar Expansion

News Release by Salvation Army

Carthage-This week The Salvation Army of Carthage began a feasibility study to determine if it has the ability to raise $1.1 millions for the construction of new building in Carthage. Envoy Gary Laws said "the building we have now is over one hundred years old . It was originally build as a post civil war dairy barn". "We have little choice in this matter, if we do not move now we might soon be without a home." Laws added. The current Salvation Army building is located on fulton Street and houses all of the Army's current programs such as the soup kitchen, emergency assistance offices youth programs and more.

The Feasibility Study is being conducted by Data Fund Services of Springfield, Missouri. David Spillman, CEO said. "Our company has over 130 Salvation Army projects completed in United States. Locally, we did the capital campaigns for the Joplin and Springfield Salvation Army both of whom recently opened their new facilities." "We have examined the Carthage army program and fell that they must move very soon on this." Spillman added that the study will reveal whether or not raising these dollars will be possible.

The Salvation Army bought their current facility in 1942 from the Carthage Assemby of God Church according to Envoy Laws. "The facility is run down and in many cases beyond repair. We are going to have a real problem on our hands if the funds don't come together, "Law said further. New programs to be in the proposed facility will include a complete day care center and latch key program for children, Laws said. "We want to meet the ongoing needs of the Carthage community and Day care is a big one, "Laws added. "There are many poor families that would like to get off welfare and go to work but they cannot afford the cost of day care, especially if the have 3 or 4 children," according to the Envoy.

The Salvation Army hopes to begin a capital campaign later this year or early next year with a goal for completion in twenty four months.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

I still can’t out guess the coffee maker.

As fast as today’s drip pots are, the first pot a coffee never gets done fast enough. I am typically standin’ with cup in hand waitin’ for the drip process (although I would argue that a perked cup tastes better) to run its course.

I wait ‘till the drip ceases, remove the pot to pour a cup, and the maker spews a last shot of coffee all over the counter.

Sometimes I get the feelin’ that there is some semi-intelligent, aggravating munchkin livin’ inside my coffee machine, patiently watchin’ for me to remove the pot just long enough for that last spurt of coffee. It usually makes that growlin’ noise right after the liquid hits the hot plate, like it had held the fluid as long as possible.

There are reasonable solutions to this almost daily confrontation I’m sure. But the use of large hammers and other implements of destruction in the kitchen is frowned upon in my household.

This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.