Carthage Police Are Experienced.

According to the Carthage Police Department Annual report released recently, fifteen of the twenty-five commissioned police officers have been on the force for fifteen or more years. The years do not reflect the total number of years of experience, as many have come to Carthage from other agencies the report says.

The total years of experience in Carthage for the force is 315.5 years which translates to just over 12 1/2 years of service per officer. Average service to Carthage for the Detective Division members comes to 171/2 years.

Three officers, Captain Kevin Davis, Detective Laverne Williams, and Lt. Barry Duncan reached 20 years of service in 1997. Sgt. Jim Baker reached the 20 year level in 1995. Sgt Van Bennett and Det. Guy Blankenship will reach 20 years of service in 1998 and Margaret Mullikin, secretary, will complete her 25th year.

The report showed an increase in reports of domestic violence in 1997, up from 209 in 1996 to 287 in 1997. The report also pointed out that in Carthage the number of female suspects accounted for 66 of the incidents, or 23 percent of the total. The national average for female suspects is 10 percent.

Overall, calls for service reached a record level in 1997 totaling 15,260. During the same period, traffic citations dropped from 2,252 in 1996 to 1959. The number of traffic accidents increased slightly, up from 309 to 347.

COS To Remain in Place

a While Longer

News Released by Marvin Singleton

Jefferson City- Last week we were notified by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) that they plan to revisit the issue of eliminating the Community Optional Service (COS). This is great news for those of us that use this service on a daily basis instead of incurring long-distance charges for calls made to local exchanges in adjacent areas.

In January, I co-sponsored SCR No.30 that asked the PSC to reconsider its initial plan to eliminate the service. The lack of public hearings on this issue and the PSC’s plan to eliminate the service on March 31 caused quite a stir in jefferson City.

The PSC contends that they were working under the quidelines of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. That is correct, however, the federal act does not required the elimination of COS until the year 1999. Working under that timeline , phone companies were to submit calling plan alternatives for COS customers. To date, Southwestern Bell, and GTE has introduced optional Services. Sprint plans to file two or more separate calling plans to replace the existing COS service.

The intention of the federal act was to create true competition for local and long-distance service that involves multiple telecommunication companies.

The PSC wrote that they are considering a phase-out schedule for COS instead of eliminating it on March 31. Additionally, they are scheduling public hearing around the state that will permit discussion of technical and financial issues related to expanded local calling areas.

As soon as I am notified of public hearing dated, I will pass them on the citizens in the 32nd Senatorial District. I would encourage anyone interested to attend one of the public hearings and testify before the commission.

Sen. Singlton can be reached at his office in Jefferson City - State Capitol, Room 426, Jefferson City, MO 65101,telephone (573) 751-2306, or you can e-mail at msingl01@services.state.mo.us.

Open House

New Release Carthage R-9 School District

Carthage, MO- In conjunction with its recent building and renovation program, the Carthage R-9 district will host an Open House on Sunday, February 22, concurrently for Columbian, Fairview, and Steadley Elementary Schools from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Students and faculty will be on hand at each school to lead informal tours.

In addition, a dedication ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the newly constructed Steadley Elementary. Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt will be the featured speaker.

School officials have also arranged for a shuttle service to handle the expected crowd of interested residents. Buses will run continuously from Columbian and Fairview Schools and the parking lot of Fairview Christian Church South, the former Wal-Mart building, to Steadley Elementary and back. Shuttle service begins at 12:30 and continues until 5:00 p.m.

State Historic Architect

to Visit Carthage.

News Release by Main Street Carthage

Elizabeth Freese, Historic Architect with the Missouri Department of Natural Resource Preservation Program, will visit Carthage Wednesday, February 25. Ms. Freese is tentatively scheduled to visit with Jack and Sue Vandergriff regarding the future location of Bee’s Old Fashioned Variety and Ben Franklin; representatives of the Carthage Library Board; as well as Board Members of both the Historic Phelps House and Kendrick Place.

"Elizabeth will address accessibility needs and ADA Compliance while striving to retain the historical and architectural integrity of these beautiful buildings. We hope she share some suggestions, alternatives, or solutions to these concerns. "Says Diane Sharits, Main Street Carthage Program Manager.

Business or building owner with questions regarding accessibility are encouraged to contact the Main Street Carthage Office at 358-4974 to schedule a time slot with Ms. Freese.

Opening Reception For

Reed and Crim Show

News Release by artCentral

Feb. 21 6pm-8pm Debbie Reed and Gary Crim will be combining their work for a great show of paintings and pottery!!

Both of these super artists hold art degrees from MSSC and have worked very hard since college to perfect their style.

Debbie lives in Joplin with her husband and three kids, is very active in the community and has a degree in nursing as well as studio art. Watercolor and pastels are her favorite mediums. In her concerns for the environment with a universal sense of spirituality. She is well known fro her watercolor collages, is an associate member of the American Watercolor Society and has won numerous awards including several Best of Show awards.

Gary lives in Joplin right now but will be moving to Columbia to attend MU to pursue his Masters focusing on pottery and sculpture. He has been seriously producing pottery for the last six years with an emphasis on Raku (low fire) and high fire glazes

News Release by Carthage of Commerce

(Carthage, MO)- Precious Moments artist and creator Samuel J. Butcher has donated a one-of-a-kind doll to the Carthage Chamber of Commerce to brighten the Holiday Season. This elegant Victorian-style doll is highly detailed with hand painted features. According to Chamber Executive Director Heather Kelly, "The doll reflects the turn-of-the-Century Carthage in Victorian Dress. Mr. Butcher has always been very generous in helping to promote Carthage."

The Chamber’s Christmas Committee will Accept bids through Friday, July 25, 1998 12:00 Noon Central Daylight Time. For more information, or to place a bid, call the Chamber of Commerce at 417-358-2373 or E-mail cchamber@carthagenow.com. Final bids may be placed by MasterCard, Visa, certified check or money order.

I don’t have any idea how to interpret the statistics reported as to the 3,735 parkin’ tickets issued last year, but here are a few of ‘em for ya ta ponder.

Of the total, 3066 were the run-of-the-mill $1 overtime parkin’ type. There were 223 $10 fines collected which include, but are not limited to the act of gettin’ four or more overtime tickets in any 30 day period. These are also given for parkin’ in a crosswalk or by a fire hydrant. There were 7 issued for parkin’ in a handicap zone. The $45 tickets, four of ‘em, were for intentionally movin’ a vehicle to another parkin’ spot with the idea of avoidin’ one of the $1 tickets (or maybe the $10.)

Now I haven’t dug into this thing very deep, and I prob’ly won’t. But I’d have ta guess that less than twenty-five or so folks get the four-in-a-month variety of ticket, they just get ‘em ever’ month or so. With the prices ya pay for parkin’ in the City, fifteen or twenty bucks a month prob’ly looks pretty good ta some.

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

by

Oak Street health & herbs

Natural Nutrition

by Mari An Willis

Spring is near at hand and thoughts of gardening and dieting become dominant. The winter pansies have done beautifully and have brought "warm" thoughts on cold days. Now the diet thing is something else! Not many smiles in that area.

The latest diet formulas are those featuring collagen, which in essence is basically an amino acid formulation. For many it has proven quite successful for inch loss. New one on the market makes it much more palatable. Substitutes for prescription diets have included those that set up burning of "brown fat" such as the citrimax and green orange formulas. Lots of thermogenics involved with willow, ginger and cayenne. I am happy to see that many of the diets are now using enzymes which are certainly needed by most bodies today because of the overconsumption of poor quality cooked foods. Raw is better, partially because of the activity of the enzymes. Roughage is important also. Chitosan or Fat Grabbers is a product that helps "cheat" your body out of assimilating fats. These products bind to fat molecules and help pass them though the system before they plant themselves on your thighs or hips! Caution with these products would be that they also absorb any of the good fats also. That would include oil based Vitamin E or A or beta-carotene plus your flax seed, cod liver, borage, and primrose oils. This in not a totally inclusive list, so if it is an oil you want in your system, do not take it with a fat grabbing product. Chickweed is an old standby used as a diet and appetite suppresent.

No matter which direction you choose to aid you in your weight loss program, remember that exercise is also key. Eating a diet with fibre and fresh fruits and vegetables is a must for most people. Of course, before you start any kind of diet or exercise program, it has been advised that you check with your doctor.

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