Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 Volume XVI, Number 153

Did Ya Know?... Curbside cleanup of fallen branches will continue through February 1. Limbs will be collected only from the City right-of-way, directly behind the curb line. No collections will be made from private property. Citizens wishing to have limbs removed are encouraged to move debris to the right-of-way. For more information call the Public Works Department at 237-7010.

Did Ya Know?... The Carthage Humane Society has a litter of adorable dust-colored kittens, 358-6402

today's laugh

"I want to be excused," said a worried-looking juryman addressing the judge. "I owe a man ten dollars, and as he is leaving for a post abroad to be gone some years, I want to catch him before he gets on board, and pay the ten dollars. It may be my last chance."
"You are excused," returned His Honor in icy tones. "I don’t want anybody on the jury who can lie like that."

A boy and his mother stood looking at a dentist’s showcase.
"If I had to have false teeth, mother, I’d take that pair," said the small boy, pointing.
"Hush, Willie," interposed the mother quickly, shaking his arm, "Haven’t I told you it’s bad manners to pick your teeth in public?"

1908
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

Trouble At Garden Dell.

There is quite a commotion out in the Garden Dell school district, northwest of Carthage, three miles this side of Alba. The trouble grew out of the whipping of Frank Stuckmyer, a 17-year-old boy who is one of the big students at the school, and as a result two of the directors are under arrest charged with assault.

According to the story of B.A. Shuper, the teacher, Stuckmyer had been boasting that he had "his knife sharpened for the teacher." Accordingly the teacher was on his guard and when the young man was guilty of alleged impertinence soon afterward he demanded of him that he apologize to the school or take such punishment as the teacher saw fit to inflict. The boy declined to accept either of these propositions, and the teacher went to the school board for advice. The directors were unanimously of the opinion that Stuckmyer was acting the part of a bully and should receive a thrashing. After procuring an elm switch five feet nine inches in length, they placed it n the hands of the teacher and proceeded to the school house to see that the chastisement was properly administered. The teacher waded into his task heroically, but the pupil was not disposed to meekly submit, and a fierce struggle ensued in which the switch had to be laid aside. Seeing that the teacher was not meeting with unqualified success, two of the directors, Messrs. Charles Ferree and Robert Ross, stepped in to give him a lift. Just what they did is not clear, but it is presumed they joined in the wrestle, as it is declared that they did not strike the boy.

As a result of the difficulty a warrant was sworn out for Messrs. Ferree and Ross on the charge of assault, and a constable served the papers to them the next day. Sentiment is said to be considerably divided on the question, some sympathizing with the boy and some with the teacher.

Today's Feature

2008 Annual Chamber Banquet.

The Carthage Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2008 Annual Banquet on Friday, January 18th at the Carthage Memorial Hall. The theme of this year’s banquet was Winter Wonderland. A silent auction was held during the event raising funds to help underwrite the many programs and services of the Chamber. Awards were presented as follows:

• Chairman’s Award - Kate Massey, Exec. Dir., Carthage Convention & Visitors Bureau

• President’s Award, Volunteer of the Year - Richard Bassham, Hometown Bank

• Athena Award - Tami Adams, RE/MAX Classic

• Artist Award - Sandy Higgins

Golden Key Awards

• Early Childhood – 3rd grade … Barb Graue, St. Ann’s Catholic School

• 4th – 6th grade … Nathan Patrick, Pleasant Valley Elementary

• 7th – 9th grade … Chris Adams, Carthage Jr. High School

• 10th – 12th grade … Nancy Rankin, Carthage High School

Spotlight Award - H.E. Williams, Inc., Mark Williams

Small Business of the Year Award - Stewards Studio & Frame Shop, Art & Maureen Dunaway

Richard M. Webster Citizen of the Year Award - Ray Grace

For further information about upcoming Carthage Chamber events, contact the Chamber office at 358-2373.

Short Safety Meeting.

The City Council Public Safety Committee met Monday evening in a regular session. There was no new or old business on the agenda and the meeting was quite short. The committee discussed the possibility of moving its next meeting, which is scheduled to be held on President’s Day. Committee chair Mike Harris said that if there is no business on that agenda the meeting may be cancelled. The meeting was adjourned in approximately 5 minutes.

Just Jake Talkin'

Sometimes I wonder if we don’t get a little too concerned about the details of how somethin’ works to the point that we spend all our time just lookin’ at the mechanics and don’t appreciate the function.

Most of the time, understandin’ the mechanics makes ya able to redefine the function, but there’s always some truth in the sayin’, "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

Had a friend that worked on cars. Whenever a customer would come in with a problem, this guy would always tell ‘em he could fix it "good as new."

I questioned him about this one day, sayin’ that it was a pretty good boast.

He said it weren’t nothin’. The way he figured, the new one broke, and he thought he could fix anythin’ to at least do that.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.