Today's Feature Main Street Turns Ten, Looks Toward
Boosting Downtown Image.
Main Street Carthage held a
series of meetings yesterday to assess the
realities and the perception of the Carthage
downtown area. Missouri Main Street Program
coordinator Randall Gray presented various
members of the business and historic community
with questions concerning the possibilities of
strengthening the image and well-being of the
downtown area. The Carthage Main Street Board of
Directors and members of the local media were
also given the opportunity to express opinions
during separate meetings.
Also posing questions were
Linda Donavan Harper, an independent consultant
assisting Gray from Washington, D.C., and Gene
Delgado, a Program Associate of the National Main
Street Center, also from Washington.
Gray told the Mornin
Mail that he was not necessarily looking to
just increase the number of tourists coming to
Carthage, but wanted to bring suggestions to
Carthage Main Street that would promote a
continued high quality of life for the community
while supporting a healthy downtown economy.
Harper, who was originally from
St.Joseph, Missouri, served as the Director of
the Countryside Institutes Exchange
Programs from 1994-1997. She has previously
worked as a Program Manager on the Management
Team for the National Trusts National Main
Street Center.
Harper also has developed a
land use planning tool for adults and children
which allows participants to create a three
dimensional community and explore how and why
individual and civic actions impact the process.
Harper told the Mornin
Mail that increasing the number of tourists
moving through a city is not as important as
making sure the communitys capacity is
sufficient to deal with those that come. She also
felt that the communitys quality of life
was a significant consideration in any long term
planning process.
The group was impressed with
the large number of attractions that can be
promoted by the community. The range from the
historic background and structures to the more
recent development of Red Oak II and Precious
Moments. The Courthouse, Victorian homes and
Route 66 were particularly mentioned.
"A lot of communities
would love to have just one of those
attractions," said Harper.
Family Swim Night
The Carthage Municipal Pool
will be open Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30
p.m. for Family Swim Night. The cost will be
$2.00 for the entire family. The first Family
Swim Night will be Tuesday, June 16.
The Pool will be offering lap
swimming for adults form 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday. The cost is $1.00 per day.
237 City Phone Numbers
City Clerk
................................. 237-7000
Mayor .......................................
237-7000
City Administrator ................... 237-7003
Economic Dev. Director .......... 237-7004
Engineering ..............................
237-7010
Streets ......................................
237-7020
Landfill ....................................
237-7024
Golf Course Pro Shop .............. 237-7030
Golf Course Maintenance ........ 237-7031
Park Maintenance .................... 237-7032
Fair Acres Maintenance ........... 237-7033
Municipal Pool ........................ 237-7034
Parks & Recreation Office ....... 237-7035
Library .....................................
237-7040
Library Annex .......................... 237-7043
Memorial Hall .......................... 237-7050
Civil War Museum ................... 237-7060
Fire Department ....................... 237-7100
Police Department ................... 237-7200
CW&EP ...................................
237-7300
Emergency numbers are still 911.
Water Tower Design Wanted
The Water Tower Design
Committee is in the process of contacting local
artists for their help in coming up with an
original design for the city's two new water
towers. A maple leaf concept is being requested
since Carthage is known as the Maple Leaf City. A
cash award as well as additional recognition will
be given to the artist whose work is chosen. For
further information, contact Marge Housh,
CW&EP, 237-7300.
Museum Announces Summer
Schedule
The Powers Museum has announced
its summers schedule of programs starting with a
new monthly story-hour beginning June 16th. In
honor of the museum's tenth anniversary, the
story-hour series will feature children's stories
from the childhood books of the museum's
benefactor Marian Louisa Powers Winchester who
was born June 16, 1905.
Other story-hours will be held
in the museum's library on July 14, August 18,
and September 15. All programs, including the
June 16th session, will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Summer programs include a
weekend video series featuring various historical
themes. Showings are at 11:00, 1:00 and 3;00 on
Saturdays, and at 2:00 and 4:00 on Sundays. A
complete subject listing can be picked up at the
museum, located at 1617 W. Oak Street in
Carthage, during public hours Tuesday through
Sunday. Or if you would like to have a current
newsletter mailed to you, call 417-358-2667 or
e-mail pmuseum@getonthe.net.
Puzzle Sundays will be held
throughout the summer, expanding from just August
Sunday afternoons in previous years. This
hands-on activity allows visitors to assemble
1920's and 1930's wooden puzzles from the Powers
Museum's collection. Puzzle sessions will be from
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Republican Candidate Forum.
The Jasper County Republican
Central Committee will sponsor Candidate Forum
scheduled for tomorrow at Granny Shaffers
Restaurant in Joplin at 9 a.m.
Candidates for Presiding
Commissioner, Clerk of the County Commission,
Recorder of Deeds, Collector of Revenue, County
Auditor, and County Coroner will be given two
minutes to speak, followed by a ten minute
question and answer session for contested
offices.
Candidates were requested to
fill out a profile questionnaire supplied by the
Committee that will be distributed to interested
members and to any interested citizens who
request information about candidates.
County Planning Meeting.
The June county planning
meeting will be held June 29th from 7 to 9 p.m.
at the Jasper County Annex conference room.
The keynote speakers will be
Mr. Harry Rogers, executive director of the Harry
S. Truman Council of Governments, and Mr. Richard
Largent, City Planner for Joplin.
Free Health Screenings.
A special Friday Fair is
scheduled for June 12 at the VantAge Point at
Northpark Mall. Freeman Hearts staff will provide
free health screenings. The screenings will be
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
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