Precious Moments Hotel/Golf Course Closer to Reality.

The Carthage Tax Increment Commission will meet next Tuesday evening in City Hall at 5 p.m. to review a request by Precious Moments to amend their TIF Plan. The City Council designated a portion of Precious Moments property as a TIF District on December 12, 1995.

The designation is the first step in allowing the City to capture all property taxes for improvements to the property after that date. This includes City, school, library, county and other taxing entities for up to 23 years. The funds can then be used to pay for public improvements to the property such as streets, water mains, sewer lines, and traffic control devices. The City can also capture 50% of all sales tax generated by the improvements for the same purposes.

The Council is scheduled to consider the TIF Development agreement soon. The agreement stipulates what public and private improvements will be involved and sets a $2.7 million limit on the amount of funds to be used for public improvements over the life of the agreement. The bulk of the public improvements would come with the development of the proposed golf course and hotel (Phase B), which, according to the agreement, would be completed by the end of year 2005.

The public improvements for Phase B would include a new entry road from the frontage road along Highway 71; traffic signals and intersection improvements at Highway HH and the outer road running approximately parallel with the Highway; Water main extension south from Chapel Road to the golf course and hotel; Sewer main extension to the golf course and hotel; Widening, drainage, street lighting, curbs, gutters, and related street improvements to existing roads and proposed Precious Moments Boulevard; Engineering, design, planning and surveys related to Phase B; Legal, financial and other related to Phase B. The total public improvement cost for Phase B would total approximately $2.2 million. The total projected cost of the private improvements paid for by Precious Moments would total at least $23 million.

Precious Moments would be obligated to pay for all public improvements and then be reimbursed by the City as the funds are available in the TIF fund. The City would not issue any bonds or have any obligation to pay for the public improvements if the private improvements were not completed or if they do not generate enough of an increase in taxes to pay for the project within the 23 years.

Costs incurred by the City for legal, engineering or collection fees would be reimbursed before any funds were released for the public improvements.

All rights of Precious Moments and all obligations of the City are contingent upon the City’s approval of the location of any and all new entry roads from frontage road along Highway 71 and of the proposed Precious Moments Boulevard or other entrance road(s). None of the above shall have an access point located further that 1/4 mile south of the intersection of HH Highway and Highway 71 unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the City; "it being the intent that the main entrance road be so located."

A Council bill to approve the Development Agreement is anticipated for first reading at the November 23 Council meeting according to Economic Development Director Max McKnight.

letters to the editor

email: Dear Editor,

The letter I am writing is to show my appreciation towards the United States Veterans. There has been many wars fought to protect our Constitutional Rights. Our veterans have done so much for all of us, including giving their very lives, even though they never knew half of us. Veterans are our country’s men fighting for their beliefs, and I thank them for all of the sacrifices they’ve made.

The United States’ Veterans have stood up in the heat of battle, and let the enemy know that we have our rights and they won’t be taken away from us. The veterans of Vietnam fought bravely like the veterans of any other war, but when they came back they were spit on for serving their country. The Gulf War veterans risked a lot in fighting in chemical warfare, and they came back with Gulf War Syndrome and a bunch of crowded hospitals were they waited to be treated. The veterans have earned our respect so lets show them the respect they deserve. This Veterans Day I’m going to thank them for keeping my rights alive, and show respect to our men that have been like to us.

James Rissman

Carthage Junior High School

email: Dear Editor,

To be a granddaughter of a veteran has been an honor. I know that my grandfather has served his country well, as all of the other veterans have, I know the pain they have gone through by listening to my grandfather’s stories; in his eyes I see the pain he must feel by losing his friends right in front of his face.

Having all my rights, I owe to veterans. If it wasn’t for all the men and women who fought and died to make us safe, we wouldn’t be where we are today. I thank them all.

Sincerely,

Debbie Ballweber

Carthage Junior High

Dear Editor,

I read where we are going to have a bank at Myers Park or at least they are buying some land. Pretty soon we will have more banks per square mile than Switzerland.

It's a shame, when a beautiful little town like this can have so many people holding your money for you but you can't get a good grocery store or restaurant where we can spend any of it. No wonder Joplin's sales tax revenue is up 16%. Has Carthage sales tax revenue gone up any? I haven't heard. Hopefully now Myers Park will become more pro business instead of so restrictive.

It's also a shame to see another piece of history hit the scrap pile. Hawthorne school should have been protected from the wrecking crew. I wonder how long it will be before someone will start crunching up the square piece by piece and then soon the only way to view "beautiful Victorian Carthage" will be to look at the paintings on some banks wall.

Donna Harlan

Opening Reception Tonight For Group Exhibit - Stop In !

by Robin Putnam, artCentral

Here it is about two weeks before Thanksgiving and it’s sooo nice out !! Almost eighty degrees this last weekend. So.....do you think when winter does finally get here we’ll be ready for it ?

We’re ready for another show !! Tonight is the opening for our lastest group exhibit...........the walls are all full and we have something for everyone in-cluding little hand-carved Santas !! Perfect for a one-of-a-kind gift !! Penny Wilkinson is showing her wood carvings as well as her oil paintings....yea !!

Perry Fleming has some awesome poetry with computer graphics......very nice ! He also has oil paintings and a limestome sculpture.

Patty Moline has pastels that are to die for !! The colors are wonderful !! So vivid and detailed.

What few pieces we are showing of Mary Baumann-Williams are not for sale as they belong to her family. But we’re happy they loaned them to us for this event !!

Something to come and see for yourselves. And as usual we will be serving hors d’oeuvres and beverages and everyone is invited !! Six to eight tonight..........be there!!

We’re happy to see a few paintings hanging upstairs in the Member’s Gallery. Glenda George, LaRussel, has hung some of her pieces so be sure and venture up and take a look.

There is plenty of space up there so members feel free to bring in some paintings or drawings.

We have a lot of member’s prints in the Library print racks. Everything from char-coal originals to computer generated prints. Better check it out !!

Sandy Higgins dropped off some photos she took of the kids at artCamp this last August so if any of you parents want to see if there is a shot of your little one come on in and look them over !!

More.....next week. 358-4404. 1110 E 13th & www. ozarkartistscolony.com under organizations.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

I stopped by the new Recorder of Deeds office area yesterday in the Jasper County Annex II (the top level of what used ta be Boatman’s bank buildin’). They were movin’ in the furniture and tryin’ to get ever’thing in place. Looks like there will be more room and a pleasant atmosphere.

I still prefer the real Courthouse, but I’m sure there are some advantages to havin’ more modern facilities.

The elevator won’t have its own operator of course. It’s the new fangle do-it-yourself kind. I’m assumin’ there will be parkin’ right close to the door and ya won’t have ta climb those grand old Carthage marble steps to get at the records. It’ll be a different world at the Recorder’s office.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Oak Street health & herb

Natural Nutrition

by Mari An Willis

Now what was I going to write about today? Did I remember to put the trash out or is today Thursday? Where did I put that list? Oh my gosh, I forgot my Grandson’s birthday!! If you share this dilemma with myself or millions of other Americans, there is hope to nutritionally improving our memories. The number one factor is to reduce stress and to actually think about and focus on what you are doing at any given moment. Often we find ourselves distracted by the phone, people, an unrelated idea or brain "lapse" and then worry sets in that we are getting some disease. Probably we are not and practice of focusing is needed. Yes, one needs to practice what one wants to accomplish even if it is thinking.

There are some herbs which are beneficial for memory including ginko biloba, which has been researched extensively and has been shown to be especially beneficial for senial dementia and the early onset of alzheimers. Another important nutrient is phosphatidylserine...known as the memory enhancer. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is extracted from soy beans and considered to be a very safe supplement.

One study entitled "Cognitive decline in the elderly: a double-blind placebo controlled multicenter study on the efficiency of PS administration," showed significant statistical improvement in elderly patients with moderate to severe decline. Other studies have shown improvement in short term memory, mood and behavior.