Did Ya Know... The American Red Cross and Carthage Municipal Pool is offering a lifeguard class to start Tues., Sept. 2. For information or to register, call the Carthage Parks and Recreation Office at 358-6778.

Did Ya Know... The Main Street Carthage, Inc. has potential buyers or renters for your business, building, or apartment. For details, call 358-4974 or fax to 358-5103.

Did Ya Know... Dan Bratcher is engraving a Maple Leaf souvenir Model 94 Winchester .30 .30 rifle and a Damascus Steel Folding Hunting Knife to be given away in a special drawing to be held during the Maple Leaf Festival. For more information, contact the Carthage Chamber of Commerce at 358-2373.

"Doc, what do you charge for a visit?"

"$50 for the first visit and $25 for each visit thereafter."

"Well, I’m here again."

"Fine, take the same thing as last time."

"You don’t even know the shape of the earth."

"I do, it’s square."

"No, it’s round."

"Well, my brother says he’s traveled to the four corners of the earth."

Now 73 Prisoners in the County Jail -

Heat Almost Unbearable.

There were 73 prisoners in the county jail this morning and this with the thermometer in the 90’s. Then it is considered that the jail was built to accommodate about twenty-five, it can be judged whether or not the institution is over-crowded.

The highest record of attendance is 82 and was reached in Sheriff W. S. Crane’s administration. As a usual thing the number dwindles very materially in summer, but this year no such decrease can be noticed. This indicates that the regular jail population is growing.

In the wintertime many persons purposely commit some minor offense in order to bread into jail and thus secure food and shelter, but that class steer clear of prison in the summer. No sane person would purposely break into the Jasper county bastile during the heated term crowded as it is.

To be continued

Little League Contract Questioned.

The Finance Committee is looking at a way to clarify the contract between the City and the Youth Baseball and Girls Softball Association. The City pays up to $7,000 a year to help pay for lighting the various playing fields.

A snafu was discovered when the Park Board began trying to identify the various electrical meters so activity at the various locations could be more closely monitored.

The contract, which was simply renewed over the years, specifies that charges can only be paid that come from the pony and little league field. This, according to City Clerk Barbara Welch, means that she cannot pay bills for the Fair Acres Sports complex.

To further complicate the matter, there are no individual meters at Fair Acres. The Parks Board pays for all lighting for the facility and cannot separate any one particular baseball field.

"They [the Park Board] shouldn’t be paying it," said Welch, "it should be coming out of the baseball fund."

The Committee will discuss the matter further at its next meeting.

Computer Numerical Control Regional Training Program

A Business - Education Partnership

News Release from Carthage Technical Center

Carthage Technical Center is preparing to become a progressive force to satisfy the critical training needs of metal working companies in the greater Joplin area. The single critical issue: to grow and retain an adequate work force to provide a base level of knowledge that can grow to include and expand technical skills.

Three critical areas that need to be addressed to continue growth in the manufacturing sector are:

• Current work force training and retraining programs and services.

• Identify, recruit and train new people to accommodate growth.

• An environment that encourages more of our best and brightest young people to understand the demands, needs and opportunities for the manufacturing sector of our economy.

Carthage Technical Center, Mazak Corporation, Concept Technical Sales, Sandvik Corporation, and Tri-Star Industrial Supply have entered into an innovative business - education partnership to answer the challenge as our manufacturing sector fast approaches the next millennium.

Carthage Technical Center will initiate a comprehensive CNC training program. Students will receive certificates of competency, and can receive College credit if desired.

Concept Technical sales and Mazak Corporation agree to provide one Qt-20, CNC lathe Tplus Control, with EIA/ISO Input and Conversion Functions and one VTC-16A CNC Mill, Mplus control, with EIA/ISO Input and Conversion Functions. Tri-Star and Sandvik Corporation will provide tooling needed for the machines. Mazak will provide unlimited training to instructors at the Midwest Regional Technical Center in Florence, KY.

Leggett & Platt has played a large part in seeing that this program will be located at the Carthage Technical Center. Twelve Regional Companies are forming the program Advisory Committee. The program will be provided to the following groups: high school students, new adult students with no machine training, and retraining of industries' present employees.

Safety Of Water Supply

News Release from Carthage Water & Electric Plant

A recent study by the Environmental Working Group of the level of pesticides found in tap water in Midwestern communities has sparked local interest regarding the safety of Carthage's water supply.

According to a release from the Carthage Water & Electric Plant, results from a laboratory test conducted March 25, 1997 by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources show that the Carthage water supply is well below the minimum contamination level. In fact, pesticide levels were so low they didn't even register on the test. The news release continued with Leonard Killman, Chief Operator of the Water Treatment Plant, said this test will continue to be done by Missouri DNR.

Most of the problems experienced by other communities result from lakes with water run-off from the surrounding area or small wells with infiltration. Carthage's water supply from deep wells continues to be one of the best and safest in the State according to the release from the Carthage Water & Electric Plant.

Havin’ a lighted ball field does have distinct advantages.

As I’m sure many have discovered, twilight games of baseball can become quite adventuresome when there is an absence of artificial lighting.

Usually the call to end the game came after a high fly ball got lost in the darkness and thumped some center fielder.

There was always the gatherin’ around home base to make sure the score and number of outs were agreed upon before gatherin’ up of mitts and bats. A time set for the continuance of the game the next day. Summer ball games never ended, they just changed players.

The cousin in for this week would be replaced by the kid down the street comin’ back from summer camp or a visit to some family.

There were some days without enough players, but a game of "work-up" or a game of catch from one end of the field to the other.

Lights just extend the available time for baseball. I still think baseball’s really the thing responsible for daylight savings time.

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

Dr. Randall Kunze, D.P.M.