Did Ya Know... Dec. 12 & 19 Santa on the Red Bus will give tours of the Carthage Christmas Lights. Tours will be at 5:30, 7:00, and 8:15 p.m.

Did Ya Know... Businesses in Downtown Carthage will remain open till 8 p.m. each Friday for Christmas shopping.

Did Ya Know... The VantAge Point and Area Agency on Aging will have music by Eldon Potts and a workshop on "Keep Moving with Exercise at Northpark Mall today.

Did Ya Know... Registration forms to join the Girl Scout organization are available by calling the Ozark Area Girl Scout Council at 417-623-8277.

A policeman stopped a man driving the wrong way on a one-way street. "Didn’t you see the arrow?" he demanded.

"Arrow? Honest, officer, I didn’t even see the Indians."

Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is done.

Salesman to customer: This is actually a fire sale. The boss said that if I don’t make a sale, I’m fired.

Teach your son to cut his own wood. It will warm him twice.

Jasper County Doctors.

The Jasper County Medical society held its regular monthly meeting in the courthouse in Carthage yesterday afternoon.

Those present were Drs. Snyder, Peffer, Kelso, Tyler and Shelton, of Joplin; Chenoworth, of Webb City, and Brooks, Matthews, Rhoads, Wale, Freed, Hollingsworth, Ketcham and Taylor, of Carthage.

Dr. Kelso, of Joplin, read a very able and interesting paper on an important medical subject, which was discussed at length by the gentlemen present. Dr. Taylor read a short paper on late medical progress. Drs. Chenoworth and Ketcham had papers to read, but owing to lack of time to discuss them, the reading of it was postponed to the next regular meeting at Joplin in February.

Officers elected were Dr. Rhoads, president; Dr. Ketcham, vice president; Dr. Peffer, of Joplin, secretary; Dr. Freeman, of Joplin, treasurer.

Family Tax Relief and Hancock Refund

Release by Senator Marvin Singleton

Pledging to make 1998 "the year of the taxpayer," State Senator Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca, this week filed the "Family Tax Relief Act." A separate bill, also filed this week, demands Hancock refunds be made "as soon as possible."

The Family Tax Relief Act - SB 491 - contains the following provisions:

* The first $6,000 of passive investment income will be exempt from the state income tax for those aged 65 and older. The exemption would be phased in over the next five years. Passive investment income includes royalties, rents, dividends, interest, annuities, stocks and securities. People who rely on passive income for their retirement were excluded from recent efforts to equalize the tax treatment of public and private pensioners.

* The deduction for FICA taxes is extended to all taxpayers. Currently, only those who itemize are allowed to deduct FICA taxes paid from taxable income. This unfairly leads to double taxation for those in the low to moderate income brackets.

* The dependency exemption would be increased from the current $400 to $1,200.

"The key word in the Family Tax Relief Act is fairness," Singleton asserted. "It’s unfair for some pensioners to get a six thousand dollar exemption while others don’t; it’s unfair for some people to be double-taxed on their FICA payments while others aren’t; and it’s certainly unfair that the dependency exemption hasn’t been increased in decades. The Family Tax Relief Act will do what the name says-provide tax relief to Missouri families."

Singleton also filed SB 492. The bill requires excess state revenues to be refunded "as soon as possible" after the Office of Administration certifies the total refund amount, and income tax returns have been filed to determine the pro rata share for taxpayers.

"It’s a sad commentary that it takes an act of the legislature to force the government to obey the Constitution," noted Singleton. "I understand the process has been muddled a bit by some lawsuits, but it seems the current administration was in a much bigger hurry to collect the money than they are to return it. That needs to change."

Sen. Singleton can be reached at his office in Jefferson City - State Capitol, Room 426, Jefferson City, Missouri 65101, 573-751-2306, msingl01@services.state.mo.us.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

The Carthage Park Board recently conducted a survey concerning park usage and community interest in future developments of the park system. We would like to thank all who participated in this effort, as the information gathered will guide the Board in managing the parks on behalf of the community. Input from you is vital in this effort to maintain and develop these properties in a manner that best reflects the needs of our community.

The overall feedback was in-line with the Board's current agenda, reinforcing our focus and direction. However, there were some comments and suggestions which brought to light issues which have not been addressed or that need more attention from the Board. Now that we are aware of these issues, they will be prioritized into he management and development of the park system going forward.

If you would like a summary of the results of the survey, they are available at the Park Administrator's office located in Municipal Park, across from Municipal Pool, or by calling 358-6778.

Once again, thank you to all who completed the survey. The Park Board continues to encourage feedback from all Citizens through direct contact with the Park office, a Board member, or attending Park Board meetings held on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 P.M. in the city Council chambers.

I have no problem with the evenin’ paper puttin’ in the story of the controversy concern’ County Assessor Jim Willis takin’ his pay raise. There are plenty a folks wantin’ ta follow the intrigue.

What I’m a little curious about is why what I can only consider as the paper’s opinion is printed as fact on the front page.

I’m sure Mr. Willis can speak for himself, but as a newspaper person myself, I resent bein’ told that someone is guilty without bein’ notified of both sides of the story, or by who’s authority that judgment is bein’ made.

The article concluded that Willis misinterpreted the law. Although that may be an assumption made by many, I doubt that ever’ lawyer or judge in the country would necessarily agree with that conclusion.

There are plenty of folks willin’ to give their opinion, just don’t mistake it for fact just ‘cause it’s on the front page.

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

by Oak Street health & herbs

by Mari An Willis

Focus on the new 5 Hydroxytryptophan

(5-HTP).

This supplement is of special interest to those who used to take the amino acid L-tryptophan for relief from sleeping disorders, PMS, obsessive/compulsive behavior, stress or depression.

In 1990 the amino acid L-tryptophan was banned in the United States when it was blamed for 27 deaths. In August of 1992 the Center for Disease Control revealed that the tryptophan was not the cause of the Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome, but was traced to a contaminant found in a single batch of untested tryptophan. Since that time, it has remained banned in the U.S. Several new prescription drugs including Prozac have been developed to substitute for tryptophan by mimicking the effects of a natural. Mimick with side effects!

Now 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) is considered by many researchers to be the safest tryptophan alternative and is available as a nutritional supplement. Unlike tryptophan, 5-HTP is not produced from bacterial fermentation but is extracted from the seed of the Griffonia plant. 5-HTP is normally converted in the body from L-tryptophan and as an intermediate metabolite is further converted in melatonin and serotonin. According to manufacturers a 50 mg. capsule is generally regarded as the equivalent of 500 mg. of tryptophan.

*Nutricology In Focus Nov. 1997

*This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.

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