Did Ya Know... The Family Literacy Council needs volunteers to wrap packages for a fund raising event starting Dec. 11 at the Wal-Mart Customer Service area. Cost of wrapping is a donation to the Council. Wal-Mart will match funds up to $2,000. Individuals, groups and organizations are invited to participate. For details, call 358-5926.

Did Ya Know... The OATS Bus runs from Carthage and Sarcoxie to Joplin each Tues. To schedule rides, call 358-4662 or 1-800-770-6287 on Mon. of each week.

Did Ya Know... Powers Museum will be computerizing the artifact collections and archival/library holdings. To volunteer, call Michelle Hansford at 358-2667.

The longest word in the English language is the one that follows, "And now a word from our sponsor."

"Hello, police department? I’ve lost my cat and..."

"Sorry, sir, that’s not a job for the police, we’re too busy..."

"But you don’t understand...this is a very intelligent cat. He’s almost human. He can practically talk."

"Well, you’d better hang up, sir. He may be trying to phone you right now."

Electric Cities B.Y.P.U. Meeting.

The Baptist Young People’s Union of the electric cities held a regular quarterly meeting at the First Baptist church in this city last evening.

Delegations of young folks from Webb City, Carterville and Joplin - in all about forty persons attended. Galena is included in the union but was not represented.

The following program was rendered:

Address, "The Work of the Holy Spirit," Rev. J. C. Keltner, Joplin; Paper, "The B.Y.P.E. as a School in Bible Knowledge and Soul Saving," Miss Ina Tutle, Carthage; Address, "Christian Stewardship," Prof. Wallace, Carthage; Vocal duet, Misses Nora and Georgia McGrew; Address, "The Call of the 20th Century," Rev. W. F. Harris, Carthage.

The services lasted about two hours and were much enjoyed.

Christmas Gift Items Available

Release by Area Agency on Aging and

The VantAge Point

The Area Agency on Aging has several items available for Christmas gift giving. Proceeds go to the services of the Area Agency. They are available at the Area Agency office, 32nd and Connecticut Streets, Joplin or The VantAge Point at Northpark Mall.

Meal Coupon Books containing 10 coupons which may be used by any person 60 years of age or older for their contribution toward a meal at any of the Area Agency’s senior centers in Jasper, Newton, McDonald, and Barton counties, $15 donation. These are available at senior centers.

1998 Intergenerational Calendars with an inspirational message each month. Includes sticker page with important dates. $6

Silver Enquirer Gift Subscription - This monthly publication of the Area Agency can be mailed anywhere in the U.S. It contains a variety of information of interest to people of all ages, $5.

For more information, call the VantAge Point at 417-627-0600.

Winter Heating Assistance

Release by Economic Security Corp.

of Southwest Area

Economic Security Corporation (ESC) will offer winter heating assistance to low-income families in Barton, Jasper, Newton, and McDonald Counties. The community action agency will be helping households that otherwise would be unable to pay utility bills or obtain heating fuel due to extreme weather conditions. The program’s purpose is to help these families and individuals keep their homes heated during the winter. Households must be experiencing a crisis, which constitutes a shutoff or no service; in addition, clients must be income eligible.

People needing help or information should call one of the ESC outreach centers. Offices to contact are Lamar, 682-5591; Joplin, 781-0352; Carthage, 358-3521; Neosho, 451-2226; and Anderson, 845-6011.

Funding for the Energy Crisis Intervention Program comes through the Missouri Department of Social Services. The total amount of funding assistance available for the four counties is $91,525.

More Christmas Dinners Available

Release by Carthage Chamber of Commerce

An opening has been created on the night of Thursday, December 18th for the Historic Phelps House Christmas Dinner and Double Decker Bus Lighting Tour of Carthage. Thirty-two spots are now available, according to Chamber Tourism Representative Leann Keepper. An additional eight spots remain available for the night of Tuesday, December 16th.

Light seasonal background music will be performed for the elegant dinner, which will feature soup, Italian salad, prime rib, cheesy potatoes, roll, dessert, and wine. Proceeds from the dinners will benefit the Chamber’s Christmas Committee and its community activities. For more information, please call the Carthage Chamber of Commerce at 358-2373.

Girl Scout Recruitment

Release by Ozark Area Girl Scout Council

Girls and adults are still able to join the Girl Scout organization. Yearly recruitment is done through the months of August and September, but registration forms are available throughout the year.

One full year of Girl Scout membership, September 1st through October 31st is available for $7 per member. Lifetime memberships are also available at the cost of $175.

Upon registration, Girl Scout members are sent quarterly newsletters from Ozark Area Girl Scout Council and Girl Scouts of the USA.

If you missed your local registration campaign, or would like further information, please contact Ozark Area Girl Scout Council at 417-623-8277.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin

State Representative, District 26

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Mine was a bit non-traditional. I woke up with the flu, but drank enough medicine to go out and combine Milo for about two hours and finish up for the year. Later, during the football games I feasted on pudding and Sprite and slept all evening.

I mentioned a couple weeks ago I would be writing about issues that will probably come up during the next session. One of these issues has me really worried; not just because I think it is a really bad idea, but it seems to have a lot of early support, albeit most of it is from the media and the bureaucracy.

The idea is all day prekindergarten. I will be honest with you. I am still not sold on the idea of all day kindergarten, much less prekindergarten. This is what I consider to be part of Hillary Clinton’s "it takes a village" nonsense and it appears Governor Carnahan is ready to embrace the idea. By the way it doesn’t take a village, it takes a Mom and a Dad, but that idea seems to draw as much scorn from the enlightened elite as ideas that people should take some responsibility for their lives instead of claiming the government and everyone else owes them a living. But I digress. Back to pre-kindergarten. Some time ago the governor appointed a commission named the Governor’s Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education. This is the commission that is so wildly embracing this idea. It is interesting to note the support is coming from bureaucrats in the Departments of Health and Social Services. Practically all of their comments centered on what a great deal this will be for working parents. No longer will they have to write checks for childcare that was probably inadequate anyway because they weren’t regulated by the state. What a liberal bureaucrat’s dream! These four year olds won’t just be under the control of State regulated childcare providers, they will be under the control of the State itself through the public school system. It is made even worse when you consider that local school boards have very little control anymore since in most cases the Department of Education calls the shots and threatens to withhold money if their directives are not followed.

As I mentioned, most of the talk about this idea has centered on how this will save parents so much money in childcare. Excuse me, but isn’t the whole point of going to school to learn, or have I missed something? These folks seem to be saying school is for the benefit of the parents so they won’t be inconvenienced by their kids. If what we are about to get involved in is State run childcare, then fine. Let’s call it what it is and let the public decide if that is what they want. Talk about bringing up shades of "Brave New World." That’s just it. So many times what an idea is named has nothing to do with what it will accomplish. I have mentioned in previous articles how if they want a bad idea passed, they will name it something to do with kids or education or in this case, both!

It is interesting to note that one of the supporters of this proposal mentioned a child care center in Kansas City that was barely making it despite charging $350.00 per child per month. The owner was having trouble making ends meet, in part because of an $8000.00 per year tax bill and $2000.00 per month insurance bill. Seems to me that we are overlooking the real problem. Maybe if it wasn’t so easy to sue anybody for anything insurance wouldn’t be so high and I think you already know how much I detest taxes. Looks to me like we ought to be addressing the problems of tort reform and tax relief, not trying to get into the business of day care.

There will undoubtedly be some of you that read this that will vehemently disagree with me on this. You will think it is great that you can get your kids out of the house a year earlier and the State will pick up the tab. Just ask yourself this. Has the government ever done anything so well that you would consider entrusting it with one more of your child’s years?

As usual I can be reached at 1-800-878-7126 or House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101 or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments and advice.

The City Council meetin’ tonight has a typical December agenda. Little is on the agenda ‘cept for what is typically considered "housekeepin’" items. Fact there is no "old business" at all.

Council Bill 97-82, in first readin’ tonight, would establish a Code of Ethics for the Mayor, City Council, and all appointed Boards of the City.

There was some effort to include some punishment for talkin’ to the public ‘bout what went on durin’ closed sessions of the Council, but seein’ as there is no State laws requirin’ closed meetin’s in the first place, although they are allowed in some instances, there doesn’t seem ta be much authority for such regulations.

Since Council members are elected officials and come under the State Ethics Code, ‘bout all the local ethics code amounts to is an official gentleman’s agreement.

Although the document has demanded a fair amount of Committee time, it prob’ly won’t account for much Council attention.

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

by McCune Brooks Hospital

STAYING QUIT FOR THE HOLIDAYS: The stretch between Christmas and New Year’s Day can be the most difficult period for you if you’re an ex smoker. This is especially true if you quit the habit relatively recently. There are all the holiday pressures that used to give you an excuse to take a so-called relaxing puff. There are parties and get togethers where someone is bound to light up and send temptation coiling around your nose. But you don’t have to give in. The American Cancer Society has several tips that can help you stay off the weed.

First, take things one day at a time. Each morning, wake up with a positive attitude and a promise you won’t smoke that day.

Second, picture success. Think about stressful situations you might have and imagine dealing with them without lighting up.

Third, take a breather. Relaxation exercises help relieve urges to smoke. Take a deep breath, hold it a second, then release it very slowly. (Remember, urges to smoke are temporary.) Work out. Exercise, such as swimming, running, and racket sports help relieve tension and your urge to smoke. (P.S. Exercising before eating a typical holiday meal will help you metabolize those calories more efficiently.)

Remember, the best Christmas present you can give yourself and your loved ones is good health. Staying off cigarettes is a quantum leap in that direction for you and them.

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