Did Ya Know... Today the McCune Brooks Hospital Gift Shop will be having a "Christmas Preview Sale." All of the new Christmas gift and decorating items will be made available to purchase for the first time. From 9:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m., all new Christmas items will be 10% off. The Auxiliary would like to invite and encourage the public to come and see what the Gift Shop has to offer. Punch and cookies will be served for the occasion.

Did Ya Know... WCG Chili and Soup Feed is today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Grand Avenue Church of God on the corner of Grand and Macon. Adults $3 and $1.50 for kids under 12.

Did Ya Know... Openings are available for the Christmas Dinners Popular. For details, call the Carthage Chamber of Commerce at 358-2373.

Did Ya Know... Retail and/or office space is available for rent. For details, call 358-1975 or 358-0702.

Mother: Johnny, this isn’t a very good report card. Are you trying?

Johnny: Yes, my teacher said I am the most trying boy in the class.

Wife: John, what becomes of a ball player when his eyesight starts to fail?

John: They make an umpire of him.

Nine-Year Old Boy Thrown From an Electric Car and May Die.

This afternoon a boy about nine years of age, whose name could not be learned was thrown from an electric car just beyond Lakeside park and received what is thought to be fatal injuries.

The lad belonged to a party of school children from either Carterville or Webb City who were on their way to the park to see the Jasper County Exhibit. He was sitting on the rear platform of the car and in some way caught his foot in a cattle guard as they whizzed past and was thrown 20 feet in the air. He was terribly injured by the fall and from the information obtainable is probably fatally hurt.

The car was due to arrive in Carthage at 3 o’clock but was 15 minutes late on account of the accident. The boy was taken to Lakeside and then sent back to his home on the next car.

Salvation Army Luncheon.

Linda Garza, Precious Moments, seen with Envoy Gary Laws at the Salvation Army Christmas Kickoff Luncheon. Photo by H.J. Johnson

The Salvation Army held its Christmas Kickoff Luncheon at Tiffany’s Restaurant on Wednesday. The accommodations and the meal were furnished by Precious Moments. Advisory Board Chair Gary Reed welcomed guests and introduced Board member Denise Robertson who gave a description of the upcoming projects for the Christmas season. Envoy Gary Laws gave a short talk entitled "Profiles of Poverty" in which he conveyed an inside look at the work of the Carthage Salvation Army. He also praised the efforts of the Carthage United Way for its assistance in the purchase of a commercial stove and refrigeration units in addition to regular funding. Laws told the group that identifying situations within any community that need attention is not difficult. He says the challenge is deciding to find solutions and committing to a course of action.

According to Laws, contrary to many popular stereotypes, those served by the organization are unique individuals with unique circumstances worthy of attention.

Holiday services this year will include a Thanksgiving Dinner which is expected to serve over 200 people; toys for 300 children; Christmas Food Baskets and Turkeys for 200 families; gifts and a personal visit to 480 nursing home residents; Christmas day Dinner for 95 area residents.

The Christmas season accounts for approximately half of the organization’s budget for the entire year and volunteers are much needed for Bell Ringers.

Other opportunities for volunteers exist in assisting with the Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day dinners, food basket packers, toy wrappers, and Toy Shop volunteers for distribution.

To volunteer or for more information call 358-2262.

Myers Park Development Nearing Critical Stages.

Economic Development Director Max McKnight reported to the City Council that the updated appraisal of the Myers Park Property should be available late next week. The Council approved the appraisal to be updated by Swan Valuation Group from Springfield.

The original appraisal, completed in late 1994, gave an estimated value for the entire 152.6 acres available for development, minus 10 acres for roads and water detention area, at $3,079,885.

The original appraisal was thought by many to be unusable and was not in a form that could be applied.

If the new document is received as planned, it could be in Council member’s possession by the next Council meeting. The Myers Park Development standards are scheduled for second reading at that meeting. The acceptance of these two documents could clear the way for actual sales to begin.

There was some indication at the last Council meeting that there may be some objections raised concerning that approval as long as the question of a new airport is unresolved.

It is unclear at this time whether there would be enough support in the Council to withhold approval in an attempt to force a compromise on the airport issue.

Fesatival of Lights.

Limited space is still available for the 1997 Festival of Trees Display and silent auction. Non-profit groups, churches, individuals, or businesses are invited to participate in this festive fundraiser.

Four-foot tabletop artificial trees are decorated by the participating groups and put on public exhibit from November 23rd to December 14th at Powers Museum. Each entry furnishes their own tree, decorations, lights, and extension cord. At the end of the silent auction, each participant will receive 75% of the auction proceeds. (The auction sale will not include the extension cord.)

The auction is a great fundraiser for local groups and provides an opportunity for the public to purchase a decorated tree as well. The trees will add to any d_cor for a home, college dorm room, nursing home, classroom, or office.

As another highlight of the Festival of Trees, the Carthage Chamber of Commerce and Powers Museum will host a Business After Hours on December 9th from 5:00-6:30 p.m. The event will feature refreshments, door prizes, and opportunities to bid in the silent auction.

Space is limited and all entries must be received by November 18th. Contact the Powers Museum at 358-2667 or the Carthage Chamber of Commerce at 358-2373 for more information.

Carthage Christmas Parade

Release by Main Street Carthage, Inc.

Harold Neely, former City Engineer now retired, and his wife Lenora will serve as Grand Marshall’s of the 1997 Carthage Christmas Parade which is scheduled for Monday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. "We are pleased to honor this family during the holiday season for their many years of service to the City of Carthage," says Diane Sharits, Main Street Carthage Program Manager.

The theme for this year’s Parade co-sponsored by the Carthage Technical School Chapter of VICA and Main Street Carthage, Inc. is "Christmas Comes From the Heart."

We encourage all businesses, organizations, youth groups, and churches to participate. There is no entry fee.

Over twenty groups including five bands have already returned applications. Deadline for entries is November 14.

For additional information, please contact the Main Street Office, 137 Grant or call 417-358-4974.

Christmas Lighting Contest

News from the Carthage Chamber of Commerce

The Carthage Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 1997 Christmas Lighting Contest with ten exciting new categories of exhibition. Sponsored by Southwest Missouri Bank, Bill Wilson’s Breckenwood Residential Development, and Imagine Art Gallery, the contest is open to homes, businesses, organizations, and churches in the Carthage zip code area.

Recognition awards will be given in ten specialty categories to include: Youth, Traditional Christmas - lighted, Traditional Christmas - unlighted, Winter White, Victorian Carthage, Retro-Christmas, Churches, Business/Window Display, Business/General, and Celebrate the Season. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third divisions for youth, residential, and commercial entries.

"The contest does more than put residents in the holiday spirit," according to Chamber Christmas Committee Chairperson Dorothy Ann Greenwood, "It boosts pride in beauty of Carthage and gives visiting tourists a chance to see the special value of our community."

Registrations are now being accepted with applications available at the Carthage Chamber of Commerce, 107 East Third. All applications must be submitted no later than December 8th with judging to take place December 12th. For more information, call the Carthage Chamber of Commerce at 358-2373.

I’ve only got into poison ivy once that I know about. As a kid out huntin’, I apparently laid down in a ripe growth. It covered my stomach area.

As ever’one knows, the real problem is that the more it itches, the more ya scratch. The more ya scratch, the more it itches, and spreads.

The real battle is ta get it to stop itchin’ long enough ta let it heal. In other words, the less ya do the better off ya are.

This is of course completely opposite of the procedure for the small cuts or abrasions that kids come up with. In that instance there needs ta be an effort to clean and cover, watch for infection and spreadin’. When a cut started itchin’ a little, it was a good sign usually. Meant it was healin’ up.

Sometimes it’s not so clear whether an itch needs scratchin’ or ignorin’. Sometimes it comes down to will power or knowledge, but usually just dumb luck.

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

by

Oak Street health & herbs

by Mari An Willis

New products and information arriving daily. Consumers are being bombarded with information about herbs and vitamins and "cure alls." Well, remember that if it is too good to be true, it may be. It is with reservation that I say I have been amazed at the results many of my customers get with certain products. I do not believe in selling just any old snake oil and we are very particular about the research we put into product. I even noticed some of our competitors follow our lead to save them the research time. This in itself is a huge vote of confidence, however, our focus is on educating our customers and ourselves.

New companies enter into the market offering rock-bottom prices on very valuable herbs and vitamins. Be certain that the product you are buying has been tested by a laboratory to ensure that you are getting what you pay for in a form that can be used by your body. Unfortunately, many companies are selling parts of herbs not used in the healing process. This is the fear of responsible herbalists as we watch people try inferior products made from inferior products or rejects of other long-time herbal companies. Expected results with a product may not occur and the decision to use alternative therapies is thrown out. People will not stick with something that does not work.

This was bound to happen as the availability of high quality herbs decreases. They are often difficult to store and may not be plentiful enough to meet an ever-growing demand. To get desired results, you should purchase high quality herbs and use them for a reasonable length of time before you make a decision on whether they work or not. Herbs work with the body as a whole food. They supply you with nutrients which help the body heal itself. Make sure that you are giving your body every possible chance to do so by buying herbs collected and processed by reputable companies with high quality products that contain the nutrients you need.

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