Did Ya Know... Knights of Pythias Thanksgiving dinner will be tonight at the Lodge Hall on Oak Street at 6:30 p.m. for members and guests.

Did Ya Know... The Family Literacy Council needs volunteers to wrap packages. For details, call 358-5926.

Did Ya Know... American Diabetes Association free foot and eye screenings will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McCune-Brooks Hospital Conference Room.

Did Ya Know... Economic Security Corporation is offering winter heating assistance to low-income families. For details, call 358-3521 in Carthage.

Mother: Did you push your little sister down the stairs?

Bobby: I only pushed her down one step. She fell the rest of the way.

Wife: Tomorrow is our twenty-fifth anniversary. I think I’ll kill the big red rooster and bake him.

Husband: Now, now, honey; why punish the poor chicken for what happened 25 years ago?

Roger: I used to think I was a beagle. But the psychiatrist cured me.

Doger: How are you now?

Roger: Great. Just feel my nose.

The Merchant Of Venice.

It is not often that one sees one of Shakespeare’s plays given entirely by ladies but that, with the exception of one character taken by Mr. Heathcote, is exactly what the ladies of Grace Episcopal church and the City Federation of Clubs attempted and successfully accomplished last night under the direction of Mr. W. W. Heathcote at the Grand opera house.

There was only a fair sized audience present but all enjoyed the entertainment. The costumes were appropriate to the occasion. The ladies who assumed men’s parts did not venture masculine costumes, but made dashing gallants nevertheless.

The entertainment was altogether most creditable to the ladies and to the director, and was one of the best amateur performances which has been attempted by Carthage talent.

Chris Christensen and Jim Lobbee were married November 15, 1997 in Las Vegas, NV.

Regional Detention for Runoff.

The City’s Engineering Department is investigating the possibility of a regional detention basin for storm water runoff in the area of Hedgewood Acres, the new subdivision under development by Adam Hoover at Grand Avenue and Elk Street.

Tom Moore of Tri-State Engineering, the City’s contracted engineering firm, explained the situation at the last Public Works Committee meeting.

According to Moore, a major drainageway runs northeast in the area toward River and Fairview and enlarging the detention pond planned for Hoover’s development would substantially improve the flow downstream. A drainage area of 46.2 acres, 36.6% of the drainage basin, would be impacted by a regional detention basin in the area of Hedgewood Acres.

"We have this window of opportunity available now," said Moore.

Using the 25 year storm peak flow for comparison as specified by City ordinance, Moore examined changes in the rate of flow in the drainageway as the area has developed. When the area was undeveloped, the flow was 50 cubic feet per second (CFS). Development such as the old Wal-Mart building, the Mercantile Bank building and their parking areas has led to increased storm water runoff. As developed, including the planned Hedgewood Acres, the flow in the drainageway will be 169 CFS.

According to Moore, a regional detention basin would decrease the flow in the drainageway to 25 CFS. If the City does not develop the regional detention area, Hoover will provide detention for his 10-acre development as planned and flow in the area will be 137 CFS.

The Engineering Department estimates the total cost for the regional detention basin to be approximately $70,000. Of this total, Hoover would be expected to contribute the cost of his planned detention pond.

The Carter Branch Storm Drainage Study completed in November 1996 by Tri-State Engineering for the City of Carthage listed several drainage improvements at a cost of over $1 million. Moore explained If the regional detention basin were developed, some improvements recommended in the Carter Branch Study could be scaled back for a future cost savings of $25,000-30,000.

The City has not committed any funds toward the Carter Branch recommended improvements at this time.

The Engineering Department, at the Committee’s request, is in the process of contacting property owners in the detention area to determine the feasibility of pursuing this project.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin

State Representative District 26

It’s hard to believe, but we are only six weeks away from the start of the legislative session. I will probably use the next several columns to discuss likely upcoming legislation or events. Since this next year is an election year, it will probably be fairly quiet, but there will be things to watch for nonetheless. Doesn’t it seem strange that things get quiet in an election year? Elected officials are to represent the will of the citizens at the Capitol, but when they use non-election years to push their tax increases and ever-increasing regulations it makes you wonder whose will they are really representing. If they were really looking after Missouri’s citizens’ best interests it wouldn’t matter which year they introduced a lot of legislation. I realize this is starting to sound like just so much complaining and why don’t I do something about the way this works, but the fact of the matter is that with the republicans being in the minority, we aren’t allowed to get our legislation to the floor.

The two most important votes in the House take place every other year. The first is the vote for Speaker. This is the most important since the Speaker assigns committees (to both parties), directs which bills will be debated, and runs the floor debate. If you lose the vote for Speaker, and the minority party always will, you are going to be playing defense the next two years.

The next most important vote is the vote on the rules we will be operating under the next two years. This vote is also vitally important because it defines what the process we will be using to run the House will be. For the past two decades, democrats in the House have passed the rules that keep those of us in the minority party from having our legislation debated or voted on. If it sounds like I’m complaining, I don’t mean to, I’m just telling it like it is in the House under democrat rule. Would we do the same thing if we were the majority party? I don’t know. I’d like to think we would let all sides be heard and let democracy take it’s course. I promise you that you wouldn’t see any difference in legislation between election and non-election years if we were the majority party. Each year you would see legislation introduced to lower taxes and reduce costly regulations that have no tangible benefit to the public. It would be a nice change of pace from politics as usual.

Speaking of politics as usual, I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Governor Carnahan wait until after a special election in north Missouri to fill a vacant House seat to award two prison sites. Even though he had the recommendations from a joint corrections committee for months, he had been putting off the decision for an abnormally long time. I speculated he was waiting so that he could see if the folks in the 3rd District elected a democrat or republican. That way if they elected a democrat he could reward them with the prison. If they went with the republican, (which they did), he could punish them by giving the prison to another town. Sure enough, days after the election he announced the prisons would be located in two other sites, both of which had been pushed by very prominent democrats. This occurred even though one of the selected sites had major organized opposition ot the prison. The overlooked site in north Missouri had near unanimous local support. It is too bad the governor has to act in such small ways. It paints all of us with the same brush in the eyes of the public and further adds to the public’s well-placed mistrust of their government.

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.

This week starts the push for the holiday attitude. Like most I’d assume, it seems things start movin’ just a little too fast this time a year.

I suppose that back when folks mainly lived on farms, the fall and early winter were times when things slowed down a bit. The crops were in and it was a time ta enjoy the harvest and prepare for the short days and long nights of winter. That may have been where the tradition of keepin’ busy doin’ all the holiday "extras" filled a need.

‘Course that was before the tradition of football, basketball, volley ball, and indoor soccer games was a staple of the season.

I’m sure in a flash we’ll look up and be rememberin’ the New Years Eve of ’98. Seems the time ‘tween Thanksgivin’ and the first of the year is just a blur anymore.

I suppose that passin’ time on the farm durin’ the winter got a little borin’ on occasion, but havin’ time ta repair a saddle or carve a toy surely made up for the monotony.

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

by

McCune Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

FIRST AID WARNINGS: A recent survey shows many of us are not as concerned as we should be about the basics of first aid.

A release from the Warner Wellcome Company, in conjunction with the American Red Cross, presents some facts that should alert all of us to the importance of proper first aid procedures.

For example, the release notes that although they no longer make front page news, Strep A infections cause the deaths of at least 50 people a year. Strep A, which incudes a strain known as the flesh-eating bacteria, can enter the body though a tiny cut or scrape. Yet most people ignore these wounds, believing that if they’re so small, there’s nothing to worry about. However, infections can and do occur.

The American Red Cross advises the following steps for dealing with minor cuts and abrasions:

1. Cleanse. If you get a minor cut or scrape, wash it thoroughly with soap and water.

2. Medicate. Use a broad spectrum antibiotic ointment (check with your pharmacist for recommendations) to kill infection-causing bacteria and help speed healing.

3. Bandage. Cover the area with a bandage and keep it clean. This procedure should be repeated two to three times a day until the wound is healed.