Did Ya Know... Stone’s Throw Theatre will have Casino Night on Sat., Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, call 358-9665 or 358-7268.

Did Ya Know... Preschool Storytimes will begin Oct. 1 at 6:30 Tuesday evenings and 10:15 Wednesday mornings. To sign up, contact the Young People’s Library.

Did Ya Know... Today, The VantAge Point and Area Agency on Aging will have a seminar on "How Eyesight Changes Our Lives" at Northpark Mall.

Did Ya Know... The 4-H Country Celebration will be Sat., Sept. 27 with a parade at 9 a.m. on the Carthage Square and activities held at the Carthage Municipal Park. For more information, call 358-2158.

"Doc should I file my nails?"

"No. Throw them away like everybody else."

"Carry your bag?" asked the redcap to the alligator about to board the plane for London.

"Sure, but be careful, that’s my wife."

Q. How many doctors does it take to screw in a light bulb

A. That depends on whether or not it has health insurance.

Story of the Burning of Two men in Carthage.

(Reminder: this was originally published in 1897, ed.)

"It was just 44 years ago Thursday that two men were burned at the stake in Carthage." The speaker was Mr. Timothy Meador, of Reeds Station, one of the old and highly respected citizens of Japer county.

Mr. Meador is now 74 years of age. He is a native of Tennessee and came to this section in 1848, when he was 25 years of age. He lived on his farm near Reeds Station in July, 1853, when the men were burned, but was in Carthage at the time and was an eye witness to the burning.

The old gentlemen talked at length of the exciting event, and recalled the details and incidents with the manner of one positive of the correctness of his data. Mr. Meador’s story of the affair does not tally strictly with the account given in the published histories of Jasper county, but he stands ready to affirm that his memory serves him well and that the details as he tells them are accurate. The following is the story, substantially as he tells it:

The two men were made the victims of the horrible punishment for a terrible crime, as brutal and revolting as was ever committed. The two men worked for John Dale and John Scott, two farmers who lived near Carthage. Both were men of about 35 years. They went to the house of Dr. Fisk and told him that Dale was very ill and had sent for him. When the doctor had left the house one of the men produced an ax from under his coat and struck the doctor from behind killing him. They rifled his pockets of $2.50 and went back to his house. Here they outraged his wife, after which they murdered her and her child and set fire to the house.

They had planned to murder and rob John Dale and John Scott the next night and with the money thus obtained seek refuge in the far north, but their suspicious actions led to the arrest of one and the other took safety in flight. The prisoner was kept about two weeks until his comrade was captured in the woods northwest of town and then both were executed. During the time the first man was under arrest he made a full confession and told of all the horrible details of their crime and of the further murders they had planned.

It was the 29th day of July, 1853, when the men were burned at the stake and the weather was as hot then as it is now. On the day set for the execution there was a tremendous crowd in Carthage - probably between three and four thousand people - and a vote was taken to decide whether the law should take its course or the men should be executed instanter.

The scene was an impressive one. The crowds of people determined but quiet and the frightened faces of men in the crowd, combined to make a scene never to be forgotten by the spectators. The leaders of the party in favor of burning shouted to all that thought as they did to line up on their side and the opposition did the same. When the crowd was divided, burning had won by a vote of more than two to one. The march was then taken up to the place of execution.

The place selected was what is now known as Logsden hollow or East Macon street. There were then only about two houses between that point and the square. Three iron bars were driven into the ground at such distances that the men could just stand between with their arms touching each bar. The leaders of the crowd started to bind them to the bars with ropes but stopped when they realized that the fire would burn the ropes. The leader of the mob shouted "Two dollars and a half for trace chains," and soon enough were forthcoming to bind the prisoners fast.

"Dry sycamore wood was piled up around them in a circle but not touching them, and about waist high. Then light shavings were added to the heap and the whole was fired by four or five persons simultaneously. The flames leaped up around the doomed men with a blast like a furnace, sucking their breath away and they were dead in a quarter of a minute. One of the men gasped twice and the other cringed and cowered, but neither groaned, shrieked nor said a word and there were none of the horrors one might imagine.

"I remained until among the last spectators, and considering the revolting nature of their crime, I did not feel any sympathy for them."

Tourism Costs Mounting.

The Budget/Ways and Means Committee delayed a decision Wednesday night on a request by the Chamber of Commerce for additional funds to help cover the cost of promoting tourism.

The request came after the Chamber’s annual financial report showed that just over $7,000 of membership contribution was spent by the organization in the fiscal year 1996 for tourism. This was in addition to the $32,000 granted by the City for that function for the year.

Chamber President Roger Bohm told the Committee that the funds just weren’t available in the Chamber treasury to support the increase in inquiries, especially postage and phone expenses. Chairman Bill Johnson said he was sympathetic, but didn’t like hearing about the problem after the fact.

"But they are asking, what do we do when it happens this year," said Johnson.

Committee member Jackie Boyer suggested possibly adjusting the amount of promotion down to slow down inquiries. The Committee will gather information and review the request at its next meeting.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin

State Representative, District 26

Wow! The taxpayers really took it on the chin this month! As you know, we have been in Special Session since September 8. There was actually one issue that needed addressed, that was the Branson sales tax. Unfortunately, Governor Carnahan kept expanding the call of the session to include sewer districts, abortion, economic development, etc. The constitution of the State of Missouri clearly states that Special Sessions are to be used for matters of grave concern that cannot wait until the next Regular Session. What was so frustrating about the whole thing was that most of the items the governor wanted us to address were things that we had passed during the previous session and he had vetoed.

Anyway, at a cost of about $20,000.00 per day we were in session September 8-12 and then adjourned for the weekend. We were called back at 11 o'clock on Wednesday, presumable to vote on the economic development bill. I was opposed to the bill from the start and if there is room in this column, I'll go into the reasons why. If room runs short, I guess I'll have a topic for next week!

We convened in the House Chamber at 11 o'clock, voted to approve the previous Friday's journal and adjourned until 4 o'clock. We came back in at 4 o'clock, took a quorum call and adjourned until 11 o'clock on Thursday. Now let me clarify what we've accomplished by now. We took two meaningless votes that just showed we were present in the chamber and then adjourned for the day. All for the bargain basement price of only $20,000.00!

We came back in at 11 o'clock on Thursday, ready to do the people's business. But guess what? We voted to approve the previous day's journal and adjourned until 4 o'clock! So what we've accomplished now is to take a meaningless vote to validate yesterday's meaningless votes! It was about this time I decided I was no longer going to aster the taxpayers' money or my time. Since I was planning on voting against the bill and it was going to take 82 votes to pass the bill, I didn't feel too bad about leaving. In this case, an absent is the same as a no. I called in about 4 o'clock only to find out it had been delayed until four-thirty. Finally the bill was taken up, voted down and then revived with a procedural vote. Then the House adjourned until, you guessed it, 11 o'clock the next day.

The bill was finally passed Friday morning and the Special Session was finally adjourned for the year. What a bargain for the taxpayers; three days and $60,000.00 for one vote that meant nothing. Is it any wonder people have lost faith in the credibility of government? The biggest frustration I feel is not being able to do anything to fix it. That inability is due to a vote that was taken last January. That was the vote for Speaker of the House. If you lose that vote, you are playing defense for the next two years. As of now, we have lost that vote for four decades. We literally have people in our caucus that have grown accustomed to losing and are used to it. I for one will not be satisfied until we are on offense and the collective will of the most important people of the State of Missouri, THE TAXPAYERS, is better served.

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, or advice.

The recent rains were pert near perfect for the vegetation goin’ into the winter I’m told. The slow, steady soaker. Gets deep into the soil ‘n gives plants somethin’ to dig into. The quick flash thunderstorms that dump large quantities and then move on typically do more damage than good.

I suppose like most things, there is a combination of the two that make the best situation. The long soakers for the vegetation, the flash floods to give a good washdown and fill the stock ponds.

I’m also told that if the weather stays cool, there won’t be a burst of grass growin’, but if temperature gets up the grass will grow like crazy. With the lawn mowin’ season near its end, most of us are hopin’ for a little moderation in the grass growin’ department.

One thing for certain, no matter what combination of wet and dry, warm or cool, we have to adjust to the situation and start gettin’ ready for the change in seasons. Summer is officially over by the way.

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

Natural Nutrition

by Mari An Willis

It is definitely getting to be harvest time. We welcomed the first day of autumn with fall like weather. The time has come to clip most of the herbs you may still have in your garden.

Starting with mullein ... dry the leaves out very well or they may mold on you. One of the easiest ways is to spread paper in a warm spot, such as a sunny window and lay each leaf out separately turning a few times a day. Keep them drying until they break apart easily. Store them loosely packed in large brown bags with the top rolled down. Mullien is a primary lung herb. It has traditionally been used to treat any ailment which involves the lungs or bronchial tubes. Pour about a pint of water over one of those beautifully dried large leafs, steep about 15 minutes add honey and enjoy. Since prevention is the key, drinking a cup a day 5 days a week may be a good rotation for anyone exposed to lung pollutants. That would be anyone who is breathing!!!

From the garden it is almost time to pull in the last of the basil. Since one harvests basil throughout the season, there may not be much left come final harvest. Basil freezes quite well retaining its summertime flavor. Thoroughly wash and dry the cuttings before you put them into plastic freezer bags. Remove only the amount you will need for each recipe leaving the rest frozen. DO NOT MICROWAVE to thaw.

FAVORITE PASTA PESTO

1 1/2 qt. fresh basil leaves rinsed and dried

8 cloves garlic

1/4 cup toasted pinenuts

1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

Combine all ingredients, except oil, in a food processor until fully blended. Add olive oil slowly. Adjust seasonings for personal taste. Cover and keep refrigerated or freeze in small packets.

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