Did Ya Know... Carthage Water & Electric Plant Board will meet in special session Wed., Sept. 10 at the City Hall Council Chambers on 326 Grant at 4 p.m.

Did Ya Know... Today is the last day the Carthage Soccer League will be taking registrations for the Fall ’97 / Spring ’98 Season. The league is for boys and girls from the ages of 3 to under 15 years. Forms may be picked up at the Parks and Recreation Office across from the Municipal Pool.

Did Ya Know... Carthage Volleyball team will face Nevada today at 6 p.m. in Carthage.

Did Ya Know... A Carthage Tiger Soccer game will be held in Bolivar at 4:30 p.m. today.

Did Ya Know... Carthage Softball plays Joplin today in Carthage at 4:30 p.m.

Teacher: The British language is composed of vowels and consonants. Pupil: What, no words?

Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children.

A Pediatrician is a man with little patients.

Husband: Nancy and Mike make a perfect pair, don’t you think? Wife: Yes. He’s a pill and she’s a headache.

District Ore Sales.

The weather was fine all last week for mining operations and the output of ore was larger than the week before and there is very little surplus zinc ore and only about 100,000 pounds of lead ore left over in the entire district. There were four more carloads of zinc ore and eight more carloads of lead ore shipped than the preceding week. The top price paid for zinc ore was $22 per ton. About half of the Joplin ore, a third of the Webb City and Carterville and all the ore from Oronogo, Carthage and Alba sold at that figure. The price throughout the district was about the same. The Becky Sharp company was the only ore that sold at $23 per ton. The price of lead ore at the Picher Lead Co.’s works was $23.25 per thousand pounds all week. There were several choice lots of lead ore that sold for $24.25 per thousand pounds. There is every indication that prices of zinc and lead ores will be advanced this coming week.

Free Hunter Education Class Offered.

The Joplin Field Trial Association will sponsor a Hunter Education Course September 9th, 11th, and 13th. The Tuesday and Thursday evening classes will be held from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. in the Carthage Memorial Hall. The Saturday class will be held 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Attendance at all three sessions is required for successful completion of the course.

Individuals who successfully complete the course will receive a Hunter Education Certification card from the Missouri Department of conservation. This certificate is mandatory before individuals are allowed to purchase hunting permits in many states and Canada. Certification is limited to students 11 years of age or older.

Included in the training will be gun safety, information about firearms and ammunition, the role of the hunter and hunting in wildlife management and conservation, outdoor ethics and hunter preparedness.

Pre-registration is required and may be accomplished by calling 781-4704 or 624-2267 or 358-1989. The class is open only to the first fifty applicants.

First Carthage Contractor's Meeting

Release from the City of Carthage

Engineering Department

The City of Carthage Engineering Department has scheduled the first ever meeting of Carthage Contractors for September 11, 1997 at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers at 326 Grant Street. All interested contractors are invited to attend.

The focus of the meeting will be to open a line of communication between all contractors and homebuilders doing business in Carthage and the Engineering Department. The agenda includes the ramifications of our recent ISO inspection, which may ultimately be used to set homeowner insurance rates; the expanded plan review and inspection process; and, closer overall adherence to Building Code guidelines. Also, a review of Department services provided to all citizens, including contractors will be presented.

Joe Butler, newly appointed head of the Department, was quoted as saying, "We do not want to waste our time, or the time of our contractors; ... we view these meetings as an opportunity to exchange valuable information," according to the release from the City of Carthage Engineering Department.

Seeking New Board Members.

The Jasper County Youth Fair Board, Inc. is seeking individuals who are interested in serving as directors of the board. Memberships on the board are elective positions with the 1998 elections to be held on September 16, 1997 at 7 p.m., at the Carthage Vocational School. Board members consist of community and business leaders, advisors, staff and parents of 4-H, FFA and other youth serving agencies of Jasper County. Membership is open to any person who has an interest in the annual Jasper County Youth Fair and is willing to uphold the principles and ethical morals of the board.

The board is responsible for planning and organizing activities for the annual fair, which is held during the month of July in Carthage. The fair is open to all youth organizations of Jasper County. The purpose of the board is to promote and encourage agriculture, horticulture, and the rearing of better livestock, while improving domestic sciences and the arts. The fair promotes general community betterment among all persons. The fair is a major community event as it is supported by businesses, organizations and others who provide recognitions for work and accomplishments of the youth of our area. All persons of the community, other than youth exhibitors, and who are present at the September 16th meeting are eligible to vote for board members. Representatives of youth organizations are invited to attend the fall meeting so plans for their 1998 fair participation can be presented.

Current Executive Board of Directors are Jim Powell, president; Gloria Lawrence, vice president; Debbie Youngblood, secretary; and Scott Rosenthal, treasurer. Additional board members include John Dillard, Martin Wagner, Melanie Bruffett, Karen McClellan, Kevin Allen, Janice Sommer, Wayne Hood, Jim Honey, Charles Stark, Bob McNary, Greg Powell, Don Carver, Eldon Myers and Bryan Gast. Four 3-year positions, which are currently held by J. Powell, Bruffett, G. Powell, and Eldon Myers and a one year position which is currently held by Rosenthal are open for elections. Persons who are interested in serving on the 1998 Board of Directors of the Jasper County Youth Fair Board should contact Jim Powell, Janice Sommer, Wayne Hood or Gloria Lawrence at 358-2158 by September 12th.

Maple Leaf Souvenir Apparel Announced.

The Carthage Chamber of Commerce, in preparation for the 1997 Maple Leaf Festival, has announced the production of the Maple Leaf Souvenir T-shirts and Sweatshirts. This year, the Chamber is working closely with local artist Andy Thomas of Maze Creek Studio. "Andy has come up with a wonderful design which really shows the creative and fund-spirited feel of the Festival," according to Chamber Executive Director Heather Kelly. This year’s design features the Japer County Courthouse enfolded in a plethora of colorful Maple Leaves. Ms. Kelly added, "the theme for the festival and the shirt design is ’31 Colorful Years’ which represents the 31-year history of excellence in providing a community-minded festival with activities for the entire family."

Of the companies that submitted bids, River Market Shirt Factory in Kansas City was selected for their cost and quality of shirts they produce, according to Ms. Kelly. "We’re looking to put out a shirt that has a ‘painted-on’ feel to it. Andy Thomas has created a beautiful design with lots of Maple Leaves on it and we feel like this could be one of our best selling shirts ever!" She added that the shirts should be available by the end of this week. Again this year, companies or individuals may bulk order shirts at a special rate. Call the Carthage Chamber of Commerce at 417-358-2373 for more details.

Andy Thomas, a native of Carthage, is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Missouri Southern State College. He began his art career at age 17 serving as an apprentice to nationally known sports illustrator Ted Watts.

In 1975, he joined the advertising staff of Leggett & Platt, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, attaining the position of Staff Vice President, Marketing Services, before leaving in 1991 to paint and sculpt full time.

Andy has served as an instructor of Graphic Communications for the School of Art at MSSC. Through art Central, a regional art program, Andy taught children’s drawing classes. In 1994, he taped the Television Series "Kids Can Learn To Draw" through MSTV. The program has proven to be popular and has been re-broadcast many times.

Andy exhibits his artwork at selective art shows throughout the United States. Among the dozens of awards he has received are several "People’s Choice" ribbons. In 1995, he received the Special Recognition Award at the 18th Annual Midwest Gathering of the Artists. Published works include several book covers, illustrated books, limited edition prints, posters, and note cards.

Throughout his career, Andy has used his talents to help charitable causes. Working with local offices he has aided the Laubach Literacy Society, the American Cancer Society, The United Way, Project Graduation, the Carthage Chamber of Commerce, and others.

Seems ya never really catch up to reality. Talk of "moderate" housing that costs $60-$80,000 still seems odd.

I can remember the folks frettin’ ‘bout bein’ able to afford the $63 a month payment on our small three bedroom brick home. The price for the new house, with a basement was somewhere in the $13,000 range.

I haven’t lived in a vacuum all these years, but when I see economy cars bein’ advertised for about the same money today, I still somehow make the comparison.

I have ta stop and realize that the average family income for a month in these parts, now around $2,000 I suppose, would have bought a brand new Chevy with some change back then.

I’m not makin’ some pitch about things bein’ better or cheaper back then. It just always jolts the senses tryin’ to get a handle on the reality of value.

‘Course it still shocks me ta see penny candy goin’ for a dime these days.

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

McCune Brooks Hospital

Health Notes.

SOY PROTEIN research is leading to some interesting revelations. While it’s been suspected for years that soybean products may be a factor in the low rates of heart disease in those countries, scientists were not able to prove any direct link.

Now, there’s some indication that soy protein may act as an anti-oxidant, which prevents the oxidation of both the LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and HDL ("good" cholesterol).

When the LDL cholesterol fraction is oxidized, it can produce the damaging effects of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, which can then lead to stroke. Only non-oxidized HDL can clean out the nasty LDL cholesterol. But once it goes through the oxidation process, the HDL cholesterol can no longer keep those arteries clean.

Another factor is something I call replacement therapy. Soy products are an excellent replacement for red meat and other high-saturated fat foods. If you won’t give up your red meat dinners even for a few days a week, then at least add tofu to your chopped meat recipes. It will replace some of the saturated fat product you’d be likely to ingest. You can also add soy protein to breads, cereals, pastas, beverages, and seafood products.