The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Volume XVI, Number 182

did ya know?

Did Ya Know?... The Rolling Thunder Chili Feed & Silent Auction is Sat. March 08 from 12:00 to ??? at the Carthage VFW Post #2590, Hwy 96 & Hwy 171. $5 for Adults, $3 for Child. Call David at 358-8816 for more info. Public Welcome.

Did Ya Know?... A Blood drive is being held on March 4 from 11:30 to 6:00pm at The Church of the Nazarene at 2000 Grand, Carthage for the American Red Cross. For more info call 1-800-give life.

Did Ya Know?... The Hugs Project will be hosting a Tupperware Party for the troops. Thurs, March 6 from 7:00 to 9:00pm, at the Ulmer’s Community Bldg. on the corner of Garrison and Macon in Carthage. The Tupperware is used by service personnel to keep sand out of their personal items. Rsvp, Diane at 793-0720.

Did Ya Know?... The Kiwanis Pancake Day is Saturday, March 8th, 6am to 12:00pm at the 1st United Methodist Church, 617 S Main St, Carthage. All the pancakes you can eat. For more info call 358-2577.

today's laugh

Doctor- "I have to report, sir, that you are the father of triplets."
Politician- "Impossible! I’ll demand a recount."

Caller- "Who’s the responsible man here?
Office Boy- "If you mean the fellow that always gets the blame, it’s me."

1908
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

A Few Reasons why you should use the B. P. S. Paints:

It is not a patent paint with a secret formula.

It is made of three fourths lead and one fourth zinc with the best linseed oil and coloring matter.

It never blisters and peels off. You can paint your house cheaper with B. P. S. than with any other high grade paint.

It will give a better finish, last longer and cover more surface than any other paint. We are exclusive agents for Carthage.

Holbrook’s Drug & Book Store

Annual Cost of a Battleship.

Mr. Pretyman, of England, in reply to a question of the government lately, stated that the average annual cost of maintaining in commission a first-class battleship of 13,000 tons is: Pay of officers and crew, £40,360; victualing, £14,604; coal, £23,600; stores and repairs, £9,548; naval ordinance stores, £5,550- a total cost of £94,000 or $420,000. - Boston Globe.

 

Today's Feature

YMCA Spring Break Camp.

For both parents and kids, it’s never too early to start thinking about plans for the Spring Break Camp, March 17 - 21. Parents want to be sure their children are safe, supervised and engaged in activities that keep their kids’ minds and bodies active after school lets out for Spring Break. Youngsters look forward to the free time, and simply want to have fun and learn something new. YMCAs have been serving communities for more than 150 years. The Fair Acres Family YMCA is a perfect option for parents who are looking for a safe and fun place for their kids to build healthy mind, body and spirit during Spring Break Camp.

"Children are our greatest treasures and greatest responsibility," said Cari Eck, YMCA Program Director. "YMCA helps kids grow positively, meet healthy role models and learn good values - all while having fun. We not only provide memories that last a lifetime, but we also assure parents that their kids are in good hands during Spring Break Camp."

Spring Break Camp for youth - one of the most popular programs offered by YMCAs - provides youngsters with a unique opportunity to connect with their peers and their community. At Fair Acres Family YMCA’s Spring Break Camp, youngsters enjoy a broad range of age-appropriate programs, events and activities, from swimming and games to crafts and much more.

In addition to all of the activities offered at Spring Break Camp, parents also have the flexibility of enrolling their youngsters during days that suit their needs. For example, if a parent only wants a child to participate two days, Spring Break Camp can accommodate that schedule. Different levels of supervision are also available, depending on the age and interests of the parent and child. "YMCA programs are designed to met the needs and schedules of today’s busy families," Eck added.

Cost is $65 per week for Y members and $85 for non-members or $18 per day for Y members or $28 per day for non-members. Parents may drop children at the Y as early as 7:00 am and pick them up by 6:00 pm

YMCA Spring Break Camp provides a wealth of opportunity for kids to get active through play. This is especially important as rates of overweight and obesity among youth have increased dramatically over the past 25 years. In fact, a 2005 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that school-age children should participate in moderate to vigorous activity for a minimum of 60 minutes a day. YMCA Spring Break Camp helps kids build healthy habits while having fun.

"The need is as strong today as ever before," said Cari Eck," Y Program Director. "Being more physically active through play helps children better manage stress, succeed in school, reduce stress, build energy and, most of all, learn skills that encourage a lifetime of activity."

YMCAs today are collectively one of the nation’s largest providers of camping programs with 265 resident camps and nearly 2,000 day camps across the country, including 120 specialty camps for kids with disabilities.

"For more than 150 years, YMCAs have developed initiatives and programs that have helped improve the physical, social, emotional and spiritual health for millions of Americans in diverse communities across the country," said Eck. "Participation in YMCA Spring Break Camp provides kids and families with a chance to build friendship and community, a sense of well-being and confidence and improved physical, mental and cognitive abilities. Parents will also have the assurance that their children will not only have good fun, but they will be in good hands."

For more information call the Fair Acres Family YMCA for more information at 417-358-1070 or visit the ?Y’s website at www.fairacresymca.org


Public Works Meeting Cancelled.

The Public Works Committee’s Bi-monthly meeting at the Public Works Department, 637 E. 7th, Carthage, Mo, schedule to meet at 4:00 on March 4th, has been cancelled.

Just Jake Talkin'

Mornin’

I decided it was time to burn that collection of leaves and small branches that I had been gatherin’ over the last few weeks. The wind was calm and the ground still had enough moisture that a run-a-way grass fire wasn’t a threat.

Always aware of Murphy and his fickle laws, I prepared for the worst. Rakes to keep leaves in the proper area and a water hose available. Everything seemed O.K. so I lit the pile.

Prob’ly the best part of burnin’ a little trash is havin’ to stay with the fire after it has burnt down enough to not be an immediate danger to the surroundin’s. It’s one of those few times when you can lean on a rake doin’ nothin’, but knowin’ that someone has to stay and watch. An important job that requires no physical activity.

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

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McCune Brooks Regional Hospital

To Your Good Health
By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

How to Choose Heartburn Medicine

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please explain the difference between Protonix and the other medications available for GERD. I have been on Protonix for nine months, and no one is able to give me a clear definition. -- E.S.

ANSWER: Heartburn, acid reflux, hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease are different names for the same condition -- the upward spurting of stomach acid and digestive juices into the esophagus, the long muscular tube that stretches from the throat to the stomach and through which food travels to arrive in the stomach.

The medicines that are the most powerful in suppressing acid production, and therefore in quieting heartburn symptoms, are proton pump inhibitors. "Proton" is another word for "acid." There are five of them: Prevacid, Prilosec, Nexium, Aciphex and your Protonix. They work in a similar fashion. Each has its own slightly different profile and its own slightly different set of side effects. Which is best? The best one for you is the one that stops your heartburn, causes you the fewest side effects and costs the least.

Raising the head of the bed with 6-inch blocks under the bedposts or lying on the left side while asleep keeps stomach acid in the stomach and can put an end to some people’s heartburn without resorting to medicine. Staying away from caffeine, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato products, chocolate, peppermint, onions and fatty or fried foods is another approach to minimizing heartburn symptoms.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

By David Uffington

Scrimp and Save

If you made New Year’s resolutions to save money wherever you could, how are you doing? Are you meeting your goals? For many of us, the initial rush of determination has worn off, and we’re back to our normal spending patterns -- which means we’re not saving much at all.

It’s never too late to try again. It’s said that if you can do something for 21 days, it will be come a habit. Here are some relatively painless ways you can save a few dollars.

Food: Are you still eating out twice a week, or back to grabbing an expensive cup of coffee on the way to work? When you cook at home, fix double the amount and freeze half. Take lunch to work a few days a week.

Money: Empty your pockets and purse of all coins every night and put them in a jar. Don’t carry your credit cards. Don’t pay full price for anything. Look for bargains. (This keeps you from making fast purchases, as well as saving money.)

Maintenance: Is the bathroom faucet still dripping? Spend a few minutes and a few cents, and the savings will add up. Get in the habit of tending to money-draining repairs immediately.

Insurance: Can you logically raise your deductible and reduce the monthly insurance payment?

Telephone: Many people have realized that they’re paying for two phones -- a landline at home and a portable cell phone -- and have dropped the home phone altogether. This could be a savings of hundred of dollars per year. If you absolutely need the landline, consider dropping options such as call waiting or call forwarding.

Coupons: Are you clipping grocery coupons and actually using them? Coupons aren’t just for food and entertainment. Check your local phone book. Quite often there’s a whole section of coupons from local merchants for oil changes, carpet cleaning, video rentals and more.

Cable TV: Compare the cost of the premium movie channels and one of the by-mail video rentals. Some of the rental plans will let you have up to four movies at a time for less than $20 per month.

Try to develop frugal attitudes about your money. Remember: It takes 21 days for a good habit to be formed, but you have to do it every day.

FROM START TO FITNESS

By Andrea Renee Wyatt, M.S.S., C.S.C.S.

Journal Can Offer Roadmap to Fitness

Q: A friend of mine met with a personal trainer after she joined a new fitness center. The trainer told her to start keeping a lifestyle log. My friend is supposed to write down all her activities each day, plus everything she eats and drinks. After a week she is supposed to turn in her lifestyle log so they can discuss it. What benefit would keeping such a log have? I am trying to become healthy and lose a little weight.

A: Keeping a journal, or lifestyle log, has been shown to be a very effective way to stay committed to your fitness goals and to have a written account tracking the process it took to get there. Although this is not a new concept, the traditional food log can be modified to include exercise, activities and other lifestyle components essential to a healthy lifestyle.

Many fitness professionals are asking clients to keep logs of their daily lifestyle choices so they can better help them develop realistic goals, and also to get a snapshot of what is happening with their clients on days they are not together. Most people who meet with a trainer or fitness professional do so only two to four days a week, leaving plenty of unknown lifestyle habits.

Developing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes factors not often realized. The traditional nutrition logs/journals include monitoring eating habits by keeping track of calories, portion sizes and fluid intake. Lifestyle logs also include daily exercise, hours of sleep per day and activities outside of organized exercise, such as playing with your children or walking the dog, and levels of perceived stress.

Noting on a scale of 1 to 10 how well you felt with each lifestyle component is also helpful. For example if you got only five hours of sleep, you would note if you felt well-rested, fatigued or tired throughout the day.

After keeping a log for a few days of normal activity, the results can be used to help make changes to your current nutritional and lifestyle routines to help you reach your goals. You might be amazed how just a few tweaks can make a major difference. You can also review old logs to see what worked and what did not work for you.

When keeping a log, it is most important to be completing honest. Withholding information is only going to hinder you from reaching your goals. Lifestyle logs can also be used to hold yourself accountable to your goals. Knowing that you will have to write down a poor lifestyle choice might make you think twice before doing it.

Whether you are meeting with a personal trainer or managing your own fitness program, a lifestyle log can be an extremely useful tool, and maybe the missing link in achieving a healthy lifestyle.

Always consult a physician before beginning an exercise program.

Moments In Time

The History Channel

On March 6, 1899, the Imperial Patent Office in Berlin registers Aspirin, the brand name for acetylsalicylic acid, on behalf of the German pharmaceutical company Friedrich Bayer & Co. In its primitive form, the active ingredient, salicin, had been used for centuries in folk medicine.

On March 9, 1913, writer Virginia Woolf delivers the manuscript of her first novel, "The Voyage Out," to her publisher. In 1941, fearful for her own mental state and afraid of the coming world war, she filled her pockets with rocks and drowned herself.

On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signs a congressional act making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the official national anthem of the United States. Francis Scott Key composed the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner" in 1814.

On March 4, 1952, Ernest Hemingway completes his short novel "The Old Man and the Sea." He wrote his publisher the same day, saying he had finished the book and that it was the best writing he had ever done. The critics agreed, and the book won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953.

On March 5, 1963, the Hula-Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958, is patented by the company’s co-founder, Arthur "Spud" Melin. An estimated 25 million Hula-Hoops were sold in its first four months of production alone.

On March 8, 1986, "Mask," starring Eric Stoltz and Cher, opens. Cher, who had launched a serious acting career with her appearance in Robert Altman’s "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" in 1982, received the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in "Mask."

VETERAN’S POST

By Freddy Groves

Brain Injury or Stress?

All military personnel returning from Iraq are now being screened for concussion. Sounds like but one step in a medical evaluation -- except it’s a bigger deal than it might first appear.

A recent study of 2,525 infantry soldiers published in the New England Journal of Medicine concludes that those who suffered concussions (mild traumatic brain injury) were more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder than those who hadn’t.

Additionally, it’s the PTSD that causes a lot of the subsequent physical symptoms, not the brain injury. Some doctors were initially skeptical. (As was I.)

Returning soldiers often experience memory loss, sleep disturbances, headaches and problems concentrating -- all of which are symptoms of both traumatic stress and brain injury. The one key symptom was headache -- more often aligned with brain injury than PTSD. Another key point is whether a soldier lost consciousness during a brain injury, such as during a blast. Forty percent of those who did also met the criteria for PTSD, especially when the event was combined with altered mental state (confusion) immediately afterward.

While I was initially skeptical about the study, I’m not now. The research seems pretty solid. What worries me is that those who are in charge of determining a soldier’s disability compensation might well take the easy way out: "Oh, you don’t have brain injury; it’s just PTSD, which we can fix. No money for you."

I fear too that cases of genuine brain injury will be missed, leaving soldiers to suffer long-term effects when they’re treated for the wrong thing. Whether it ends up being labeled PTSD or TBI, evaluators need to remember that it was the traumatic brain injury that started it.

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