Today's Feature

Annexation Resolution.

The Carthage City Council will meet this evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Items on the agenda include a resolution calling for an election on the annexation of property known as Southwind Acres.

This item was defeated in its original vote during the November general election. In the first election the approval of the annexation would have required 50% of Carthage voters and 50% of the Southwind Acres voters. It received only one vote of approval from Southwind Acres residents and 60% approval by Carthage voters.

By state statute the question must be put on another ballot in February and passed by a two-thirds majority, or 67% of the combined voters of the City and Southwind Acres.

Council is also scheduled to hear the second reading of an ordinance that would allow the sale of Fireworks within the City limits. This item is also tied to the annexation, as one vendor within the Southwind Acres had requested of Council that fireworks sales be legalized in City limits, so that the business could continue if the property was annexed.

Mornin'
The problem with makin’ decision is the fact that ya just never have all of the facts.

It’s like sittin’ round the kitchen table tryin’ to figure if there is enough in the cookie jar to go to a movie this weekend. Ya figure out what it will cost, add about twenty percent, then start figurin’ what you’ll have ta give up later in the month.

One option is ta wait until it comes out as a rental. Wait long enough and it could cost ya a buck or so. Then, of course, one option that is the least favorable is the do nothin’ option. Maybe, heaven forbid, ya just can’t afford it at this time.

The only thing certain is that the very best decisions are merely calculated risks that happen to work out pretty close to the way you hoped they would.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Bipolar Disorder Is Emotional Seesaw

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: How serious is bipolar disorder? Can you control it yourself? Is the brain lacking some element? -- L.R.

ANSWER: Bipolar is a disorder in which people experience spells of deep depression alternating with spells of great energy and unbridled enthusiasm. It’s an emotional teeter-totter. In the high-energy phase, people feel invincible, are constantly on the go, can do with little sleep, have grandiose and unreasonable plans and are overly sociable. They become impulsive and make hasty and poor decisions. Sometimes they hallucinate, seeing things not present and hearing things not spoken. In the depressed phase, the opposite holds. People become reclusive, feel that all is hopeless, don’t want to get out of bed and are reluctant to interact with others. Those extremes are the two poles of bipolar disorder.

Yes, it is a serious illness. It can disrupt a person’s life.

Brain chemistry is involved, but the exact mechanisms are not completely understood. Genes have a major role too. Bipolar disorder runs in families.

People cannot control these mood swings by themselves. They will have times when the extremes of the two poles are not present but, predictably, the highs and lows return.

Medicines are most helpful in restoring stability to people’s lives. Lithium is a medicine with proven good results. There are others.