BOCA Meet Moved to Wednesday.

The City Council Public Works Committee meeting has been postponed to Wednesday October 18 at 4:00 p.m. in City Hall due to an unexpected conflict in scheduling. The Committee faces a long agenda for their regular meeting which typically meets on the first and third Tuesday.

Old business includes the continued discussion concerning the City’s adoption of the proposed International Property Maintenance Code. The City currently uses the 1996 version of a similar code, but several rental property owners have voiced opposition to the strict enforcement and oppose the adoption of the updated 2000 version.

Also scheduled for discussion are two requests for alley vacations which were reviewed during the last regular meeting.

New business includes the consideration of signs denoting Janet Kivandi’s relationship to Carthage, the City’s paving and curb and gutter incentives for housing developments and the traffic signal budget.

Information concerning the proposed interchange at Fairview and Highway 71 is scheduled as well as bids for a new pickup for the Street Department.

Autumn Lawrence Receives National Award.

Representing the state of Missouri, Autumn Lawrence has been recognized by the National Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW/USA) as one of three outstanding young careerist in the United States. The Young Careerist Program recognizes the accomplishments of successful women or men.

Ms. Lawrence is a chemistry teacher at Carthage Senior High School. However her duties and responsibilities go beyond the classroom. With her students she has set up workshops for elementary students, and developed a guide of ‘Kitchen Fun’ activities which can be used by elementary teachers, as well as parents. This year her students are planning to develop a video on "Chemistry Safety." Ms. Lawrence was also one of the coordinators of the school’s mock murder mystery and trial, which involved her students in the processes of forensic research.

Ms. Lawrence is devoted to her profession. She spends many hours before school, at noon, during her preparation hour, and after school tutoring students of various subjects and needs.

Many students have enhanced their skills from assistance from Ms. Lawrence. While helping students prepare speeches, she has assisted with several school play productions. She also serves as a judge at area speech and debate competitions.

Ms. Lawrence is the director and choreographer for the Carthage High School Band’s Flag Squad. Last year she served as a judge for the Southwest Missouri Marching Band Festival during the Maple Leaf Festival. She has also created the Senior High School’s first dance team. She is the director and choreographer.

Well-known for her contributions to the Carthage Community, Ms. Lawrence has worked with the Carthage Chamber of Commerce on several events. She is a former Maple Leaf Festival Queen and served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for Carthage’s Red, White, and Boom Celebration. Being a former Jasper County Youth Fair Queen, she has assisted board members with numerous fair activities.

An 11-year member of the Missouri 4-H, Ms. Lawrence has received many county, regional and state honors. She has been a keynote speaker for several activities and has presented various training workshops for the young and old.

I was out drivin’ in the rain yesterday, thinkin’ what a hassle it was. ‘Course it was good ta have the moisture after the long dry spell we had this summer, but I was kinda hopin’ for a good long soakin’ rain rather than it all comin’ in a few hours.

As I was feelin’ sorry for myself havin’ to be gettin’ a little wet gettin’ in and out of the truck, I see this guy walkin’ down the street. Soaked to the bone, but acceptin’ the fact was makin’ his way. I pulled over and found he was a high school student on his way back to school. Gave him a ride, but only a few blocks. As I pulled out from droppin’ him off, a kid gets outa his car with an umbrella. He sees me and stops and turns a little and the wind catches his rain stopper and blows it up. The kid gets soaked. My day wasn’t so bad after all.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

Health & Nutrition by Judith Sheldon

BACK PAIN? Maybe it’s your cigarettes. According to a survey by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, cigarette smokers are more at risk for suffering low back pain as a result of a work injury than non-smokers. Dr. Edward Hanley, Jr., chairman, department of orthopaedic surgery, Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, notes that, "Of the smokers with back pain, those who smoked more than one pack a day reported feeling more handicapped by their back pain. Leg cramps were also described as more disabling in those who smoked over one pack a day."

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas reported on a study that involved 76 men and women with fractures of the lower leg. They followed the patients for one year after treatment and found, on average, that smokers’ broken bones took almost a year to heal (approximately 276 days), while non-smokers’ broken bones took about 146 days to unite.

You may have read that some researchers are finding nicotine helpful with some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. This is true. However, please be aware that smoking will not prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s. So don’t try to rationalize all the other risks involved by suggesting that a cigarette will ward off Alzheimer’s disease.