Council Agenda Tonight.

The following ordinances are scheduled to be voted on during tonight’s regular City Council meeting at 7:30 in City Hall.

1. C. B. 10-22 an Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a Contract between the City of Carthage and Center for Communi!y Studies Studio, Drury Universi!y for developing and testing conceptual ideas for the City of Carthage’s Courthouse Square District redevelopment (Public Services CommIttee).

2. C. B. 10-23 an Ordinance to add a new section to Chapter 23, Article X, of the Carthage Code establishing an ordinance for Golf Carts (Public Safety Committee).

3. C. B. 10-24 an Ordinance rezoning certain property at 2207 Grand Ave. in the City of Carthage from "A" First Dwelling, to "D" Local Business as requested by Anthony Tran (Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission).

4. C. B. 10-25 an Ordinance rezoning certain property at 1339 W. Central Ave. in the City of Carthage from "A" First Dwelling, to "E" General Business as requested by Jimmie Fortner (Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission).

5. C. B. 10-26 an Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the Carthage Humane Society for animal control services for the City of Carthage (Budget, Ways & Means Committee).

6. C. B. 10-27 an Ordinance amending the Annual Operating and Capital Budget of the City of Carthage for the fiscal year 2009-2010 (Budget, Ways & Means Committee).

7. C. B. 10-28 an Ordinance to amend Chapter 25 Zoning, of the Code of Carthage (Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission).

I talked to one a those "I did my Christmas shoppin’ last April" folks the other day.

I wouldn’t mind the fact that these super shoppers are more efficient than the rest of us if they didn’t seem ta want us all to feel inferior for not doin’ the same.

I’ve never figured for sure the motive for such actions. I’m sure some just want the gift buyin’ out of the way so they can enjoy the Christmas season. Some I’ve encountered do it ‘cause of the price reductions durin’ the various seasons of the year. Buyin’ gloves and coats in the summer for instance.

But there are those of us who don’t feel like we’ve been properly exposed to the holiday without the fightin’ traffic, hurryin’ from here to there, makin’ last minute decisions and purchases. Even if we don’t particularly like it, that’s just the way it is.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Weekly Columns

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

In Hot Weather, How Much Water Is Enough?

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am confused about how much water to drink when exercising in hot weather. I learned that you should drink all the time during exercise, even when you aren’t thirsty. Now they tell me that drinking too much affects your brain and can cause death. What’s the story here? -- M.F.

ANSWER: This has to be one of those "it depends" answers. How much water or any other fluid is needed in hot water depends on how hard is the exercise, how long you do it, how heavily you sweat, how hot it is and how acclimatized you are to heat. It takes two weeks to acclimatize to heat. After two weeks, less sodium and potassium are lost in sweat.

Formerly, the advice for fluids was to drink frequently even if you didn’t feel thirsty. That’s overkill. You can let thirst be your guide most of the time. Older people have a somewhat blunted thirst sense, so they might have to remind themselves to drink in exceptionally hot weather.

To stay hydrated during heavy physical activity or exercise, drink 12 to 16 ounces of fluid three to four hours before exercise. The fluid can be plain water. It’s also a good idea to take a salty snack before exercise -- pretzels, peanuts or crackers.

During activity, drink about every 20 minutes, as much as your thirst tells you.

If your activity lasts longer than two or three hours and if you sweat heavily, then you have to pay attention to your salt intake. Marathon runners taught us this. A few marathoners died from drinking only water during hot-weather races. Doing so lowers body sodium. That’s hyponatremia, and it can be serious. Headache, vomiting, swollen ankles and feet, fatigue far out of the fatigue usually felt and disorientation are some of the signs of hyponatremia.

Sports drinks with sodium in them can prevent hyponatremia. You can make your own replacement fluid by adding 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon orange juice to an almost-filled 8-ounce glass of water. You have to make enough to last for the whole exercise session.