Council Looks to Recoup Demo Costs.

The City Council, during its regular meeting last Tuesday evening, heard the first reading of a Council Bill that would help the City recoup expenses of demolishing unsafe structures. The City already has an ordinance in place enforcing Section 67.400, which allows mandatory repairs or demolition of building and structures which are detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the residents.

The new Section 67.410 states that if there are proceeds of any insurance policy based upon a covered claim payment for damage or loss to a building or other structure caused by fire, explosion or other loss, and covered claim payment exceeds 50% of the face value of the policy covering the building or other structure, then the insurer shall pay to the City of Carthage a sum equal to 20% of the covered claim within 30 days of the determination of coverage. Proceeds shall be used to reimburse the City for its cost in the removal of building or structure.

Mercy Blessing.

Mercy is inviting Carthage community members to attend a blessing for Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17.

"We held a blessing four years ago when we opened the new facility and we will have another blessing as we join Mercy this month – a network of 31 hospitals, more than 200 outpatient facilities and 1,500 integrated physicians across four states," said Bob Copeland, president of Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital. "The blessing reminds us that we come to this place to do healing work. We take the time to unite and focus on what’s important – the health and healing of our patients."

The blessing, a traditional Catholic ceremony to christen the hospital’s grounds, facilities, equipment and staff, is open to the public. The ceremony will highlight the St. Ann’s children’s choir and include prayer, hymns and sprinkling of holy water.

Mercy blesses each of its facilities, continuing the legacy established by the Sisters of Mercy who have been committed to southern Missouri since 1885, when they provided much-needed health care to local miners.

After St. John’s Mercy Hospital in Joplin was destroyed by the May 2011 tornado, McCune-Brooks and Mercy recognized the need to strengthen health care services for the area, Mercy funded an expansion in Carthage that doubled the number of beds.

From The Blotter.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announces the arrest of Anthony D. Cheek, 28, of Lamar, Missouri, for the July 16, 2011, murder of Chad D. Clayton.

Investigators from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control arrested Cheek Tuesday at approximately 9:45 a.m., after a five-month investigation. On July 15, 2011, a 9-1-1 call was made reporting that Chad Clayton was in need of medical attention at Cheek’s former residence in Lockwood, Missouri. Upon arrival, Clayton was found with disabling injuries and was transported to a hospital in Springfield, Missouri, where he died on July 16, 2011. Cheek is being held without bond in the Dade County Jail on a charge of second degree murder.

The charge for which the above individual was arrested is mere accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the above charge must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty it is to determine guilt or innocence.

The Carthage Chamber Annual Banquet.

The 2012 Chamber Banquet, "Roses and Juleps: An Evening at the Derby", sponsored by Leggett and Platt, is a chance for Chamber members’ to celebrate Derby style with over-the-top hats ("the bigger, fancier, more colorful, and bolder the better," says the staff.), race day decorations, and the Juleps.

The Chamber invites all of its members to join it Friday, January 20th for "entertainment, rub elbows with who’s who of Carthage, and recognize the champions of the community."

A social hour featuring music by Louis Morgan and Trio will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner catered by L.L. Sayers and the awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m.

Jasper County Jail Count

187 January 11, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

Weekly Column

CLICK and CLACK

TALK CARS

I recently purchased a 2006 Mazda MX5 with 48,000 miles. The problem is that after I bought it, when I drove it from San Diego to Los Angeles, I noticed that this car rides pretty rough. My wife, who suffers from motion sickness, is not very happy and never wants to ride in the car again. I have taken the car back to the dealership, and they say that’s how Miatas ride. I really don’t want to get rid of the car but I need to accommodate my queen. What can I do to get the ride to be smoother? .-- Pedro

TOM: Pedro, you dope! Haven’t you ever heard of the "feel of the road"? That’s what sports cars are designed to deliver. If you didn’t want to feel the road, you should’ve bought a Buick.

RAY: Generally speaking, the things that make a car "fun to drive" make it nauseating to be a passenger.

TOM: There’s not much you can do now. Little roadsters are designed to have very firm suspensions, so they stick to the road and turn sharply when you drive on those curvy mountain roads. That’s the appeal of these cars.

RAY: And the reason they all have convertible tops is so that when the driver’s wife needs to puke, she can just lean right over the side with no obstructions.

TOM: If you think a little improvement in ride comfort might be enough to create peace in your household, you can try replacing your tires with four "grand-touring" tires.

RAY: But keep in mind that while they may help some, they’re not going to transform the Miata into a Lincoln Town Car.

TOM: But if it’s going to take more than a little softening to make her happy, don’t waste your money on the tires. Instead, put it toward your next car.

artCentral

ART NOTES from Hyde House

by Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

From time to time, all organizations must reassess and take stock of where they are and where they want to be or at least determine the direction to be going. The first of the year is a good time to do this, and we here at artCentral are in the midst of such an assessment. At our December board meeting, my wonderful board of directors came up with some wonderful ideas of how to put artCentral on a bit more secure financial footing. We had brainstormed some ideas in November, and in December voted to act upon one of those ideas, and I am pleased to say that to date, quite a few of our members have answered the call and have become "Sustaining Friends" by sending an amount of their choice to our organization’s budget fund. To each of these, we are most grateful, and hope to hear from additional folks as the month of January continues. I have mailed to each of these donors a receipt for tax exemption purposes should they desire that, as well as a matted color print of our home, the historic Hyde House. It is a very small way to say thank you to these generous art patrons, and we want them to know that they are most appreciated!

Additionally, I am working to complete the last quarter’s newsletter in order to get it in the mail very soon. This newsletter will contain the information about a new adult workshop we will be offering in March along with a form to fill out and mail in if there is interest. I thank our displaying artist, Dale Augustson of Springfield for offering to lead this two day class which promises to be most interesting--- painting abstractly with acrylics. It will be a small class, requiring 4 individuals minimally, and up to a maximum of 10 participants, so if you are interested please call me as soon as possible if you are not an artCentral member and I can mail all the information to you. 417 358 4404 is my number. Members will pay a reduced fee, and will be given preference over non-members in signing up, so now would be a great time to join artCentral if you desire to take the class--- you can do so along with your registration in order to save money and increase you chances to join the class. Hope to hear from you!