The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Wednesday, December 12, 2001 Volume X, Number 125

did ya know?

Did Ya Know?. . .The First Nazarene Church, 2000 Grand, Carthage, will present "The Spirit of Christmas," at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14th and again at 10:30 a.m. on Sun., Dec. 16th. The public is invited.

Did Ya Know?. . .The Carthage Humane Society has a friendly and playful 8-week-old black tabby cat who needs a home. Dec. 21st is the last day to adopt a Christmas pet. For more information call 358-6402.

Did Ya Know?. . .The New Providence Baptist Church, 12 miles north of Stones Corner on Hwy 43, will present The Signature Quartet at 6 p.m. on Sun., Dec. 16th. Admission is free and the public is invited.

Did Ya Know?. . .The Carthage CBO Bloodmobile will be taking blood donations from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19th at the McCune-Brooks Hospital, 627 W. Centennial, Carthage. Please give a donation of blood for area hospitals.

today's laugh

By the time I found a place to park, Christmas was over.

Every time I come over to see you that cat is sitting in exactly the same place.
Yeah, he’s a hole cat.
A hole cat?
Yeah, my brother burned a hole in the carpet and he’s trained the cat to sleep over the hole.

1901
INTERESTING MELANGE.

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

DIED AT THE ASYLUM.

Lettie Armstrong, a Well Known Woman Brought Here for Burial.

G. A. Cassil this morning received a telegram announcing the death of Lettie Armstrong, in the asylum at St. Joseph. The remains are being brought home for burial, and will be laid to rest in Park cemetery by the side of her mother, "Aunt Julia," who died some time ago.

Lettie Armstrong was about 40 years old and a well known servant, having been raised in the family of Mr. G. A. Cassil. She went insane about three years ago as the result of a severe attack of grippe, and was sent to the St. Joseph asylum as a private patient by Mr. Cassil.


Mrs. Rebecca Hall is expected home tomorrow from her tour of southeast Missouri in the interest of temperance.

  Today's Feature


Slight Dip In Local Sales Tax.

The City’s dependency on sales tax was emphasized by City Administrator Tom Short at the Budget Committee meeting last Monday evening. The general sales tax generates about $1.5 million per year, about 25% of the City’s total revenue.

Short told the Committee that overall revenue from all City sales tax was down a little over 3% as compared to last year at this time. The numbers were worse, said Short, before an unexpected 18.41% increase for October sales was received this month.

It typically takes the state about two months to process sales tax reports and get the funds to the City. Short suggested that the auto maker’s 0% financing might have been partially responsible for the jump.

Sales tax revenue has been relatively flat for the City since 1998. A 4.52% increase was recorded that year and generated $1,549,904. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001 revenues were $1,587,820. This year’s budget anticipated a slight decrease and revenue was projected to be only $1,578,579 by Short. If the current trend continues through the end of the fiscal year, the general tax revenue will be $1,539,588.


Just Jake Talkin'

Mornin',

The numbers supplied by City Administrator Short didn’t include the half cent gas tax the City collects. Those figures are interestin’ also.

In 1995 the City collected $379,779 from the half cent. In the fiscal year 2000 (July to June) the City collected just over $440,000. From July to November of this year the tax has already generated $258,226.

With winter comin’ on, ya can’t hardly expect that number to be carried on through the year. But, just for fun, if it would happen to, the result would be a whoppin’ $619,000 in gas tax revenue. Keep buyin’ that gas in Carthage.

The best thing about the gas tax is that it’s gotta be used for street construction and maintenance. The more ya drive, the better the streets.

This is some fact but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Weekly Column

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

Rudolph will show up in unsuspecting places this holiday season when your kids create his image on gift bags and even on a hat for the youngest in the family. The secret charm in these projects is that your kids’ hands make the antlers!

Here’s how to make the gift bag:

Trace your child’s hands on brown construction paper, cardboard or craft foam. Cut out each hand shape.

Close the top of a brown paper lunch bag by folding it down 2 inches. Punch two holes about 1 inch apart through the folded top of the bag. Glue the hand-shaped "antlers" (at the wrist) to the top corners of the folded bag. The fingers and thumbs will extend beyond the top fold of the bag.

Then cut out two small oval ear shapes from light brown paper and glue one ear on each reindeer antler (at the palm of the hand shape).

Use markers or crayons to draw a reindeer face on the bag. A red pompom is perfect for Rudolph’s "nose so bright."

Place a gift inside the decorated bag and refold it. Run ribbon through the two holes and tie. Add jingle bells, if you wish, and a gift tag.

Note: Once the present is removed, cut off the base of the bag for a fun holiday hand puppet!

To make a reindeer hat:

Fill two stretch gloves (available for under $2 at many discount stores) with fiberfill or scraps of old fabric. The filled gloves will be the antlers.

On a plain cotton baseball-style hat, stitch the open ends of the gloves to the right and left sides of the top of the hat. Try the hat on your child to determine the exact placement. It will be about 1 1/2 inches from the top center of the hat and 3 to 4 inches from the brim. Stitch jingle bells to the antlers for extra fun.

   

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