Golf Course Proposal.

The proposed $2.2 million capital improvements program for the Carthage Municipal Golf course would require an increase in fees and the number of rounds played.

According to a report by Flatt Golf Services, Inc., the course currently provides about 36,000 rounds of golf a year. Improvements to the course and more agressive marketing is expected to increase that number to 40,000.

If the plan is approved by the City Council, green fees would raise from the current $11 per round weekend rate to $15 in the 2005/2006 fiscal year. The $1 daily surcharge would also increase to $4.

The proposed rate for an individual annual pass would eventually increase from the current $325 to $425, and a family annual pass would increase from the current $500 to $625.

According to the report, income per round of golf over the last four years has ranged from a low of $11.98 to a high of $12.27 with an average of $12.16. During the same period, the costs to the City to prpduce a round of golf has varied from a low of $10.65 to a high of $15.11, with an average of $12.35.

Letter to the Editor

Opinions expressed reflect those of the writer
and not necessarily those of the Mornin' Mail.

Dear Editor:

I’m happy to hear the city is planning to upgrade various sections of Muni Park, and YES, let’s keep the name the same. My first thoughts always go to the skating rink and swimming pool though.

The skating rink is in poor condition and has been for years. It seems to me some cosmetic changes inside would not "break the bank". Other nearby community pools also have us beat. All I’m asking for is some umbrellas for shade and chairs to sit it. Again, these are small cost items.

My family spends hours at the park each weekend during the summer. It’s a great place and we need not let these things slide. Spend millions on the golf course??? Send some money over for the pool and skating rink too.

Lora Wacker

Carthage

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin
State Representative, District 126

Sorry about missing the last two weeks. Quite a bit has happened out of the Governor’s office since my last column two weeks ago. I am starting to be at a complete loss as to what must be going on inside Gov. Bob Holden’s head.

Before I describe his latest power grab, let me give you a little background. For as long as I can remember, the unions have been trying to get into the pockets of the state workers. Very few years have gone by without the issue of collective bargaining for state employees coming up.

When the late Mel Carnahan was elected Governor back in 1992, that gave democrats control of the House, Senate, and Governor’s mansion. At that time the unions announced that their priority was to unionize the state employees and start collecting union dues from them. This issue was debated many times and each time it was resoundingly defeated by the Legislature. It was and is a bad idea.

Imagine our surprise when word got out on a Friday morning that the Gov. Holden had signed an executive order unionizing about 30,000 of the state employees. That is right, with the stroke of a pen he did what the Legislature had repeatedly said was a bad idea. I would point out that this was a legislature controlled by his own party.

At first he denied that such an order existed. When he was confronted with the possibility of a request under the Freedom of Information Act, he finally released the information just before his office closed for the weekend.

At a press conference later, the AFL-CIO admitted that there was a chance the money that would be deducted from state employees’ paychecks would end up going toward paying off the debt for Holden’s $1 million inauguration party. Not so coincidentally, this week the unions made huge contributions to the inaugural debt. As if to further insult our intelligence, Gov.

Holden has denied any connection between the executive order and the contribution.

Maybe I wasn’t paying attention back in November. I was kind of under the impression that we were holding an election for Governor. With what Gov. Holden has been doing lately with committing millions for ANOTHER St. Louis stadium, (which the Legislature never approved), and now unionizing tens of thousands of state employees, it appears we must have been holding an election for King of Missouri.

If Gov. Holden can totally ignore the elected representatives and senators of the people and make whatever laws he wants by executive order, then what purpose do we in the House and Senate serve? We might as well abolish the House and Senate, build a castle on the Missouri River, and start paying homage to King Bob. I can hardly wait to see what he comes up with next.

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, or advice.

I haven’t done much golfin’ since I put several golf balls belongin’ to my cousin in the lake as a kid. He decided it just wasn’t my game.

From what I’m gatherin’ ‘bout the proposed improvements to the City course, the golfers are the ones gonna pay for the biggest part. The City has been puttin’ some cash into the course over the last few years, but for the most part, the course has pretty much broke even.

Some golfers, of course, think there should be improvements and have even expressed a willingness to pay a little more to get it done.

I’m sure there will be some interested parties showin’ up at the discussion about the plan Wednesday evenin’ at 7 in City Hall.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

Health & Nutrition by Judith Sheldon

PUFF PIECE? Two weeks ago, an eight-page fax came through from one of the major tobacco companies announcing their intention to make access to tobacco products difficult for underage persons. The company says it will be firm in dealing with any outlet that didn’t make sure the person who bought the products was old enough to do so. They also said they would put more warning labels on the packs, etc.

I’m sure the company expected cheers from those of us concerned with public health, especially the health of our young people. But many of my colleagues are not impressed and neither am I.

First of all, there are already laws in most communities restricting the sale of tobacco products to youngsters. But that hasn’t stopped them from getting cigarettes. As a matter of fact, the sad statistic is that more pre-teenage girls are starting to smoke than ever before.

When I tried to speak with either of the two media contact people whose names were on the fax, a young woman requested my name and phone number. I obliged and then asked to be put through. She said she couldn’t do that. Why? Because all calls had to be screened first. Someone would get back to me.

P.S. No one ever did.