Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Wednesday, July 16, 2003 Volume XII, Number 20

Did Ya Know?. . .You can now adopt some of the Carthage Humane Society’s cutiest kittens at Central Pet Care Clinic. Stop by their office anytime during regular business hours or call 358-1300 for details.

Did Ya Know? . . .The Great Kingdom Caper Vacation Bible School 2003 will be held from 6-9 p.m. from Wed., July 16th through Fri., July 18th at the Calvary Baptist Church, 527 E. 13th, Carthage. K-6th Grades are invited to attend.

Did Ya Know?...The Jasper High School Booster Club is holding a Golf Tournament on Saturday, August 9, 2003 at the Carthage Municipal Golf Course. It is open to all golfers. The two person scramble begins at 1:30 p.m. with a shotgun start. The entry fee is $100.00 per team. The fee includes tournament play, golf cart, tournament prizes, and food served after play. The tournament is limited to the first 50 teams that sign up. For more info call Lloyd and Cindy Chapman at 417-394-2364.

today's laugh

And this is the law in Alabama: "The teeth of a horse offered for sale to the public shall not be stained, discolored or otherwise camouflaged so as to be misleading indication of the animal’s age and health."

He says he’s a self-made man and I think it’s nice of him to take the blame.

1903
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

TRAINS SOON ON THE WHITE RIVER R.R.

Henry Tangner Says Five Months
Will See Portion of Road in Operation.

Henry Tangner says that trains on the White River railway will be running inside of five months and if it had not been for the wet spring hindering work they would be running now.

This doesn’t mean that the road will be completed clear through by that time, for the tunnels will not be done for a year or two. But that part of the road extending east from Carthage will be put to use as soon as completed far enough to make it worth while.

Mrs. W. H. Blankenship has been spending the week with Mrs. J. B. Lee at Joplin and Mr. Blankenship got home last night from a tour of the Indian Territory. Their two sons, Brice and Sidney, are spending the summer with their Grandfather Bartleson.

Today's Feature

Sales Tax for Library Improvement.

The Monthly Budget Ways and Means Committee Meeting was held Monday night at City Hall.

The request for a council bill regarding Memorandum of Understanding by and between the Carthage Public Library Board and the City of Carthage passed with a vote of 3 to 1. Commitee member Ron Wells voted against and Members Jackie Boyer, Mike Harris, and Bill Fortune voted for.

The request for a Council bill to authorize the calling of a municipal election November 4th, 2003, calling for the imposition of the Park/Stormwater Sales tax in the amount of 3/16th of 1% for a period of time not to exceed 20 years in the duration on all retail sales made in Carthage which are subject to taxation was also passed 3 to 1 with Wells opposing.

The tax is estimated to generate approximately $300,000 a year.

"I think it should say library up-front," said committee member Ron Wells. "I think it will seem like we’re deceiving the public if the word ‘library’ is not included."

"There is no provision to ask for a library sales tax," commented City Attorney David Mouton. "Parks include such concepts as libraries."

"When it comes time to vote, people will be informed what this tax is for," said Carthage Public Library Board President Rodney Hendrickson ina phone interview with the Mornin’ Mail.

"This is applicable tax for improvements of the library," stated City Administrator Tom Short.

There will be a need for a Certificate of Participation to finance the project because the City will not have the money to pay for the construction up-front. Any excess revenue from the tax could be used towards parks and stormwater projects.

The Library Board must collect $2 million dollars from private funding sources in order for the 3/16th of 1% sales tax to go in effect and before the State Director of Revenue will be notified.

Included in the draft of the Memorandum of Understanding is that the Board shall, in consultation with the City, bring an election question to the voters of Carthage every third year beginning November 4, 2009, requesting an increase in the tax levy for the operations of the Library to replace a portion or all of the remaining 3/16th of 1% Parks/Stormwaters tax being used for Library operations.

If the 3/16th of 1% Parks/Stormwater Sales tax receipts do not meet debt service requirements in any year, and if there are insufficient funds available in the Debt Reserve Account, the City shall use funds currently know as "hold harmless" money appropriated for the library, to make up the difference between the 3/16 of 1% and the debt service requirement for that year.

Jasper County Closings.

The office of Jasper County Assessor located in the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage along with the offices of the Jasper County Collector located in the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage and the Jasper County Courts Building in Joplin will be closed Friday, July 18th, 2003.

All locations will be closed due to a computer upgrade, as announced, by Donald E. Davis, Assessor and Stephen H. Holt, Collector.

They also announced extended hours will be conducted on Thursday, July 17th, 2003. Special hours for this day will be 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in all locations.

All locations will resume regular office hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 21, 2003.

Just Jake Talkin'

Mornin',

I can’t ever remember how long my shoestrings are. Now this doesn’t present a problem in most general conversations, but there are times when it becomes critical information. Most obvious is when ya wanta purchase a new pair.

If ya haven’t bought any shoestrings lately, there are a wide variety to choose from. As I was approachin’ the shoestring rack recently, I realized my ignorance on the subject and was embarrassed to think of pullin’ out the remnants of what was left of one string to compare with a new set.

Fortunately, the manufactures of strings have solved my problem. On the back of the pack I picked up was a guide to shoe string length gauged on how many holes were in my shoes. I was able to remember how to count to five for a perfect fit.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.