Affordable Housing for Seniors.

The Economic Security Corporation and Springfield developer Carlson Gardner Incorporated have signed a 90 day contract to buy the former Drake Hotel at the corner of Third and Howard streets. The developer and the ESC joined together recently and renovated the Frisco building in downtown Joplin into affordable housing for seniors.

According to Executive Director of Economic Security Corporation John Joines, they plan to do the same for Carthage by renovating the former Drake Hotel. The plans call for 18 one bedroom and 14 two bedroom units. The current Carthage City Code for resident parking of an apartment complex is 1 space per dwelling.

Joines stated that parking is the most important factor in the purchase and plans for the Drake.

"We are asking the City for 7 spaces on the front row across the street," said Joines. "We are willing to sign a long term lease with the City. I have also been speaking with Leggett and Platt about some of the their parking they acquired with sale of Big Smith."

Joines will make his formal request for the use of the 7 public parking spaces February 23rd at the Public Safety Committee meeting in the Carthage Fire Station.

Joines stated that if all goes well, they should be able to open the doors by June 2006.

Since 1975, the former Drake Hotel has been used for a residential care facility for the developmentally disabled. Last November residents of the Drake were moved to other locations and owner Harry Baum listed the property with agent Steve Sutton of Kansas City.

I noticed that they are sellin’ pre-cooked bacon at the stores now. The idea almost matches the absurdity of "artificial" margarine. The package sells for about the same as a twelve ounce regular bacon pack but only weighs two and a half ounces. That seemed like a real rip off until I noticed that the number of strips in the pre-cooked pack was the same as the uncooked. Ya get about the same and they cook it for ya.

The real hoot was readin’ the directions on how to heat up the stuff. They gave direction for microwave, oven and skillet warmin’. All three were basically the same, put it in and heat it up. Pretty much like ya do with regular bacon.

I suppose the little extra ya pay would be worth it if you were back packin’ or just wanted to save space in the ice box. I never cease to be amazed at time savin’ devices.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Small Stroke Can be Prelude to Big One

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: A month ago, my wife had a spell where she found it hard to talk. She couldn’t get the words out. It lasted about 45 minutes, and she has been fine since. She hasn’t seen a doctor in five years and doesn’t want to go now. Should I pressure her? — Z.J.

ANSWER: Definitely. Pressure her. You have given a good description of a TIA, a transient ischemic (is-KEY-mick) attack. It’s the temporary ("transient") blockage of blood flow ("ischemic") to the brain. Most TIAs last from five to 60 minutes, but never longer than 24 hours. Many refer to TIAs as ministrokes or small strokes.

A tiny clot might block a brain artery. Blood doesn’t get to the area of the brain supplied by that artery. A "spell" occurs. The clot dissolves, blood flows again, and symptoms disappear.

Since the whole episode is so short-lived and since no symptoms persist, people feel it must have been something unimportant. Far from it. A person who has had a TIA has a ninefold greater chance of having a stroke than does a person who has never had one. Close to one-third of TIA patients will have a full-blown stroke within five years.

These ministrokes have a formidable number of unrelated symptoms. Some people have the same kind of trouble as your wife; they cannot find words to express themselves.