The School Board is taking application until 5 p.m. for the remaining three month term that was recently vacated by Mike Wells. The School Board also has the one year unexpired term of Mike Wells from April 2004 to April 2005 and two three year terms currently held by Debbie Baugh and Mariam Putnam. David Knost and David Wallace have filed for the one year term. Jeff Jones and Michael Goolsby have filed for the three year terms.

Carthage Crisis Center.

In a media release, the Carthage Crisis Center announced they received a check on January 8th for $1,768 from the Carthage Community Foundation. The funds were used to purchase a new 25 cubic foot refrigerator, a new dishwasher and a used copier for the office.

Crisis Center Director Brian Bisbee expressed his appreciation.

"We are very pleased to have received this grant from the Foundation," said Bisbee. "And we appreciate the work of the Carthage Community Foundation and its support of Carthage nonprofit organizations."

"Our facilities and equipment have been used to the limit," said Bisbee. "We have been overcapacity most of 2003. This grant helps us to continue providing a quality facility to help our residents get a fresh start on life."

The Center has seen dramatic increase in demand for its services. The utilization of its seventeen-bed homeless facility at 5th and Lyon Street has tripled since 2002.

For more information on the work of the Crisis Center, contact Directors Brain and Marilyn Bisbee at 358-3533.

Teen Mentoring Program.

January is National Mentoring Month and local Caring Communities members are preparing for the initiation of Carthage Teen Mentoring Program. According to Program Director Debbi Roberts, mentoring can "pave the way for a brighter future, offering an avenue for career exploration while providing Carthage students with support, friendship and guidance." Studies show that youth who have positive adult role models do better in school, feel good about themselves and avoid dangerous behaviors.

Mentoring Committee member Pam Barlet encourages positive role models to get involved by being mentors. Persons interested, contact Debbi Roberts at 417-438-7181 or Corinne Waggoner at 358-3270.

The Carthage Caring Communities Site Council will meet today at 11:45 a.m. in the Fairview Christian Community Room. There will be an overview of Carthage Caring Communities’ efforts and updates from committees focusing on the Carthage Teen Mentoring Program.

There are some things ya just don’t see much in one lifetime.

Although I’m not sure, I think I’m gonna make it through a bottle of Tabasco sauce before it turns green. I don’t know what the shelf life of that stuff is, but I can’t remember when I bought it. I suppose I haven’t bought eight or ten of the little bottles in all my years, but there has nearly always been one in my ice box.

Thinkin’ back, the only time I’ve replaced a bottle may have been when I bought a new refrigerator.

I’m guessin’ that if I’d won a lifetime supply in a lottery, they could’ve shipped it all in a good sized envelope.

Come to think of it, my refrigerator has been makin’ strange sounds lately. Maybe I should start shoppin’.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have been diagnosed as having labyrinthitis. My medical book says this is a viral infection of the inner ear. My symptoms include profuse sweating, dizziness and nausea. What is its treatment? — E.H.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I suffer from vertigo and take Antivert. I saw a neurologist, who recommended a patch used for motion sickness. What is the best medication to use? — D.L.

ANSWER: There are more than 17 conditions that cause dizziness (vertigo). I have to limit my remarks to the more common causes. The inner ear is the body’s gyroscope, keeping it oriented regarding its location in space. When anything throws the inner ear off kilter, the result is dizziness.

Labyrinthitis is usually a viral infection of the inner ear. Most viral inner ear infections run their course within three weeks. Some people have to put up with them for longer periods, but almost all have a resolution of symptoms. Antivert is an oral medicine that can subdue dizziness. The patch to which D.L. refers is Transderm Scop. It is worn behind the ear, and its principal purpose is prevention and treatment of seasickness. Seasickness comes from the violent disturbance that a pounding sea inflicts on the inner ear. Many forms of inner ear disturbances result from a similar kind of inner ear perturbation. The patch, therefore, comes in handy for those conditions.