Today is student government day for Carthage High School. Students are scheduled to shadow Council members and City officials for tonight’s regular meeting of the City Council. City Administrator Tom Short explained that students will sit in the seats and take over for Council members and staff.

"The members will prompt the students on what to say and do," said Short.

The Council is scheduled to vote on ordinances authorizing the Mayor to enter into agreement with the Carthage Youth Softball for the use of the girl’s fields at Fair Acres; American Legion Baseball for the use of Carl Lewton Stadium; the Adult Soccer League for the use of the utility field at Fair Acres; and the Carthage Little League Association for the use of the boy’s fields at Fair Acres.

The agreements with the Youth Softball program and the Carthage Little League have been amended to include the stipulation that the organizations pay for the electrical costs incurred during their use of the fields. It has been the practice in the past for the organizations to pay for lighting the fields, but the agreement was not actually included in the contract.

The agenda includes a vote by the Council on a resolution that is up for re- adoption every five years. The resolution concerns the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan of Jasper County for Carthage in the effort to become a Disaster Resistant Community.

The resolution recognizes that the City of Carthage is not immune to disaster and will continue to undertake measures to reduce the adverse impact of disasters in the community. The resolution includes participating in programs and activities with SEMA, FEMA, other state and federal agencies, other county governments and local jurisdictions within the County.

Nothin’ like tryin’ to find a part to repair somethin’ and not knowin’ where to start lookin’ to find one.

Most things I can at least figure who to talk to that might know where to start, but I don’t know where you’d find a replacement tricycle wheel.

A granddad walkin’ around with a bent up tricycle wheel has to be a sad sight, but somehow ever’one that sees the sight has a big smile on their face. Some outright laughter can be heard as the search continues from store to store. A sad sight indeed.

‘Course the assumption that the grandchild was no where near the trike when the wheel was demolished is correct.

It’s odd that grandparents are the ones who have ta relearn age old lessons and pay the consequences for preschool experience.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Valley Fever Rife in Warm, Dry Climates

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Since the day we were married 40 years ago, my wife and I planned to move to the Southwest. We both retired, and we made the move.

About one month after we arrived, I began to cough. The local doctor said I had valley fever and that I would do well without treatment. I felt and feel fine, and the cough stopped. I would appreciate some information about this illness. — S.J.

ANSWER: Valley fever is a fungal infection whose official name is coccidioidomycosis (cox-SID-ee-OID-oh-my-COE-suss). The fungus thrives in arid places that have hot summers and no winter frosts. In the United States, Arizona, California and Texas report the most cases.

The coccidioides fungus lives in soil. Digging in the soil wafts fungus into the air. Innocent bystanders inhale the fungus, and that’s when trouble can start.

Two-thirds of those who inhale the fungus never come down with any complaint and never feel sick. Some begin to cough, have minor chest pain and feel a bit out of breath. Painful red bumps might appear on the shins. For most, symptoms vanish without treatment.

For a tiny number of people, it can develop into pneumonia or meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the brain coverings, the meninges.