Today's Feature

Veterans’ Day Program.

Thursday November 11 at 10:00 a.m. a Veterans’ Day Program will be held at the Carthage Memorial Hall. The Heartland Band will play from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. followed by the Posting of Colors, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Jerry Chapman, the National Anthem and a prayer by John Wheat. The Master of Ceremonies will be L.J. Downey who will present an introduction of commanders from the V.F.W. American Legion, D.A.V., Chosen Few, Vietnam, Purple Heart , Desert Storm and Auxiliary Commanders. An introduction of Speakers by Lt. Col. Don Koonce of the 203rd will be followed by God Bless America and flag retrieval. The finale will be Stars and Stripes.

Nodler Elected to Leadership Post.

State Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, this week became the first Republican from southwest Missouri elected to a Senate majority leadership post in more than fifty years.

On Thursday, Nodler was elected by his fellow Republicans to serve as assistant majority floor leader of the Missouri Senate during the First Regular Session of the 93rd Missouri General Assembly that will convene in Jefferson City on Jan. 5.

"This is a great honor, second only to that of serving the citizens of the 32nd District as their state senator," Nodler said. "This position brings a new opportunity to give our citizens the effective and responsive government they deserve and demand."

Nodler was elected assistant majority floor leader on Thursday, in party caucuses held by senators in the state Capitol following Tuesday’s General Election.

Nodler’s election makes him the first Republican from southwest Missouri to be elected to a Senate majority leadership position in more than half a century. In 1947, R. Jasper Smith, R-Springfield, was elected to serve as Senate Majority Floor Leader. Since that time, area lawmakers such as Sen. Paul Bradshaw, R.-Springfield, Sen. Richard M. Webster, R-Jasper and Senator Emory Melton, R-Cassville, served with distinction as leaders of the minority caucus.

"It is of historical note that the solid Republican values sweeping our state grew from a base in southwest Missouri," Nodler said. "Now that those values encompass all of Missouri outside our urban areas, leadership from Southwest Missouri has returned home."

The new state government that will take office in January is also historic in that it will mark the first time since 1920 that Republicans have held a majority of seats in the Senate and House of Representatives under a Republican administration in the governor’s office.

"We have witnessed a tremendous amount of historic change in state government since 2000," Nodler said. "I am enthusiastically optimistic that this historic change will continue to make improvements in government that will meet the high expectations of the citizens of this state."

When I got the film back I looked at amazement at a picture of what looked like long grass, but no rabbit. At first I figured it was just an accidental shot. But the more I looked at it I could barely make out a spot where the rabbit was. He was there all right, the picture just didn’t show him in the shadows.

I showed the picture to several, but they didn’t think I ever saw any rabbit, let alone got a picture of one. I finally gave up tryin’ to convince anyone what a great wildlife photographer I was.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

McCune- Brooks Hospital

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am 72 and in good health except for occasional bouts of diverticulitis. The last bout was a month ago, when I had a good deal of pain and bleeding. My doctor prescribed Bactrim and metronidazole. Are they antibiotics? I realize this condition is caused by polyps, and I assume it is inherited. I told my doctor I avoid all pits, nuts and seeds. He said that is an old wives’ tale. Do you think I can safely eat nuts, berries and seeds? It seems that every time I do, I get an attack. — C.P.

ANSWER: Diverticula are pea to grape-sized protrusions of the colon lining through the muscular wall of the colon.

Diverticula are not related to polyps, and heredity has little to do with them. An overly refined diet is to blame. Without enough fiber, undigested food dries out in its passage through the colon. To push the dried food along, the colon has to generate maximum force. That force causes the colon lining to pop through the colon wall.

Diverticulitis - inflammation of the diverticula - is quite painful, and it can cause rectal bleeding. Diverticulitis is treated with antibiotics, like the two medicines you took.

At one time, a universal ban on nuts, seeds, kernels and such was issued to everyone with diverticula. Now there is a liberalization of that advice. However, if a person has an attack after indulging in those foods, as you do, that person should avoid them.