Today's Feature

National 4-H Week.

News Release

4-Hers across the nation will mark National 4-H Week Oct. 3-9, 2004, with celebrations of 4-H’s ever-increasing presence on the Internet including the much anticipated launch of the redesigned 4-HUSA.org, 4-H’s first national website for, by and about youth.

4-H Online! – is the theme of National 4-H Week. Ninety-three percent of young people ages 10-18 are actively online and want to find the information they need from online sources, according to the Pew Internet Project (2003). Recognizing this trend, 4-H is at the forefront of youth development organizations using the Internet as national, state and county 4-H programs and 4-H clubs are actively developing new and more innovative online presences with the support of the National 4-H Youth Technology Team, state and county 4-H youth technology teams and the 4-HUSA Web Crew.

The latest of these web sites is the redesigned 4-HUSA.org. The 4-HUSA Web Crew, a group of 14 teens from across the United States created a site that focuses on youth ages 13-16 and demonstrates the size, diversity and value of the 4-H adventure. The site features the most complete list of 4-H web sites available organized by state and many interactive elements including a national calendar of events and featured news headlines. Coming soon are games, message boards, web logs and myname@4-Husa.org e-mail aliases.

Many other state and county 4-H programs also have created initiatives to reach young people who might not have easy access to the Internet. For example, Washington 4-H’s 4-H-T4 Mobile Technology Van equipped with satellite capability and wireless laptops travels the state as a teaching tool for youth who are exploring the Internet and the world around them. Also, young people who participate in the Nebraska 4-H Cyber Fair are adept at mentoring others who want to learn how to use the Internet. Finally, 4-H Tech Wizards in Washington County, OR, follow a four-year curriculum that teaches them how to use computers, create digital video productions and operate global positioning systems.

4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Visit www.4husa.org for more information about the 4-H adventure or for a link to any 4-H website. Access the Jasper County’s 4-H website at http://extension.missouri.edu/jasper

"Meet the Candidates" Forum.

News Release

Jasper County Farm Bureau and Carthage Business and Professional Women organizations will host a "Meet the Candidates" forum on September 30, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. at the new Private Events Convention Center in Carthage.

The convention center is located at 136 East 4th Street, the southeast corner of the Carthage Square. All candidates from all political parties have been invited to participate. If a candidate can not be present , we would welcome a representative to speak in their behalf.

Those who have committed to date are Jerry Neil, Ed Emery, Wilma Wells, Jim Honey, Ron Richards, a Matt Blunt representative, Doug Adams for Darius Adams, Ben Johnson, Marrion Willis, Jack and Becky Brill, Bill Fix for Lester Kinder.

Refreshments will be served after the forum. For more information call the Carthage Farm Bureau office 417-359-7922.

I see where the Pennsylvania Supreme declared that ridin’ a horse drunk can’t be categorized as "operatin’ a vehicle under the influence."

Seems two guys left a bar an got on their horses to ride home. Another guy in a car, who had apparently been at the same bar, ran into the two horsemen. The police officer investigatin’ gave all three tickets for operatin’ their vehicle under the influence.

You would think there would have also been a citation for not wearin’ a seat belt, drivin’ without lights, and no muffler. (I can almost be sure there was some litterin’ along the path also.)

‘Course I don’t know all the details, but as long as they keep their horses outa the bar, these guys may have found the answer to havin’ a designated driver.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Oak Street Health & Herbs

Natural Nutrition

By Mari An Wills

Where has the time gone? How could it be mid-September and some of the New Year decisions have been swallowed up by other priorities? Hummm..... Must be some way to stop the clock just until we catch up.

In an article by Dr. Daniel B. Mowery, he explains some of the properties of the simple spice, fennel. You may recognize it as a flavoring in pizza sauce, or if you were raised by those who practice the use of herbal health augmentation, you may have been given it since you were a small child for stomach aches. Daniel Mowery explains" the various actions of fennel seed illustrate how highly beneficial aromatic herbs can be for the distresses of the gastrointestinal tract. The seeds contain essential oil which, in adults, will reduce indigestion and flatulence." In the National Standard Dispensatory of 1916 described how a tea made of fennel could be used to "increase the lacteal secretion" (milk flow in nursing Mothers). Today it is a common ingredient in combinations especially made for that purpose. Dr. Christopher has stated that nursing Mothers have a tendency to have very rich nutritional milk. In feeding my own twin daughters, Dr. Christopher’s information proved most beneficial for us.