Today's Feature

Civil War Funeral Re-Enactment.

News Release

Park Cemetery and Knell Mortuary will step back in time nearly 150 years on Memorial Day weekend to conduct a funeral reenactment for a veteran of the Civil War.

The event, scheduled for Saturday, May 28, will begin at 10 a.m. with a procession to begin at Knell Mortuary, located at Chestnut and Garrison Avenues.

A flag-draped coffin will be carried out of the funeral home and placed inside the 1869 horse-drawn glass sided hearse. The procession to Park Cemetery will also include a muffled drum, surrey with the "widow," and people following on horseback and on foot. The funeral procession will enter the cemetery and head toward the old area near the Grant Army of the Republic monument. The historic portion of the day’s event will conclude with a eulogy and ceremonial lowering of the coffin.

The public is invited to take part in the ceremony, either as historic participants in period clothing, or as contemporary observers. People are also invited to remain on Park Cemetery grounds to socialize and spend time with family, as has been the tradition in years past.

In an effort to bring back some of the traditional family gatherings that used to take place, a Memorial Day Celebration will be held in the undeveloped north area of the cemetery following the funeral reenactment. Barbecue and music are planned, with a performance by the Gum Springs Serenaders, a period band that performs Civil War era music on period instruments.

Tickets for the barbecue are $10. For more information call Jerry Jackson at Park Cemetery, 417-358-4534.

Noticed a lot of convertibles with tops down the last few days. There was a time that I thought the idea of havin’ an air-conditioner in a convertible was really silly. I have, of course, since reconsidered that position.

I haven’t personally owned a convertible for a number of years, and I have ta assume that there have been improvements to the mechanics and function of the "rag top."

The back window used ta always be a sensitive contraption. They zipped in place and got scratched easily as I remember. I do notice that there hasn’t been any easy solution to puttin’ on the "boot." Most of the vehicles I’ve seen with that protective and aesthetic coverin’ not in place.

Havin’ a few days of favorable weather to run with the top down is fun, but thinkin’ back, it sure was work.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Fibromyalgia: A Baffling Illness

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My daughter has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Could you give me some information on it? She walks on a treadmill daily and works out twice a week. She has been using artificial sweeteners for years and has been on birth control pills for 10 years. Would these have any bearing on the condition? — P.W.

ANSWER: Fibromyalgia is an enigma. Its cause is unknown, and its treatment is challenging. There is no substantial evidence to implicate either birth control pills or artificial sweeteners in its origin.

Symptoms are bodywide muscle pain, along with muscle stiffness and profound exhaustion. Neck, shoulder and hip muscles are almost invariably involved. People with fibromyalgia never waken refreshed. They often find it impossible to concentrate, and their memory might not be as retentive.

There is no lab test that provides proof of this illness. There is no X-ray or scan that can support the diagnosis, and that makes fibromyalgia an elusive condition. However, tender points help. Tender points are 18 specific body sites where moderate pressure from the doctor’s examining thumb produces pain far out of proportion to the pressure applied. Finding 11 of the 18 tender points puts the diagnosis on firmer ground.

Essential to the diagnosis is the elimination of any illness that has symptoms similar to those of fibromyalgia. Amitriptyline, an antidepressant, is often prescribed - not for its action against depression, but for its ability to restore sound sleep. An exercise program is an essential component of therapy.

Collecting
By Larry Cox
Sponsored by Oldies & Oddities Mall

Old Books

Q: I have several old books and need to know the value of them. — Loraine, Daytona Beach, Fla.

A: I get this question at least a dozen times each week, and it is one of the hardest to answer. Most older books are worth less than a dollar each. Some are worth slightly more, a few are extremely valuable. The trick is determining the slugs from the literary cash cows.

A good place to begin is to invest in yet more books, especially three references that I’ve found helpful. They are The Official Price Guide to Collector Books by Marie Tedford and Pat Goudey (House of Collectibles, $18); Huxford’s Old Book Value Guide (Collector Books, $19.95); and my first choice, the comprehensive Collected Books: The Guide to Values by Allen and Patricia Ahearn (Putnam, $75). After you've educated yourself, find a good used-book dealer in your area.

Q: Some cigar boxes are worth money, and others are just nice to have. I’m wondering which category the one I have falls into. The box appears to be leather-bound and is identified as Ransom C*F*L. — Jeri, Northglenn, Colo.

A: There are several cigar-box experts. I highly recommend at least three, namely Stephen C. Jones, P.O. Box 267, Homer, NY 13077; Silas W. Bass, 7788 Cuchillo St., Oceanside, CA 92057; and Jerry L. Striker, P.O. Box 372, Lititz, PA 17543.