Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Wednesday, July 5, 2006 Volume XV, Number 12

Did Ya Know?... The Carthage Chamber of Commerce will hold a LEADS Luncheon Wednesday, July 5 at noon in the Sirloin Stockade, 1027 West Central Ave. RSVP by July 3, 358-3273.

Did Ya Know?... Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre will hold auditions for its upcoming production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" July 9 at 6 p.m. and July 10th at 7 p.m. in Stone’s Throw Theatre, 796 S. Stone Lane, Carthage. Auditions will be a cold reading. Cast requirements are as follows; 15 Children between the ages of 6-14 of which 5 are African American. 30 adults between the ages of 18-80, of which 18 are African American, all areas of technical. There will also be several non-speaking parts available for first-timers. "To Kill a Mockingbird" will be directed by Shawn DeGraff and will run September 7-10, 14-17, 2006. For more info call 358-9665 or 358-7268.

today's laugh

Remember when you were considered an environmentalist when you didn’t throw junk out the car window? I sure do miss that simpler, happier time. - Paula Poundstone

If carrots are good for my eyes, how come I see so many dead rabbits on the highway? - Richard Jeni

We were in England last Fourth of July. Not a big holiday there; they’re still a little testy. - Rita Rudner

1906
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

Norton Still Sick.

Circuit Clerk Fred B. Norton is still very much under the weather. His physician says he will have to put him to bed and keep him there for three weeks if he does not show improvement. Deputy Clerk John Gray and assistant Miss Della Sharp have their hands quite full in the meanwhile keeping court business running and attending to the routine affairs of the office, especially as Miss Sharp has been almost sick with rheumatism for two or three weeks past.

Grandpa - "I feel like a youngster, like a youth of 20, young, strong and healthy, I lay it all to Hollister’s Rocky Mountain Tea." Good for the aged and infirm. 35 cents, tea or tablets. - Post Evans Drug Store

Col. and Mrs. Caffee, who have been spending some time in Annapolis with their son Arthur, midshipman in the United States Navy, are expected home on the 7th.

Today's Feature

"Good Stewardship of Tax Dollars."

News release

Later this month, when motor vehicle owners receive registration renewal notices in the mail, they will see a firsthand demonstration of the Missouri Department of Revenue’s good stewardship of tax dollars. A new public-private partnership between the department and Imagitas, Inc. provides evidence of that commitment, as the company will begin printing motor vehicle renewal forms at no cost to the state.

"Since January of 2005, we have reduced vehicle renewal printing and postage costs by 46 percent," said department director Trish Vincent. "We are always looking for ways to further reduce costs, and this is a great example of that." Prior to the Blunt administration, vehicle renewal notices cost $1.14 million to print and mail each year. A switch in 2005 to the use of postcards was slated to save about $485,000 per year, and the Imagitas program will save about $44,000 more for a total of nearly $530,000.

Imagitas will offset printing costs using revenue generated by advertising offers included in notices. Beyond the cost savings, the state will receive supplemental recurring revenue from the advertising program when customers respond to advertisements. The new program complies with the federal Driver Privacy Protection Act, preventing the disclosure of personal information about drivers and vehicle owners. Imagitas is not authorized to release any customer information.

The partnership also provides proof of the department’s commitment to customer service. By working together to redesign the format, the department and Imagitas succeeded in improving customer privacy and promoting customers’ renewal options; on-line, by mail or phone, or in person.

"It’s not often that government can improve services, eliminate costs, and develop a new source of recurring revenue without new taxes or fees, but this partnership has enabled us to do just that," said Vincent.

Guidelines for ads are strict, and renewal notices will state clearly that advertisers are helping defray the costs of government but are not endorsed by the State. While this is the first program of its kind in Missouri, similar programs have been successfully implemented in New York, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota and Massachusetts. According to Imagitas, those states have saved more than $6 million in direct and indirect expenses since 2000 and have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in new revenue from the tightly controlled advertising program.

July Events on Square.

Carthage City Council at its last meeting approved the closing of the square for the annual Carthage Sidewalk Sale and the 7th annual Greater Ozarks British Motoring Club car show. The events take place conjunctively on the square and are scheduled for July 22 at which time the square will be closed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Stench Report:
Monday,
7/3/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage
Square

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',
I can’t ever seem ta find a pencil when I’d really rather use one instead of the typical ball point. ‘Course if I do happen to get lucky enough to find the lead centered instrument, it’s eraser is worn to a nub. Guess folks usin’ pencils make more mistakes than the manufacturers recommended per pencil.

As a kid I always had those "extra" erasers that fits over the worn out one. And of course a large eraser that had a soft end and a get down to business end with some kinda sand in it. Good for punchin’ a hole right in the critical homework.

Now that calculators are the norm, I won’t be surprised if folks start thinkin’ of pencils as an antique utensil, sellin’ at the flea market for five bucks a throw.

At least then when I needed a pencil, I’d know where I could find it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.