Today's Feature

Council Meeting Tonight.

A Carthage City Council meeting is scheduled for this evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Items on the agenda include the first reading of an ordinance increasing the Carthage Public Library Revolving Fund to $36,000.

If approved this ordinance would increase the maximum expenditure for Carthage Public Library revolving fund which currently has a limit of $26,000. The fund was increased to that amount in 1999. This item is brought to Council with approval of the Finance/Personnel committee due to increased cost of bills at the Library.

Other items on the agenda include the swearing in of City Attorney Nathaniel Dalley.

Yard Waste Accepted.

The Carthage Recycling Drop Off Center is accepting yard waste including branches free of charge until February 2, in an effort to assist with the cleanup after last week’s ice storms. Additionally, yard waste may be placed for collection with items for regular trash pickup. Those branches must be no more than 4" in diameter, cut to no more than 4’ long and bundled. Bundles are to weigh no more than 50 pounds.

Police Dept. Promotions.

Two Carthage Police officers last week were promoted to Sergeant. A release from Carthage Police Chief Dennis Veach announces the following promotions;

Sergeant Chad L. Webb, 29, has been with the department since 2000. He has attended Pittsburg State University as well as Police Academy at Missouri Southern State University. Webb has served in the Summer Liquor Enforcement position as well as being a Firearms Training Simulator Instructor and a Field Training Officer. Prior to being hired here he was with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department for a year. He is married and has two children.

Sergeant Jeffery L. Steffen, 29, has been with the department since 2002. He has attended the Missouri Southern State University as well as the Police Academy located there. Steffen also attended Linn Technical College. Steffen has been a Field Training Officer for the department. Prior to being hired by the Carthage Police, Steffen was a reserve with the Carl Junction Police department and was an officer for the Sarcoxie Police department. Steffen was with the Missouri National Guard for ten years and served a tour of duty in Iraq.

Stench Report:

Monday,
1/22/07

No Stench Detected on Carthage Square

The scientists don’t know why clouds build up an electrical charge that eventually turns into lightnin’. They can explain what happens from that point on, but they still can’t figure out why the charge is there in the first place.

When a small child it hooked up so they can see brain waves, the sound of their parent’s voice sets off an explosion of activity. Showin’ ‘em a favorite toy or food only activates a small portion of brain waves.

In this age of technological advance it somehow seems odd, but I suppose there is some comfort in knowin’ we don’t know it all.

This is some face, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Children Can Have Cholesterol Problems

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My daughter, age 12, has a cholesterol level of 216. Her pediatrician says this is too high. I thought that 200 was normal, and she’s not far from that. The doctor wants to recheck her. If her number stays the same, what would you recommend? I don’t like the idea of giving her drugs. -- K.O.

ANSWER: The normal cholesterol value for children isn’t the same as a normal value for adults. The average cholesterol reading for children her age is 160 mg/dL (4.1 mmol/L). The 75th percentile for children her age is 173 (4.5). The 75th percentile means 75 percent of 12-year-old children have a cholesterol level less than that.

High cholesterol in childhood assures high cholesterol in adulthood and, at a young age, the serious heart consequences that come from such an elevation.

Experts recommend that any child with a cholesterol level higher than the 75th percentile make serious efforts to lower it. These children must exercise daily. Your daughter can do any activity she likes -- like jumping rope, jogging, swimming, dancing or brisk walking -- but she has to get in 30 minutes of exercise. Changing a child’s diet is serious business. A dietitian can guide you in proper nutrition for her diet.

She must stay on the diet and exercise program for six months to a year before being retested. If there has been no change in her cholesterol, medicines should be considered.