The Mornin' Mail is published daily -Tuesday, February 3, 1998 Volume VI, Number 160

did ya know?

Did Ya Know... Friends of the Library will meet Wed., Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m.

Did Ya Know... The first production of "Dear Ruth" at Stone’s Throw Theatre is Feb. 5. For reservations, call 358-9665.

Did Ya Know... The Missouri Master Gardener Program sponsored by Jasper County University Outreach & Extension begins this month. For details, call 358-2158.

today's laugh

Judge: Thirty years in prison!

Prisoner: But, Judge, I won’t live that long!

Judge: Don’t worry, do what you can.

 

Husband: You must admit, that men have better judgment than women.

Wife: Oh, yes. You married me, and I married you.

 

Witness: Well, I think-

Lawyer: Don’t think! In this courtroom you are to tell what you know, not what you think!

Witness: Well, I’m not a lawyer. I can’t talk without thinking!

 

Minister at funeral service: Friends, in this coffin is the body of our beloved departed one. It is only the shell - the nut has gone!

1898
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

Almost Came To Blows.

Attorneys Whitsett and McReynolds Mix Over a Saloon Petition.

The matter of the application for a dramshop license by Chas. Gostley & Co. for a saloon on East Fourth Street came up again in county court today, but at this writing has not been disposed of.

As on a previous occasion when the matter came up, the attorneys furnished plenty of excitement, but Sam’l McReynolds and Geo. P. Whitsett capped the climax shortly after noon today, when they came near indulging in a knock down and drag out fight.

In the midst of a heated argument, Mr. McReynolds took exceptions to one of Mr. Whitsett’s statements, which he remarked was untrue. This was a signal for hostilities to begin and the younger attorney vouch saved the information that his opponent was not only a liar, but that he knew it.

Mr. McReynolds’ temper got the better of him and he made a movement which Whitsett interpreted as threatening and the latter sprang to his feet with the chair in which he had been sitting as a weapon of defense. Mr. McReynolds also had a chair within reach and a lively "scrap" was in prospect, when Deputy Sheriff W. C. Williams sprang to his feet and stepped between them.

Mr. McReynolds "wanted at him" and Mr. Whitsett was "willin" but Referee Williams insisted on calling the contest a draw, and though Mr. McReynolds volunteered to go outside, the contest ended then and there.

  Today's Feature

New Housing Development Incentives.

The Public Works committee is scheduled to discuss several incentives to encourage the development of new housing at this afternoon’s regular meeting in City Hall.

The agenda includes draft documents that would initiate a program that would allow developers to recoup some of the costs to extend sewer lines, and renewed assistance by the City in paying for curb and guttering and street paving.

A public hearing concerning the incentives will be held before any action is taken by the full Council according to City Administrator Tom Short.

In its current draft form, the sewer extension cost recovery would allow a developer up to five years to receive reimbursement for new taps into a water main paid for by the developer. The fee for a tap would be based on an area served basis with a maximum of $500 per tap and the City would retain 10% of the proceeds for administration costs.

The proposed street paving incentives and the curb and gutter incentives have been used in past years. These programs set aside $100,000 each and provide up to $40,000 per year per developer reimbursement for each program.

These programs have been used by several developers in the past, but a new qualification has been added to the latest draft. In this version, only property that has been "fully developed and habitable" would be considered for reimbursement. This would prevent the possibility of reimbursement for streets where no housing was built in a timely manner.

In past discussions in the Public Works Committee, such questions as whether a house on one side of the street would be sufficient to qualify have been brought up.

The issue of reimbursement for extended water lines was initially brought to the attention of the Public Works Committee by Ruth Kolpin several months ago. More recently the 71A Partnership also began promoting the idea and partner Mike Woody addressed the Council calling for a more "pro business" stance by the City. At this time any extensions of water and wastewater lines must be paid for by developers, but others can then tap into the line without charge.

The Public Works Committee agenda also will include a discussion of the altered street plans for the Myers Park Development. Some minor changes were suggested during the last meeting concerning the alignment of some planned streets.


Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin

State Representative, District 26

It looks like the tax cut battle is taking shape for this session of the General Assembly. As we have ever since Gov. Mel Carnahan took office, the State of Missouri is again going to take more money from the citizens of Missouri in the form of taxes than the Constitution says we can. Under Gov. Carnahan’s leadership the state budget has grown by about a BILLION dollars per year. During Gov. Ashcroft’s last year in office, Missouri was ranked 49th in personal tax burden. Now we are ranked 26th and still climbing. In fact, according to the Tax Foundation there is only one state, Delaware that has a faster growing budget than ours. This is not something to be proud of.

The Hancock Amendment in the Constitution says we have to refund about 100 million dollars. This is not disputed, it has to be returned either in the form of a check or lower taxes. We, and when I say we I mean the Republicans in the Legislature, are proposing tax cuts of about 800 million dollars. The Democrats are proposing cuts of only the minimum 100 million that the Constitution says we have to do and are wailing about that. In fact, in a letter from the executive director of the Missouri State Democratic Committee he stated, "would want to take into account the actual financial needs of our state before trying to give away money that would be put to good use if invested in education, health care, child care, and early childhood development."

Folks, letting you keep more of what you earn is not "giving away money!" When are they going to learn that the money DOES NOT belong to the government? Government CANNOT create wealth, they can only redistribute it and reducing the inflated tax burden of Missouri’s citizens is not giving away anything!

Let’s look at the second part of the statement; "would e put to good use." When was the last time government, any government, spent the hard earned money you sent in better than you could? I’m going to guess it has been awhile. The idea that government can spend your money more wisely than you is simply ludicrous!

If those aren’t reasons enough to ease the tax burden on Missouri’s citizens, let’s look at it from a purely financial standpoint. Gov. Carnahan’s proposed budget this year tops 15 billion dollars, an 800 million dollar increase from last year. If we were to simply freeze last year’s bloated budget and use the same figures for this year, there is the 800 million dollars to make the tax cut. I don’t have but a high school education, but I believe those figures match up.

Call me crazy, but I firmly believe there is never a bad time to reduce someone’s taxes and letting you keep more of what you earn is NOT giving away money!

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, and advice.


artCentral

Release by artCentral

This is going to be a very busy year for us...we can just feel it!! The new schedule of classes and workshops is being put together as the Shangri-La art show is heading down the home stretch!!

Board members were treated to a great lunch last week at Shangri-La while working out some of the details of our upcoming show. They are as excited about it as we are!!

Some changes have occurred so we need to get the word out as soon as possible to accommodate everyone. First of all, the auction will now be on Saturday night instead of Friday.

We hope to have fifteen pieces of art for our auction that will cover a wide price range as well as a great variety of mediums. What a great offering this is going to be!! Several local artists will be included as well as some from other states. Some names you might recognize...some not.

There will be 37 - 40 artists participating in the two-day show. Some are working out some conflicts so we don’t have an exact count, yet. This means that we will have 7100 square feet filled to the brim with exhibiting artists!! Yeah!! Clap, clap, clap!! You’ll just have to see it to believe it!!

We sure hope to see the town turn out for this event. It is going to be totally awesome!!

Back to more pressing business...we have our first workshop of 1998 planned for February 26, 27, and 28. Jerry Ellis will be conducting a WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP on these three days. This is a lot of fun and a lot of ground is covered. We have had nothing but rave reviews about Jerry’s watercolor sessions! He is an outstanding, award winning artist who has literally put our little town on the map with his beautiful and creative paintings of Carthage.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to study with one of the best artists in this country. Sign up now with a $25 deposit to hold your place, as space is limited.

 

Thursday, Feb. 26th, Friday, Feb. 27th and Saturday, Feb. 28th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day: cost, $150

Persons interested in taking this class are encouraged to call as soon as possible. There is a supply list you will need to ensure purchasing the appropriate supplies. Come on and sign up!! You have to start somewhere and we think Jerry’s pretty cool!! He makes learning FUN!!

More...next week.


Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

Back when this idea of the City helpin’ ta pay for pavin’ and curb and gutters for new developments was first bein’ kicked around, I got a phone call that I still think has merit. The caller wondered why the City would pay for improvements to new developments and not offer the same type a setup for neighborhoods already in the City.

Now whether or not a block of neighbors could get together and petition for such an arrangement would be interestin’ to see. But the fact is havin’ curb and gutter would improve some existin’ neighborhoods and add to the value and stability of the community to some extent.

It would be up to the neighborhood to put the thing together, but the City might consider at least encouragin’ such improvements by given them the opportunity to participate in any new programs that are set up.

This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.

Sponsored

by

McCune Brooks Hospital

Weekly Column

Health Notes

For a country that spends so much money on antacids, it’s surprising that most people who take them have little or no knowledge about acid indigestion or, as it’s more commonly known, heartburn.

When food is swallowed, it goes down the esophagus and through a valve-like muscle band called the esophageal sphincter. This sphincter opens and then closes to prevent the food from coming back up.

Meanwhile, the stomach grinds the food and with the help of two important secretions, acid and the enzyme, pepsin, the food is turned into a form that is more easily utilized by the body.

Occasionally, the sphincter doesn’t close completely, and some of the partially digested food (which contains acid) can slip back up into the esophagus in a process called reflux. This acid-laden material irritates the tissues of the esophagus, which causes the condition known as heartburn or acid indigestion. Although most people dismiss heartburn as a nuisance, it can lead to serious problems: continued irritation of the esophagus can result in an inflammatory condition called reflux esophagus which, if left untreated, can damage the esophagus.

If you have this condition, you let your doctor know. Sometimes what is considered "indigestion" can be symptomatic of something really serious.


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