Heating Assistance Available.

Starting November 16, 1998, Economic Security Corporation (ESC) will offer winter heating assistance to low-income families in Barton, Jasper, Newton and McDonald Counties. The community action agency will be helping households that otherwise would be unable to pay utility bills or obtain heating fuel due to extreme weather conditions. The program's purpose is to help these families and individuals keep their homes heated during the winter. Households must be experiencing a crisis which constitutes a shutoff or no service: in addition, Clients must be income eligible.

People needing help or information should call one of the ESC outreach centers. Funding for the Energy Crisis Intervention Program comes through the Missouri Department of Social Services. The total amount of funding assistance available for the four counties is $106,500.

Outreach Office hours and Locations:

Joplin Mon thru Thur. 8 to 5

Friday 8 to noon

781-0352

Carthage Tue., Thur., Fri., 8 to 5

358-3521

Christmas Homes Tour.

The Victorian Carthage's 8th Annual Christmas Homes Tour will be held Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call Victorian Carthage, 358-0636, for information.

1431 Grand Ave. - The Aaron Myers House is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bonham Oney. This Italianate-style home was built in 1885. It features a bracketed roof, original iron gate posts, etched glass hardware and corner marble fireplace with a terra cotta parlor ceiling. It is unique in that it still has its original tin roof and many of the original window panes.

903 Orner St. - Built in the early part of the 1900's, this bungalow-style home has a spacious front porch and beautiful hardwood floors throughout most of the living area. The large living room includes a fireplace and plenty of natural light. In the formal dining room, you will find a large bay window with a window seat. The updated kitchen provides lots of cabinet space and a sunny breakfast room. Owners Jason and Nicole Poage have a wonderful parents' retreat in their bedroom which boasts seven windows, and any child would love to explore the beautifully painted nursery. The home has been remodeled and decorated in a unique eclectic style that everyone can appreciate and enjoy.

1615 Grand Ave. - Known as the A.J. Carmean Home, this large Queen Anne Victorian home was built in 1893 and features four original stained glass windows, stunning woodwork and pocket doors. Owners Michael and Jeanne Goolsby now operate the home as the Grand Avenue Bed and Breakfast, "complete with resident ghosts." A handsome carved oak staircase leads to four beautifully decorated guest rooms on the second floor.

13001 Journey Rd. - Owners Jim and Jan O'Hara recently purchased this three-story Traditional-style home. Built in 1900 of native Carthage marble, the home is enhanced with a large front stone portico, the roof of which serves as a concrete-floored balcony. The interior has been fully remodeled with some additional restoration in the living room and large dining room that features beautiful wood wainscoting. A period chandelier graces the foyer and a rare white marble fireplace echoes the white carpeting in the living room. Upon full restoration of the third floor, the owners plan to open it as The White Rose Bed and Breakfast.

Highway V & 571 - Guests also are invited to tour Kendrick House, a restored pre-Civil War home that served as headquarters for both Union and Confederate units during the war. The house is the oldest brick structure still standing in Jasper County. It was built between 1849 and 1854 with the help of slaves using materials found on site. Victorian Carthage has restored the home and provides tours on a daily basis. By special reservation, the home is open for lunches and dinners, wedding receptions, anniversary celebrations, family reunions, civic or business meetings.

Commentary

Bubs Hohulin

State Representative, District 126

I would be very remiss if I didn’t start off this week’s column by adding my thanks and appreciation to all the veterans of our state and nation. I have spoken at many veteran events since I have been in office and I must admit that I usually feel a little uncomfortable doing so. Having never served in the military, I don’t feel worthy to address those who have sacrificed so much for the rest of us. Words alone can never express how much I appreciate those of you that served our Country.

One of the things we are going to have to keep a close eye on this Session will be the push for more environmental regulations on farmers. We have learned of new proposed regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will eventually affect ALL livestock farms. The plan is set up the way most of these new regulations are, going after the big farms first and then bringing everyone under the regulations. It is always easier to get public sympathy to go after the "big guys". Ironically, many times the argument put forth is that by going after the large farms we are helping the small farmer. That is simply not the case. To quote Ronald Reagan, one of America’s greatest presidents, "a rising tide lifts all boats". Conversely, a violent thunderstorm endangers all boats.

We hear much these days about saving the small farms and trying to encourage young people to stay on the farm. It seems like the first things mentioned are new government programs. Why not take the opposite approach?

Let’s encourage small farmer survival by getting government off the backs of farmers. A large cut in the capital gains tax would benefit farmers more than any other group in the nation. It would encourage many retired farmers to sell their farms since the government wouldn’t be taking a big chunk of the money right off the bat. A bill passed last Session in Missouri makes it harder to sell grain directly to the user. It mandates a middleman in some transactions. This is taking money directly from farmers’ pockets and needs to be reversed. So many times when government tries to protect everyone from everything, they end up hurting the ones they purport to help.

Everyone involved admits that the proposed regulations will be expensive. What they don’t agree on is whether they will do any good to reduce pollution. Let’s not forget that we are dealing with manure here, not toxic waste. When livestock prices are at a low point, it doesn’t make sense to increase the cost of doing business on farmers. Also, the ironic thing is that the large farmers can better afford the increased regulations than the small ones. The small farms will be the first to be pushed out of business. Is this government’s idea of helping small farmers stay in business? Farmers are the ultimate conservationists. Farmers know if they don’t take care of their land they won’t have a livelihood. If government will stay out of the way and not throw barriers at them they will be better off and so will the land.

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, or advice.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

I see where the evenin' paper is callin' for a grand jury to be put together to investigate the goin's on at the County Collector's office. I can't quite figure out the purpose of such an expensive venture.

Holt paid the money back and got tossed out. There was plenty of media coverage of the circumstances surroundin' the last few months of discussions and the court case brought against Holt to have him ousted. Obviously the majority of voters don't care much what went on over the last few years or at least didn't think it was bad enough to keep the guy out of office. The majority rules, nothin' says it has ta be right.

The County Commissioners are requiring that all outside charges be paid directly to the County from now on. The County Auditor and Commissioners now bear the full responsibility for the funds.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin'.

by

McCune Brooks Hospital

Health Notes.

THE EGG AND US: Eggs, and dishes containing eggs, may soon come with at least one risk factor removed.

Egg yolks continue to be a source of saturated fats and anyone wishing to cut down on fat to help reduce LDL cholesterol levels in their blood should continue to eat whole eggs in moderation, or, in amounts allowed by their doctor-approved diets. However, the risk of contracting salmonella poisoning from eggs and products made with uncooked eggs (such as ice cream) may soon become practically nil, thanks to several Purdue University researchers who have developed a process for pasteurizing eggs in the shell to kill salmonella bacteria.

Although it’s been known for a long time that heat can kill the bacteria ,that same heat will cook an egg in its shell, which would make it unmarketable for obvious reasons. But with the new process at Purdue, an egg can be put through a new low-temperature, long-time pasteurization process which will kill the bacteria.

Was salmonella always a problem with eggs? The answer is that up until the 1980s, salmonella, while it existed in many foods, had not been found in raw shell eggs. Then the bacterium for salmonella enterititis mutated in a way that caused ovarian infection in chickens. This infection was passed into the egg before it was laid.

ARCHIVES Index