Democrats Guarding Candidate List.

The Executive Committee of the Jasper County Democratic Committee met Tuesday evening to discuss resumes of candidates for the position of Eastern District County Commissioner. Governor Carnahan is to appoint a replacement for Mike Cloud who resigned as of September 30. Carnahan's office has requested recommendations from the Democratic and Republican County Committees. (The U.S. Taxpayer Party has also submitted a candidate, see inside).

This paper was informed on Wednesday that the names of individuals submitting resumes to the Democratic Committee will not be released at this time. Apparently some on the Committee felt candidates were not aware that names would be made public.

Due to schedule conflicts, the full Committee will not meet to vote on candidates until October 12. According to a committee officer, the governor's office has no problem with that timetable.

The Republican Committee will meet this evening at the Carthage Jasper County Courthouse to select three candidates to be submitted to the governor for consideration.

Medal of Honor Recipient Scheduled For Maple Leaf Parade.

The Chamber of Commerce announced that Clarence Craft, who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman on Oct. 12, 1945, will be a participant in this year's Maple Leaf Festival parade.

Craft was invited to attend the Festival by members of the Ozark Chosin Few Chapter, survivors of one of the deadliest battles of the Korean War. Carft will ride in a vintage Jeep scheduled to be part of the organization's float and vehicles.

A long time U.S. Army soldier, Craft earned the nations's highest military honor for heroism under enemy fire, on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, during World War II.

Seniors' Legal Issues Discussed.

The VantAge Point's Friday Fair will be held October 9, beginning at 10 a.m. with a make-it-take-it Halloween craft. Tina Jones, RSVP Coordinator, will teach the class. The seminar portion of the Fair will begin at 10:30 a.m. Mark Francis, director of Generations of McCune Brooks Hospital in Carthage, will discuss legal issues for seniors. His topic will include power of attorney and advance directives.

Friday Fairs are presented the second Friday of each month at the VantAge Point, which is locate in the main, west entrance to Northpark Mall, Joplin.

U.S. Taxpayers Submit Candidate.

The Jasper County U.S. Taxpayers Party Committee unanimously decided last Tuesday to submit the name of Stephen Alger to Governor Mel Carnahan for his consideration in appointing a replacement for Mike Cloud to the office of Eastern District Commissioner of Jasper County.

Stephen Alger is the Jasper County Chairman of the U.S. Taxpayers Party, and is married to Tammy Alger and has 7 children.

Letter to the editor

Dear Mr. Johnson,

I have been reading your Mornin' Mail ever since you first started publishing, and I want to tell you that I enjoy your publication very much. I especially look forward to your Historical column 1898.

The item which made me sit up and take notice was your "Just Jake Talkin', Tuesday Sept. 22, 98, about the name of Pvt. George Hinson which was found on some barracks wall at Ft. Wolters, TX. while remodeling was going on. . I was stationed at Ft. Wolters in 1941, 6 months before the start of WWII. It was an Infantry Training and Replacement Center. . .I don't have any information on Pvt. Hinson, but I was surprised that the name of Ft. Wolters, TX. ever got this far north.

By the way, some professor at the University of Texas is compiling information to write the untold story of Ft. Wolters, and I will send this information from your article to him Sincerely, William Bader

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

As a kid, a friend a mine called the operator and asked what the time was. As some of ya can remember, they would also tell ya the temperature sometimes. Well, the policy had changed when this kid called, "We're not allowed to give out that information," was the reply.

"What's the big secret?" yelled the kid into the phone.

I'm supposin' that you won't be surprised that I had the same reaction when I was told there would be no list of Democrats wantin' to be the next County Commissioner. This is a public office, anyone can submit their qualifications for scrutiny. If folks don't want other folks ta know they're wantin' to run for public office, don't run. This isn't some business deal, this is public business and it belongs in the hands of the public. Sides that, ever'one just wants ta know.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin'.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars.

Dear Tom and Ray:

I own a 1996 Honda Accord EX. I got married and haven't driven the car since. She drives the Accord, and I've been banished to her old car, Chevy Beretta. I would like to disconnect the air bags on the Accord. My wife likes to sit very close to the steering wheel. Because of her proximity to the steering wheel and her small size, I'm concerned about her safety in an accident. What should I do? -Scott

RAY: Well, first, you don't want to be an alarmist, Scott. In the latest statistics we saw, air bags were still saving a great many more people than they were killing or injuring.

TOM: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 37 adults killed by airbags since 1990, and 26 of them were either not wearing their seatbelts, or not wearing them properly. so only 11 adults who were properly belted were actually killed by air bags. That's 11 too many, but it's important to keep things in perspective.

RAY: If you decide to have them disconnected, NHTSA says you must have a medical reason for doing so, or you must be unable to sit at least 10 inches away from the steering wheel when driving. Some people can solve this problem by simply sitting further back. Others may be able to move further away from the steering wheel with the help of inexpensive pedal extenders, which move the gas and brake pedal closer to the driver.

TOM: Also many new cars have new, lower powered air bags, which inflate slower and should not present any serious risk to vehicle occupants- even people sitting within 10 inches of the steering wheel.

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