Today's Feature

Christmas Parade Float Winners.

The 36th Annual Carthage Christmas Parade, hosted by the Carthage Technical Center’s SkillsUSA Chapter, was held on Monday evening. The event was well attended despite cold weather. Float winners are as follows:

Mayor’s Choice: Oakton United Methodist Church

Director’s Choice: UMB

Best Use of Lights: Paul’s Motor Electric

Marching Band, Sr. High: Joplin Eagles

Marching Band, Jr. High: Joplin South Middle School

Auto: Jim Leake, The Phantom

Business/Commercial: Carthage Health & Rehab

Church: Carthage Family Worship Center

Horse/Rider: Carthage Saddle Club

Specialty: Carthage Burn Crew

Twirlers: Show-Me Stars

Youth: Daisy Troop # 6737

Adult: CMA-Marney

SkillsUSA is a youth organization, made up of high school students who are enrolled in classes at the Carthage Technical Center. These classes cover a wide range of interests such as Electronics, Health Services, Computer Maintenance, Carpentry, Drafting, Auto Mechanics, and Precision Machining. The organization is 100 members strong. The main community service project of the Carthage SkillsUSA chapter is the Carthage Christmas Parade. SkillsUSA has been part of the Carthage Christmas Parade since its beginning.

Mornin'
I suppose we all associate things with other things in combinations that have some value to us as individuals. Most of those values are havin’ to do with emotional responses we may not even be aware of.

The fact that most of us have some fond memories is prob’ly most evident with the popularity of "Oldies" radio stations these days. I would have ta guess that hearin’ some Bob Wills tune on the radio or Jerry Lee Lewis would evoke completely different responses among various people. Prob’ly more to the point would be an early Elvis rocker. Someone who was a younger teenager at the time would respond completely differently from that same person’s parents. I doubt that many who had kids durin’ that period would think of records from that period as "golden oldies."

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

• This year, some friends and I came up with the brilliant idea of having a Christmas card swap. We all have leftovers from years gone by, but we can’t remember whom we sent them to. We got together for coffee and swapped leftover cards. One of the group is very computer savvy, and she had us bring our address books so she could print labels for us. It’s wonderful, and we expect to do this for as many years as we can.

• Recipe Substitutions: If you need 1 cup of self-rising flour, use 1 cup of all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

• What’s on sale in December: Candles, loss-leader items (ask for rain checks when available) and after-holiday sales on cards, decorations and small gifts.

• Need an emergency ornament hook? Unfold a paper clip to get a hook on either side. Hang away!

• "I just got a big batch of baby clothes from a friend. Many of them were stained around the neck, and I thought they would be mostly unusable, but my mom came over and soaked them in hot water and OxyClean. It was amazing. Almost all of the stains came out! The moral of the story is: Trust Mom and don’t give up on stained clothes." -- T.K. in Alabama

• Just a reminder: The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months. As the bristles get frayed, its effectiveness is reduced. So while you are out shopping for friends and family, pick up something for yourself!