Today's Feature

Sports Complex Smoking Ban.

The City Council Public Services Committee met Monday evening in a regular session. The committee agreed to forward to Council a recommendation to approve a park rule that would prohibit smoking at the Fair Acres Sports Complex beyond the parking lots.

This item was originally discussed by the committee in October of 2007 when Carthage Little League President Jeff Jones proposed the idea. Jones said that he felt prohibiting smoking near the fields would set a better example for the children who play there.

The committee originally discussed the proposal with the idea to propose an ordinance to City Council. Following those discussions Parks Director Alan Bull spoke with former Police Chief Dennis Veach who instead recommended imposing a park rule. As a park rule, if a person continues smoking beyond the designated area, the Police may be called. Those not willing to cooperate would be asked to leave the premises by an officer. If those offenders do not leave they may be charged with trespassing.

Bull told the committee that the Little League was willing to provide signs clearly designating the non-smoking areas. The committee also discussed the placement of receptacles for cigarette butts near the "no smoking" signs. The committee agreed unanimously to forward the item to Council.

Social Security Programming Error.

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Department of Revenue last Friday announced that it is ready to process any amended returns which may be needed due to a programming error at the Social Security Administration (SSA). This computer error in Washington resulted in many Missouri taxpayers possibly receiving incorrect Social Security benefit statements.

"I commend our Department of Revenue on their quick response and proactive steps to clean up another mess in Washington," Gov. Matt Blunt said. "I know that some Missourians will be inconvenienced by Washington’s mistake but our state’s Revenue Department will continue to be aggressive in fixing this error to ensure that Missouri taxpayers are refunded their hard-earned dollars."

The Department has added a helpful link on the web site to further assist Missouri taxpayers through the process of either filing the proper Form SSA-1099, or with the process in filing an amended return. The link to the web site is www.dor.mo.gov/tax/personal/faq/1099ssa.htm and provides Missouri taxpayers with instructions answers to frequently asked questions.

If Missouri taxpayers have not filed their Missouri income tax or Property Tax Credit (PTC) claim, they should use the corrected Form SSA-1099 to prepare the Income tax return or the PTC claim. If the taxpayer has already filed, they can use the corrected Form SSA-1099 to file an amended income tax return or PTC claim.

If Missouri taxpayers have additional questions, they may go to Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) on the Department’s web site at www. dor.gov.mo or call the Department at (573) 751-3505. To date over 275,000 Missourians have already filed their Missouri Income Tax return.

Mornin’

I’ve always admired original thinkers. Even when I don’t necessarily agree with what they’re thinkin’.

Salesmen, especially those that ya see at the open air flea market, wheelin’ and dealin’, tryin’ to find some way to make what they have to see fir the needs of those who have come to buy.

It’s amazin’ how flexible some items are. "Sure it’s an ugly lamp shade, but if you stick it out in the garden on a stick, it will keep the crows from eatin’ your corn." Original thinkers, all of ‘em.

Once a story is attached to one particular object, of course the buyer has the right to pass it in to his friend or to the next purchaser, that’s a big piece of what ya pay for. But no original thinker worth his weight in salt would think of takin’ a legitimate story he heard in the mornin’ and passin’ it off as an original thought in the afternoon.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Here's A Tip
By Jo Ann Derson

What’s on sale in February? Get great deals on electronics - including computers - and mattresses, carpet/tile/laminates and other flooring, used cars, catalog closeouts and exercise equipment. Also, look for gift add-ons with perfume purchases and after-holiday deals on candy and red items (think ahead for Fourth of July and Christmas tableware!).

If you have an ink stain on fabric, try blotting it with hairspray. Use a clean white cloth or paper towel, saturate the ink spot with hairspray and blot. Repeat until ink is gone. Make sure you test on an inconspicuous area first.

Are your artificial flowers dusty? Here are a couple of ways to clean up those blossoms: Place the flowers in a paper bag with some salt, maybe a half-cup or so. Shake until clean. Or, try blowing them off with a hair dryer.

"If you have trouble pulling out a splinter with tweezers, as I do, try using regular household glue -- a dab on the spot, let dry and pull off -- or a bit of Scotch Tape. These seem to work for me, and it’s easier than trying to manipulate a tiny pair of tweezers." -- I.F. in California

Recipe Substitutions: If you need ketchup, mix together 1 cup of tomato sauce, 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.