Today's Feature

Click It or Ticket.

News release

The Carthage Police Department will be participating in the statewide Occupant Protection Enforcement program on September 11, 2008.

Hundreds of people are killed on Missouri roadways each year because they do not take the time to buckle up. The usage rate among Missouri motorists is at a 77% usage rate compared to the National use rate of 81%. In an effort to reduce fatalities and encourage motorists to buckle up, the Highway Safety Division will be implementing this program.

Among those least likely to buckle up: young males, pickup truck drivers and their passengers, people who live in rural areas and nighttime drivers. For more information on Missouri seatbelt usage, visit www.saveMOlives.com

United Way Campaign.

News release

Carthage Area United Way, Inc. will kickoff their 2008/2009 Campaign Thursday, September 11, 2008. Nate Dally, Volunteer Campaign Chairman will announce the goal and introduce the volunteer cabinet at the noon luncheon kickoff to be held at Broadview Country Club in Carthage. The generous sponsors for this year’s kickoff luncheon are Arvest Bank, Hometown Bank, Southwest Missouri Bank & UMB Bank

Report Luncheons are scheduled for noon, October 2nd, October 23rd and November 20th at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, Carthage. The Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony is scheduled for noon, February 5, 2009, also to be held at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center.

The Carthage Area United Way supports 15 non-profit agencies that provide services in the local area. These agencies include The American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Carthage Crisis Center, Carthage Crosslines, Cerebral Palsy Center of Tri-County, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Citizen’s Advisory Board, Community Clinic of Carthage, Family Literacy Council, Girl Scouts, Jasper County 4-H, Lafayette House, Ozark Camp Quality, Carthage Salvation Army and the Special Olympics. Beginning in 2009 the 16th Agency Carthage Area United Way, Inc. will help fund is Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Jasper & Newton Counties.

Anyone wishing to volunteer in the campaign and/or attend the luncheon meetings are asked to contact The Carthage Area United Way, Inc. office at (417) 358-2948.

Mornin'

Heard of some interestin’ mergers that are bein’ proposed.

3M and Goodyear, if merged could become MMMGood.

Zippo Mfg., Audi Motor Car, Dofasco and Dakota Mining would merge to become ZipAudiDoDa.

Federal Express might join its major competitor, UPS, and consolidates as FedUP.

Polygram Records, Warner Bros. and Zesta Crackers could join forces and become Polly, Warner, Cracker.

Then there’s the possibility of Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women considering a merger to be come the famous KnottNOW.

With the market settlin’ down, these combinations may be where the big money is.

This is some fact but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Here’s A Tip

By JoAnn Derson

If you are repotting a plant, try this neat trick to discourage soil loss and bug infiltration through the drainage hole. Instead of using broken pieces of pots or small rocks, cut a piece of screen to fit the bottom of your pot. Or you can use a small section of pantyhose. Fill with dirt and your plant. The holes are too small for bugs to get in or for soil to drain out.

"If you accidentally overfill the coffeemaker, you can use a baster to remove the extra water. It works, and you don’t have to try to tip over the maker." -- I.D. in New Mexico

"When my curly, curly hair gets the frizz, I use a sheet of fabric softener to take the static electricity out of it. This works so well that in the winter, I keep several in my purse." -- P.M. in Michigan

"My garden gloves were not helping when I was pruning my citrus trees, as they all have spiky thorns. I used a pair of oven mitts, which were much more padded, and it worked well." -- D.C. in Florida

"If you slip a baby sock over a doorknob, then secure it with a heavy-duty rubber band, it will keep toddlers out!" -- E.R. in Ohio

"To organize sets of buttons, I use twist ties, the kind provided in some boxes of garbage bags or on bread bags. I thread all the buttons on together, and then I twist it up. I can keep up to six or seven big buttons together, but if I need more room, I just twist two ties together to make a longer tie. This works great for me." -- J.L.W. in Pennsylvania