According to the Jasper County 911 Board, lower fire insurance risk levels are one of the values of a consolidated communications center. The 9-1-1 Center staff has been working with local fire chiefs and insurance service representatives to develop a consistent method of sending the closest and most appropriate fire apparatus to a scene.

Center Director Bill Cade says that the county fire chiefs have worked hard to give every homeowner within 5 miles of a fire station the benefit of the reduced risk rating. Since the Center dispatches all but two fire departments within the County (Joplin and Webb City), the use of a modified computer aided dispatch protocol, to assure that the nearest as well as the legally defined fire station is dispatched, is a natural and logical step toward helping lots of folks said Cade.

While County Fire Chiefs have maintained an automatic aid relationship since the County 9-1-1 Center opened in mid 1997, the new system will provide for the simultaneous dispatch of fire apparatus to any structure within 5 miles of a station regardless of fire district boundaries and/or membership processes.

It was bad enough when ya saw those disclaimers printed in magazines for prescription medication. Now I’m seein’ thirty second commercials on tv that are mainly sayin’ who shouldn’t use this new wonder drug. Gotta figure it’s sort of a legal thing.

I have to admit I have read through a good portion of those two page, fine print advertisements, just ta see what they’re afraid of. At least the printed ads usually said what the stuff was supposed ta cure. These tv ads just tell ya ta "ask your doctor about...".

I’ve gotta wonder how they figured out what ailments ta warn against. What ever this stuff cures it just has ta be worse that any of those things listed that keep ya from usin’ it. I suppose these things are on a "need ta know" basis. Myself, I’m just hopin’ I don’t ever get that curious.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin.’

by

Carthage Printing

The Super Handyman

Dear Al: Did you know that along with the usual donations you might give to various organizations, you also can give leftover paint and other supplies? A local church that usually gets our old clothes also helps elderly people fix up their homes and is always looking for paint, lumber and other building materials. I know lots of your readers could find places in their communities to donate surplus supplies and thus clean out their garages and basements at the same time.-B.R.

A Super Hint - When tiling in a bath or kitchen, be sure to cover drains, food disposers and other access holes. Shards of tiles and bits of grout can get into those areas and possibly block them.

Dear Al & Kelly: I keep an old office calculator in my workshop to help me figure the hard stuff. I found a large plastic bag that would seal up around the calculator, except for the cord. The plastic keeps all the regular shop dust off it. The calculator lasted 10 years in my office, and hopefully I can get another 10 years out of it in my shop. - S.A.

Dear Kelly: You once mentioned that your are vertically challenged. I’m not a tall person either. The light fixture out in the garage is too high to reach with my stepladder, and replacing the bulb is a thrill I can live without. Finally, I found a super way to tackle it. I get up on the stepladder with my toilet plunger and push the rubber end up on the bottom of the bulb and start turning it. The rubber grabs the bulb, and then when the bulb releases, the plunger catches it in the cup so it won’t fall and break. With some maneuvering plus double-sided tape, I also can use the plunger to install the new bulb. Not Bad, huh? - S.G.