Gas Heat Prices Surge.

Gas bills received by area residents and businesses last week reflected the 40 to 50% increase approved on November 1. This increase, along with more typical cooler temperatures for the month of November brought a major increase in those bills.

The gas bill for City owned Memorial Hall jumped from around $400 in October to over $2,000 in November. The gas bill for the Carthage Courthouse was just over $4,100 for November according to Commissioner Anna Ruth Crampton.

According to Missouri Gas Energy the increase is due to increased wholesale prices of gas on the open market. The company offers various payment plans for customers to spread the cost over a period of time.

The Economic Security Corporation offers winter heating assistance for low-income families. The program helps households that otherwise would be unable to pay utility bills or obtain heating fuel due to extreme weather conditions. Households, except for the elderly (age 60 or over), must be experiencing a crisis which constitutes a shut-off notice and be income eligible. Call 358-3521 T-Th-F or 417-781-0352.

Burr.

What scares most folks about the November gas bill is it wasn’t even that cold of a month. Most of the cold came after the first of December. Get out your check book and knit another sweater.

Turnin’ down the thermostat a tad make ya wonder how uncomfortable folks were when they were burnin’ nothin’ but coal or wood for heat. Usually we think of the Victorian Era as bein’ romantic, maybe the cold had somethin’ to do with the romance. Or maybe nowadays we don’t have ta put up with all the inconveniences those livin’ here in the next to the last century took for granted. I sure wouldn’t relish a trip to the outhouse this time a year.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Workman's Loan

The Super Handyman

by Al Carrell & Kelly Carrell

Dear Al: I'm not much of a repairman but I'll try to fix it if it's broke. I attempted to tackle the washing machine, and the manual said to remove the agitator. The plastic cap that held the agitator in place wouldn't budge. I wrapped a towel around it and went after it with the oil-filter wrench from my truck. Sure enough, it came loose. I used the wrench to tighten the cap back down too, but not as tight as it was before. By the way, I did get the washing machine running again, and it didn't cost me that much moola to do it. Also I learned a few skills for my next home repair.

Wooden steps can double as storage spaces in some cases. By prying up a step and adding hinges to the back of it, you can create some really handy storage for garden hoses, work boots, tools and lots of other things. It's a great idea for the stairs on the deck or patio, or in the basement. In enclosed areas, It works best on the bottom step, so you don't have to worry about your stuff sliding out of reach.

If you're careful, the hinges will hardly be noticeable. No one need know that you've got things stored beneath your stairs.

A SUPER HINT- When you have to remove old wallpaper, try using hot water to soften the old paste. A little liquid dishwashing soap added to the water will help make it "stick" to the wallpaper better. Use a paint roller, sponge, or mop to apply the water.