Salvation Army's Precious Moments.

In recognition of the Salvation Army and its work, Sam Butcher, creator and artist of Precious Moments, has created the "He Is My Salvation" figurine. The Precious Moments message of loving, caring and sharing is in partnership with the Salvation Army’s efforts on behalf of the less fortunate. The figurine depicts the Salvation Army Christmas kettle worker ringing the legendary golden bell.

A portion of the proceeds of the figurine sales will benefit each Salvation Army in the area which the sale occurs.

"Mr. Butcher remembers the days he worked for $50 a month and had five children to raise," said Larrene Hagaman, executive and personal assistant to Butcher. "They always shopped at the Salvation Army. They got their clothes there."

"We are certainly honored and very thankful that Mr. Butcher has done this to support Salvation Army," said Captain Brian Crampton of the Carthage Salvation Army Corps office. The figurine is available for $45.00 at the Precious Moments Chapel Gift Shoppe and the Carthage Salvation Army office, 145 East Fairview.

10th Annual Christmas Homes Tour.

news release

Expectations are high for a record number of guests to attend Victorian Carthage’s 10th Annual Christmas Homes Tour on Saturday, December 2nd, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $10 each and are available now at Bee’s Old-Fashioned Variety Store, Poor Richard’s, The Lily Pad, Main Street Mercantile, Second Street Gallery and all-Seasons Florist and Bakery Shop, all on or near the Carthage square, and Kendrick Place. Call 417-358-0636 for details.

The tour this year emphasizes historic structures that have been adapted for commercial use, including three bed and breakfasts, plus a 1907 home owned by Harriet Bess Platt, and the magnificent Jasper County Courthouse.

One of the most interesting adaptive use buildings on the tour is the bed and breakfast located in the old Prosperity School at 4788 County Road 200. Built in the heart of the Tri-State mining district in 1907, the red brick school house continuously served students until 1962. It is believed to be the last building standing from the original town of Prosperity. The students never knew the convenience of indoor plumbing and the old outhouses still stand on the northeast corner of the property.

The school house has twice escaped abandonment, once when a local couple bought it and restored the roof, installed a well and septic system and brought water and electricity to the building. Plans to relocate their business there did not materialize, however, and the building stood empty until purchased in 1998 by Pam and Roy Whyte who converted it to a four-guestroom bed and breakfast, plus a parlor, huge dining room and private living quarters. With a quaint nod to its origins, each guest room is identified by the name of a former teacher.

The Platt home is located at 815 S. Grant St. While this turn-of-the-century home was built with all the modern conveniences of the time — electricity, plumbing, and furnace-type heating — it also had gas heating and individual heaters in most rooms, in case those new-fangled gadgets didn’t work.

Harriett Platt’s husband’s family was a co-founder of Leggett & Platt. She later married Frank B. Williams, the brother of H.E. Williams, founder of H. E. Williams Lighting Co.

The original fireplace, mantel and wood floors and the original bannisters and hand rails on the front stairway remain, as does the laundry chute which goes from the second floor to the basement. All rooms still serve their original purpose except for the back porch on the first floor that has been converted to a bathroom. A second floor porch is a future project for owners Don and Linda Lambeth who purchased the home in 1998 and single-handedly renovated it inside and out in the last couple years.

The White Rose Bed and Breakfast built in 1900 of Carthage marble sits on a 10-acre knoll overlooking the city. The property at 13001 Journey Rd. originally was part of a 1,000-acre dairy farm. The home is enhanced with a large front stone portico, and the interior is decorated with fine antiques from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. A period chandelier graces the foyer and a rare white Italian marble fireplace echoes the white carpeting in the living room. High ceilings, beautiful wainscoting and period wallpaper add to the Irish estate atmosphere that the owners, Jim & Jan O’Haro, strive to convey,

The Leggett House Bed and Breakfast, 1106 Grand Ave., was built by Joseph Palmer Leggett in 1905, also of Carthage marble. It has been a popular bed and breakfast destination for several years. Located in the heart of the city, Leggett House boasts intricate carved woodwork, an indoor fountain in a conservatory, beautiful marble fireplaces, original mouldings and leaded cut glass windows. Each of the five upstairs bedrooms is trimmed with a different species of wood: cherry, walnut, oak, pine, and bird’s eye maple. Owned by Mike and Bonnie Melvin, the home features many original lighting fixtures and chandelier.

Although not a historic structure, the Harmony Heights Bed and Breakfast, 4924 Deer Run Loop, is built in similar fashion to the log cabins that served most of the pioneers that settled Jasper County in the early 1800’s. The cabin features a rustic front porch, a combination living/kitchen space, and a sleeping loft that is reached by a built-in wooden ladder. Antiques and several animal head mounts decorate the interior. The cabin’s owners, Chad and Brenda Johnson, built the cabin in 1997 to live in until their home was completed. It sits on the bank of Center Creek and features a dock for fishing or swimming.

Also on the tour is the first floor of the magnificent Jasper County Courthouse featuring artist Lowell Davis’s huge wall mural that chronicles the county’s history. Jasper County Clerk Jim Lobbey and his wife Chris, in the role of the infamous Belle Starr, will be on hand with interesting tales of Carthage’s role in the Civil War, and the building of the Romanesque Revival courthouse in 1904.

And finally, pre-Civil War Kendrick House, headquarters for Victorian Carthage, will host a Christmas bazaar with items ranging from Amish baked goods to candlewick quilting, homemade fudge and handmade Civil War clothing from Callie Brinton. The "Humming Hens" crafts class will offer a variety of Christmas gift items, both edible and wearable, in addition to raffling three signed pieces of Linda Baldwin’s "Belsnickles."

Topping off the bazaar will be the Twinkins Candles booth and Carolyn Erwin’s "Santa’s Closet" which spills out an abundance of beautiful holiday decorations.

As an added attraction, homes tour ticket holders are entitled to a 10 percent discount on the day of the tour at Bee’s Old Fashioned Variety and Ben Franklin Store, The Lily Pad, Main Street Mercantile, All Occasions Florist & Bakery, and Poor Richards.

Call Leann at 417-358-0636 or Jo at 417-358-9163 for more information.

This is the time a year when all those pennies ya paid in sales tax start ta be counted up for the year end totals. This is when the old "shop at home" sayin’ really starts ta make some sense for ever’one.

Since close to a fourth of the City’s income comes from sales tax, it is a critical component of the annual budget. Jasper County is even more dependent on Sales tax. Around 40% of the general revenue comes from that source, and close to $3 million that goes to keep the County roads up to par.

Due to the volatile nature of that income stream, countin’ on sales tax is a little risky. The up side of course is that folks livin’ outside of the particular area help support the local government when they do their shoppin.’ Spendin’ all you can locally helps ta maintain the quality of life we’ve grown accustom to.

This is some fact,
but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

 

by

. . .

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Sponsored by Metcalf Auto Supply

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am currently stationed on Suwon R.O.K. Airbase, Korea. I purchased a beater, or "hoopdee," as many of us in the military do. It ran great for two and a half months, until a lieutenant borrowed my car. When he returned it ran on only two cylinders.

I immediately changed the spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, all to no avail. The car does not overheat, so I did not suspect a blown head gasket.

All the spark plugs fire, but it still only runs on cylinders one and four. I drove it to Osan Airbase car care center, and they say that it needs a head and valve job. The car is a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron turbo. Please give me some advice.

-Dan (Captain, U.S. Army)

RAY: I advise you not to lend your car to anymore of those lowly lieutenants, Dan.

TOM: When you have two adjacent cylinders (two and three) that aren’t firing, that almost always means that the head gasket has been blown between those two cylinders. That’s a classic symptom.

RAY: So you probably need a head gasket, and you need to have the head machined. And that’s not cheap. How much is it?

TOM: Well, it depends. Are you paying in South Korean won or U.S. dollars?

RAY: In U.S. dollars it would cost you between $500 and $1,000 retail.

TOM: But you don’t have to pay retail, Dan. Remember, you’re a captain! So I’d pull rank on the guy who borrowed your car. Tell Lieutenant Leadfoot that once he finishes latrine duty, he can start practicing his head-gasket-changing-skills... "on that ’86 LeBaron, soldier!"

Natural Nutrition

by Mari An Willis

Sponsored by Oak Street health & herbs

Stress. This is the season for it. The following are a few herbs which have been used to keep the nervous systems strong.

Skullcap: is one of the bitter herbs. It has compounds that have sedative effects and relieve muscle spasms. This herb is useful in calming the nervous and circulatory systems. It is also a source of bioflavoloids. Traditional usage of this herb has been to treat insomnia, anxiety, headache, enuresis and muscle twitching. I find this herb very beneficial when I am stressed, but must keep going. It takes the edge off!

Hops: are also a bitter herb. Do not think of hops as only good in or for making beer. It has been used by folk herbalists to relieve muscles tension and as an antiseptic for the urinary tract. Some say that it relieves the pain of spastic colon.

Valerian: has been used to decrease anxiety and aggression. It has a smell which is quite unpleasant. but the benefits far exceed the obnoxious odor. Valerian is high in natural calcium and magnesium. It has been used to treat nervousness, anxiety, muscle spasms, and aid in sleep. This herb is not a good herb to give to children. Continued use of this product may cause mild depression so it should be alternated with other nervines.

Passion flower: In France, this herb has been used to calm children. It is a mild nervine and is said to help one focus attention. It tastes rather good and when it is combined with chamomile makes a nice bedtime tea.

Source: Today’s Herbal Health and Nutrition Herbology Vol. II