Puppy Mill Petition.

The Carthage Humane Society will hold an Informational and Petition Signing Party Thursday, April 8th from 3:30 to 6:30 pm at the Carthage Humane Society.

Voter initiative 273.345 is an effort to insure the humane treatment of DOGS in large-scale breeding operations, also known as "puppy mills". If supporters can gather enough registered voter signatures before April 27th, this measure will be placed on the Missouri ballot in November, 2010.

Carthage Humane Society supports this initiative. They invite the public to the Informational and Petition Signing Party. There will be some of the victims of the puppy mills at the shelter. The petition will be available so that voters can read the exact wording of the initiative as it will appear on the ballot.

Initiative supporters will be onsite to discuss the initiative. Also, opposing arguments will be discussed.

The Society is located just south of Carthage on 71, east of the Highway Patrol Station. Take the Cedar Road exit. Call for more detailed directions @ 417-358-6402.

I’ve always heard you should pick your battles. Not take on just anything that comes along ‘cause battlin’ takes a lot of time an energy. The problem is the fewer battles ya take on, the fewer ya wanna pick. After a while it’s just easier ta not pick any.

‘Course, as a friend a mine used to like ta say, "Who gives a rip about apathy?"

There is little doubt that there are things worth stickin’ your neck out for, but mostly it’s committin’ the time and energy necessary to get something worthwhile accomplished. The other thing necessary is to utilize all the tools available to complete the task. Not goin’ at it half hearted. It’s easy to sit around and jabber about somethin’, ‘nother thing to actually get off the porch and get after it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin.’

---

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Woodworking 101

Q: I’ve been getting more and more interested in learning woodworking -- basic stuff, like how to build shelves and small useful items around the house. Where’s a good place to start? What tools should I be looking for? -- Jared H., Seattle

A: For those with no experience, I’d recommend looking for a woodworking class offered in your area. These are typically offered at adult learning centers, community colleges, even churches. Woodworking or woodcraft stores also offer introductory classes. You’ll probably pay about the same tuition for any of these offerings -- usually more than $100 for a course lasting two or more weeks -- plus materials fees. And an array of tools are typically provided for students to use.

Once you’ve gotten familiar with the basics of woodworking, the type of tools you purchase is up to you. A friend of mine has slowly added an array of power tools and a table saw to his basement workshop, with more equipment planned as his wallet allows.

Building shelves, cabinets and other household items yourself can save quite a lot in labor costs, money you can put toward better-quality materials or other home improvements. And it’s a skill that I think is fading as progress marches on.

My friend the woodworker has been at it only a year or so, but he’s already driving his wife nuts by adding custom shelving to every open nook in their home. Some of it -- like the shelves under the basement stairs -- are quite basic, pine shelving, but in the living areas of the house he’s using hardwoods to match the original oak, maple and cherry. He most recently built a swinging, latchable gate for the top of the stairway, a beautiful and more secure protective measure than a plastic baby gate.