Jr. High Fund Raiser.

The Carthage Jr. High Band will host a Chili Supper and Silent auction Monday November 14 beginning at 5:00 at Fairview Christian Church in Carthage. The program will include chili, salad, desert and a drink accompanied by performances from the Crowder Jazz Orchestra and the CJH band & CJH Jazz band.

The auction will feature packages from Brans, Joyce Meyer autographs, Wheel of Fortune autographs and tickets to a taping of the show (sorry, no airfare), vacation packages to Eureka Springs and many, many more donations from local business who are helping to support the Jr. High band.

Individuals also help support the band while enjoying an evening filled with music, food and a fun auction. Find out more at Cjhs Band Chili Supper/Silent auction on Facebook, or call Elaine at 417-388-3290 or Terri at 417-629-2215.

The Carthage Convention & Visitors Bureau says its website will be live by November 18 and will be an always evolving product to represent Carthage attractions, lodging, dining, shopping and events.

Jasper County Jail Count

184 November 4, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

I still get a big kick outa some of the studies and their conclusions.

I see the other day that some group has spent money figurin’ out that quality day care is somehow related to kids that don’t end up in jail as often. They compared these kids to ones who were visited at least four times a year at home by social workers.

Like all studies, the conclusions are drawn that fit the expectations. I suppose there are some who would conclude that social workers should stop checkin’ on kids. Seems they are the ones that get in trouble more often.

‘Course some common sense would tell ya that kids with any kind of quality care make for more stable adults. Just a guess, but stable adults prob’ly raise more stable kids.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Weekly Column

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Key Snapped Off In Door Lock

Q: A couple of days ago, I was struggling to unlock the deadbolt of the side door on my garage, which tends to stick, when the key actually snapped in half! I can’t reach the part inside the lock because it broke too far inside. I don’t want to spend a lot of money on a locksmith, either. Meantime, I can’t unlock the door. How can I fix this? Do I need to replace the entire deadbolt? -- Jolanda W., Dallas

A: If you’ve already tried to retrieve the broken half of the key with needlenose pliers, a hat pin or thin wire with no success, you can try the desperate measure of dabbing a tiny amount of Superglue onto the half of the key you do have, and carefully inserting it -- without touching the sides -- until the broken halves meet. Let it sit for a few seconds and then carefully try to pull the entire key straight out. If this doesn’t work, you can consider purchasing a key extractor kit, but the ones that are most effective cost as much or more than a locksmith visit

A good locksmith is licensed and bonded, and should provide a written estimate of the type of work to be done and the cost. He or she should offer a couple of options once the key is extracted: either lubricating the existing lock and replacing the key, or replacing the entire deadbolt.

Because your garage deadbolt is a non-emergency, you have an advantage in that you can take your time and contact more than one locksmith for an estimate. Try to get a word-of-mouth recommendation from friends; otherwise, insist on an estimate first, and do not give any locksmith your credit-card information or other payment information ahead of the visit or before work is performed.

HOME TIP: Did moisture inside an exterior or car lock freeze in cold weather? Heat the key for a few seconds and then carefully insert to melt the ice

HOME TIP: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters, causing more than 300 deaths. Stay safe!