Not In My Neighbor's Back Yard.

Nuisance abatement will be a priority for the Carthage Police Department for the next few weeks. Chief Dennis Veach told the Public Safety Committee last week that the annual effort by the department makes a difference. The emphasis on making residents aware of violations is planned to be in conjunction with the city-wide garage sale and City cleanup day.

"We’ve done this for the last two years," said Veach. "Cars, trash, junk - really with a lot of success.

"We divide the city into quadrants, assign each quadrant to a shift and it’s their responsibility to work on that. We’ve had a lot of luck. We get great, great cooperation. I think last year, literally out of hundreds of contacts, we eventually had to summon only two or three people who flat refused, after a month or two, to get rid of the nuisance."

Veach also informed the Committee that randomly scheduled day and night foot patrols on the Square will begin soon.

"Two years ago the Council agreed to give us overtime money to do that," said Veach. "It works very well."

See that Empire is askin’ for a 19% electric rate increase. This comes on the heels of a CW&EP slight rate reduction for power. ‘Course the adjustments to how minimums are charged for businesses has caused some attention. Overall there was an increase in water/wastewater charges. Still, in most cases, the increase was a lot less than Empire is suggestin’. Looks like the local public utility may be savin’ the community a good chunk a change.

Speakin’ a change, ya may have noticed that the trees along the power line routes in town are gettin’ clipped back away from the lines. This has also caused a conversation or two for the folks at the utility. I’m guessin’ anything hangin’ in the right-of-way is fair game.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

Young children are notorious for putting off bedtime. It’s the final ritual of the day: story, chit chat, prayers, hugs and a kiss.

Then, as if on cue, with the click of the "off" switch of the lamp, the drama kicks in. "I need a glass of water; I can’t find my teddy bear; I have to go potty; I’m hungry; my blankets are too hot; my blankets are too cold; will you leave the light on, Mom, pleeeeze?"

Whether it’s anxiety about a new day at pre-school, monsters in the closet, robbers lurking by the window or any other fear, sometimes children need extra comfort to navigate the long night hours.

To help your child put closure on the day, enjoy making this bedtime glowworm together. Because the body of this whimsical bedtime buddy is a flashlight, your child can switch it on anytime to add a soft glow in the room.

With the open end down, stuff a paper lunch bag or a colorful cellophane gift bag with newspaper.

Decorate the bag using odds and ends from your craft box or junk drawer. Make it like a glowworm, firefly or any fanciful creature you wish.

Glue on buttons for eyes and pipe cleaners twisted in the shape of a smile or antennae.

Cut out craft paper in wing shapes and glue to the side folds of the bag. Draw extra features with markers or crayons. Remove the newspaper.

Place a lightweight flashlight on your work table with the head of the flashlight up. As your child holds the flashlight, slip the bag over the top half of the flashlight. Be sure the on/off switch is exposed. Wrap a rubberband or ribbon around the bag to hold it in place. Turn the flashlight on to light-up the glowworm.