Hensley Christmas Grand Marshal.

The annual Carthage Christmas Parade will be led this evening by Grand Marshal Danny Hensley.

"Danny will lead the festive array of bands, horses, twirlers, floats and vintage autos," said Main Street Director Carol Green.

Main Street Carthage and SkillsUSA-VICA are cosponsors of the event. The theme this year is "Unwrap the Spirit of the Season" and is funded in part by a $1,000 grant from the Helen S. Boylan Foundation.

There are scheduled to be 80 entries in the parade competing for several trophies recognizing the best use of lights and the best presentation of the theme for the year.

"Danny’s role as a citizen in Jasper County has helped lighten the load for many area not-for-profits," said Green, "because if you needed him, he’d be there. His love of art and visionary ability helped found and develop the Midwest Gathering of the Artists from a small show and sale into the annual gala that we so proudly celebrate so proudly now."

The parade will circle the Carthage Square and begins at 7 p.m. on Main Street.

 

I just wish I’d had a little more time to adjust to the winter. I knew it would have ta be due anytime, there was just that one more outside project I was tryin’ to get done on Sunday.

I just went inside to get the last equipment when it hit. The thirty degree drop in temperature wasn’t so bad, but the rain pretty well shut me down. If we can just squeak out one more decent weekend I will move inside for the winter. Those "indoor" projects have been pilin’ up durin’ the nice weather.

I will have to re-drain the water hose ‘fore a hard freeze. I had it all tucked away but hooked it back up the other night to spray a cat that had strayed into the yard and drivin’ the dog nuts. It escaped with just a soaked coat, but left the hose filled to the brim. A small price to pay for a tranquil night’s sleep I suppose.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Home Fire Safety

I recently purchased a neat little computer game called "The Sims," in which one guides little computer people through little computerized suburban lives. Unfortunately, I’m not much at computer games, and my first simulated person’s life ended tragically, in a house fire.

"The Sims" doesn’t quite mirror real life, but the fate of my character served to illustrate a real-life danger: house fires.

Winter is probably the most dangerous time of year in regard to house fires. Fireplaces, stoves and heaters all present a risk to homeowners — in fact, kitchen stoves and space heaters cause the greatest number of injuries and deaths each year.

So, it’s important to keep a smoke detector on every level of your home, as well as a fire extinguisher, and to keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from any object that can burn — like blankets, clothing and furniture.

Kidde, a leading maker of fire extinguishers, offers several tips to maximize fire safety at home:

• Test smoke detectors every month. Replace the batteries twice a year, and replace the detector every 10 years.

• Check fire extinguishers monthly. If the pressure is low or the cylinder is damaged or corroded, replace it.

• Have the fireplace and chimney inspected once a year, and cleaned if necessary.

• Check all appliances to make sure they work properly, and inspect electrical cords for signs of fraying or other damage.

• Keep matches and lighters well out of reach of children, and dispose of cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobacco properly.

• Learn to deal with cooking fires correctly. Fire departments and related services often host fire-prevention classes that address these types of fires.

• Create an escape plan and have the entire family practice it once a month. Show everyone the exits nearest each room, and have the family crawl to the exits on hands and knees to stay below smoke. (Have everyone practice this a second time, blindfolded, to illustrate the disorientation smoke and darkness cause.)

Designate a meeting area outside in a safe place, and tell everyone never to go back inside a burning building.