MGE Reduces Its "Cost of Gas" Rate.

The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request by Missouri Gas Energy to reduce its "cost of gas" rate more than 10 percent.

The new rate of $0.46303 per CCF (100 cubic feet) will take effect on Friday, February 1. The current rate is $0.51682 per CCF.

MGE customers in November and December 2001 received total bills that were about 35% lower than bills received during the same period in 2000. Those reductions reflect a decrease in usage due to warmer weather and lower gas prices.

Mild weather across the country and additional gas in storage on a national level have been credited with helping the wholesale price of gas remain stable this winter.

The company noted that usage and bill amounts are greatly affected by weather and encouraged customers to take appropriate weatherization and conservation steps to help moderate bill amounts.

The cost of gas portion of a consumer bill is the cost of gas purchased on the open market, plus transportation and storage expenses. MGE doesn’t benefit from the price of gas, only on its delivery.

Like most kids of the time, I was always on the lookout for an empty pop bottle along the path. I wasn’t one to collect a case before cashin’ ‘em in. I’d usually trade a bottle or two for some penny candy. When the bounty on bottle raised to two cents, seven of ‘em would buy a bottle of model car paint, and pay the tax.

In the small town I lived in, some stores didn’t carry all the brands on the market. The standard Coke, Pepsi, RC, Nehi, and Sunkist were always good, but some brands could only be cashed in at the grocery in the County Seat, some sixteen miles away. It wasn’t that I minded the walk, but I wasn’t old enough ta cross the street by myself.

I never promoted a game of "spin the bottle." At that age I figured I’d rather have the two cents.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

Turn holiday and all-occasion greeting cards into nifty gift boxes. These easy-to-make boxes are ideal for wrapping flat items such as a handkerchief, photo frame, jewelry, collector’s baseball, football or basketball cards, CDs or a ticket to a movie, concert or play.

It’s especially fun for kids to choose cards to suit the personality of the person receiving the gift. For the romantic, pick a card illustrated with roses or a beautiful country scene. Or, look through your old cards to find one with writing on it to fit the occasion, such as "Happy Birthday to a Special Aunt."

A snowy, wintry scene of the mountains would be a perfect choice if the gift is a lift ticket for a day of skiing!

Here’s how to make a box that is 3/4 inch deep:

Cut a standard-style greeting card along its center fold. The front of the card will be the lid of the box. The back of the card will become the bottom of the box. Trim this piece 1/8 inch on all four sides, since you will want the bottom of the box smaller than the lid. If you wish to cover the verse or message on the inside of the card, glue a piece of construction paper on top.

Start with the top of the box. On the back side of the front of the card, measure and draw (with a pencil) four lines the length and width of the card 3/4 inch from the edges. Follow one of the lines at each corner and use scissors to cut a 3/4-inch slit at each corner. Fold the card along the four lines, bending the corners where you have made the slits. Add a drop of household glue to the corner flaps to hold them in place.

Measure, clip, fold and glue the bottom of the box in the same manner. Let glue dry. Trim a piece of tissue paper and place in the box with the gift. Tie with a ribbon and your gift is ready to give.