Civil War Reenactment.

The Battle of Carthage reenactment will take place Saturday, May 3 and Sunday May 4. Two battles will be fought to recreate the 1861 Battle of Carthage, the first major land battle of the Civil War. The battles will feature skilled reenactor hobbyists and living historians portraying infantry, artillery and calvary. The battles will be real, real troops maneuvering, real horses and mules, real cannon and weapons and realistic gun fire and pyrotechnics. It’s a piece of history you will remember for the rest of your life.

Campsites are open to the public during the day to encourage interaction with our many living historians: the soldiers, as well as civilians, doctors, merchants and others.

There are many exciting activities planed, including a cavalry obstacle course, medical demonstrations, a lecture on mourning customs and clothing, a Sunday morning church service, a ladies tea with live musicians, a Saturday evening dance featuring Turkey in the Straw and a Carthage Community band concert.

There is an on-sight snack bar and special children’s activities in the side arena.

Voluntary donations of 5 dollars per spectator or 10 per family are encouraged to help fund the purchase of battlefield park land.

The event is sponsored by Battle of Carthage, Inc., a nonprofit corporation and generously funded by the Kent D. Steadly & Mary L. Steadly Memorial Trust; Leggett & Platt, Incorporated; Shook, Hardy & Bacon Law Firm; Ruth I. Kolpin foundation; and Carthage Convention & Visitors Bureau.

I pulled out my skate board to show the grandkids last weekend. Didn’t give any demonstrations on how ta ride one, just observations on skateboardin’ in the late 50’s.

My little piece of plywood with half a roller skate bolted on each end didn’t compare much to the boy’s new streamlined model.

What was a little amazin’ was the little change that has taken place in the basic design of a skate board over the last fifty years or so. Still four wheels and a board.

I’m guessin’ that fallin’ off one of the contraptions hasn’t changed much either. The main difference there is probl’y the fact that we never wore protective head gear or those fancy knee pads. Back then we were pioneers. Still have the scars ta prove it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Q: While doing a quick check (from beneath) of the rain gutters, I noticed a huge buildup of leaves and sticks just above one of the downspouts. The gutter is also dented outward where the buildup is located. How did this happen? Is it some sort of nest? How can I fix this permanently? — Taylor G., Cincinnati

A: The type of debris buildup and damage to the gutter you describe can happen after a long winter. Leaves, twigs, moss and such tend to fill rain gutters year-round, but in the fall and winter the amount of debris can really become a problem. Falling leaves create a dense cover inside the gutters, blocking the free flow of water and small debris toward the downspouts. If these aren’t cleared before winter’s rain and snow arrive, the decaying mass of wet leaves and twigs continues to build and eventually forms large dams of the sort you discovered.

Snow and ice piling up on these dams puts extra weight on the metal or vinyl gutters, and they can easily warp, bend and dent. The gutter’s attachments can break away from the roof as well, taking down part of this critical drainage system. In addition, there are animals that build nests in the gutters, including birds and squirrels.

So, cleaning out the gutters twice a year is important. Clear them in the fall, ideally after most leaves have fallen, to prevent ice dams, and in the spring, to clear away debris that fell throughout the winter and make repairs.

As soon as possible, get a sturdy ladder, gloves and a small bucket and clean all the gunk out of your gutters. Work your way around the edge of the roof, scooping out debris and tossing them to the ground below. Have someone rake away the debris as they fall. Using the bucket (or a garden hose), rinse the gutters and downspout.

If the metal isn’t torn or punctured at the dent, the damaged gutter section may be repaired. Bend it back into place and patch the dinged area with a compound manufactured specifically for metal gutters. If you have a vinyl gutter, it should bounce back into place once the dam is removed, but if the material is torn, then you must replace that section. Cleaning the gutters twice yearly isn’t the only way to protect them from this type of damage. A mesh cover is available that allows water and small debris in, but prevents leaves, twigs and small creatures from entering the gutter system.