United Way Reaches Goal.

The Carthage Area United Way announces the completion of a very successful campaign raising over $275,000.00.

Final results will be announced at their Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon to be held at noon, Thursday, January 23 at the Leggett & Platt Cornell Conference Center.

Volunteers who helped make the campaign a success will be recognized with awards presented to the companies reaching specific levels of giving.

Carthage Area United Way agencies supported by the campaign are the American Red Cross, Southwest Missouri Chapter; Boy Scouts of America, Ozark Trails Council; Carthage Crisis Center; Carthage Crosslines Ministry; Carthage Development Center; Children’s Mercy Hospital; Citizen’s Advisory Board to Probation and Parole; Community Clinic of Carthage; Family Literacy Council; Girl Scout Council of the Ozark Area; Jasper County 4-H; Lafayette House; Missouri Special Olympics; Ozark Camp Quality; The Salvation Army; Southwest Missouri Arthritis Association, Inc., and Sunshine Home, Inc.

The window of opportunity to file for City Council is closin’ on the 24th of January. So far only three candidates have filed.

Donnie Wells of the Second Ward and Jim Woestman of the Fifth Ward have filed for reelection. Ron Ferguson of the Fourth Ward filed for the one year term of the vacated seat of Jim McPheeters early, but has now withdrawn from that race and filed for Bill Putnam’s two year position in the same ward. Speculation is that Putnam may file for the one year position, but he has not filed for either at this time.

First Ward member Chuck Tobrock and Third Ward member J.D. Whitledge had not filed as of last Thursday and there were no contested races.

To file ya need twenty-five bucks or twenty-five signatures from your ward.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Thawing Frozen Pipes

Q: You printed advice on preventing frozen pipes, but what if the worst happens, anyway? How can I unfreeze pipes? — Damon C., Buffalo

A: You’re right — even the best-prepared homeowner may deal with frozen pipes this winter, especially if temperatures dip below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Pipes most likely to be affected are those closest to the outside walls of the house, where insulation is minimal (and sometimes nonexistent).

Prevention includes wrapping at-risk pipes in foam insulation (available at home-improvement stores), shutting off water to outside faucets and taking measures the night of a hard freeze, like letting the cold-water taps drip and opening the heat registers in closed-off rooms.

Check frequently for signs that a pipe may have frozen: if the cold-water tap won’t turn on, for example. Visually inspect as much of the system as possible, looking for condensation or frost on any section of pipe. If everything looks OK, run your hand along the line, feeling for noticeably colder sections (don’t do this in an exposed area if temperatures are well below zero).

If a pipe has frozen, take action immediately. Frozen water will expand inside the pipe and cause it to burst, leading to serious problems. Locate the pipe using the methods above and determine the length of the frozen section.

An excellent product for thawing pipes is electric heating tape, available at your hardware store. Wrap it around the pipe so that its edges overlap and plug it in. This provides a steady temperature. However, if the pipe is located too far away from an outlet, if ground water makes running an electrical cord to the pipe dangerous or if you didn’t have time to purchase electric tape beforehand, go with a tried-and-true method. Soak a thick towel in boiling water and wrap it around the frozen section of pipe (duct tape it in place if need be). Pour near-boiling water over the towel evenly until the pipe thaws.

A hair dryer is another expedient method of thawing the pipe, though it takes more time. Be aware of electrical hazards in the area, like standing water. And, if you’re handy with a propane torch, place a flame-spreader attachment on the nozzle and sweep the torch back and forth across the pipe without stopping.