Balloting was completed on January 23, 2003 to elect members to the Jasper County Extension Council.

Newly elected members are: Sheila Fletcher, Margaret Hartman, Steve and Barbara Hunter, Dale and Beverly Mermoud, Dan Mortimer, Marthalee Sapp, and Bill and Benita Shields.

These members will serve two year terms and join the following hold-over members: Jack and Nell Marie Brooks, Peter and Debbie Carter, Leesa Robinson, Wayne and Mary Lou Roffman, Dorothy Shull, and Fred and Terri Whitehead.

Currently, the appointed members to the council are: Jim Honey (County Commission), and Jerry Edwards (MFA).

The council has four major responsibilities. They are:

(1) to advise the University of Missouri on needed extension educational programs, (2) approve the extension staff housed in Jasper County, (3) arrange for financing the Jasper County Extension Center and, (4) hold elections to perpetuate the Council.

I’ve always liked functional things. Things that do the job they’re supposed ta do and not let ya down.

A claw hammer is a functional thing. Contrary to popular belief, its main purpose is to remove nails. Sure you can drive nails with it, but what use would it be if it wasn’t able to fix all those mistakes bein’ made across the country. If folks didn’t bend nails and pound ‘em in the wrong places pretty often, there wouldn’t be a need for a claw.

That also tells ya that the claw hammer is honest. It knows what it’s made for and doesn’t try ta hide it.

It’s not like one a those little tack hammers with the screw drivers in the end. Now the hammer has a function. It keeps all those drivers where ya know where they are.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

YOUR AMERICA

By Amy Anderson

Festival of Camellias

During the entire month of February, you can help celebrate this fragrant and colorful flower in Fort Valley, Ga. With 10 acres of blooms, Fort Valley’s Massee Lane Gardens have the world’s largest display of Boehm porcelains — a wonderful sight to behold. Check the Web site www.camellias-acs.org or call (478) 967-2358 for information on dates and times of special events at the gardens — fashion shows, Old South days, senior citizen days and more. There is a $5 admission fee, and parking is free.

Groundhog Day Celebration

There is only one spot to vacation on Feb. 2, and that’s Punxsutawney, Pa. Yep, it’s hands-down the best Groundhog Day celebration you’ll find, and Punxsutawney Phil is one fine, furry weatherhog. The folks in Punxsutawney are lots of fun, so check out the Web site www.groundhog.org or call (814) 938-7700 for more details on events to happen all weekend long and all over town.

Fire and Ice Winter Festival

Aurora, Colo., hosts the Fire and Ice Winter Festival at the Aurora Reservoir on Feb. 8. The folks there expect more than 8,000 visitors to their fest, whose events include a polar plunge, hay rides, bonfires, a chili cook-off, live music and more. There’s free admission, parking and a shuttle service. Check out www.auroraevents.org or call (303) 739-1990 for more details.

Sleigh Ride Weekend

Billings Farm of Woodstock, Vt., features a fun-filled weekend of old-fashioned sleigh rides to fill the heart with joy for the waning winter. Perhaps this would be a lovely place to bring your loved one for Valentine’s Day, as the rides will be held the weekend of Feb. 15-17. Events begin at 3 p.m. at the farm, which is located at Route 12 and River Road. Call (802) 457-2355 for reservations or log on to www.billingsfarm.org for more information.

Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day falls on Friday, Feb. 14, and Presidents’ Day is celebrated on Monday, Feb. 17. February is also famous for Polar Plunges, a celebration in which people, for very little reason at all, jump into viciously cold bodies of water — mostly for charity or tradition, but sometimes just for the thrill of it. If you are near a body of water that’s cold and you are in need of a brisk dip, try shouting for all you are worth and jumping in — it’s quite a rush. Happy February!