Absentee Interest.

As of noon yesterday, over 350 absentee ballots had been cast for the special election for Jasper County Sheriff. Candidates for next Tuesday’s race include Republican Greg Dagnan, Democrat J.D. Love, and Independent Archie Dunn.

The cost of a single issue special election will be reduced somewhat by combining City ward polling places throughout the county.

Carthage precincts 1 & 2 of Ward 1 will vote at the Grace Episcopal Church. Both precincts of Ward 2 will vote at Memorial Hall. Ward 3’s two precincts will vote at the Carthage Fire Department. Ward 4 voters of both precincts will vote at Fairview Elementary School. The two precincts of Ward 5 will vote at Fairview Christian Church.

The special election was called after former Sheriff Bill Pierce resigned.

Dagnan is the won the Republican nomination that was ultimately decided between him and current interim sheriff Archie Dunn. Dunn then submitted over 800 signatures to be placed on the ballot as an independent. J.D. Love is the current County Coroner and a retired Joplin police officer.

Gotta match?

It’s gettin’ more difficult these days to find a free match book anywhere.

Used ta be you could pick up a book a advertising matches at a variety of businesses. With the disposable lighters and the decline of smokers, now few baskets of matches can be found on counters.

I’m wonderin’ what the match makers are doin’ these days.

The other match ya can’t find is one you can "strike anywhere." The new box matches ya buy have ta be ignited on the special box striker. No more swishin’ ‘em on the pant leg or poppin’ ‘em with a thumb nail to get a light.

I suppose it’s a safety thing. Like my grandmother used ta say, "Let ‘em get burnt once, they’ll know better next time."

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

HERE’S A TIP

By JoAnn Derson

• On a diet? Make sure to check the nutrition labels on ground turkey and ground chicken. If you are trying to cut calories and fat by substituting these white meats for red, you might be shocked to learn that they aren’t always less fattening.

• "I wash my couch pillow covers every season or so, since I have pets that leave hair and dirt on the couch. One thing I always do is put them back on the pillows when they are mostly dry, but still a little bit wet. That way, they still fit. I had a terrible time a few years ago when I let them dry all the way and couldn’t get them back on!" — Helen P. of Tucson, Ariz.

• "The sticky residue from price tags can be really annoying. I use WD-40 to get it off. Works every time for me!" — J.K. via e-mail

• "Whenever I get new e-mail addresses, I always add them to my online address book.

"But, I also write them in my old-fashioned paper address book. Sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many people rely on their e-mail address book to remember all those addresses. It just takes one time for a computer virus to erase everything — not to mention if something happens to your hard drive. Just a reminder!" — Bill R. from Pittsburgh

• "I’m sure you have heard this one before, but peanut butter really does get bubble gum (and other gummy stuff) out of your hair." — A mother in Rhode Island

• "I know the summer is almost over, but down here in the South, we serve iced tea all the time anyway. To make sure that your ice tea doesn’t get watered down with ice, try making the cubes out of tea. Also, for those who like coffee fresh but not so hot, you can make a small tray of cubes out of coffee to cool your morning cup." — Scott D. of Wedowee, Ala.