Flu Shots Available.

The Jasper County Health Department will be offering flu and pneumonia vaccinations by appointment for Jasper County residents residing outside the city limits of Joplin. The cost for the adult vaccination for flu is $12 and for pneumonia is $22. Those on Medicare or Medicaid should bring their card to their immunization appointment.

Those at highest risk for complications from influenza include people 65 years old and older, those with chronic, long-term health problems such as heart or lung disease, kidney problems, diabetes, asthma, anemia, HIV/AIDS or any other illness that suppress the immune system.

The Health Department recommends vaccination for people age 50 to 64 years because this group has an increased prevalence among those with high risk conditions. The adult flu vaccination is for those individuals 9 years or older.

The Jasper County Health Department will offer flu vaccination to those children who meet the Vaccines for Children qualifications.

Call for appointments and scheduled clinics. 358-3111

I’m seein’ some ads for the Sheriff election tomorrow, but not the number usually associated with a normal election. And, as a reminder, be sure to get out and vote for your choice.

Remember they have reduced the number of pollin’ places in the County. They say they are goin’ to put up signs at the places that are not bein’ used with instructions where ya need ta be. So if ya forget and show up at the wrong place, you can still make it to the polls.

As with all elections, votin’ gives ya gripin’ rights, so protect yourself for future reference.

I’m goin’ really out on a limb and sayin’ the Republican candidate will be tough ta beat, but in a three way race, your vote could still make a difference.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Carpet Bubbles

Q: Our 9-year-old house sits on a concrete slab. We recently had our carpet cleaned (wet process), and now have some raised spots, like bubbles, in the carpet. Is there a way to inject some type of adhesive through the carpet to get these small areas flat again? — Jim H., via e-mail

A: Your carpet was stretched and loosened by the wet-process cleaning, but injecting adhesive into the "bubble" areas will only worsen the problem.

What occurred with your carpet is not so much caused by the concrete slab (as at least one layer of underlayment sits between the slab and the carpet) as by the way the carpet is anchored. The carpet backing may be glued to the underlayment, but more likely the carpet is anchored around the perimeter of the room. To see if this is so, gently pry up a corner of the carpet. If you see a flat strip of wood with one or two rows of small metal pins jutting upward, then the carpet is held in place around the perimeter.

The first thing I’d recommend is to call the cleaning company and explain the problem. Stretched or loosened carpet is not uncommon following deep-cleaning processes, and professional cleaners do have means to address the problem.

If for whatever reason the cleaners don’t come out to fix these "bubbles," you can make the repair yourself. Call a carpet distributor or rental center and ask for a "knee kicker," a device designed just for this problem. This is a solid, heavy tool featuring a flat head with adjustable prongs on the bottom, and a long metal extension at the end of which a rubber pad is attached.

Adjust the height of the prongs using the knob on the head of the kicker. The prongs should be long enough to grab the carpet without penetrating through to the padding (which should not be stretched). Start from a corner of the room where the carpet is firmly attached, about two inches from the wall. Press the kicker prongs into the carpet and then thrust your knee against the pad at the other end of the kicker. (See? Knee ... kicker ...) After a couple of kicks, tuck the edge of the carpet between the baseboard and the wood anchor strip, using a putty knife. If the carpet is still loose, repeat the kicker treatment. If the carpet edge can no longer be tucked neatly in, trim it with a utility knife, restretch the carpet and tuck it in.