Mornin' Mail

The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Monday, August 30, 2004 Volume XIII, Number 51

Did Ya Know?. . . August 30 at 10 a.m. a ribbon cutting will be held for the C.A.N. D.O. Senior Center (formerly the Over 60 Center) by Carthage Chamber of Commerce. For more information call the Chamber of Commerce at 358-2373.

Did Ya Know... Your local Cub Scout Pack 9 will start its year with a Pack Meeting August 30, 7:00 p.m., First United Methodist Church. Contact Cubmaster Larry Newman 358-0602 for further information.

Did Ya Know?. . .Fair Acres Family YMCA will be taking registrations for Flag Football First through Fourth grades through September 3. All Games on Saturdays.

Did Ya Know?. . .The City of Carthage will be spraying for mosquitoes next week, Monday through Friday, August 30th through September 3rd. Your area will be sprayed in the evening of your trash pick-up day, between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.. You might want to turn off your attic or window fans when the sprayer is in your immediate area.

today's laugh

First friend: "I played golf the other day with a group of guys who were so old..."
Second friend: How old were they?"
First friend: "They were so old that when I talked about grip, they thought I was talking about dentures.

Prosperity - The sweet buy and buy.

1904
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

USE AND ABUSE OF GASOLINE.

Some Good Advice Regarding Its Use - How to Handle It.

With the oncoming of warm weather and the more general use of the gasoline stove in cooking, the list of gasoline victims, rarely entirely absent from the papers, will grow longer.

The gasoline stove affords such a cheap and convenient mode of cooling that many thousands of families use it from either choice or necessity.

Almost every one can remember among his immediate acquaintances several victims of the gasoline stove and the aggregate for the whole country is appalling.

Even if one’s own family has not furnished a victim, it is distressing to think how many other happy homes have been saddened by a domestic tragedy of this kind.

And the most distressing feature is that nearly all the accidents from the use of gasoline are the result of pure carelessness.

Few realize till too late how risky it is to handle so carelessly this useful but highly dangerous substance. Gasoline is the first product thrown off when crude petroleum is refined. It is highly volatile and therefore highly explosive.

When even small quantities explode, especially in a close room, the explosive power is terrific. Moreover, it is almost as "quick as lightning."

When handled in a proper manner, however, there is very little danger in the use of even this high explosive for cooking, as many families who have used it for years can testify.

Any dealer in stoves or gasoline can give directions which, if faithfully followed, will make accidents very infrequent, but the great trouble is that people become careless and disregard these instructions.

Today's Feature

Chamber Co-Hosts Forum.

News Release

The Carthage Chamber of Commerce, along with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, will co-host an Economic Growth Forum to be held on Wednesday, September 1 at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce (320 East Fourth Street, Joplin). The two-hour informational event will begin at 4:30PM with a formal presentation followed by a question and answer session at 5:30AM. There is no cost, however, reservations are required.

The forum will provide attendees an insight into the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its federally-funded resource partners that are operational in the area. Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, Missouri Southern State University’s Small Business Development Center, and Rural Missouri (a Certified Development Company serving Southwest Missouri) will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.

"This seminar is an excellent and convenient opportunity for local businesses to see what resources and services are available as their business grows and expands," said Max McKnight, Carthage Chamber President. "Though most of the organizations represented have a local or regional office, having them all available in one setting will better suit the time demands of small business."

For more information or to make reservations, call the Carthage Chamber at (417) 358-2373 or the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce at (417) 624-1996.

Just Jake Talkin'

Mornin'

I don’t know ‘bout most folks, but my trash isn’t out at the curb by 6:30 in the mornin’. I’ve always been reluctant to put the trash out the night before due to varments.

Although loose dogs are minimal, even cats are capable of gettin’ a trash can down. It’s not that unusual to see a raccoon or two in the neighborhood from time to time. It has just always made sense to put the trash out in the mornin’ before the collector gets there.

This issue is a matter of convenience. A convenience for the trash contractor, and an inconvenience for the rest of us. I figure we’re payin’ a fair rate for the service and would like to see it continue as usual.

Now if we were lookin’ at a reduced rate, that might be a real convenience for all of us.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Sponsored

Carthage Printing

Weekly Column

THIS IS A HAMMER

by Samantha Mazzotta

A New - and Unusual - Solution to Rats

Today’s tip is from Wes M. of Huntsville, Texas. His solution to rodent infestation was unique, and I thought it was worth printing:

"I am a former maintenance/construction supervisor with the Texas state prison system, and have seen what I believe is the best rat/mouse trap ever. It’s simple to make, but deadly to rats and mice. I am passing this on as a tip for those who may have a rodent problem outside their home or barn.

"First, get a 33 gallon or larger garbage can (metal or plastic), a 1-by-4 board measuring 4 to 5 feet long or longer, and a couple of packages of heat-and-serve yeast rolls. Fill the garbage can half-full with water, then take the yeast rolls and float them on the water in the can. Prop up the board so that the rats have a way to get to that wonderfully enticing yeast smell. The soggy bread rolls won’t support the weight of the rat, and hence they will drown, unable to swim forever or jump out.

"The first time we used this, we got 17 rats the first night and six more the next, along with about a dozen mice. Within a week there were no more rats found. The key element, I believe, is the smell of yeast. You could smell that trap 20 feet before you got to it, and it smelled just like fresh-baked yeast rolls — a smell that rats will die for."