Declaration of Candidacy.

The opening day to file for Jasper County candidacy is Tuesday, February 24th. This year’s filing is being held on a first come first serve basis for ballot placement. The last election used a lottery system in which names were drawn for placement on the ballot.

Jasper County Clerk Ron Mosbaugh announced at the last County Commissions meeting that there will be a tent on the Courthouse lawn for candidates. It is presumed that some candidates will camp out in order to the first in line. The use of the tent was donated by Coglizer of Joplin.

This year there are eight positions open for election, Jasper County Sheriff, Circuit Judge- Division II, County Assessor, Treasurer, Public Administrator, County Coroner and Eastern and Western District County Commissioners.

The election for these County Seats will be April 6th as part of the general election. The City Council seats and the Carthage R-9 School Board seats will also be voted on in the general election.

The date of March 10th is the final day to register to vote in that election.

I still can’t out guess the coffee maker.

As fast as today’s drip pots are, the first pot a coffee never gets done fast enough. I am typically standin’ with a cup in hand waitin’ for the drip process (although I would argue that a perked cup tastes better) to run its course.

I wait ‘till the drip ceases, remove the pot to pour a cup, and the maker spews a last shot of coffee all over the counter.

It usually makes that growlin’ noise right after the liquid hits the hot plate, like it had held the fluid as long as possible.

There are reasonable solutions to this almost daily confrontation I’m sure. But the use of large hammers and other implements of destruction in the kitchen is frowned upon in my household.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Faulty Light Fixture

Q: My main bathroom light has been out for about a week now. I’ve changed bulbs twice with no results. What’s wrong with it? — Joseph W., Wytheville, Va.

A: Sounds like a problem with either the wall switch or the light bulb socket. Either can wear out and fail after years of use. If you’ve changed the bulb and checked the main circuit breaker, then those two possibilities need to be addressed.

Here’s a list of items to have on hand for minor electrical repairs. A combination tool is great for cutting and stripping cables and wires. Needle-nose pliers are essential to shape wires. Fuse pullers save your fingernails when removing cartridge-type fuses, and cable rippers will easily remove the outer sheath of nonmetallic cable. Insulated screwdrivers reduce the risk of electric shock. And in all repairs, keep two critical items nearby: a neon circuit tester and a continuity tester.

The circuit tester checks circuit wires for power, so you’ll know whether wires you’re about to touch are still live (and dangerous). A continuity tester generates its own current, using a battery and a wire loop, allowing you to safely check electrical items for faulty circuits. Always shut off power to a circuit before using a continuity tester.

To repair the bathroom light, check the wall switch first. Shut off power to the switch at the main panel. Remove the switch’s cover plate and carefully pull the entire switch from the wall box without touching any wires or screws. Use the neon circuit tester to check for power by touching one probe to the grounded metal box (or the bare copper grounding wire, if one is in there) and then touching the other probe to each screw terminal. If the tester glows, the circuit is still live; don’t do any work until the circuit is off. Once the circuit is off, use an insulated screwdriver to loosen the screws and disconnect the black and white wires.

Test the switch, using the continuity tester. Clip the wire loop to one screw terminal and touch the needle end of the tester to the other terminal. If the tester glows, the switch is working fine; reconnect the terminal wires (don’t overtighten the screws), and reinstall the switch. If the tester doesn’t glow, replace the switch.