Today's Feature

Undercover Operation.

Carthage Police Strikes Against Meth Use.

Police Chief Dennis Veach reported at the Public Safety Committee meeting on Monday evening that the Carthage Police Department had been working on an undercover operation since approximately January of this year.

The operation is headed by Detective Randy Kaiser who has been assigned to the Jasper County Task Force. Veach said that the operation had currently resulted in the 15 arrests. All of the arrests were for the sale of narcotics. One arrest was for the sale of Oxycontin, a high powered painkiller, but the remaining 14 arrests were for the sale of methamphetamines. Veach said he considered the operation successful as of this point, and that the Police Department will continue its efforts.

"There will be more arrests," said Veach about the department’s future plans.

The Police Chief also informed the committee that two-thirds of the arrests were made at the same apartment complex at the corner of Kimberly and Robin Lane. Veach said that for each arrest that is made, he sends a letter to the owner of the property informing them that if the Police Department has to go back to the same building a second time the prosecutor can file a civil case in court against the property owner that could result in the dwelling being shut down for one year. Veach added that the letters don’t tell the owner what to do but most often result in evictions.

I may be givin’ away a big secret, but with the cost of corn chips nowadays, I figure ever’one oughtta at least know how ta make a corn chip in a pinch.

Back ‘fore corn chips were such a big deal, I was taught this secret by a friend a mine that ran a Mexican food joint. They always made their own chips, put ‘em in bags and sold ‘em. Even then, folks’d pay good money for a decent corn chip.

What ya do is buy a bag of corn tortillas, the soft ones ya make tacos with, and cut ‘em into little triangles. Drop ‘em in a deep fat fryer and let ‘em cook for a couple a minutes and pull ‘em out and salt ‘em ta taste.

When I see bags of chips goin’ for three or four bucks a pound, I can’t help but wonder. ‘Course folks been payin’ more than that for taters sliced up in a bag a long time too. Chips, you know.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin.

• "When doing laundry, before I throw away a used dryer sheet, I use it to clean the lint trap/screen. It’s much easier than trying to get the lint with your bare hands, and it gets one last use out of the dryer sheet before it goes in the trash." — M.M. in Florida

• Pegboard is just as great in the closet as it is in the workshop. Add a few strips or cover the entire inside of your closet with pegboard to easily organize your clothing and accessories.

• "I keep a box that used to hold tissues in the drawer with my plastic wrap, zip-lock baggies, etc. I put plastic baggies that could be used again in it. Sometimes you need a brand-new bag for something, but if an old one will do, it can be found easily. It also helps keep baggies cleaner if you wrap sandwiches in wax paper first." — R.F. in Ohio

• "To trap odors in the bathroom, set out a small bowl filled with plain white vinegar. Put it behind the toilet overnight once a week. Since we started doing this, our bathroom has never smelled so fresh." — C.O. in California

• "Chip clips never work for me — especially when the bag I am trying to close gets down toward the end. I have always used plain, thick rubber bands instead. They work really well." — B.T. in North Carolina

• Another use for pantyhose from K.P. in Mississippi: "To keep onions and potatoes, place inside one at a time, tying a knot between the individual onions and potatoes. When needed, just snip one off; the rest will still be secure."