Today's Feature
Annual Maple Leaf Festival.

News release

The 39th Annual Maple Leaf Festival, hosted by the Carthage Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for October 8-15. The annual event, which brings over 50,000 visitors to the local community, is being sponsored by Leggett & Platt, Inc., Southwest Missouri Bank, Hometown Bank, McCune-Brooks Hospital, Grundy’s Body & Frame Shop, Fair Acres Family YMCA, Four Corners Quilter’s Guild and the Carthage Humane Society. Media sponsors include The Carthage Press, KMXL/KDMO, and KSNF-TV.

A complete schedule of Maple Leaf events is listed below. For more festival information, contact the Carthage Chamber at 358-2373.

• Monday, October 10 •

Dessert Auction Hosted by Cub Scout Pack 9 7:00PM FREE to the public (desserts cost extra!) 1st United Methodist Church (617 South Main Street)

Branson’s Master of Variety Mike Bliss Comes Home to Old Friends Hosted by Richard Bliss Productions 7:30PM $10 per adult/$5 per child/under 4 free (tickets available at Alexandria’s) Carthage High School Auditorium (714 South Main Street)

• Wednesday, October 12 •

Maple Leaf Gospel Sing Hosted by the Carthage Ministerial Alliance 7:00PM FREE to the public Carthage High School Auditorium (714 South Main Street)

Maple Leaf Quilt Show Sponsored by Four Corners Quilter’s Guild (Wednesday, October 12—Saturday, October 29) 10:00AM-5:00PM FREE to the public. Powers Museum (1617 West Oak Street)

• Thursday, October 13 •

Three Minutes Of Fame Lip Sync Competition Sponsored by Grundy’s Body & Frame Shop Featuring Duke Mason as Event Emcee 7:00PM FREE to the public
Carthage High School Auditorium (714 South Main Street) Entry forms available at Grundy’s Body & Frame Shop and the Carthage Chamber office. Entries taken until Monday, October 10

• Friday, October 14 •

Brats On The Square Hosted by the Carthage Rotary Club 11:00AM-7:00PM $5 per person Carthage Square (S.E. corner)

Maple Leaf Baby Contest Sponsored By McCune-Brooks Hospital 6:00PM $5 pre-entries/$10 day of contest. (Pre-entries accepted at the Chamber until Noon on event date) Newborn to 24 months Carthage Junior High Gym (13th & River) Entry forms available at MBH and the Chamber office

Live Music at Jim’s Place Neighborhood Bar & Grill Hosted by Jim’s Place 9:00PM $7 per person (must be 21 to drink) Jim’s Place (325 East Fourth Street)

• Saturday, October 15 •

Craft Booths, Food Vendors & Entertainment 8:00AM-5:00PM Carthage Square

Pancake Feed Hosted by the Carthage Fire Department 6:00AM-11:00AM $4-adults/$1-under 6 Carthage Fire Department (401 West Chestnut)

Petting Zoo Hosted by the Future Farmers of America 8:00AM-2:00PM Jasper County Courthouse Lawn (Southwest corner)

Maple Leaf Auto Show Hosted by the Maple Leaf Auto Show Committee 8:00AM-5:00PM $7-pre-entries/$10-day of show CMC Complex, South side (1900 South Grand Avenue) Entry forms available at the Carthage Chamber office

Maple Leaf Parade featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales Sponsored by Leggett & Platt, Inc. & Southwest Missouri Bank 9:00AM Starting on the Carthage Square

Hot Dogs for the Hospital Hosted by All Things Grand! 9:00AM-3:00PM Concessions: $1-$5 All Things Grand! (1204 South Grand Avenue)

Carthage Historic Auto & Tractor Show 9:00AM-4:00PM FREE. Central Park

Brats On The Square Hosted by the Carthage Rotary Club 11:00AM-7:00PM $5 per person Carthage Square (S.E. corner)

Ham & Bean Dinner Hosted by the C.A.N. D.O. Senior Center 11:00AM-2:00PM $3 per person Carthage C.A.N. D.O. Senior Center (404 East Third Street)

3 Divas! Greatest Hits (and Nearest Misses) Presented by Upside Down Theatre Company. On the hour, every hour starting at Noon $5 per ticket The Woodshed (311 South Main Street) Tickets available at the Carthage Chamber office

Maple Leaf Marching Band Festival Hosted by the Carthage Tiger Band Boosters Noon-10:00PM $4 per adult K.E. Baker Football Stadium (13th & River Streets)

Maple Leaf Dog Show Sponsored by Carthage Humane Society. Register: 12:30PM Show: 1:30PM FREE Carthage Square

Elvis Show featuring Duke Mason & The Jordanaires Hosted by Precious Moments, Grundy’s Body & Frame Shop, All Occasions Florist, Granny Shaffer’s, Commerce Bank, American International Ministries, Mix 95.1FM and Fabulous 1490AM 7:30PM $20-$25 (reserved seating only) Precious Moments Fountain of Angels Theatre. Tickets available at Grundy’s Body & Frame Shop, All Occasions Florist, and Granny Shaffer’s

Toughest on Dirt Bullriding Challenge Hosted by Carthage Saddle Club. 8:00PM $8-adults/$4-children 6-12/Under 5 free Carthage Saddle Club Arena (Carthage Municipal Park)

Live Music at Jim’s Place Neighborhood Bar & Grill Hosted by Jim’s Place. 9:00PM $7 per person (must be 21 to drink) Jim’s Place (325 East Fourth Street)

Stench Report:
Friday,
10/7/05

Several Reports of Stench in the Morning.

I see there are even more activities for this year’s Maple Leaf Festival. I didn’t think your could pack anymore into the week long agenda. If you’re lookin’ for entertainment, this week should keep ya occupied.

I suppose ever’one has their own particular favorites of the old standby’s. For me the marchin’ band contest is still one of the high points of the week. The sheer number of participants and the precision and dedication of the high school kids is enough to raise anyone’s spirit.

‘Course for the auto enthusiasts, the car show is one of the largest in this part of the country. Always a fun after parade activity.

The parade is naturally the biggest draw for the weekend. Looks like this year’s will be onea the best.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

It's Time to Check Furnace's Pilot Light

Q: A friend told me that the pilot light on my gas heater needs to be cleaned. How do I do this? -- Taylor D., Anniston, Ala.

A: In a forced-air gas furnace, the pilot light is the item everything else depends on. Not only does it light the gas flowing through the burners, but its efficiency can save money and improve the quality of the heated air entering your home. So, inspecting and adjusting the pilot light mechanism is an important task at the start of the heating season.

Two elements play a role in the proper functioning of a heater's pilot light: the pilot jet, which controls the amount of gas that exits the gas line, and the thermocouple, which creates an electrical charge from the heat of the pilot light and keeps the flame burning.

Check the pilot light by removing the main furnace access panel. If you can't see it, turn off the gas supply to the pilot and wait 10 minutes for the control unit to cool down. Then remove the pilot cover and relight the pilot, following the instructions on the control housing or the access panel.

A good flame is steady, blue at the bottom and yellow at the tip, and it should cover one-half inch of the end of the thermocouple (a metal rod positioned at the mouth of the pilot light). If the flame is all blue and barely touches the thermocouple, it is too weak; if the flame is noisy and "lifts off" of the pilot, it's too strong. Use a small screwdriver to turn the pilot adjustment screw, located either on the control housing or the gas valve.

If the pilot light just won't stay lit, the thermocouple may be the culprit. The thermocouple is attached to a coil of copper tubing that is thinner than the gas supply line (silver/metallic tubing). To replace this part, turn off the gas supply and use an open-ended wrench to loosen the thermocouple tube's fitting from the control housing. Then, unscrew the thermocouple from the pilot housing. Install the new thermocouple.

What if the flame stays lit, but it remains weak even after adjustment? The pilot jet may need to be cleaned or replaced. Turn off the power and gas supply to the heater and allow the unit to cool for 30 minutes. Carefully disconnect the pilot gas line and thermocouple tube from the control housing. Hold the lines steady to avoid damaging them. Unscrew the pilot bracket (next to the burner tubes) and remove the gas line and thermocouple.

Use a parts brush to clean the outside of the pilot jet. The inside of the jet must be cleaned with a pilot jet tool, so you don't scratch it or enlarge the opening. If the pilot jet is badly corroded, replace it. Reattach everything and ensure that the gas line hasn't been damaged before turned the power and gas supplies back on.

Once the pilot light is healthy, turn the heater on and inspect the burner flame. It should be blue to bluish-green with occasional streaks of yellow. Put on protective gloves and adjust the air shutter at the end of the burner tube so the flame burns correctly.