Today's Feature
Maple Leaf Bike Ride.

News release

The Carthage Maple Leaf Bike Ride will be held Saturday, October 8, at 8:30 p.m. at the Kellogg Lake Pavilion. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Proceeds from the event benefit the Ruby Jack Trail which spans from Carthage to Kansas. All types of bikes are welcome, including recumbents.

Four different lengths of ride will be offered; the 15 mile ride will cost $20, the 30, 50 and 70 mile rides will cost $30. The family rate includes parents and their children under 16 and costs $65.

Helmets are required for participation. The ride is described as peaceful and scenic. There will be a poker run and grand prize winner for each ride.

Participants in the 50 and 70 mile rides can enjoy a snack at Cooky’s Cafe in Golden City.

If the ride cannot take place due to inclement weather registrations fees will be donated to the Joplin Trails Coalition. The event is sponsored by Candace Ellett & Christine Murphey, Realtors, who may be reached for more information at 358-5070.

Stench Report:
Friday,
09/30/05

No Odors

Now some of the stuff may have been placed by passerby with a sense of humor but more likely, somebody said put one of these at ever address, and they did.

I see advertisements now that they have computer software that thinks. Maybe when they find a computer that can also deliver flyers they’ll have somethin’.

By the way, it is illegal to put stuff other than mail in a mail box, but I’m not sure it applies to a box that’s been deserted. ‘Course ta figure it out might take some thoughtful consideration.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Washing the Washer

Q: My roommate and I got a used washing machine for our apartment through an Internet trade. It’s more than 10 years old, but works fine and doesn’t leak. However, the first time I washed clothes in it, they came out covered with lint and flecks of unidentifiable gunk. I thought I wiped down the inside thoroughly. Where did this stuff come from, and how do I get rid of it? — Kirstie in Rhode Island

A: Getting a used appliance can be a real money-saver, but if the machine is damaged, rusty or has built-up mineral deposits inside, much of your savings could be used up in re-washing items or buying replacement parts.

In this case, the washing machine is working just fine, so you’re dealing with a built-up gunk problem. This gunk is all the little things that have been washed off of dirty clothes for years, like lint and dirt and grease, along with old soap residue and mineral deposits from the water used to wash them.

Put the washing machine through its own set of wash cycles. First, run the machine empty, letting it fill completely with hot water and adding two cups of white vinegar or lemon juice. The agitation and draining should loosen a lot of crud. Let the cycle finish, then run a second cycle of plain hot water to rinse. You can also run an optional third cycle of plain water with a couple of old, large towels thrown in to scrub the sides of the wash barrel, just to make sure most of the gunk is gone.

In older machines, a little rust is sometimes visible around the edges of the barrel’s drain holes. Products are available at home-improvement and appliance stores to specifically deal with this small amount of rust.

Clean the bleach dispenser with a spray cleaner, old cloth and Q-tips. Remove and soak the fabric softener dispenser. Scrub the top rim of the wash barrel in front and behind, where a lot of dirt can hide.

Something else you’ll want to do, now and every three to six months, is unplug the power cord and vacuum the dust from underneath and around the machine. If you have a dryer, do the same — and clean the air vent at the back of the dryer. It’s a chore, but it can prevent a fire.

HOME TIP: Did candy or gum stick to the inside of your washing machine? Make a paste of baking soda and a little water and scrub the gum away using a nylon brush or durable cloth.