Today's Feature

"Free Ride Into The New Year."

The City of Carthage will again provide its "Free Ride Into the New Year" on New Year’s Eve, Sunday, December 31.

This service is designed to reduce the risk of impaired driving after New Year’s celebration. The Carthage Taxi Service will take persons from anywhere in Carthage to anywhere in Carthage for free, no questions asked.

The service will be provided from 10:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. People can request the service by calling 359-6589.

To Be Sworn In Thursday.

The Jasper County courthouse will be the site of swearing in of Jasper County Elected officials on Thursday, December 28 at 10 a.m. Officials to be sworn in include Bonnie Earl, County Clerk; John Bartosh, Presiding Commissioner; Donna Grove, Recorder of Deeds; Dean Dankelson, Prosecuting Attorney. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend the event.

County Auditor Richard Webster will be sworn in on Wednesday, December 27 at 1 p.m. Judge David Mouton will be sworn in on Friday, December 29 in the Joplin Courts Building at 4 p.m.

Stench Report:

Tuesday,
12/26/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage Square

Our chores consisted mainly of feedin’ Smokey the dog, keepin’ our room so the floor could be utilized for the "Fort Apache" cowboy and Indian set or the Lincoln Logs. Lawn work durin’ the summer took some effort and helpin’ do a little paintin’ or various repairs on the house.

Prob’ly the most constant was the duty of carryin’ out the trash and burnin’ it in the 55 gallon drum.

The drive to the dump was always a slow, deliberate one, and of course the real adventure of pokin’ ‘round the discarded TV’s and old cars while dad talked with some other "hauler."

I don’t know what we’d’ve done with a trash compactor.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

• Decoration management made easy: Wrap string lights around paper towel cores; wine boxes (find them at your local liquor store) can be used to separate wrapped ornaments; and garment bags are a nice cover for wreaths and garlands.

• Now is a great time to go through your 2006 calendar and notate dates for 2007. Pay attention to when you had appointments for the dentist and your annual physical or well-woman appointment, in addition to birthdays and other celebratory dates. Make a note on the month before in your 2007 calendar as a reminder that you need to schedule a repeat appointment.

• "If the kids are heading out sledding, be sure to check the weight restrictions on the sled and look for splinters or scrapes in metal that might have created a sharp edge." -- C.E. in Minnesota

• "I always clip the return address from the holiday cards we receive and tape it to a sheet of paper, which I then store after Christmas with next year’s cards. (I buy them after the holidays at a great discount!)" -- G.W. in South Carolina

• Give overnight guests the spa treatment. Assemble a basket with clean towels in all sizes, some pretty soaps, bottled water to keep in their room and a few magazines tuned to their interests. Laying out an extra blanket or throw is a good idea, too.

• "To keep linens from creasing, try hanging them on a padded hanger in the closet. I used a piece of foam piping that I cut a slit in. I slipped it on the hanger and laid my grandmother’s tablecloth over it. A pillowcase with a hole in the seam can then be slipped over the hanger top to keep dust off." -- W.A. in Tennessee