Today's Feature

Filing Process Continues.

The Carthage Humane Society board met Monday evening in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Committee Treasurer Bill Johnson discussed the status of the board-initiated filing of IRS 990 forms. Johnson reported that Wes Olson, Joplin CPA had agreed to complete the filing of three years worth of 990’s for an amount of $150 per year. For this price, Olson has agreed to file from 2004 through 2006, giving the Humane Society proper documentation of non-profit status so that the board may more readily apply for grants. Johnson added that the Boylan Foundation had agreed to pay for the filing provided that the cost would not exceed $1,000.

Other items of discussion included the Humane Society checking account and methods of tracking expenditures and deposits. The current checking account has no checks but requires two signatures for withdrawals. Johnson said that it would be easier to keep track of the expenditures if checks were issued. Humane Society Director David Butler added that he would like to see bank statements sent to two addresses; one to the Humane Society and one to Johnson for bookkeeping purposes.

The board also discussed recent damage to the roof of the Humane Society thrift store and a course of action for repairs. Council liaison Bill Welch proposed the idea of repairing the roof and utilizing the structure as additional cat housing for the society. The item was discussed but it was determined that further study would be required into the costs of preparing the building for animal housing. Insurance money has been received for the repairs and bids have been sought for repair but all bids to this point have been higher than anticipated. The item will be discussed at the next board meeting.

The board agreed to meet on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers of City Hall. Those wishing to join the board can submit their name, address and phone number to the Carthage Humane Society office, 13860 Dog Kennel Lane by March 1, 2007.

Stench Report:

Tuesday,
1/23/07

No Stench Detected on Carthage Square

Bein’ used ta runnin’ on gravel roads and no sidewalks in the rural community I grew up in, I think my mom thought I was puttin’ on airs some. Not so. The city had somethin’ we weren’t used ta dealin’ with. Slugs. My feet were used ta goathead stickers and rocks, not the slimy, mushy feel of a slug ‘tween the toes. No sir, I wasn’t goin’ barefoot with creatures like that layin’ in wait.

As a kid I figured that was why folks in the city always wore shoes too.

The other farm kids thought the city folk were a bunch of sissies. I wasn’t sure about that, but I figured that under the right circumstances, shoes weren’t such a bad idea.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

• "If you love hair clips or ornamental barrettes but can never seem to find the ones you want, clip them all to a scarf. You then can hang the scarf in your bathroom, vanity or closet and be able to easily see the ones you need." -- D.G. in Pennsylvania

• "Here’s an easy fix for a smelly garbage disposal: Use a tablespoon of bleach in a gallon of water, dump it down the sink and let it sit for a good five minutes. Then run hot water to rinse. Or, use baking soda with vinegar. Both lemon peels and ice are good to use to dislodge clumps." -- H.I. in Oklahoma

• Use a bar soap or a cream-based lotion soap in the winter to moisturize. Gel-based shower soaps have a hefty alcohol content and can dry skin.

• "Denture-cleaning tablets work really well to get rid of stains in the toilet bowl. Just plop one in and leave it overnight to work its magic. Scrub and flush in the morning!" -- P.L. in Nevada

• Clean up your makeup drawer! Many of us hold on to makeup for much longer than we should. Mascara should be discarded after three months, heavily used eyeshadow after 6 months. Look for odors or a change in color intensity or texture; if you notice anything different about the product, pitch it.

• Get crystal sparkling with this no-streak solution: Mix three parts regular rubbing alcohol with one part water. Liberally spray and wipe with a clean lint-free cloth (a cotton baby diaper is great).