Today's Feature

Consumer Protection Seminar.

All interested persons are invited to a free seminar conducted by Travis Ford, Consumer Education Coordinator from Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon’s office. The event will be held May 15th at 7:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Nursing Center, 1220 E. Fairview.

As a consumer protection expert, Mr. Ford will be providing information to assist citizens in avoiding scams and rip-offs, how to protect your personal data and spot identity theft early if it strikes.

For more information contact Sue Joslen, administrator at 358-9084. Refreshments will be served.

To Continue Budget "Perfection."

The City Council Budget Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to meet this evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall to continue its work on the Fiscal year 2008 Budget. City Administrator Tom Short reported recently that the first round of budget cuts, made during the April 26th committee meeting, has resulted in cuts totalling approximately $300,000. These cuts were primarily made to the City departments’ capital improvements lists. The meeting is open to the public.

In almost ever’ game devised by man, there is a time to take a move that is "safe."

In pool, for instance, when a player is in the position that they can’t make a clean shot, they try to at least take a shot that leaves the opponent with the least favorable placement possible.

In chess there are many moves that are made strictly to ward off the opponent.

In football, they punt. In basketball they stall (or at least they used to.) In baseball ya walk the batter. In tennis ya lob. In golf, er, ya wait around for someone with less ability to play with. Well, maybe there are some exceptions. But where it does apply, it’s an accepted part of the game and when appropriate, is considered good strategy. Good players know when to do it and how to make it work to their advantage.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

This Is A Hammer
By Samantha Mazzotta

Damp House? Check Heating System

Q: In your response to the homeowner who was experiencing sticky wood surfaces and sagging floors, you stated that high humidity could be the reason, and that several factors could cause the humidity, such as blocked attic vents. Your piece did mention heating equipment (such as heat/hot water boilers) as a possible source, but not effectively.

The humidity situation could also be caused by infiltration of exhaust gases from heating equipment into the living areas. This can cause deadly dangerous conditions, particularly to sleeping persons.

A friend of mine had a similar moisture situation 20 years ago in a house he purchased. The professionals he hired couldn’t find the cause. Eventually, he located it himself: Critters nesting in his chimney had blocked the exiting gases, causing them to back up into his home. Additionally, in cold climates, snow can block exhaust vents; building specifications in the Northeast were only recently changed to prevent this kind of occurrence.

Another danger I believe needs attention is crumbling chimney stacks. In the Northeast, many "oil burners" have been converted to gas. These gas heaters are routinely hooked up to the pre-existing brick chimneys. Gas exhaust is cleaner, but more chemically corrosive and "wetter" than oil exhaust. It also condenses earlier than oil exhaust, leaving chemical deposits on the upper half of the chimney that break down the mortar and bricks much faster.

"Critters" and debris-blocked chimneys are just two among a litany of "quiet" problems that can develop in any home. I hope these are worth considering. -- Rich L., Quincy, Mass.

A: They are definitely worth considering! Rich, thank you for bringing this potentially life-saving information to readers.

HOME TIP: Summer is a good time to schedule a chimney inspection and cleaning -- a maintenance item that should be done annually.