Today's Feature

Quilt Show - Powers Museum.

The Powers Museum of Carthage is preparing for the Maple Leaf Quilt Show which will be displayed from October 10 through October 31. The show is sponsored by the Four Corners Quilt Guild.

Those who are interested in displaying a new or old quilt must have it turned in by October 5 -6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry forms are available at the Powers Museum, the Chamber of Commerce and on the websites for both the museum and the chamber. The public is encouraged to enter quilts in this display.

The Museum will hold extended hours during the Maple Leaf Parade, October 15-20, the museum will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. On October 21 the museum will be open from noon to 5 p.m.

Through September 29th, visitors may request a showing of the 33 minute video "On the Trail of the First Americans & Missouri’s Native American Heritage" produced by the Missouri Archaeological Society in 2001. This video is available in honor of Missouri Archaeology Month, visitors The film includes photographs, artwork and the latest archaeological findings. It also answers many questions about the arrival of the first Americans and how their lifestyles changed over the centuries.

The Museum staff is also in the process of finishing an on-line exhibit on Jasper County’s mining and quarrying heritage. An announcement is to be made about the display sometime within this week.

I don’t see anything wrong with expectin’ the best, it keeps us all on our toes. Keeps those little things that are real important to us all from slippin’ away. If we have ta put a little fuss ever’ now and then ta keep our standards high, so be it.

Family, friends and good health prob’ly fit at the top of the list for most of us, but I’d like ta mention that those things can be enhanced if they all fit into a community that holds those values high and strives to maintain them. With all the talk about lack of family values, it’s good to see that folks in this part of the country still know what’s really important.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

This Is A Hammer
By Samantha Mazzotta

Putting Your Lawn Mower to Bed

Q: In one of your winter-preparation columns last year, you mentioned storing lawn mowers and removing the spark plug. Why do that, and what else is involved in storing a mower for the winter? -- Pauline S., via e-mail

A: Removing the spark plug keeps the mower from starting up as you go through the task of storing it away for the winter. The mower’s exterior should be clean and free of grass clippings and dirt, while the motor interior should be protected by a coating of oil.

Storing a lawn mower properly will increase its lifespan while maintaining its efficiency. As soon as the grass-cutting season is over, take the following steps to put your mower to bed for the winter:

• Place the mower in a well-ventilated area.

• Leaving the spark plug in for the moment, drain the gas from the mower tank into an approved fuel container.

• Start the engine for a few seconds to burn off any remaining gas, then turn it off and remove the spark plug.

• Squirt a little oil into the cylinder, then pull the starter cord a few times to distribute the oil evenly. (After this, you can either replace the spark plug, or tape it on the side of the mower to replace next spring.)

• Drain the oil from the crankcase.

Once the motor is dealt with, use a hose to spray grass and dirt away from the underside of the lawn mower. This is a good time to remove the mower blades, clean and sharpen them. Let the mower dry out completely before storing in a dry, out-of-the-way spot.

HOME TIP: A dirty spark plug leads to inefficient combustion and poor performance from a lawn mower. Clean the tip of the spark plug at least once a season, or replace the plug.