County Planning Commission Accepts Contract.

The Jasper County Planning Commission voted unanimously to accept a bid of $35,277 from Simpson & Associates of Joplin for developing a county zoning plan. The plan, if accepted by the Commission, would then be put on the ballot for consideration of the voters. The Simpson proposal outlines a 300 day time frame for completion of the project. The vote came at the Commissions regular meeting last Tuesday night.

Simpson told the Commission that the wording of a proposed zoning regulations should be easily understood and not consist of "over regulation." He outlined a monthly schedule to keep the Commission up to date on information being gathered and said that a rough draft should be completed for an April 1999 meeting.

Simpson hoped that in May 1999 a completed proposal could be approved by the Commission and public hearings could begin. A public awareness effort is also planned that would prepare citizens for a vote in the fall of 1999. All Commission meeting are open to the public and attendance is encouraged.

Drug Free Fun Run.

news release Carthage R-9 Schools

Boys and girls of Carthage, Missouri, the Carthage R-9 School and Community 2000 will be sponsoring a Drug Free Fun Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.

This run will be open to all boys and girls in grades 4-12. There will be many awards to be given out to participants. There is no entry fee in order to participate in this run.

Students in grades 4-6 will complete a one-mile run/walk. Students in grades 7-12 will run farther, approximately a mile & 1/2 to a mile & 3/4. You may run or walk at your own pace.

There will be all kinds of awards and prizes. There will be Community 2000 Drug-Free T-shirts for many participants. Many local merchants have contributed prizes of the Drug Free Fun Run of '98.

Burger King (certificates for free french fries for 100 runners), Sonic Drive Inn (certificates for 100 free Junior Frosty Shakes), Little Caesar's (certificates for 100 free crazy bread orders), Long John Silver's (certificates for 6 free 2 piece fish or more dinners), Subway (certificates for 6 free 6 inch sub sandwiches), and Wal-Mart has donated a $15 gift certificate.

Make plans to attend and have fun with your classmates while supporting the idea that you are free and safe from harmful drugs.

Third Annual Festival of Trees.

The Chamber's Christmas Committee is once again sponsoring a decorated tree display, and silent auction at the Powers Museum November 19 through December 18. Businesses, organizations, school classes, and even private individuals are welcome to enter a table top sized tree for the display during which silent bids are taken for the ultimate sale of the tree. (Participants will receive 75% of the money received for their tree, and 25% will go to the Chamber's Christmas Committee.)

New this year is a wreath competition and auction to coincide with the tree display. The addition of wreaths was suggested by committee members as a way to encourage more participation by organizations who might not want to invest in an elaborate decorated tree. The wreaths will be auctioned in the same manner as the Christmas trees, and will be judged for creativity and overall artistic appearance.

Prizes donated by the Powers Museum will be awarded, including a "People's Choice" award for one tree and one wreath. Also, one lucky museum visitor will be selected from those voting for the "People's" award to receive a limited edition print entitled "Bird's Eye View of Carthage in 1891."

Trees/Wreaths need to be delivered to the Powers Museum on Nov. 16 through 18 so display can be finalized the evening of Nov. 18. We have a bus coming from the four-state region on the 19th and everything needs to be in place prior to that day.

You are encouraged to call Michele Hansford at the Powers Museum for further details or to request an entry form with instructions. Please call 358-2667 or e-mail pmuseum@ipa.net.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

The Candidate Forum sponsored by the Carthage Business and Professional Women on Tuesday night was well presented and those who attended did actually get a closer look at a good portion of the candidates. Several candidates who were unopposed showed up to support the effort.

County Clerk Elect Jim Lobby told the audience that he wants to begin a public awareness campaign that will encourage more voters to get out and participate in the elections. He also said that the Clerk's office is tryin' to meet a goal of havin' the computer system in that office Y2K compliant by the end of this year.

The forum also allowed those candidates outside the regular two parties an opportunity to be heard. The U.S. Taxpayer party and the Libertarian Party were represented among the Democrats and Republicans. A good effort by the CB&PW.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin'.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray:

I was driving home from a friend's house and was on my way up a hill when I stopped at a Stop sign. After restarting and letting the clutch out on my 1986 Ford Escort GT with 120,000 miles on it, the peace was shattered by the sound of my No. 2 spark plug attempting to be the first such automotive park to land on the moon. It just blew right out of the engine wiht an incredibly loud noise. I found the plug lodged in the insulation on the underside of my hood. So I removed the fuzz, screwed the plug back into the block, and reattached the wire. After that, the car ran fine.

Do I need anything else? And is this a sign that the end is near for this engine, or did my mechanic just forget to tighten this plug during my last tune-up? -Randy.

TOM: Isn't it amazing how much power spark plugs have when they shoot out of the cylinder like that? I've got about six bumps on my head from similar spark-plug "launchings."

RAY: You mean the spark plugs blew out and hit you right in the head?

TOM: No, in each case, I was napping under the creeper underneath some other car, and the noise jolted me awake and caused me to bump my head on the transmission.

RAY: Your mechanic just forgot to tighten the plug, Randy. He screwed it in with his fingers and forgot to tighten it the rest of the way with the ratchet wrench. And as you drove around, the "explosions" in that cylinder slowly unscrewed the plug the rest of the way, until finally it went kablooey. This is just one good reason why cars have a device called "the hood."

TOM: And as long as the plug wasn't damaged it should continue to work fine.

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