Did Ya Know... Awards Day for the Summer Reading Club at the Library has been rescheduled for Sat., Aug. 16 at 10:30 a.m. Children must be in attendance to win any prizes.
Did Ya Know... The Circle of Friends Ranch will have the 1997 Vacation Bible School at the Free Will Baptist Church. Sign up will be Aug. 9 from 7 -9 p.m. at the church. Bible school runs from Aug. 10-14, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Transportation is available for Carthage, Webb City, and Carterville areas. For further information, call 358-3080 or for transportation call 359-8925 or 358-1291.
Then there was the Irishman who was asked the difference between an explosion and a collision. 'In a collision,' he replied, 'there you are but in an explosion where are you?'
It was Padraig's first day in the Waterford glass factory. 'Padraig,' asked the foreman, 'did you mark the top of all those crates with the notice "This side up with care?" 'Deed, I did, Mr. O'Sullivan, and I put it on the bottom as well to make sure.'
One optimistic farmer in Co. Offaly gave hot water to his hens. He wanted them to lay boiled eggs.
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.
Nearly All the Money for the Carriage Factory Has Been Raised.
The committee appointed to solicit funds for the purchase of a site for the carriage factory has been meeting with fair success the past few days and are on the last $100 of the amount, and though the subscriptions come very slowly the amount is so comparatively small that they could hardly fail in raising it. Major A. F. Lewis and Henry Keim were soliciting today and put in the time to the best advantage. The contract for erecting the building has been let to James Ross on the condition that the remaining $100 be raised.
Pension Day Dinner.
The ladies of the Soldiers' Monument Association gave their pension day dinner at the Lewis building today. Pension vouchers were made out free of charge. The dinner was very well patronized and the ladies took in $16.60, nearly all of which is clear.
Mornin',
Fire Chief John Cooper thinks the department's new, $270,000 ladder truck will be here in time to show it off in the Maple Leaf Parade. By then the City will have made the final $70,000 payment, one way or the other.
The decision bein' made now by the Council is whether to borrow the money for a year at an attractive rate of half the prime, or to go ahead and pay the bill out of the unrestricted reserve fund.
The City keeps around $1.4 million that the Council feels is there for any real emergencies. Won't spend it unless a tornado hits town or some such thing. Above and beyond that, although only estimates can be made, there is somewhere 'tween $1 and $1.5 million in unrestricted reserves, usually used for large capital investments. The City is currently earnin' some where just over 5% on that money. The loan for a year, at today's rates, would cost around 4.5%. There may be some legal problems with the City borrowin' money and drawin' interest on the tax money too, however. Either way it should be a good parade. This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin'.
Discontinuing the practice of including a 6% City revenue in the basic rate charged by CW&EP continues to be discussed at the utility's board meetings. Some members are especially concerned that the practice causes inequities between CW&EP customers and others within the City limits who are purchasing power from Empire.
Board member Jack Cruza has pushed for a solution for several months and again asked if the Council was attempting to address the issue at the last CW&EP Board meeting.
Business Manager Marge Housh told the Board that she had received a letter from Mayor Riley and that City Attorney David Dally was researching possible alternatives.
Cruza points out that the City looses the thirty-one cent levy from the fire district when they annex property, yet get no additional income, other than City property tax, if the annexed property is serviced by Empire.
Cruza has suggested that the 6% be shown as a separate tax of some sort that is charged on all electric bills in the City.
by Al Carrell and Kelly Carrell
Sponsored by Carthage Farm & Home Supply, Inc.
Dear Al: I made garden knee pads from carpet padding scraps. We had a pile of pad scraps by the curb one day, and I grabbed a few, placed them over my knees and held them in place with rubber bands. They really helped in the garden, and I didn't have to wear blue jeans, which are pretty hot in the summer. I guess the pads will need to be replaced, but I think I can handle that without a lot of expense. - G. J.
Q: I bought some lovely old brass bathroom faucets and handles. They don't appear to be damaged, just need a little cleaning. What works best to shine them back up without harming the finish? - G. S.
A: There probably is some sort of protective coating left on the surface, and it must be removed before the brass can be polished. A paint and varnish remover probably can take care of that step. Then any brass polish should have the metal gleaming again. Brass is not easily damaged.
Super Hint - If you have some silicon caulk to remove, try a little Spray 'N Wash. If the laundry stain remover can work its way under the caulk, it should be easier to peel up ... without damaging the surface under it.
Super Hint - Luminous paint can be a super helper around your home. Glow-in-the-dark stickers work great too. Put a dab of the paint or one of the stickers on the switch plate at the garage light switch near the back-door lock.