Did Ya Know... Special Communication of the Carthage Masonic Lodge will be today with meal at 6 p.m. and meeting at 7 p.m.

Did Ya Know... Openings are available for the Christmas Dinners Popular. For more information, call the Carthage Chamber at 358-2373.

Did Ya Know... The youth of the First Church of the Nazarene is having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner followed by a drama musical presentation of "Code Red" on Nov. 21 & 22 at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $5. For reservations, call 358-4265. Walk-ins will be accepted.

Did Ya Know... Carthage Shrine Burn Crew Turkey Shoot will be Sun., Nov. 16 from noon until dark on M Hway north of Carthage & ¼ mile west of 71 Hway. Call David Jones at 358-8816.

We had a membership drive in our church. Last week we drove off 35.

Mental Block: a street on which several psychiatrists live.

Mother: Quick, Henry, call the doctor. Johnny just swallowed a coin.

Father: I think we ought to send for the minister. He can get money out of anybody.

Festival Concluded.

The largest audience of the week listened to the conclusion of the festival of the First M. E. The festival has been in many ways the most successful of the five so far given, and the young people of the Epworth League should get all the credit. The affair was satisfactory in every way and the League is nearly $75 ahead as the result of their good business management.

The lecture last evening by Dr. W. A. Quayle, of Kansas City, was chiefly attractive because of its humorous character and gave to the subject, "The Life That Now Is," a charm and glory many do not realize.

The purpose of the lecture seemed to be that many do not comprehend their great opportunities, and failing this, make the lives of others less joyous than they should.

The lecture was entertaining from first to last and closed one of the most successful courses of entertainment’s for which the League has become famous.

Bastin Promotes "Promise Keepers."

Council member Charlie Bastin told the Council at this week’s meeting that he will be active in recruiting and gathering support for candidates running for the Council and the Mayor position this spring. Four of the five Council seats up for election in April are occupied by members who voted against the airport reopening. The Mayor’s position will also be on the ballot.

Bastin attempted to distance himself from the Council in general during his oration.

"When I’m out and people recognize me, they say ‘we know you’re not part of that bunch,’" Bastin stated. "‘We know your the only intelligent one on there,’ that’s what most of them go on to say.

"They sort of separate me as a maverick, and I’m glad. Because I never want to be part of what you all do, because I’d be ashamed of it. And my conscience, and my morals won’t let me."

He went on to say that he was going to support candidates with acceptable characteristics.

"And one of these, that I’m going to support, is Promise Keepers," Bastin continued. "It’s already a national foundation. Many of the Carthage community belongs to it already."

Bastin said being a Promise Keeper would mean keeping the promise to Edna Myers, keeping the promise to the Boylan Foundation concerning the funds committed to Memorial Hall and funds committed by the Steadley Foundation.

"I think, come December 23rd," Bastin continued, until January 20th, (the period for filing for office) I think we should go out and recruit people with good moral character, who keep their promise, to run for office, in every ward in this City. And the position of the Mayor. And I think we should make a real effort to back these people to the hilt. And I think come April 2nd, we’ll have a different government here. We’ll have a government, finally, that will be of the people, by the people, for the people. That will be open, be honest, that doesn’t conduct their business in closed session, that doesn’t call on "key people" to tell them what to do.

"That’s what I think we need and that’s what I think we owe the people of Carthage.

"Right now, I’m set until 1999. And I’m not running, yet, for my Council seat. But I will be active and involved trying to get the right kind of people to be on this council."

The Airport Estimate.

The estimated cost of reopening the airport, as prepared by City Engineer Steve Lett was distributed to Council members prior to this week’s Council meeting. The report showed a cost of $204,326.40 to reopen and $2,826.70 to reclose the facility.

The bulk of the cost, $200,000 was shown to be the removal and reinstallation of the electrical distribution system at the south end of the runway.

According to Lett, that cost would include removing the poles and running the power under HH Highway. He said it would take from 6 to 8 weeks to complete this portion of the project.

Lett also noted that in his conversation with Ms. Cheryl Dobson of the FAA, he was told that the reopening requires the approval of the FAA, but the FAA could not stop the City from reopening the airport. He was also informed that a FAA response for the request to reopen was at least six weeks away. He was also told that reopening without approval could jeopardize any future funding for the airport.

Lett’s report also questioned whether the City’s liability insurance for the airport would be valid without the FAA approval.

"I would strongly recommend that approval from FAA be obtained prior to starting any activities to reopen the airport. The FAA may have additional or different requirements than what we could reasonably anticipate," Lett concluded.

Christmas Preview Sale

Release by McCune-Brooks Auxiliary

The McCune-Brooks Hospital Gift Shop is just one means through which the Hospital Auxiliary raises funds for the benefit of the hospital. The Gift Shop is located just inside of the front lobby of the hospital and is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. The Gift Shop is operated at all times by some sixty volunteers, who are members of the Auxiliary. They carry a variety of very attractive gifts and greeting cards all through the year, in a moderate price range.

On November 14, 1997, the Gift Shop will be having a "Christmas Preview Sale" at which time all of the new Christmas gift and decorating items will be shown and made available to purchase for the first time. From 9:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14, all new Christmas items will be 10% off. The Auxiliary would like to invite and encourage the public to come and see what the Gift Shop has to offer. Punch and cookies will be served for the occasion.

The Hospital Auxiliary is also offering their very attractive, newly published cookbooks for sale at a reduced price through the Christmas season.

Youth Recreational Basketball

Release by Fair Acres Family YMCA

The Fair Acres Family YMCA in Carthage is now taking registrations for its 1997-98 Youth Basketball Season. This program is open to all area children from 4 years old to 7th grade. The registration deadline will be on November 21. For more information, contact Jerry Smith at 358-1070.

Santa’s Christmas Lights Tour and

Late Night Shopping In Downtown Carthage

Release by Main Street Carthage, Inc.

Main Street Carthage announces Santa’s Christmas Lights Tour and Late Night Shopping in Downtown Carthage each Friday, December 5, 12, and 19.

Many merchants will be open till 8:00 each Friday for Late Night Christmas Shopping in Downtown Carthage.

Tickets to view the Carthage Christmas Lights on the Red Double-Decker Bus with Santa will go on sale at 5:00 on the Northeast Inside corner of the Square. Bus tours begin at 5:30, 7:00 and 8:15 and will last approximately one hour. Cost is $1.50 per person; children under 5 free. Larger groups are encouraged to make reservations.

Bring the whole family to view the beautiful lights of Carthage with Santa and shop the Downtown for those special people on your Christmas list.

For additional information, please call the Main Street Carthage Office at 358-4974.

Ethics Seminar

Release by the Carthage Chamber of Commerce

"The Carthage Chamber of Commerce’s Business/Education Committee is sponsoring the fourth annual ‘Ethical Decision Making in the Workplace and Society’ seminar in conjunction with the Carthage R-9 School District," announced committee chairman R. Neel Baucom. "This seminar will be held for high school seniors in Carthage on Wednesday, February 4, 1998."

This program has received very enthusiastic comments from the students, their parents, table leaders and other participants. The program began in 1987 with a seminar held in St. Louis, Missouri. It marked the beginning of a unique partnership dedicated to bringing an awareness of ethical decision making to the youth of our country.

Chairman, Neel Baucom also announced "Andy Youngworth, a social studies teacher at Carthage High School, will be acting as Master of Ceremonies for the second year. We are excited that he has agreed to do this for us again, as he has a great rapport with the students!"

The Ethics seminar is designed to increase a young adult’s understanding of values and ethics and applying them to career fields and jobs. The program provides an excellent opportunity for parents, schools, and community organizations to join in partnership for the betterment of their community. Without the support of individuals, organizations, and businesses in this community this program could not be held.

Evening At The Ritz

Release by St. Ann’s School

St. Ann’s School proudly presents Evening at the Ritz to be held Sat., Nov. 15th.

Dinner will begin with a variety of steamed vegetables served with a creamy herb sauce. The main course will be lime-marinated beef, broccoli-baked potato, marinated vegetable skewers and Italian bread, with a mouth-watering dessert.

Dinner is priced at $20 per plate. Reservations must be made in advance by stopping by the school office or calling 358-2674. Dinner will be served from 5-8 p.m.

After dinner dance the night away in the gymnasium which will be decorated to capture the ambiance of the Ritz. The dance will begin at 7 p.m. A cash bar will be available so you must be 21 years old to attend. There will be a cover charge of $5 per person. Music will be provided by Joe Baugh.

Make plans now to attend another wonderful evening hosted by St. Ann’s School. Thank you for your support.

I’ve only got into poison ivy once that I know about. As a kid out huntin’, I apparently laid down in a ripe growth. It covered my stomach area.

As ever’one knows, the real problem is that the more it itches, the more ya scratch. The more ya scratch, the more it itches, and spreads.

The real battle is ta get it to stop itchin’ long enough ta let it heal. In other words, the less ya do the better off ya are.

This is of course completely opposite of the procedure for the small cuts or abrasions that kids come up with. In that instance there needs ta be an effort to clean and cover, watch for infection and spreadin’. When a cut started itchin’ a little, it was a good sign usually. Meant it was healin’ up.

Sometimes it’s not so clear whether an itch needs scratchin’ or ignorin’. Sometimes it comes down to will power or knowledge, but usually just dumb luck.

This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.

by Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray:

We purchased a ’97 Nissan Maxima automatic in January and love it! The owner’s manual recommends "unleaded premium gasoline with an octane rating of at least 91." It also says, "If unleaded premium is unavailable, unleaded regular gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87 can be used." Whenever I fill up the car, I follow the manual’s recommendation and use premium gas. But when my husband fills her up, he uses regular gasoline even when premium is available. So my question is, am I spending money needlessly on premium gasoline? And why would Nissan recommend premium gasoline if regular is OK to use? - JoAnn

Ray: This car has a high-compression engine that’s designed to run on premium gas. But since there are places where premium gas is not available, and because premium gasoline’s can vary in octane, most manufacturers, including Nissan, use a "knock sensor" to protect the engine.

Tom: The knock sensor detects - that’s right - "knocking" (also known as "pre-ignition" or "pinging")! Knocking is bad for the engine, and it often results from using lower than recommended octane fuel. So when your cheapskate husband puts regular unleaded in the Maxima, the knock sensor kicks into action and retards the ignition timing to protect the engine.

Ray: Retarding the timing prevents the knocking, but it also reduces the engine’s power, decreases fuel economy, probably increases the emissions, and may lead to a buildup of residue on the valves.