Did Ya Know... Carthage Water & Electric Plant Board will meet today at 4 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers on 326 Grant.

Did Ya Know... Soroptimist of Carthage with McCune-Brooks Hospital and Carthage Radiologists is offering free mammograms through Oct. 30. Vouchers are available at Poor Richards Gift Shop on the Northwest corner of the Carthage Square.

Did Ya Know... Building Bridges and Strong Families Fair will be Sat., Oct. 23 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Northpark Mall. For information, call 417-358-2158.

Did Ya Know... Faith Lutheran Church at 2134 South Grand will have its annual Fall rummage sale on Oct. 23 and 24 starting at 7:30 a.m. both days.

A young bride complained to a grocer about the flour she bought being tough. "Tough?" the grocer said in surprise. "Yes, tough," she replied. "I made biscuits with it, and my husband couldn’t eat them."

One businessman to another: We’re a non-profit organization. We didn’t mean to be, but we are.

First Neighbor: What were all your chickens doing out in front of your house?

Second Neighbor: They heard some men were going to lay a sidewalk and they wanted to see how it was done.

Two Fires Today.

The fire department was called out about 8 o’clock this morning by an alarm of fire from the residence of George B. Vert, the well known carpenter and contractor, on South Maple street. The fire started in a small closet off of the dining room, but was extinguished before doing any great damage. The fire department’s response was prompt but they did not have much to do on their arrival. The origin of the blaze is unexplainable, as there was nothing in the closet, so far as known, to start it and no flue near it.

At 11:30 the fire department was again called out by a blaze at the corner of Fulton and Third streets. A woodshed at the residence property owned by Mr. Clary and occupied by Cicero Spencer was in flames. The firemen quickly extinguished the fire but the shed was damaged beyond repair, entailing a loss of perhaps $20. There is no clue to the cause.

Hensley Against Salary Increase.

The Jasper County Salary Commission, which is responsible for setting salaries for elected county officials, voted yesterday for a gradual increase in salaries over the next several years. The move will put all elected officials at the maximum allowable compensation, as defined by State statute, by the year 2002.

Western District Commissioner Mike Cloud was also elected as Chairman.

Presiding Commissioner Danny Hensley voted against the salary increase.

"It’s not worth it," said Hensley, referring to the negative reaction he had received from the public concerning the issue.

"It’s to the point that I’m not in favor of taking more wage for anything," Hensley told the Committee. "I’ve had it with everybody complaining about the salaries we make, what we do, and there seems to be a lot of unhappy people. I think we should just forget it."

County Coroner Rob Knell was the only other member that voted against the increase. His position will not gain any benefit from the action. Margie Bull abstained.

As I have noted on several occasions, timing is the essential ingredient for any rain dance.

With the vote at yesterdays County meetin’, until the year 2001, there will be a variety of pay scales applied to the elected offices.

The approved plan will increase salaries for those elected next year to 85% of the maximum allowable compensation (MAC). That will increase 5% for the next three years toget to 100% of MAC.

Those elected last year will have to wait for their next term to see an increase in 2001. They will enter the MAC race at that time with 95% of MAC and receive 100% in 2002 along with the rest.

The rub is that in some instances, such as the Commissioners, there will be quite a difference in the salaries paid for essentially the same job requirements. Other positions may not be as easy to compare, but the difference in salaries will still be significant.

The timin’ made some winners and some losers. When it rains it pours.

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

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Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray: I keep reading that air bags are dangerous and are responsible for a number of deaths, especially in children and short people. Since, of course, air bags are supposed to be used together with seat belts, I wonder if any or all of the reported airbag deaths have involved failure to use seat belts. - Marvin

Ray: Most of them have, Marvin. NHTSA (the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration) keeps tabs on all crash-related fatalities in the United States. And clearly, MOST of the people who have been injured or killed by air bags were not wearing their seat belts.

Tom: It’s important to remember that air bags have saved many, many more lives than they have taken. NHTSA estimates that more than 2,500 would have died in crashes, had it not been for their air bags.

Ray: So the best way to decrease your chances of getting killed or injured in a car crash is to take the following precautions.

Tom: 1) Always wear your seatbelt.

Ray: 2) Always put kids in the back seat, which is inherently a safer place than the front seat (and make sure small kids are strapped securely in a child seat).

Tom: 3) And never drive like a knucklehead (i.e. too fast, after drinking, or while eating, talking on the phone, applying makeup or tying your shoelaces).