Today's Feature

Occupant Protection Program.

(News Release from the Carthage Police Department) The Carthage Police Department will participate in the national Occupant Protection program on Wednesday, April 16. During this enforcement effort officers will be looking to specifically enforce seat belt violations for occupants of motor vehicles in an effort to reduce fatalities and injuries during motor vehicle accidents..

Nearly one in four Missourians still fail to regularly wear their safety belts when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.

Among those least likely to buckle up: young males, pickup truck drivers and their passengers, people who live in rural areas and nighttime drivers.

Failure to wear a safety belt can be deadly. In 2007, a driver in Missouri traffic crash has a 1 in 32 chance of being killed if they were not wearing a seat belt. In cases where the driver wore a seat belt, their chance of being killed was 1 in 1,309.

"Safety belts clearly save lives. But unfortunately too many folks still need a tough reminder, so we are going to be out in force buckling down on those who are not buckled up," said Capt. Kaiser, Carthage Police Department.

Capt. Kaiser said regular safety belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.

For more information on the national Occupant Protection program, please visit www.buckleupamerica.org

For more information on Missouri seat belt usage, visit www.saveMOlives.com.

Capt. Randee Kaiser, Carthage Police Department, 417-237-7200

Mornin'

As we pull out of another "slow" season, the downtown area seems to be once again goin’ through its rejuvenation.

Instead of the grand department stores and more traditional "anchors" that typically indicate a healthy downtown area, we now are seein’ the more touristy type of business become the major attraction.

The four downtown antique malls on the square create a seven day a week attraction for locals and passersby alike. Add to that the gift shops, and three eatin’ establishments, a core of businesses that accentuate the atmosphere of the Court House is now spreadin’ beyond the limits of the square.

Business people have been known to make mistakes on occasion, but I don’t figure investin’ in the downtown area of Carthage is one of ‘em.

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

What’s on sale in April: Spring clothing, bridal gowns and cruises, plus home-improvement items, like paint and wallpaper.

If you have drawers that stick when you try to pull them out, or maybe drawers that don’t like to go back in without a fight, try this tip: Take an ordinary candle and run it along the drawer’s rails. This will provide some lubrication to keep drawers gliding in and out smoothly, without having to use messy, drippy oil. You also can use a bar of soap if you don’t have a spare candle.

Recipe substitutions: If you need 1 cup of cocktail sauce, use 1 cup of ketchup plus 2 tablespoons (or to taste) of horseradish.

Here’s another jar-opening tip, from reader M.B. in Saskatchewan: "My novel way to open jars, etc., is to use a mechanic’s "water pump pliers." It works very well, and also gets strange looks when I pull the pliers out of my back pocket, especially in the Lions Bar."

"This year we started keeping a garden log, which we never did before. We used a three-ring binder and have collected information about how to care for each type of plant in the yard, a picture of that plant and a note of its location. We organize the pages by type and have used our computer to make a list of what garden- and yard-related tasks to do and when. It will make next year’s spring go much more smoothly, and make a nice pass-along when we eventually sell this home." -- I.D. in Oregon

If you have mineral deposits or hard-water stains in your toilet, try dropping two Alka-Seltzer tablets in a flushed toilet and letting them bubble and sit overnight. In the morning, scrub with a toilet brush and flush until clear.