The Jasper County primary is scheduled for August 8 this year and will include a larger than typical field of candidates.

The office of Public Administrator and Assessor have drawn the largest number total candidates with five each.

Incumbent Democrat Jim Willis will face one of four Republicans for Assessor in November. Donald E. Davis, Donna Harlan, Hal Dannelley, and Larry Carsten will compete in the primary for the Republican nomination.

The five Republicans running for Public Administrator include Betty Ellefsen, Scott Schlichting, Janice Tusinger (incumbent), Denise Crampton Anderson, and Gary L. Martin. There are no Democrat candidates.

The contest for County Sheriff has two Republican candidates, incumbent W.J. (Bill) Pierce, and former Joplin Police Chief David Niebur and two Democrat candidates, J.D. Love and Jerry Dean.

Candidates for Eastern County Commissioner include Democrat incumbent Ben Johnson and Republican candidates Jim Honey and Trisha Burgi.

Looked like ever’one made it through the July 4th celebration out at Muni Park in good shape. ‘Cept for the typical technical difficulties and a little sunburn, the event seemed to please those who attended.

The 5K run had a good number of folks show up to register the mornin’ of the event and ended up with somethin’ like eighty participants. (I wasn’t one of ‘em.)

I did make it out late afternoon and got ta hear a little of the music and look around a little ‘fore the fireworks.

Heard a lota good things about all those who helped put this thing on, but ever’one mentioned the hard work of the Parks Department personnel durin’ the day. The place sure looked good. And, thanks to the Street Department sprayin’, I don’t think I even got a chigger bite either.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

My husband likes to drive with the windows open instead of using the air conditioner. He claims the outside fresh air keeps him from getting sleepy. We are about to go on a trip, and I would like your opinion on this, since the noise from the outside air really gets to me. What’s your advice?- Irene

TOM: Separate cars.

RAY: This is one of those truly age-old husband-wife disputes. It can be traced back to around the same time wives started complaining that their husbands never kept around the cave.

TOM: It’s a tough one, Irene. I feel the same way that your husband feels. That stiff, varying breeze of fresh air on my face keeps me awake, too. And it does a much better job than the air conditioner. But my wife hates it. And just like you, it’s not the temperature or the breeze so much as the noise.

RAY: And as far as I know, no one’s ever come up with a good, practical solution to this problem. I mean, we can suggest many impractical solution:

TOM: You can buy a limo with the glass window between the front and back seats. Then he can stay up front with both windows open and you can sit in the back with the air conditioning, mini bar, television and maybe a boyfriend!

RAY: Or you can go to your local farm supply outlet and buy a cattle prod. That ought to keep him awake, huh?

TOM: I think the only reasonable solution is to compromise. You can share the driving responsibilities, and when he’s driving, the window can be open or partially open. When you’re driving, the window stays closed.