Troop 9 for K-9s.

The Carthage Humane Society and Boy Scout Troop 9 will hold a fund raiser this Saturday, April 28 at Central Park to raise money to help the new add on for the Society.

The event is from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is free but donations will be accepted.

The activities include face painting, a dog cake walk and live music all day.

Troop 9 will be selling food and beverages and there is a scheduled appearance of Red the Service Dog. The public is invited to enter the Strut your Mutt Dog Show, but all animals should be on a leash.

For more information contact 358-6402.

Carthage Chamber Business Expo 2012.

Over 40 exhibitors have committed to be at the Chamber Business Expo 2012. Thursday, April 26th from 5-7 will be the Business After Hours, sponsored by John Hoffer Dodge, for the business professionals of the local communities.

Friday, April 27th 10-6 the Expo will be open to the public. An iPad provided by Cornerstone Family Dental and makeover provided by Dr. Fly’s Salon as grand prizes. Admission is free.

46th Annual Maple Leaf

Commemorative Merchandise.

Commemorative merchandise for the 46th Annual Maple Leaf Festival is now available. Merchandise can be pre-ordered at the Carthage Chamber, 402 S Garrison.

Shirts are available in sizes youth XL – adult XL or other sizes by special order, featuring artwork by Terri Bunn of Wichita, Kansas. Choices include a short sleeved shirt, long sleeved shirt or sweatshirt design or a hoodie or tote bag. Andy Thomas’ Maple Leaf Festival logo will also be available on visors and ball caps. Thomas’ Maple Leaf logo will also be printed between the shoulder blades on all shirts.

Blunt/McCaskill Differ on Post Office Cut Backs.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., announced a new plan Tuesday that would place a two year moratorium and new guidelines on post office closures.

McCaskill’s amendment, is enacted, would set new criteria on U.S. Postal Service office closures, starting in 2014.

The criteria include that service to seniors and individuals with disabilities not be disrupted, that the closure would not result in significant economic disruption to the area, that the area served by the post office has access to wired broadband internet, and that the nearest post office is within 10 miles of the closed facility.

"Targeting rural post offices for closure is callous, unnecessary, and irresponsible and doesn’t solve the fiscal problems facing the Postal Service," she said. "Our post offices are more than just brick and mortar—they’re the lifeblood for towns across our state."

Earlier in the year, McCaskill announced a plan that would remove the requirement that the postal service pre-fund their pension programs for 75 years, and introduced a blue ribbon commission to look for ways to save costs by, among other things, relocating post offices to existing buildings or trimming the hours that post offices are open.

Last year, the USPS floated a consolidation proposal that included potential closure of 167 post offices in Missouri.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., is not convinced about the plan backed by McCaskill.

Blunt said he wants the USPS, which is struggling to gain a financial footing as customers are increasingly relying on electronic communication, to address the fiscal issue now.

"I don’t want to kick the can just two years down the road," Blunt told reporters Wednesday.

Blunt, however, is in agreement with McCaskill in opposition to the USPS’s earlier proposal to slash rural facilities. Blunt favors the USPS cutting back on hours as a way to address the financial woes.

"The rural post office in many communities is the last anchor that creates a sense of community," Blunt said, adding that proposal to close them "is not the answer."

Free Furniture and Appliances.

The Carthage Crisis Center is holding a Free Furniture and Appliance Distribution on Saturday May 12 at 8 a.m. at 100 South Main St. Carthage, Missouri (parking lot on the East side of the building)

Anyone is welcome that needs furniture or appliances to furnish their home. Storm and house fire victims are welcome.

The Center will have limited delivery so those taking advantage of this program should bring a truck or trailer to haul items away.

Anyone wishing to donate decent furniture and appliances to this Distribution should bring items on Saturday May 12 between 6 and 8 a.m. to the Carthage Crisis Center parking lot.

Volunteers are needed with strong backs to help move and load furniture and appliances. Volunteers with trucks and trailers will also be needed to help with transportation. Call 417-358-3533 for Information.

State Representative

Mike Kelley 126th District

CAPITOL REPORT

Opposing Obamacare.

"The Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, is a primary example of our federal government run amok, and as your state representative, I have a duty and a responsibility to stand up to defend the Constitution whenever the federal government encroaches on our state sovereignty and our rights as citizens.

Defending the rights given to you under the Constitution is a value we share. Last week, we stood up to the federal government and their onerous health care policy by passing HB 1534. This bill will prevent the implementation of Obamacare here in Missouri.

Today, the law is still in limbo. Obamacare has worked its way through the lower courts, and we are now waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to formally rule on the constitutionality of this law. I remain optimistic that they will strike it down."

Jasper County Jail Count

167 April 18, 2011

Total Including Placed out of County

Weekly Column

CLICK and CLACK

TALK CARS

I purchased a Kia Forte Koup in March of 2010. After receiving the car, it blew three clutches in an eight-month period. I have been driving a stick my entire life, and I know how to use a clutch. The problem with this car is that the clutch is not failing from shifting gears. When I get on the highway, black smoke comes billowing out of the front of the car, and it burns the clutch. Kia is clueless about the problem, and has refused to help me. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks.-- Mark

TOM: Clutches are one of those gray areas where the manufacturer always argues that it’s the customer’s fault, and the customer always says, "I know how to drive a stick shift, so it’s not me!"

RAY: Kind of a "clutch said, foot said" situation.

TOM: We know that this car has a very touchy clutch, Mark. Lots of people have complained about it.

RAY: You probably should have read those reviews before buying this car, Mark, and gotten the automatic!

TOM: Well, that’s clutch dust under the bridge now. But here’s why it matters: What do drivers do when a clutch is touchy and difficult? They give the car more gas and let out the clutch more slowly. And that does what? It burns out the clutch!

RAY: Once the clutch starts to slip and burn up, it continues a death spiral on its own, which explains the black clutch smoke you’re generating when you accelerate hard.

TOM: So I think you need to look beyond this dealer now, and try to move up the chain of command at Kia. Ask the dealer to put you in touch with the Kia zone representative for your area. That’s the person who handles special cases on behalf of the manufacturer and has the authority to do a little more for you if he feels it’s necessary or appropriate.

artCentral

ART NOTES from Hyde House

by Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

A lot has been going on here at Hyde House, and the grounds couldn’t be more beautiful! We are in a bit of a down time now as our next exhibition does not begin until May 5th, and this is a small departure for us as it is a Saturday opening night! The invitations for this show have not yet gone out, but please note if you plan to attend that we will not open on the usual Friday but Saturday of that first weekend in May. This is due to our artist being involved in the annual St. Avips Ball and art auction in Joplin on the 4th, and we do not want our visitors and guests to have to choose between the events either, so we will break tradition and open a new exhibition for John Lasater on May 5th – Saturday!

I will give more information about this wonderful artist in the next couple of columns, as he is a real hot artist right now and most sought after! Going on his website last week, I saw that he is involved in either a show or plein air painting event almost every week or weekend between now and then, and we are just thrilled to get him here in our gallery for the time he will be, May 5-20th. I have completed the initial planning and scheduling of our kid’s artCamp, and that information is at the printer’s. A new printing is also ready. At the suggestion of a member of our board of directors, we have produced a flier in the Spanish language to distribute around the area seeking talented Hispanic artists in our area. It has long been discussed that we must have some residing here, and based on what response we get we will attempt to find that talent and display it in a special show here at Hyde House if we are successful. I am not certain of the various venues that this brochure will appear in, ( I do know we will print it in pink!) but if you know of any Hispanic artist please let them know that we are seeking to know about them, and that at least the Public Library will certainly have some of our fliers. Now, I am speaking of fine art, not crafts, but I am sure that there must be some residing here that might find a showing of their work of interest. Let us hear from you!