Today's Feature

Public Services Approves Contracts.

The Public Services Committee at their meeting on Monday approved a motion to recommend the continuation of the City’s contract with the Carthage Kiwanis Club for the operation of the "Kiddie-Land" play equipment in Municipal Park. The recommendation will be forwarded to City Council without changes to the contract.

The committee also approved a motion to recommend to Council a continued contract with the American Legion Baseball team. Parks Director Alan Bull said they have a short schedule lasting from the approximate time of High School graduation through mid-August.

Kellog Lake Development Board member Ed Grundy spoke to the committee asking permission to close the lake to the public from June 8 through June 11 for Kid’s Fishing Day. A motion was approved to close the lake for the period requested. Grundy told the committee that closing prior to the date of the fishing day allowed the lake to be restocked and to relieve pressure which would hopefully increase the number of fish to be caught. The Kellog Lake Board expects over 400 children at the event this year according to Grundy.

For those of ya like me that tend to run a battery powered screw gun into their thumb more than any where else, I’ve seen the light.

These new fangeled guns have little clips like the nail guns, but they hold screws. Just push down and pull the trigger, a new screw is fed through and you’re ready to go again.

Now these things may have been around for some time. I’m still usin’ a little gun I bought some five or six years ago. I don’t get out to the tool section like I should I suppose. I still use a hand saw on occasion and have a hammer or two that ya have to swing to get it to work.

With spring repairs in the works, I may need to get up to speed on the newest construction toys. ‘Course it’s always more fun to buy ‘em than it is to use ‘em.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

• To keep a pet bowl from sliding around, cut a square of rubberized shelf paper to use as a place mat. It will keep any bowl from sliding across the floor. And if you have a messy pet that gets food over the sides of the bowl, you can toss the mat into the washer for easy cleanup.

• "We replaced a wooden magazine rack when we redecorated in our house. It was still usable, so my husband took it out to his workshop. He mounted it on the side of his workbench with some screws, and he uses it to hold sandpaper and project plans. It works great!" — F.A. in Colorado

• "With a grandchild toddling around in the house, we have rediscovered the many uses of Elmer’s glue. It is a great splinter remover (just dab some over the end of a splinter that is just sticking out, let it dry and peel away). And if you get a paper cut or other fine abrasion, wash and dry thoroughly, then smear a thin layer of glue over the wound. It has to be a small wound, but for ones on the fingers where bandages are hard to place, it is really a wonder. It keeps dirt from getting in the wound and will just rub right off." — I.P. in Pennsylvania

• A warning from a reader in Kansas: Be sure to wash your lint trap weekly with soap and water if you use dryer sheets. You should, of course, clean the lint trap after every use, but with dryer sheets there can be a waxy buildup that you can’t see. Scrub the trap with a little hot water and soap, and you will extend the life of your dryer and use less energy.

• "I put a bucket or two alongside my house when it rains. I use the collected rainwater to water my plants — the ones I keep indoors or the ones that don’t get a lot of rain in the yard." — H.G. in Georgia