Today's Feature

Fire Fighter’s Ball Friday.

The Fire Fighter’s Ball will be held this Friday, August 26 from 7 p.m. to midnight at Memorial Hall in Carthage. Proceeds from the event benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The theme for the ball is Friday Night Fever based around a ‘70’s theme. Costumes are welcomed but not required. Activities will include a silent auction with prizes donated by local businesses, DJ Alan Brown, karaoke, dancing and a talent show. Bashful participants are encouraged to take part in the "Singing in the Shower" event which allows singers to perform behind a curtain for anonymity. The audience will be encouraged to guess who the performers are for a prize.

The event will be catered by Boomer Sooner BBQ and Jim’s Bar and Grill. Tickets are $10.00 per person and can be purchased at the Fire Department or at Memorial Hall on the 26th.

The ball takes the place of the former Fire Department Boot Block wherein Firemen accepted donations on street corners using fire boots as receptacles. The boot block was eliminated after an ordinance prohibited collection on City streets.

Stench Report:
Friday,
08/19/05

No Odors

The fence served as a deterrent, but made a great confidence builder too. We could stand back about five feet from the fence and say ‘bout anything we wanted, knowin’ that we could be safe in the house by the time anyone got around the fence.

‘Course a lot of the arguments were over who owned the fence, even after we discovered that we both owned the fence. We could still argue ‘bout which half was ours.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Concrete Solutions

Q: My concrete driveway is in pretty good shape, and I’d like to keep it that way. Do you have any tips on protecting concrete from the elements? — Joe L., Palm Bay, Fla.

A: Keeping concrete clean and in good repair can extend its life by many years. Adding protective sealants can help this durable material hold fast in all kinds of weather.

Fill control joints in the driveway with concrete repair caulk, which prevents water from accumulating in them and damaging the concrete. A clear concrete sealer creates a water-resistant barrier on the surface of the driveway and can even keep it looking cleaner, as today’s acrylic-based sealers don’t attract dirt. Some sealants also help newer concrete driveways and walkways cure more evenly. If you want to paint your driveway a particular color, use a paint specially formulated for concrete or masonry.

Q: I have a few small holes in my concrete sidewalk that are probably a result of a few years of wear and tear. Any tips on fixing them? — Sara G., Mobile, Ala.

A: Small holes can be patched fairly quickly by first removing the debris, smoothing out the damaged area and filling with a patching compound. Debris can be removed with a brush and then the jagged edges of the hole either ground away with a masonry-grinding disc (attached to an electric drill) or chipped away with a cold chisel and hammer. The grinder or chisel should also angle the cuts downward and away from the center of the hole.

Once the hole is prepared, apply a thin layer of concrete bonding adhesive, to ensure a strong bond between concrete and patch, and then trowel in a quarter-inch layer of vinyl-reinforced patching compound. (Note: Bonding adhesive and patching compound can usually be found close together — even packaged together — at home-improvement stores.) Smooth out the layer and let it set for 30 minutes, then add another layer of compound. Repeat until the hole is filled to just above the surface of the sidewalk. Feather out the compound until it is level with the surrounding surface, then allow it to dry and cure. If you have several holes to patch, it’s more efficient to grind them all out first and then patch.

HOME TIP: Repair cracks and holes in masonry as quickly as possible to prevent them from becoming larger and more costly to fix.