Today's Feature

County Budget Approved.

The Jasper County Commissioners approved the 2006 budget last Friday morning. County Auditor Richard Webster was at that time still working on the letter that will accompany the adoption of the budget.

The major expenditures are divided into four categories, according to Webster. The expenditures budgeted by departments are; the General Revenue fund at approximately $11.9 million, the Assessment fund at $928,556, the Highway Department at approximately $8.3 million and the Law Enforcement Sales Tax at approximately $1.8 million.

The Law Enforcement Sales Tax is a new category which is in place following the November 8, 2005 County vote approval. According to Webster the budget for this tax does not go into effect until the money is received. The tax goes into effect on April 1, 2006 and Webster says the budget is anticipated to begin in June or July.

Webster estimates that the tax will raise approximately $2 million, of which 5% will go to the Prosecuting attorney and 4.3% will go to a grant fund. Local law enforcement agencies in the county can then apply to receive money from the grant fund.

The remaining $1,814,000 in the Law Enforcement Sales Tax budget will be used by the Jasper County Sheriff’s department for improvements including additional personnel, pay raises, updated equipment, training, new vehicles and more.

The money budgeted for the Highway department is to be used for the maintenance of roads and bridges in the Jasper County Common Road District. The money budgeted for Assessment will run the County Assessor’s office, and the money budgeted for the General Revenue fund pays for all other County operations.

Stench Report:
Friday,
1/6/06

No Stench Detected

The birds are most likely a little confused by the recent weather patterns as much as us humans. Saw a flock of geese flyin north a couple a weeks ago. Winter must be over. (‘cept for that last blast that is sure ta come in February). flyin’ north a couple a weeks ago.

The squirrels have been speedin’ around like crazy too. Jumpin’ from branch to branch, up and down, ‘round and ‘round.

Its hard to imagine those folks livin’ in the big city, not gettin’ the advantage of watchin’ the ever’day animals we take for granted. 'Course, they aren’t so cute when they start eatin’ from my strawberry patch.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Home Remedies for Furniture Stains

Q: Do you have a solution for water marks on furniture made by glasses? Thanks so very much. -- Sarah, via e-mail

A: Believe it or not, toothpaste is probably the best all-around solution for removing those unsightly water rings. Apply a small amount of toothpaste (the regular paste kind, not the gel) to a lint-free cloth and gently rub it over the water ring. Wipe away the paste with a damp cloth, dry the area and, if the stain is gone, polish. The pumice in toothpaste acts as a super-fine sanding agent that won’t mar the wood finish.

Another method for removing cloudy or white water stains from highly varnished furniture is to place a thick dishcloth over the stained area and then set a clothes iron on the dishcloth for three to five seconds (make sure the steam is OFF), moving it in circles.

If you are completely refinishing a piece of furniture, tackle the water stains once you have stripped off the old varnish. Try toothpaste first. If that doesn’t work, make a paste of lemon juice (straight from the lemon) and salt, and apply it directly to the stain and nowhere else. Let the solution stand for 15 minutes, then scrub, rinse and blot dry. Wait for the area to dry completely to see if the stain came out.

Scratches can also mar your furniture, but can often be dealt with quickly. Mix one part lemon juice with one part olive oil, dip a lint-free cloth deep into the solution, then firmly rub in the direction of the scratch until the mark disappears. You can also use mayonnaise for this -- and some readers swear it will work on water stains, too.

Another method is to take a plain old crayon that is the same color as the wood, color in the scratch, and then carefully remove excess wax by scraping a single-edge razor blade across the wood at a 45 degree angle (very gently). And if you want to try a really old-fashioned method -- rub a walnut over the scratch! I’ve never tried this myself, but if it works for you, then great.

With all the solutions above, be careful when first trying them and test in an inconspicuous spot before tackling stains in visible areas.

HOME TIP: Many of the lowly items in your kitchen cupboard can be used as gentle cleaners and stain removers: White vinegar or lemon juice help remove stains; cornmeal, cornstarch or talcum powder can soak up spills; salt and toothpaste are effective polishing agents.