Today's Feature

Carthage R-9 Enrollment.

School will begin on Thursday, August 17 for grades kindergarten through 12 in the Carthage R-9 School District.

Elementary students (K-6) who are new to the Carthage R-9 School District should enroll at the school they will be attending on Wednesday, August 2 or Thursday, August 3 from 8:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m.

Seventh grade students who have not previously enrolled should enroll Wednesday, August 2 at 9:00 a.m. Eighth grade students who have not previously enrolled should do so Thursday, August 3 from 9:00 a.m till noon. Enrollment for new Ninth grade students will also be held August 3rd, from 1:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m.

Seventh grade students who enrolled in spring should pick up schedules and locker assignments Wednesday, August 9 between 9:00 a.m. and 12 noon. Eighth grade students who enrolled in the spring should pick up schedules and locker assignments Thursday, August 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Ninth grade students who enrolled in spring should pick up schedules and locker assignments on August 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Senior high school students who have not previously enrolled should select their classes and complete schedules on August 2 or August 3 from 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 noon or 1:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m.

Seniors who enrolled in spring should pick up schedules and locker assignments Wednesday, August 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon or from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the assistant principal’s office. Juniors should do the same on Thursday, August 10 and Sophomores on Monday, August 14th at 6:30 p.m.

Information requested for enrollment in the Carthage R-9 School District includes; student’s birth certificate, immunization records, proof of residency, last year’s report card or other proof of grade placement, present address and phone number, parent or guardian’s place of employment and work number, emergency contact person, doctor’s name and phone number and student’s social security number. Students planning to drive to school should register their licence plate number and may secure a parking sticker to park in the student lots. Parking stickers are not required if the student wishes to park on the street. The stickers cost $1.00.

Columbian, Fairview, Mark Twain, Pleasant Valley and Steadley Elementary open house will be held on August 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Junior High orientation (7th grade) will be held August 15 at 6:45 and open house will be held at 7:15. Carthage Senior High sophomore orientation will be held August 14 at 6:30. Open house for grades 10-12 will be held October 26 at 6:00 p.m. You-Turn Academy open house will be held August 15 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Stench Report:
Friday,
7/28/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage
Square

I don’t know what grade it was that allowed pointed scissors rather than requirin’ rounded ends. I just know when they were legal, ya had ta have a pair. Usin’ the rounded tipped weren’t "grown up" enough.

‘Course ball point pens were another object of necessity at some level. Ya still had to have your supply of No. 2 pencils however. They never seemed to go away.

Some tried to use the "erasable" ball points, but the teach would usually frown on that big smeared spot in the middle of the page. It’s good ta see pencils still have erasers. At least makin’ a mistake ever now and then is still part of the learnin’ process.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Repairing Water Stains

Q: When we bought our house, there were water stains on the inside cedar walls around the doors. The prior owners said that snow must have built up outside and seeped in to stain the walls. What can we do to get the water stains off of the cedar walls? -- Patricia H., via e-mail

A: Water damage from any source can cause serious problems in a home, so before concentrating on just the interior walls, check all areas of the house for water damage.

That said, I can note that cedar walls often have unique characteristics, particularly in humid areas. The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association (www.wrcla.org) explains that "extractive bleeding," where natural pigments in the wood are pulled out -- usually by moisture -- to create sometimes-unsightly stains, is a common problem. The moisture doesn’t have to be snowmelt, either. Outdoor cedar siding often shows this type of streaking and staining after a season in the rain or snow, but this is considered part of the weathering process. However, most folks don’t want their interior panels to weather in the same way.

The first thing to do is end the source of moisture. If the pattern of stains clearly shows that water is seeping around the door and window frames, use an exterior silicone sealant to stop water from entering. Damaged and warped frames must be replaced. Also, look into ways to stop snow from reaching that side of the house.

Interior cedar is often protected from moisture by a coat of clear varnish. If the moisture stains exist despite this coat, then the water entered from the other side of the paneling, which was unprotected. The only solutions in this case are to end the moisture problem and paint the walls, or to replace the stained wood with new cedar paneling that has been preconditioned against moisture.

Repairing unvarnished paneling can be a chore. If the wood is not rotting, warped or softened, you may be able to remove the stains by washing with a solution of 1 cup household bleach, 1 cup trisodium phosphate, and 1 gallon of warm water. Wear protective gloves and goggles when using this mixture; use a nonmetallic bristle brush to scrub the wood. Tough stains that don’t dissolve with this application may be washed with a solution of 4 ounces wood bleach (oxalic acid) and 1 gallon of water. Wood bleach is typically used for exterior finishes, so be cautious when applying it to interior paneling. Rinse the area and let it dry.