The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Friday, December 14, 2007 Volume XVI, Number 127

did ya know?

Did Ya Know?... The public is invited to experience a live Nativity at the First Baptist Church in Carthage, 631 South Garrison. Free performances will be held every half hour from 6:30 to 8:30 on December 13, 14 and 15. Complimentary snacks, hot chocolate and cookies will be served between performances.

Did Ya Know?... The Carthage Crisis Center will hold a Christmas Day family Dinner on Tuesday, December 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Those who would like to volunteer to help are asked to call Marilyn Bisbee at 417-358-3533.

Did Ya Know?... An article in yesterday’s Mornin’ Mail cautioned citizens about an electrical company that was passing misinformation regarding reconnection of electrical service. That company has been contacted by the Carthage Police Department and was issued a warning for operating without a City license.

Did Ya Know?... Fairview Christian Church has been established by the Red Cross as an emergency shelter. Citizens who don’t have power or heat are invited to the shelter. Enter through the South door.

today's laugh

My uncle made all his money in crooked dough.

Not a nice way to make a living...

On the contrary, he’s a pretzel manufacturer.

1907
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

A Noisy Case.

Yesterday Judge Perkins in division No. 1 of the circuit court, listened to a tale of noise. So much noise was talked of in his court that it is doubtful if he was able to sleep last night.

The cause of all the noise was a boilerworks and machine shop owned by W.G. Sergeant at Third street and Jackson avenue. The shop has been there for some time, and it was claimed by the people living in that vicinity that so much noise is made there that at times it is impossible to carry on a conversation in their homes.

In September a committee of citizens living near there presented Mr. Sergeant with a petition, signed by numerous property owners asking him to abate the alleged nuisance. It is claimed that no effort was made by Mr. Sergeant to comply with the request and a suit was brought by J.P. Boss in an effort to have Mr. Sergeant enjoined from operating his machine shop.

 

Today's Feature

No Trash In Alleys.

Allied Waste, the City solid waste provider has requested that citizens who normally leave trash for pickup in the alleys instead leave trash at the curbside in front of their homes. A news release was issued from the Public Works Department on Thursday reading as follows; "Due to the recent ice storm that has caused down utility lines and tree limbs, Allied Waste Service is requesting that all residential alley pickups move their solid waste to the curb side for removal, until further notice."

Citizens with questions are requested to contact the Public Works Department for further information at 237-7010.


Storm Recovery Updates.

Curbside collection of limbs and branches is still a possibility for the future, though no official time-frame has been issued. The City is currently working with DNR to establish guidelines for this procedure, however, the Carthage Landfill is accepting fallen branches free of charge for those citizens who wish to haul the limbs to that location.

Carthage Water & Electric Plant was making progress in reconnecting power to citizen’s homes, according to an update on Thursday afternoon.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',
Preparin’ for the holiday gatherin’ is a difficult task. Takes more time, plannin and effort than ya might think. It seems ever’time there is a wedding, there is a period of adjustment to accommodate the new in-law’s schedules for the holidays.

Families naturally have members that put different priorities on different aspects of such a project.

Some feel that the meal is the most important part of the holiday gatherin’, others the order in which the gifts are passed out, or how the gifts are opened.

Then there’s the one or two that take on the responsibility of capturin’ the adventure on camera or video.

And of course, there are always those (usually the teens) who really wish they were somewhere else altogether.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Sponsored
by:
Oak Street Health & Herbs

Natural Nutrition
By Mari An Willis

Wow! We’re talking cold. Today I just couldn’t get warm. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that I ran out with just a light jacket and my slippers first thing this morning to give the birds a little extra food! Finally I thought of something, add a little cayenne pepper to some water and a little maple syrup and drink... sure enough, in a couple of minutes, the beads of perspiration were popping out and I was on my way. When my dad was still with us, he had diabetes and the circulation was always a concern, he would put some cayenne between two pieces of gauze and put that between his socks and shoes when he went out to chore on a bitter cold day. He got that tip from my great Uncle Carl who used it during WWI to keep his feet warm in the trenches.

We had an interesting story come through the store once and I want to share it with you. It is a testimonial of sorts, but one that is worth repeating. A woman had some stomach problems that just wouldn’t go away. She had done the wise thing and went to her health care professional for tests and scpoes and the whole works. She came away with mixed emotions. They told her they couldn’t find anything wrong... good news. But... she’d just have to live with it as there was nothing that could be done. Now I trust some old remedies which have proven themselves beneficial over the years and one of my favorites is Jethro Kloss’s remedy for stomach problems. I showed her he book and she found that slippery elm and marshmallow were used to treat "gastric disorder." Well, she bought a few ounces of each and took it every day for a couple of weeks. "Nothing to lose" she decided and cheap to boot. She returned to the store about three weeks later to let me know that she was feeling GREAT! It’s nice when there is an easy solution.


Hire a Skilled Arborist for Storm Damage Recovery

The series of ice storms that ran through Southwest Missouri this week left families stunned and without power. Unfortunately, many trees were damaged by the weight of the ice causing limb breakage. If more than half of the main structural branches are broken, it may be better to remove the tree and replace it. If less than half of the main structural branches are broken, properly pruning these branches can help your tree heal itself

Unfortunately, a few people try to take advantage of this unfortunate situation. Avoid "Fly by Night" tree trimmers when hiring a company to prune your trees. Here are twelve tips on how to hire an arborist.

1. Check the phone directory, usually under "Trees, Tree Service, or Tree Care Service." Anyone can list in the yellow pages, but their listing indicates some level of permanence.
2. Beware of "Door-Knockers." Most Reputable companies will not and do not need to knock on doors. They will have all the business they can handle.
3. Find out if they are "Certified" by an state or private organization. Some good certifications are with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), Kansas Arborist Association (KAA), and the Society of American Foresters (SAF).
4. Find out if they have a city business license. If they do not, and your community requires one, they are not to be working in your town.
5. Ask for proof of insurance for both liability and worker’s compensation. Then call the insurance company to verify it.
6. Ask for local references. They should be happy to show you other work they have done.
7. Determine if they are a member of a professional organization like ISA, TCIA, KAA SAF.
8. Do not be rushed by bargains like "I will take ten percent off today only". The tree can wait a few days. NEVER PAY IN ADVANCE.
9. Check with multiple companies to get the best-qualified and best price.
10. Good arborists offer a wide range of services. This displays their knowledge and skill.
11. A good arborist will not recommend topping. It is better to remove a tree than do this.
12. A conscientious arborist will not use climbing spikes unless removing the tree.

Not every competent arborist will meet all of these requirements, but the more they meet the better job you will get. If your selected arborist is busy, it is ok to wait for them. Waiting for a good job will pay off with a healthier tree.

The Department of Conservation has facts sheets on properly pruning a tree. If you would like this free information, please contact Jon Skinner at 417-629-3423 or visit http://mdc.mo.gov/forest/features/tree_storm.htm. Watch for announcements of "Tree Care After the Ice Storm" workshops in mid-December and early January.

Jon Skinner is an Urban Forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation. He works at the Department’s Joplin office and reached at 417-629-3423.


How to Save Food After a Power Outage.
By Susan Mills-Gray, Nutrition Specialist, Cass County Extension Center, University of Missouri Extension

Whether your freezer and refrigerator are shut off due to storm, forgetfulness or accident, the food safety rules about what to keep or toss are the same. Why not print this article and post it near your freezer and/or refrigerator for easy reference?

Moldy Jar
Throw away food that is moldy or has an unusual odor

The Freezer
The basic rule is that if a food still has ice crystals inside its package, it can be refrozen. Use a permanent marker or crayon and mark each salvageable package in the freezer with a large "X" to indicate that it has been partially thawed. Use these items as soon as possible. Items with no remaining ice crystals should be thrown away.

What if the freezer has come back on and you don’t know how much your food has thawed? Since you are dealing with an unknown, the rule is "if in doubt, throw it out." If you notice blood from once-frozen meat on neighboring packages or in the bottom of the freezer, advanced thawing has certainly occurred.

The Refrigerator
Since your refrigerator should be at or below 40 degrees F during normal operation, going two hours without power will mean you need to do some tossing. Follow the guidelines below to help you salvage as much as possible.

Foods that need to be thrown away if kept above 40 degrees F for more than 2 hours:
• Raw or cooked meat, poultry, fish
• Hard cooked or cracked eggs
• Egg substitutes
• Milk, cream, yogurt, or soft cheese
• Casseroles, stews, or soups
• Lunch meats and hot dogs
• Cream-based salad dressings
• Custard, chiffon, or cheese pies
• Cream-filled pastries
• Cookie dough

Toss condiments, such as opened jars of mayonnaise, tartar sauce and horseradish, if they were above 50 degrees F for more than 8 hours.
Foods that can be kept at room temperature for a few days (throw away items that are moldy or have an unusual odor):
• Butter or margarine
• Spices
• BBQ sauce
• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Ketchup
• Fruit juices
• Relish
• Cakes without cream filling or cream cheese frosting
• Opened bottles of vinegar-based salad dressings
• Taco sauce
• Hard and processed cheese
• Fruit pies, bread, rolls or muffins
• Mustard
• Dried fruit, coconut
• Peanut butter
• Jelly

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