Today's Feature

Smoke-Free Possibility.

The City Council Public Services Committee met Monday evening in a regular session. Carthage Little League President Jeff Jones was present at the meeting and proposed to the committee the possibility of making the ball fields at Fair Acres a non-smoking venue. Jones told the committee that he felt it would set a better example for the children who play there.

The committee discussed the possibility and agreed that more research would need to be done before any action was taken. Topics of discussion between committee members include ways of designating the area, signage and enforcement. Parks Director Alan Bull said he had contacted several regional cities to see if they had ordinances to ban smoking at athletic parks. Bull reported that two cities he had contacted did have ordinances and the rest did not.

The committee also approved a motion to allow the ball fields at Municipal Park to be used by the Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for the Boots, Bands & BBQ concert which is to be held during the Maple Leaf Festival.

‘Course the farm kids I went to school with got some relief from workin’ the fields with a rain, so they got a little perk themselves. But, the soggy ground would sometimes lie in wait for the uninitiated.

A tractor is a strange machine. It’s capability of pull large loads is of little assistance when that power pulls the rear wheels into that mud hole you were warned not to approach. And when ya have ta walk back to the homestead and retrieve the farmer, the "I told you..." speech follows for years to come.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Here's A Tip
By JoAnn Derson

• What’s on sale during the wonderful month of October? Why, fishing gear, women’s coats, appliances and school supplies. You also can still get a good deal on remaining 2007 model cars as the 2008s roll into showrooms.

• "My mother swears by wrapping her feet in a vinegar-soaked rag once a week to soften calluses. She does this before her bath, and uses a pumice stone to rid her heels of hardened spots on the skin. It seems to work for her, so I thought I would pass it on!" -- C.D. in Colorado

• "I keep a plastic shoe box filled with writing supplies under the front passenger seat. There are notecards, paper and envelopes, stamps and even a small address book. I can write thank-you letters, pay bills or just keep in touch while I’m waiting in my car to pick up my kids from school." -- T.E. in Michigan

• "After a hard day’s work in the garden, I soak in a rosemary bath. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory, and it smells wonderful. I just add a few sprigs from my plant out back to very hot water, and then let the water sit for a while until it’s just warm. Then I get in. Heaven!" -- U.A. in Ohio

• "As the school year starts again, I would like to take the opportunity to encourage dads to come to visit their child’s classroom. We have lots of volunteers, but never as many as we need. We love for dads to be involved. I have been a teacher for many years, and although fathers have become much more involved than they used to be, we still need their presence in the classroom." --- T.L. in Illinois