Did Ya Know... Sign-up for the Winter Reading Club will continue through Jan. 16 at the Young People’s Library.

Did Ya Know... Today the Family Literacy Council will begin gift wrapping packages at Wal-Mart from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Did Ya Know... The Christmas Lighting Contest judging is Fri., Dec. 12. Applications are available at the Carthage Chamber office.

Did Ya Know... Video & Slide Programs are available to teachers at the Powers Museum;call 358-2667.

Employer: Why do you ask me for a raise? Employee: Sir, I wouldn’t ask for a raise but somehow my kids found out that other families eat three times a day.

College boy to his mother: "I decided that I want to be a political science major and that I want to clean up the mess in the world!"

"That’s very nice," purred his mother. "You can start with your room."

Husband: Why do you weep and snuffle over a TV program and the imaginary woes of people you have never met?

Wife: For the same reason you scream and yell when a man you don’t know makes a touchdown.

Attended the Governor’s Reception.

The officers who attended Governor Stone’s annual reception at Jefferson City Thursday evening returned this morning on the Missouri Pacific. There were about seventy-five officers from various parts of the state present and the Carthage delegation report a most enjoyable visit. The officers had a meeting while in Jefferson City with the object of organizing for pushing a bill through the state legislature for the more favorable recognition of the state militia, but no definite action was taken. The Carthage officers who attended were: Col. W. K. Caffee, Captains A. B. Deutsch, Joe McMillian, John McMillan, and J. W. Halliburton.

J. S. Williams leaves this evening for Ottawa, Kan., to visit his brother a day or so. From there he will go to Colorado City, Col., where he will locate for the present.

Tree Seedling Distribution

Release by Jasper County Outreach

and Extension Center

The Jasper County Outreach and Extension Center now has order forms for seedling trees and shrubs. For 50 years the George O. White State Forest Nursery near Licking, MO., has offered Missouri residents a variety of seedlings for wildlife habitat, food and cover; reforestation; windbreaks and erosion control. The application lists the species that are available and the price. It also outlines the ordering procedure.

In addition to individual species choices, several bundles of mixed species, designed for special purpose plantings, may be purchased. These include a wildlife cover bundle, a conservation bundle and a naturescaping bundle.

It is important to place orders as soon as possible because reservations for trees are made on a "first-come, first-serve" basis. The time you place your order - not the delivery date - determines your priority for reserving trees. A few species may not be available this year. So, to be sure of getting the species desired, order now. Trees will be delivered by purchaser’s choice of one or two methods:

* Free shipment by commercial carrier.

* Purchaser may pick up trees at the George White Nursery near Licking, MO.

Persons planning to make large plantings may wish to request free advice from the Missouri Department of Conservation Forester or Wildlife Services Biologist for their area. These individuals may be contacted through the Missouri Department of Conservation District Office, Neosho or by writing directly to State Forester, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

The Jasper County Outreach and Extension Center is located in the Courthouse Basement, Carthage. For information, call 358-2158.

Festival of Trees

Release by Powers Museum

The Christmas Committee of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce and the Powers Museum are hosting the second annual "Festival of Trees" until December 14 at the museum at 1617 West Oak Street.

This year the featured trees are "table-top" size and are being auctioned by silent bids. Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite tree. A prize will be given to the top-voted tree’s sponsor and another prize will be given to a lucky visitor participating in the voting. Proceeds go to benefit the sponsoring group and the Chamber's Christmas Committee.

Participants this year are Mimosa Garden Club, Family Literacy Center, Ozark Area Girl Scout Council, Carthage Business & Professional Women, Jasper County FCE Council, Sunshine Home, Powers Museum and the Carthage Chamber of Commerce.

Shop Downtown Carthage First

Press release by Main Street Carthage

Many unique specialty shops and eateries in Downtown Carthage will remain open late each Friday till 8:00 p.m. for your Christmas Shopping Convenience.

Find that perfect gift in the warm atmosphere and friendly services available in Downtown Carthage. Browse the decorated shops then stop for a bite or something warm to drink.

Also tour the City’s Lights with Santa in an hour long ride on the Red Double-Decker Bus leaving the NE Inside Corner of the Square at 5:30, 7:00 and 8:15. Tickets are $1.50 per person with the little ones under 5 FREE. Large groups are encouraged to make reservations by calling the Main Street Carthage Office at 358-4974.

Businesses open till 8:00 each Friday include:

Country Craft Mall, Home Remedy of Carthage, The Lily Pad, Carthage Deli and Ice Cream, The Fix Coffee Bar & Gifts, Carthage Hardware & The Registry, Remember When Antiques, The PC Place, Corner Cupboard Antiques, Bee Discount & Variety, Poor Richards, Imagine Gallery of Fine Art, Allan’s Antique Mall, From the Heart Crafts, Blue & Gray Cafe, Victorian Gal1ery, Morning Star Market, The Flower Basket & Eatery.

Many of these shops are open Sunday afternoon.

Holiday and Year-end Closing

Time is about to run out for those wishing to visit the Powers Museum’s 1997 exhibit on Carthage in the 1930’s. Greeting cards, gift-wrap, Christmas tree decorations from the decade of the Great Depression have been added for the holiday season.

The museum is normally open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; however, the museum will be open Monday December 20 for an extra day of public viewing.

The Powers Museum will close December 24 & 25 to honor the Christmas holiday. The museum will re-open December 26 but will close for the 1997 season at 5 p.m. December 28.

Anyone needing access to the library resources of the museum while it is closed can call 358-2667 for an appointment or e-mail the museum at pmuseum@getonthe.net with their reference questions.

Worked with a guy once that showed such a fear for snakes that coworkers would toss pieces of rope at him just to watch him yell and squirm. They’d sneak a rubber snake into his lunch box and all try to be around when he opened it. Even guys who had some sympathy couldn’t pass an occasional rattlin’ of a paper sack next to the guy just ta watch him jump. Ever’one would have a big laugh.

I got ta thinkin’ after a while the guy would catch on and at least try to ignore such pranks, but he would always give the anticipated reaction. I have ta figure that at some point he started likin’ the attention and played up to the "snake hater" image a bit.

‘Course a lotta folks learn what buttons ta push ta make acquaintances squirm a little, they are just a little more subtle. They toss out the bait and see if anyone bites. After a while ya have ta question the judgment or the motives of someone who gets hooked too often.

This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.

by Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray:

I had a problem with my ’90 Chevrolet Suburban. For a period of approximately one-month, I could not get the engine started. I’d turn the key and nothing at all would happen. When I moved the shift handle slightly, it would start immediately. The garage insisted that I needed a starter, which they put in. Since then, the car has started fine. But could you tell me why moving the shift handle would affect the starter? - John

Ray: It wouldn’t, John.

Tom: If we give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they didn’t set out to rip you off from the beginning, here’s what probably happened: They didn’t diagnose your problem correctly. They didn’t listen, didn’t hear, or didn’t believe you when you told them about moving the shifter. They put in the new starter, and, lo and behold, the Suburban STILL wouldn’t start.

Ray: After smacking themselves in the forehead a couple of dozen times, someone realized that moving the shifter DID allow it to start, and they realized that what you had really needed all along was a new "neutral safety switch." That’s an $11 safety device that prevents the car from being started unless the transmission is in Park or Neutral. And when it begins to fail, jiggling the shifter or putting it in Neutral will often allow you to start the car.

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