Did Ya Know... Adult evening classes are available at the Carthage Technical Center. Estate Planning class meets one evening from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29. Computer classes meet on Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Did Ya Know... Casino Night will be at Stone’s Throw Community Theatre on Sat., Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, call 358-9665 or 358-7268.

Did Ya Know... The Family Literacy Council is offering an English class, skills building, and one-on-one tutoring. For information, call 417-358-5926 or stop by the office on 706 Orchard in Carthage.

Did Ya Know... Maple Leaf T-shirts are available by calling the Carthage Chamber at 358-2373.

Salesman: Of course, madam, we stand behind each bed we sell.

Newlywed: Hm - thank you. Could you show me something else?

A proverb for all banquet speakers - "The mind cannot accept what the seat cannot endure."

Patient: I sure hope I’m sick....

Doctor: What kind of an attitude is that?

Patient: Well I’d hate to feel like this if I’m well....

Jail Delivery At Joplin.

A Hole Made in the Wall Through Which Prisoners Escaped.

This morning's Joplin Globe says: "Last night about 11 o'clock the prisoners in the Joplin jail crawled out through a hole that two of them made in the rear of the jail near the door. Four of them went in search of the officers as soon as they got out to notify them of what had happened. When they found the officers they were told to go and crawl into jail again by the same route they got out. They did so and the police looked for Jim Marrs and Patsey Hogan, the men who had dug the hole through the wall. They were not found.

Their getting away is no great loss, but it is a sad commentary on the jail walls that prisoners can go through them so readily. A nozzle from a garden hose, used in scrubbing the jail, was the instrument employed in digging through the walls.

Business Structure Condemned.

A call from a neighbor yesterday morning was the first Don Sherron knew of his business being closed by the City. Sherron arrived at his appliance repair and sales shop to find a notice of condemnation. He has operated his business at the North Garrison location since 1994.

Sherron was also surprised because the building had been approved by fire inspectors only two days ago.

Assistant City Engineer Joe Butler told the Mornin' Mail that his department was making an effort to bring substandard structures into compliance with City code.

Sherron says repairs are scheduled.

"So far," said Butler, "the general reaction has been good from property owners as a whole."

Sherron doesn't dispute that the building needs attention. He says that he had help scheduled to come start repairs on October 1. His main objection was that he was not contacted before the building was condemned.

Butler said he was not aware of the particulars of this situation, but that the department would work with anyone who was making an effort to renovate a structure.

"Our goal is not to tear down buildings," said Butler, "we're working with everybody we can."

By the end of the day yesterday, Sherron reported that he had met with the Engineering Department and has 30 days to show progress.

The winners of the "Prettiest Painted Places" competition for communities throughout the U.S. were announced yesterday afternoon.

Carthage was named as one of the top five in the South-Central region, but Lafeyette Square in St. Louis won the honors in the 5,000 population and above category.

There will, no doubt be some publicity that comes from the competition that will make Carthage more known.

Beauty contests always have some hazards of course. There is the tendency to judge on the surface appearance alone and not take the time to see the depth of the contestants.

I'm not makin' any arguments about the winners, just the observation that it's less complicated paint than it is to build a sustainable structure and surroundin' community.

The acknowledgment that Carthage also looks good however, is a welcomed sign.

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

Click and Clack Talk Cars.

by Tom & Ray MagliozziDear Tom and Ray: I am looking to you to validate or refute a family myth. My father-in-law and mother-in-law believe in the phenomenon of sludge at the bottom of the gas tank. The family myth goes that you should never allow your tank to go below one-quarter full or all the sludge will get sucked up into the engine and destroy it.

I always thought this was a myth designed by parents who didn’t want their kids to run out of gas, and I dismissed it completely. But recently, my older sister revealed that our dad had told her the same thing! Is it true, or did two sets of parents on opposite coasts come up with the same urban myth? - Sharon.

Ray: While there usually is some condensed water at the bottom of the tank, that small amount of water doesn’t do any harm in the engine. And while there are often flakes of rust because of that water, there’s a filter that prevents them from getting sucked into the engine and ruining it. So it is a myth.

Tom: Plus, the thing that most people don’t realize is that you’re ALWAYS sucking gas from near the bottom of the tank. Why? Because that’s where the pickup sits.

Ray: It has to sit there. If the gasoline pickup was at the top of the tank, it would only work when the tank was completely full, right? Think about it.