I need someone to come redo the inside of my house.

When I bought the house four years ago, it was basically a big pile of paneling and wood. My mom helps me work on it from time to time, but I've started so many projects that I've completely made a mess of my house. It's driving me nuts, and I can't take it anymore.

Someone come fix my house. For starters, I need my kitchen painted a nice array of blues. You can refinish the dining room walls, too. New plaster, please.

The living room walls could really use new paint, too. While you're at it, you can shampoo my carpet. Connor spilled juice and didn't tell me. Perhaps a new inside door?

As for my bedroom, you can put in new lighting and install a door. I wouldn't mind a closet door, either. The beaded curtain with the Eye of Horus design is annoying whenever I need to go in or out of it. Hangers and my hair keep getting caught in its tentacles. Feel free to install new curtains on the French doors. The ones I made are pathetic, to say the least.

When you get to my son's room, please remember he wants it blue. We call it "The Pickle Room" because it's dill pickle green. He chose that color, not me. I'm not taking the blame for that one. I think it's atrocious and it doesn't match anything. I can't imagine the amount of Kilz you're going to have to buy to rid that horrid mess.

The bathroom needs new paint and a new shower cabinet. Right now, the walls are painted to look like I'm under the sea -- bubble-blowing fish included. It was cute when Con was little, but now it's embarrassing.

My back steps need to be replaced, too. I almost fell down them the other day because one of the steps smooshed when I put my foot down. And I need a new storm door and inside door, too.

Ugh! Looking at this list makes me glad I'm not doing the work. After all, that's what I have you for, right? So when are you swinging by? It was worth a try.

I'm not the only one wearing a hard hat, I see.

The Norton County Telegram reported a house was being remodeled recently and pieces of history were discovered inside the walls.

Tom Hinds, a Norton carpenter, was renovating a house owned by Phil Volgamore. When he pulled the siding off, he found old newspapers inside the walls. Hinds thought maybe the papers were used as a moisture or wind barrier.

The papers, for example the Atwood Patriot and the Western Recorder from June 1900, were brittle from age, but were still legible.

The Telegram noted that the Recorder reported it was the official newspaper of the Southern Baptist Church with a circulation of 15,220. The paper was printed in Louisville, Ky.

A story about President McKinley graced the front page of a Patriot. According to an ad, a treadle sewing machine cost $18. Ladies underwear was only a dime.

As for other Norton County events:

* Bikes for Youngsters, a program at Norton Correctional Facility that restores donated bikes, is hosting a 20th-anniversary fundraiser. Tickets can be purchased at Felton's Ace Hardware and White Fields Coffee House to win one of more than 70 prizes donated by local merchants. Each chance is $1, or $5 for six tickets. The drawing is at 10 a.m. Aug. 8 at the Norton Correctional Facility administration building lobby. Winners need not be present.

* Norton was selected as a meeting location by the State Conservation Commission for putting into place the Water Right Transition Assitance Pilot Project Program. Meetings are to promote interest and awareness, inform the public and gather participation. They take place at 7 p.m. Aug. 7 and 15 at Norton Public Library. Details are at www.scc.ks.gov or at (785) 296-8964.

* A 4-H foods auction is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the 4-H building. Food made by 4-Hers will be sold, and if a 4-Her has a marketable animal, they can sell that instead if they choose. 4-Hers are allowed to keep the proceeds from one item, but proceeds from additional items sold by each 4-Her go to the Norton County 4-H Council.

Reporter Stacie R. Sandall can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 136, or by e-mail at

ssandall@dailynews.net.