Today's Feature

New Faces In Council.

Carthage City Council met in a regular session on Tuesday and accepted results of the April 8 Municipal election. The old Council was adjourned after finishing old business and approving the appointment of new Carthage Police Chief Greg Dagnan. Retiring Council members Cyndi Curry, Mike Harris, Tom Flanigan and Bill Johnson received plaques from the City for their service as Council members.

Following a short recess, new and reappointed Council members Claude Newport, Larry Ross, John Studebaker, Timothy Teed and Keith Hurlbut were sworn in and the meeting reconvened. The new Council presented a plaque honoring Carthage Police Lieutenant Barry Duncan for filling the position of Interim Police Chief since November of last year.

Council also approved three resolutions preparing for the proposed annexation of property into the City. Council’s Budget Ways and Means Committee is in the process of reviewing a proposed Economic Development sales tax that would allow for the purchase of land for the purpose of establishing a 300-plus acre industrial park. The land is currently owned by Americold Logistics. A public hearing for the annexation will be held at the next Council meeting.

Comprehensive Plan Workshop Tonight.

Citizens of Carthage are invited to Memorial Hall this evening, April 24th at 7:00 p.m. to help determine the future of Carthage during a Comprehensive Plan Community Workshop.

The schedule of events includes the presentation of a draft Future Land Use Map. Participants will be asked to help prioritize strategies and tools available to the City.

Planning Works of Kansas City, Missouri is in contract with the City of Carthage to prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the City and information gathered during the Community Workshop is used in the process of creating the plan.

The Planning Works website contains further information about the work that has already been completed, as well as maps and a comment center. The address is www.ourplanningworks.com/Carthage

Mornin'

Ever notice that no matter how organized ya try ta be, there always has to be somethin’ that falls into the "Miscellaneous" category. After a while, most of us get enough miscellaneous of the same type to create its own category. Like the nail drawer or the glue box or the book shelf.

My grandparents had a roll top desk that acted as the collection point for most small miscellaneous items. I seldom got a look at exactly what was there ‘cause the roll top was always in the down position. I sneaked a peak a couple of times but was afraid to toll the top all the way up for fear some miscellaneous thing might fall out and hit my toe.

I’ve always wanted a roll top. I suppose the yearning is more from a practical point of view rather than nostalgia.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Click & Clack Talk Cars
By Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I have an ‘07 Chevy Cobalt. I like the car, especially because it’s red and has a spoiler. But it has an annoying feature. It has a computer that tells you various things, like your gas mileage, temperature, coolant level, etc. It also tells you your "oil life." But it never seems to catch on that I’ve already changed the oil.

I change the oil, and the light still tells me I need an oil change. I’ve changed the oil a dozen times or so already, and yet the computer keeps saying "change oil soon." OK, there are bigger problems in the world, like war, disease and pestilence, but this little beeping oil thing is driving me crazy. - Barbara

TOM: Isn’t it interesting how you can get obsessed with something so trivial? You have a little, tiny, insignificant problem with an otherwise perfectly good car. But once you notice it, you start to focus on it. And then war, disease and too-tight underwear all take a distant back seat.

RAY: Fortunately, this is an easy one, Barbara. There’s a reset procedure. Whoever is changing your oil doesn’t know how to perform the reset. If you’re going to a Pokey Lube-type place, those guys change the oil on 1,000 different types of cars a week, and they might not even know your oil-life light needs to be reset - not to mention knowing how to do it on your Cobalt.

TOM: This is going to sound like I’m pulling your leg, but I’m not. On this car, you turn your key to the "on" position (without starting the engine), and then press the gas pedal all the way down three times within seven seconds. Next, turn the key off, then start the engine. The light should go off after a few seconds. You might have to try it a few times to get it right. But that’s all you have to do.

RAY: And then, next time you go to the Pokey Lube, when the guy’s finished changing your oil, walk over and say, "Hey, lemme show you something interesting."