The Restructure Has Begun.

The Carthage City Council voted last week to continue negotiations with CW&EP for the transfer of the old McCune Brooks Hospital building from the City to the utility company.

According to CW&EP General Manager Bob Williams, roofing crews have been contracted to replace the roof on the emergency room portion of the building and patch other areas on the main portion of the structure. He says the overall cost of this portion of the project will cost in the neighborhood of $160,000.

The roof on the emergency room portion will be completely removed down to the metal frame. Any damaged structure will be repaired or replaced.

"If we are going to be using this building," said Williams, "we want the job done right the first time."

Other work inside the building has begun that includes pulling old ceiling tiles and taking out portions of the dry wall that has absorbed moisture and become moldy.

Details of the transfer are still to be worked out, but the City was spending about $4,000 a month to maintain the building.

I can still remember the day I learned how to keep from fallin’ down on a bicycle. As you might notice I didn’t say I learned to ride. That would take a little longer. But by trial and error, which means fallin’ off, I learned how to jump off at times, put my feet down, and of course, how to roll when ya fall. The basic defensive maneuvers.

I prob’ly thought at the time I’d learned how to ride, but that came another day, after the bruises healed a might.

‘Course back then no respectable bike rider would be caught dead with a helmet or knee pads on. Ya took your lumps. Think I still have a couple as a matter a fact.

All those crashes came ta mind when I went to the skatin’ rink the other day. Don’t think I ever did learn how ta skate.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

---

 

---

This is a Hammer

Air Conditioners Keep Cool in the Shade

Q: My neighbor told me that I should cut back the trees and bushes around my central air unit because they could damage it. I have always heard that AC units should be well-shaded from the sun to prevent damage, and trees are the best natural shade. What do you say? -- Tracy D., Tampa, Fla.

A: I say you’re both right -- but the devil is in the details.

Your outside cooling unit -- typical for central air conditioning -- works best when it doesn’t have to labor against the direct heat of a hot summer sun. Putting walls and a roof around the unit is impractical and can cause the it to overheat (in addition to other venting issues), so sitting outside is optimum.

Because of this, you’re right -- trees and shrubbery can create the best shade, allowing air to flow around the unit while blocking the direct rays of the sun.

However, an air conditioning unit has several vents and intakes built into it. Outdoor units can handle temporary issues like rain. But when solid objects get through the vents, big problems can occur. The most common problem with outdoor units is caused by leaves, twigs or related debris getting inside the unit and damaging moving parts. So, with that in mind, your neighbor is right.

How can you compromise between these two opposites? Keep the trees and shrubs, but prune the shrubs well back from the air conditioning unit -- about 6 inches to a foot -- and have a tree-trimming service thin out the branches of the surrounding shade trees (normal tree maintenance should be fine).

Three to four times a year -- or once a month if you’re using the air conditioning every day for a prolonged period -- check the outside unit and clear away fallen leaves, cobwebs and other debris from the top and sides (turn the unit off before doing this).

HOME TIP: Central air conditioning units need good airflow to work properly, but also need to be shaded from the sun