Council Legalizes Feral Cat Colonies.

The City council vote 8-2 to adopt the "Feral Cat" ordinance Tuesday evening at its regular meeting in City Hall. Members Dan Rife and Wayne Campbell voted against.

The ordinance will allow registered caregivers to feed and care for feral cat colonies within the city. Feral cats are typically either domesticated cats that have been abandoned or run off, or cats born without being associated with humans. They seldom can be tamed to the point of being adopted by humans unless they are captured at a very young age.

The objective of the ordinance, according to promoters of the program, is to trap, neuter, and release feral cats. The idea being that eventually the populations will decrease by natural attrition, and those cats that are left will be healthier and less of a nuisance.

The ordinance requires caregivers to monitor the colonies, report quarterly on results, and attempt to obtain an 80% vaccination rate among the colony.

The City retains the right to capture any cat that is seen to be diseased or becomes a nuisance.

NASCAR THIS WEEK

By Monte Dutton

Sponsored by Chad's Garage

So, So Close for Sam

Briefly, it appeared as if Sam Hornish Jr. might pull the Pennsylvania 500 out of his hat. Or helmet.

When all the leaders pitted late in the season’s latter Pocono Raceway event, Hornish’s Dodge remained on the track. Then it began raining. Had the rain not dissipated, Hornish would have won for the first time at NASCAR’s highest level.

It didn’t happen. Hornish yielded the lead to Greg Biffle, who ran away from the field in the final laps. Without the benefit of having pitted for fresh tires, Hornish slumped to an 11th-place finish.

Hornish’s career best was a fourth-place finish at Pocono on Aug. 3, 2009.

A native of Defiance, Ohio, Hornish switched full-time to NASCAR in 2008 after winning two Indy Racing League championships and the 2006 Indianapolis 500. The Sprint Cup going has been tough. Hornish finished 35th in the 2008 point standings and was 28th in ‘09. Through 21 races this year, he ranks 27th.

"I feel like some of that is due to me," said Hornish. "I feel like some of that is just the transition from the old car to the new (NASCAR chassis design) and how the team did it.

"We’ve had highs and lows. We go out there and lead laps, go out there and finish fourth. ... I feel like we can do it, it’s just how do we get a little more luck on our side. We have to take our bad days and make them a 20th. Thirty-fifth-place bad days are what kill us."

Before the season began, Hornish answered questions about the NASCAR experiment of another prominent IRL driver, Danica Patrick.

Speaking from the perspective of someone who knew, Hornish said, "I’m sure she’s not going to have any problems dealing with the media. Racing out there on the track is a different thing. Running against 42 other cars ... I wish her well."

The Sprint Cup Series represents the big leagues of American racing. "Nobody’s going the other way," said Hornish, referring to the IRL.

Though his strategy didn’t quite work, Hornish had one of his better, if disappointing, days at Pocono.

"We’ve been playing catch-up," he said, "and we want to get to the point where people play catch-up to us."

They say that workin’ with your hands frees up one side of the brain or the other and allows ya to think better. I suppose that’s why folks like diggin’ in a garden or workin’ with wood from time to time. I’m not sure that typin’ helps much however, or there would be a lot more fresh ideas bein’ published on a regular basis.

I’d have ta guess that quiltin’ circles are fertile ground for enhanced thinkin’. Knittin’ would seem ta me to occupy a fair about of dexterity to really let the creative juices flow.

The activities to keep idle hands busy are endless. Whittlin’ a stick down to a tooth pick was always relaxin’ for me. Some folks think that there is supposed ta be some tangible results from such activities, but mostly it’s just a personal thing. ‘Sides, ever’one needs a tooth pick now and then.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Weekly Columns

CLICK and CLACK

TALK CARS

Dear Tom and Ray:

I recently was advised to use a much lighter weight of oil than I am used to using. I was told I should use 5-20 weight oil in my 2007 Pontiac Solstice convertible. I grew up in Minnesota, where this was considered "winter weight" oil. For summer, we all went up to 20-40 or 30-50 weight. Now I live in northern Georgia, and 5-20 weight just sounds awfully thin -- especially in summer. So, is the mechanic trying to ruin my engine? Or have things changed since I was 16? Thank you. - Richard

Tom: Things have changed since you were 16, Richard. I mean, start by taking a look at your hairline.

Ray: Oils have changed, too. They’ve gotten significantly better in the past 30 years. The improvements in their ability to lubricate and resist high-temperature breakdown have allowed manufacturers to make engines that run on these lighter-weight oils. And lighter oils mean less internal engine friction, which means better gas mileage.

Tom: that’s why Pontiac itself suggest you use 5w-20 in your Solstice. You can use a heavier oil if you want to, but you won’t get the intended fuel economy, and in cold weather you won’t get the engine protection that your manufacturer is counting on.

Ray: So I’d use 5w-20, Richard. Since it’s the manufacturer’s recommended oil, it certainly won’t do any harm to your engine.

Tom: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try some 5w-20 on your hairline.