Firefighter Memorial Funded.

The City Council Public Safety Committee met last Monday evening.

Fire Chief Thompson advised the committee that Coachlight RV committed a $2,500 donation that Jerry Perry matched for the fire department to complete the firefighter memorial. The committee approved.

The Chief explained that three flagpoles would be erected and lighted and the memorial would be complete by February 17th so that a candle light service could be held in memory of Steve Fierro.

The Committee also voted to accept the low, alternate bid received from Conrad Fire in the amount of $10,466.60 for fire hose as bid; 4" supply hose, 3" attack hose and 1-3/4" attack hose all with abrasion impregnation. The recommendation will be forwarded to the full Council.

Chief Thompson reported to the committee that a donation of equipment; a patch and repair kit for haz-mat equipment was being given to the fire department from Butterball. Carthage fire is the primary haz-mat team for Butterball. The Committee voted to accept the donation.

NASCAR THIS WEEK

By Monte Dutton

Best NASCAR Quotes of 2010

--"We’ve got a lot of racing left, but when we’re winning at places we’re not supposed to, you better watch out." -- Jimmie Johnson, after winning the Food City 500 at Bristol.

--"I like Jimmie as good as anybody, but for the sake of the sport, one of the two of us (Harvick, Hamlin) needs to make something happen." -- Kevin Harvick, during the Chase.

--"Two tires won the race, but when you’ve got two tires in dirty air, it’s no good." - Dale Earnhardt Jr., after finishing eighth in the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas.

--"The ‘48’ (Johnson) is testing my patience. I’m hard to get mad, and I’m (ticked) off." -- Jeff Gordon, after the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega.

--"If we’d have kept those guys a lap down, that would’ve been selfish." -- Dave Rogers, winning crew chief, on allowing a mass ‘wave-around" during an early caution period in the Heath Calhoun 400 at Richmond.

--"When you play at home, that’s when you want to win the most." -- Tony Stewart, from Columbus, Ind., at Indianapolis.

--"He’s real aggressive. That’s cool, but when he starts affecting me with his aggressiveness ... I just will not put up with it. I’ve been around here long enough. I just will not tolerate it." -- Jeff Burton, referring to Kyle Busch, after Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.

--"There’s just a pit that develops in your stomach and doesn’t go away. It’s the championship pit, and it’s there." -- Jimmie Johnson.

--"Points? I chipped away, but I didn’t chip away much." -- Kyle Busch, after a fourth at Martinsville.

--"In the World Series, when a pitcher’s not doing his job, they put another one in that can." -- Jimmie Johnson, referring to pit-crew swap at Texas.

--"I wonder if anyone else will ever win five of these things in a row, but next year we’re going for six, so away we go." -- owner Rick Hendrick, after Johnson extended his consecutive championships.

--"I won’t turn on the television, watch any racing. Remove myself from it. I know what I need to do, what my team has to do. I don’t want to hear what anybody else has to say." -- Jimmie Johnson, before the final race.

--"I don’t know if part of that is coincidence, or just that those guys who win championships are really good. I don’t know, but it is a difficult race track. You have to do everything right." -- Matt Kenseth, noting the overlap of Indy winners and Cup champions.

I never knew exactly why they call it the "dog days of summer," but I’m certainly aware of what it is.

Poor animal gets all the blame.

Durin’ sports as a kid, the coach always accused players of "doggin’ it." That of course indicated someone who wasn’t puttin’ out a hunderd percent.

The most famous reference to the k-9 in recent times I suppose is the "Three Dog Night." I understand that is in reference to a night so cold ya gotta sleep with three dogs to keep warm. Comforting thought.

‘Course Mark Twain’s statement about someone referrin’ to Twain’s k-9 ancestry on his mother’s side of the family has been around a while.

I suppose bein’ man’s best friend isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Weekly Columns

CLICK and CLACK

TALK CARS

Dear Tom and Ray:

You recently answered a question about whether it’s harmful to let your gas tank run down to empty. You said it’s not harmful to the car, and it won’t cause any damage. Eric Peters, a Washington D.C., based automotive columnist, recently stated in the periodical Bottom Line/Personal that, and I quote here: "Most gas tanks are made out of metal, and a partially empty fuel tank is prone to rust. Rust particles flake off and can clog fuel filters, fuel lines and fuel injectors, leading to costly repairs. In addition rust can eat through the tank causing leaks.."

So what gives? Are you two right and still my heroes and this guy is an idiot, or is he right and you two are idiots? -Fred

Ray: Well, you already know we’re idiots, Fred. But in this case, Mr. Peters’ information is badly out of date.

Tom: In the old days, when tanks were metal and were vented to the outside air, rust and other particles were a problem. That’s why cars had fuel filters - to keep that stuff out of the fuel lines and injectors.

Ray: But for more than a decade now, most fuel tanks have been made of plastic. Even the fuel lines that carry the gasoline from the tank to the engine are now plastic.

Tom: Rust is such a non-issue now that most cars don’t even HAVE fuel filters anymore. There’s a "sock" filter on the fuel-pump intake in the tank - in case an irate neighbor pours a plate of stuffed clams into your tank - but that’s it.

Ray: So our opinion is, it’s fine to run the car down to empty. If that makes you happy, go for it. Just don’t call us to pick you up when you run out of gas, Fred.