2001 Ragtime Celebration
in Carthage.

Main Street Carthage has announced the following lineup for the 2001 Carthage Ragtime Celebration. The featured performers will be Swedish Ragtimers Peter Lundberg and Kjell Waltman, Classic Rag Artist J. Hamilton Douglas, America’s Ragtime Virtuoso Steven E. Spracklen, World-Famous "Ragtime" Bob Darch and Carthage’s own Susan Spracklen Cordell.

The Celebration will be held August 31 through September 2, 2001 in Carthage, MO. Special discounts on room rates will be provided for incoming festival-goers by The Carthage Econo Lodge. For ticket information or questions concerning the festival, please write to Program Director Susan Cordell of the Carthage Good Neighbor,
P.O. Box 1057, Carthage, MO, email cgn@gbronline.com or call Main Street Carthage at 417-358-4974.

Carthage Area United Way Chairmen.

Bob Copeland and Dennis Veach have been named general campaign chairman and vice chairman of the 2001-2002 Carthage Area United Way Campaign. This year’s goal is $270,000 to be distributed among seventeen area health and human services agencies.

Copeland is the Chief Executive Officer of McCune-Brooks Hospital and past president of the Board of Directors for the Carthage Chamber of Commerce. He is also involved in Rotary, Leadership Carthage, Community Clinic of Carthage and First United Methodist Church.

Dennis Veach is the Chief of Police for the Carthage Police Department. He is also involved locally with Rotary, Family Literary Council, Caring Communities of Carthage and Carthage R-9 Schools Health Advisory Committee.

There is prob’ly nothin’ more traumatic a thing than pickin’ sides as a kid.

Course, after a couple a choices, then there are two to three huddlin’ together decidin’ who’s gonna be picked next. Now we have humiliation by committee.

Even worse than bein’ last is when some well meanin’ captain says somethin’ like, "Ok, we’ll take him and give you Jimmy, and still be able to beat ya."

There’s little doubt that choosin’ sides is a fair undertakin’. Each side ends up with a fairly equal alignment for competition.

Sometimes, just for kicks, it was fun to let Jimmy and the next to last pick be captains. Usually we ended up with about the same team, ever’one just felt better.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom & Ray:

I own a 1991 Honda Accord with 37,000 miles on it. Last week when it was in for a valve adjustment, it was discovered that the cam shaft oil seal was leaking. Oil has gotten all over the timing belt. The mechanic suggested that the oil should rapidly deteriorate the timing belt, and that I should have the timing belt, and oil seal replaced soon to prevent possible further engine damage. I intend to keep the car for another five years or so. What would you recommend? - John

Ray: I’d go right ahead and replace the seal and the belt, John. But it’s not an emergency. I mean, I wouldn’t rate it at the same level of urgency as, say, running out of toilet paper.

Tom: You can do it at your convenience. The belt will not "rapidly deteriorate." It’s designed to work OK even with some oil on it. After all, it’s housed in the presence of all of those oil seals. Over time, it may deteriorate some, but it’s not going to happen in few hundred miles.

Ray: On the other hand, we recommend changing the timing belt at 60,000 miles anyway. Plus, you have an oil leak. And if you were to run too low on (or out of) oil, you could do serious engine damage. Not to mention all those unsightly blemishes on your garage floor!

Tom: So since you are going to keep the car for another five years, why not fix it right away and not have to worry about it ever again? There’s no advantage to waiting. And while they’re in there, spend an additional 20 bucks and have them change the crank shaft seal too.