Council Discounts Request.

The Carthage City Council rejected, during last Tuesday’s regular meeting, the Public Service Committee’s recommendation to offer a twenty-five percent discount on next year’s season pass to golfers who purchased a pass this year.

The Council had earlier approved a fourteen week extension of this year’s pass due to the Municipal Golf Course being unplayable for seven weeks during this year’s $1.5 million renovation. The Committee felt the extension did not adequately compensate players who purchased annual passes each year.

Traditionally annual passes have been sold in March, at the beginning of the season. Delaying the purchase until June, it was argued, was not any real savings to golfers.

The Council also discussed the possibility of renaming the course to make it more marketable.

Under the New Business portion of the agenda, the Council heard the first reading of a proposed agreement for consultant services with Bucher, Willis And Ratliff to prepare a master plan for the City Parks. The cost of the services would be $20,000.

NASCAR to the Max

The NASCAR Winston Cup Awards ceremony was held last Friday in New York City. Numerous awards are presented throughout the evening with the top 10 in the point’s standings each garnering a little special recognition and an opportunity to speak to the assembled crowd. The lion’s share of the evening however went to recognizing the season point’s champion, Tony Stewart. Though drivers by profession, many of the speakers attempt to intersperse their remarks with a little humor. Stewart held up his end of that bargain by wielding a camera and remarking that he had taken up a new hobby; a reference to his confrontation with a photographer he had after the race in Indianapolis. Stewart also used some self-effacing humor when he held up a document he claimed was his diploma from anger management classes. Stewart was required to take the classes after the aforementioned altercation and other physical and verbal confrontations with members of the media, other drivers and allegedly a few fans and track workers.

Stewart however had the last laugh; all the way to the bank. Stewart walked out of the banquet with a check totaling $4,305,607.00! The prize money comes from several sources including NASCAR and series title sponsor R.J. Reynolds Corp. When coupled with Stewart’s season winnings and other contingency awards, he took home $9,163,761.00 in prize money for the season.

Mark Martin, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon who finished second through fourth also took home checks of over one million dollars with them pocketing $1,721,988.00, $1,304,348.00, and $1,086,707.00 respectively in point fund money. To show the growth that has taken place in the sport over the past 20 years, NASCAR reported that in the 1983 season, the top 50 drivers combined season winnings didn’t match up to Stewarts 2002 total!

Though known for some time that Joplin native Jamie McMurray would drive for Chip Ganassi, the team just recently announced that McMurray’s car number will be 42 and the team will be headed by veteran crew chief Donnie Wingo. The team’s primary sponsor is ChevornTexaco’s Havoline brand motor oil.

In case ya started freakin’ out after yesterday’s Just Jake column, the Budget Committee did not vote to recommend an eight (8) cent sales tax. They voted to support an eighth (1/8) cent sales tax to be used for a proposed addition to the library.

It’s amazin’ how much just one letter can change the meanin’ of a word. (How now brown cow could change to Bow not brawn cot. I personally read the latter as bow like when a man bends from the waist, not as in a tie. ‘Course even so, I don’t know what any of ‘em mean.)

There seems ta be a lotta things that have ta be taken in context to get down to the real meanin’. Sometimes it makes a lotta sense to make sure ya take the time to understand before ya take a bow (tie, and arrow, or bend at the waist.)

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

I was driving to work recently, and my car overheated, which caused the engine to smoke and fail. I received no warning. The temperature gauge did not go up, and no lights came on. But my extended-warranty company is refusing to pay for the overhaul of the engine. They are stating that it was my thermostat that broke, and that since I drove the vehicle after it overheated, I was guilty of abuse, which is not covered. But if the gauge doesn’t tell me the thermostat is broken and the engine is overheating, then how am I supposed to take responsibility for it? It’s a 1999 Ford Explorer. I bought it eight months ago with 36,000 miles, and I got a warranty for an additional 24 months or 24,000 miles. It now has 47,000, so it’s still covered. What do you think? —Heather.

RAY: I think this is why "Judge Judy" was invented.

TOM: I don’t think they can know that a bad thermostat caused the overheating. It could be the exact opposite. It could be that the overheating ruined the thermostat. We’ve seen that happen, too. I think they’re just trying to weasel their way out of paying up, Heather. Have you ever read John Grisham’s "The Rainmaker?"

RAY: Here’s a plausible scenario: If the temperature gauge or the temperature sending unit, which sends the temperature to the gauge, were broken, then there’s no way you would have known that the engine was running hot. And in that case, they should pay not only for your engine, but for a new gauge, too.

TOM: If I were you, I’d have the vehicle towed to a mechanic you trust. Have him remove and test your TSU and your temperature gauge. If either is faulty, have him write a letter saying so.