An ordinance adopting the Annual Operating and Capital Budget of the City of Carthage for the fiscal year 2003-2004 passed Tuesday night at the bi-monthly City Council Meeting.

City Administrator Tom Short expressed concern about the economic status of the city in his introduction to the Annual Operating and Capital Budget

"Missouri’s economy is still taking a hit from the national economic recession and has lost 77,000 manufacturing jobs this year," said Short. "The City’s overall economic condition appears comparatively stable."

During the meeting, all council members voted yes to the budget except one. Council Member Ronnie Wells, Ward II, stated that the City was already in debt $3,300,00.

"I don’t want to increase our debt more than it is," Wells commented.

The Council appropriated $363,459 for General Administration; Police Department-$1,930,841; Street Department- $1,134,000; Engineering Department- $330,240; Fire Department- $1,236,949; Park Department- $344,405; Golf Course- $511,990. The total budget, including capital expenditures is $7,077,459.

NASCAR to the Max

The first of the season’s two NASCAR road races took place last weekend at the Infineon Raceway near Sonoma, CA.

The Dodge/Save Mart 350 takes place on the 10-turn, 1.949-mile road course and tests the versatility of the drivers and crews. Setting the cars up to handle left and right hand turns of various radii and banking and pit strategy challenge the crews while the infrequent opportunities to pass, frequent shifting and differing track configuration challenges the drivers.

Robby Gordon has proven to be an excellent road racer but has been hampered by bad luck at the two road courses. Two years ago at Sonoma, Gordon dominated the race only to see Tony Stewart slip by late in the race to claim the win.

Later that year at the other road course event, the battery that powers Gordon’s in-car camera exploded engulfing the interior of the car in flames forcing him out of the race while leading with few laps remaining. Needless to say, Gordon felt like he was due to win on a road course.

That win came Sunday; however it too was not without drama. Though NASCAR rules allow the drivers to race back to the start finish line once a caution flag is displayed, a "gentlemen’s agreement" between the drivers usually dictates that they maintain their position back to the line. Gordon maintains that he verified three times during the pre-race drivers meeting that racing to the line would be permitted. On lap 71 of the 110 lap feature, with Gordon in second position to teammate Kevin Harvick, an accident brought out the caution and Gordon passed Harvick before taking the yellow to claim the lead. Gordon never relinquished the lead and claimed his second career victory.

Though the pass may have been within the rules, Gordon’s move didn’t earn him many accolades from his peers. Gordon maintains that gentlemen’s agreements in NASCAR are suspect at best and only valid until a win is on the line.

The series is idle this weekend before resuming next weekend in Daytona, FL.

Used ta have a dog that would start shakin' all over and hide behind the couch whenever it started to thunder. No talkin' to that dog. Just wouldn't listen.

No matter how calm we spoke, or how much we petted that dog, it wouldn't move from it's security furniture.

I don't suppose it really hurt anything that the dog was so fearful of a rumble or two. There was somethin' that made us kids want to get the dog to face the thunder.

'Course we were prob'ly lucky not to be struck down by lightnin' durin' some of our adventures durin' rain storms.

I suppose now there would be some dog shrink tellin' us that we could somehow work the animal through its fears and make it a more functional pet. The dog lived a normal and healthy life. Sometimes you just have to let shakin' dogs lay.

This is some fact, but mostly

Just Jake Talkin'.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

By Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I recently purchased a new Mini Cooper S and was surprised to read in the owner’s manual that the break-in period for the engine is 1,200 miles. Until I reach 1,200 miles, I am supposed to vary my speed frequently, keep the tachometer under 4,000 rpm and keep the speed under 95 mph. I am not looking for a reason to circumvent the break-in period, but I am really curious as to why the break-in period is so long. What’s going on in the engine during this time? — David.

TOM: This is when the gerbils are in training, David. As I’m sure you know, they run around on their wheel, and that’s what makes the car go. But until they can build up their leg muscles, they can only do about 4,000 rpm. So give ‘em a break, will ya?

RAY: I think the gerbil wheel is what powers my brother’s brain. What’s happening during break-in is that the piston rings are "seating" to the cylinder walls.

TOM: What does that mean? Well, at the heart of the engine are your pistons. They look like soup cans, and they go up and down inside the cylinders. It’s crucial that there is a perfect, tight fit between the outside of the pistons and the inside of the cylinder walls.

RAY: So, the pistons are surrounded by spring-loaded rings, which push out against the walls and keep the seal tight. Otherwise, oil will get past the rings and you’ll "burn oil."

TOM: And the theory of "break-in" is this: If the rings and the cylinder walls don’t come out of the factory matching up perfectly, the break-in period gives them a chance to conform to each other during relatively "light duty" service (which involves going slowly and varying the speed).