Tax Increase Passed.

Voters in Carthage, Tuesday voted in favor of the three-sixteenths of one percent sales tax increase. The results were 589 in favor and 286 not in favor of the sales tax increase. The tax increase is to generate money for the renovation, expansion and operation of the Carthage Public Library. The tax will not take effect until the Library Board has secured $2 million in private funding sources. The board has until November 5th 2004 to secure the money.

"We plan to start raising the money as quick as we can and with as much help as we can," said Library Board President Rod Hendrickson.

The Carthage Library Foundation and the Library Board plan to have a meeting November 10th to start making plans for the fund-raising explained Hendrickson. He said there are also a couple of Foundations interested in the project but were holding off to see how the vote went.

"We were pleased with the two to one margin in favor, that is a positive factor, and shows how much support we have," said Hendrickson.

NASCAR to the Max

The NASCAR tour visited one of their most picturesque venues with Sunday’s running of the Checker Auto Parts 500 from Phoenix (AZ) International Raceway. The track is bordered on two sides by mountains with one of the mountains serving as general admission seating. During the race the mountain side is covered with tents, lawn chairs and thousands of fans scattered throughout the native cactus and other vegetation. The 110,000 fans that attended the race saw a record number of caution periods, 10 for 66 laps, but between the cautions saw some of the season’s best racing. The relatively flat one-mile oval allowed many side-by-side battles for position throughout the day. On lap 241, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. had slipped into second place behind race leader Jimmie Johnson. Earnhardt, Jr. stalked Johnson for over 20 laps waiting for the leader to make a mistake and allow an opening. Johnson ultimately slipped slightly out of the preferred lower racing line allowing Earnhardt, Jr. an opening to sneak by for the lead. Earnhardt, Jr. maintained the lead through a series of late race caution periods and claimed his second win of the season.

Matt Kenseth maintained his lead in the season’s point championship. Kenseth needs only to finish 30th or better in the final two races to claim his first championship. Earnhardt, Jr. currently resides in second place, 228 points behind Kenseth. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Ryan Newman round out the top five with positions two through five only separated by 101 points.

The teams are getting to see the country side the past few weeks. Following last weeks race in Atlanta, GA they trekked cross country to Phoenix and now head back across the country as they prepare for their second visit of the season to Rockingham, NC. The one-mile oval is paved with granite aggregate which is extremely abrasive to tires. Tire management will be a frequently heard phrase this weekend as the teams try to mount a late season charge for a win. Dale Jarrett claimed the victory here is the spring race.

The way I understand it, the sales tax won’t be increased until the Library has secured it’s private match for their expansion.

When that goal is reached, the City will then have to issue some type of financin’ package and use the tax increase to pay it off.

‘Course the City has an interest in this deal too. If there should be an increase in business activity and the overall sales tax revenue grows, there is a chance that the new increase generate more than the Library needs for its project. In that case the City may be able to use some of the increase for the parks system or storm water runoff projects.

‘Course if the overall sales tax drops off, the City is still on the hook for the financin’.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

By Tom and Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

My girlfriend, who lives in Maine, insists that her all-wheel drive Subaru is safer in the snow than my Buick LeSabre with front-wheel drive. I maintain that my Buick has anti-lock brakes, which makes it safer than her car. Who is right? — John

TOM: Well, it depends. Are you going or are you stopping?

RAY: It’s not a simple question, John. ABS certainly helps you stop more safely in snow. By automatically pumping each brake for you, and doing it faster and more accurately than a human could ever do, ABS also allows you to brake and steer at the same time, even in snow. This helps you avoid skidding into things when you stop, and it’s an excellent safety feature. So we’ll give the Buick a point there.

TOM: The all-wheel drive of the Subaru, however, will help you go in the snow because it offers superior traction. It also helps on corners, where the Subaru is easier to control. So you’d be less likely to skid while turning. And I’d say overall, the Subaru is more likely to get you to your destination in the snow, which can be a safety advantage. After all, getting home is safer than being stranded in a snowstorm. So, advantage: Subaru.

RAY: Then you have to consider passive safety. When you’re driving in snow, you also have to worry about other cars hitting YOU. You don’t say what year these cars are, but let’s assume they both have driver and passenger air bags. However, the full-size LeSabre is heavier. And heavier cars generally do better in crashes than lighter cars. So, advantage: Buick.