Today's Feature
"Wit’s End."

Carthage resident Ward Kuentzel spoke before the City Council during the citizen’s participation period of Tuesday’s meeting. Kuentzel began by saying that there was a serious epidemic in the City, and that his son Ward, who was also in attendance of the meeting, had been taken to the hospital recently to be treated for "Cat Scratch Fever" as a result of contact with a squirrel. He clarified that he was not speaking of the song made popular by "Motor City Madman" Ted Nugent. Kuentzel said squirrels are in abundance in his neighborhood and house and that their presence is a risk to his family.

"I think it’s partly your responsibility to help," said Kuentzel. "I’m at my wit’s end."

According to Kuentzel, squirrels have eaten through his siding to get into his attic, chewed through the electrical wiring in his house, eaten the insulation, and caused approximately $15,000 in damage to his historic home built in 1881.

"They’re vicious," said Kuentzel speaking of the potential dangers of catching a squirrel in his house.

Kuentzel told of his actions from the past few months, citing calls to the Police Department and Animal Control without any tangible assistance from either. He was informed that it was illegal to poison or shoot the squirrels, but also was told that neither department would come to assist in ridding his house of the infestation.

He said he was put on a list to receive an animal trap from the City, but after waiting two months and he purchased his own. In the four months after purchasing the trap, he said he had caught 18 squirrels and killed them.

He said that if someone didn’t offer a solution he would turn to an attorney. He further said that he had been poisoning the squirrels even though he knew it was against the law because he feared for the safety of his family.

Mayor Kenneth Johnson told Kuentzel that the Council members were not allowed to offer suggestions at that point, but recommended that he attend the next Public Safety meeting and bring the matter before the Committee. Kuentzel said he would rather go to his lawyer and the media than wait a month with the squirrels still in his house.

I remember tryin’ to follow one particular ant to see where he’d end up, but they always made it to a grassy patch and I’d lose ‘em. Wherever they were goin’, they never seemed to find much. The ones comin’ back seldom had anything with ‘em either. Just out for a walk I guess.

I suppose it’s like the guy on Laugh In used to say, "I like dogs better than fleas because ya don’t have to bend over so far to pet them.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

By Tom and Ray Magliozz

Dear Tom and Ray:

We have a ‘95 Toyota Camry LE with a V-6 engine. I just got off the phone with my husband and he told me he parked his car at his office this morning, removed something from the trunk and walked away with not only the key left in the ignition, but the car still running! The parking attendant came into the office with his car key - six hours later! I am bringing the car in on Wednesday for new brakes and an oil change, but I’d like to know beforehand what potential damage could have occurred while it was idling for six hours. I don’t necessarily want to tell the Toyota mechanic for fear that he will use it as an excuse for some major repair. So, please let me know if I should bring it in for repairs, or push it off a cliff. Many thanks. - Vivienne.

RAY: The car will be fine, Vivienne. But you might want to push the husband off a cliff.

TOM: No damage was done at all, if we exclude your husband’s ego. As long as the cooling system is working like it should, a car can idle practically forever without sustaining any damage.

RAY: After all, if you drove the car for six hours, you wouldn’t push it off a cliff, would you? And idling is a lot easier on the car than actual driving.

TOM: So, it is your husband who needs the attention, Vivienne. He needs less stress in his life. Sign him up for a yoga class. But when he goes, remind him to take the car key in with him.

Racing

By Greg Zyla

Nextel Cup "Playoff" Was a Success

Q: Now that the Nextel Cup season is over, how do you like the new "playoff" point system? You were a big supporter of it, and you predicted Jeff Gordon would win the title. Had NASCAR stayed with the old point system, you would have been right! — Jerry S., New Port Richey, Fla.

A: Jerry, I’m still a supporter of the new point system "playoff." It sure adds lots of drama to those last races, and this year’s champ, Kurt Busch, certainly earned his championship.

Luck, too, always plays a role. Had he not barely missed hitting the pit entry wall when his wheel broke, and had the wheel and tire not somehow found their way to the front straightaway for a critical yellow flag that allowed him to stay on the lead lap, Busch would not have won the championship. Then, everyone held their collective breaths those last 10 laps, depending on who you were a fan of. A flat tire, blown engine or contact with another driver would have possibly reversed everything.

Drama is what NASCAR was after with the new point system, along with the better TV ratings. I feel they made the right choice.

Senior News Line

By Matilda Charles

When Children Move Back Home

Eighty million households have adult family members that have moved home. Job loss and divorce are the main reasons adult children find it necessary to move back in with their parents, which means that 80 million households have had to make some adjustments.

If you’re faced with this situation, you need to ask yourself some hard questions, the first being: Do I really want an adult child moving back home? Depending on the individual circumstances (both yours and your child’s), you might decide that the answer is no, that your adult child will have to continue to make his or her own way.

But if your answer to that questions is yes, a series of issues needs to be ironed out, this time between you and your adult child. After all, this child isn’t the same one you sent out into the world, and the relationship dynamics are going to be very different from when you were raising him or her.

Here are some concerns that need to be addressed in advance:

• What is the time limit? Establish the length of time your adult child has to get back on his or her feet, and decide on a specific date for moving out.

• How much will your adult child contribute to the household, if not in dollars, then in having regular responsibilities in the home?

• What are the specific steps your adult child will take toward the goal of getting back on his or her feet?

Having an adult child move back home can be a more pleasant experience if you remember one thing first and foremost: It’s your home.