Tuesday at 5 p.m. was the filing deadline for City Council and Carthage R-9 School Board seats. The only contested seat is for Forth Ward. Both Bill Welch, an incumbent and Bill Johnson, former City Council member have filed for that seat. Claude Newport an incumbent filed for the two year seat in the First Ward, David Woods for the unexpired one year term in the First Ward, Second Ward, Mike Harris; Third Ward, incumbent Jackie Boyer; and Fifth Ward, incumbent Don Stearnes.

Seven candidates have filed for the two available three year terms on the School Board. Those running are Jeff Jones, Michael Goolsby, R. Scott Hurrell, Roy Mason, Debbie Baugh, Mark Robinson and Mark Westhoff.

Six candidates have filed for the one year unexpired term vacated by Mike Wells. Those running are David Knost, David Wallace, Alex Boyer, and Stanley Walker. Robinson and Westhoff filed for both the one year term and the three year terms. If chosen for both, the person elected would have to decide which seat they wanted. The School Board would then have to appoint for the seat not taken until the next election.

AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL ON WHEELS.

news release

The staff of George Washington Carver National Monument invites the public to a historic demonstration of the Jesup Wagon known as "the agricultural school on wheels." The program is Saturday, January 24, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Visitor Center. The movable school of long ago was equipped with many items and information that helped farmers to adopt better farming practices. Monument visitors will see a replica of the wagon and a park ranger will share the history of farming in the south. Carver’s influence and teaching methods helped turn agriculture into a dependable livelihood for a multitude of people.

Administered by the National Park Service, an agency of the Department of Interior, George Washington Carver National Monument preserves the birthplace and childhood home of George Washington Carver, scientist, educator, and humanitarian.

The monument is located two miles west of Diamond, Missouri, on Highway V, then ½ mile south on Carver Road. For more information, please call the park at (417) 325-4151 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Although I don’t quite understand the strategy, accordin’ to school officials it is legal to run for two different seats on the Board in the same election.

Generally School Board members are elected by the most votes, not for a particular seat. With the vacancy created this year, there will be a separate election for the one year completion of that term. Kind of a side pot, if you’re a poker player.

The winner of the one year will have to run again next year for the regular three year term.

I suppose those runnin’ for both positions figure they’ve got nothin’ to loose.

I’m guessin’ the voters may not understand the same name on two ballots and be somewhat confused. It’s a hedge bet for the fence sitters post.

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 bought a 1991 Mazda 323 with 136,000 miles on it. I’m a student, so budget and function are more important to me than fashion! Anyway, when I stop for a light or turn the car off after driving for a while, faint white smoke is visible rising from the front of the hood, and there’s a distinct smell of burning rubber. Any ideas what this could be? Is it serious? — David.

RAY: It’s not serious to us, David. What do we care?

TOM: Fortunately, it’s probably not serious for you, either. My guess is that a small amount of oil is dripping from a leaky valve-cover gasket onto the hot exhaust manifold.

RAY: It takes very little oil (a drop or two can do it) to make enough smoke for you to see. And that smoke is simply wafting out through the grille when you stop the car. It’s actually wafting out all the time, but you can’t see it when you’re moving, because it’s dissipated by the wind. Kind of like my brother.

TOM: The smoke might appear white, but it should also have a slight bluish tinge to it. It would smell acrid. I wouldn’t describe it as "burning rubber," but I suppose it easy to confuse the two.

RAY: So, what do you do about it? Well, first, make sure you check the oil regularly. It’s probably leaking very slowly, but if you let the car run too low on oil, you’ll soon have no function, and only fashion. And that fashion will be the lawn sculpture formerly known as your Mazda.

TOM: If the car is otherwise in good shape and you plan to keep it forever, get a new valve-cover gasket the next time you have a hundred bucks lying around.