4th Ward Council Member Resigns.

The work session scheduled for tomorrow evening by the City Council to discuss the proposed changes to the Police and Firemen’s Pension plan will also serve as the venue to discuss the acceptance of a 4th Ward Council member Ron Ferguson. Ferguson submitted his letter of resignation last Wednesday to City Hall.

Mayor Kenneth Johnson said that he talked to Ferguson on Thursday but there was no retraction of the resignation. Former Council member Bill Welch will be nominated by the Mayor to fill the unexpired term.

During last Tuesday’s regular Council meeting Ferguson began to speak concerning an amendment to the Police and Firemen’s Pension fund that was to be voted on that evening. Ferguson served on the Carthage Police Department from September of 1984 until September of 1992.

Mayor Johnson interrupted Ferguson and stated that the amendment might directly affect Ferguson and that he should abstain from the discussion. Ferguson raised his hands and did not discuss or vote on the Council bill. It passed with a 9-0 vote by the remainder of the Council.

My uncle thinks that there should be some way ta install a large, spring powered flywheel in a car. He figures it would work somethin’ like a clock, ya wind it up and it provides a constant, clean, inexpensive power. I suppose if it was positioned right, it would also act as a gyroscope to keep the vehicle from turnin’ over easily.

There would no doubt be some technical difficulties to be overcome, but the idea has grabbed my thoughts from time to time.

The basic premise, of course, is to take advantage of momentum. That mysterious source of energy that wants to continue motion once it is initiated.

I’ve always worried that my uncle’s clockmobile would stop short of the top of a hill and reverse momentum would win.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Finding Termites

Q: Do I have to call a professional termite inspector just to check for the possibility of these pests around my house? Or can I inspect the house myself? — Chuck M., Dothan, Ala.

A: While it’s advisable to call in a professional once a year to fully inspect your home for termites and related damage, you can do a cursory inspection on your own to check for ongoing damage in between inspections.

Summer, especially in the Southeast, is the party season for termites, as the hot and humid weather expands and softens wood and invites these creatures to feast nonstop. Normally, they’ll swarm into the neighborhood in the spring, and settle in for the hottest months. A termite infestation can devastate all wooden materials in your home and even cause extensive structural damage if left unchecked.

Follow the steps below to visually inspect your home for termites. If any evidence of an infestation is found, contact a professional immediately: Don’t try to knock these bugs out yourself.

• Start at the bottom: the foundation. Check the masonry outside and inside and look along the pipes that run through the foundation for "dirt tunnels" — thin lines of dirt running along exposed surfaces. Look for hollow "dirt rings" in the masonry, where termites have tunneled through.

• Look for termites themselves, huddled in masonry cracks or crumbly areas, or for their nests, which look like dirt formations. Use a flashlight, magnifying glass — whatever is on hand to improve the view.

• Examine all wood features of the house, starting at the wood closest to the ground. If you spot a rotten or decayed area (on painted wood, a blister or peel may be found over this type of spot), use a pocketknife or pick to poke into the area. If the blade penetrates the wood by more than half an inch, the area may have been damaged by termites. Use the same inspection and testing technique on windowsills, door frames, stairs, fences and any other wooden building material in the house.

Again, even if you do this visual check, schedule an annual inspection with a professional. He or she can spot potential trouble zones much more quickly. If during your own inspection you find evidence of termites, call in a professional.