No Parking Requested.

The Public Safety committee is scheduled to hold their regular meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Police Station. The agenda includes a request by Kathleen Studebaker to vacate parking on a portion of Budlong in front of her residence. According to Police Chief Dennis Veach she has brought this issue to Council a few years ago.

Veach stated that Studebaker lives north of Columbian Elementary where sports activities take place in the summer. He says that Studebaker feels that parking becomes congested at that time and is requesting no parking in front of the residence.

The agenda also includes a request by the Carthage Public Library to designate one parking spot as handicap on Sixth Street, in front of the south entrance.

The Carthage Chamber of Commerce is also requesting street closings on the square for annual events. Chamber President Max McKnight stated that the requests are all made at the same time.

The Annual Sidewalk Sale and British Car Club are both set for July 24th on the square and Maple Leaf scheduled for October 16th.

For a lotta folks the Memorial Day weekend will be the time to pull out the campin’ gear for the first time this season.

I never liked to plan on doin’ much the first trip of the year. Most of the time is spend repairin’ the damage done durin’ the last season. Replacin’ mantles, cleanin’ out that pot a beans someone forgot to wash last fall, patchin’ the air mattress, that sort a thing.

The ultimate test, of course, is if there is a nice rain in the middle of the night. Ya getta see what kind of work ya did with those patches for the tent. Nothin’ better than wakin’ up to a clap of thunder with rain drippin’ in your face and your air mattress saggin’ down in a stream runnin’ under it.

Ever’ I get the urge to get back to the basics and go campin’ I think of those fond memories and crawl back into the recliner.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Ladder Safety

Q: We’re getting ready to paint the exterior of the house, and I’m purchasing supplies. We only have a stepladder and need a taller ladder. What size and type of ladder do you recommend? — Tammy G., St. Petersburg, Fla.

A: The right type of ladder is important for the area you’ll be painting, since you want to be able to work as comfortably and safely as possible. In this case you’re painting the exterior, so I’d recommend more than one ladder — three, if your budget will allow it.

A small stepladder (less than 4 feet) is versatile and can be used both indoors and out, whether to reach higher shelves safely or to paint certain areas from a better angle (such as window frames).

A hinged ladder, reaching 5 to 7 feet, will be your mainstay for first-floor painting. Choose a ladder made of fiberglass rather than metal, as it’s sturdier and does not conduct electricity as easily (if you should contact a power line for some reason). A shelf near the top of the ladder is essential to hold paint cans and tools for the job.

To reach second-floor wall surfaces, eaves and gutters, an extension ladder is necessary. Choose an aluminum ladder with flat rungs; a commercial or Type 2 ladder is also desirable because of its sturdiness. If you foresee using this very tall ladder only for one job, consider renting or borrowing one for the project.

Safety, of course, must always be addressed in ladder use. All ladders should be sturdy enough to support the weight of the heaviest person on the project. Avoid using any ladder when another person isn’t around, even a stepladder. And two people are essential when using an extension ladder, as the base of this ladder isn’t as stable as the other types. One person climbs while another braces the base with a hand on each side of the ladder. The "spotter" should stay in place until the climber is done working in that area.

Tall ladders require additional attention. Always carry the ladders upright, rather than horizontally, and keep a sharp eye out for power lines. Set the ladder base about 2 feet from the base of the wall and carefully lean it inward. Extend the top of the ladder 6 inches above the area where you’ll be working. Once everything is set, pull the bottom of the ladder out farther until it sits at a distance equal to a quarter of the ladder’s length. This will help stabilize it further.