Today's Feature

Floodplain Area Expands.

The Floodplain region was discussed at the Public Works meeting Tuesday afternoon by the committee, City Administrator Tom Short and Jason Ekhart, an engineer for Sprenkle and Associates .

Two large maps were produced, one showing the former floodplain coverage area, and one showing the new extended area. Discussion ensued about the size of expansion and best means of notifying the public. The maps are available for viewing at the Carthage Public Works Department. Homes that were near the boundaries may now be included in the floodplain area and residents should be aware. The designation of this territory is decided upon by F.E.M.A. based on scientific or engineering changes to the land.

The Committee further discussed the changes in the Sediment and Erosion Control Ordinance which pertains to the measures for controlling storm water and sediment runoff specifically on construction sites where more than 6,000 square feet of soil are disturbed. A meeting will be scheduled with local contractors to collect their input on the matter.

As a kid our teachers didn’t make us learn multiplication tables past the 10s. I actually never really learned the 9s, but could figure the tens pretty easy. Instead of just learnin’ the 9s, I’d multiply by ten and then subtract the number. Say, 9 x 8. Eight times ten is eighty, subtract one 8 and ya get 72.

I always thought I had figured out a real secret, but the other day I picked up a book that taught several little tricks to make figurin’ math in you head easier. It was published back in the 30s. The author had figured all the angles and had a shortcut of some kind for most all math type of problems.

I suppose I wasn’t as smart, or as dumb, as I thought I was. I still figure a little math ever now and then on paper just for practice, but the calculator is always nearby.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack Talk Cars

By Tom and Ray Magliozz

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am looking to buy a new car. One of the cars I like a lot is the Toyota Prius. I read your review of the Prius on your website, and it confirmed my interest. However, safety is very important to me. I looked at the crash-test results for the Prius and it got mostly three out of five stars for front and side-impact crashes. Other cars in its weight class, like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, got four out of five stars. I know that almost any new car would be safer than my 1985 pickup truck, but I have a 5 year old son who would be sitting in the back seat of the Prius. What do you think of a result of three out of five stars? - Dan

TOM: I think three stars stinks. We love the Prius (and the idea of hybrid engines in general), but if you’re really concerned about safety, you’re better off opting for something else.

RAY: Take a look at the Honda Civic Hybrid, Dan. It gets four out of five stars in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s crash tests. And we like it just as much as, if not more than, the Prius. You can get it with front and front side air bags, which increase the protection for the front-seat passengers. The kid, who’ll be in the middle of the back seat, will benefit from his placement if you get hit from the side.

TOM: Fortunately, Honda, Toyota and others are going to bring hybrid engines to more and more cars in the coming years. So within the next few model years we’ll be able to get larger, safer cars with fuel-saving hybrid engines. And in fact, a new larger Prius is due this fall.

RAY: But until then, I’d think about the Honda Civic. Personally I wouldn’t buy a car that scored less than four stars in a crash test.