Today's Feature

Mini-Bike Ordinance Moves Forward.

The City Council Public Safety Committee met Monday evening in a regular session. The committee reviewed a sample ordinance from Nixa, Missouri concerning the legality of pocket bikes and motorized scooters. A motion was approved to request a council bill and forward the sample ordinance to City Attorney David Mouton so that he may redraft it to be a Carthage ordinance.

The sample ordinance places limitations on vehicles with seat height lower than 27 inches, engine size less than 50 cubic centimeters and ineligibility for state title restricting these vehicles from being operated on streets, highways, alleys and sidewalks inside the City.

The ordinance does not apply to persons using electric personal assistance mobility devices such as electric wheelchairs.

Police Chief Dennis Veach informed the committee that he had received a letter from Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn. The letter was for the purpose of terminating an agreement between the County and City officers wherein the use of the County Jail was made available to the Police Department free of charge and the use of the City holding facility was made available to the County free of charge. Veach said the letter would terminate the agreement and the police department would have to pay $40 per day per person in holding. Veach told the committee that he had written a response to the Sheriff requesting a postponement of the termination until the next budget year so that the budget can be increased for the holding fees.

The committee discussed at great length the matter of adopting an ordinance to restrict parking in yards. The restrictions discussed included two sections, the first eliminating parking on front yards in the City and the second restricting the number of automobiles that can be parked in back yards. The committee made notes to be passed to the City attorney for drafting an ordinance. After the draft is complete it will come before the committee again for approval.

Stench Report:
Tuesday,
12/20/05

No Stench Reported

TV shows are already startin’ and some of the weekly magazines. Suppose it will happen even in the smallest of regular publications to some extent.

I suppose it’s not that bad ta stop for a few moments and consider the vents of the past year, just seems that ever’one wants ta talk about the same ones. Between that and the commercials tryin’ ta sell Christmas specials, it’s difficult to stay in the spirit.

Christmas is comin’ fast this year. If we can live through the next phase of "predictions for the comin’ year," we’ll be well into spring.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

• For great-looking candles, use a plain nylon stocking to buff out smudges, nicks and fingerprints. This works especially well on white or cream-colored candles, which can pick up all sorts of ugly-looking soot stains.

• Dogs and chocolate just don’t mix, so keep those holiday plates full of delicious chocolate morsels out of the reach of pets.

• "Clean, shiny china is easy with this simple recipe! Use a half-cup of Borax powder in a sinkful of warm water. Dip the china in the sink and rinse with cool water." — F.T. in Louisiana

• When making meatloaf, put strips of raw bacon on the bottom of the pan and place the meatloaf on top. It adds terrific flavor and will keep the meatloaf from sticking to the pan.

• "To remove lovebugs and other insects from your windshield, use a dried corncob. Spray water on the windshield and use the corncob to remove the bugs. Then spray again, resulting in a sparkling-clean windshield." — R.W., via e-mail

• "It’s nice to have an extension rod (the type used for hanging a shower curtain, etc.) in the car when traveling. You can use it in the motel or in some hallways with extra hangers." — E.M. in Wisconsin