Today's Feature
Asphalt Paving Bid Accepted.

The Public Works Committee met Tuesday afternoon to discuss asphalt paving bid with Street Commissioner Tom Shelley. The committee approved the low bid from APAC Missouri Inc., in Springfield for $33.17 per ton laid and $1.30 tack oil per gallon.

Shelley told the committee that he was surprised at the jump in price per ton laid over last year’s price. He said he had expected an increase, due to the increasing cost of fuel, but the amount was more than he had expected. Last year’s asphalt price was approximately $25 per ton.

Two bids were received by the Street Department, one from APAC Missouri and one from Blevins Asphalt Construction Co., Inc. in Mount Vernon for $33.68 per ton laid. Shelley recommended the low bid to the committee. The recommendation will be brought before City Council at the meeting March 22.

Shelley reported that the street crew had been making progress on crack sealing. Shelley added that the high price of diesel fuel had increased expenses and said that the operating budget would need to be adjusted to cover the costs.

From what I understand, the most scientific way they have come up with to tell if there is an offensive odor in the air is to capture some suspected air and put it in a box. A calculated proportion of fresh air is then mixed with the suspect and a human puts their nose in the box and sniffs. If it smells bad, there is cause for action.

I don’t know what offensive odor is, but I know it when I smell it. I was drivin’ on the road last weekend and there seemed to be an unusually large number of skunks in the country side. I never saw one, but I knew they had been there and evidently got the stink scared out of ‘em. ‘Course that’s just the opinion of one nose.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

My co-worker and I are having a disagreement about oil changes. Our question: When changing oil, is it advisable to use the same brand of oil all the time? I have always used the same brand, and think this is the way to go. She feels that as long as the oil is changed every 3,000 miles, it doesn’t matter which brand is used, as long as you use winter - or summer-weight oil appropriately. Thanks. - Jacki

TOM: I hope you don’t have a lot riding on this, Jacki, because your co-worker is about to collect. She’s certainly more correct about oil changes than you are.

RAY: Motor oils are incredibly similar. And even the same brands sometimes alter their formulation from time to time to make their oils better... or cheaper.

TOM: There are only a few thing you need to look for to make sure the bottle of oil you’re buying is suitable for your car. First, you want to look for the API seal. That’s the American Petroleum Institute, and organization that certifies that motor oils meet the standards set by engineers, manufacturers and graduate students in chemistry.

RAY: Next, you want to use the grade of oil recommended in your owner’s manual. There are really no "summer" or "winter" weight oils anymore except in the most extreme climates.

TOM: Then check the performance level. API changes the ratings as standards improve, and you want to be sure you’re getting the latest and greatest additives and technology.

RAY: And finally, you want to be sure that the bottle doesn’t say something like "may contain small pieces of dinosaur bones." That would suggest that it hasn’t been in the ground long enough.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Pro Stock Versus Craftsman Trucks

Q: I really enjoy the Craftsman Truck Series in NASCAR and also liked NHRA Pro Stock Truck. Why did the NHRA get rid of its Pro Stock Truck division? — A.P., New York

A: It’s a shame the NHRA got rid of Pro Stock Truck, but the class never caught on with manufacturers and fans like it has in NASCAR. In 2001, the last season of competition, the NHRA said the class would be restructured and run in the competition eliminator class for 2002.

Also leading to this decision was the TV situation, with time allocated between the professional classes of Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock Car, Pro Stock Motorcycle and Pro Stock Truck. The NHRA felt it was too much to cover properly in one show, so one division had to go.

What really caused problems later on were the Pro Stock Truck owners, who supposedly threatened litigation against the NHRA for dropping the class so abruptly after they had put so much money into the trucks. To make matters worse, the next thing you see at NHRA races is a Pro Mod "exhibition" class. To this day, I still say the only reason Pro Modified is not a full bore Pro class at the NHRA events is because the truck owners will litigate their cause even more and prove that NHRA just dumped the class because it wasn’t doing well.

Senior News
By Pam Madole
Sponsored by Generations

Make your home a safer place

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends the following to secure a safer home.

Falls are the most common cause of fatal injuries among older people. Make sure your floors are not cluttered with too much furniture or piles of items you don’t know where to store. Make sure that area rugs, runners and mats are slip resistant and the corners are not turned up. Keep you’re home well lit and use nightlights so that you can safely move from room to room.

Check all cords and wires making sure they are out of all the traffic ways. Locate appliances, lamps and other corded items near the outlet avoiding the use of extension cords. Always read and follow all recommendations concerning wattage and operation of all electrical items. Warm or hot switches can be an indicator of unsafe wiring. Discontinue use until you can have it checked by a certified professional.

Never cut the third prong from supplement heating or any other item equipped with one. Make sure that heating equipment is in good working order; keep all heating units away from flammable material. Always have wood burning units cleaned and checked before using.

Don’t use appliances, furniture or any item that needs repair or replacement. Use all items as intended by the manufacturer; don’t substitute furniture for a ladder.

Install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, and develop an emergency exit plan.

For a complete home safety checklist call Pam at Generations. 417.359.2454.