Today's Feature
Approved the Lot Split.

The City Council Public Works Committee met in a regular session Tuesday afternoon and approved a lot split at 1236 Glenwood Place. This was the first item of its type to pass through the committee following a Council ordinance changing the methods for approval of smaller lot splits and re-plats. The item will be brought before Council with the recommendation of the committee.

The Committee discussed possible changes for an upcoming contract with Allied Waste Services. Committee members had been informed previously that the service was interested in revising the contract to eliminate trash pickup in alleys. Low limbs and narrow spaces of operation were cited as reasons for switching to front-side pickups. The committee is of the opinion that there might be only a few alleys that are problematic to the service, and that if the contract is re-worked the alleys can be evaluated one at a time to avoid major changes to the contract. Committee member Diane Sharits proposed the idea of switching to evening pickups. Sharits said that if citizens do have to take their trash to the front curb side that it might be easier if it could be done in the evening.

Street Commissioner Tom Shelley reported that the paving project at River and Fir had been pushed back due to a lack of materials. The paving is to be done by Blevins Asphalt Construction Co. Inc.

Public Works Director Chad Wampler reported on the status of several large construction projects. Wampler said that the McCune-Brooks Hospital new building project had received its Missouri DNR Land Use Permit and will soon be issued its City permit. The Carthage Public Library renovation and expansion project is in the process of rebidding for contractors after having rejected all bids due to high prices. Some of the specifications have changed on the project to reduce the cost, including the elimination of Carthage Limestone from the exterior of the new project. According to Wampler the Limestone was one of the most expensive parts of the project.

Stench Report:
Wednesday,
10/19/05

No Stench Reported

The example sometimes used is a balloon filled with helium. The gas is flyin’ around inside the balloon tryin’ to expand. The balloon is the controllin’ factor, bringin’ some order to it and at least providin’ entertainment for the child at the end of the string.

Even in this situation, there is always the random possibility that some other kid has discovered the excitement of insertin’ a pin into the mix.

If ya want ta experience chaos, try to explain to a three year old where his toy disappeared to and the natural order of random acts by the neighbor’s kid.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

Some of my ham radio friends and I have a disagreement about the ability of a vehicle to operate without a battery. I say that a vehicle will stop immediately if you disconnect the battery when the engine is running. They say it will continue to operate with the electricity coming from the alternator. I guess the actual question is: "If you have a dead battery and jump start the vehicle, will it continue to operate with the alternator being the only voltage?" - Larry

TOM: Well, it’s time to get on the old Wireless and concede defeat, Larry. The answer is yes.

RAY: In fact, in the old days - before the days of solid-state voltage regulators - we used to use that as a crude test of a car’s charging system. If you disconnected the battery and the engine died, it meant that the car’s charging system was kaput.

TOM: Cars are designed to run off the alternator, Larry. The battery’s primary purpose is to start the engine. Once the engine is running, a belt off the engine drives the alternator, which provides the spark for combustion.

RAY: Aside from powering the ignition system, the alternator produces enough electricity to run the headlights, the radio and the heated massaging butt-scratcher.

TOM: Now, is it still 100 percent true that every car today will keep running if you disconnect the battery? We don’t know. With all the electronics and computers and the risks of current surges in cars these days, we would never take that kind of risk.

RAY: But if you and your ham radio buddies are willing to put up a couple grand to cover the cost of a burned-out alternator and a couple of fried computers, Larry, we’ll be happy to test this theory on the late-model car of your choice. Let us know!

RACING
by Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

New League Splits Sprint Car Racing

Q: Greg, what’s your opinion on the new sprint-car organization forming, the National SprintCar League. There are some big names behind it, and they are out to disband the World of Outlaws. Is this good? What was wrong with the World of Outlaws? — Allen, e-mail from Pennsylvania

A: The World of Outlaws started racing nationwide in 1978, mainly because its members wanted to break away from the restrictions of USAC sprint rules. It has been a very popular organization for many years, albeit financially troubled and poorly run at times under previous owner Ted Johnson. But there were great years, too.

After Johnson sold out a few years back to Boundless Motorsports, now running under the DIRT corporate name, it was to be a new beginning for the WOO teams. Well, for whatever reason, dissention has set in.

I feel the WOO versus NSL "split" will hurt sanctioned sprint racing until, of course, one of the organizations folds. We’re already operating in a pretty diluted sprint-car division, as leagues like the All-Stars, Central Pennsylvania Possee, URC, 360s, 305s and others compete for the competitor and fan dollar each week. A new organization will dilute the division even more, especially at the top of the pyramid.