Did Ya Know... Powers Museum has slide programs and videos available for loan to teachers. For information, call 358-2667.

Did Ya Know... The Family Literacy Council offers English classes, Skills Building, and One-on-One Tutoring. For information, call 417-358-5926 or stop by the office on 706 Orchard.

Did Ya Know... The phone number for information on the Maple Leaf Band Competition is 359-7022. The number was published as a 358 number in Wednesday's paper. All school numbers use the 359 prefix.

Did Ya Know... Soroptimist Of Carthage in cooperation with McCune-Brooks Hospital and Carthage Radiologists is offering free mammograms until October 30. For more information, contact Dorothy Ann Greenwood, 358-5200 or Ruth Overton, 358-5861.

A little boy asked his mother if he could watch the solar eclipse. "Okay," she replied, "but don’t go too close."

Jeweler: These are cultured pearls. Customer: Look, we just want to buy pearls, not pay for their education.

Husband: Wait a minute, you can’t deduct your hats from our income tax. Wife: Why not? They’re overhead.

An Exciting Runaway.

Four young men, Homer Bailey, Will pack and Kenneth Hodson, figured in an exiting runaway accident on North Main street about 2 o’clock. They were in a delivery wagon and their horse scared at an electric car. Something about the harness broke when the horse shied and the animal bolted. The harness gave way, placing the horse beyond control, and the animal dashed into the sidewalk at the intersection of Mound street, crushing the front of the wagon against a telephone pole and spilling the young men all over the street. None of them were hurt beyond a few bruises. The horse tore loose from the wreck and galloped down the street.

Miller & Coffinberry today sold for E. B. Williams his property at the end of East Fourth street on Fulton street to Miss Dora Dingle. The price was $2,000, 80 acres of land being taken as part payment.

Council Highlights.

At Tuesday’s Council meeting, Mayor Don Riley publicly acknowledged the link between the County’s assistance with Civil War Road improvements and the repair of the mall sidewalk on the Square. Both of these projects moved forward.

Public Works Chair Bill Fortune reported the Committee’s recommendation to pursue plans for the mall sidewalk renovation costing up to $100,000. This is about $20,000 above the budgeted amount.

"I don’t think that’s good use of the funds, I really don’t...$100,000 for a sidewalk just seems absolutely ridiculous," Council member J.D. Whitledge said.

Whitledge pointed out that other City sidewalks need repairs as well. The engineering department has compiled a partial list of City sidewalks needing repair at an estimated cost of $57,000.

"I think you have to remember that this is much more than just a sidewalk," said Council member Jackie Boyer. "It has more functions than just as a passageway between one street and another, focally it will be an enhancement to the Square."

"The other point that you may have forgotten is that the County is assisting the City regarding the Civil War Road with the overlay of asphalt, which is a sizeable amount of money," Mayor Riley said. "They did that with the understanding that the City would proceed with the project of the mall sidewalk....That allows many of the people who work at the courthouse to get back and forth to their parking easily....it’s more than just a sidewalk."

"I can see the $80,000 being spent. I can’t see the additional $20,000," said Whitledge. He expressed concerns about the planned water pipes freezing and grooves in the proposed stenciling pattern attracting moisture and freezing, causing the sidewalk to deteriorate again.

The Council authorized the Committee to proceed with the design which includes the stenciling pattern, planters, benches, trash recepticals and underground water sources. Council members Whitledge, Harlan and Bastin voted against the motion.

Once plans are finalized, the Council must amend the budget to authorize the use of funds above the budgeted amount.

The Civil War Road project to which the Mayor referred is one step closer to beginning. The Council approved a bill entering into a contract for the planned improvements. The bill passed both a first and second reading last night due to an emergency clause in the language.

The contract with Branco Enterprises for $113,098 for widening and drainage improvements to Civil War Road is $28,098 above what was budgeted for the project.

According to the Mayor, the County will cover the cost of the asphalt overlay for the road once the improvements are complete in return for the City proceeding with repairs to the mall sidewalk.

In previous meetings, Boyer has sought the total cost of the project and heard estimates from Street Commissioner Tom Shelley of $20,000 to $30,000 for the County’s portion, for a total around $140,000. Tuesday night, City Engineer Steve Lett estimated the County’s portion to be in excess of $100,000.

"When you put the gift of the County at $100,000 for the asphalt, this project is a $213,000 temporary fix," Boyer pointed out. Plans call for this repair to be torn out at a later date and more costly, long-term improvements to be made.

According to County Commissioner Mike Cloud, the County estimates the cost at about $25,000.

Other News:

New City Administrator Tom Short will start work Monday, October 20.

The new ladder truck purchased by the City is now at the fire department.

The City will receive a rebate of $7,622.42 from the Missouri Department of Transportation for one half of the cost of air conditioning repairs made to the Double Decker Bus.

I see where Toyota is givin’ up on its slogan "I love what you do for me," and the customer jumpin’ in the air. They ran that theme for fourteen years. Now they’re doin’ "everyday people" commercials that I’m not sure what the real theme is.

I could understand someone who jumped in the air with excitement. I don’t have any idea what the new commercials mean.

I suppose time will tell if they sell as many cars with the new fangled approach, but I’d have ta bet they change this one before the end of a year.

Maybe we as consumers have become more sophisticated. Need to be coaxed into that purchase of a new automobile with soft music and intellectual reasonin’. Maybe there isn’t room for a just plain fun commercial anymore. If that’s the case, I’ll miss ‘em.

No more "where’s the beef," or "know what I mean Vern" will diminish the tv experience.

This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.

Click and Clack Talk Cars.

Dear Tom and Ray: My problem with my daughter’s ’89 Dodge Shadow has left me several hundred dollars poorer and no closer to a solution. The fuse which controls all of the dashboard gauges and warning lights has blown eight times in the tow years we have owned the car. I’ve taken the car to several mechanics that have tried to solve the problem. Several have charged me hours of labor time without finding the cause. An automotive mechanic specializing in electronics told me I had a blower motor that was drawing too much power and causing the fuse to blow. We replaced the blower motor and the fuse blew again. Any suggestions? - Patty

Tom: You should ask the electronics automotive guy to put in a circuit breaker instead of the fuse. Unlike a fuse, which has to be replaced, the breaker will actually reset itself after it cools down.

Ray: Then all you have to do is wait. If this is like most short circuits, it will blow more and more quickly, until it eventually becomes a dead short. A dead short is one that blows instantly ... as soon as you put in a new fuse (or one that won’t allow the circuit breaker to reset).

Tom: At that point, your problem will be easy to solve. A dead short is a breeze to find with a device called a short tester.