Today's Feature

Kaiser Promoted to Captain.

The Carthage Police Department on Wednesday afternoon announced the promotion of Officer Randee Kaiser to the rank of Captain, effective Monday, April 7th.

Kaiser joined the department in 1995 as a patrolman, according to the Department news release. He served as a detective in the Jasper County Drug Task Force; as a patrol sergeant and is currently the lead investigator in charge of the Detective Division.

Interim Police Chief Barry Duncan noted that the Captain will work closely with the new Police Chief, when that position is filled.

Public Works Discussed Fencing.

The City Council Public Works Committee during its regular meeting this week discussed with Public Works Director Chad Wampler the need for fencing at the City recycling center. Wampler told the committee that a new subdivision is being built near the center, which will allow access between the two properties. Wampler said that a 400" fence along the east side of the landfill would provide more security. The committee agreed that the fence would be appropriate, and recommended that bids be sent contingent on the availability of funds.

Mornin'

Most farmers and ranchers I’ve run into are pretty headstrong when it comes ta askin’ for help, especially when they know they could use a little.

There’s nothin’ draws a bunch a isolated farmers together like smoke on the horizon. They know when it’s burnin’ season, and the thought of a prairie fire ragin’ uncontrolled is a threat to ever’one.

It’s pretty amazin’ to watch a group of untrained farmers put out a grass fire. Some pull up with water tanks on their pickups, others come with shovels or burlap bags. Each seems ta know his role and gets to it without any proddin’ from a straw boss.

Even hours after the last has left, you’ll see concerned individuals drivin’ round the area checkin’ ta make sure ever’things all right.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

I just read an article on winter driving, and I want to make sure I understand what is meant when they say, "Turn into the direction of the skid." If the front of our car is veering right, it means the rear is going left, so which direction are you skidding in - right or left? I want to make sure I understand where I’m supposed to turn my steering wheel. It seems that if my front is veering right, and I turn my steering wheel to the right, I’d just end up making a circle. Please clarify. - Sylvia.

TOM: If the car starts to slide, and the front of the car is pointing to the right of where it’s supposed to be pointing and the back end of the vehicle is moving to the left, that’s usually referred to as skidding to the left. In that case, Sylvia, you would turn the steering wheel to the left to try to straighten out.

RAY: Think about it this way. Let’s say you plopped your car down on the face of the clock. The front of the car is pointed at the 12, and the back of the car is pointed to the 6. You’re going straight down the road, and all is right with the world.

TOM: Now, suppose, all of a sudden, the front of your car is pointing to the 2. How would you get the car pointed straight again? You’d turn left, wouldn’t you? You’re pointing at the 2, and you want to point to the 12, so you turn left. That’s turning into the skid.

RAY: If the car was suddenly pointing to the 10, and you wanted to be pointing toward the 12, you’d turn the wheel to the right, right? Right.

TOM: But even if you understand the theory, it’s best to practice the technique before you have to use it. So if there’s a snowstorm and you can find a big, empty parking lot (note: light poles don’t count as empty), go out and, at a reasonably slow speed, cut the wheel sharply and put the car into a skid, then try to steer out of it. Or better yet, Sylvia, make sure your next car has electronic stability control.