Today's Feature

Would Allow Trash Abatement.

The City Council Public Works committee met on Tuesday in a regular session. The committee agreed to forward to Council a recommendation to approve changes to the Code Official procedures.

The proposed changes would allow the City to abate trash and solid waste in the same manner that weeds are abated. With the addition the City could hire an entity to remove trash or solid waste from a property, and recoup expenses from the property owner by placing a tax lien on the property. Public Works Director Chad Wampler said that the changes would make the City code match Missouri statute 71.285. As the recommendation would alter the City Code, the changes must be brought before full City Council as a council bill.

Maple Leaf Brochure Submissions.

News release from the Carthage Chamber of Commerce

Submissions for inclusion in the 42nd Annual Maple Leaf Festival Brochure are currently being accepted through June 10^th. Any business or organization wishing to have their event included in the 22,000 copies of the annual brochure should request the required submission form from the Chamber office at 402 S. Garrison. Forms may be requested by email to membership@carthagechamber.com All completed forms must be received with the required $25 fee no later than 4:30 p.m. on June 10 for inclusion in the brochure. Submissions are subject to review and approval and limited space is available.

The Annual Maple Leaf Festival will include a full 8 days of events from October 11 thru 18. For more information, contact the Carthage Chamber of Commerce at 417-358-2373.

Mornin'
I suspect if ya don’t know where the Mayor stands on the stench problem, you’ve been stickin’ you head in the sand. Mayor Woestman has spent more than a few trips to Jeff City to make sure those in government know the problems in this City.

Aside from the fact that most in town agree with his assessment of the situation, it’s refreshin’ to hear someone, and even more so an elected official, speak out and let ya know exactly where they stand. There are always things that ya might not agree with, but you have no doubt where Mr. Woestman lands.

As a practical matter, the mayor of Carthage doesn’t have much political power. The main tool is the ability to persuade. The Power of Persuasion. Add some persistence for a winnin’ combination.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Click & Clack Talk Cars
By Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

Please settle an argument here at the fire station. We have a Ford 550 pulling a 25 ft. box trailer (gross vehicle weight 10,000 pounds). Here’s the question: When this truck and trailer are not in use, does the weight of the trailer damage the truck? Are we causing damage to the leaf springs or suspension of the truck by leaving the sitting trailer attached for long periods of time: Is it necessary to unhitch the trailer when it’s not used? ---Mike

RAY: The answer is, it depends. What it depends on is the "tongue weight." That’s the downward weight applied by the trailer’s tongue---which is the part of the trailer that extends forward, and that attached to the ball on the truck’s trailer hitch.

TOM: Imagine, if you will, that the trailer is perfectly balanced, that if you removed it from the truck, it would balance perfectly on its wheels, tilting neither backward nor forward. Then your tongue weight is zero. You’re putting no downward weight on the back of the truck.

Ray: In reality, the tongue weight is never zero, but here’s a test you can do. Unhitch the trailer, and let the tongue sit on the ground. Then try to lift it. If two of your biggest, firefighters can’t life the tongue, then you’re leaving too much weight on the back of the truck, and you will weaken the suspension over time.

TOM: If your guys can’t lift it easily, that means you’re resting more than a few hundred pounds on the back of the truck. That WILL make the springs wear out sooner.

RAY: If you guys can lift the tongue fairly easily, that means the tongue weight is negligible, and not worth worrying about.

TOM: And, of course, if the tongue weight is too heavy, you also have the option of rebalancing the trailer’s load. You can shift a few beer kegs and a Barcalounger or two from the front to the back. Good luck, Mike.