Today's Feature

Error In Proposal, Pump Funding Approved.

Carthage City Council during Tuesday’s meeting approved a motion to allow a budget adjustment allocating funds for the emergency purchase of two storm water pumps in the alley at 310 Euclid.

During the previous Council meeting it was reported that the low bid for the pumps was in the amount of $16,250. During Tuesday’s meeting, Budget Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Fortune reported that the low bid had not included the pumps, which if included, would increase the cost to $19,700. Fortune said that this amount was still lower than the other bids, and recommended an amendment to the Council bill to reflect the new amount for appropriation. That amendment and the Council bill were approved unanimously.

Humane Society Update.

During Tuesday’s Council meeting new Carthage Humane Society Executive Director Tish Bentlage gave her first quarterly report to Council. Bentlage said that the Humane Society is still facing several challenges and issues with the building, but that the Society is in the process of addressing those issues.

Bentlage told Council that the quarterly report would only reflect accurate numbers for the month of September due to inconsistencies in the record keeping prior to that date.

In September the Society received 95 animals from the City Animal Control Officer. 40 of those were cats and 55 were dogs. Bentlage, in a recent interview, noted that of those 95 animals only 5 were reclaimed by their owners.

Bentlage thanked the Animal Control Officer, and told Council that the Shelter is striving to accommodate the City, adding that the Society is in the planning process for holding an open house in the future, after more work on the building is completed.

Carthage Humane Society Liaison Bill Welch expressed gratitude to the Mayor, fellow Council members and City staff for their support in a plan that aims at controlling feral cats in the City. The plan allows for certain members of feral cat colonies to be trapped, fixed and returned to the colonies. This limits the reproduction of the cats, while still allowing the colonies to help control smaller potentially problematic animals like rats and mice. Welch showed Council members a picture of the first two cats that had been trapped, fixed and released. During the previous Council meeting Mayor Jim Woestman proclaimed October 16 as Feral Cat Day in Carthage.

Mornin'

I see where some of the premium brands of ice cream are goin’ to one and three-quarter quart containers instead of the traditional half gallon "brick". Makin’ ‘em an eighth of a brick short of a load I suppose.

‘Course ya haven’t been able to buy a "pound" a coffee for some time. That industry discovered the short round a long while back. They compensated by devisin’ the large "3 pound" short load that at best is only 39 ounces rather than the 48. And, the pound a bacon is another long gone thing of the past.

Butter is still holdin’ on to the full pound, and milk and gas still come in gallons.

I suppose a half-wit is still better than no wit at all.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Click & Clack Talk Cars
By Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I was given a 1987 XJ6 Jag. She’s one fine-looking lady. But she smells. I recently spent $1,100 of my government stimulus check having the car completely cleaned on the inside. My mechanic took out all the carpeting and the seats, and cleaned them. He replaced the roof lining. He then scoured the inside of the car before putting the seats and carpet back. He sprayed everything with Febreze and placed packs of charcoal under the seats. I picked it up after a month in the shop. It’s better. But only marginally. Any other suggestions (we’ve done the cut onions, the dryer sheets, an air freshener "bomb," etc.)? - Jill

TOM: You might want to try a real bomb next.

RAY: Actually, my brother had a similar problem with his ‘74 Chevy Caprice Classic Convertible, Jill. It took us a long time to find the cause of the odor. But we finally figured it out. It was him.

TOM: There are two possibilities. One is that you’ve got a bad case of mold. Cleaning the seats and carpet might not be enough if you didn’t specifically treat for mold. You need bleach of biocide to kill the spores. Soap, odor removers, onions and old gym socks are all useless against a huge mold spore invasion.

RAY: The other possibility is that a small animal died somewhere in the car. If a mouse or rat got stuck in a ventilation duct or in your air cleaner, it can produce a disgusting odor that can last for months.

TOM: So what you need is someone with a good nose.

RAY: You need to find someone who’s familiar with both of those smells. Your best bet is an automotive detailer, or someone who works in a body shop.

TOM: Once you know what you’re looking for, you can form a plan to get rid of it.