A request for funding for a downtown public rest room facility received a less than enthusiastic response from some members of the Budget/Ways and Means Committee during budget hearings last Thursday evening. The request was part of the overall budget request from Main Street Carthage.

Main Street Board President Sue Vandergriff told the Committee that they are working toward getting land donated for the project near the Square. The amount requested for the facility was $31,500.

Committee Chair Jackie Boyer questioned the cost of maintaining the facility.

"Who would maintain it?" asked Boyer.

"We would assume the City," replied Vandergriff.

"I don’t disagree that we need a public bathroom," said Boyer. "But the City historically has a problem with gifts donated to the City that have ended up costing the City. We just like to know what our cost will be up front."

Committee member Bill Fortune suggested Park Department maintenance.

"They don’t need more," said Mayor Kenneth Johnson, who was in attendance.

The Carthage Community Clinic is semi official. The task force organized to look at the feasibility of creating a health clinic, with initial funding from the Boylan Foundation, voted last Thursday afternoon to begin the process of becoming a state recognized not for profit organization.

The task force also accepted an offer from the Salvation Army for use of a portion of their building for the Center’s operation.

To facilitate sinks in two of the examination rooms, approximately $4,000 in plumbing will be needed to be installed. A donation in memory of recently deceased Bob Williams has been pledged by his wife Lana to complete that project.

A legal assistance clinic is also being planned. A Board will be elected soon.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Workman's Loan

When you are working up on a stepladder, the last thing you need to hear is the sound of a tiny part dropping to the ground. To prevent that, try mounting a handy tray to the ladder’s top "step." The tray can hold all sorts of things, freeing up your hands.

Just tape a clean foam meat tray to the top step. The lightweight foam makes for a good surface. Small parts won’t roll around on it much.

When you are finished working, you can easily remove the tape. However, you might decide to make the tray a permanent part of your ladder.

Dear Al & Kelly: I had an old freestanding wardrobe that I wanted to convert into an entertainment center with adjustable shelves. I needed to drill a series of holes down both sides on the inside of the cabinet for the shelf brackets. To avoid making errors, I used a scrap of workshop pegboard as my drilling pattern. I laid it up against the sides and marked the placement of the holes to be drilled. It really looks great, and the shelves are straight. - B.B.

Dear Carrells: My junk drawer is full of all sorts of odds and ends. The last time I cleaned it out, I found many items that were packaged on cards. Unfortunately, the holes at the top of the cards were mostly broken out. I used a punch to make more holes, and then put a lot of them out in my shop on pegboard hooks. Now I have a lot more room in my junk drawer for some new junk. - P.J.