More Square Activities.

Two requests for closing off a portion of the Square for special events were approved by the City Council during its regular meeting Tuesday evening. One unanimous vote will allow the closing of the west and south sides of the Square for a car show and swap meet sponsored by the Greater Ozarks British Motoring Club on August 19 from 6 a.m until 4 p.m.

Also approved is the closing of the inside lane and parking area of the north, south and west sides of the Square on June 10 for the Main Street Carthage Antique Appraisal Fair. The closing will be effective from Friday, June 9 at 6 a.m. until tents for the event are taken down on Monday, June 12. The event itself take place on Saturday, June 10. The additional time is needed according to Main Street Director Diane Sharits to allow for tents to be set up. The tent rental company will not come to strike the tents until Monday morning. Council members Bastin, Johnson, and Whitledge voted against the motion.

In other business, Victorian Carthage was awarded a contract to manage vendors during the July 4th celebration.

The final report for the recent customer satisfaction survey conducted for CW&EP was presented yesterday in City Hall. A summary of the report shows that only a couple a folks are dissatisfied with the service provided by the public utility.

The only real change proposed by the study is some type of drive-up payin’ place. Although the utility has put a lot a time and money into keepin’ on the forefront of other technological advances, this seems to be the one spot for improvement. Prob’ly the Square location makes such an arrangement troublesome to facilitate.

The other suggestion made was for the utility to blow its horn a little more ‘bout bein’ able to keep prices down and providin’ quality service. I’m sure we’ll be hearin’ more ‘bout that in the near future.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am involved in bird research during the spring and summer in western Oregon that has several times left me in the middle of nowhere with a car problem (usually a flat tire). I drive over extremely crummy roads and am often 20-plus miles away from the nearest town (or two people as the case may be). What would you guys suggest as the catch-all tool-kit/emergency-repair stuff that I need to take with me? A first-aid kit for the car, you might say. I don’t want to carry 6 tons of equipment, but I want the stuff to fix small problems on my own. What should I have and know how to use in case of a breakdown? -Jenny

RAY: A cellular phone.

TOM: But in case you’re really out in the boondocks where a cell phone doesn’t work (or you run your battery down by spending six hours talking to the Psychic Friends Network), I’d also pack the following:

RAY: An inflated spare tire. And make sure your lug nuts aren’t rusted tight by loosening and tightening them back up every six months or so.

TOM: I’d also carry a can of that "Fix-a-Flat" type of stuff. That’s the goop in a can that will fix a small puncture hole in your tire and inflate it, at least temporarily.

RAY: I’d also bring a roll of duct tape. It’s good for lots of things, like when parts fall off, when a hose breaks and you need to temporarily patch it up, or when you’re tired of listening to a particularly verbose in-law.

TOM: I’d also carry one of those plastic, temporary replacement belts that can be adjusted to any size by adding or removing links. That’ll help if a belt breaks. Then I’d throw in two screwdrivers (one of each kind), and a pair of Vise Grips,and call it a day.