Auction Proceeds Of $172,000.00

For Three Paintings By Kansas Artist Birger.

This Spring, the Hoisington Kansas School board and Superintendent Bill Lowry were forced to make the difficult decision of selling three paintings that had hung in their school more than six decades. The district could not afford to properly protect and preserve the original works of art that had been dedicated to Hoisington High by the graduating class of 1946, and by Kansas artist Birger Sandzen (1871 - 1954). So on Sunday June 6, 2010, bidders competed in a catalogued art auction. The three winning bidders were from Seattle, Washington, Salina, KS and Joplin, MO for a total of $172,000 in winning bids. More than 500 bidders participated in the auction via telephone, Internet and live in person at the auction gallery.

Auctioneer Dirk Soulis said, "I’ve known for years that the mid-west was the best place to offer these regional treasures. Why risk sending them 1000 miles away when you can safely and more reasonably bring the national market here where local buyers with a connection to the Sandzen tradition can compete?"

NASCAR THIS WEEK

By Monte Dutton

Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Truex Likes New Ride With Waltrip Racing

Martin Truex Jr., once known for his friendship and affiliation with Dale Earnhardt Jr., is now making a name for himself in the No. 56 Toyota of Michael Waltrip Racing.

After winning the Busch (now Nationwide) Series championships in 2004 and ‘05, Truex made the step up to Sprint Cup and spent four seasons at Dale Earnhardt Inc., which eventually became Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. He made the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2007, the year he won his only Cup race, to date, at Dover International Speedway.

This year Truex has moved into Chase contention in his first season at MWR, where he has been paired with veteran crew chief Pat Tryson.

"We’ve just been steady as a race team, doing all the things we need to do to get points and finish races," said Truex. "There have been a few races where we’ve had really good cars, and a few races where we were off but still managed to get good finishes, and that’s why we’re sitting here (in Chase contention).

"Pat (Tryson) and all the guys on the (sponsor) NAPA team have done an awesome job. I feel like the last month, month and a half, we’re starting to gel and figure out our race cars, find some speed and know where to go to get that speed when we need it. I’ve been very happy with that and still continue to work on our stuff to try to get better."

Before making the move to MWR and Toyota, Truex had a close relationship with his previous crew chief, Kevin "Bono" Manion, who now works with Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray. He compared Tryson with Manion.

"They’re different in a lot of ways, but I wouldn’t say they’re like night and day," said Truex. "Their personalities are a little bit different. ‘Bono’ is more quiet and kind of strict. If you do something wrong, he’ll probably yell at you.

"Pat is a little more laid back, kind of likes to have fun. Both of them do a great job, obviously, and they’re both good at calling races and they both understand the race cars well. They’re different, but at the end of the day, they are both out there doing the same job, and both do it well."

Looks like the replacement of the streetlights on the outside of the Square is full steam ahead. The plan is to move counter-clockwise around the Square startin’ in the middle of the south side. The first pole has been set.

All electrical service will be under ground. All of the wiring is bein’ placed a few feet out in the street under the pavement. The CW&EP crew is dealin’ with each street cut as they go, findin’ lines, drains and other obstacles that were unknown.

The best scenario time is estimated to be three months to complete the job. Business owners have been ask to be patient as there will be some disruption in parkin’ durin’ the construction. The parkin’ on the inside of the Square is all available.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin'.

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Weekly Columns

CLICK and CLACK

TALK CARS

Dear Tom and Ray:

Belt dressings? Yes or no? I heard on your radio show this week not to spray belt dressings on serpentine belts. I recently was told TO use belt dressings on my serpentine belt by a mechanic. He said it would increase the longevity of the belt - replacing the lost oils and keeping it more flexible and, therefore, increasing the life of the belt. Why is this not good on today’s belts? - Bruce.

Tom: Well, I’ve found that dressings tend to expand MY belts. Especially Newman’s Own. That’s why I’ve switched to the Light Italian.

Ray: The problem with belt dressings is that they’re temporary solutions. They just cover up a problem, rather than solve it.

Tom: Most belt dressings contain either a lubricant of some kind, to allow the belt to slip more, or a tacking agent, to allow the belt to grip more.

Ray: The problem is that these agents - and the solvents that are used as spray-can propellants - can cause modern belts to swell and delaminate. Belts are made of several layers of rubber, and when they delaminate, these layers come apart and the belt fails.

Tom: In most cases, when a belt is making noise, it’s because it needs to be tightened or needs to be replaced. Belt noise also can be caused by a bad belt tensioner or a misaligned pulley. But belt dressing isn’t going to address any of those problems in the long term.

Ray: Of course, if you know for a fact that your belt is just old and worn out - and you want to keep the belt quiet for a couple of weeks until your in-laws leave town, then spray all the dressing you want on it. But it’s a short-term band-aid at best.