Police Department Christmas Party.

The Carthage Police Department is hosting its annual Laverne Williams Memorial Children’s Christmas Party on Saturday, December 18 at 10 a.m. in Memorial Hall.

The Department plans on approximately 600 children attending. The party is hosted by the Police Department, but it is totally funded by voluntary contributions from the public.

This year will be the fourth year that Duke Mason and his band will entertain at the party. Mason is also planning to have a concert at Memorial Hall on December 11 and proceeds will go toward gifts for the children at the party.

The Department asks that anyone wishing to contribute to the party to stop by the Department with the donation or it can be mailed and a receipt will be provided.

The Department has sponsored the Children’s Party for over thirty years for the children of some of the Carthage residents that are having a difficult time financially during the Christmas season.

For more information contact the Carthage Police Department at 237-7200.

NASCAR THIS WEEK

By Monte Dutton

Reader Mail

DEAR NASCAR THIS WEEK: I liked your answer to Kathy Rhudy concerning Jimmie Johnson. I say if a person has talent they deserve the rewards. Jimmie Johnson is a good driver. I say hooray for him. Some people don’t like Kyle Busch, but I say he is a good driver. Give him his due. -- Norma Lee, Shoals, Ind.

DEAR NASCAR THIS WEEK: NASCAR is concerned about the declining attendance, and declining sales. Could the possibility of a recession have anything to do with it? -- John J. Johnson Jr., Liberty Center, Ohio

DEAR JOHN: Hardly anyone has discussed the decline without citing the recession. There are other factors, as well.

DEAR NASCAR THIS WEEK: Here are some reasons why the NASCAR "bubble" has burst:

1. The Chase ... silly and a waste of time. Why run 36 races and then have a 10-race champion crowned? Asinine. The most consistent driver should win the championship.

2. Thirty-six races are waaaaay too much. Run 25, crown a champ, and leave the people with real anticipation for the next year.

3. Eliminate the cookie-cutter tracks. Boring races.

4. Go back to NASCAR’S roots. Run two races at Darlington. Revamp North Wilkesboro and run there again. Return to the Rock -- Rockingham.

5. Qualify 40 cars per race at 1-mile-plus tracks. Thirty-six cars at 3/4-mile-and-under tracks. No locked-in positions. Qualify on speed or go home.

I grew up a NASCAR fan. My family was going to Dover and Richmond (old 1/2-mile track) when they only had grandstands on the front stretch. Ten years ago I was sure NASCAR was going to go down the tubes. It is not a stick-and-ball sport. Don’t try (to) make it that. All your yuppie fans left after three years. -- Harold Sultzbaugh, Hanover, Pa.

DEAR NASCAR THIS WEEK: Two reasons (for the sport’s slump) are that NASCAR fans like me are tired of "NASCAR." Two examples: mystery cautions or cautions for the slightest little thing, and only enforcing the rules it wants to enforce. (Kyle) Busch went below the line and improved his position (Talladega) and was not forced below the line. He did not win that truck race by the rules that NASCAR itself makes.

Those are two quick reasons why NASCAR is less than it was. I will add a third, but it is more of a personal one. Rick Hendricks is the worst thing that ever happened to NASCAR. He has my sympathy for his personal loss, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, but the fact is he’s a convicted felon -- although he did buy a pardon -- and should have been thrown out of NASCAR. When an organization allows crooks to be team owners, it tells you a lot about the organization. The same thing for (Gene) Haas also.

I find myself readin’ the labels of various packaged snacks in a weak moment from time to time. I have noticed one ingredient that has perked my curiosity.

I have yet to figure why they identify "mechanically separated chicken." This precisely defined meat product pops up in hot dogs, polish sausages, and various snack sticks like Slim Jims.

Havin’ known some folks that worked in a hot dog factory, I’m not surprised by anything that might be considered fair game as an ingredient, I just can’t understand what difference it makes if the chicken is "mechanically separated." I’ve never seen the designation for beef or pork.

In reality, I’m prob’ly not wantin’ to hear a detailed explanation. I suppose some things are better left unknown.

This is some fact, but mainly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

---

Weekly Columns

CLICK and CLACK

TALK CARS

Dear Tom and Ray:

I have a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2 with 110,00 miles and an automatic transmission. It starts fine, but I cannot get it out of park unless I stick a screwdriver in the shift lock override slot while turning the key. That’s a little bit of a hassle. It also makes the car kind of hard to sell. Since I’m getting ready to sell it, what will it cost me to fix this problem? - Bev

Tom: Well, you could just stick the screwdriver in there and then hacksaw it off and paint over it, Bev. That’s what I’d do.

Ray: And that’s why my brother has never successfully sold a car to anyone other than a junk man in the past three decades. I’d fix it correctly, Bev. This car still has a fair amount of resale value.

Tom: The problem is the shift lock, which prevents you from taking the car out of park unless your foot is on the brake. It’s a safety device, designed to keep you from shifting into drive or reverse while stepping on the gas and inadvertently speeding over your garbage cans.

Ray: Or the neighbor’s children.

Tom: The shift lock has several components, and the cost will depend on which component is broken. The way it works is that when you step on the brake, a switch energizes a solenoid, which pulls a pin and allows you to shift out of park.

Ray: It could be as simple as a bad fuse. If that’s all it is, it’ll cost you a buck to fix. Or it could be the switch at the brake pedal. That’s probably about $50. Or if it’s the solenoid, you could be looking at a couple hundred bucks.

Tom: But the number of potential buyers who will flee when they see you jamming a screwdriver into the console will cost you far more than that, so get it fixed.