Citizens On The Offense.

The City Council Public Works Committee gave its full attention to citizen’s comments during the early portion of a nearly three hour meeting last Tuesday evening.

The Council Chambers were crowded with property owners unhappy with various aspects of the City Building Maintenance Code. Proposed updates to the Code have sparked opposition to not only portions of the Code, but with what some property owners call "selective enforcement."

The Committee was shown a video of various City structures that were said to have violations of the Code. A presentation board with photos of the City’s Director of Engineering’s house were also displayed with alleged violations noted.

The Committee took no action on the matter Tuesday, but another evening meeting is planned according to City Administrator Tom Short. That meeting will likely be limited to comments and discussion of Committee members so a recommendation can be put to the Council said Short.

The Committee approved specification to be used in request for proposals for contract engineering services.

Carthage Area United Way
Awards Presentation.

news release

The Carthage Area United Way announced the completion of a very successful campaign at their annual meeting and awards luncheon held at the Cornell Conference Center, Leggett & Platt, Inc. on January 25, 2001.

Miriam Putnam, campaign chairman, said the drive raised over $270,000 which was 108% of their $250,000 goal. The money raised will help support seventeen health and human service agencies which include American Red Cross of Southwest Missouri, Ozark Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Carthage Development Center, Carthage Crisis Center, Carthage Crosslines Ministry, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Citizen’s Advisory Board, Family Literacy Council, Girl Scouts of the Ozark Area, Jasper County 4-H, Lafayette House, Medi-Aid, Inc., Ozark Camp Quality, Salvation Army, SW MO Arthritis Assoc., MO Special Olympics, and Sunshine Home.

Stan Schmidt, owner of Schmidt Associates PC, received the prestigious annual Spirit of Giving Award for his many years of supporting Carthage Area United Way. Stan said, "The United Way provides an avenue to provide help. I’m a firm believer in it."

Companies receiving Gold Awards included Beimdiek Insurance Agency, Hometown Bank, Infinity Lighting and Precious Moments.

Silver Awards went to Duffy Distributors, Flex-O-Lators, JCT Title, Knell Mortuary, Arvest Bank, Bank of America, Firstar Bank, UMB Bank, Charles Burt Home Folks, Penmac Personnel Services, Carthage Police Department and Schmidt Associates.

Bronze Awards went to Southwest Missouri Bank and Williams Energy Group.

Companies receiving the Award of Excellence were The Carthage Press, Empire District Electric, Carthage Broadcasting, the City of Carthage - Administrator, CW&EP, Inland Products, Southwestern Bell, Wal-Mart, H. E. Williams, Butterball, Schreiber Foods, Leggett & Platt, AmeriCold Logistics and McCune-Brooks Hospital.

Schools receiving special awards for largest contributions and participation were Fairview Elementary, Mark Twain Elementary and Pleasant Valley Elementary.

Chairman’s Awards went to Charles Burt Home Folks, Schmidt Associates, UMB Bank and Precious Moments for their donation increases, and 110 percent awards went to H. E. Williams, Leggett & Platt, and Schreiber Foods for extra efforts made during the campaign.

Bob Copeland, CEO of McCune-Brooks Hospital, will lead the 2001 campaign as chairman along with Chief Dennis Veach, Carthage Police Department, as vice chairman.

Extension Council Members Elected.

news release

Five members of the University Outreach and Extension Council of Jasper County were re-elected and five were newly elected in the balloting that ended January 30, 2001, according to Beth Spruce, council chairman.

The re-elected members are: Lloyd and Gattye Kahl, Reeds; Debbie and Paul Gautz, Carthage; and Ray Shull, Carthage. Newly elected members are: Dawn and Greg Powell, Reeds; Dean and Terri Woody, Carthage; and Roy Mason, Carthage.

Spruce said these members will serve two year terms and join the following hold-over members: Lisa and Ray Tubaugh, Jasper; Victor and Kathleen Dintaman, Carthage; Roy and Fern Schoenhals, Carthage; Norman Jantz, Oronogo; Nell Marie Brooks, Carthage; Beth Spruce, Reeds; and Debra Weng, Jasper.

Currently, the appointed members to the council are: Jim Honey (County Commission), Betty Holland-Purser (City of Joplin), Rosemary Willard (City of Carthage), and Barbara Hunter (Farm Bureau).

The council has four major responsibilities. They are: (1) to advise the University of Missouri on needed extension educational programs, (2) approve the extension staff housed in Jasper County, (3) arrange for financing the Jasper County Extension Center and, (4) hold elections to perpetuate the Council.

Officers for the 2001 Council will be elected at the annual meeting being held at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage, Tuesday evening, February 13, 2001.

I still can’t out guess the coffee maker.

As fast as today’s drip pots are, the first pot a coffee never gets done fast enough. I am typically standin’ with cup in hand waitin’ for the drip process (although I would argue that a perked cup tastes better) to run its course.

I wait ‘till the drip ceases, remove the pot to pour a cup, and the maker spews a last shot of coffee all over the counter.

It usually makes that growlin’ noise right after the liquid hits the hot plate, like it had held the fluid as long as possible.

There are reasonable solutions to this almost daily confrontation I’m sure. But the use of large hammers and other implements of destruction in the kitchen is frowned upon in my household.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom & Ray:

My car is a ’93 Volvo 960. When I first turn on the air conditioner, it gives off an odor which makes me think the car is harboring a well-used cat-litter box. This odor ("stink" is more descriptive) goes away after several minutes, only to return each time I turn on the air conditioner.

I’ve tried air-freshener sprays, but they just introduce a new dimension to the problem. I’d love to take care of this problem before next summer. Any ideas? -Edgar

TOM: Well, my guess is you’ve got yourself a little mold-spore farm there, Edgar. Congratulations.

RAY: There’s a part of the air conditioner called the evaporator, which removes the moisture from the air (i.e., "conditions" it). That moisture is then supposed to drain out through a hole in the bottom of the evaporator housing. That’s why you often see water dripping out from underneath cars in the summertime.

TOM: My guess is that you don’t see much water dripping out of the bottom of your car, Edgar, because your drain hole is all plugged up. That’s preventing water from escaping, and creating the perfect breeding ground for mold spores; a dark place with standing water.

RAY: You need to have somebody clear out the evaporator drain for you. It’s an easy job and is usually done with compressed air. Then you’d be wise to spray something in the vents to kill the remaining mold spores. There are automotive products specifically designed for this purpose, but consumer products like Lysol seem to work just as well.