Hall Project Creeps Ahead.

The City Council voted 6-4 Tuesday evening to prepare a Council bill that would adjust the budget and put in progress the $1.2 million partial renovation of Memorial Hall. The bill would appropriate $600,000 from this year’s budget and would be matched by a grant from the Missouri Veteran’s Commission. Total annual general fund revenue for the City is approximately $7 million.

The fact that half the funding is being contributed by the Veteran’s Commission did not bring any patriotic rhetoric to the discussion that proceeded the vote. The only arguments for the expenditure were economic ones.

Budget Chair Jackie Boyer has consistently argued that in order for the City to attract more tourism, the Hall has to be able to be used as small convention center.

Council member Bill Putnam has insisted he is not necessarily against the project, but has argued that the large expenditure will weaken the City ability to move ahead with other needed capital projects.

Putnam, Ronnie Wells, Chuck Tobrock, and Jim McPheeters voted against.

Nascar to the Max

This week the NASCAR tour returns for more short track action at the ½ mile Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, VA. Martinsville is a very narrow track with long asphalt straight aways and tight concrete turns with very little banking. It most closely resembles a ½ mile paperclip.

Because of the long straights and narrow turns, braking is a crucial element of being successful at Martinsville. As the race wears on, you will actually be able to see the brake rotors glow a bright cherry red because of the heat generated during the extreme braking. Dale Jarrett won the spring race here but due to recent injuries will be a long shot to win this demanding race. Short track ace Rusty Wallace and concrete specialist Tony Stewart will be the leading contenders of the starting field of 43.

Sterling Marlin put his Dodge in the winner’s circle for the second time this year by dominating last weekend’s UAW-GM 500 in Charlotte, NC. Tony Stewart was Marlin’s main competition with the duo combining to lead 265 of the 334 laps.

The Ricky Rudd/Rusty Wallace feud was renewed when Rudd inadvertently hit Wallace as both exited the pits during an early caution period. Both had to make several return visits to pit road to make chassis adjustments. Wallace recovered to finish seventh while Rudd finished three laps behind in 21st. Championship points leader Jeff Gordon couldn’t capitalize on Rudd’s misfortune managing only a 16th place finish. Gordon’s lead over Rudd is now 237 points.

Mike Wallace, whose older brother Rusty drives the number 2 Ford for Penske Racing, will drive the number 12 Penske Ford for the remainder of the season replacing Jeremy Mayfield who was fired last week. NAPA Auto Parts is reportedly dissatisfied with the performance of Michael Waltrip since his season opening win in the Daytona 500. Waltrip is allegedly trying to work out a television commentator contract, which would lead to his retirement from racing. Rumored replacement is none other than the youngest Wallace brother Kenny.

Up to this point, there has been little input from the community since the Council jumped from an original commitment of $200,000 for Hall renovations to the $600,000 level. The increase has been incremental over a period of time.

Most of the votes have taken place in the Committee report portion of Council meetings. That portion of the meeting is before Citizens have an opportunity to give any opinions on issues facing the Council.

To adjust the budget and authorize the Mayor to sign the construction contract, the full Council must approve a Council bill. That typically takes two readings so the community will have an opportunity to comment.

If you have opinions on this proposal, call your Council representative or show up at the next two Council meets.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray: We own a Toyota Camry four-cylinder with a stick shift and 140,000 miles. Whenever we attempt to pass another vehicle, particularly on a hill or a curve, we lose power and have to relinquish our position and glide sheepishly over to the shoulder-while noting an extended single digit through the rear window of the unpassed car as it speeds ahead. This is not only humiliating but also dangerous.

We had our car "diagnosed" at the Toyota dealer and were told we needed a valve job. We then took the car to our local mechanic who checked the compression, said it was OK, and because of that, said he didn’t think the valves were the problem. He thinks it might be a plugged exhaust or catalytic converter. So we took the car to an exhaust specialist, who said it wasn’t the exhaust or the converter. Now where do we stand? -Robert

RAY: Where do you stand? In front of the service manager at the Toyota dealership with your credit card outstretched.

TOM: Your exhaust guy has ruled out a plugged exhaust system. And while it could be a bad fuel filter or fuel pump (and those are worth checking), I suspect that the Toyota dealer will be proven right.

RAY: Camrys are known for having carbon dioxide deposits build up on their valve stems when they get old. After the car has been running for a while, typically on the highway or on hills, the carbon deposits heat up and expand. And when they expand, they prevent the valves from closing all the way.

TOM: And when the valves don’t close, you get lousy compression and no power. Since this only happens when the engine is hot, it’s not surprising that your mechanic was confused by the dealer’s theory.