WASHINGTON - Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt was discharged from the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland after undergoing surgery Friday to remove his left kidney, which had a suspicious cystic mass on it.

"I'm feeling fine and am anxious to get back to work," Blunt said. "The doctors and staff at the Bethesda Medical Center took great care of me, and I appreciate their hard work."

Doctors told Blunt Tuesday that the mass was a renal cell tumor that was completely removed without any evidence of spread.

"The operation was one hundred percent successful, and no additional treatment will be necessary," said Dr. Joe Costa, who performed Friday's surgery.

"I am a great believer in preventive health screening for early detection," Blunt said, recommending regular medical follow-up for everyone.

Blunt plans to return to Southwest Missouri Friday and to participate in his annual Southwest Missouri Agriculture Tour next week

NASCAR to the Max

Sunday’s running of the Pennsylvania 500 turned out to be an exercise in patience due to two extended red-flag periods. The first came after an accident involving Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Steve Park. The accident occurred on the first lap when Wallace clipped the front bumper of Park sending Park spinning into the path of Earnhardt, Jr. Park and Earnhardt spun across the wet infield grass and were unable to stop. They impacted heavily into the infield guardrail with Park’s car flipping several times before finally coming to rest on its side. Park and Earnhardt, Jr. emerged unscathed although Parks car was demolished. NASCAR stopped the race for over an hour to allow crews time to replace the 110 feet of guardrail that was destroyed. On lap 25 the race was again red-flagged because of rain, this time for over two hours. Once the race was restarted, the question was whether enough daylight remained to finish the race. NASCAR considers a race official once it has passed the halfway point. This was accomplished easily although it was becoming apparent that the full distance was out of the question. NASCAR ultimately made the decision and informed the teams that they would only run 175 of the scheduled 200 laps making the race unofficially the Pennsylvania 437. Bill Elliott overcame an extended pit stop and used his experience from four previous wins at the track to claim the win, his first of the season.

The NASCAR tour races this Sunday at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400. The track is a 2.5-mile rectangle with little banking that makes handling and acceleration crucial ingredients. The track was built in 1909 and paved with over 3.2 million bricks, earning the track its nickname, the Brickyard. Though the track is now asphalt paved, the start/finish line still maintains a one-yard wide strip of the original bricks. NASCAR first raced at the Brickyard in 1994. Of the eight races contested, Jeff Gordon has won three and Dale Jarrett two. Both should contend among the 43 starters.

Haven’t been out on the water yet this summer. Usually by now I’ve at least paddled a canoe down stream a ways. Or maybe rowed a ways in the old boat on the creek.

The opportunity for bein’ around a lake just hasn’t come up, though there are those who always leave the option open.

There was a few a summers as a kid when bein’ on the water was almost a daily routine. Sail boats or water skiin’. Takin’ a dip in a farm pond. Doin’ a little fishin’.

I have a feelin’ that the modern marvel of air conditionin’ has influenced my behavior somewhat. The fact that the last time I remember water skiin’ I ached for the next week also prob’ly factors in a mite.

There’s still some summer left, so ‘fore it’s over, it’s likely I’ll make it to some shore where I can at least skip a flat rock or two.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

By Tom and Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am negotiating the purchase of a used Subaru Outback from a large used-car dealership. I know you recommend that I take it to my own mechanic for an inspection before buying it, but this dealership claims it can’t let the car off site for an inspection due to insurance issues. It seems to have no problem with me bringing someone here to inspect the car, but that would cost me a lot more, and my own mechanic doesn’t offer that service. Should I insist on bringing the car to my own mechanic, or is the dealership legit in claiming that it needs one of its own employees in the car when it goes off site? Is this a deal breaker? Are they hiding something? — Adrian

RAY: Well, the dealership might not know it’s hiding anything, but it might end up hiding something.

TOM: The reason we insist on an independent inspection of a used car is because the person selling the car — by definition — is not looking out for your interests. So you, the buyer, have to hire your own mechanic to look out for your interests.

RAY: And I think it IS a deal breaker. Personally, I’ve never run into that insurance story. But even if it’s true, that doesn’t preclude an independent inspection. We do lots of used-car inspections for our customers at the garage. And many times, an employee from the dealership or the owner of the used car will bring the car to us. We’ll tell him to go have lunch while we inspect the car. We tell him to come back in three hours ... and bring us back something to eat! So if these guys really want to sell you a car, tell them that they’re going to have to figure out a way to get the Outback to your mechanic for a few hours.