New Spanish-Language Website.


The U. S. Small Business Administration has announced the launch of its new Spanish-language website. The site is aimed at reaching the growing Hispanic business community and the Spanish-speaking community at large with a business tool to help current and aspiring owners to start and grow their businesses successfully.

The site, www.sba.gov/espanol, responds to the needs of a segment of the U. S. population that, according to the Census 2000, has grown to become the largest ethnic minority in the country, with more than 35 million people. According to statistics gathered by a leading Spanish-language Internet provider, 78 percent of all Hispanics have access to the Internet.

Minority-owned businesses account for more than 15 percent of all businesses in the United States. Of those, the largest share, 39.5 percent are owned by Hispanics. Hispanic-owned businesses employ around two million people and contribute more than $200 billion annually to the U. S. economy.

The website will include its own search engine to make it easier for users to find information.

NASCAR to the Max

Last weekends running of the New Hampshire 300 marked the second time in three weeks that the start of a NASCAR race was delayed by rain. Once the race began, only 19 laps were run before the rain set in again leading to a red flag, which stops the race, further delaying the action by almost two hours. With weather continuing to threaten the event, most teams began strategizing for a less than full distance event. NASCAR considers a race official once it has reached the halfway point. Most teams had done their homework and had their cars set up for a slick track, partly for the weather and partly because of a crumbling track surface that plagued the track at a race earlier in the summer. The earlier race had 14 caution periods for 77 laps while Sunday’s event only had three; one for an accident, two for rain on the track. Rain began falling again on lap 197. Race officials brought out the second caution for rain on lap 200. It was quickly obvious that the rain would not be letting up in time to dry the track again so the checkered flag was flown on lap 207 allowing rookie Ryan Newman to claim his first career victory at a leisurely 55 mph. Mark Martin has moved into a 6-point lead in the season’s point championship over Sterling Marlin. Only 67 points separates the top 5.

This Sunday’s race will be held on the "Monster Mile", Dover Downs International Speedway, in Dover, DE. The track earned its nickname due to its long straight-aways and tight, high-banked turns. If a second groove, or lane, of racing develops, side-by-side racing could occur. If not, drivers will likely resort to the bump and pass tactics that they have used at some of the shorter tracks in recent weeks. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. are recent winners here although Tony Stewart and Rusty Wallace typically run well on concrete surfaces such as Dover. Of the 43 starters, any of these could challenge for the win.

If you’re like me, ya wonder exactly where that money goes that ya might give to any certain organization. That is prob’ly one a the best reasons to consider the Carthage United Way. Most of the money either stays right here in Carthage or is used for services available to local people. Only about 11% is used for administration and campaign expenses.

One a the things that is impressive is the way the Carthage United Way Board of Directors are good stewards of your money. All agencies that receive funding are held accountable for those funds. They present their budget for scrutiny each year and available funding is spread in an equitable manner. If you have an extra buck or two a month, ya couldn’t find a better place to put it to use.

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:

My car got broken into while sitting in my mechanic’s parking lot, waiting to get fixed. The vandals broke the passenger-side window. The mechanic called the police and filed a police report, then replaced the window. He said he would not charge me for the labor to replace the window, but he wants to charge me for the window itself. Should I pay for the window, or is it the mechanic’s responsibility, since I entrusted the car to him? Thanks. — Rachel

RAY: Well, liability laws vary from state to state, Rachel, so you should call your local attorney general’s office to check. But in most civilized states, once you fill out the repair order and leave your keys with the mechanic, the car is then considered to be in his care, custody and control. And from then until you pick it up, he’s responsible for it, Rachel.

TOM: So he should cover the cost of both the parts and the labor necessary to fix it. And I should point out that most garages have insurance to cover just this sort of expense because, sometimes, stuff happens.

RAY: Maybe he doesn’t want to make a claim to his insurer because he’s been dropping too many cars off the lift in the past few weeks. But that’s not your problem, Rachel.

TOM: Now, if you had dropped off the car the night before, left it in his lot without his knowledge and slid the key through the mail slot, then I think any overnight damage is your responsibility. In that case, he’s being generous by offering you free labor, and you ought to thank him.