Carthage High School student Sarah Pierce shadowed Police Chief Veach. She said that she had fun and they got to ride in the "cop cars" and tour the station and jail. Students Lucy Armstrong and Tara Hamilton also shadowed a Carthage Police Officer.

"I learned," said Armstrong "that everything I thought about what police officers look for when they go to pull someone over was completely wrong. They don’t go after the fast red cars or the high schoolers."

Hamilton said the most exciting part of the day was pulling people over.

On Tuesday evening the regularly scheduled bimonthly City Council meeting was held in council chambers. Students participating in the daily events were assigned a council member and given the opportunity to experience first hand the job of a Council Member or City official. The Council Members and City officials were close by to offer the students direction and guidance when needed.

"It was very educational," said Council member Ron Ferguson, "for both the council members and the students."

Council Member Jim Woestman commented that Student Government day is a great program.

NASCAR to the Max

As expected, Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte were in the fray as the laps wound down in Sunday’s Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 1.54-mile moderately banked speedway features the fastest speeds on the circuit with speeds entering the turns near 200 mph. Labonte seemed to have the car to beat all day, dominating lengthy stretches throughout the race. On lap 308 of the 325 scheduled, a caution for a blown engine bunched the field. On the lap 313 restart, Gordon was able to pass Labonte for the lead. Labonte shadowed Gordon for two laps then pulled a textbook bump and run; lightly tapping the lead cars bumper enough to loosen their car then passing for the position. Labonte stretched his lead over the final nine laps to claim a 1.2 second, over ten car lengths, victory over Gordon. Gordon, who has won his share of races with the bump and run maneuver and appreciates a hard fought battle, was quick to congratulate Labonte on his victory. The two drivers have a virtual death grip on the track with Labonte claiming six wins in the last 14 races at the track. Gordon has won at the track three times, giving the duo 9 victories in the last 21 races at the track.

Gordon’s dominance is not limited to Atlanta. He may actually favor the next track on the schedule, Darlington (SC) Raceway. Darlington is the home of six of Gordon’s career victories, with all six coming in the previous 15 visits. The duo of Dale Jarrett and Jeff Burton, have also had their share of success at the track with the pair claiming five victories, three for Jarrett and two for Burton, in the past 12 races at the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval.

Last years runner-up in the season points race, Mark Martin, will need to change his luck quickly if he hopes to be in contention again this November. Due to blown engines, Martin has finished last and next to last in the last two races and currently sits 25th in points.

I know they’re just tryin’ to be polite, but it bugs me when ya call and they ask, "May I ask who’s calling?" Well sure you can ask. What ya really mean is "tell me who this is or ya ain’t gettin’ through."

Some will get more to the point, "Who shall I say is calling?" That at least says there’s no doubt about what the question is.

My favorite English teacher spent an awful lota time leanin’ me ta speak proper. ‘Specially the difference ‘tween ‘can’ and ‘may.’ We used ta bug her by askin’ "can I go to the restroom." She would always squirm a little, knowin’ she didn’t want to get into a discussion whether we ‘had the ability’ or ‘needed permission’ to ‘go to the restroom."

I suppose the polite thing ta do is ta identify myself when I make a call, that would eliminate my irritation and that of the person answerin’ the phone.

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 father believes everything you say. He tells everyone that Click and Clack say it’s cheaper to drive an old car than a new one. True, BUT is there no outer limit?? He drives a 1966 Olds Delta 88 that has 250K-plus on the odometer and is on its second engine. The car is a heap, with rust holes in the doors and fenders, sagging bumpers (because the supports have just about rusted through), sagging doors, sagging suspension, rattles galore and a rear wheel bearing that growls like an angry bear. Every year, he pays a body shop big bucks to cover the rust with new paint. The car gets larger every year. A new rear window took more than a year to locate and cost about $1,200 installed. The knob on the gear selector is a sewing-thread spool that is older than my kids, who have kids of their own. It this really what you had in mind? Do you look forward to the day when all of the cars chugging and rattling their way down our highways and byways are 36 years old and prone to dropping their rear bumpers on the road? Please — say it isn’t so. — Herb

TOM: Sorry, Herb. It’s so. I stand by my words. It is ALWAYS cheaper to keep driving your old car than it is to buy a new car.

RAY: It might not be safer, it might not be more attractive, it might not smell as good, but my brother is generally right. It’s almost always cheaper.

TOM: Always cheaper! Always!

RAY: Well, if you get into a situation like your father’s, where important parts — like a rear window — become hard, and therefore expensive, to obtain, you might find an exception to Tommy’s rule. But generally speaking, it’s always cheaper to keep driving your heap.