The agenda includes the first reading of an ordinance that would authorize an agreement with the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council to provide consulting services for the Community Development Block Grant for the Over-Sixty Center expansion. The contract would be in the amount of $18,300.

The Council will also hear the first reading of an ordinance that would authorize an agreement with Hunter & Millard Architects, Inc. for architectural design services for the Over-Sixty Center expansion.

Also scheduled to be heard in first reading is an ordinance that would authorize an agreement with the Fair Acres Family YMCA for use of the practice soccer field at the Fair Acres Sports Complex for the 2003 fall flag football season.

A vote is scheduled on a resolution to authorize the sale of Certificates of Participation for CW&EP improvements.

They say that the worst thing about a cow bein’ at the back of a line is that the view never changes. ‘Course the good thing is ya don’t have ta do much thinkin’ as ya wonder through the pasture.

I prob’ly heard that story from some motivational speaker at one time or another over the last twenty years. Looks like they’d come up with an original way to illustrate the point.

I suppose they’re like most of us, we get used to ploddin’ along the path and don’t really wanna be bothered ta change. Even if the view isn’t that great.

I’ve walked a few cow paths. No matter where ya are in line, you still have ta watch your step.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’

by

Carthage Printing

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Replacing Ceramic Tile

Q: One of my kids dropped a hammer onto the tile counter yesterday and cracked two tiles. How can I replace these tiles so they match the rest of the counter? — Lane A., Little Rock, Ark.

A: If the counter is relatively new, you might be able to buy the exact product directly from your hardware or home-improvement store, or purchase it from the manufacturer. A few extra tiles might have been left in the house after the counter was installed; check the basement or attic to see if any spares are stored there. If not, measure the size of an unbroken tile and record it, and then take a sample of the broken tile to the store to match the color and texture (to remove a cracked tile, follow the instructions below).

In addition to the replacement tile, purchase the tools and supplies needed for the job. Don’t worry about cost; if you have a lot of ceramic tile in a houseful of kids, you’ll be using this equipment often (on the tiles, not on the kids). You will need: safety goggles (to keep small debris from getting into your eyes), rubber gloves (to lessen cleanup time after grout work), a grout saw, a small container of tile grout, a grout dye, a glass cutter (or tile scoring tool, available in the tile section), a cold chisel (not a woodworking chisel), a wire brush or pick, toothpicks and masking tape.

That’s a lot of stuff, isn’t it? Well, some of it might be around the house, but you certainly need the grout saw, glass cutter and grout. The grout dye is mixed into the grout to match the color of the surrounding grout.

Using the grout saw, remove grout from the sides of the damaged tile. Then take the glass cutter and score the top of the tile: run a score line from one corner to the opposite corner, and do the same in the other corner, crossing the lines in the middle.

Place the cold chisel in the center of the tile, lining it up with one score line, and gently tap the top of it with the hammer. After a few taps, line the chisel up with the other score line and repeat. Don’t use much force when tapping: be patient, tap gently, and eventually the tile will break neatly into four pieces.