Today's Feature

The Boy Scouts Were There.

City Council met last Tuesday evening. Council Chambers was filled with Boy Scouts, in attendance of the meeting as part of the curriculum for obtaining merit badges. One such Boy Scout led the meeting attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance, and before the meeting adjourned, the Scouts each introduced themselves. The Scoutmaster and several assistant Scoutmasters, including Tom Flanigan, were present as well.

An ordinance in its second reading to accept the final plat of "Schrader’s Acres" located at Parsons and Vine Street was approved unanimously without any discussion.

The first reading of an ordinance rezoning the property at 1220 Grand Street to commercial zoning prompted some discussion as Councilmember Jackie Boyer commented that there is a residence between the current All Things Grand store and the property for which rezoning has been requested. She asked if the property owner would have any problem living between two businesses. City Administrator Tom Short said that all surrounding property owners had been notified and no concerns had been voiced about the rezoning. Councilmember Mike Harris asked if the item had already been through the Planning and Zoning Committee, which was affirmed.

The Public Service Committee requested that Council approve a grant request forwarded to the Helen S. Boyland Foundation in the amount of $2,700 which would be used to for the replacement and repair of two pieces of park equipment.

The first reading of the ordinance renewing the lease of the skating rink at Municipal Park was discussed briefly.

Tom Short spoke about the progress with the CDBG Grant for the proposed Fairview Interchange, saying that public notices had been sent to people who would be affected by the interchange. This letter informed residents that the roadway, not the residences, would be annexed into City limits.

If you’re like most, you seem ta be a little confused about the annual tradition of gettin’ around to turnin’ on the Christmas lights here in town.

There seems ta be about four general different camps when it comes to lightin’ up for Christmas here in Carthage. The tourist industry camp wants lights on as early as possible to attract folks travelin’ to Branson and there abouts to see the light displays there. The traditional camp wants the lightin’ delayed until after Thanksgiving. The moderates compromise with lights goin’ on about two weeks before Turkey Day, and the erratic turn ‘em on about anytime they feel like it. I’m prob’ly missin’ a camp there somewhere. You personally have every opportunity to observe and support any or all.

It is the year of the independent light thinkers.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack Talk Cars

By Tom and Ray Magliozz

Dear Tom and Ray:

You give such sage advice that I thought you might be able to help me out. We gave our twin children (a boy and a girl, now age 19) the promise of their first cars when they graduate from high school We told them they would be used cars and they would be expected to pay all related costs. We also said they will not get their cars until we all agree that they are ready for the responsibility. Now that they’ve completed their first year of college, they’ve started lobbying for their cars. Since they both seem to want different things in a car, I’ve decided to give them each a set amount of money, and if they want something newer or fancier, they can pay the difference themselves. The question is, what is a fair amount to give them that will put them in a decent , safe car. By the way, you should know that my wife and I have promised ourselves that our kids CANNOT be driving nicer cars than we are. She has a 2002 Mazda 626 and I have a 98 Jetta with 86,000 miles. - Scoop.

RAY: My father made the same kind of deal with my brother when he graduated from high school. He said he’d buy Tommy a car when Tommy was mature enough for the responsibility. My father died a few years ago, and he was still waiting to shell out the money!

TOM: My number is $5,000, Scoop. I think that’s both fair and reasonable. If you want to make them work a little harder or suffer a little more, you could ratchet that down another thousand or so. But I think you can get a decent safe car for $5,000.

RAY: Yeah, like a 98 Jetta with about 85,500 miles on it (but don’t worry, Scoop, you can always go out and whack a dent in it to make it uglier than yours).