Today's Feature
Public Works Meets Tomorrow.

The City Council Public Works Committee will meet tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Items on the agenda included one administrative lot split request at 945 E. Fairview. The item is brought to the committee by Public Works Director Chad Wampler.

Wampler recently reported to the City Council that the Carthage Public Library would be opening bids for the construction of the new building on November 22. The library has been through the bid process before but had rejected all bids due to the prices being higher than anticipated. The rebidding process includes changes to the specifications of the building in attempts to lower the overall cost of construction.

It was also reported on the progress of the roundabout beautification project. Wampler told Council that the project began with the location of electric lines for the installation of lights. Pinewood Nursery has commenced the planting of concentric circles of flowers in the center of the grassy area. This project will add flowers, lights and a Carthage sign to the center of the roundabout.

Stench Report:
Friday,
11/11/05

No Stench Reported

Over the years the choices have changed some as the younger relatives took over the chores of preparin’ their various dishes. No one makes the potato bread my grandmother always used to prepare. Although it’s somewhat of a family secret, there has been a Thanksgivin’ or two without a turkey. Various rice casseroles have moved in on occasion and even cheese dip from time to time. ‘Course ever now and then there will be a traditional Thanksgivin’ dinner with all the trimmin’s. It’s still hard ta beat turkey and dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, homemade rolls and a big piece a pumpkin’ pie. Hold the whipped cream, I’m stuffed.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Emergency Roof Repairs in Wintertime

Q: October’s stormy weather seems to have done it for my roof: During the last big storm, the roof upstairs started leaking. I climbed into the attic crawlspace but could not locate the source of the leak, although there appears to be some moisture on the bricks of the chimney. Could it be that my chimney is leaking? - Bob S., Lowell, Mass.

A: My first guess would be that the chimney flashing — shaped metal sheets interwoven with the roof shingling — is damaged and that water is leaking in at the damaged point. Flashing covers the gaps at roof joints and outlets (like chimneys and vent stacks) and is the first line of defense against water leakage. The metal — aluminum or copper — is very durable, but damage from debris strikes, or from small critters (like raccoons) tugging away surrounding shingles, can take its toll.

Damage to the chimney itself is possible, if the outside stack hasn’t been checked in a few years, or if the stack took a direct hit from a large piece of debris during recent storms. A damaged chimney — especially an active one (venting fireplace or heater gases) — is an emergency that should be addressed by professionals, and quickly.

Hopefully, the former problem is the issue. But you just won’t know until you can get onto the roof and take a look, and if it’s really windy or snowy, going up top is dangerous. I recommend bringing a partner along to steady the ladder as you climb, and hold the safety rope taut as you make your way to the suspect area. If you can’t get a helper or don’t have safety equipment, call a professional. It’s always better to pay for an inspection than for a hospital visit.

Damaged chimney flashing really should be replaced rather than patched up and nailed back into place. But in winter, you may not have many options. You can make a temporary repair using roofing caulk or weather-resistant sealant, but the next big storm might blow that out again. If the weather report predicts a few sunny, fairly warm days, take advantage of them to replace the flashing (and surrounding shingles if damaged) with matching metal, using pliers and aviation snips to bend and size the metal properly. Copy the other flashing’s interwoven pattern, mortar in place, and layer the new shingles over the replacement.