Today's Feature

Brief Council Meeting.

The Carthage City Council met Tuesday evening in a regular session. The meeting lasted approximately a half hour. Council approved an ordinance to enter into a Plexar II agreement with AT&T for City office and Carthage Public Library phone service. The ordinance was approved unanimously.

Council heard the first reading of an ordinance that would allow the City to collect incarceration fees from prisoners. Council member Bill Welch presented the information about the ordinance and noted that the Public Safety committee had discussed a fee of $30 per prisoner per day.

Council also approved a motion to accept a bid for an interior and exterior video surveillance system for the Carthage Police Department. The low bid was received from Global Technologies of Nixa in the amount of $11,512, however, Welch noted that the surge protection features had been altered to lower the cost to $10,812. The item was approved.

It was City Attorney David Mouton’s final meeting prior to being sworn in as a Circuit Court Judge. He was greeted with sentiments of appreciation from the Mayor, City officers and Council members. It was noted that Mouton has served as City attorney for eight years. Mouton spoke briefly about his time as City attorney.

"A great deal has been accomplished within the last eight years, and I’m proud to be a part of it," said Mouton.

Refreshments were served following the meeting and those present were allowed time to wish Mouton well.

Council members in attendance of the meeting included; Diane Sharits, Cynthia Curry, Bill Welch, Bill Johnson, Dan Rife, Tom Flanigan, Larry Ross, Claude Newport and Ronnie Wells. Mike Harris was not present.

Stench Report:

Wednesday,
12/27/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage Square

I suppose it’s hard ta say if the ads caused the response or if they just reflect an attitude that is popular. Gettin’ down to it, I don’t suppose it really matters.

‘With the comin’ new year, a lotta folks will be considerin’ resolutions for improvin’ their chances of makin’ through the year. Prob’ly the most immediate consideration would be a designated driver for the end of this year. It’s not preachin’. Just use some sense and don’t get behind the wheel if you’re not up to it. We wanna see ya next year.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray,

I am 16 years old and drive a 1989 Ford LTD Country Squire. It’s red and has wood paneling on the sides, with a luggage rack on the roof. My friends at school say that they would never be seen riding in it because station wagons are uncool. What do you guys think? - Coty

TOM: Oh, man. Your friends are so wrong on this one, Coty. They’re totally missing the boat.

RAY: There are two kinds of cool, Coty. In high school, kids are worried about being different. So they define "cool" as "acceptable," and "what everyone else is driving/wearing/doing." But that’s not really "cool" so much as it’s "not uncool."

TOM: But as kids get older, they understand that the true coolness is about being an individual - being yourself.

RAY: Think of all the people you know of - musicians, thinkers, athletes, artists - who you think are truly cool. They’re unique, aren’t they? For instance, when I was in high school, The Beatles defined cool.

TOM: Hmm. In my time, Stonewall Jackson was "the man."

RAY: Anyway, do you think The Beatles went to a group of kids in the high-school cafeteria and said, "Excuse me, do you think these shaggy haircuts and low-cut black boots are cool?" Of course not! They did what THEY thought was cool.

TOM: And I happen to agree with you, that the Country Squire is a very cool ride. Nothing says "cool" like fake wood.

RAY: In a couple of years, the other kids will be begging their parents to find them ‘89 Country Squires. But by then, you’ll have already moved on to the next cool thing. Like a ‘75 AMC Matador.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Waltrip Racing Gets New Look for 2007

Michael Waltrip has an enormous responsibility with his new three-car Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Nextel Cup team. Rest assured, however, the popular driver is getting prepared and is very confident, a quality Waltrip has perfected.

Coming off a dismal season that saw him fail to qualify for four of the 36 races in his NAPA Dodge, and even buy his way into a Charlotte event, he is more secure knowing his new 2007 Toyota Camry race teams will receive full factory support. This could be the difference between qualifying for those crucial first five races or not, as Waltrip fields brand-new teams with no points to fall back on.

Waltrip recently named Craftsman Truck driver David Reutimann to complete his three-driver team. Reutimann will become the full-time chauffeur of the No. 00 Toyota Camry co-sponsored by Burger King and Domino’s Pizza, joining Michael in his NAPA-backed No. 55 Toyota and Dale Jarrett in the UPS No. 44 Camry.

Reutimann is the son of legendary short-track modified racer Emil "Buzzie" Reutimann.

With 2007 testing quickly approaching, Waltrip is confident his new team will have the best of all worlds, from factory input to modern surroundings.

Now, all he has to do is perform on the track, and with ultra-fast Daytona being one of his specialties, don’t be surprised to see his Camry team running with the leaders.