Today's Feature

Parking Ordinance First Reading.

Carthage City Council met Tuesday and heard the first reading of the ordinance that would ban parking in front yards.

During the citizens participation period of the meeting, citizen Bill Hoffman expressed concerns for some of the older homes in Carthage. Hoffman said that many homes were built before families owned more than one car and felt that the ordinance would place a hardship on those home owners by causing them the expense of expanding the current driveways. Hoffman asked the Council to study the matter further.

Council member Ronnie Wells said that he had been contacted by several citizens with concerns about the ordinance and added that he was not in favor of the proposal as currently written. Wells suggested an amendment allowing front yard parking with a time limitation to allow for citizens wishing to sell vehicles. A motion was made to place the time limitation at seven days.

Council member Larry Ross seconded the amendment and noted that selling cars in the street is illegal, making yard parking one of few alternatives for that purpose.

Council member Mike Harris said that the Safety committee had already looked at the matter. Harris said he agreed with the principle but that the amendment would add complications to the enforcement of the ordinance.

Council member Jim Woestman said the amendment would allow persons selling multiple cars to stretch the 7 days out indefinitely.

Council member Claude Newport said he agreed with the intent of the ordinance but added that there were some homes with special circumstances that should be taken into consideration.

Council vote by voice defeated the amendment.

Councilman Harris said he feared there were misconceptions about the ordinance by the public. Harris clarified that the ordinance would not restrict parking in driveways. The restrictions would be applied only to the front yard area.

Burn Ban Continues.

Fire Chief John Cooper told members of the City Council on Tuesday evening that the burn ban in Carthage is still active. The ban on burning leaves, trash, brush, fencerows and control burns was put in place January 17 due to dry conditions. Cooper stated that until an adequate amount of rainfall is received the ban will continue to be in effect.

Stench Report:
Wednesday,
1/25/06

Stench reported around midnight

From what I can tell the proposed ordinance bannin’ parked cars in front yards doesn’t concern you, it concerns your neighbor. Accordin’ to the editorial in the evenin’ paper there is worry that the City may eventually be able to also tell ya what you can do in your back yard as well. Sorry, but it’s too late. There is a multitude of things ya can’t do in your back yard already. Things that used ta happen all the time.

You can’t habitually park a horse in your back yard. Ya can’t butcher a pig in your back yard. Ya can’t let your garbage pile up in your back yard. You can’t have chickens in your back yard. You can’t let your grass grow up to your knees in your back yard. Ya can’t chain a dog in your back yard. And neither can your neighbor.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

Years ago, I read in the newspaper that you should not set your parking brake if there is snow on the ground or a freeze warning in the area, because the brake pads could freeze to the wheels. My uncle says there is no way for a metal or ceramic brake pad to freeze to a metal wheel. Who is correct? - Justin

RAY: Well, fortunately for family harmony, Justin, we can say you’re both right.

TOM: Your uncle is right that there’s no way the brake pads can freeze to the rotor and keep the car from moving. But the cables that operate the parking brake can freeze.

RAY: In a lot of cars, the cables run under the car and are attached to levers that actuate the caliper, or the brake drum. And under certain wintry conditions, snow or slush can cover the levers or get inside the cable sheaths, and then freeze overnight. Then when you try to release the brake in the morning, the brake handle in the car moves, but the parking break doesn’t.

TOM: So, when you’re driving in slushy conditions, with a chance of a freeze overnight, you’d be wise to park your car on a flat surface that night.

RAY: But you don’t want to make a habit of that, because there’s another kind of freezing that happens. That’s freezing due to rust. If a parking brake goes unused for a long period of time, rust can build up in the cables or on the levers.

TOM: So, our advice is to make a habit of using the parking brake all the time - except when there’s wet snow or slush on the ground and the temperature might drop below freezing. In those instances, we recommend NOT using the parking brake, and then calling in sick the next day so you can stay home and watch your car to make sure it doesn’t roll away.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Jacono, Rollin’ Stoned Re-Live Glory Days

Q: I really enjoy some of the nostalgia articles you write about drivers from years gone by. I was a big fan of Joe Jacono, who drove the Rollin’ Stoned Plymouth Barracuda Funny Car in the ‘60s and ‘70s. I hear he’s back on the nostalgia circuit, so can you give us an update on him? -- Johnny P., Baltimore

A: Glad to, Johnny. Joe Jacono, now 70 years young, is indeed back on the Nostalgia Funny Car circuit with his original Rollin’ Stoned Cuda, owned by Bob Rosetty. A Delaware native, Jacono ran mostly East Coast match racing with his popular Funny Cars, yet did very well when he entered bigger NHRA points races. He finished second in ‘73 in Northeast Division One points, and in 1975 won the NHRA National Open at Cecil County in Maryland.

The first time I saw Jacono compete was at New Jersey’s Vineland Speedway in 1958. There, he became the first driver to break into the 9-second range behind the wheel of his Buick V-8 "nailhead" blown dragster. Jacono then bought John Mazmanian’s "Brief Encounter" Cuda in late ‘71, and the car became the first "Rollin’ Stoned" Funny Car. It featured a Woody Gilmore chassis and a caricature of a caveman, which became his nickname. Joe retired in 1977