The Mornin' Mail is published every weekday except major holidays
Thursday, July 20, 2006 Volume XV, Number 23

did ya know?

Did Ya Know?... The Farm Bureau is hosting a "Meet the Candidate" forum on Tuesday, July 25 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held in Private Events, on the South side of the Carthage Square.

Did Ya Know?... L’economique is now open at 135 S. Main, the old H&R Block building. Always accepting items for donation. Please call 359-6688. Big sale going on now, everything in store is 25¢ or less. L’economique is a non-profit resale store.

Did Ya Know?... McCune Brooks Hospital will host Golden Reflections birthday Tea July 20 at 2 p.m in the mbh cafeteria. Looking for a place to use your talents? Interested in volunteering? Lisa Olds with Trinity Hospice will explain how hospice works, what volunteers do and how you can help. Call 359-2347 for more info.

today's laugh

Never eat at a restaurant where the place mats have instructions for the Heimlich maneuver printed on them.

I was always taught to respect my elders. But it’s getting harder and harder - to find one.

I’m such a famous person that my birthday has been declared a national holiday. If you don’t believe me, just ask George Washington. He was born on the same day.

1906
INTERESTING MELANGE.
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.

Race For $10 A Side.

Gene Bennett and Al Lainger Have Matched Their Pacers.

A match pacing race for $10 a side has been agreed on to take place at the fair grounds one week from next Monday between Al Lainger’s roan and Gene Bennett’s sorrel. Each owner will drive his own horse and a close race is predicted.

Several other owners of good horse flesh are figuring on races, among them Henry Tangner and Dr. Wise and it is possible that this speed event may be made a purse race to let these and other aspirants in.

Defying Quarantine is Expensive.

Banta Vansycke, of Galena, disregarded the quarantine established by his town against Joplin and went to the street fair Thursday. When he got home he found a police judge awaiting him with a fine of $50. The costs brought the little bill up to $56.60 and as Banta was short of funds he is languishing under guard.

 

Today's Feature

Record Power Usage.

The heat of the summer has had a major impact on electrical usage, in addition to hydroelectric power availability. On Wednesday of this week the Carthage Water and Electric Plant set a City record for most power usage per hour. During the 4:00 hour and the plant used 58 megawatts, 18 of which were generated by the Carthage plant. On Monday at 4:00 and 5:00 and on Tuesday at 4:00 the plant beat the previous record, set in 2003 by reaching 57 megawatts per hour. The 2003 record was set when 56.3 megawatts were used, also during the 4:00 hour.

The plant has been using the 5 of the 9 available generators recently, to compensate for a voluntary reduction of hydroelectric power usage. Using the generators is more cost effective for the City than purchasing from the market. Market prices are variable but have been averaging around $125 per megawatt lately. Generation has been shown to cost approximately $64 to $80 per megawatt, although this cost is also variable depending on cost of the fuel used to power the generators.

According to Tony Choate of CW&EP the generators are running well. Maintenance for the units was done in the winter to ensure good performance during the summer, according to Choate.

In 1998 CW&EP generated and sold power to help compensate for a shortage of area power plants. Choate said that the plant is still capable of selling power on a contingency basis, if the power is not being used by the City. However, there has not been any interest from area communities yet this summer.

The plant is capable of producing up to 35 megawatts per hour at peak, but it is not recommended that long-term production exceed approximately 32 or 33 mw/h. Full production requires all nine generators to be used.


Chamber Hosts Sale-Bration.

News release.

The Carthage Chamber of Commerce will host a Summer Sidewalk Sale-Bration on Saturday, July 22. A variety of activities are planned for the community-wide event that is designed to encourage residents and others to "Shop Carthage First."

The day will begin with a Sale Bration Bingo at 7 a.m. Bingo cards can be picked up at the chamber office or at any of these participating retailers;

A Little More Pizzazz, 319 South Main Street; All Things Grand!, 1204 Grand Ave.; Annie’s, 116 West Third Street; Block-By-Block Quilt Shop, 424 West Fir Road; Burggraf’s Discount Tire & Wheel, 2504 Grand Avenue; CD’s Pancake Hut, 301 South Garrison Avenue; Candy House Gourmet Chocolates, 2408 South Grand Avenue; Carthage Hardware, 119 East Third Street; Central Pet Care Clinic, 224 West Central Avenue; The Corner Closet, 327 South McGregor; Emporium on the Square, 311 South Main Street; Front Page, 141 East Third Street; Powers Museum, 1617 West Oak Street; UMB Bank, 300 Grant Street; The White Rose Winery, Restaurant and Bed & Breakfast, 13001 Journey Road.

Players must visit four locations on their card to make bingo to be eligible to enter a prize drawing. Official rules and information is located on the bingo cards.

Other scheduled activities include the British Car Show on the Historic Carthage Square, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 100 cars and motorcycles will be on display for the show. For more information contact Debra Smith at the Carthage Chamber of Commerce, 358-2373.

Stench Report:
Wednesday,
7/19/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage
Square

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',
I’m not a big golf nut, but the sport does generate a good portion of jokes and humorous stories.

I have been known to spend a Sunday afternoon sittin’ on the couch watchin’ a match on tv. Looks like good exercise.

Some get the idea that golfers are fanatical about the sport, but I see the same enthusiasm in tennis players, bowlers, dart throwers, and pool and softball players. And curlers. I suppose all sports take a particular set of physical skills and mind set, but mainly ya have ta like the game, and then be willing to invest the time to get good at it.

I kinda like the idea of whackin’ a ball as hard as ya can, I’m not so keen on the idea of chasin’ after it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Sponsored
by:
Metcalf Auto Supply
Click & Clack Talk Cars
By Tom and Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

What is the primary reason why car manufacturers have switched to lighter-weight oils? I’ve heard several explanations. But once and for all, what is the real reason for this change? I would feel truly blessed to receive your thoughts and opinions relating to this question! I know you guys have the answers. Thanks. - Dan

RAY: They’ve switched over to lighter-weight oils because the guys at Kmart were continually complaining of backaches, Dan.

TOM: Actually, the main impetus for using lighter (lower-viscosity) oil is to improve gas mileage.

RAY: The thicker, or more viscous, the oil, the harder it is for the moving parts of the engine to "push" their way through it. The more resistance those parts get, the more fuel that is required to make them move. So, by lightening up the oil, you make it easier for the parts to move, and you reduce your fuel consumption.

TOM: It used to be that thicker oil was used because it provided more protection to those moving parts, especially at higher temperatures, when all oil thins out. But oil technology has improved so much that today’s 5W30 oils provide even more protection than yesteryear’s thickest glop.

RAY: It’s also true that the tolerances (spaces between parts) have gotten smaller over the years as quality has improved. And those big, old, fat, porker oil molecules can’t get in there as well as the thinner ones.

TOM: In the old days, you used to be able to fit, say, a Maine coon cat in the spaces between the bearings on an old Chevy. But today the spaces are measured in fractions of a millimeter. And today’s thinner oils are exactly what’s needed to get into those spaces.

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