Today's Feature

Maintenance Requests.

The City Council Public Services Committee met Monday in a regular meeting. Committee members in attendance included Bill Welch, Dan Rife, and Committee Chair Claude Newport.

During the citizens’ participation period of the meeting Kellogg Lake board member Jo Ellis presented the committee with a maintenance request list for Kellogg Lake Park. The list contained approximately 8 items one of which was the repair of the fountain at the lake. Parks Director Alan Bull said that the problem with the fountain was determined to be an issue with the timer, and that Carthage Water and Electric Plant was aware of it and planning to look at the problem.

Other items on the list included; moving and burning of brush pile along new trees near dam, cleaning of culvert and placement of guard posts around remainder of new trees.

Citizens Michelle and Bill Pogue also spoke to the committee concerning the practice fields in Municipal Park. The Pogues had made contact with Bull prior to the meeting, requesting to take responsibility for improving the practice fields.

The committee discussed the City’s current plans for the fields, which include tearing down several buildings and removing the fences in the area except for the backstops. The committee told the Pogues that it would have to look at the area prior to making any decision.

Committee member Bill Welch told the committee that he had been contacted about the possibility of establishing a dog park within the City. Welch asked the committee to consider the option of converting Freer Park into a dog park. The committee asked what would be involved in the conversion. Welch said it would include maintaining a fence around the perimiter and adding a water source. According to Welch, a dog park is a fenced area where dog owners can bring their pets and allow them to run free with other dogs inside a fenced area. The committee agreed to consider the option and did not offer any opposition to the idea upon hearing it. Committee Chair Claude Newport requested that Welch ask for the neighbors’ opinions about the possibility.

Stench Report:
Wednesday,
7/5/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage
Square

A couple a squirrels were chasin’ each other through the trees. They stopped and were takin’ stock of each other when one reached for a limb, missed, and dropped flat on the ground. After watchin’ the critters walk along power lines and jump from here to there, I just never saw one make such a mistake.

In a few seconds, the two were back at it, still game for the chase. Appeared the one was more embarrassed than hurt and seemed to be even more intent on showin’ off a little.

I suppose that as fallible as we humans are, it did my heart good ta see that other creatures occasionally make an error in judgement. I’ll have ta remember that next time I’m out on a limb.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

I picked up a repo’d 2000 Kia Sephia last fall. It’s in great shape. The only problem I have with the car is whenever it gets bitter cold - which it does a lot where I live, in Montana - it will not shift from park to drive until it warms up! One cold morning last winter, I sat in the driveway waiting for 10 minutes. Otherwise, it runs great. Can anything be done before next winter to reduce the time it needs to shift in the cold? - Scott

RAY: Yes. Build a heated garage.

TOM: There are several possibilities, Scott. But the first thing I’d check is the shift interlock.

RAY: This car, like every car these days, has a switch that prevents you from shifting out of park unless your foot is on the brake.

TOM: That’s to prevent you from stepping on the gas by accident, and then putting the car in gear and accelerating straight into the nearest possible moose.

RAY: It’s possible that the shift interlock is out of adjustment, or the solenoid is being lazy in the extreme cold. That happens to my brother.

TOM: Only when the temperature drops below 95!

RAY: If it’s the shift interlock, you don’t even have to fix it. You have a bypass button that allows you to shift out of park just in case the shift interlock fails. I don’t remember where it is on the 2000 Kia Sephia, but it’s usually on or near the shifter

TOM: If using the bypass allows you to move the shifter when it’s otherwise stuck, then you know the shift interlock is the problem.

RAY: And if that’s not it, you can use the remaining months before next winter to look for work in Arizona, Scott.