Today's Feature

Council Meets Tomorrow.

The Carthage City Council will meet in tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Items on the agenda include the first reading of an ordinance designating Hazel from HH Highway to Fairview Avenue as the temporary truck route until the completion of the Fairview/71 Interchange opens to traffic.

This item was approved by the Public Works and the Public Safety committee as the best option for routing trucks until the completion of the interchange. Schreiber Foods, Inc. expects to begin receiving trucks at its new distribution center by June.

Other items on the agenda include the second reading of the ordinance rezoning the property at 1926 South Garrison from Local Business zoning to General Business Zoning. The General Business Zoning allows for alcohol to be served by the drink. Neighbors to the property voiced their opinions against the rezoning at the previous Council meeting and the Council members looked at alternatives. One alternative was the addition of a paragraph to the Special Use Permit section of the City Code. This would allow for tighter restrictions on certain elements including hours of operation.

Stench Report:
Friday,
3/24/06

No Smells

On occasion over the last several years that I’ve been puttin’ thoughts down ever’ day in this column, someone will ask me exactly interpretation that I what that Jake was supposed ta mean. Usually they have an hadn’t even considered. Usually their twist is more interestin’ than anything I could come up with. Sometimes they are the catalyst for another Jake or two if I’m lucky.

‘Course the mistake some make is takin’ the ramblin’s in this column a little too serious. That happens ever’ now and then when an amateur attempts ta find some humor in a particular situation.

My suggestion is, if ya read a Jake ya don’t understand, call one of the sponsors ya see here. At least let ‘em know you appreciate them makin’ this confusion possible.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Roof Gutter Cleaning Is Springtime Chore

Q: Ugh, I hate cleaning out the roof gutters every year! Can I install something to make the mess easier to deal with, or make it go away? -- Trisha in North Carolina

A: When debris dams up the gutters and downspouts edging the roof, cleanup -- a tedious affair -- can get downright disgusting, making the job much more difficult.

There are products available to help reduce or prevent large debris (or a large amount of small debris) from filling the gutters. Many do-it-yourselfers purchase wire screening -- with a wider mesh than window screens, to make sure rain water gets through easily -- cut it to size and attach it securely over the gutters. Next up are hinged gutter covers, available at home improvement stores. They also screen out large junk, but can be lifted up during maintenance for quick access to the gutters.

No matter which system you choose to install, a twice-yearly gutter inspection is still important to your home’s health. It’s best to do any gutter work from a ladder, rather than the roof, with a partner steadying the ladder and handing up any tools. Even if the covers or screens keep out large gunk, the gutters can be torn or knocked away from the roof by big branches striking them.

During spring rainstorms, put on wet-weather gear and walk around the perimeter of the house, looking up at the gutters. Note any trouble spots, and look at where the water is draining from the downspouts -- water should drain quickly away from the house. If it pools or runs toward or along the building, install a downspout extension or dig a small channel away from the spout, lining the channel with gravel.