Today's Feature

License Changes Approved.

The Carthage City Council at Tuesday evening’s meeting approved the two-tier license system for cats and dogs in Carthage. The system would allow owners of spayed or neutered pets to collect city pet licenses free of charge. Dogs and cats who have not been spayed or neutered will under the new plan cost $5.00 to license. An amendment to the ordinance allows a waiver of all fees for senior citizens.

Council member Bill Welch was asked at the previous meeting to retrieve data concerning how long pet records are kept by local animal hospitals. Welch reported at this meeting that several of the local veterinarians have all records back to the beginning of 2000 and that some have records from as much earlier as the 1980’s.

The ordinance was approved unanimously by Council.

Council also heard the first reading of an ordinance executing an agreement between the City and the Community Alternative Sentencing Program out of Springfield, MO. According to Parks Director Alan Bull, this department has contacted him in the past asking if certain community service workers participating in the Alternative Sentencing Program could do work in Carthage. Bull said that he has accepted help from the community service workers before, as needed. The labor is provided for free, according to Bull and the agreement would make official that the workers can contribute time working in Carthage.

Council member Tom Flanigan inquired as to the nature of crimes committed by workers in the alternative sentencing programs. Bull said that the participants have been arrested for non-violent crimes, including DWI arrests.

Council member Claude Newport asked if the work being done would put Carthage risk for liability. Bull said that liability would be covered through the Alternative Sentencing Program.

Council also approved a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute and file an application to the Missouri Department of Economic Development for an Enhanced Enterprise Zone. City Administrator Tom Short elaborated that the item would also be sent to the County Commission prior to being sent to the Department of Economic development for approval.

Stench Report:

Tuesday,
9/26/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage Square

Two or three "community meetings" to discuss the needs of the community and concerns about the present circumstances.

A report outlining those meetings and a conclusion that includes all issues raised at those meetings and some basic ideas on resolution of any concerns.

A final presentation complete with full color displays showing basic modifications to existing property and suggested locations for any new improvements. Included are a few dozen copies of the "report."

Tucked into one of the reports is the bill.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

I’ve always wondered: Does it hurt anything to drive my automatic transmission like a manual (i.e., put the shifter info first, then bump it to second then to drive)? I think it’s fun. I’ve even told myself it must be better for the car. Am I delusional? - Tim

RAY: Are you delusional? We don’t know. That would be a question for your psychiatrist, Tim. Are you a knucklehead when it comes to cars? We can answer that one, Tim.

TOM: I can’t think of any way in which it’s better for your car. But the good news is that it doesn’t do any harm. Unlike a manual transmission, which forces you to use a little bit of your clutch disk every time you shift, an automatic transmission uses a fluid to transmit power from the engine to the drive shaft. So you’re not really causing any extra wear and tear.

RAY: In fact, a lot of cars sold these days have optional "auto-manual" transmissions. Those are basically automatic transmissions that have a separate "shift gate" that allows you to manually shift up and down through the gears. TOM: They just make it easier to do by giving you a separate "gate" in which to do it; it lets you flick the shifter forward or backward to shift gears, without having to worry about accidentally slamming the shifter into reverse or park - which, by the way, is something you want to avoid, Tim.

RAY: The only other potential downside is if you forget to shift up someday. You shift from first into second, and then you get involved in a conversation or a ballgame on the radio. Next thing you know, you see the exit for Schenectady, and you realize you’ve driven 250 miles on the highway in second gear. That’s not good for the engine or the transmission. Or your gas mileage. Buy a car with a stick shift next time.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

NHRA Raises the Bar

We’ve received some e-mails recently about the NHRA’s new "playoff" rule for 2007. The NHRA’s press release states, "The NHRA’s POWERade world championship just got a little more interesting for fans, sponsors and race teams."

Specifically, the NHRA announced that its new multi-tiered "Countdown to the Championship" in Professional categories would kick-off in 2007. The new format features three distinct periods during the 23-race series when competitors will be eliminated from the title chase in a playoff-style format.

Drivers must be in the top eight in points after the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pa., on Aug. 19, 2007 -- the 17th event of the season -- to qualify for the six-race playoff. The Mac Tools U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend will serve as the first race of the "Countdown to Four," a four-race portion of the playoff that will cut the eight-driver field in half for the last two races -- the AC Delco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals (Oct. 24) and Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals (Nov. 4).

Initial reactions mirror NASCAR’s now highly regarded "Chase for the Cup" points arrangement: Lots of people didn’t like the idea; some did.

Still, it’s a move that, when combined with other good NHRA happenings, raises the quarter-mile sport another rung on the "great corporate buy" ladder.