Today's Feature

United Way Campaign Results.

Final results for the Carthage Area United Way 2006/2007 campaign will be announced at the annual awards luncheon at noon on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at the First Baptist Church, 631 South Garrison.

With a receipt of the pledge packet from Schreiber’s Foods, Carthage Area United Way surpasses their goal of $300,000. Local businesses that have increased pledges during their employee drive this campaign include: Leggett & Platt, Carthage R-9 Schools, Carthage Water & Electric Plant, McCune-Brooks Hospital, Beimdiek Insurance Agency, Schmidt Associates, Flex O Lators, H.E. Williams, Inc., Southwest Missouri Bank and UMB Bank.

The money collected in this campaign will help fund 15 local agencies that serve the Carthage area including: The American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Camp Quality, Carthage Crosslines, Carthage Crisis Center, Carthage Community Clinic, Cerebral Palsy Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Citizen Advisory Board, Family Literacy Center, Girl Scouts, Jasper County 4-H, Lafayette House, Salvation Army and Special Olympics.

PD To Watch Stops.

The Carthage Police department has begun an enforcement emphasis on stop lights and stop signs in Carthage for the month of February. Officers will spend a bit of time each day at various intersections, according to Police Chief Dennis Veach. Special attention will be paid to intersections known to have more frequent accidents.

Stench Report:

Wednesday,
2/7/07

No Stench Detected Near the Carthage Square

This has prompted me sittin’ still several feet from the stop sign on occasion. As I experiment with this tactic, I’m findin’ that most other drivers have not accepted my definition of bein’ first at the intersection, and still get into you go, no I go, no.....confusion. I suppose this will be a lifelong source of observation.

Maybe autos should be equipped with some type of signal light on the front of the vehicle. A green light and a red light so approaching cars have some idea of your intention. ‘Course with the red light on, folks still wouldn’t know if I was comin’ or goin’.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

There has been a recent upsurge of extremely low-profile tires and extraordinarily large-diameter wheels on all types of personal vehicles. Is this good: stiffer sidewalls - less lateral movement? Or is this bad: more upsprung mass - changing suspension requirements? Or is this just an expensive affectation? - Frank

RAY: It’s primarily about style, Frank. People want bigger wheels because they look cooler.

TOM: And if you use a bigger wheel, you have to use a lower-profile (i.e., shorter sidewall) tire so the wheel/tire combination still fits in the car’s wheel well.

RAY: The weight isn’t much of an issue, because alloy wheels are lighter weight. And when you go with a bigger wheel/smaller tire combination, it’s pretty much a wash.

TOM: You do get some handling benefits with lower-profile tires. The less expansive sidewall you have, the less the sidewall will flex on turns. That’s good for handling.

RAY: But you pay a high price in ride quality. Because you have less sidewall, there’s less of it to absorb bumps and potholes. So the lower-profile tires give you a much harsher ride.

TOM: The other significant argument against low-profile tires is that with less sidewall, the wheels themselves are much more vulnerable to being bent from potholes and scraping up against curbs. Especially if you live in a city. And when you have to replace a 19-inch alloy rim and it costs you $750, you’re going to wish you’d gotten the smaller wheels with bigger tires, even if you don’t look quite as cool when you go to pick up your dry cleaning.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Martin Has History With 01 Chevy

Q: Greg, how do you feel Mark Martin will do in the U.S. Army "01" car this year? We are Martin fans and don’t really care what brand of car he drives, but it will be different watching him drive a car with an 01 number instead of a 6. -- Alma and Peter, North Carolina

A: I feel Mark will do just fine, because he’s a truly great race driver. As for winning, the 01 car has won in the past with Joe Nemecheck driving, so you never know.

Mark’s best chance for victory could come in the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night, Feb. 10, when 21 cars will take the green flag. This race will mark the first time in 19 years he will drive a car other than the No. 6 in a Cup event.

Martin has a history with the No. 01 that dates back 24 years, even further back than his history in the No. 6 Jack Roush car. Martin started 16 Cup races in 1983, the 10th of which was at Charlotte, where he ran the No. 01 Activision Chevrolet owned by one of NASCAR’s true legends in racing, Emanuel Zervakis.

Zervakis was one of NASCAR’s most respected and beloved car owners and drivers during the golden era of Grand National racing in the 1960s.

As Martin now returns to the No. 01, perhaps a special "Emanuel Zervakis" touch of luck from above will propel him to the checkered flag on the night of Feb. 10.