Today's Feature

Approved Bid for Cleanup.

The City Council Public Safety Committee during Tuesday’s meeting approved a bid from B&D Yard Builders to clean up and remove debris from 115 E. Mound Street, the site of a collapsed structure. Public Works Director Chad Wampler told the committee that the property is currently in violation of City code, adding that the department has been attempting to resolve the issue for approximately three years. Summons had previously been issued and the property owner was fined $500. A clause in a State statute will allow the City to clean the site, and one bid was received from B&D for the work, according to Wampler. The bid was for $5,600.

The Committee unanimously agreed to forward the bid to City Council with a recommendation to approve.

A motion was also approved for the removal and relocation of two signs at the corner of Fairview and Garrison, in conjunction with the widening of the intersection to be done by the Missouri Department of Transportation. The business signs for United Missouri Bank and Aldi supemarket are to be moved farther from the intersection to allow more room. The item was approved unanimously.

The Committee also approved a motion to change its meeting time to 4:00 p.m. effective as of the next meeting.

Humane Society Officers Removal Requested.

News release from Attorney General Jay Nixon

Attorney General Jay Nixon today filed a petition in Jasper County Circuit Court seeking the removal of the executive director, president and treasurer from the Carthage Humane Society (CHS) for failure to properly administer and account for the organization’s charitable assets. Nixon’s petition for quo warranto cites Executive Director and former Vice-President David Butler, President Charles Miller and Treasurer William Johnson, along with the non-profit organization itself.

"The fiscal integrity of a benevolent corporation is crucial, and any failure to properly safeguard and account for its assets jeopardizes its ability to fulfill its mission and to obtain support and donations from the public," Nixon said. "Based on my office’s investigation into the Carthage Humane Society, we are seriously concerned with the lack of fiscal integrity and financial controls associated with this non-profit."

Nixon’s investigation revealed numerous occasions where Butler and Miller took money from CHS bank accounts, either in the form of cash or checks and adding up to thousands of dollars, without informing the board members or treasurer of the purpose. Nixon also alleges that Butler and Miller utilized CHS assets to pay for personal items and the organizations’ motor vehicles for personal use. Butler and Miller also actively worked against the board’s efforts to institute proper financial controls, Nixon says, by declining to provide bank statements of CHS accounts despite numerous requests from the treasurer and board and opposing proposals to institute controls over cash taken in at CHS’ shelter and at its fundraisers.

Nixon says William Johnson is cited for removal due to his breach of fiduciary duties as treasurer by failing to establish any internal controls regarding revenue, cash handling, recording transactions, maintaining adequate records, and expense and disbursement authorization.

CHS itself is cited in the petition for its board members allowing a lack of institutional control over all financial aspects of the organization. Nixon also alleges that the organization has engaged in acts that could be considered animal cruelty and substandard care.

Nixon is requesting that the court order the removal of Butler, Miller and Johnson from their CHS offices. The petition also requests an order by the court requiring a complete accounting of all funds Butler and Miller received from the CHS, and that the court assesses a fine on them in an amount equal to all funds they misappropriated from the organization. Nixon is also requesting that the court orders the corporation to set appropriate financial and governing standards to allow it to continue to operate.

"The Carthage Humane Society serves a valuable public service, and has been an asset to the community since it was incorporated in 1948," Nixon said. "Our desire is not to see this worthwhile organization disbanded, but instead to have responsible people in the community step up and ensure that its future operations are proper, legitimate and beyond reproach."

There is the natural tendency to always put the bread or roll on top of the heap I’ve noticed. Hardly anybody likes soggy bread, unless it’s under gravy. Some like ta use the bread for soppin’. It is apparently more polite that lickin’ the plate clean.

Some foods just work together I guess. Pork and beans, ham and beans, anything and beans. Why not pork and corn or ham and peas?

I think it’s more habit that taste. ‘Course most of us have more bad than good in both categories.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Click & Clack Talk Cars
By Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

If one anticipates stopping at 100 yards when the light ahead turns red, should one continue at speed and then press firmly one time when near the light to stop, should one repetitively press firmly to slow down incrementally, or should one ride the brakes with light pressure, or coast to gradually slow down and then stop if the light turns red? Does it damage the brake lining or brake cylinders to "ride the brakes"? - Gerald

RAY: When you see a red light 100 yards ahead, Gerald, the proper thing to do is take your foot off the accelerator, and start coasting to slow down.

TOM: Then, when you’re a reasonable distance from actually having to stop the car, apply the brakes gently so that, if possible, you come to a stop at the light, without ever having to change the amount of pressure.

RAY: In other words, if you push the brake pedal 25 percent of the way down, ideally, keeping it pressed 25 percent of the way down should bring you to a stop.

TOM: That’s the ideal anyway. Don’t be afraid to adjust the brake pedal and push harder if you’ve estimated wrong!

RAY: Why should you do it this way? So your passengers don’t get carsick, or bump their heads on the dashboard.

TOM: But it’s also better for the car. When you brake suddenly, you put stress on lots of other components. For instance, you cause the car’s nose to dip, which makes the suspension work harder.

RAY: Plus, you surprise the cars behind you, which is never a good idea.

TOM: So, start coasting when you know you’re going to have to stop, and then brake as smoothly as you can. Your brake and suspension guys may miss their next boat payments, but your passengers and fellow drivers will thank you, Gerald.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Drifting Moves Into Big Leagues

Jim Liaw, co-founder and president of Formula Drift Holdings LLC, is a Taiwanese-American entrepreneur who leveraged his experience and passion for motorsports into a successful career. He has been able to cultivate relationships in Asia that enabled him to be the first person to take "drifting" outside of Japan and introduce the extreme, always-sideways motorsport to America. His creation of Formula Drift is the first and only sanctioned professional, side-by-side drifting circuit outside of Japan. We caught up with Liaw recently for a quick interview.

ZYLA: Jim, let’s start with your happy tire sponsors. Please tell our readers how quickly you use up tires in a drift event and which companies are backing your series?

LIAW: Very true, Greg. Depending on the weight of your car, your driving style and the pavement abrasion, you can be out of a set of tires in minutes or you can have them wear for the entire day. Our tire sponsors include BFG, Bridgestone, Cooper, Falken, Hankook, Maxxis, Nitto and Toyo.

ZYLA: Would you agree or disagree that drifting is at a better stage than, say, Monster Truck racing in popularity and growth potential?

LIAW: Well, Monster Truck (racing) is like WWE. The drivers and the teams are all "employees" of the series. The "spirit" of drifting is based on street cars, and thus there is instant consumer identification. And you have great competition between new and old, two doors and four doors, domestic and import cars.