Trees Can Stay.

Traffic safety concerns around the Pearl and Highland intersection and the alley entrance onto Grand Avenue just north of the Phelps House were addressed at the Monday evening Public Safety meeting in the Carthage Police Department .

Police Chief Dennis Veach and other Committee members had visited the sites in response to requests initiated by citizens.

The Grand Avenue location developed two separate discussions.

"I looked at the ordinance for line of sight, which is a 15 foot apex," said Police Chief Dennis Veach. "It has to be a corner, and 15 feet each in direction from each corner, and tie the two ends together."

"I don’t think there’s a violation there," Chief Veach said of the intersection at Pearl and Highland. "Fifteen feet is not very far."

Secondly, Chief Veach looked over Chapter 15 Section 15-3 Subsection 7, which addresses "limbs of trees projecting over a street or sidewalk at a height of less than seven feet."

After considering the ordinances, the Committee members agreed that neither location was in violation of the line of sight ordinance.

"There is a second tree that is outside the line of sight," said Chief Veach. "That tree has some other built-in violations, but it is not a line of sight."

Police have already spoken with the owners of the home, who have agreed to trim the bushes at that location on Grand.

Chief Veach reported that the square was blocked off on July 24 and a dunk booth was set up to try to achieve more interaction with kids and the City police. The police on the night shifts were required to create an activity for the event.

"It was successful," Chief Veach said. "Not large numbers of kids... they just weren’t there. There’s just no telling. Sometimes there will be tons of kids on the square on a Monday night and a Saturday might have five."

A back to school bash will be held on the square on August 27, said Chief Veach. It will feature a car bash.

The 22nd Annual Marian Days had a huge turnout this year, Police Chief Veach reported. "Every year it just gets bigger," he said.

Despite the large attendance, there were only a few minor problems according to Veach. Vehicles blocked some fire lanes, and people crept further into neighborhood lawns.

At least 90 local officers were in charge of patrolling the Marian Days Festival, Chief Veach reported. The question is whether that is enough.

"We need to ensure a stronger presence at night," Chief Veach said. "We also need to start patrolling the neighborhoods, and on Friday and Saturday beef up the security."

Some Committee members agreed that the city needed to add more security next year, and also set up on location earlier. The issue of cost to bring more men in is the main concern.

Fire Chief John Cooper showed the Committee the final blueprint for the South Fire Station, located in the water tower south of town. The projected cost of the station is $185,000.

"The main cost will be the structural steel for the upstairs," Chief Cooper said. "We took out everything we needed to take out (to keep the costs down)."

The station’s upstairs quarters will sleep three and consists of an prep room, kitchen, and a bathroom. Cooper said there will likely never be more than two personnel at the substation.

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Carthage Printing Services

"Latest technology, Old fashioned values."

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

Spent last weekend around a lot a people, most of ‘em I didn’t know. Lota things goin’ on at a fairly fast pace with little time for thinkin’ ‘bout what was goin’ on. It’s strange how interactin’ with people is so much different than just watchin’ an event as a spectator or watchin’ the tv.

The thing that is most different is the day after. Bits and pieces of the day before keep floatin’ to the top of the mind. It seems when ya actually participate in some activity, the brain pays more attention and it makes a more lastin’ impression. I suppose those who worry ‘bout kids playin’ so much with electronic games are concerned with the lack of real life interaction bein’ somehow shallow or lackin’. After all, nothin’ compares with a good game a checkers with grandpa.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars.

Dear Tom and Ray:

On my 1991 Camry, there's a button called "overdrive." Can you please explain to me its function and usage? - Mike

TOM: Yes, Mike. That's the mother-in-law ejection seat. But it only works once, Mike, so make sure you wait until she's in the middle of a good, loud rant before you hit the button.

RAY: Actually, overdrive is just another name for fourth gear on your car. Overdrive is a gear designed for high-speed driving. It provides little power to accelerate, but allows the engine to run relatively slowly so you get excellent gas mileage.

TOM: And that button is there to turn overdrive OFF. Now, at this point, you may be asking yourself, "If I have an automatic transmission which chooses my gears for me automatically, why would I ever want to turn overdrive off?" That's a very good question, Mike! And in most cases, you don't want to turn it off.

RAY: There's only one exception, really. There may be certain road or traffic conditions that force you to maintain a speed that keeps the transmission right on the hairy edge between third gear and overdrive. That speed is generally about 35 mph. And at that speed, the transmission tends to "hunt." That means it goes back and forth between third and overdrive trying to find the right gear to be in.

RAY: Is that bad for the car? Not particularly. But it can be annoying to the driver and passengers. And that's why that overdrive button is there. So when the transmission is "hunting," you can turn off overdrive and force the transmission to stay in third gear until your driving conditions change.