Did Ya Know... The Carthage Aquatic Team will have its annual information meeting, tonight (May 29) at 6:00 p.m. at the Carthage Municipal Park at the south side of the pool.
Did Ya Know... "Bell, Book and Candle" will be playing at Stone's Throw Theatre June 19, 20, 21 and June 26, 27, 28 and 29. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. Sundays. Reservations are requred. For more information and reservations call 358-9665.
Two friends were sitting in the clubhouse discussing equipment when the subject of woods came up. "In my opinion," said the first guy, "the best wood in my bag is my five wood. It's gotten me out of trouble more times than I can remember." "I have to disagree with you," said his friend. "The best wood in my bag has gotten me out of more trouble than all the five woods on the plant ever could." "What wood is that?" the first guy asked. "My pencil!"
Little boy saying his prayers: "God bless mommy, God bless daddy, God bless my new baby brother . . . . and get him out of here."
A Chronological Record of Events as they have Transpired in the City and County since our last Issue.
The Dog Returned. W. E. Hufft, one of the barbers at Ed Murdock's shop, is happy over the return of his dog, "Sport." The animal has been missing since Thursday morning, but came home today. It is supposed that someone kept the dog tied up and that he only escaped this morning.
The Frisco railroad is equipping all its freight cars with air brakes and automatic couplers. The cars are being equipped at the rate of about 100 per week and it will not be long before all the cars of the road will be thus refitted. Nearly every freight train on the line now has enough cars with the air brakes to control the train perfectly.
E. C. Thym, the stone contractor who at present is engaged on a large contract at Dallas, Texas, returned to his home in this city Sunday night.
Mayor pro tem Mike Harris led the City Council through its regular meeting Tuesday night. Harris was recently elected to the position by the Council and this was his first opportunity to occupy the Mayor’s chair for a council session and he conducted the meeting in an honorable manner.
The absence of Mayor Riley was of particular disappointment to Council member Charlie Bastin, according to his comments during Council the member comment period.
“I kind of hate to bring all this up,” said Bastin, “because it just came to my attention - in the Mayor’s absence- ah, how long will it be before he returns? This is really, probably, more for him, this issue. But it came up and I just hesitate to mention it in his absence.”
Bastin was informed that the Mayor would be in the office Thursday morning.
“OK, well, would it be appropriate to mention a little bit of it now and he can comment on it later?” Bastin asked Harris.
Harris said that was a decision Bastin would have to make.
“OK. I’ll do it. I’ll go ahead and light that stick of dynamite now,” said Bastin, “and then he can be here if it explodes later or something, or whatever he want’s to do.”
Bastin then spoke of only five Council members being appointed to a total of the ten positions of Chair and Vice Chair on the five Council committees.
“Now it’s not that I’m looking for any more duties,” Bastin continued, “but does that mean that the Mayor thought that [the other] five of those Council members could not handle being a committee chairman or committee vice chairman? “It’s the same five people.
And, again, we’re not making any suggestions or bad remarks against these five Council people. OK? They do a good job in the positions that they hold, especially Bill Johnson, OK? We’re not going to make any comments, negatives, about these five Council people. What I’m only saying is, what about the other five?”
Bastin then pointed out that there are five Board council liaison (Park Board, Hospital Board, CW&EP Board, Zoning Board, and Library Board).
“And lo and behold,” said Bastin, “they’re the same five people. “I don’t understand why he feels like that five of us are incapable of serving as committee chairmen, vice chairmen, or liaison. That’s the question I’d like answered.”
Harris said that could only be answered if it was addressed to the Mayor.
Council member Lujene Clark reminded the council that the five Council members referred to, Boyer, Clark, Fortune, Harris, and Johnson, were all in the second year of the two year term. Bastin and Donna Harlan have both served on the Council previously, but returned this year after being defeated in the previous year.
Bastin then ended with a typical Bastinism, “All it’s going to take to cure the problem is ten more months and one more election. Guarantee that,” he said.
Council member Nolan Henry followed Bastin’s comments with a volley of comments of his own. He has previously served as Committee Chair of the Police Committee and was Airport Board liaison for four years. Henry said he was happy that the Mayor didn’t appoint him to those positions. “I’m happy where I am. I can bitch an do whatever I want to,” said Henry.
Most would pro’bly think that frustration comes from lack of ability or ignorance of a particular subject. The real basis of frustration comes from not bein’ able to accomplish somethin’ that is perceived to be within reach.
For those of us who know the frustration of tryin’ to repair some type of machine and bein’ confronted by rusty bolts or inadequate tools, there is always the satisfaction of venting the anger with the primitive, but effective, shade tree hammer throw.
‘Course throwin’ tools isn’t near as therapeutic as the havin’ to walk out in the yard to retrieve the instrument. This is especially true ‘cause there seems to be a direct mathematical relationship between how important the tool is to completin’ the job and the distance it lands from the job site.
It does seem that with maturity comes the wisdom of just takin’ the walk and not endangering the neighborhood pets with the tool toss. This insight usually comes after a forgotten hammer inflicts mortal damage to the lawnmower.
This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.
by Tom & Ray Magliozzi
Sponsored by Metcalf Auto SupplyDear
Tom and Ray: About a year ago, I bought a 1968 Chevy Bel Air for $1,500, supposedly with 75,000 miles on it. I don't know if the "little old lady driving to church" story was true or not, but the anterior looks good, the doors and windows are tight, and after I had the valve seals replaced, it runs great. I have two questions. Is there really any way to tell whether a mileage story like I was told is true? And how do I get replacement body and interior parts for a car this old? - Michael
TOM: Well, the only way to know whether the little old lady was driving it to church or drag racing with it on the weekends would have been to follow her before you bought it, and it's too late for that now. There are other ways of figuring out whether the odometer is on its second or third trip.
RAY: A good mechanic ought to be able to tell you pretty quickly whether the car has 75,000 miles, 175,000 miles, or 275,000 miles, by checking some key areas.
TOM: The driver's seat is one such area. The same with the pedals. The rubber on the gas and brake pedals are really worn down after 175,000 miles. After 75,000 they still look OK. And there are other parts an experienced mechanic/sleuth can look at to draw a conclusion.
RAY: While most mechanical parts for this car are still available through regular auto-parts stores, you're right that interior and body parts may be a little harder to come by. For those, I'd suggest you pick up a copy of Hemmings Motor News (which is published in Bennigton, VT). That's a phone-book-sized directory of old heaps and parts for old heaps like yours.
TOM: That's probably where that little-old-lady racer got those replacement
seats and pedals so you wouldn't know she was selling you a Bel Air with 175K on
it!
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