LETTERS: LITTER IS GIVING OUR COMMUNITY A NEGATIVE IMAGE

To the editor:

Has anyone noticed the inordinate amount of trash being strewn in Cape Girardeau? We've got tin cans, bottles, plastic bags and fast-food containers obliterating the beauty of our charming town. Why do we let it happen?

We have dozens of wonderful and dedicated volunteers using their time and effort to plant and care for flowers. We are supposed to be the City of Roses, not litter. Those of us who live in Cape Girardeau want to be proud of it..

We can make Cape Girardeau clean and beautiful. Let's begin by cleaning up the trash in our streets and continue with the roadsides, businesses, schools and parks. We do not have to tolerate those who refuse to follow the rules.

Are the penalties for littering severe enough, and are they being carried out? I question why we citizens aren't angry enough to do something about this problem.

I would welcome and appreciate more dialogue on this matter through citizen awareness. We are all involved here. Pollution in any form affects us individually and how we feel about ourselves as proud citizens of Cape Girardeau.

DIANE BRUNS

Cape Girardeau