Speak Out 07/24/04

Spending priorities

IF SCOTT City wanted to spend money, it should have spent on land it already owned, not decorating something that belonged to the railroad and then wanting the town to come up with money to pay for it. There are lots of things wrong with this town. City officials should have taken care of that first.

Humane treatment

SOMEONE DUMPED puppies out on Old Sprigg Road. I took the puppies to the humane society where they should have been taken in the first place. One of the puppies managed to find a home with us. If you have puppies and don't know what to do with them, please take them to the humane society. Don't dump them out on the road somewhere. They don't need to suffer like that.

Big pay incentive

I WAS just reading the paper about how much money the county commissioners make a year. I wonder how many candidates would want to be county officials if they were paid $15,000 or $20,000 a year like most jobs are here in Cape Girardeau County.

Are they neutered?

TO THE mayor and city council of Cape Girardeau: I have two hives of bees in my back yard I consider pets. Feel free to come out and count them.

Lacking information

I AGREE that there are too many candidate signs. Many block the view to make right- and left-hand turns onto streets like the ones at Spring Street and Broadway. Candidates should have places where they can be met and questioned about their aspirations for the office they wish to hold. These signs are not informational. Why would I vote for a sign?

Spending to collect

I'VE OFTEN wondered why hospital bills are so high and doctor's costs keep going up. But I think I found the reason today. A few months ago, my wife spent a month in the hospital in one of the special units. We have insurance that covered everything except a $1 co-pay. Today, we got a collection call from the hospital asking why haven't we paid the $1. That's pretty bad in my book.

Spending the money

IN YOUR July 14 editorial on Scott City's tax plan, you said Scott City would use some of the tax money to purchase railroad land along Main Street and near the interstate that would expand the street and create a center turn lane. In the July 12 paper, you reported the mayor's outline for spending $20,000 to purchase railroad land along Main Street to keep the caboose. No one cares about that caboose. The city could have spent all the money on more needed projects.