Speak Out 08/28/04

Good luck, David

WE SURE miss that young man's column, David Wilson. We'd like to have it back as soon as possible. But we know he's gone off to college. We're looking forward to the day he becomes a sportswriter. We wish him well.

Sweet story

I WOULD like to thank Callie Clark for the wonderful way she wrote the sweet story on Randa Norman's first day of kindergarten. Thank you, Callie.

Not a laughing matter

I SEE the Cape Girardeau County commissioners are joking about the road and bridge tax issue with Jackson. I am a county taxpayer. I do not like the idea of the commissioners spending taxpayers dollars on this issue. If you are wrong, admit it and go on. Why are they spending money on a lawyer when they should be using the prosecuting attorney?

Water park economics

I DON'T think people understand how city pools or water parks are designed to work. They are not built to make money. Few government ventures are. However, all you need to do is have the water park break even with its operating expenses. You can build the park with bonds. By the way, have you seen the amount of money brought in to a city economy by having a few large swim meets at one of these pools?

Questions about costs

HOW MUCH have the Cape Girardeau County commissioners paid their out-of-area attorney on the Jackson road tax war? How much will the appeal cost us? Can't we all just get along?

The price of freedom

IN GARY Rust's Aug. 26 column, he quotes from Victor Davis Hanson's book, "An Autumn War." Davis is right, and thank you, Mr. Rust, for pointing that out to the narrow-minded, intellectually well-off anarchists in America today. Freedom is not free. By the way, if America were to be taken over by an enemy, the first people to be never to be seen again are always the intellectuals and the people who say "Let them eat cake." Good column, Mr. Rust.

Support building

I AM thrilled to see the support for a city water park. This would be a godsend to my family. We drive hours each summer to go to a good water park. Not only would it make life better here, but I'm sure that in the long run it would pay for itself by attracting more families to live here.

School bargain

MY FAMILY and I have lived in Jackson for about four years. We moved to this area from the Mississippi Delta area of Arkansas. The reason we made the move was to place my two little girls in a public school system where they could receive a quality education. We have been amazed at the superb quality of the teachers, administrators and staff of the public schools in this area. You see, in many areas of the South a private school system is your only choice. These schools are unbelievably expensive, some costing several hundred dollars a month per child. The proposal to improve spending on Jackson school facilities is money well-spent. The space is needed, and the improvements will benefit the students. It's a way to make a great school even better. I understand it may add $10 a month on a $100,000 home. That's a bargain.

Help with fixed incomes

I CAN tell you where you can put that $1 million. You can pay off the senior citizens building. You could also put it on the schools instead of raising tax on the people who are on a fixed income. You can put it on the streets in Cape Girardeau. But you're going to put it on something that won't help out the people on a fixed income.

Keep it simple

LEAVE MAIN Street going south to William Street a one-way street. One reason is because of deliveries made to stores. We can go right around. And please leave the clock alone. It's the beauty of downtown and helps control traffic speed. Then make Water Street a one-way going north for the same reasons. The delivery trucks won't stop traffic. Keep it simple, and it won't cost taxpayers any unnecessary expenses.

Lack of organization

I am an extremely frustrated parent of a Southeast Missouri State University student. Never have I seen such an unorganized university. This is my daughter's senior year. Every single year it has been one crisis after another. All the classes are filled even though she registered early and on time. Advisers are not dependable about returning phone calls and doing their jobs, which is advising. My daughter apparently had an overdue bill that was never sent, and she was dropped from all of her classes even though her fall semester had been paid in full. Everyone in the administration should attend classes on organization, billing procedures and human resources. They all get an F. Instead of piddling with a new mascot, they should have been looking for ways to make the system functional.

Pool operations

My complaint is with the handling of Cape Girardeau's two public pools and the inaccessibility to use them except between 1 and 5 p.m. daily. The pools are supported by city tax dollars, but easy access is denied by whomever decides the operating hours. Do the taxpayers have no input to the time frame our pools operate? Who decided to take the initiative to use our public pools to be a money-making business by renting them out to parties? As for swim lessons, these pools are large enough to accommodate them and open swimming at the same time. Come on, fellow taxpayers, with so few activities for our young people and the public to enjoy, let's ask some questions concerning the so-called public pools next summer.

Safety in pickup zone

Come on, parents at Blanchard Elementary School. I know that it's only the beginning of the school year, but the traffic situation is terrible in the afternoons. Learn the right way to pull in and pick your child up so that we can all be safe.

Pay 1995 prices

I think the city should split the cost of street repairs with property owners on Commercial Street, or only charge them 1995 prices, whichever is less. The property owners requested improvements nine years ago. It isn't their fault it took the city this long to get around to it. Therefore, they shouldn't have to pay for the cost increase.

Using federal dollars

To all those with negative comments about Cape Girardeau School District reading coaches: Please understand that they are being paid from government funding, not school district money. This is a way to help take care of a serious reading problem in our country. Please take the time to learn about your school district's programs before you decided to complain about them.

Not in my neighborhood

It never ceases to amaze me that people will buy a home in a nice residential area and then complain when they can't have a business there. Why do you think we bought our homes in this area? Those who want to have a business in their homes should buy or build their homes in commercially zoned areas.

Not the dog's fault

BARKING DOGS are a violation of the city's nuisance ordinance, but it's not the dog's fault. There are laws for a reason, and the irresponsible owners should have to pay the price for that, not the dogs. The dogs bark because of neglectful owners. Once the animal control department understands that, your block may become a quieter one.

New paint on streets

It's good to see the fresh stripes being painted on city streets. I think it's much safer when the lanes are clearly marked.