Speak Out 09/19/04

Some areas are worse

MAYOR KNUDTSON, shame on you for criticizing the federal government for moving too slow on the flood-plain situation. Since the big flood-control project was built, some areas have experienced worse flooding. We've called everybody we can think of. And you know what? Nobody even shows up. At least not when it's flooding. You wait until the storm's over, and then somebody comes out and says, "Well, it looks fine now." Come to Dennis Scivally Park and the houses across Cape Rock Drive from there. It's worse now than it ever was before.

In favor of pet limit

I THINK the article "Petition on pet limit could place measure before Cape voters" is biased because it only included views from people who are in favor of the petition. If people are allowed to have five or more animals in their houses, it would turn to a problem.

Frustrated with city

I READ with interest about Mayor Knudtson's frustrations with the flood-plain maps for Cape Girardeau. I understand his point. I hope he can understand my point. I am equally frustrated with the city. It takes an act of Congress to get minimum property standards enforced, to get the nuisance and abatement issues addressed and to get stray dogs off of the streets. My husband and I moved to Cape Girardeau about three years ago, and we've been trying to get areas taken care of that entire time. So I share his frustration with government. However, my frustration is with the city government.

Support for CBS

I DON'T think CBS would stand behind these reports about President Bush's National Guard duty if it didn't have substantial documentation to back it up. CBS wouldn't take a chance on a lawsuit unless it was sure of the facts. I resent the fact that people are trying to knock CBS. Bickering about this is stupid, in my opinion.

Clean-up duties

YOUR FRONT-page picture in Wednesday's paper shows a difference between male and female principals. I have never seen a male principal wipe up spilled milk. Hurray for Mrs. Dunham.

Dangerous intersection

WHEN MODOT opens the intersection at Farmington Street and Route D in Jackson, it will create one big monster. With three lanes of traffic on Route D and only a two-way stop, the people on Farmington Street are going to have a hard time getting out onto Route D during the morning and afternoon school rush hours. People having to cross Route D will have to cross five lanes. This should become a four-way stop before there's a big, fatal accident.

No parking for mail

I'M SITTING here at the temporary post office in Cape Girardeau. This is the most deplorable, embarrassing thing I've ever seen. There is no parking. You can't even pick up your mail when you need it.

Disturbing the peace

WHY WOULD anyone disrupt a quiet, peaceful neighborhood with a barking dog? It used to be so peaceful here.

More important things

I REALIZE that people in this town need their money like everybody else and that the flood plain is very important. But as someone who's family and friends right now have gone through the third hurricane in Florida this year, I am just totally sick and disgusted by Mayor Jay Knudtson's attitude that our flood plain is more important than anything else FEMA needs to do right now.

Limit is OK

THE CITY ordinance that limits one household to four dogs and four cats is a sensible regulation. There's no one who needs more pets than that. Pets take attention and are not to be ignored. It's ridiculous for somebody to have a house full of cats and dogs running around. I'm 75 years old. I've had a pet or access to one as far back as I can remember into my childhood. It's great to have a pet, but to have them as a hobby is ridiculous. When you've got to have more than eight pets before you're happy, then you're not going to be happy anyway.