Speak Out 09/27/04

Plenty of pets

I TOO am a pet person, but if you live in town, having four dogs and four cats is plenty of pets for anyone. I used to live where a pet ordinance said you could only have two cats and two dogs, and these pets had to be registered for a fee of $5 per animal -- more if your pet was not spayed or neutered. And you also had to provide a veterinarian's statement saying your pet had all of its shots. If you filed a form that said you had more than the allotted number of pets, you were then considered a breeder and had to pay $50 to 75 a year, which I feel is a fair trade-off. Maybe Cape Girardeau should think about something like that.

Speak up to the city

THIS PET-LIMIT rule is the first time the city council has been challenged in anything it has done. If all of you who are complaining would have the courage to speak up about something that you don't like, Cape Girardeau might not be in such political distress. I don't care what the cause is. At least these people aren't willing to let the council steamroll over them. They deserve credit for that. Maybe someday the residents will see that the only opinions that matter in this city aren't only that of the council members.

Not the Dark Ages yet

IT'S HARDLY the Dark Ages if you don't have cellular phone service or Internet service. I manage just fine with a regular telephone. When that goes, that will be the Dark Ages. I certainly don't feel I live in the Dark Ages. As long as I have a TV set to watch, it's certainly not the Dark Ages.

Go first, play later

MY CHILD played soccer at Shawnee Park too. Have your children go to the bathroom before they go out. I think portable toilets are nasty. I always felt like the two toilets at Shawnee Park were enough.

Volunteer thanks

I JUST wanted to make a comment about the spot on KFVS12 that aired Sept. 21 about the Days of Caring. I'm one of the volunteers through Shape Up Cape placed with a project. The agency that scheduled several of us for assignment was not mentioned. I felt they did a great job and wanted to thank them for their help.

Good manners

I WAS taught by my parents that we never call anybody a liar. We simply don't do that. We don't ever say "you are lying." We were permitted to say "you are mistaken" or "you are making a mistake." But it is wrong to call anyone a liar.

Need speed-limit signs

CAPE GIRARDEAU police should post speed-limit signs on Old Sprigg Street coming south if they are going to continue to set up speed traps there. The only speed-limit signs are well before the stop at Lexington. Every day this week the police have harassed people on this road. I'd rather the police caught the people running red lights all over town than worry about speed on a rural road.

Menacing dog

LAST NIGHT on the Osage Trail near Arena Park, my friend, dog and I were approached by a large dog growling in a menacing fashion. The dog was not on a leash. The owner was several hundred yards away in her back yard. I think that the only reason we weren't attacked is because she called to her dog, distracting it and giving us time to hurry away. The city should be more concerned about irresponsible pet owners who let their animals run loose and quit worrying about the number of pets someone keeps. One aggressive dog that isn't contained presents more of a nuisance than five well-kept animals.

Job description

FROM THE job description of the new intelligence czar that the 9-11 Commission recommended, it seems to me that that's what the president's job is. What was the commission telling us?

Help with bassets

I WANT to thank the women who stopped on Interstate 55 with the two bassets. The family appreciates their kindness. I know they didn't have to stop, but they did. Thank you. Also thank you to others who have helped with the bassets and calling us.