Speak Out 1/10/04

Show concern

GOOD LUCK to the fire department in getting a tax passed. It is about time we show concern for the people who are there for our safety and not about saving a few dollars come tax time.

Stolen decorations

THE THIEVES won out. The people on Missouri and Dunklin streets are no longer going to put up Christmas decorations. A shepherd boy was stolen. That goes to show you the appreciation for trying to bring happiness. A lot of work went into those decorations. I understand this has happened on five occasions. I have never heard of anyone being caught for stealing decorations. It just makes you wonder if the police are really doing their job.

No support

THE CITY may put any tax on the ballot they want to, but I will vote no for all of them.

Biggest cheerleader

IT APPEARS the so-called conservative Southeast Missourian is going to be the biggest cheerleader for the proposed fire sales tax. I don't think the Missourian has ever met a local sales tax proposal it didn't like or support. The only thing it didn't like about the most recent four tax and fee proposals was that they didn't have a sunset clause.

Monitoring liquor

PATRICK BUCK, owner of the Taste, says he can't be in two places at once -- the parking lot and inside his establishment -- to make sure that no alcohol is being consumed inside the building. Perhaps the state liquor-control department could help him out in this regard. It's time to close this place down.

On different level

SOME OF us live our lives not really knowing who we are. However, when the test of life comes, we find out there is a factor that separates P. Amy McKinnon from some of us Democrats. We enjoy our freedoms and choose not to rush into wars and conflicts that place us on the same level with the terrorists. I do not like to see our freedoms disappear as we try to be safe from terrorists.

Need fire station

I THINK Cape Girardeau needs to build a fire station on Big Bend Road. There's a bunch of new houses out there, and there's no fire coverage.

Special help needed

JACKSON HIGH School could be doing a better job with the special ed students. There's no program in place right now to help kids who could get a driver's license. There needs to be some sort of program in place for seniors and juniors to help get their licenses like other kids.

Give and take

I'D LIKE to thank U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson for my Social Security raise. It reminded me of my first payday in the Navy during World War II. They gave me $5 and took back $4.90. My Social Security raise was 3 percent, and they took back 2.9 percent and left me with a $24-a-year raise. Thanks a lot. I hope to help you save that much some day.

Pay for speeding

SINCE WHEN do people get to change the law to suit their needs? Rick Glass were driving 19 miles over the posted speeding limit. He deserved a ticket, because 54 mph is definitely too fast to be driving on Bloomfield Road. Raise the speed limit and people will drive 70 mph. There are at least one to two wrecks on Bloomfield Road a week. Glass should obey the law like everyone else and pay the ticket.

Quality teachers

I READ with interest the article that said some of Cape Girardeau school administrators are concerned people won't file for vacancies for the school board because of the district's financial situation. How will it affect people who might apply for teaching positions, since many teachers are in danger of losing their jobs or having pay cuts and pay freezes. As a parent, I'm much more concerned about getting quality teachers than school board members.

It's hard work

I AM a state employee at the veterans home. We serve our veterans. We haven't had a raise in quite some time, but our insurance premiums keep going up. All of us don't do paperwork. We do nursing care, housekeeping and dietary. If you think it's so easy, come on out. We're taking applications.