Speak Out 1/7/06

Make a fire break

WATCHING THE wildfires in Oklahoma and Texas, I cannot believe that people haven't gotten farm tractors and made a fire break around their property. I know they can't do it where there's thick timber, but I do know you can do something about it if you have the forethought to do it.

Recycle the trash

REGARDING THE "Extra trash" comment: The sanitation boys work hard for what they do. I've got three words for that: Learn to recycle.

Downtown suggestions

I DON'T think Broadway's all that bad. Any downtown has a section that's not so great, and that's what Broadway is. Broadway has some of the smaller shops. It's not like downtown Cape Girardeau has a lot unless you're depending on antique shops. If you don't have shop owners who have good hearts and are friendly, people aren't going to go in. If you want a successful downtown, you have to have the right people to encourage businesses. You have to have something like a chocolate shop or something that's going to bring people downtown, because I'm not going to go downtown for an antique store, plain and simple. I've never really invested in art although the art galleries seem wonderful. It's just something I've never bothered with.

Cover the unexpected

EARTHQUAKE INSURER Safeco took almost $3.6 million from us in 2004 and now drops earthquake coverage in the face of absolutely no difference in risk. Maybe we should demand more integrity, not to mention intelligence, from insurance companies. Unless insurers can protect us from financial risk caused by unpredictable catastrophe, what good are they? Given the large sums most of us pay for insurance, would it be unreasonable to expect homeowner policies to cover loss regardless of cost?

Thanks for purse

I WOULD like to thank whoever turned in my red tapestry purse at Wal-Mart that I left in a shopping cart during the holidays. I really appreciate it. Everyone I talk to is so amazed that someone turned the purse in with nothing missing. It just made so many people feel good to know that there are honest people.

Best carrier

THE PEOPLE on North Park Street have Kurre Lane beat. We have the best postman in town on North Park. And a happy New Year to him, to the postal service all the people who work there.

Identity issues

I'VE SEEN Mike Smythe comment on TV about not giving your Social Security number to anyone. I'd like to know why, in order to vote in Scott County, I have to give my Social Security number. The county has been sending me ID cards for years and years. Election officials know who I am. And anybody can make a fake Social Security card. Is this a federal law? If it's not, I don't see why we should have to do this, putting our Social Security number out where somebody can get our identity.