Speak Out 12/11/04

Old memories

I JUST finished reading TBY. It was all interesting, but the best part of the paper was the article by Donald Kraft, "Childhood in downtown Cape during the Depression years." I am 81 years old, and I related to everything I read: the snow on the ice trucks, 10-cent movies at the Orpheum Show. I'll have to say those were the good old days. Thanks, Donald Craft, for stirring up those memories. I enjoyed every minute of reading this article.

A good person

THANK YOU for a good article about Lloyd Smith. All over the 8th Congressional District, people feel like they are personal friends of Lloyd's. The truth of the matter is they are. Lloyd Smith is good to everybody.

Everyone waits

I'M GRATEFUL, if I call a doctor and I need to be seen at the last minute because something's come up, that my doctor's willing to get me in. Sometimes in this life we suffer inconveniences. Everyone knows that you wait when you go to the doctor. That's just one of the things of this life.

Thanks for help

THIS MESSAGE is for the J.C. Penney staff. I passed out in your store, and I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped and the paramedics who helped me out there and for taking care of us. Thank you very much.

Noisy trains

WHEN I moved to Scott City a year and a half ago, I had no idea the train whistles would cause me to want to pack up and move. I like the house and the neighbors, and I like the town. But I can't tolerate being awakened from a sound sleep at 3 a.m. I asked at city hall about the ordinance that was supposed to go into effect by year's end that the train horns could be no louder than a car horn. I was told the city couldn't afford the $20,000 devices needed for each crossing. I can't afford losing any more sleep.

Driving up costs

THE PUBLIC school system is not failing. It has its problem like anything else. Any problem a child is dumped on the public school system. That drives up the public school system's expenses.

Safety reasons

THE REASON big trucks park on interstate off-on ramps is because the truck stops and rest areas are full. There's no place else for them to park. If you'd rather they keep driving down the interstate to kill themselves or somebody else, that's up to you. I'd rather see them park on the ramps than keep driving.

Nothing gets done

I TOLD the Cape Girardeau police department about some people living down the street who have had Illinois tags on their car for seven or eight years. I have to have my cars inspected. The tags on one of the cars, which is broken down, expired in August. The police spotted it right off the bat. One of my neighbors has one set of tags for three cars. The officer said, "Why didn't you call us?" Why should I call? Nothing gets done.

Too much

ENOUGH IS enough. We voted for the city's tax increase. Now we get hit with all these fees increases. It's too much.

Immaturity showing

STATE SENATOR-elect Jason Crowell wants to pass a bill to make the sales-tax holiday in August an annual event. Once again he shows his immaturity by telling county officials, " I can guarantee their pay increase proposals will go nowhere if the sales-tax holiday goes nowhere." He showed this during the last session when he acted like a 2-year-old throwing a temper tantrum in the House of Representatives.

Too much stopping

WHY IS it that traffic almost always has to stop on Broadway when there are no oncoming cars on Caruthers? You would think something could be done to remedy this situation.