Speak Out 12/9/05

Learning from seniors

I CANNOT believe that some folks oppose having low-income housing for seniors built because children will no longer be able to safely play in the street. Do these people encourage children to play in the street? Perhaps these families might learn some valuable lessons from the seniors who join this neighborhood.

Profound experience

I CONCUR with the positive comments on the Lincoln library and museum in Springfield, Ill. It was a profound experience for me.

Helping kids

I HAVE been reading the articles about Toybox and think it is such a wonderful project. I was speaking to a Jaycee the other day, and I was not aware that Toybox and Toys for Tots are two separate drives and serve different children. I have given my donation to both organizations, and I hope that you can find it in your hearts and wallets to do the same. Merry Christmas.

Deer problem

DEER WERE at one time hunted to a population level that would not have been a problem for motorists. The conservation department stepped in and made it illegal to take deer without their permission. Now the population has grown to a point that deer are a danger to public safety. I think it's the responsibility of the Missouri Department of Conservation to come up with a solution to a problem it created.

Postage competition

POSTAL WORKERS get paid pretty decent wages for what they have to put up with, whether they work as employees of the U.S. Postal Service or as contractors. I think one of the biggest problems some of us have is the idea that USPS, being a monopoly of sorts, has quite an advantage. We cannot go to the competition. If there were competition, postage might not be going up.

Crazy system

ALTHOUGH I am permanently disabled, the medications I receive have helped with my disability to the point where I could work a very few hours a week at certain jobs. If I were to do that, though, and lose Medicaid, I would be right back to not being able to take care of my personal needs. What a crazy thing. But if you have children, the rules are different. This encourages people to keep having children they don't want and can't afford.

Other post offices

POSTAL AUTHORITIES will not listen to reason in Cape Girardeau. So I use the post offices in Jackson (which is also tiny and crowded sometimes and has limited parking), Scott City or Gordonville (which is wonderful because it is never crowded, I can always find a parking spot and the people there are nice). So look around and try something else since Cape can't get a decent post office.

Oran's image

ORAN IS being portrayed as a town full of people who do not think they should have to obey the law. Oran is a quiet town of 1,200 people. I have lived there for many years and do not see why, all of a sudden, it is such a hotbed of crime that we need three police officers. It seems funny to me that Howard Stevens was able to do the job by himself and a part-timer most of his career. It is a shame that the new chief makes it seem that Stevens did not do his job.

Outstanding concert

I CANNOT believe that there were negative comments about the Choral Union performance at Southeast Missouri State University. Only someone who does not have any culture would complain about the work being performed in the original language in which it was written. If you want to see and hear lower-standard shows, you'll have to look elsewhere. I think the Southeast music department is the only reason why we get top-quality musical performances in Cape Girardeau. Take a bow, everyone who performed. You all did an outstanding job.

A dog's social life

MOST DOG parks are set up as a user-pay facility. Usually a neighborhood club forms and charges dues for upkeep. If your dog feels the need to socialize, take it to on of the local doggy day cares. And please have your pets spayed and neutered.

Growing, changing

THE NEWS media and people in general should allow Oran officials to run the city government. Change never is a popular thing for many people, but it doesn't always have to be negative. Don't make a media issue out of a community's attempts at growth and change.

Later flight

THE PROBLEM with flying round-trip out of Cape Girardeau is not the departure, it is the return. Currently, the last flight departs STL for CGI around 7:40 p.m. If I am flying from the West Coast, it is virtually impossible to catch this flight without leaving by 1 p.m. Pacific time. This is impractical, because I lose half a day there. Why not add another later flight from STL to CGI around 10 p.m.? This would allow those coming from the west to catch the last flight to Cape and prevent me from having to drive to STL and back routinely because I can't make the last flight home to Cape.

Incorrect paperwork

I'VE LIVED in Oran for 10 years and never once received a citation for speeding. I always felt safe seeing our previous police chief patrol past my house several times daily. Since the new police chief took over, I have not seen an officer drive by once, and now there are three officers. I believe I don't see the police because they are too busy hiding to catch people driving to work. Today I was pulled over and was told I was doing 35 mph in a 25 mph zone, even though I was doing 30. I got a citation after I told the officer I honestly thought it was a 35 mph zone.After reading the ticket, I see why Oran needs a third policeman. The date was wrong, the type of car I was driving was wrong, my name and street were misspelled and the officer wrote the wrong Social Security number.

Uplifting program

I HAVE to agree with the praise for the La Croix United Methodist Church Christmas program. I wasn't looking forward to a Christmas program, but after I went I wished it wouldn't have ended. The talent and work that went into their program was amazing. The humor and fun in the beginning were entertaining, and the spiritual second half was uplifting, I think the church is going to need a bigger place to hold the program next year. Great job, La Croix.