Speak Out 5/13/08

Insurance coverage

I'M AN insurance agent, and I always put water and sewer backup on our clients' homeowner's policies, because a few dollars a year could result in saving you thousands of dollars. That's the reason you do it.

East Main parking

I WAS reading the article about additional parking in Jackson on East Main Street. It said Wayne Maupin asked the board of aldermen to consider letting people park on the street. If the aldermen do that, the parking should extend all the way down East Main Street. There are a lot of people who live farther down East Main closer to town who have the same problem. I don't have the luxury of parking four cars in my driveway. If they're going to open this up for one area, then they need to bring it back closer to town.

Too much greed

AN ARTICLE says there is a bill that would protect Missouri businesses from silly lawsuits. Greed is just everywhere. Everybody's got to have something. Please, people, vote.

Fresh air

JAY PURCELL, Cape Girardeau County's 2nd District commissioner, is a breath of fresh air long needed in Cape Girardeau County government.

Same thing

CAPE GIRARDEAU County's prosecuting attorney, Morley Swingle, was wrong to use the county Web site to advertise his books. This was for his own personal use just like County Auditor David Ludwig did.

Out of control

AFTER READING the article and watching the video on the Southeast Missourian Web site, it is clear to me that county commissioners Gerald Jones and Larry Bock are out of control.

Buy a bike

STOP THINKING we can't fight rapidly rising gasoline prices. Instead of blowing the economic-incentive money we are expecting, think about buying a bike. You'll save money and the environment and get in shape.

Wasting gas

SOMEONE SAID he saves gasoline when he turns off his car in a drive-through lane while it is not moving is. This is wrong. Starting a car is equivalent to a car sitting still and running for 15 minutes. Turning the car on and off is wasting gas.

Slow down and save

CAN WE start a dialogue about reducing the speed limit back down to 60 mph? Because of aerodynamics, all vehicles get better gas mileage when speeds are reduced below 70. I don't have a choice to slow to 60. I'll get run over. My truck gets barely 16 mpg at 70 mph, but 19 at 60. I need my truck for work. Conservation is hardly being talked about. Decision makers aren't being hurt by the price of gasoline, but I don't have the extra money. These prices are killing me. Any solution to this crisis needs to include conservation, and reducing speed limits would be a great step toward this goal.

Raucous graduation

SATURDAY WAS a great day for me. I graduated with honors at Southeast Missouri State University. However I was appalled by the lack of respect of the audience. When I graduated high school it went pretty much the same way. My entire family left early because of the insane yelling, whooping and hollering. Although I was happy to have graduated, I and many others were outraged at certain audience members and their lack of respect. To all of you who could not control yourself: I am deeply ashamed.

Night noise

I LIVE in a neighborhood where everyone around us, including myself, owns at least one or two dogs. I let my dog out when he has to go even if it might be in the middle of the night. If my dog happens to bark, I make sure he's immediately brought back in, because I respect my neighbors. Unfortunately, even the best trained dogs might bark at something that startles them. I'll take an occasional bark in the middle of the night any day over the constant nighttime barking of my neighbors outdoor pets right outside my bedroom window. I have a fan going in my bedroom, which drowns out some of the barking and the occasional traffic in the middle of the night. Not to be rude, but others might want to try that.

Secret meetings

LATELY, IT appears that our county commission and parks board have violated the Sunshine Law by holding secret meetings. Everyone who thinks something is rotten, please take the time to file a complaint. Here is the Web address: www.ago.mo.gov/cgi-bin/forms/sunshineComplaint.cgi.

Amazing show

I JUST attended "The Wizard of Oz" at Central Junior High School. Cape Girardeau is fortunate to have Mike Dumey putting his talent to work in our school system. Mr. Dumey is always modest and cites an outpouring of support from the community and other faculty as the reason for these amazing performances each year. While I am sure this definitely is true, if it were not for his own positive direction, grandiose ideas and his personally being a positive role model for the kids, these productions wouldn't happen. Thank you, Mr. Dumey. The show was amazing.

Commission civility

JAY PURCELL, Cape Girardeau County's 2nd District commissioner, is sticking his neck out to bring civility and competence to the county commission. Good for him. The presiding commissioner is a civil servant. He acts as though he is a czar and we serve him. He serves us. We deserve better.

Great musical

THANK YOU, Mike Dumey and the entire cast and crew for a great performance of "Wizard of Oz," another great spring musical.

Welcome, chief

I WOULD like to be the first in Scott City to welcome our police chief, David Leeman, to his new position. This was a good decision. Leeman has been an officer in town for years. He knows the town and the people. I hope all of Scott City will stand behind Chief Leeman. He was a good officer, and I think he will be an even better chief. He is also a fair person.

Teamster endorsements

DOES DAVID Limbaugh have selective memory? Surely not. While railing against the endorsement of Barack Obama by the Teamsters, Limbaugh forgot to inform us that the same union endorsed a candidate he claims to be his hero: Ronald Reagan.