Speak Out 5/14/08

Deceitful action

I DON'T know Gerald Jones, Cape Girardeau County presiding commissioner, or Jay Purcell, 2nd District commissioner. I don't know or need to know the exact details of what goes on behind the commissioners' doors. We elected these officials to do the work for us. Having said that, I think what Purcell did was unforgivable, deceitful and wrong. His actions were set to lead Jones into a conversation that could be used against him. This is ridiculous.

Doesn't make sense

USUALLY WHEN someone tapes private conversations, it's for blackmail reasons. I don't understand the outpouring of praise for Jay Purcell, Cape Girardeau County's 2nd District commissioner, over a presiding commissioner who I know gives his best to see that our county is in good shape.

Protecting himself

I APPLAUD Jay Purcell, Cape Girardeau County's 2nd District commissioner, for standing up for the rights of the people he is representing. While I understand it was "questionable behavior" for him to have made the audio recordings or private conversations, I also believe he felt he needed to do so to protect himself and expose what really goes on when the news media are not around.

Dog math

IF I get rid of two of my three dogs in order to save pet food, who is going to feed my other two dogs?

In full view

CAPE GIRARDEAU County commissioners need to realize that the taxpayers of this county pay their salaries and provide the money the commissioners spend on county business. Therefore, the taxpayers have a right to know what the commissioners are doing. Open the meetings and do the county's business in full view of the citizens.

Good model

HAVING HAD the opportunity to observe both Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney, and the Cape Girardeau County Commission, it occurs to me that the commissioners would be well-served to pattern their behavior after Swingle. He always conducts himself in a professional manner, is courteous to others even when treated badly and is a fair person, basing his decisions on the law rather than the Good Old Boy network. It's a shame Swingle has had to spend so much of his time of late refereeing the feuding commissioners.

Milk before raises

I'M HAPPY teachers are getting a raise this year. Unfortunately, we don't know how much administrators are getting paid, as usual. Has the district budgeted for kindergarten classes to have milk? Last year there wasn't enough money in the budget to buy milk for kindergartners. That's more of a priority than raises for teachers or administrators.

Rental housing

I WOULDN'T put my dog in some of the houses for rent. It's a shame owners are trying to rent them for $500. They are little bitty shacks. Why they think somebody would want to live in a shack? People have pride. I do not want to live in a shack, something you wouldn't put your dog in.

Something stinks

I'D LIKE to comment on the Cape Girardeau County commissioners. The more I read about this, the worse it stinks. Why does the county have to put up with this? The commissioners are grossly overpaid. Why do the taxpayers have to pay for this? There's no reason the commissioners should make this money. The prosecuting attorney is grossly overpaid too. Someone needs to look into these problems and straighten this out.

Taxpayers have a say

PARKS ARE among the things that makes Cape Girardeau County terrific. We need green spaces as Cape Girardeau County is growing. I would think selling park land would be something the taxpayers would have a say on.

Slow down to save

THE U.S. Department of Energy lab at Oak Ridge, Tenn., has said that if we would slow down about 10 mph when driving, we would save quite a bit of gasoline. If we would slow down about 10 percent, which wouldn't hurt us at all, we would get where we're going a little bit less quickly, save lives, save money and save gas. Speed limits in town are clearly posted 30 mph, but if you try to drive 30 mph, you have two or three people on your tail every single time. Slow down, people, and quit whining about the price of gas. Do something to conserve.

Showing respect

I AM grateful for the way motorists pulled over and respected my mother's funeral procession. I especially want to thank the young man between Cape Girardeau and Jackson who was standing beside his car with his cap in his hand. It is so nice to see people honor someone like that. There are so many times when people try to pass a funeral procession and are rude. But that man stood out in my mind as we were going to the cemetery to bury my mother, and all the others who pulled off showed their respect. I'll be forever thankful.

Consult taxpayers

HOW CAN two county commissioners make a decision to sell county land to a private company without taxpayer approval? Taxpayers paid for the land in the first place.

Administrators too

I'VE BEEN reading about the change in certification so people don't have to get a teaching degree to be a teacher in Missouri. Is this also going to apply to administrators? It should. If you don't have to have the proper degree to be in the classroom, why should principals and superintendents have to be former educators? Why not hire people with management degrees? That's what schools are now. They're a business.

Mosquitoes and rain

I WENT out on my carport this morning. The wind was really blowing, and I saw about 30 large mosquitoes. I got some bug spray and sprayed until they were all gone. The wind blew some of the spray on me and on my clothes. I went to my computer to see what to do: wash you skin and clothes. The large mosquitoes are males, which come from all the rain we've been having. It's time to do something about the mosquitoes.

Missing money

I WANT to thank whoever turned in my child's wallet at the Osage Community Centre garage sale. However, you took money out of the wallet. Remember, there is an all-seeing God watching over you. I suggest you turn the money in at the desk, because you will be punished in the end.