Speak Out 5/19/08

Sneaky recording

SECRETLY RECORDING a conversation between two people seems sneaky. It's also a way to set up another person and lead them into a self-damaging recording. How can two commissioners ride together from Jackson to Jefferson City and not talk business? The portion of the recording I heard sounded like a personality conflict and was childish on the part of both commissioners. It they can't and won't work together, both should resign. We have secret taping and the downloading of photos of women. What else do we need to know?

Just can't win

ISN'T IT interesting how if you clean house on a daily basis, people tell you that you have obsessive-compulsive disorder, but if you let it go, you are a sloppy pig?

Milk at school

SCHOOLS SERVE all students, including kindergarten students, breakfast and lunch with milk. Milk with snacks is not a necessity. Perhaps parents can provide the other two servings of milk needed at home.

Slow down and save

I HAVE been trying to drive more conservatively, and I am getting two miles per gallon better mileage in town because of it. You do not save enough time to justify racing everywhere.

Lazy neighbors

I HAVE a home-equity line of credit. I received a letter from the bank saying that my home's value has decreased, and the bank has reduced my line of credit for home repairs. When I look out my back window, I see a partially put together play structure that has sat for six weeks in the yard of my neighbor who has let grass grow around it. My neighbors leave junk in their yard and don't mow around their fencing. It looks trashy. We live in a decent neighborhood. People like me who try to keep their houses well-maintained are suffering because of the laziness of others. Shame on them.

Memories of Vietnam

MICHAEL DeVANEY'S apparently serious recommendation encouraging people to move to Canada if they can't cope with our energy policy or lack thereof is sadly reminiscent of those who encouraged draft-eligible males to defect to Canada during the Vietnam War era.

Wrong target

THIS IS getting curiouser and curiouser. I said "Yes!" to myself when I read the part of the Southeast Missourian headline that said the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney was going to ask for the appointment of a special prosecutor. However, my heart sank when I read the rest of the headline, because it turned out that the special prosecutor is going to investigate Jay Purcell, 2nd District commissioner, instead of what I assumed would be the other county commissioners. What is going on?

Zoning reality

THE LACK of zoning in Cape Girardeau County allows environmental mayhem and anti-social behavior under the guise of freedom. It allows an individual to buy prime agricultural land on County Road 319 and convert it into a limestone quarry. I hope those of you who oppose zoning find yourself living next to someone who wants to turn their land into a toxic waste dump that pollutes your groundwater and poisons your children and animals. Maybe then you'd wake up.

Going too fast

I AGREE with the person about slowing down 10 mph to save gas. Several years ago the speed limit was reduced to 55 mph. The speed limit in town is 25 mph in most places and clearly marked. Yet I have had motorists pass me up who were upset at my speed.

Walk-through lane

MAYBE TURNING off your car's engine and starting it up again in a drive-through lane doesn't save gasoline, but I know one way you can save gas. Don't go through the drive-through lane. Get off your duff. Park your car and go through the walk-through lane. Not only does it save gas, it also is better for your health. Don't say you don't have time. That's only an excuse.

Showing respect

ON WEDNESDAY afternoon I approached the intersection of Caruthers Avenue and Thilenius Street. I stopped at the school stop sign because there was a funeral procession coming through. Two cars passed me and four or five others motorists that were in line behind me waiting for the funeral to go through. Anyone who does not have respect for the deceased needs to have a ticket. Shame on you.

Magnificent production

CENTRAL JUNIOR High School did it again with the magnificent production of "The Wizard of Oz." Thanks again, Mike Dumey, for sharing your talent with the community. The cast was super good.

Driving respect

WHILE DRIVING to work, a motorist passed me on a highway curve where you can't see oncoming traffic. When I got to the first stoplight and had the green light, another motorist coming the other direction turned right in front of me. Once in Cape Girardeau, another motorist cut in front of me in the passing lane with no blinker going about 60 mph. That's a typical day coming to work. People have no respect on the road anymore. Do people not have any idea of how to drive and to slow down in these times? People, use your head. Wake up.

Unjustified defense

I CANNOT believe columnist Jonah Goldberg is defending the oil companies, which are making millions of dollars in profit off the poor people of America. They also are destroying the American economy.

Thanks for help

I WOULD like to thank the people who helped start my truck at Huck's. I'm thankful for your help. I was lucky you came by.

Party in power

HISTORY HAS proved that when one party has too much power and control too long, the party in control becomes arrogant. Republicans control Cape Girardeau County. They tend to universally condemn taxes. On the other hand, county political office hours continue to increase. Then they tend to be significantly interested in our tax dollars. Case in point, 11 Republicans seek to be commissioner. What are the two Democrats thinking in this county?

Bumpy Lexington

I WISH somebody would fix Lexington Avenue. It's horrible. Ever since it was built it has been wavy and bumpy. It's the worst road in Cape Girardeau.

We need good jobs

WE COMPLAIN about all the jobs going overseas and the lack of work around here, but as soon as a rock quarry or cement plant or oil company or railroad or anything like that wants to move in, everybody starts hollering "Not in my neighborhood." These quarry jobs pay good money.

Developing conscience

WHETHER OR not the people around County Road 319 voted for the planning and zoning, the question has to be asked: Does the developer want to be responsible for all the problems people in that area are going to face? I'm thinking that if it were me, my conscience wouldn't allow me to hurt so many people.

Local corruption

WHEN ONE sees how much corruption there is in government on the local level, what can one hope for on the national level?

Campus repairs needed

I'M A nontraditional student at Southeast Missouri State University. I'm 32 years old and work full time and go to school full time. It's my choice. I'm not going to complain about the tuition, because I think it's still reasonable compared to other schools. However, when I hear about spending $490,000 on a gathering place, I can't believe the stupidity. Take a campus tour and see the conditions of some of the buildings. The English Building is in terrible shape. Basic things are not kept up. Money is no object when it comes to the River Campus and the business building. But the rest of the campus needs repairs.

Take the money

$300,000 FOR 1.24 acres of land that is supposed to be landscaped as a green barrier? Looks to me like the county needs to take the money and run. It could surely put that money to good use for parks or county roads.