Speak Out 5/23/08

Outstanding awards

THE RED Carpet Awards night at Jackson Junior High was outstanding. I was so proud of all of the students who were nominated and all of the extra time the faculty had put into the night. What an impressive way to end the school year.

Goose and gander

I READ where the Saudi government says it's meeting oil-production demands and will not increase production. We should stop doing business with Saudi Arabia and quit helping them out. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. If we don't show them that we mean business, the Saudis are never going to bring the price of oil down to where we can afford it.

Repair blacktop

IF THE Cape Girardeau County Commission can't get the easements needed to blacktop new roads, why can't we repair the existing blacktop roads? Route W is in horrible shape. It's like a washboard, and it gets tons of traffic every day. Take care of something we already have before we force other people into getting something they don't want.

College gap

I THINK President Bush needs to rethink his stimulus package. College students are the ones who need the money the most, because they're taking out financial-aid loans. But if you claim them as a dependent on your taxes as a parent, you get zero back. A lot of parents are going to be upset.

Country beauty

WE ARE not wealthy people on County Road 319, but we are rich in the beauty of our countryside. We can look out at magnificent fields and rolling hills. We see our trees and beautiful flowers. We hear the sound of birds every day, and we have peace and quiet in which to contemplate God's world. We breathe pure, clean air, and we have pure, clean well water. Would this change with the rock quarry? You decide.

Costly circus

CAPE GIRARDEAU County is in sad shape. The sad thing about all this is the county commissioners, the county auditor and the prosecuting attorney are costing taxpayers about $360,000 a year for this circus. We all laughed about the circus in Cairo, Ill., a couple of years ago. Welcome to Cape Girardeau County.

Quarry concerns

ROUTE K just west of Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau to Highway 25 at Gordonville now has signage in two areas that identify it as a bike route. How many of cyclists will get ran over by the quarry trucks? Say no the quarry or feel guilty for killing innocent people riding their bikes. Also think of the hundreds of children who will suffer from lung problems from the pollution caused by quarry trucks.

I'm sorry

WITH THE increase in fuel cost, I have been driving 40 to 45 mph when I travel. I want to apologize if I anger anyone. I promise that I will drive faster if fuel prices fall back to where they should be. My fuel savings have been over $150 since starting my campaign to stick it to the oil companies.

Running out of oil

WHY IS the price of oil going up? Maybe we're running out. There has always been limited amounts. Oil is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Get used to it.

Gas choices

IF YOU wish to drive a matchbox-type of vehicle 40 miles an hour to save gas, that is your business, and I respect that. If I prefer to drive a large, luxury, fully loaded pickup that gets about 16 mpg, that is my business. You can buy as much gasoline as you have money to pay for. Let's all enjoy it while we can.