Speak Out 5/28/05

Greenbacks for greens

HEY, MR. Sullivan, why don't you apply for one of those federal grants that you wrote about for your downtown golf course?

Dangerous intersection

IT'S TIME the police realize that the intersection of William Street and Kingshighway is the most deadly intersection in this city. Get a camera in there and stop these people running these red lights. It happens all the time.

Buildings still in use

I WANT to comment on how Schultz School is being used as an alternative school and Washington and May Greene schools are being used. I remember the school board and a respected group of people who inspected those schools told us those buildings were dangerous and we had to have new schools. Either they were mistaken or liars. If they were mistaken, they need to apologize. If they're liars, people know their character.

Special consideration

I WOULD like to thank the young girl -- I believe her name was Sara Michaels -- at the Teen Challenge strawberry stand who let me get the last quart of strawberries this morning. I needed them for my daughter's birthday to make a strawberry pie. I appreciate it so much that she would think of others. She let the woman ahead of me go ahead of her, and she let me have the last quart. Thanks a lot.

Presidential policies

GEORGE W. Bush said, "I made it very clear to the Congress that any bill that takes lives in order to save lives, I'm against that." He was speaking about stem-cell research. I wonder how that comment works with his Iraq policy.

Public acclaim

AS A longtime faculty member at Central High School, I'd like to congratulate Mark Ruark on becoming the new athletic director. But most importantly I wanted to publicly praise him for his work the last 11 years as assistant principal. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a safe school environment for the students and the teachers and deserves public acclaim. Good luck to Mark in his new job.

Don't talk and drive

PEOPLE TALKING on the telephone while driving need to put down the phone and drive with safety. They also need to pull off the road if they want to talk. I think there ought to be a law that anybody caught talking on the telephone in the city limits while driving should be fined. Another thing, you young whippersnappers who ride my bumper, if you hit my car, you've bought it. I've been hit in the rear end so many times that I'm tired of it. If you hit me in the rear end again, it's going to be too bad.

Stealing gasoline

I AM a 21-year-old woman who works in a convenience store. I have been there for three years and am in training to move up in the company and make this job my career. I have an outstanding work ethic and have only missed one day of work. I have even traveled 30 miles to help out another store when it was shorthanded. Now, after three years of employment and an exemplary work record, my job is in jeopardy. Why? Because of people who think it is funny to steal gas. My employment will be terminated if one more person drives off without paying for their fuel. This is because my employer holds me responsible for fuel that is stolen on my shift. The next time you pull up to a gas pump intending to steal gas, remember that you are not the only one affected by your illegal decision.

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Flunking out

IF ONE of Alan Journet's students had been found guilty of plagiarism, he would have flunked the paper, possibly the course and maybe flunked out of school. Should Journet be banned from the paper for a month, a year, or even fired from Southeast Missouri State University?

Inadequate power

WHERE DO politicians like George Bush and Tom Delay get off preaching to us about morality and stopping the progression of science and stem-cell research? This is way too much power in the hands of such inadequate men.

Stop the vandalism

RECENTLY I have started walking daily from one end of Kiwanis Park to the other. There is a new shelter that was built not too long ago. It is beautiful. Unfortunately, someone has put graffiti all over the tables, floor and concrete counters. We have to stop this before we have the parks closed down and have nowhere to take our children. Our parks are beautiful. It is up to the residents to call the police when we see vandalism. Let's pull together and get this stopped.

Personal economics

THE REASON most people have minimum-wage jobs is lack of education. If you don't like your wages, go back to school. And don't have children. You can't afford them. One of the reasons we have out-of-control government spending is the concept that we should have whatever we want whether we can afford it or not.

A good reread

WAR IS peace. Ignorance is strength. Freedom is slavery. -- George Orwell, "1984." It's a good time to reread it.

Restoring help

FROM THE Columbia Daily Tribune regarding Medicaid cuts: "Now, and quickly, our focus must be on restoring help where we went too far." Liberals went too far the other way with Medicaid. We'd have thought that conservatives would have learned about going to extremes from that. Let's hope the conservatives will restore necessary help as fast as they took it away while ignoring good suggestions from their peers and from the public. We must also admire the fact that Republicans are so concerned about budgeting that they would cut aid for our most helpless citizens instead of raising taxes on alcohol. They sure are brave, aren't they?

Place to sleep

AS A former RV camper, I can tell that when darkness comes, you need to get in off the road. You've no idea where the next campground is, and a Wal-Mart parking lot provides a secure place to sleep and get snacks and breakfast. It hardly ever has anything to do with finances, although campground pricing is becoming ridiculous when one only needs a place to sleep, using a little water and electricity. Despite campground owners' complaints that Wal-Mart is stealing business away from them, it's doubtful it makes a very large annual dent in their businesses.

Get out while you can

TO THE woman with an abused friend: I have been in her position, and it is so hard to leave. I was abused emotionally and physically. When I got back together with my abusive husband this last time, I quit talking to my best friend. She had told me not to get together with him again because she had also been there. Of course, I did not listen. I finally opened my eyes and made a final break and realized this was what was best for us. My best friend and I are now talking again. I don't know what I would do without her. You need to tell your friend she needs to get out while she can.

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