Speak Out 5/5/08

Bottled water

A LOT of the people who are complaining about food prices buy bottled water. My wife buys bottled water, and I tell her it's a waste of money. There's no sense in buying water.

Blocked intersection

THIS IS a message to the drivers on U.S. 61 near the police station in Jackson. People need to make left turns by Rhodes 101, so please don't block the intersection. I sat through two lines of traffic blocking the roadway. Have some respect for people who have to get to work. It would be nice if the police would watch over that intersection and not let people block it.

More recycling

RECYCLING SHOULD be required for public institutions funded by taxpayers. If you're at the Show Me Center, there should be a place to put your recyclables. And the same thing for city parks. It's time for recycling to be taken seriously. Schools should lead the way.

Bare shelves

I VOLUNTEER at FISH, the food pantry, and I have never seen our shelves so bare. If every family in Cape Girardeau gave two cans of food a month, what a difference it would make. Most of the people who come here to get the food are embarrassed, but they swallow their pride so they can feed their families. May God bless our volunteers and the people who give.

Too casual

ARE NO social graces being taught anymore? I was privileged to attend a beautiful bridal shower luncheon recently. The hostess had gone all out with beautiful settings of china, crystal, linens and fresh flowers. The bride and her attendants, as well as some of the other guests, arrived in blue jeans. I'm in my 40s, so I'm not a total antique. But it seems like a slap in the face to the hostess who planned an elegant event to have it treated so casually.

Close to firefighters

LOOKING AT the map on the suspicious fires in Cape Girardeau, what is suspicious to me is that most of the fires occurred right around the main fire station on Sprigg Street.

Clippings in street

THIS IS for all the people who mow lawns and blow their grass clippings in the road. Are they waiting for the city to sweep it up? People like that ruin a beautiful neighborhood. They should be ashamed. The city should fine people who do that.

Helpful department

I HAD sewage back up in my basement due to the recent heavy rain. I called the health department, and the people there were very helpful. They told me to clean up the mold and the sewage with bleached water. They sent me a packet of literature with cleanup and disinfection instructions and brochure about mold.

Thanks for honesty

I WOULD like to thank a Kmart employee named Teresa. I left my purse in the store for an extended period of time. I called frantically, and she had turned it in. Everything was still in it. Honesty is not rewarded enough, and I want to publicly thank Teresa and the kind people at Kmart.

Cell phones at school

A SCHOOL district has decided students can't carry cell phones. I think the teachers' cell phones need to be taken away too. Teachers also use their cell phones in the classroom when it's not an emergency situation. I have made my concerns known to school officials, and I will be the first parent standing in line, if my child can't have a cell phone at school, saying the teachers shouldn't have them either. There are phones in the offices for the teachers to use.