Speak Out 6/17/06

Meeting complaint

I SEE where the county commissioners are holding a meeting to hear from the public on what roads should be paved. Of course the meeting is during the day when most people have jobs and can't attend. I believe the commissioners do this on purpose. If they really want input, they need to have two meetings: One during the day and one in the evening so more people can voice their opinions.

Abolish middle schools

VIDEOS ABOUT the transition to middle school may be a good idea, but a better one would be to abolish middle schools completely. Progressive states like Pennsylvania are doing just that as they recognize the middle school concept (dating back to the 1970s) is a failed experiment.

More babies

If one of the reasons Cape fell short in the All-America City competition was because we aren't heavily populated enough, then we should follow Mussolini's 1920s advice to women: "Have more babies!"

Congeniality

THEY CAN say what they want to about Wal-Mart employees, but I'm telling you these people are not only helpful, they go out of their way. Particularly good is a man that works in the sports department. I just cannot praise them enough. They're congenial. I just can't praise them enough. They're honest, they're creative and by golly I meet a lot of Christians in there, which really makes my day.

Trashy parks

WE ARE a beautiful community of parks and we have been graced with their presence. Our city does a wonderful job with the upkeep and taking care of these large areas for our enjoyment. Unfortunately, many citizens choose to exercise their right to throw trash on the ground, leave food containers and just really leave the parks in a mess. This is unfortunate. The gold golf ball contest brought this to my attention as I walked our gorgeous parks and found the trash and stench to be just unbelievable. This is not the fault of our city employees. They do a wonderful job. Picking up after yourself is just good manners and good training.

Garage-sale signs

I'M CALLING in regards to a news article that the city of Cape is no longer allowing garage-sale signs. If people aren't allowed to put garage-sale signs up, then why should real estate agents be able to stick their signs on every street corner? I think that's an eyesore as well.

Ethanol works

USING 10 ethanol and 90 percent gasoline is actually good in any car built in the last 30 or 40 years. And it will make the car run better than normal. It is just as efficient as 100 percent gasoline. The 10 percent ethanol is a little less expensive to produce so it can be sold for the same price or even a little cheaper than gasoline. Ten percent ethanol is good for all cars, and it's good for the environment.

Inconvenient ordinance

THIS IS regarding the new ordinance about the yard-sale signs. Not only does this ordinance inconvenience people that are looking for the yard sales, it is a greater inconvenience for people out of town who specifically come to Cape to yard sale. I know numerous people who come from Poplar Bluff, Perryville and Sikeston and all over Southern Illinois to yard sales in Cape. These people usually plan to make a day of coming to Cape. They eat in our restaurants and go shopping at our stores. If they are unable to find the yard sales, why should they waste their time coming to Cape?

Al-Zarqawi autopsy

OUR GOVERNMENT drops two 500-ton shells on a man over in Iraq. Then they've got to check it out in an autopsy to find out what killed him. This is really interesting. I think the doctor performing the autopsy instead should be helping our soldiers who have been wounded by roadside bombs.

Hooray for two-way

I JUST want to express my opinion about the two-way street. I think it's great having Main Street two-way again. I love to go downtown but I quit because of the hassle of trying to get to the stores because I couldn't turn left off Themis onto Main. I just want to say thanks, thanks, thanks to everyone who had a part in making Main Street two-way again.

Praising public works

IN REGARD to the city putting up a sign for National Public Works Week in front of their brand new beautiful facility, I think it's wonderful. Our public works employees are completely under appreciated. You may be able to live your life for a day or a week or a month without the aid of a police officer or firefighter. But try living your life without the aid of the public works system for a day, a week, or a month. Just think, no clean water, no clean streets, no trash pickup. Our employees are a valuable asset to our community and we need to appreciate them. We need to have National Public Works Month.

When are pets a zoo?

TO ALL Scott City residents: When can you have too many animals before it's a zoo? There are several people living in town that have more than the number of pets that they are allowed to have.

Soldiers doing their best

WE ARE all disappointed when our Army troopers accidentally kill civilians in Iraq, but when the terrorists and insurgents are all wearing civilian clothes and sometimes even hide in women's civilian clothes then it's not that strange a consequence that our troops are going to sometimes accidentally kill civilians when they are shooting at the insurgents. The insurgents are trying to trick us, and it's very difficult to discern who is an insurgent and who is not. So in the heat of battle, accidents do happen. Our soldiers are doing the best they can, and we need to support them.

Other worries

I REALLY can't believe that in this day and time with young boys getting killed and maimed for life and hundreds of Iraqi civilians being killed and maimed and the same in Afghanistan, with the gas prices approaching $3 a gallon, and with health insurance unaffordable to most including most people we are still worried about same-sex marriages. My personal belief is I don't believe in it, however that's between them and God. It's not up to President Bush or Congress to make an amendment to mess with our Constitution. Leave the Constitution alone. Let's focus on the real important things. What two people do in their bedroom is none of my business.

Cutting waste

THE CITY of Cape Girardeau does not seem to be a very efficient organization. They claim the budget's tight, they have no money for this, but you look all around the city and they're wasting money. They spend $60,000 to send 40-plus people out to promote the city of Cape. They also spend $60,000 plus to put some landscaping on the interstate on the way into Cape Girardeau. That adds up to over $120,000 in wasted money. The next time the city comes before the people asking for a tax increase or utility bill increase or trash fee increase, vote no. Tell them to cut back on the wasteful spending that is all over their budget.

Full-service needed

THIS TOWN needs a service station for handicapped people who can't pump their own gas.