Speak Out 7/1/07

Appreciative veterans

I HAVE just seen the segment on the veterans that were traveling to Washington D.C. It brought tears to my eyes to see how they appreciated what we're doing for them. The man responsible for this trip needs to be thanked. I thank him and God will reward him for what he has done for these men.

Equal enforcement

AS I drove down Kingshighway the other day, I saw at least five other businesses that had banner signs. What has the city got against the mattress guy? I think they should be looking at the other businesses. If they're going to enforce one, they should enforce them all.

A better plan

THANK YOU, Mayor Knudtson and council members Ritter, Schneider and Voss for requesting more specific prioritized plans from the city parks advisory board. The head of the parks board said input came from residents. What residents? Those with children involved in soccer, baseball, softball and swim teams? Isn't it about time the city of Cape Girardeau started operating within a budget? Look at the facts. Cape Girardeau is not growing in population and the school enrollment is decreasing. Correct your problems through budgeting.

Similar flooding

CAPE GIRARDEAU isn't the only community that has intersection flooding during downpours. Tuesday news showed that Paducah intersections flood when you have 2 inches in 30 minutes, the same as it does in Cape Girardeau.

Dental care needed

POOR ORAL health can and does lead to health problems that can kill people. Missouri is the only state that I've ever lived in that has no provisions for dental care, not even a simple provision of dental extraction for those without health insurance.

Haggard concert

THE ARTICLE in the paper on Merle Haggard's concert by James Samons was very good. Sometimes when you go to these concerts and read the paper the next day, you wonder if the reporter was even there because what they say is nothing like the concert. I was there to see Merle and it was great.

Standing alone

IT IS a sad state of affairs when the powers-that-be in the city of Cape Girardeau jail a small-business owner over a sign ordinance. There are no safety concerns regarding the sign in question, and at least the sign does not blink, blind you, or give you five messages to read before the stoplight changes. It is also a sad state of affairs that all the businessmen and others who were going to fight the sign ordinance have faded into silence, leaving the jailed businessman to stand alone.

Taxes and the Bible

IF YOU will read your Bible, God did not die for the rich people. He died for the poor people. So city council members remember, when you vote a tax in on the poor, the seniors and people that are on a fixed income, you're trying to take their houses away from them, you're trying to make it as hard on them as you can.

Don't like law

I'M GLAD that Dennis McDonald is protesting by leaving his sign up. It is not bothering anyone. I don't like that law. Look what they did to the garage sale signs. I hope other businesses do the same. I know that at the next council election I'll make my changes also.

No computer

I DON'T have a computer, just like a lot of my friends. I just wish that when businesses have a survey or something similar, they would also give a telephone number.

Vote for God

YOU'VE GOT to take your hat off to Hillary Clinton for being as successful as she is and for putting up with the people she's had to put up with. She must have a lot of care and concern and hope in her life. But I won't vote for a woman president. I don't know why, I just won't vote for a woman. I don't like voting for a man either. If we just had a God down here, I'd vote for him.

Praying for each other

IT'S 3:10 a.m. and I'm sitting here with a plate of cookies, candy, everything I'm not supposed to eat. I'm a diabetic. I weigh over 200 pounds, I'm short, fat, ugly, gray-haired. I don't lift a finger to help myself. I'm sick of dieting. I don't care if I die young. I wish somebody would care if I die young. I just want to lift up the people who do have diabetes like I do. I'll pray for them, I'll pray for them, and maybe somebody will pray for me.

Not hurting anyone

COME ON, city officials. This is a small town. We don't have a lot of money to advertise in the newspaper or the TV station. These signs are not hurting anyone. The city needs to take care of the drug problem.

Building an economy

I DON'T think the Mexicans are drawing the life blood out of America. I don't care if they're sending their money back to Mexico. Maybe they'll finally build up the economy and they'll want to stay down in Mexico.

Transparent floodwall

I DON'T think we in the Cape Girardeau area would want a transparent floodwall because I feel we like low taxes. What one's talking about is non-functional. A brick wall is functional but a plastic wall, which is basically what it would be, would get scratched up, would require replacing after a while because you couldn't see through it. There'd be marks, lines, etc. Stone is functional and much more practical. I think those in Cape Girardeau are practical people who don't want their taxes going for foolishness.