Speak Out 7/11/08

Gordonville safety

THE GORDONVILLE Police Department is two part-time officers. I'm sorry they aren't on duty in the morning and afternoons to pull over speeders. I've lived in Gordonville all my life, and speeding in town is not a major problem. These officers work nights and weekends to ensure our safety.

Dangerous cell phones

WHEN ARE we going to join the smart trend of outlawing cell-phone usage in cars while driving? I ride a motorcycle, and you wouldn't believe how inattentive you people on cell phones are. studies have already shown that you are more impaired talking on the phone than with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent. It's time to do something about the phone usage in cars.

Potholes first

WHERE ARE the priorities for Cape Girardeau? Most of the streets in this city are the worst I have ever driven on, and the city wants to spend all this money on a water park. Why doesn't it fill some potholes?

Fireworks terrorists

FIREWORKS SHOT at people or their property should be considered improvised explosive devices. Those who do it should be considered domestic terrorists.

Slower is better

IT'S A proven fact you save lives when the speed limit is 55 mph, and you save gas. As far as getting somewhere on time, you can drive to St. Louis and leave about 25 or 30 minutes early. If people don't want to make sacrifices like that, this country won't make it.

Fireworks target

ON THE night of the Fourth of July, a lot of people were being stupid. You couldn't sit on your porch. They were driving by holding Roman candles out and shooting at people. That is wrong. That's why so many people get hurt.

Out of control

THIS IS July 5. I have not had any sleep for over two weeks now because of all the juvenile delinquents running up and down Pacific Street. I've been on my corner 21 years. I would think the Cape Girardeau Police Department could do something about these children who are so out of control. They shoot fireworks at houses. If you say something to them, you get a cussing. I am fed up with it. I have never seen such children out of control in all my life.

Slower is not better

DRIVING AT lower speed limits is not business friendly. It's OK if you're a retiree and have nothing but time on your hands. However, slower drivers on the interstate are more dangerous than those who drive at least the speed limit.

Playing with babies

AS SOMEONE who went to high school in the 1950s, I disagree with the person who said that era was sugar-coated. There were problems, but all in all it was a pretty good time. I think it was more a time of innocence than it is now for children. It was nothing then to see children playing with dolls. Now they're playing with real babies.

Wait for the payoff

WHEN I was a child, my uncle bought an El Camino. It broke down, and he and his boys pushed it into the garage to wait for a weekend when they would repair it. That weekend never came, and the decades passed. My uncle had a debilitating stroke and could not live in the house. When his boys opened the garage door and pulled out the El Camino, it was worth a great deal more than when they put it there. Keep your sport utility vehicle in the garage, and in 30 years or so it will be a curiosity and maybe you'll get rich.