Speak Out 7/14/06

Weedy eyesores

THE CITY needs to get rid of the grass and weeds growing up and down Broadway. It makes our town look dismal and deserted.

Rats at the ballpark

I WAS in Capaha Park for a baseball game. There were two big rats running under the bleachers. My husband tried to scare them away, but they weren't afraid of people. It's disgusting and dangerous. There were little children running around. The city needs to do a better job of emptying trash cans and picking up trash.

Winning team

CONGRATULATIONS TO Joe Sullivan and Sam Blackwell as well as all the employees at the Southeast Missourian for achieving first place in the national newspaper competition. It looks like you have a winning team in place. Keep up the great work. You make us proud.

No bus to center

DOES ANYONE else wonder why the new bus route does not go to the Osage Community Centre? I always thought the center's location was poorly chosen since it is so far northwest of the city center. Now we have a new bus route that doesn't travel there. I guess it is time to add this quandary to the list of mistakes by the current city administration.

Rusty arrow signs

I THINK the city missed the mark. Instead of worrying so much about garage-sale signs, it should be after businesses that have those flashing-arrow reader-board signs. They are often rusty with bulbs gone and words misspelled. Talk about tacky. The police have better things to do than chase after garage-sale sign violators. What's next? Fashion police?

Sign enforcement

THE ENFORCEMENT of the sign ordinance highlights how anti-small business Cape Girardeau has become. When people objected to the ordinance at council meetings and in the paper, they were told that the ordinance wouldn't be enforced for months, if at all, that the city didn't have the manpower or resources to expend on signs and that the rules were similar to what was already on the books. Now the city is harassing yard salers and small business owners. Shame on Cape Girardeau. If I were thinking of opening a small business today, I would think more than twice about investing in the area.

Need local help

WHY AREN'T our local law enforcement agencies signing up for ICE's volunteer program, which allows them to become certified to detain and arrest illegal immigrants? Section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act funds a four-week training course. The feds let illegal immigration get out of control, and they can't fix the problem without local help.

Trail safety

WHAT AN asset to Cape Girardeau is the walking trail. It is well-planned and well-maintained. Unfortunately, the majority of walkers have legitimate complaints and concerns about their safety while on the trail. Many serious bikers are using this path to hone their speed records, disregarding the safety of people who are jogging or walking. These bikers give no warning call when approaching from behind, and they pass at incredibly unsafe speeds. I have almost been knocked down by bikers coming around blind curves on the walkway. Is there a way we can remedy this situation? I know several people who have found a different place to exercise simply because of safety concerns. Anyone have any suggestions?