Speak Out 9/16/05

No smile in Chaffee

THE CHAFFEE logo says, "Chaffee, City With a Smile!" I'm not smiling. On Sept. 7, I called city hall about a stray cat. The animal-control officer came that afternoon and knocked loudly but left before I could get to the door. The next morning, the officer came to the house, and that afternoon he left a live trap. He said if I caught the cat I should call the police department at night or city hall during the day. About 8:15 p.m. the trap went off, and I called the police dispatcher. An hour later I called back, and the dispatcher bit my head off, saying the animal-control officer was busy and would be out the next morning. I didn't want the cat sitting in the yard when the sun came up. By 9:30 a.m. the next day no one had come, so I took the cage and the cat to city hall and told the city clerk. I won't be calling again. The strays can just run loose.

Outlaw pit bulls

I AM wondering what it will take for Jackson officials to outlaw pit bulls inside the city limits. An elderly man on Highland Drive was attacked recently and has to have surgery because of his injuries. The dog's owner received a $50 fine. The dogs are still in the same fenced yard. They could dig out again. My neighbors won't walk in the neighborhood because they are afraid of the dogs. Something needs to be done before the dogs maim or kill someone.

Caught in the act

I LIVE in Jackson and have a neighbor who continues to let her dogs use my front yard as their bathroom. She is young and not disabled, so I know she could come over and clean it up. I have called the city about this and was told that the police would have to catch the dog doing it before anyone could write a citation. I don't think that is right.

Where's the payoff?

MISSOURI'S pro-business climate is indeed paying off -- for business. But what about the rest of us poor schmucks?

Mascot spirit

THIS IS in regard to the painting of Southeast Missouri State University's Redhawk mascot on the off-ramps of Interstate 55. Thank you. They're awesome. What a great job those students did. It was great to see Dane Huckzel and his crew of Ryan Lane and Jessica Davis working on the ramps. It's awesome to see such great school spirit. Let's all embrace the new mascot.