Speak Out 9/19/10

Cemetery concern

I read the article about the rock quarry coming to Fruitland. At one time there was a cemetery there, and that was a Cherokee burial ground. The proper people need to be notified about that. I didn't know if people were aware of that. We don't need to desecrate any burial grounds or cemetery.

Heavy traffic

I quote the Missourian: "According to the public disclosure form, the casino will bring 1 million visitors each year though city officials have said not enough to create traffic problems." Give me a break.

Pay off first

MAYOR Harry Rediger approves of a casino being built in Cape Girardeau and wants to use the casino money to buy more things instead of paying for repairs to the Cape Central Pool and paying off the water park and other things in the infrastructure. These are things we won't have money to keep up in the future. Doesn't anyone in government think before spending? Think about what's already here and pay for it first.

Obama looks good

PRESIDENT Obama looks pretty good to me. Gas is $2 a gallon cheaper than it was two years ago when President Bush was in office. Also, there are more businesses putting people back to work. I saw in the paper that the biodiesel plant in Lilbourn has reopened. Give the guy a chance. He's only been in office about 20 months.

Disgusting claim

THE Sept. 5 op-ed by Jack Knowlan Sr. said he will always believe both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush started wars because it was believed that wars would help the economy. The suggestion that either one of those presidents, or President Clinton for that matter, sent good American soldiers to their deaths for business is disgusting. Knowlan should apologize for that.

Long-distance biking

IT'S nice to hear about a couple of bicyclists doing a double century (200 miles). But keep it in perspective. That was the big thing to do many years ago, so I did one. My qualifications with no special training, other than I rode quite a lot, were I was 48 years old, female and the temperature was 102 degrees. I have friends in their mid-50s and mid-60s who have done seven or eight 200-milers. When you guys have done more than 700 miles in 59 hours as my friend has, that will be impressive -- crazy, but impressive.

Go, Pelosi

I resent the TV ads that put down Nancy Pelosi. She's worked hard. I'm proud that there's a woman as speaker of the House. She was great at raising money for Democrats. The Republican Party only wishes they had someone like that. Instead, they're stuck with someone who won't step down despite his scandals. I wish Pelosi could stay as speaker the whole time President Obama is in office.

Downtown music

I agree that people who move into the downtown area should accept the neighborhood for what it is, but to encourage Bel Air to make more noise in retaliation is wrong and counter-productive. Since when is music simply about volume? I love music and appreciate it live. But when the noise level is so loud you can't understand the words, I don't see the point.

Dogs shot

THIS is for the person who shot my beagle dogs near Jackson. I got one back with a bullet hole all the way through it. If you were any kind of man, you'd call the name on the collar. Tell me where the other one is so I can bury it. I hope you lie awake at night knowing what you took away from a 77-year-old man who loved to sit and hear the dogs run rabbits.