SPEAKOUT

Streets are cleared ...

Just want to say a big thank you to Harry Salazar and his city street crew who got the city streets cleaned of the recent snow. They wasted no time in getting the job done. We sure thank you, and keep up the good work.

... Streets aren't cleared

UNTIL recently, until this new city manager change, we had the roads cleaned, sanded by the time kids were up ready to go to school, people up ready to go to work. Today, it's about noon. No trucks out that I can see, no sand out in the areas outside downtown. I guess we're back to the good old days. The theory was, let the fender benders roll. People can pay for them. The city's not going to pay to sand the streets.

Thanks to Scott City crew

I WOULD just like to publicly commend the Scott City road crew for the most excellent job that they did on our roads during the recent snowstorm. The roads were great. What else can I say? You did a great job, guys, and we of the community all thank you.

Cable changes are good

I'VE SEEN all the controversy in the paper about TCI taking WGN off the air. As a person who lived in Chicago for the last six years and a Bulls fan, if that's the only thing that WGN provides -- and as far as I can tell, it is, because all the movies on it are bad -- I was really happy to see WGN go. I'm happy that we have the Cartoon Network. Unfortunately, it seems that there isn't anybody else, evidently, who's happy about that, as I don't see any evidence of that in the paper. But I think TCI should know that I think the switch has been great.

What's happened?

I WAS just wondering what in the world happened to the cable television. All I can get is cartoons. Land's sake, I'm in my 70s, and I sure don't enjoy those old cartoons. I don't understand what in the world that happened. I don't want television like that. Why can't they bring back some good movies again?

Auto insurance commission?

I HOPE you don't mind, Speak Out, that I have a question that I can't find an answer to. Can anybody tell me what the purpose is of the state Automobile Insurance Commission? I have no idea what they do. If anybody can tell, I certainly would be appreciative.

REPLY: While there are dozens and dozens of state agencies, boards and commissions, there doesn't appear to be a state Automobile Insurance Commission. Missouri's Department of Insurance is divided into four divisions: Financial Regulation, Market Regulation, Consumer Affairs and Resource Administration. Questions or complaints about auto insurance should be directed to the department's consumer hotline: 1-800-726-7390.