Speak Out 4/2/05

Canine souvenirs

I LIVE in Scott City. I'm so tired of my neighbor's dogs coming into my yard and leaving their souvenirs. Please consider your neighbors. If I want dog doo in my yard, I'd get my own dog.

Smoking choices

IF YOU don't like the smoke, don't go to restaurants that permit smoking. It's as simple as that. Go to restaurants that don't allow smoking. I don't go to a restaurant that doesn't allow smoking. The choice is yours.

Hidden newspaper

I ENJOY Jon Rust's column each Monday. Recently he mentioned a hidden Southeast Missourian newspaper in one of the murals on the floodwall. We took his challenge to find it, and we did. We encourage others to go look at the beautifully painted murals depicting the history of Cape Girardeau. While there, find the hidden Southeast Missourian. I think everyone will enjoy it.

Amazing sight

I SAW an amazing thing today. I saw some prisoners picking up trash at the Scott City exit. That is amazing. The least they could do is help out and do something for the community.

Fountain donations

YEARS AGO, Southeast Missouri State University received a license for a public radio station, KRCU. At the time, it committed itself to financial support of that station but has increasingly backed away from that support and increasingly is turning to the public through fund raising to support it. That station has great educational benefits. The Houck Field House fountains have little or none. I suggest the university use state funds to support the radio station and ask the public to build the fountains.

No-smoking only

I AGREE that we need to restrict all smoking in restaurants and public places in Cape Girardeau. I only support restaurants that are non-smoking facilities.

Litter perspective

ANOTHER LITTER perspective: There is a lot of litter on all the roadsides. Maybe the groups who hold walks to raise money could do pick-up trash walks instead of just walking. How many of the people who are complaining about the trash along the side of the road don't put their grocery carts back where they belong? Children and young folks follow examples they see. So perhaps the parents and grandparents should be aware of what they are doing to shelter their children.

Loss of control

MY CHILD has an excellent teacher at Central Middle School, but I believe the administration has lost control. Until that changes, there will be problems there.

Road spending

WHY DOES the Missouri Department of Transportation wait until the last minute to fix something that's been going on for weeks or months? When MoDOT finally fixes the problem, it costs twice as much. I'm talking about Center Junction and the on-ramp to southbound Interstate 55. Guardrails have been falling off for several weeks, and the area between the guardrail and the concrete is falling off. Why can't we expect better management of our money when it comes to roads?

Making up snow days

CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES don't make up school snow days. Non-certified employees do. There are other districts that do the same thing. Teachers are on a contract and will make up those snow days when the kids make them up. But if they're not made up by the kids, then we don't make them up, because extra days are built in the contract. We're getting paid for days that we don't have to work. The state only requires a certain number. The Cape Girardeau School District requires more than that. So that's why those aren't made up.

Pleasant experience

I JUST dealt with Shirley at the Cape Girardeau County recorder's office. Shirley was knowledgeable, friendly, courteous, extremely efficient and made dealing with the recorder's office more pleasurable. We need more people like her working for Cape Girardeau County.

Cut the fat

IF MATT Blunt wants to trim the fat off of welfare and Missouri Medicaid, he should start with the drunks, alcoholics and drug addicts who wait for their checks to roll in on the first of each month. Then it is party time. Mind you, $579 a month for these parasites doesn't last long. Their money and good times soon run out, and they're left with shakes and tremors. Then they check into a hospital for detox, paid by our tax dollars through Missouri Medicaid. And they enter the Gibson Center, also paid by our taxpaying dollars through Missouri Medicaid. By this time, they're shipshape and ready for the first of the month to roll around once again, and it's business as usual -- all at taxpayers' expense. If you are as appalled as I am, contact your legislators and state officials. Let's cut the fat now.

Wholesome place

IS Southern Illinois University really that good of a school? I was always under the impression it was a party school. If you want your children in a place with fairly wholesome values, I would think Southeast Missouri University would be the place to be. Plus I would think they would get a decent enough education.

Reasonable fines

I THINK a $250 fine is plenty for littering. On a second offense, it should be a $250 fine plus cleaning up part of the highway. But I don't think fines should be more than people can pay. My sons are not lucky enough to have jobs that pay enough for large fines.

Flapping mailbox doors

I HAVE a neighbor who has a roadside mailbox that has two openings, one in the front for the mail carrier to put the mail in and one in the back for the owner to retrieve the mail without having to step out into the street. Four out of six delivery days a week, either one or both of these door flaps are hanging open, leaving all of the mail exposed and accessible. Has anyone ever heard of identity theft?