Speak Out 8/12/05

Using bags

I AM so glad the Missourian has addressed the problem of the litter caused by plastic bags. This is a concern of mine also. When I go to the grocery store, I take my own canvas bags from home and request that my groceries be put in them. If I need plastic bags, I recycle those at the grocery store the following week. Using canvas bags is a very easy way to help our environment. Give it a try.

Clever idea

I THINK the new Convention and Visitors Bureau billboards are brilliant. What a clever idea.

Fed up with GOP

THE PERSON who thinks callers complaining about government pork are frustrated Democrats couldn't be more wrong. I am a frustrated lifetime Republican who is fed up with Republicans acting like Democrats without any self-restraint on spend, spend, spend.

Sandwich update

A MESSAGE for Joe Sullivan: Peanut butter and banana sandwiches have been around long before Elvis. When I was in grade school, I took one in my lunch every Friday, and that was over 65 years ago. Try a sandwich of sliced radishes on buttered bread.

Rough crossing

WHEN IS someone going to fix the rough railroad crossing on Nash Road? I can't imagine what the crossing will be like when Nash Road is extended to Blomeyer and there is twice as much traffic. Someone is going to get hurt from a tire being blown out or worse.

Lightening up

DAVID LIMBAUGH says opponents of intelligent design should lighten up and embrace it as a criticism of the scientific theory of Darwinism and support its being taught in the public school system. Limbaugh does not understand what the fuss is all about. What the fuss is all about is the fact that intelligent design is religious theory, not rooted in provable science. If you're going to teach faith and belief as an alternative theory, whose are you going to teach? Is Limbaugh suggesting we teach all criticisms of Darwinism? Isn't the Hindu belief of reincarnation just as credible as intelligent design? Are we going to lighten up just a little, or are we going to lighten up all the way?

Isolate predators

KNOWN SEX predators are a menace to communities. Once they become known, they should never be allowed to prey upon their communities. They need to be isolated and kept in treatment centers.

What do they do?

MY WATER bill this month was estimated. I called to find why. The public works department said all the bills were estimated for that day because it was too hot to work. If it's too hot to work, what do the meter readers do for the day? I think the other taxpayers would like to know too.

Thanks for rescue

I WOULD like to say thank you again to our brave firefighters for a superb job rescuing my brother and me from the Mississippi River. They do their jobs well. Thank you again.

Wonderful dance troupe

I ATTENDED the performance at the Capaha Park bandshell Saturday. The Italian dance troupe was marvelous. Whoever came to the performance will agree with that. The troupe will be performing at 8 p.m. at Rose Theater on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. If you don't come, you'll miss a big experience.

Here's an idea

REGARDING THE Plaza Galleria: Why doesn't somebody turn it into a YMCA or city-funded teen town? That would be a good idea and certainly put the building to good use.

Bumpy streets

STREET REPAIRS are need on Mount Auburn Road between Themis Street and Hopper Road and on Perryville Road between Cape Rock Drive and Lexington Avenue. There are many potholes and bumps causing damage to my automobiles. Please fix our streets.