Speak Out 12/2/05

Biased comments

IN REGARD to the article about Oran adding a third police officer: Some thoughts should have been neglected. Your remarks about how the town is used to a more relaxed enforcement was uncalled for. Over the past few months Southeast Missouri has heard this statement over and over. You're beating a dead horse and adding fuel to a fire that needs to burn out. I agree that getting a third cop is news, but the article could have been written without throwing in those biased comments. Let it rest.

Lots of sand prairie

THE PRAIRIE grass southeast of Benton, Mo., is pretty. And it's spreading up and down the highway, in road ditches, to unused fields and to places that used to be yards. I never knew it was called sand prairie. I just thought it was prairie grass. And there's lots of it.

Wrong message

I THINK the comics should be funny, not political like "Funky Winkerbean." I don't think it's right when a comic defends pornographic cartoons. I don't think people realize what some of those cartoon books are like. Comics can send messages that children might not understand.

Lots of training

I WAS a Marine over 50 years ago. After three months training in boot camp, I was a fighting machine. We've been trying to train the Iraqis for two or three years, and they still can't defend themselves. Is it they don't even want to, or do they want us to do it for them?

Check bus lights

SCHOOL BUS drivers need to check the lights on their buses before they make their runs. Today I saw a bus whose yellow flashing lights were not flashing and its stop sign was not coming out with the red lights flashing. This could be dangerous for the kids getting on and off the school buses.

Too many officers

WHEN HOWARD Stevens was chief of police in Oran, I saw him several times every day and night patrolling the streets. Since Marc Tragessor took over, I have not seen my side of town patrolled at all. I do not believe the town needs three full-time officers. Stevens handled the job fine with himself and one officer. This is not a bad little town. Several Scott County sheriff's deputies live in and around town. If the new chief needs assistance, I am sure the sheriff's department and highway patrol would gladly assist. Oran is no different than anyplace else and certainly not above the law, but there is not that much crime going on in town. We do not need a bigger police force. We need a chief who can handle the job.

Cutting-edge school

AURORA MEYER and Southeast Missourian photographers are doing an awesome job calling attention to the exciting learning experiences and cutting-edge innovations at Notre Dame Regional High School. Thank you so much.