Speak Out A 06/17/02

Trash can blues

Mayor Paul and his merry band

Of the Half-Round Table.

Have decreed my fate, because

I am strong, neat, safe and able.

The years for me have been most unkind

For I have been pitched, thrown and tossed.

But I still stand strong, My top capped,

Retrieved from strange yards, when thought lost.

For years, I have served my owners well,

The cost having been a one-time expense.

My replacements will be many, made from scarce

oil, costing many additional dollars and cents.

"Three for free" means nothing to me,

To my many owners, I must confess.

Please store me away, I will return

The day when they tire of my replacement's mess.

My identity to all, I now make known

Though by now I cannot be plainer:

I am the downtrodden, mistreated friend of the poor,

Your money-saving, stalwart, refuse container.

Poor security planning

THERE WAS something very wrong with the homeland security plan proposed by George Bush. On a Sunday talk show, Tom Ridge said there were only four people involved in the planning for homeland security. He said Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld were not involved. As far as I'm concerned, these two men are the 800-pound gorillas in the Bush administration. They both have a long history of being in powerful positions that would require that any responsible planning would include these two men. Using Ridge while ignoring Powell and Rumsfeld seems to indicate that this is a purely political ploy to get the heat off the Bush administration and is purely a cover-up for recent Bush failures.

Animal repellent

I DON'T see what all the fuss is about using trash bags in Jackson. I live in Frohna, Mo., and we have never used trash cans and don't have the ugly sight of cans being out all day long. We are considered a clean town. I put out my trash bags and sprinkle a few drops ammonia. No dog or cat comes near my bags.

No trash-bag problems

ON THE subject of not being able to put trash cans out in Jackson beginning in July, I have been putting trash bags at the curb on the morning of trash day for several years and have never had any problems with cats and dogs getting into our trash. I don't see where there will be any problem.

Rethink no trash cans

JACKSON IS a beautiful town, but that's all going to change July 1 when we have to put our trash out at the curb in bags. I don't think the people who made this rule of not using trash cans realize how many cats and dogs are running loose. The animal-control person in Jackson is going to be really busy. It didn't bother me before, because I knew my trash was in a can. Come on, board of aldermen, let's rethink this and keep our town beautiful.

They don't listen

THE REASON Cape Girardeau taxpayers who are concerned about the city's spending plans don't attend public hearings on the budget is because it doesn't do any good. Public hearings are a waste of residents' time until the city proves to the residents who show up that they are serious about the concerns the residents of this city. The River Campus was opposed, but they are going ahead with it. What good does a public hearing do except waste time?

Try using bleach

FOR THOSE people who've been calling Speak Out about using trash bags in Jackson: Get rid of the dogs that aren't supposed to be running around. Over the years I have always sprayed a little bleach in each bag when I set them out. That will usually turn the dogs away from it.

Police response

I'D LIKE to thank the Cape Girardeau Police Department for coming to the 900 and 1000 blocks of Jefferson Street.

Need help from police

THIS IS to Mike Miller, the city manager, and Morley Swingle, the prosecuting attorney. I'm so proud of the residents of Cape for speaking out against the drug problem we have in our city. I realize it's not limited to one neighborhood. It's widespread. However, I am not so proud of our law and city officials. They do not act on complaints from residents in south Cape, specifically the 1000 and 1100 blocks of South Sprigg and South Ellis. This area is riddled with dealers living with small children with no adult supervision. They brazenly deal in broad daylight. Meanwhile, the rest of us witness the destruction of our neighborhood. Many complaints have been made to the police and the city. The police drive by but hardly ever get out of the car. All we're asking is for the city to do its job, to protect and serve by enforcing the laws already on the books. We ask that the city treat our neighborhood with the same respect that they do theirs. We're a part of this city. We cannot do this alone. We need the law to do its part. Please do not leave us helpless and hopeless.

Problem sidewalk

I'M GLAD somebody finally called in and reported the poor upkeep of the new sidewalk on Hopper Road between Mount Auburn Road and Kage Road. The sidewalk is overgrown with weeds and grass. You can't walk on the sidewalk, and there are a lot of people who use it for a dog walk. They need to please pick up after the dogs, because we have kids who walk along there and come home with dog poop all over their shoes. There needs to be a poop law or something.

Poor highway upkeep

WHAT HAS happened to MoDOT? It works on highways everywhere but where it's needed. The intersection at Cape Girardeau and Jackson had been in need of repair for a few years. The potholes are deep on the side of the road. There's also a road that belongs to them next to U.S. 61 that has not been maintained. It is so rough you'll ruin tires. The gravel roads in the county are better than our major intersections. And MoDOT never mows in the median, and I think that's very important. Most states do better than Missouri.

True leaders

IF THERE were true leaders at the university, the newspapers would be filled with news of reductions in administrative personnel and voluntary pay cuts by all administrators.

Probe SEMO funds

JUST ABOUT every time I read the newspaper or watch the news on TV, I hear that SEMO University is in need of funds. They're raising tuition again and again. I feel an investigation needs to be conducted into their financial affairs. Someone from outside the area will need to conduct this or nothing will be found. Where does the money go? I challenge you to find out.

Lack of confidence

HOW CAN the Missouri Department of Transportation regain the confidence of Missouri taxpayers? I can remember when MoDOT decided it didn't have enough to finish the 15-year road plan. At the same time, those same officials were building brand new, fancy office buildings for themselves, using our tax money. I've seen them put up fancy sound barriers along the interstates around St. Louis. At the same time, they couldn't fix our roads. Go look at those roads and look at the fancy office building in Sikeston. Our roads have not been fixed, and our 15-year road plan is out of money. I don't have any confidence in MoDOT.

Bicycle safety

I'M CALLING in regard to the Speak Out comment about the bikers and walkers. It talks about the Cape LaCroix trail and how the high-speed bikes come upon kids and families walking. The comment said somebody's going to go to the hospital. That's true. But the same thing happens when the high-speed bicycles are on the highway. The bikes are going 20 mph, and the cars are going 55 mph. Somebody there's going to go to the hospital, too. Bicycles are not meant for the highways. Use common sense in both places. Have fun.