Broken promise
When Ray Sonnenberg went around the west end of Belleville and East St. Louis asking for money to build what was then known as the East St. Louis YMCA, he told us that our money would go to building a YMCA that we all could be proud of for the rest of our lives. We gave our money and we have used the Sonnenberg YMCA all these years and watched as it has been neglected. I know in my heart that if Sonnenberg were still alive, he would not let this closing happen. He would have done whatever was needed to keep his promise and the promise of the YMCA for us to have this wonderful pool for the rest of our lives. The executive director and the Y board should be ashamed.
Bad job, Belleville
A recent street drainage project on Michelle Drive at the end of South 38th Street in Belleville is a real fiasco. The surface storm water drain grates in the south end cul-de-sac could have been connected to subsurface piping and additional surface grates, but instead the city gouged out ditches between the driveway culverts. This looks like a drainage project in a rural area and makes street parking difficult. Drive by and look at your tax dollars at work.
Next at SWIC
I read in the paper that Elmer Kirchoff is retiring as president of Southwester Illinois College. He sounded like he didn't know who was going to replace him, but the word is out and everybody knows, it's going to be Georgia Costello. I wonder how she got that job? I guess it's not what you know, it's whom you know.
Enough light reading
Please bring back the old Belleville News-Democrat, the one that was recognized for its hard-hitting investigative journalism. I'm tired of the fluff stories such as the stories on the front page May 1 about a 10-year-old judo champion, about a retiring president of a junior college and people decorating downtown Belleville. We want investigative journalism, not fluff stories.
Can't protect governor
It's no surprise that our illustrious state Sens. Bill Haine and James Clayborne voted against the recall amendment. Clearly they are trying to protect the bumbling, inept buffoon masquerading as the governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich. While their blind and brainless loyalty is admirable, I don't believe they can block the other recall that is heading the governor's way. That would be a criminal indictment for corruption, fraud and other behavior that is also common to our local St. Clair County political leaders.
Rules of attendance
I read a very interesting article on the Belleville News-Democrat website on April 24 regarding a mother facing possible jail time for her child not being in school. I think O'Fallon High School should follow this approach. O'Fallon takes the approach if a child misses a certain number of days, they take the child off the attendance record. They do not follow up, do not contact the parent, nothing. I wish someone would explain to me, especially with a push for state funding.
The rest of the story
That was a nice series of articles April 27 about our veterans' mental health. No mention was made, however, of how Republicans in Congress have continually voted against increases for veterans care in 2001, 2004 and 2006. Letter writer Russell C. Fette should know another fact: The 75 percent increase in veterans benefits he cited from 2001 to 2007 is not nearly enough.
Annoyed by free ride
Isn't it wonderful that the Cahokia police can take their cars home? East St. Louis workers can take their trucks home and when not on the clock can use these vehicles for their personal use while their own vehicles are parked in their driveways, paying not a penny for gas. If this isn't a slap in the face to others who are struggling to keep their tanks even half full, I don't know what is.
Critical of design
On Sunday we went to see the new Holy Trinity Church. We were so surprised. I think it's one of the most obnoxious-looking churches I've ever seen. Then there was a poor disabled woman trying to get to the door, and I don't know whether she ever made it. They need to have buses to take the people from their cars to the door. At the old St. Albert's you got out of the car, took a few steps and you were in the door.
Road work update
Would someone please comment on the work being done on Illinois 157 and 13? Whoever is responsible for this work needs to let the public know what the deal is. This is going nowhere fast, and it is to the point of ridiculous.
Holy Trinity defended
I'm calling in reference to a Soundoff about accessibility at Holy Trinity Church in Fairview Heights. This person must not be a devote Catholic because if he were, he wouldn't be concerned about how far he had to go to church. After all, our Lord never complained about carrying the cross for the distance he had to. I'm sorry that this person has a problem with the church because I think it is a beautiful church, and there are more ways than one to get inside.
Energy-saving idea
I think we should take a clue from those communities that are paying people to turn in their guns for safety reasons. We should get Belleville and St. Clair County to pay people to turn in their old refrigerators and freezers in their garages with very little in them and are consuming a tremendous amount of electricity, pay them $25 or something, and just think of the money and electricity we'd save.
Cut taxes instead
President Bush announced that the economic stimulus refunds are ready to go out. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House, said she thinks we ought to do it again if this stimulates the economy. I have a better idea. Let's quit raising taxes, let's lower taxes a little. Let's make the tax cuts permanent and leave the money in everyone's pockets instead of spending million of dollars to send it back to the taxpayers.
Coverage lacking
What happened to your coverage of the Boston Marathon? You barely had any coverage in the sports page. About 20 local runners were doing the most prestigious and hard marathon, and you couldn't even put in their finishing times.
Better use of space
I'm calling regarding the Sunday paper that has the photographs sharing people's good times. Instead of wasting your good space printing pictures that readers really don't care about, you need to put in the police blotter and bring that back to the paper. Let us know what's going on in town.
Reason for the police
I am calling about the Sound-off about Marissa being invaded by State Police. The problem that brings the State Police here is our dump --oops, landfill, isn't that a prettier name? The trucks bring trash there dump garbage all over the highway, track mud all over the highway, and have caused dozens of wrecks at the landfill's intersection with Illinois 13.
Leadership needed
I would give anything to have President Reagan back in office. We have fuel costs that are absolutely through the roof, food bills going up, utility bills going up, etc. Reagan in his day cut taxes, which got the economy going again. This country needs someone who is willing to step up and do what needs to be done to help us.
Corn for food
Would you rather die from global warming or starvation? Let's get the corn out of the gasoline, the ethanol. People are starving. That's people, not polar bears.
The police parked
We do not need more police officers in the city of Belleville. We need fewer parking lots for them to hang out.
Clean up the yards
Neighborhood Watch should start with the neighbors themselves. By that I mean, are you one of the people who bought a camper, a boat or a truck for the business you run out of your home, but can't afford to store it someplace other than your front yard? Nothing, and I mean nothing, tears down the value of your neighbors' property more than one of these. The cities are good at making codes about handrails, gas, electric and height of your grass, it's about time they start adding boats, business trucks, campers, etc.
Time for picnic to go
I applaud the Catholic schools in Belleville for canceling the school parade and picnic. Last year at the public school picnic, held at the park, all of the older kids pushed in front of the lines for the rides and some parents asked them politely to please go to the back of the line, but they didn't move. Half of the people running the rides did not speak English, so they didn't care. It was very disgusting and it ruined the picnic for the children. I'm sure our school district could find a better way to end the school year.
Stop the waste
In Marissa we are going to start doing without an ambulance and move it 12 miles away to cut costs. Today while sitting on my porch reading about that in our local newspaper, a police car was sent to one of my neighbor's homes. The policeman was there for about a half hour, he didn't have the good sense to shut the car off. One of our biggest problems is government waste. That's why local governments are running out of money.
The downside of IDs
Your editorial, "IDs at the polls just good sense," is right on the money. But you must also realize that the Democrats will lose a core constituency if they do require IDs at the polls, namely dead people.
Proof of poor judgment
In a recent editorial, you say that some of the politicians think the Illinois voters can't be trusted. If you need any further proof of the fact that they cannot be trusted, look back at the last election. They re-elected Gov. Rod Blagojevich, didn't they?
Lead by example
I'm calling in regard to St. Clair County Board member Kyle McCarter. I attended two meetings in O'Fallon that he spoke at. He is asking for O'Fallon schools to return money to the taxpayers. I know he requested the county do the same. He has stated that County Board meetings last less than 17 minutes, some of them under seven minutes. I think it's time for McCarter to return the money he is getting paid by the county and stand up for what he preaches.
Enforce the codes
A letter was sent to residents of Centreville to clean property of derelict cars, debris, grass cuttings, etc., but it looks like people aren't doing it. Someone needs to go around on the streets, dead ends, and put orange stickers on cars that don't run. The code enforcement officers should look into this.
