Monday, Nov. 02, 2009

Sound-off 11/2

Better informed now

While some readers of the Belleville News- Democrat tire of stories on Tamms, I like the knowledge. Not all prisoners should be there; not all are murderers. You get locked up in solitary, see what you would do to get attention, especially if your crime does not fit the time. Yes, I feel sorry for the guards. It takes one heck of a person to have a job such as this. Had it not been for the Belleville News-Democrat, regular folks like me would not have known about Tamms. The paper does a superb job of informing the public.

Call for help from 911

We, the employees of St. Clair County dispatch, are tired of being overworked and treated unfairly, of working in an understaffed emergency dispatch center and of being threatened with our jobs for carrying our cell phones into our workplace in case of emergencies. We're proud of our jobs as emergency dispatchers, which should be bringing us pride and glory instead of stress and hardship. Be aware, folks, your 911 center is seriously understaffed, leaving the public at risk of not being answered in a timely manner or not at all. We did not want to resort to the news media, but when we take these problems to our superiors, yet nothing is done.

Golden rule forgotten

I agree completely with the letter writer's complaints about the noise and chaos generated by McKendree University. Supposedly, they are a Christian university. Guess they're ignoring the part about "Love they neighbor as thyself" and "Do unto others as you would have done to you."

Face backs on Obama

OK, America, it's time to wake up and see what's really going on. I can't believe anyone can support a man making such radical changes to our country. Look at his track record: ACORN, Obama's youth brigade, socialized medicine, non-support for our troops, talking to our youth without parental consent, trying to shut down Fox News because he doesn't like the criticism. What's next? Are we going to be arrested for speaking our minds? He's trying to take away our freedom and make himself our king. Let's unite and stand up before it's too late.

Welcome back, Mac

I want to welcome Mark McGwire back with open arms. In spite of what he might have done with steroids, let's throw away the past and welcome him back. He was a good player, and I know he is going to be a wonderful hitting coach. So to all the people who are bashing him, just shut up and leave him alone. Let him come back in peace.

St. Louis will be sorry

St. Louis residents, please do not pass the no-smoking bill. You'll have high taxes, have to smoke outside in the cold weather and will lose business just like the state of Illinois is doing. Please, do not pass the smoking ban.

Girls get short shrift

I noticed in the article regarding the new Mascoutah school that the superintendent says that construction is underway for the softball and baseball fields and temporary parking lot. Unless this was a quote from last year, I think you need to re-interview him because it's been decided to make the girls' softball field into a parking lot. The girls are once again being left out of high school athletics.

Thanks, Missouri

It's good to see that the Velda Rumfelt jury did what Illinois couldn't do in keeping Gregory Bowman from our women. St. Clair County Judge Richard Aguirre, who freed Bowman, should hang his head in shame. This was cut short in 2007 by former Belleville Chief James Rokita in his zealous pursuit of justice by providing Missouri authorities with the convicting DNA evidence. Our blue state is in a sad state of affairs financially and in dealing with murderers. Our red neighbor state, Missouri, got the job done.

Red card for refs

The recent soccer game between Belleville East and O'Fallon is a black eye for all high school sports. With the officials so biased, it eliminated the competition factor. You'd think we'd have the best officials for a game like this, but sadly we did not. How convenient that for the first time the horn didn't work at the end of this game, and it favored O'Fallon. Maybe the IHSA should look into this game as it did the MetroEast Lutheran soccer game.

Think of pets

Winter is coming. Please make sure your outdoor pets are warm enough. Also, please do not pollute the air anymore by burning leaves. Just cut them up; they're good for the lawns. I stopped burning leaves 25 years ago, and my lawn looks just fine.

Missed this story

I'm curious as to why the News-Democrat is not covering Amy Bielke, the 31-year old who is facing her seventh DUI charge and has yet to spend a day in jail. She's had four DUIs since May 2008. Does it have anything to do with her last name? Channel 4 has had two stories on her, and the St. Louis Post- Dispatch has covered this story, but I've yet to see anything in the News- Democrat.

No comparison

There's a big difference between what President Bill Clinton and what Sen. John Ensign did. Clinton lied under oath to a grand jury, which is against the law. Ensign did not. What a person does behind closed doors is his own business, but possibly a little different if the doors are on the Oval Office.

A word of advice

Who at the Belleville News-Democrat decided that Jennifer Bowen was any kind of parenting expert? That woman has such a negative, sarcastic attitude. She does nothing but whine and complain. If you want to offer your readers a parenting column, please find someone who is articulate, caring and positive.

Pity the poor deers

Recent photos of the hunter killing a defenseless deer are disgusting. The hunter deserves no recognition for his slaughter of a defenseless animal. I'm sure there are many deer who are wounded and not found who die a cruel and painful death caused by the hunter's weapon of destruction. Get a life, Mr. Hunter. You should be ashamed.

The value of hunting

I'd like to comment on those who think deer hunting is disgusting and unnecessary. If you read the paper on Oct. 26, deer vehicle collisions are down because of hunters like us, keeping the herd down and providing meat for our families. My two sons had their first season out deer hunting, and it was successful. I'm proud of them, and as their mother, also a hunter, I believe these youngsters deserve the right to enjoy this experience of the sport of hunting. So, Belleville News-Democrat, please continue to post this in the Sports section. Good luck to all deer hunters and a successful season.

Phenomenal also

The Racial Harmony group has paid tribute to phenomenal women. When does the group plan to pay tribute to phenomenal men? I believe this group fosters equality and togetherness, so why single out women? Will there be a separate, but equal, tribute to men?

Blame it on warming

The plight of local farmers having a difficult time harvesting their crops is just another example of global warming. We are more that 8 inches above normal yearly rainfall. In addition, 10 of the last 12 years have been the warmest on record in the Arctic and Antarctic, endangering polar bears and penguins. The glacier that covers Greenland has shrunk almost 30 percent. When it's gone, New York City will be under water. In the meantime, members of the Flat Earth Society can debate this all they want. They'll find out that what we've been telling them is true.

A worthwhile service

I hope Collinsville city leaders rethink keeping the free tree limb pick-up service. If this service is eliminated, it will be to the detriment of the city. The tree service is invaluable because it encourages residents to keep their yards neat and trim. How about offering residents a drop-off spot where they can unload tree limbs? This would eliminate the cost of city workers having to do this.

Why Ford's better

Regarding the recent articles on automakers and how well Ford is doing, I believe this is because Ford didn't take any bailout money from the government. Company executives put their heads together and got their company turned around. My opinion is that within the next five years, you won't see General Motors around. They took too much government money expecting payouts and don't have the top people to turn the company around. It just shows that government help and the government runnings things doesn't work.

Enforce burning ban

I'd like to know why leaf burning is banned in Collinsville. I live on Chapel Drive near Chesapeake Lane, and someone is continually burning leaves here, yet the police seem to do nothing about it.

Broadcast rules

Opinion writer Vicky Deutsch displays a complete misunderstanding of the radio broadcast industry. Radio time is not given to Rush Limbaugh. American companies who hire workers, sell goods or services and make a profit so they can stay in business purchase broadcast time. If citizens listen, enjoy the program and buy the products, the program stays on the air. We call that capitalism. Liberal radio is free to employ the same methods. The alternative, cynically called the "fairness doctrine", occurs in Cuba and Venezuela where government dicates what programs you hear.

More to the story

The article, "East St. Louis officials accused of racism" involving the suit filed by Della Murphy and Wyatt Frazier omitted an important fact. When Frazier recommended the white candidate for police chief, he forgot to say that he demanded a $60,000 pay increase. If this weren't ridiculous enough with East St. Louis' money problems, Frazier wanted to appoint himself to a job he created, safety director, with a salary of approximately $100,000. The color white had nothing to do with the negative decision; the color green caused the no vote.

Ignore this source

The News-Democrat needs to stop quoting Carl Officer. He was absolutely the worst mayor ever in East St. Louis. In all of his newfound wisdom, he should have used it when he was mayor for all those fruitless years. We do understand the plot and conspiracy regarding his useless comments. It's obvious he has set a new goal.

Police criticized

Doesn't the Belleville Police force have anything more important to do than to evict a homeless woman from an abandoned house? She was no threat to them.

Troopers and travel

I thought the state of Illinois was in dire financial straits. What purpose was there to send numerous state troopers to Poland on the taxpayers' tab? The state police director, Jonathon Monken, got to go on this all-expenses paid vacation.

Slowed, not stopped

Glad the STAR bond train has slowed down, but it's probably only a matter of time until the developer gets what he wants.