Freedom

I do not believe motorcyclists should be forced to wear helmets and I do not believe drivers should be forced to wear seat belts. This is just another case of the government interfering in people’s private lives where they should not be.

Lost

Kudos to the person who wanted arrows going to the garage sale. People, please give us a clue in the paper where you are located. That would be the biggest benefit with garage sale season in full swing right now. I drove 20 minutes trying to find one.

A light hand

I have a concern on our justice system, especially in our rural areas. I read about a manslaughter charge in Gower, Mo., and the person gets probation for taking another life. In Nodaway County, a father was stabbed to death and that person gets voluntary manslaughter. Very alarming to see this kind of justice.

Losing hand

The city approved a transfer of $14,730 from the riverfront gaming fund to the special allocation fund to cover legal costs associated with The Commons development. I voted when we had that up for vote that the money from the gaming would be going to the schools. So now we have the schools saying they need more money and we’re giving the money from the gaming fund to cover legal costs for the The Commons development?

Editor’s note: The state’s 21 percent tax on riverboat casino revenue goes toward education; since 1994 the city has received a share of an additional $2 per patron admission fee, which provides money for municipal uses.

Tough on kids

I wanted to express my opinion about the school district’s choices. I know they are trying to do what’s right but they have alienated so many people, especially when it comes to the school transfers. It is not fair for a child who has attended a school since before preschool with one more year to go to have to move to a different school.

Sticky fingers

Well, the price of scrap metal must be up. You can’t have anything laying around in your backyard or the thieves will carry it away. I just thought I would pass the warning along.

Our poor

I would just like to say bless all of the members of the St. Joe church who took the 800 mile “mission of love” trip to Kentucky for the poor people and to the people who donated. This proves that we have poor people in the United States who we need to take care of instead of shipping all we do overseas. We need to think of our own people first.