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At last, Avalon is razed
I just wanted to say "thank you" to the powers-that-be that got the old Avalon Theatre in south St. Louis torn down. It wasn't just an awful eyesore, but it was dangerous too. The roof had caved in. It was a real mess. It served no purpose. Thank you again for all involved in cleaning up South Kingshighway. Keep up the great work. Long live south St. Louis.
South County businesses failing
All us South Countians should wonder what is happening to the heart of South County. A bar that just opened recently closed. A Chevrolet dealership is closed. Most of the shopping area around Kmart is closed down. The Dairy Queen has just closed down. Wendy's and an oil place closed down. What is our political person doing about this? If this keeps going, maybe South County mall will be next, like Crestwood. Why don't you call your congressmen or senators for the state of Missouri and find out what is going on to the heart of South County?
Kingshighway gridlocked
What do our St. Louis city and St. Louis County representatives do? This is crazy. This is the umpteenth time I've headed south on Kingshighway from Forest Park and it's gridlocked. Yet when they re-did Highway 40 they said they did not need to add lanes. I guess it's because none of them were ever stuck in gridlock. Did they do enough traffic studies? Now they're acknowledging they need to add some lanes on I-44 and I-270. Is MoDOT even being monitored by anyone? Who would allow the contractors to inspect themselves? That's how the inspecting was done during the reconstruction project for I-64. Oh, my gosh.
Firefighters: Keep your kids out
I would like to know who these St. Louis firefighters think they are that they can take over our schools out here in the county. If you're so concerned about your children, why don't you change your job and become firefighters in the county? Or give some of your benefits up that you've got so maybe they can get decent schools in the city. But don't think you're going to come out here and strongarm us into taking your kids if we can't get our own kids into schools out here in St. Louis County. We pay our taxes. We've got good school districts. If you're so concerned, fight city hall. But don't try to act like Gestapos that you're going to come out here and send your kids here and maybe overcrowd our schools out here.
Don't spend on Arch grounds
On the 9 o'clock news they're talking about rearranging the Arch grounds. St. Louis doesn't have a whole lot of money. They need law enforcement, firefighters, improvements in education. Somebody ought to have something to say about priorities. Why do we need to do that now when money is so tight?
No purpose for Mehville auditorium
What is the purpose of the proposed Mehlville auditorium? A 525-seat capacity seems awfully small considering the size of the school district and also of that particular school. If it is for the school activities, it is certainly small. If it is for the general public use for school meetings and so forth, look at the Jan. 19 attendance of approximately 50 people for the free full-day kindergarten meeting. Also, the $6 million is another Mehlville school board meeting pie-in-the-sky figure.
Parkway shouldn't cut staff
I am very disappointed to learn of Parkway's very shortsighted agenda to save money once again by eliminating teaching staff, assistants and others. Some high schools have TVs in the lunch room. Some have cardio machines for a required gym class when it's too cold to walk outside. What happened to team sports in gym glass? How much do cardio machines cost? How many different lunches are offered — like a regular meal, a salad bar, a guest restaurant? There must be three to four different types of meals that are served for lunches at most of the high schools, and two to three at the middle schools. There has to be a way to get back to basics and save the teaching staff. Look for other things to eliminate.
Post a guard during hunt
There is an entrance to Klamberg Woods at the end of Oakwood Farms Lane in Ballwin. Residents walk and run in Klamberg Woods, even in the winter. The Missouri Department of Conservation better post a guard during the hunt to ensure citizens' safety.
Firefighters: Keep your kids out
I would like to know who these St. Louis firefighters think they are that they can take over our schools out here in the county. If you're so concerned about your children, why don't you change your job and become firefighters in the county? Or give some of your benefits up that you've got so maybe they can get decent schools in the city. But don't think you're going to come out here and strongarm us into taking your kids if we can't get our own kids into schools out here in St. Louis County. We pay our taxes. We've got good school districts. If you're so concerned, fight city hall. But don't try to act like Gestapos that you're going to come out here and send your kids here and maybe overcrowd our schools out here.
Don't spend on Arch grounds
On the 9 o'clock news they're talking about rearranging the Arch grounds. St. Louis doesn't have a whole lot of money. They need law enforcement, firefighters, improvements in education. Somebody ought to have something to say about priorities. Why do we need to do that now when money is so tight?
