Learn some manners

This is to the impatient person who honked at me when I was trying to park my car at McDonald's on Fifth Street (in St. Charles). You are crude, have no manners and need to grow up and learn some.

Don't assume

There is one word in the English language that causes more frustration, causes more mistakes and misunderstanding and more trouble than any other, and that's the word "assume." People just don't seem to understand "assume."

Word usage

Scott Beck's (Jan. 4) column on poor grammar and word usage was interesting, and I'm sure there are a lot of us who can add to the list. Mine are saying "often" without the silent "t." You don't do that with "listen." Then there's "bald-faced lie," which should be "bold-faced lie." Also, there's "try and," which should be "try to." Don't say "with regards to," it's "regard to." It's "champing at the bit," not "chomping." "Quantum leap" is microscopically small, not large. Then there's "hero," which is not pronounced with a "he." And finally, there's "most all," which shouldn't need an explanation. I'd like to see others call in their word usage complaints; that way they can vent their frustration from hearing them.

Taking things too seriously

This is to the person who is so upset about people who prefer "merry Christmas" to "happy holidays." Quit taking things so seriously. By the way, you also need to get over your sensitivity about this political correctness.

Get the facts straight

This is in regard to a Jan. 18 Sound Off comment. It says something about the new strategy for figuring our taxes and that we need to fire Michelle McBride. Michelle McBride has nothing to do with figuring the taxes. She is our collector. All she does is collect the money. I wish you people would get your story straight before you start mouthing off.

Wynn misses the point

I was calling about (St. Charles County Councilman) Paul Wynn not being in the country to represent the people of the Fourth District. He says in your article that he thinks he can represent people from Afghanistan, but when he's not here to vote on matters before the County Council, then the people of the Fourth District are not being represented because they have no vote. That's the way democracy works, and he's missing that point.

Higher assessment

With property values going down, how come the assessor in St. Charles County raised my and other people's value of their homes by a considerable amount of money, anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000?