Muscatine

I agree...we got a new mail lady...we went from having our mail by 10:30 to getting at around 5:30....and ive watched our maillady stand at her truck and talk on her phone one day for almost 20 minutes....then when she did step away from her truck she continued to talk while she delivered mail

and yeah your right about CSB its been there ever since i could remember...its just mind boggling

BB asked this: "So TLOU, where are all your postive and local-based posts at? Have you submitted a subject to discuss? Go for it!"  Thanks buddy...I'll take the bait! 

  I'll begin with answering gta's post above.  O'Brien's a nice enough guy... but my personal feelings are that the world we are now presented with is different.  I'm coming up on my 50th birthday... and I don't understand what our youth & families are dealing with today.  How can an 80 something know?  Dawnese is a very nice person.  She has her finger on the pulse of what is happening in the real world & has the back-bone & strrength to stand up for her beliefs.  Talk to her about politics... and make your own decision.  I think you'll be impressed.

  Graffitti task force... I'm right there with you!  VICTIMS cleaning up after punks is NOT OK!    Many people have suggested to make the parolees responsible for the clean-up.  They had the right idea!  I could care less if they were "caught" doing it on their own... if they are gang-affilliated; they are guilty!  If they aren't gang-affiliated, let's give them a reason to be pissed off!  Why stop at parolees?  Why not have the people doing time go out, in their orange suits, & clean it up? 

  The gang problem:  we are on different pages.  There have been a couple of different circumstances that I have witnessed.  I can attest that our Police Force is working hard to keep our gang participation @ a minimum. 

  1)  I got off work late one evening.  I drove down Mulberry by that bar by Drugtown.  There were a bunch of very obvious gang-bangers in front of that bar...using signs & dressed to the hilt.  As I slowed down, I saw several police cars & officers placed in strategic places.  I pulled over & watched as 2 officers got out of their car & walked down the opposite side of the street.  "Said" gang members crossed the street & in no time went into the bar.  The officers went back to their car...but continued to circle.  I  went home feeling very safe.  Were they on cell phones?  I don't know, I don't care.  They were there.

  2)  I went to the Kum & Go on Cedar Street for a soda.  I was @ the check out counter & the man in front of me had tattoos.  One arm said, "Latin", the other arm said, "Kings".  I admit, I wanted to kick him in the ass.  He left, I left.  I got in my car & my windows were down.  A car pulled in next to me.  A kid jumped out & then said to the driver, "Hey man, they know who I am; I gotta go!"  I looked over & looked back.  The tattooed guy was on a cell & next thing you know a few others were joining him.  I looked around & guess what?  Again... our officers were strategically placed, very obvious.  They broke up & I left.

  Get off their backs.  They have a hell of a job to do to protect us from these punks.  I believe in them & will do everything in my power to support them. 

  Are we gonna let a bunch of punks take over our precious children & our beautiful town?  HELL NO!   

Get off their backs.  They have a hell of a job to do to protect us from these punks.  I believe in them & will do everything in my power to support them.

My point is this when i leave for work a;ll u ever see are cops in parking lots on cell phones.....that would be a great time to be watching out for gang members tagging things...... they are trying to outlaw driving and talking on cell phones....why because its a distraction....u cant go by a cop anymore without seeing one on a cell......so what is going unnoticed when they ride around all day in a patrol car on a phone....heres a good example...2 weeks ago i took my bike out...i had a cop behind me on a cell phone...i turned off and he went on...no big deal...when i got home i parked my bike in the drive and walked over to my truck for something....when i turned around to walk back i noticed the plates on my bike were expired...i thought it was by 1 day til i went to renew them my plates had expired over a year ago......but the cop didnt notice because he was too busy driving and talking on the phone....he didnt notice that my sticker said 08 instead of 09......we dont pay our cops to talk on the phone...im guessing that had he not been distracted by the phone there would have been a 99 percent chance he would have noticed...its hard enogh to do 2 things at once ...even harder to do 3

  "heres a good example...2 weeks ago i took my bike out...i had a cop behind me on a cell phone...i turned off and he went on...no big deal...when i got home i parked my bike in the drive and walked over to my truck for something....when i turned around to walk back i noticed the plates on my bike were expired...i thought it was by 1 day til i went to renew them my plates had expired over a year ago......but the cop didnt notice because he was too busy driving and talking on the phone....he didnt notice that my sticker said 08 instead of 09......we dont pay our cops to talk on the phone...im guessing that had he not been distracted by the phone there would have been a 99 percent chance he would have noticed...its hard enogh to do 2 things at once ...even harder to do 3"

  "Have you thought about this, gta?  Maybe he was on his cell checking your plates & decided to not make it a big deal?"  If I were the cop, I'd have checked out your number, asked if there were any "outstandings" & if there were not... gone on to bigger & better "fish to fry", if you will! 

  I'm a state employee & I do personal business @ work.  Not all the time, but ocassionally. I'm paid very well, but if anyone asked me to put my life on the line by wearing a uniform; I'd say, HELL NO! & so would my husband.  There are abuse cases in any line of work, including our peace officers.  But, when push comes to shove & I need to call 911, I know who is in my corner.  I could tell you story upon story about how our own police department has been there & protected my family.  My own sister works for a police dept. outside of Muscatine & I hear what they have to put up with.  

  It's a hard job & one that isn't appreciated  by many.  A uniform is a target & I appreciate that uniform & the "person" behind that badge.  Some may take it for granted; but the majority don't.  They chose this profession in a very altrustic way.  Just 2 weeks ago, I was at the emergency room with a loved one & needed an officer of the law.  He wasn't on his cell.  He was present & supportive & "with us".  His knowledge & patience helped all of us.  We were so blessed to have him with us.  He calmed us down & helped us through a very difficult situation because of his training & expertise.  I thank God that He was there.  Don't judge all of our officers because of a bad experience.  Judge the individual, gta.  There are a lot of people on this board that hate me...I really piss them off & hear from them.  I don't care.  I am who I am & I believe in our police dept.