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UNCALLED FOR
I found the article “Future doctors tour Springfield” interesting but felt the “mostly slim” description to be a little snarky and uncalled for (July 21). Dean Olsen could have said “smartly dressed, smiling, energetic and attentive.” He could have mentioned most were brunette or only one person showed up in jeans.
Patricia J. Johnson
Sherman
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PROTECT HORSES
Scott Reeder needs to research where horse meat really comes from (“Horsing around,” July 21). Based on Reeder’s thoughts, he would support slaughter of cats and dogs for food as they do in other countries. This is something most Americans find appalling, and many are active in saving the animals from slaughter. America has plenty of meat sources without taking to slaughtering more species.
Reeder apparently doesn’t know where the horses for meat would come from. They wouldn’t all be old horses no one wants.
Wild horses are rounded up by helicopter by the Bureau of Land Management, despite objections from local officials, governors and facts showing the horses are not a danger to the ecology of their homelands. These roundups are done during foaling season and are inhumane. Many horses are injured, some killed, foals separated from their mothers and then confined to holding pens. Some of the horses remain in the pens for years and suffer.
What does the Bureau of Land Management do after removing the horses from their homes? They allow ranchers to graze their cattle and sheep on our public lands. Sheep destroy the ecosystem, not the horses.
If horse slaughter was allowed in the United States again, this cruel practice would only increase.
MaryAnn Brownlow
Springfield
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OLD SYSTEMS
I noticed Bob Immel’s letter stating Ninth Street needs help (July 21). Progression has never been great on Ninth Street because it is more difficult to provide good progression on two-way streets. However, it appears to me the downtown signal system has failed completely or is subject to frequent problems by the number of intersections out of step, disrupting normally good progression on one-way streets. That system is in the range of 20 years old, and the master computer could be subject to failure.
The progression on Ninth Street will vary during the day or night according to whether it is on one of the 80-second cycles (AM peak, PM peak or off-peak) or the 60-second overnight program. It is highly possible the progression has degraded on Ninth Street or other streets due to failure of the master computer or equipment at the individual intersections.
Tyre W. Rees
Springfield
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THANKS, KIDZEUM
My two grade schoolers have been lucky enough to partake in the Kidzeum summer camp, and it’s been incredible (“Kidzeum kids plant milkweed,” July 14). The staff ensures that everyone is safe, happy and healthy. They really have gone above and beyond to ensure every child at the camp has the opportunity to learn at their level. From Morse code and creating their own electric circuits to pollinator gardens and art projects, I’ve loved hearing about everything my children have learned at Kidzeum this summer.
Amber Temerity Lozzi
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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BAD FOR BUSINESS
When CAT made glowing statements in 2015, Bruce Rauner was governor (“CAT’s Illinois departure erodes public trust,” July 21). JB Pritzker is governor now and has spent his administration burnishing his anti-business bona fides.
Occam’s razor is the principle that the best answer to a problem is generally the simplest one. Democrat governors are bad for business.
Ted Harvatin
Springfield
This article appears in Big brother is watching, even in Springfield.
