Trash on KC highways, Tyrann Mathieu and backing Chief Smith

Trashy trips

Are you thinking of saving a little money this year because of inflation? Well, look no farther than all the highways and byways of our metropolitan area.

You need cups for your kitchen? I think most highways have many cups you can choose from — plastic, Styrofoam and paper. I’ve even seen popular logos printed right on the cups, surely including one of your family’s favorites.

You need a mattress? Interstate 70 has lots.

Wait, there is more. Are you thinking about remodeling your bathroom? I’ve seen a few toilets on eastbound Interstate 435. I was needing end tables for my family room: Voila, U.S. 69 had a few to choose from. They aren’t perfect, but they’re functional. If you shop at Aldi and need shopping bags, I think I saw a few thousand on northbound Interstate 29.

They say one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, but not when the garbage is on the sides of all the highways.

You can keep America beautiful by getting a group together to pick up trash: Call the Kansas Department of Transportation at 785-296-3881 or go to its Adopt-A-Highway program webpage. Or call the Missouri Department of Transportation at 888-275-6636 or visit its Adopt-A-Highway site.

Happy shopping.

- Barb Thompson, Overland Park

On your own

It is time for the United States to follow Singapore’s lead. Singapore has announced it will no longer provide free COVID-19 treatment to people who have chosen to not receive the coronavirus vaccine. (It is allowing medical exemptions.)

People who blindly follow Fox News should send their medical bills to Fox News.

- Jo Heinzman, Kansas City, Kansas

Mathieu afraid?

I see the Honey Badger opted out on his agreement to attend the mayor’s Christmas tree lighting. (Nov. 26, 2A, “Tyrann Mathieu cancels appearance at Christmas Tree Lighting”)

Could it be he was a bit apprehensive about his reception by what he described as “toxic” Chiefs fans?

Why do professional athletes think they should be immune to criticism about poor performance? Grow up.

- Jim Tomlen, Leawood

Empty mailbox

I have read recent stories about the U.S. Postal Service moving slower. However, there have been three normal delivery days on which we received no mail at all at our residence, Saturday, Nov. 27, being the latest.

- Michael Grabowski, Kansas City

Not life-affirming

Kansas state Sen. Dennis Pyle was quoted as saying, “There are people that do not want to take this vaccine, even at the expense of their own lives. So we’re here defending that liberty.”

That sounds like a form of state-sponsored suicide. I am surprised Republicans favor this.

- Bud Nolker, Leawood

Supporting Smith

I just want to say it’s an injustice what is happening to Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith. Apparently, according to The Star, part of the reason he is leaving his job is the city’s homicide rate and another part is that community activists don’t think he does enough and they don’t like him.

He can’t control the homicide rate — only the public can do that. So setting that aside, we have the community activists. I guess the next chief better have marionette strings, because that’s what it will take for him or her to be accepted by Kansas City’s mayor and the community activists.

I sincerely pray that the department never shifts to local control. For the people who disagree, you are entitled to disagree and I am entitled to my thoughts. None of the above should spark a verbal tirade from those who disagree.

- Sheila Koetting, Kansas City

Back to normal

Now that the white supremacists who organized the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, have been fined, (Nov. 25, 11A, “Jury awards $26M for Unite the Right violence”) I’m sure the other “very fine people,” as Donald Trump called them, can go back to their worlds of hate.

- Stuart Stern, Olathe

This story was originally published December 1, 2021 at 5:00 AM.