Speakout 3/30

Can you find information on Marc Miringoff with the Index of Social Health Indicators? He apparently recently died at age 58. I'd be curious to know how. This man apparently was publishing statistical figures that could be of great use to the American people comparing this country with other industrialized nations of the world, and we were not number one.

According to the March 6 edition of the Boston Globe, "Marc Miringoff, a Fordham University associate professor of social policy who created an index that aided in understanding of the nation's social health, died March 4 at his home in Poughkeepsie. The obituary said a cause of death had not been determined, according to his wife, Marque Miringoff. Miringoff was founder of the Fordham Institute for Innovation in Social Policy. He became known for his development of a report card that measured the national welfare. His argument that growth inflation, interest rates and other economic variables could not put the national well-being in a proper perspective led to his compiling of a new index. The table included information about child poverty, infant mortality, crime, access to health care and deaths related to drunken driving. The social index dropped from a high of 77 of 100 in 1973 to 38 out of 100 in 1993. Since that time, the nation has made progress according to the index, rising to 54 in 2000, but dropping again to 46 in 2001."

Why was the cost of the ticket for the "Save the Humane Shelter" drawing set so high, eliminating the possibility that children and poor people all over this community will not be buying tickets or taking part in this campaign to save the shelter (which I disagree with in the first place because the money is there in the city coffers). But, it seems the whole thing was set up to ensure that no poor person in this community receives that $2,500.

Fund-raisers are set up to raise funds. Organizers have to plan events to raise money to cover costs, including the grand prize, as well as raise money to help the shelter. If the price is set too low and not enough money is raised to cover the grand prize, then that would have to come out of the shelter's operating budget, which would mean the project would hurt the shelter instead of helping it. If $5 a ticket is too high, maybe five people could get together, split the cost and if the ticket wins, spit the winnings. Call the shelter at 471-4801 for information.

I want to commend Wal-Mart for checking IDs for people buying movies. My brother, who is 24, was carded for an R-rated movie. I've never been ID'd and neither has he to see a movie in a theater. It's funny, because the rating on the back says the movie is for ages 14 and up. I want to commend Wal-Mart for doing such a stand-out job.

Does anyone know the original color of the 1920 Missouri automobile tag? I have one and I'd like to have it restored to its original color.

Broadway is not the only street here in Sikeston that has people repairing cars. There is a garage beside a house on Virginia Street that repairs cars all the time. They have old junk cars sitting there all the time too. I have called Code Enforcement about this but they won't do anything about it. So, there you go.