4A Opinion
May 6, 2004
The Cuba
Free Press
Commission should do
some software research
The Crawford County Commission was pitched
what appears to be a good idea this week by a soft-
ware company which specializes in writing code
designed to track and manage inmates in the coun-
ty jail. Given the St. Louis jail's track record on
releasing wrong inmates in recent years, such a
system is a great idea, but it might pay to shop
around.
Securepoint, LLC quoted the commission a price
of about $29,000 for their software and some
required hardware for its system, claiming it could
be provided at no cost the county. Well, that's not
exactly true.
In order to pay for the system, the county would
have to increase its boarding fees charged by the
court to certain prison-
ers by $10 per day. Just
Since the county could Thinking
increase that fee even
without this new sys-
tem, I contend the Rob
county will indeed be Yiehman
paying for the system.
And in addition, Securepoint would continue to col-
lect $5.50 per day, per inmate after the system has
been paid offi Now just what's that for?
Tuesday afternoon I did a quick Google search for
"jail inmate tracking software" and found 10 rec-
ommended software companies on Microsoft's web-
site alone. Securepoint was not among them.
One I quickly looked at called VisionJAIL records
and tracks inmate records, bed assignments, and
medical data. Additionally, it records and tracks
account information, visitation records, and other
functions. Bar-code printing and scanning function-
alities are available, and they allow agencies to eas-
ily track inmate movements, perform cell checks,
and log cash transactions. It claims to be highly
flexible and configurable, even allowing agencies to
set up the system according to their own specifica-
tions, precisely matching the layout of the entire
facility. The company will even help with grants to
fund the purchase of their software. No prices were
quoted on their website.
All that in atut 30 seconds of research!
Imagine wi/0000ne: might:f00 with a little more
effort. I certainly hope the commission puts forth a
little more effort on this project.
Stirrin' the Pot By Bob Wilson
m
"Me...molest boys?
Do I look like a WEIRDO?."
m
Thanks for help::-:"
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
At the risk of becoming repetitive, I
wish again, on behalf of the family of
Chelsey Martin, to express our gratitude
to the staff of the Free Press.
A great big thank you to Mr. Rob
Viehman, publisher and editor, for the
front-page story and also the op-ed on the
Bone Marrow Drive. We feel that the
response on Saturday was beyond our
expectations.
Also a big thank you for the generous
donation to the expense involved.
We thank all those involved. The people
who helped do the "paper work" on
Saturday and especially to those who were
kind enough to be tested. Even if a match
isn't found for Chelsey, the results of the
tests will go into the data bank of the
National Bone Morrow Registry and may
help save someone else.
Thanks to those who donat-
ed money and food and worked
so hard to make this a success.
Thanks to the Rolla Radio sta-
tion and the local banks in
helping to publicize the drive.
We can now only pray to God
that one of those tested will be
the perfect match for her.
Ivan Martin (grandfather)
Cuba
Serious
somewhere
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Hey Rob! After a little closer
look than normal, I could not
help but notice, right there on
the front page, your local rag
has been the winner of 97
awards in journalism. Must
have been some serious jour-
nalistic effort somewhere along
the line. That is just a little
over two awards per year aver-
age since 1960.
But I don't know if that
information is important
enough for the front page.
Maybe you should check with
Mr. Cappiello. He seems to be
the expert.
I can't add much to what you
said in your "editor's note con-
cerning Olin's "Fear Factor
worm-eating stunt. Anyone
who has ever lost family and
friends to this terrible sickness
should be very proud of these
two ladies, and all of the employees at
Olin or anyone or any group who works
very hard to raise funds to try to find a
cure for cancer.
Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with
you very oRen, but choosing the girls pic-
tures and the story for the front page was
the right call this time.
Maybe Mr. Cappiello would be interest-
ed in an old proverb that I read some-
where, sometime ago. It's better to keep
your mouth closed and appear ignorant
than to open it and remove all doubt.
Ken Staples
Cuba
Proud brother-in-law of Tammy Dorf
"One of the worm eaters"
Stand together
LETTER TO M EDITOR
Recently at one of our local schools
there was a situation where several of the
students were questioned by school offi-
cials. The children were told their state-
ments were for "police reports." These stu-
dents were not told their theR Miranda
Rights prior to questioning and they were
not informed they had the right to request
a parent or guardian be there while they
were being questioned.
Some of these children were told they
had to produce other students' names or
they would be talked to by the police. Is
this a threat? Please, let them talk to the
police, rather than a school official that
questions children by himself, behind
closed doors and acts as judge, jury and
hangman! This is an out rage! Our public
officials should not and do not have the
authority to govern as our police depart-
ment when it comes to our children, with-
Your Thoughts
out Us,a3parents, knowing what they are
being sulected to.
Do not let this happen again! Please let
your school know in writing (please keep a
copy for your records) that you want to be
notified prior to any questioning or cross
examination of your child when the state-
ments may later be given to the police.
Just because they are children does not
mean they do not have rights. We as par-
ents and guardians must stand together
and not only support our schools but also
make sure that what is going on behind
closed doors is right and just!
Sincerely,
Linda J. Pyatt
Davisville
Keep county clean
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
River City Cement has been running a
legal notice in your paper for permission
Those folks are entitled to
ions as I am mine. However
signed by Nannette Doff
response.
Near the beginning of her
states she knows nothing
then proceeds to place me in
of the folks from
trashed Steelville several
Further on I am referred to as
tive idiot and later a fool.
Whatever happened to
discourse and debate?
Nowhere in my letters
the idea of fund raising. I
to the means, I suppose in
ends have justified the
embrace the
juvenile.
What is sad about her
not so pleasant folks who
Friday night) is the idea that
agree with someone, never
HAPPY MOTHEI00'S DAY...
Things they never tell morns before they <=re morns
to expand its clay mining operation in
Crawford County until 6/1/2007. In the
legal notice the Dept. of Natural
Resources (DNR) is seeking public com-
ment on whether to grant the permit.
River City Cement is one of the largest
cement producers in the United States. It
is owned by an Italian conglomerate,
Buzzi Unicem SpA. It saddens me to think
of this company conducting mining opera-
tions in Crawford County. A brief internet
search showed this company and DNR
entered into an agreement in April 2003 to
clean up hazardous waste.
I understand the need for mining or
taking resources from the environment to
meet local demand. I'm opposed to an
international company taking resources
from the environment on a large scale
basis to meet the demand for a large geo-
graphical area. I think the latter situation
can readily lead to abuse of the environ-
ment and our resources.
The Big River experienced serious dam-
age due to mining in the area. The
Meramec River is highly regarded and a
wonderful resource in Crawford County.
! hope the county government is morti-
toring the mining and in contact with the
company. Possibly the county government
could form a committee to look into the
mining operation to find reason to request
the DNR to deny the permit. I think the
message is we want to keep Crawford
County's environment clean.
Kevin McGrath
St. Louis
Say sweet words
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
As a rule I have refrained from answer-
ing letters that are critical of my own let-
ters.
structive argument,
discussion: resort to name
nize the other person,
issue with unpleasantries and
assassination.
Nannatte Dorf has
Captain I worked with years
fire department; his words
sweet words, you may have to
Maybe she should take her ows
Respectfully submitted:
Rafael St.
Don't just
LETTER TO M EDITOR
My name is Shelby Dorf and I
sixth grade. I am the
Dorfwho was pictured
the paper eating the worm. She
husband and I lost my dad to
thought what the people at
great and fun way to raise
pie with cancer.
I think stories about trying
cure for cancer are more
trash on the side of the road.
worms was not immature. It wl
get people involved with the
cancer fund-raiser. Instead
about the newspaper maybe
have been helping raise money.
Cub
Send your letters to:
Cuba Free Press
PO Box 568
MO 65453
CUBA FREE PRESS
I I0 SOUTH BUCHANAN
CUBA, MISSOURI 65453
PHONE 573-885-7460
Publisher & Editor
ROB VIEHMAN
Circulation
JANICE RANSOM
Advertising
SANDY MORICE
Printing
RUSS NEW
Post Office
Publication
No. 565-180
May 6, 2004 -- Volume 44 Number 50
Cuba Free Press
www.cubafreepress.com
Address all communications in care of the Cuba Free Press, P.O. Box 568.
Periodical Class Postage paid at Cuba, Missouri. Published weekly each
Thursday morning at Cuba, Mo. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
CUBA FREE PRESS, RO. Box 568, Cuba, MO 65453. .
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
CRAWFORD CO. MISSOURI
