Spike,

Like I wrote last week, Carol Copeland doesn't give a damn about the court house employees that can't afford a $15 back massage. She's does whatever she wants and hope the newspaper and Derailed don't find out about it.

She needs to hear that from the rest of court house employees that are scrimping to be get by raising a family.

XX

Spike,

County Auditor Carol Copeland said it was none of our business she was sponsoring a massage parlor at the court house.

Well, she's wrong. Anytime I pay taxes to sponsor a public place for a private party to conduct business, it's my business. This type of activity doesn't belong in the court house.

The claim that employees are breaking their backs doesn't garner any sympathy from me either. All those employees just got a fat raise. If they have back problems from lingering over a computer then their bosses aren't providing the proper ergonomic training to prevent a back ache.

But what is most disturbing is that Copeland claims she told 2 supervisors - Heland & Cahill - that she was going to do this. Neither one of them remembered that alleged conversation. And neither did Beck.

So we are faced with a dilemma.

All 3 supervisors are lying to let Copeland take the fall.

One or more supervisors are lying to cover their butts.

Or Copeland is reconstructing history with facts not in evidence.

Whatever it is, it needs to stop and whomever needs to take the responsibility.

And don't do it again. Not on my dime.

You want a massage, go get one. But not at the court house.

LW

Spike,

"During a week long inquiry by The Hawk Eye, it was determined that a Burlington massage therapist was approached by Des Moines County Auditor Carol Copeland to provide services for interested county employees."

Brilliant investigative journalism in Burlington. I wonder how the Ad Vertiser ever got wind this was going on?

HG

When you're black socks aren't under the sheets it is difficult to claim you were there.

Spike

Spike,

Cascade bridge is now not even safe to walk across. Pedestrians dodging debris falling from the ruins of downtown gets less attention. Why?

Is concern for the safety of pedestrians the issue? Will closing the bridge to foot traffic make it more likely to get "free" money from the feds? Doubting the wisdom of the Ron Knoke is understandable.

If Cascade bridge stands to collapse under those walking across it, what about those driving under it? Is the road to Cascade Landing now closed as well?

There has been a total collapse of proper priorities by Burlington's City Council. Interest free loans to a casino, vacant lot retailing, and other follies have been more important than budgeting for aging infrastructure.

Election results need to rain down on the heads of those responsible for the mess Burlington has become.

Gertie Galloping

Can you believe anything out of the city council's mouth? Or the city staff? Hand wringing old men looking for redemption during election year.

Spike

Spike,

Better than photographing a car under the bridge of doom, kids on bikes, kids hanging off the rusted girders, the Green Temple of Doom luring the innocents into its rusty clutches.

OH... NO!! For the children.

Loonsack will get promise the money right away as an aid to our educating our children. They can't go to school if they are dead. Top Gun Tommy Harkin will pose for his friends at the Ad Vertiser wearing a hard hat with check in hand.

There is no way the dumb asses can seal off the hollow under that bridge from kids and others. Got Dynamite? Better hurry. Winter is coming.

Don't ruin duck season.

GW

Spike,

"Maybe either Edwards or his relatives could email us for an update. And tell us where he is stowing his six-shooter now."

Senator King, the Drunk ex-Mayor, Little Timmy, you made them all go away. In some respects, they are deeply missed.

Either openly, or behind your back, the incompetents would try having the authorities shut you down. Their friends and relatives would send you amusingly illogical appeals on their behalf. Thank you for sharing even their most threatening.

Who could ever forget Pugsley Edwards Christmas greetings. Pugsley's dysfunctional yule tide yowlings were funnier than watching Munsters reruns. How we miss those Ho Ho Hos from beyond the surreal.

Nostalgia is not simply forgetting the bad over time. Some terrors make a life time impression. Auld lang syne comes to mind every time I pay my taxes.

Thank you, Spike.

GCP

A few more need to leave the building.

Spike

Spike:

On Sunday morning at 2:30 a.m. in the area of South Street and Madison Avenue. Justine Grant, 18, 522 Dunham Street was stopped and charged with first offense drunken driving.

I do hope that young Justine gets the same break Eric Bell got and has his charge reduced to public intoxication. I don’t know if Justine knocked down a utility pole or plowed through someone else’s yard as Eric Bell did but must have done something much more serious to be charged for DUI.

What was it Justine did to warrant a DUI that Eric Bell didn’t? Are both of these people being charged under the same set of laws or are there two standards the Burlington Police Department operates under? Why is one charged with DUI and the other public intoxication?

The citizens of Burlington should be very upset about the two sets of rules this city operates under; one for the average citizen and the other for city employees and their dependents.

Young Justine should get an out of town lawyer and base the case on that of Eric Bell. Maybe she should go to the ACLU and tell them how the law works in Burlington. Good luck Justine and I hope you get the same treatment as Eric did.

Disgusted

Spike,

"Tony Ray was talking with a police officer outside the Forest Park Community Center in Joliet a couple of weeks ago when the two men suddenly heard the crack of gunshots."

Have you heard if the Southeast Iowa Regional Regional Planning Commission is getting their proposed Taj Mahal of bureaucracy? With all that extra space, we maybe able to render greater assistance to the terrorized citizens of Joliet.

Smile, smile, smile, as things get less quiet on the western front.

P. Perks

Beck installs direct line for White House to comment on "Fox lies." If it's wrong, prove it!

"They won't call. They're right and we aren't smart enough to understand."