What is a stand of trees worth? To Empire and its tree hackers it’s just a matter of a few minutes of work using the workers’ mutilating equipment. To my neighbors and me they represent tranquility, home for birds, rabbits and squirrels. All in the name of safety, for a streetlight that is literally on the end of the line.
I’ve been informed that I must pay to have the light moved to save my trees. How many trees have we lost in our “Tree City USA”? Drive around town; look up at the rows and rows of power lines attached to unsightly poles with stumps and mutilated trees.
What if we were a progressive city, a green city with a tree ordinance? Cities like that do exist, cities that have ordinances requiring citizens to get a permit to trim a tree.
What if money was spent on digging trenches and burying the lines? There would be no more power failures during ice storms or summer windstorms. How much would we save? We would save our trees and the crew from Iowa with its tree-hacking trucks that park on 32nd Street could go back home.
Or, better yet, they could move on to some other town and mutilate those residents’ trees.
Sheila Gilstrap
Joplin
Opinion
Voices: Mutilated trees
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
-
Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
-
Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
-
Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
-
Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
-
Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
-
Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
-
James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
-
Our View: Meaningless in Missouri
Missourians have an opinion about who should be the Republican candidate to run against Barack Obama in November. Too bad it won’t matter.
-
Carol Stark: Joplin’s future depends on today’s land ethic
Leopold’s small book of essays and philosophical writings about the ethical call to love and respect the land made a big impact on the conservation movement over 60 years ago, and it continues to do so today.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
