Irreplaceable assets suffer in heat and humidity

For the past eight years, my wife and I have spent our winters here on the wonderful Gulf Coast, doing research on her family, who arrived with the first French settlers. We research at courthouses, libraries, churches, and wherever there are records. Our searches include the whole state of Mississippi, as well as Mobile and New Orleans. All facilities provide a wonderfully comfortable environment except for the Biloxi Public Library on Lameuse Street.

For the past several years it seems that the air-conditioner malfunctions at the Biloxi Library, which shortens the hours for patrons and employees due to stifling heat and humidity. This would not be a bother for me except that this year we did not spend the whole winter, only the past two weeks, so time was precious.

Heat and humidity shortens the life of the thousands of books and documents in the library. Patrons are not served, which is not what your taxpayers expect. When they see millions of dollars spent on other things such as ball fields, museums, etc., they begin to wonder where elected officials' priorities lie.

As an avid library patron wherever I go, and one who has spent eight years in public office in California, I know that libraries have many more visitors than museums.

With the amount of tax monies received from casinos, I am certain that there is the $35,000 to $50,000 somewhere in the county coffers to cover the expense of suitable environment-altering equipment for the Biloxi Library.

PAUL E. PUEBLA

Torrington, Wyo.

Please support only animal-free circuses

On June 21 a traveling animal "torture show" will be setting up shop on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. They refer to themselves as a "circus."

I feel it is my duty to inform the caring residents of the Coast that this show has been cited in the past by the USDA for animal abuse. The last time was as recent as the latter part of last year. By far one of the worst things they do is "train" the elephants by fear and intimidation. They use an instrument called a bull hook - a stick approximately four feet long with a hook device at one end. They use this hook to inflect pain when the elephant does not respond. In addition, these gentle animals are secured for hours at a time in small confined areas, chained by the leg.

Tigers are kept in small, filthy cages for most of their lives. Animals are forced to perform even though they are ill. The list goes on and on.

Rather than support this exploitation of animals, if you want to see elephants there is a marvelous sanctuary in Arkansas. Tampa has an outstanding big cat rescue center.

I urge you all to inform your city representatives and the proprietors of the Mississippi Coast Coliseum that in the future you would like to see only animal-free circuses.

DAVID WINTER

Ocean Springs

Communicate, cooperate;

only united will we stand

It is essential to rally every American citizen in every capacity - whether it be the FBI, CIA, all branches of the military, all members of Congress, the president, all members of the administration, the Immigration Service, crews of all modes of travel in and out of America (plane, ship, rail), all citizens - to close the gap and unify to make an impregnable force just by being available and accessible from the top to the bottom of our nation.

No more petty jealousy between the armed services or any other part of our government for power plays. Our very lives and existence as a free country now depend on it.

Since the ways we fight wars are changing, consider our diplomatic speech. With words like "We want the enemy, dead or alive," there is no room to negotiate. Whatever happened to Teddy Roosevelt's "Speak softly but carry a big stick"?

Because it is impossible to secure this country, we must all rethink our policy and start changing from gunboat diplomacy to real diplomacy, making peace not war. Start by changing our mission as the most powerful and feared nation in the world and become the most just, peaceful, fair country the world has ever known and one the whole world will want to emulate.

YVONNE HASNEY

Waveland

No weapon is stronger

than human intelligence

President Bush knows better than anyone that our country is now faced with certain impending disaster at the hands of terrorists if aggressive preventive measures are not taken immediately. His proposed creation of a Department of Homeland Security is a major step in bringing the country's terrorist-fighting forces together to meet this end. Sadly, time is our enemy. Already, challenges to the concept are emerging from employee unions and from lawmakers reluctant to give up clout, which will further consume critical time that our country cannot afford.

No country has the resources to protect itself from terrorist attacks (witness Israel), and within our country's championed open society, the vulnerability is compounded. It would be foolhardy to concentrate our efforts on domestic defense, giving terrorists time to develop and employ greater means of terror. Aggressive action against the terrorist infrastructure is required now.

Our president has correctly stated, "The only way to end terrorism is to eliminate the terrorists." This statement should be our mantra! Critical tactics in fighting this new and different war against terrorist organizations that have no well-defined association with a particular foreign entity will require the use of a formerly discreet weapon which will now necessarily become the strategic weapon of choice.

The weapon is Human Intelligence (HUMINT). Its effectiveness will be realized as our nation undoes the restrictions placed on our HUMINT capabilities in the '90s and employs an aggressive worldwide operation to infiltrate terrorist organizations, compromise and thwart terrorist plans and ultimately identify and eliminate terrorist leaders.

Let's hope our leaders get our nations's priorities straight - and fast.

ARMOND 'SI' SIMMONS

Pell City, Ala.

Biloxi could have bought

now-closed golf course

On May 10, 2002, the historic and legendary Edgewater Bay Golf Course was permanently closed.

Edgewater Bay, previously known as the Edgewater Golf Course, opened on Nov. 26, 1927 - almost 75 years ago. It was the second-oldest golf course on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; the prestigious Great Southern Course of Gulfport, open since 1908, being the oldest.

The Edgewater Bay course was a landmark that should have been preserved as part of the history of Biloxi, the Coast and the state.

Based on my knowledge of the course, and the fact I am well- acquainted with the owners and manager, I believe the closing of the course could have been prevented by the Biloxi City Council and mayor.

As of June 30, 2001, a majority of the Biloxi City Council and mayor, who took over the leadership of the city on July 1, 1993, had eight years to negotiate with the owners of Edgewater Bay to buy the course.

The owners didn't keep it a secret from the City Council and mayor that the property would be sold to developers who would develop a subdivision on the property, after Jan. 1, 2000, the expiration date of the covenants.

In early July 1993, I advised the newly elected Ward 6 councilman, as the course was located in Ward 6, and the mayor that the covenants would expire on Jan. 1, 2000; therefore, the administration should take immediate action to mediate with the owners to buy the course.

It would be difficult for the city administration in power from July 1, 1993, to June 30, 2001, eight years, to convince me the owners would not work with the Biloxi leaders in a just manner to sell the golf course to the city for a reasonable price.

It is my opinion that the city administration never intended to buy the Edgewater Bay Golf Course at any price.

V.E. WILSON

Biloxi

Which is worse -

inhumane or fatal?

I read with great interest the article by Dianne Hunt (June 9, "Live- trapping is an inhumane solution") about how it is inhumane to trap and relocate these "pesky critters." Ms. Hunt offered several solutions and alternatives. However, she did not offer a solution for what to do when all preventive measures have failed and the "pesky critter" becomes an extremely pesky critter. One has two options in dealing with an extremely pesky critter: live-trapping or poison.

A live trap costs approximately $35. The trap must be set, monitored and the pesky critter must be taken elsewhere. If this method is used, the extremely pesky critter will have a 50/50 chance of survival (Ms. Hunt's figures), but he will have a chance.

Poison will cost approximately $15 and about 10 minutes of time. Using this method, the extremely pesky critter's survival rate has now dwindled to zero.

So what does one do with a "pesky critter" that refuses to go away? I do not know, maybe Ms. Hunt could advise me with the appropriate option.

R. DAVID CERAMI

Long Beach