Stop the negativity - To the Editor: I found Todd Hefferman's article, "Illinois Should Consider Giving Private Schools Their Own Class," insulting and inappropriate. In an attempt to make a point, he demeaned the accomplishments of a talented athlete, a sport with a great history and the hard work and efforts of the entire athletic department of Murphysboro High School.

His statement, "Who would have thought the only state champion of the winter would have come from wrestling? And Murphysboro, of all schools?" was insulting. In his next statement he continues his attack on Murphysboro athletics. What on Earth did the athletes of Murphysboro ever do to Mr. Hefferman to deserve this kind of negative editorial comment? What on Earth do these comments have to do with the subject of the article?

Jake Miller worked long and hard for his state championship. He is a talented athlete. In addition, Shea Baker and Matt McLaughlin placed at the state wrestling tournament. These athletes are well respected, as is the sport of wrestling, in Murphysboro. Murphysboro has a long history of quality wrestlers who work hard and sacrifice a lot to participate in the sport.

I'm not sure what Mr. Hefferman's statement about Murphysboro's baseball teams meant, other than one more opportunity to sling mud at the MHS athletic department.

Perhaps Mr. Hefferman should spend a few days on the mats or in the fields with Murphysboro's athletes. Then, perhaps, he would not find their accomplishments so surprising.

Debbie Pittman, Murphysboro

---

Full-time job with part-time work

To the Editor:

The position of Mayor of Carbondale is to be a part-time job. The city has a full-time city manager to handle day-to-day business. The current mayor treats his position as a full-time endeavor. He's able to do so because he doesn't hold a full-time job, as most of us do. He's able to accomplish this by living off the fruits of others' labor. Some of those fruits were in the form of our tax dollars.

As reported, nearly $200,000 of taxpayer money was awarded to Mr. Cole after he sued the state to get a state job he had been appointed to by former Gov. Ryan. This was a job for which he had no experience or qualifications, hence his termination.

So taxpayers got to pay him for a job he hadn't been doing, doesn't hold now and didn't deserve in the first place. Not the brand of ethics I would choose for an elected official.

As far as accomplishments of his first term go - I'm certain he has stood in front of more cameras than any previous mayor, been seen with every politician who has come near town, had signs painted with his name and attempted to use our police as his personal Gestapo.

It's time for a change from a wanna-be, career politician, with an ego problem, to someone who holds a real job and views themselves as a public servant, with the best interests of Carbondale in mind, instead of viewing our town as a stage.

Mick Rosene, Carbondale

---

Mesothelioma needs attention

To the Editor:

With all the current news about cancer, the environment and what Congress is doing, there is one lifesaving issue involving all these that gets no mention!

The issue is asbestos and mesothelioma, the cancer caused by asbestos. The Ban Asbestos in America Act, Bill S742, sponsored by Senators Murray and Boxer is currently before Congress.

Some bare facts of this cancer are:

* More than half of its victims die within 14 months of diagnosis.

* A mere 8 percent survive for five years.

* It is one of the most fatal and painful of all cancers.

* Too many of its victims are our first responders and military.

Our daughter is a victim of this terrible disease. The lack of readily available access to medical knowledge about mesothelioma has been terrifying.

The proposed bill will also address the lack of research and treatment for mesothelioma. Please contact your Congressman in Washington, D.C., and urge them to help pass Bill S742. It is a life and death issue!

Janet Graeff, Murphysboro