Some thoughts as we move into the fifth, and hopefully brief, season of the year; the rainy season. Spring has sprung, more like "leaked" its way here.

Correctible error

I have been remiss in not recounting the glory of one of our own on the local golf course. Several weeks ago as I was struggling along chasing my wayward white ball a loud roar came from the group on the hole ahead of me. I had heard that roar before and it meant only one thing. Some lucky golfer had made a hole-in-one, that coveted prize most golfers chase their entire life but never seem to find.

As I looked up to find the source of the cheering I saw the portsider himself, still standing on the tee box as his playing partners rushed to the green to pluck the ball from the cup. George Workman, now affectionately referred to as "Ace" in some circles, was pretty nonchalant about the whole thing and for all I know he may have made a bucket full of these things. That didn't stop his friends from whooping it up for him.

There is a rumor going round George has tried to convince his playing partners that since he has conquered hole number six -- and really, how much better can he do -- his score should henceforth and forevermore be a one on the hole. Apparently he hasn't had much success.

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More global warming info

"Kyoto follies: The reason Kyoto Protocol signatories are not reducing their emissions is that doing so is proving to be prohibitively costly. These nations are learning the hard way what the Bush Administration has understood all along: that attempts to rapidly force down the fossil-fuel use that provides the backbone of modern economies will be very expensive.

"While inundating the public with scary stories about global warming's effects, the proponents of cap-and-trade have thus far said little about the costs of combating the threat -- and for good reasons. Kyoto's provisions would have cost Americans hundreds of billions of dollars annually from higher energy prices, but would, according to proponents, avert only 0.07 degrees Celsius of global warming by 2050.

"A European Environment Agency report found that greenhouse-gas emissions from motor vehicles continue to rise due to increased driving, despite punitively high European gasoline taxes that push the overall price well above $6 per gallon. In fact, increased vehicle emissions are a big part of the reason most western European countries are going to miss their Kyoto targets. If $6 per gallon is not high enough to discourage driving and meet Europe's global-warming targets, then what will it take here? Americans, who get angry enough over $3 gas, will want answers to this and other economic questions before they buy into any climate policy. -- Ben Lieberman, Heritage Foundation, National Review Online"

The above was excerpted from Gary Rust's column last week in the (Cape Girardeau) Southeast Missourian

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From the mailbag

Last week I received an interesting piece of mail. The envelope bore what looked to be a residential return address, but given the weight it was apparent more than a letter or card was inside.

Upon opening the envelope a letter came out and wrapped inside that letter was a coin. It was a coin I was familiar with and am proud to say I also possess one, although mine was a much-appreciated gift.

The coin is the challenge coin of the 1137th Military Police Company. The letter writer said he had come across it while "browsing the EBay site of a coin dealer… " The coin's inscription attracted his interest. However, he did not buy the coin to keep. Also inscribed on the coin is the name of the soldier to whom it was presented, in this case SSG Perotti in support of Operation Just Cause during Desert Storm.

Winning the auction, the writer bought the coin -- he didn't say what he gave for it -- and wanted to return it to Sgt. Perotti.

"We all owe Sgt. Perotti and all the other Service men and women a debt that we can never repay."

A veteran himself, the letter writer recalled his own deployment in support of the Berlin Crisis as a member of the National Guard. "During our active duty I got many items that I treasure today and when I saw this coin I could relate to Sgt. Perotti and what it might mean to him…"

The writer did an Internet search for the 1137th MP Company and came across an article we had published on Sept. 14, 2004. That story was about a ceremony honoring the 1137th as the soldiers returned from yet another deployment. This time they were being recognized for efforts on behalf of and participation in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The letter writer requested anonymity so we will comply. Although I suspect this is probably more publicity than he desired it was a good story and one that needed sharing. Efforts are also underway to return the coin to Sgt. Perotti.

Bud Hunt is the publisher of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.