MARIJUANA FLIGHTS UNWISE EXPENSE

The story "Airborne troopers go high-tech" tells us state troopers have
flown more than 10,000 hours in the past few years looking for marijuana
plants. Folks, we are talking about a state where little kids have to take
their own toilet tissue to school, prisons are overcrowded, schools are
facing severe cuts, and we have less than half the needed number of
troopers on our highways.

Does the average citizen have any idea what it costs to operate a
helicopter for an hour? I have been flying helicopters more than 40 years
and I can tell you it's not cheap. Any reputable law enforcement officer
will tell you that alcohol is the most expensive, harmful drug used in
America, causing more suffering and death than all other drugs combined.

We need to bring some common sense into our state and get some priorities
in order. Providing expensive aircraft so a few state employees can have
some fun at taxpayer expense should be way down on our priority list.

Carl L. Hess Ozark