Welcome to another edition of Comments from Patchland, your weekly highlights from your comments in the past week. Today's highlights include some doozies, including the resolution to a fire in The Loop, an unorthodox school lunch recipe and the usual raft of complaints about Your Government. Enjoy, and please click one of the story links to add your comments to the conversation. Whoever caused this fire must have been a bird-brain Fire at Ranoush Restaurant in University City "The fire, according to the fire department, was due to a bird's nest being made too close to the electrical wires…

Thanks for the thanks! We heard from a few of you who appreciate the contributions from our readers, and we're grateful. We love hearing from readers, whether they're posting photos, comments or just shouting onto the home page. Here's this week's comment highlights. If you see a spot to chime in, we hope you'll click and comment. And we love hearing your voice, too! Wonders Around Wentzville: Reader-Submitted Photos "I always enjoy reader-submitted photos. I look at it like we are getting to see the world through other people's eyes. Keep 'em coming!" -Jared England, Wentzville Patch Happy …

Patch users respond in writing online every day to stories, photos, questions and blogs about their cities and larger issues. Here's a roundup of the past week. Click on the titles to see more of the story and opinions.Disc golf—not just another male-dominated sportDisc Golf: A Treat for All“Disc golf is great for women and girls, too. What a great way to get to know someone you are dating, take her disc golfing!”— Margaret Poynter, Eureka-Wildwood PatchStrong words for one of our U.S. senatorsCitizens Sound Off at McCaskill Meeting“Claire has done nothing for American citizens. We are worst …

No cage can keep a strong bird. This week, commenters supported Richmond Heights chickens and spoke their minds on other topics.  Find a story that grabs you? Click the link and please add your comments.   Poultry Freedom Part 1: Richmond Heights Chicken Debate Ruffles Feathers “FREE the chickens—NO to privacy fence! One chicken is lonely, two is a pair, three is a conspiracy and 10 is a FLOCK. Go No. 10! :)” — Mark Cockson, Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch Another One Bites the Dust Borders to Close, Hold Liquidation Sale “Damn.” — Ed Wright, Maplewood-Brentwood Patch “So sad, I have loved …

We love it when people have something nice to say, too! Some of this week's best comments remembered lost relatives, failed restaurants and the passing of a city slogan from one to another. Plus, we have our share of snarky remarks. Find a story that grabs you? Click the link and please add your comments. What makes you think things will happen then?Florissant City Council Passes Charter Review Bill"The Council meeting Monday night was quite entertaining, but I walked away with one obvious conclusion: Nothing will be accomplished by these politicians until after the elections of April 2012! …

We span the gamut from hard news to soft doggie features in the commenting highlights from Patchland. Somehow, taking parents to task always seems to come up. Isn't that interesting? Take a look at this week's list and if you find a topic that moves you, click the link and please add your point of view.You can sue them; just don't expect anythingCourt Date Set for US Fidelis Owners"Can I still sue US Fidelis for the money I paid to them—the reason is for misrepresentation?"— Renee' Maechling, Wentzville PatchAh, but paying attention is the trick, isn't it?I-270 Advisory Speeds Begin Today"The…

All the news isn't depressing, and we're not always about complaining in this week's “Comments from Patchland.” There's good word on people who chip in to help their communities, don their entrepreneurial spirit or create the winning cupcakes.But fear not: We haven't ignored the more surly among us. See something that inspires you to comment? Click a link and chime in.Hot idea for the cool job marketResourceful Teen Out of A Job, Starts Own Business"Great to see a young entrepreneur in our midst. Can't wait to get over and try a snow cone!"— Robin Kaiser, Sunset Hills-Crestwood PatchNot in my…

It was a busy week in Patchland. Patch readers have some definite opinions on their police departments, whether the St. Louis-area should pursue being a China hub and smoking bans--again! Nibble on some of these morsels, and if you're inclined to share your thoughts, click the links and chime in. We're all ears. Have to go? Don't do it outside! Police Cite Three for Public Urination "Giving tickets for people urinating outside. Well, that is at least a bit different from giving tickets to people who are not doing anything wrong. Don't have a real crime to solve, they will Never show up. If …

Surprise, surprise. There is another debate on smoking bans. A ban going into effect in O'Fallon and being shot down in St. Charles County sparked debate. In lighter fare, Patch editors took to the water, watched aldermen appoint another to its board and Arnold wants civility back in political life.  Nibble on some of these morsels, and if you're inclined to share your thoughts, click the links and chime in. We're all ears. No Smoking in O'Fallon, Still OK in the County O'Fallon Smoking Ban Starts Today "I like the smoking ban. It makes no sense in bars, you don't really go there for good …

Criminal behavior can be in the eye of the beholder. Yet some things are just flat out crime—and tragic. Patch users comment this week, and you can too by clicking on the article title and adding your say. Sewer District backs up with anger in this case Metropolitan Sewer District Proposes 64 Percent Rate IncreaseMSD is one of the most evil organizations in the U.S. They still have not paid back the money they stole with their self imposed "storm water" tax that the courts stopped. If I ran my business that poorly I would be eating food scraps dug out of trash cans. —Marlin Mackley, Eureka-…

The week in comments brought a nice diversion from some of the serious stories we've dealt with and a chance to talk about lighter fare—including fairs. And eating cicadas. And cake. Nibble on some of these morsels, and if you're inclined to share your thoughts, click the links and chime in. We're all ears.This pretty much sums up how we feel, tooTo Shoot Or Not in Subdivisions?"I would have a hard time living next to a hunting area because of the potential for accidents to occur."— Layla Azmi Goushey, Eureka-Wildwood PatchLet them eat and eat and eat cakeTaking a Trip to Grandma's House"My …

Parents take it on the chin a little in this edition of “Comments from Patchland”. Some of our readers think the parental units aren't doing enough to teach their children well. Meanwhile, you can see examples of some "feel-good" stuff in the community this week, as well as a tribute to Things That Are Awesome.As always, the floor is still open for your comments. Click a link and chime in.Today's trend: Parents need to be parents — in drug educationRockwood Schools Drop D.A.R.E. Education Classes"All D.A.R.E. has ever been is a 'feel-good' program that lets parents and teachers think they are…

We're learning that food always gets you talking. And animals. Always with the animals—whether they eat your shrubbery or are captured in sculpture on a city pond. Check out some of the choice comments from the past week around St. Louis-area Patchland. Click a link to add your comments to that article.He hasn't gotten a look at my garageEvent: Cornbread's World's Largest Garage Sale"This left a major mess of the family arena parking lot. There were piles of trash everywhere, including used dippers. This even made the family arena parking lot look like the starts of new landfill."— Pete, Lake…

So, did anything interesting happen this week? Oh, not unless you count killing a terrorist and spreading gobs of chicken parts on a major highway. Those sorts of events tend to get people talking. Here's this week's highlights from “Week in Comments”.Care to comment? Click one of the links and add your thoughts.Does it count if I only met them in my dreams?Have You Ever Met Anyone Famous?"I met Kenny Chesney, but he was kind of a jerk. I got VIP tickets for my mom and me for her birthday, and when the show was over he tossed his hat backstage, glanced at us briefly and said thanks for coming…

Welcome to this week's edition of “Week in Comments,” a peek at some of the highlights from your feedback on our sites. Today's selection touches on topics including cleanup efforts following the devastating Good Friday tornadoes, a proposed Sam’s Club and urban chickens.Care to chime in? Click the link for a headline and add your comments on the topic.Writer thanks linemen, tree trimmers, police, rescue workers for storm responseLess Than One Percent of St. Louis County Homes Still Without Power“Huge thanks to Ameren, KCP&L and every other lineman who left his family on Easter weekend to …

We haven't heard Prohibition brought up in decades. And for the first time in weeks, we have resisted the urge to put in a comment about red-light cameras. But, alas, in this week's edition of "Week in Comments," we couldn't escape without two of our favorite hot-button issues: smoking bans and guns. Put these in your pipe and shoot 'em. And if you're inclined to join the discussion, click the headline and head for the comments section.Let us know if you're not sure about his opinionSt. Charles County Bans Hallucinogenic 'Salt Bath' Drugs"It's funny how people go on an on about the government…

We were tempted to make this week’s feature an homage to the recent election. But there were too many other good comments to pass up. You’d be a moron to miss these highlights (and, as you’ll find out, we know you’re not one). If you’re game, click the headlines to join in the conversation on some of these topics.Were the commissioners just…oh, what's another word for "scared"?Chickens Denied: Planning and Zoning Commissions Says No to Urban Chickens"'Urban Chickens' would make a great band name."— Bill Niehoff on St. Peters Patch"Too bad for this kid. Sounds like a good project for a kid and…

This week’s edition of Week in Comments shows off the warm and touching side of our readers. It also reminds us, as if we needed reminding, that there’s an election next week. And tell me this: What’s a Brazilian Blowout?Memorial Tombstone Located on Route 109: The story about a memorial cross in memory of a child killed a decade ago elicits mothers reply.
“I'm Michael's Mom and he is missed every day. It's very hard to believe that it will be 10 years this September. It sometimes feels like it was just yesterday. He was loved very much by his mother and ‘twin’ brother and is so dearly missed…

Our readers were interested enough in a variety of topics this week to post their comments. Topics range from the St. Louis County assessors' race to bike safety on the roads. Do you have an opinion to share on these topics? Click the link and add your voice to the conversation. "That is really creepy. Some people are just being nice, and in a perfect world, we would probably trust people. But we have to be careful, and we do have to protect our kids. Better to be safe than sorry."— Helena Hewlett, Hazelwood Patch, on Dealing with Stranger Danger "I see it every day and I say a prayer for …

With St. Patrick's Day in the rear-view mirror, some of us just can't let it go. Check out one Irish-wannabe's lament below. And when's the last time you heard the phrase "imprecise engineering, enforced precisely"? Does that adequately capture the way red-light cameras work in your view? "Let's get one thing straight. Red light cameras are not fair. As an enforcement device, they take advantage of imprecise engineering, enforced precisely."— Brian Ceccarelli, Hazelwood Patch, on Red Light Cameras are Here to Stay "We really need to slow the traffic down. Their vehicles speed down Gerard and …