Speak Out 08/15

Possible cutback

I SEE where the school district is thinking of raising property taxes again. How much is it costing the school system to operate cable Channel 23?

Level-headed discussion

I WOULD like to commend the Southeast Missourian for publishing the Howard Dean column on the issue of gay marriage. It is good to see a level-headed discussion.

Businesses should pay

SINCE WHEN are the taxpayers of Cape Girardeau responsible for the revitalization of downtown? Businesses should take care of their own revitalization. With the exception of road maintenance and perhaps Christmas decorations funded by the city, I think that the business owners should handle this problem themselves.

Cape needs water park

LAST MONTH, our 12-year-old granddaughter was visiting, and we took her and a friend to the Poplar Bluff water park. It was really wonderful. We spent about five hours. It doesn't take up a big area. Why doesn't Cape Girardeau get something like this? It would keep the kids off the street in the summer and give them some place to go.

Thanks for the help

I LOCKED my keys in my car at Jackson Wal-Mart. A nice young man who is in the Army came to my rescue and used his cell phone to call a locksmith to open my car door. His name is Dennis. It is great to have such caring and helpful young people. Thanks again, Dennis.

Give them alternatives

EVERYONE IS playing the blame game on teenage drinking and partying. They are all good kids. All they need is an alternative. This is a perfect time for spending the surplus tourism money. I think an alcohol-free water park in the summer, a skate park/BMX trail and games in the winter could be a good alternative. Boredom and easy access to alcohol can be replaced by positive reinforcement, pride in the community and a great investment in our kids' futures.

Rude at the pool

I WANT to say something about how rude the young adults are who work at the Central Junior High School pool. My grandchild just got talked to like she was a dog. I think these young adults need some supervision.

Thanks for money

I WOULD like to thank the mayor and city council for giving money to the Glenn House. I have several relatives who come in every year from out of state. No longer will I have to drive them by and hear the words, "That's the Glenn House?"

Great summer program

THANK YOU to the parks and recreation department for all the activities you had for young children this summer, especially the sports camp. Our grandson took advantage of these all summer. Thank you for a great program. Keep it up.

Wonderful teachers

I JUST wanted to say thank to the teachers at Jefferson Elementary School. You are a great bunch of teachers, and you do a great job.

Out of parents' hair

MANY PEOPLE in Jackson and Cape Girardeau are appalled at the idea that there is a teenage drinking or drug problem. However, I find it hard to believe that anyone would be surprised by this. The problem starts a lot earlier than teenagers. I live in Jackson. On any given evening and during the weekend, there are 10 to 15 kids hanging around our yard and the surrounding area unsupervised. I don't see a parent check up on them all day. Whenever I brought it to the attention of one of the parents, he basically said, "Whatever they're doing, that's fine with me. Just so they're out of my hair." People need to wake up and realize that parents aren't involved in their kids' lives.

Hands off

I CANNOT believe the school board and administrators spend so much time looking for new sources of revenue so they can spend more. Leave your hands out of our hospitals' pocketbooks. They cost us enough already.