Speak Out 1/23/07

Didn't work

HATS OFF to Sam DeReign, who hit the nail on the head. I had two daughters go through the DARE program. It didn't stop my 15-year-old from trying alcohol, drugs and smoking.

Rankings are news

THE COMMENT suggesting that the newspaper should stop comparing school districts was about the oddest Speak Out I've seen. Thanks, Southeast Missourian. School rankings are newsworthy.

For children

SOMEONE WAS upset with the way the Osage Community Centre ran the Cardinals Caravan. All the announcements said the autographs were for children only. That's why I didn't buy tickets.

What's best

I'VE BEEN reading the comments on the Leopold School District. Leopold's extra-curricular activities may be limited, but I guess it really comes down to what's most important. What will best serve your child in the future? Will it be sports or academics? Think about it.

Thanks, Cardinals

THE CARDINALS players came to Cape Girardeau for the kids. Thank you, St Louis Cardinals, for putting a smile on those children's faces. For some it was the only way to see baseball players. It was great. I hope they do the exact same thing next year.

Lipke qualified

MISSOURI HOUSE Speaker Rod Jetton is not looking out for Missouri's best interests. State Rep. Scott Lipke is highly qualified as the chairman of Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee. He strengthened the meth bill, causing meth crimes to drop, and brought us Jessica's Law, which helps protect our children. What has Jetton done besides pout when things don't go his way?

Bridge matters

I AM more than happy to be paying my share to make a park out of the remains of the old Mississippi River bridge. Grants are going to pay for the majority of it, and the park is going to be close to Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. The River Campus is the arts wing of SEMO, and a close-by historical park will supply inspiration for students. The park will also be great for residents. As Mayor Jay Knudtson said, take someone who has never been here across the new bridge, and then take them to the old bridge park to show them the width of the old bridge. Some people are already taking the $100 million Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge for granted, and it is only three years old.

Sending troops

I AM surprised that nobody understands why we need to send more troops to Iraq. Troops are needed to tell Iran that we mean business. If we don't send over the troops now, we'll seem weak to Iran. President Bush has proposed to send another carrier over there for Iran. This is the beginnings of World War III, and this country is stupidly in the center of it.

Truancy case

IN RESPONSE to the story "Woman's arraignment in child truancy case set for Monday": In a public school system where you have a high minority dropout rate, and in a town that seems to have more poverty, crime and other issues, is it any wonder that some parents may choose to keep their children out of the public schools? Your article notes that the school starts to investigate truancy after two unexcused absences. With the number of students in the district, how realistic is that? Maybe this woman and her child are being singled out as scapegoats for a community and school system breakdown in accountability. It will be interesting to see how this case turns out.

Coffee bar closed

AFTER ALL the expense to build a coffee bar in Kent Library at Southeast Missouri State University, it seems to be permanently closed. Does anyone else think it was a waste of university money?

Thanks for wallet

THANK YOU to whoever turned in my 10-year-old daughters wallet at Sear's Grand. She was devastated when she got home and couldn't find it.

Uniforms work

I HAVE been reading the comments on school dress codes. As a teacher at a Christian school with a dress code, I must say that students are calmer and classes go smoother when they are in their uniforms. Uniforms work, plain and simple.

Quick to judge

I FIND it amusing that it took discontent Republicans six years to figure out how incompetent President Bush and his cronies have been as leaders, but they have already graded Democratic performance after two weeks in office.

Blame Fruitland

IN SATURDAY'S paper, Jackson's city engineer, Kent Peetz, said, "Jackson is much the same as Cape Girardeau" when it comes to flooding. Mr. Peetz is wrong. Cape has been proactive and done something to alleviate there problems. Jackson, however, wants to blame Fruitland.

A coincidence?

IT DIDN'T take the new Congress very long to prove a point I've always made: Corruption and influence peddling are not exclusive to one party. American Samoa is the only territory or state that is exempted from the new minimum-wage laws so Star Kist Tuna can continue to pay employees there an average of $3.60 an hour. I suppose all you Democrats think that the facts that Star Kist headquarters are in Nancy Pelosi's district and her husband owns $17 million worth of stock in the company are a mere coincidence.