Speak Out 11/7/07

Missing statements

I FEEL sorry for anyone who has to deal with our local police or our prosecutors. My friend was falsely accused of a crime. How do I know? Because I was there. I made a statement in her defense along with others. When her lawyer filed for a motion for discovery, none of our statements was there. Is this fair? Is this legal?

Blame the Democrats

TURKEY DOESN'T care if we want it in northern Iraq or not. Iran is thumbing its nose at us. And Putin is rattling Russia's sabers. The Democratic Senate has turned the U.S. into a paper tiger. Iran can't wait until we get a Democratic president.

Wrong district

MY DAUGHTER attends Shawnee Elementary South in McClure, Ill. I don't think it's right when school officials know students do not live within the school district but allow it to happen without tuition being paid. Our school is struggling financially. Let's get what money we can to help educate these children. The parents of those two students drive their children to school every day because the school bus will not pick them up since they live within Egyptian School District. They use the grandparents' address. What are we as educators and parents teaching our children?

Save our babies

AMERICANS GOING to China and other countries to save the whales need to concentrate on staying here in our country and protecting the unborn, innocent babies who are murdered in the name of abortion.

Energy money

WHY IS it that, when a couple of groups of local investors want to put in plants to create energy here instead of sending all of our energy money overseas to Arab terrorists, people say they don't want economic development? They don't want plants. They don't want jobs. They don't want anyone making money except Arab terrorists. I don't understand.

Down the tubes

ACROSS THE country, you hear about police officers mistreating people, teachers running off with students and elected officials using their positions to engage in illegal activities. Our morals and ethics are going down the tubes. It's time we brought God back into our lives.

New gallery

I APPLAUD Southeast Missouri State University art students and their parents for providing a new gallery downtown in Cape Girardeau for contemporary art called "Untitled." It is important that tourists can see fresh ideas that represent Southeast Missouri. It is a showcase for upcoming artists being educated in art. This original art will be more affordable to the public. The gallery takes no commission. All the money goes to the artists. I'm looking forward to the gallery being open more hours and more pieces to see in the future.

Pay for schooling

TO THOSE that want the freedom to choose the school their students attend, you already have that freedom. Enroll your student in Jackson if you live in Cape Girardeau, pay the tuition and take care of the transportation. Do not expect the taxpayers of Jackson to pay for the education of your choice.

Consider the carp

FIRST THERE was the peanut and the historic work of George Washington Carver. Next came the soybean and its extreme importance. Please consider the freshwater carp. The cooked flesh is firm, white, flaky with little oil and has a light, natural flavor. Cooked properly or canned or pickled, this fresh-water resource could be an excellent food for the global population, suitable for aquaculture production.

Too dry for fish

THE NEW Madrid spillway that was described as a swamp and wetland has been so dry this summer that it's all dried out. It's like a desert. In fact, the crops weren't good except for where they were irrigated because it was way too dry this summer. It is not really a fish hatchery.

Haunted house

I HAVE an idea. Next October, let's take that empty federal courthouse on Independence Street and decorate it for a haunted house. We could charge admission and get some of our money back.