SPEAK OUT

Where are the movies?

I'M DISAPPOINTED in Cape's movie theaters. They have not brought us "Billy Elliot" or "Pollock." Do they think we in Cape are not capable of understanding the art?

A kind act

THIS IS to the anoymous man who picked up my hubcap when it fell off my car. Thank you for taking the time to find my car and return it to me. Most people wouldn't do such a kind act. This world needs more kind people like you.

Lost pin returned

I RECENTLY lost a silver suit pin at my doctor's office. Someone found it and turned it in at the receptionist's desk. Many thanks to that kind and honest person. The pin meant a lot to me.

In the dictionary

YOU'RE NOT going to believe this. I was thumbing through a new dictionary looking for the definition of "ferrous." While doing so, I ran across what must be a very recent entry. The word was "ferrellervinspeak" and was defined as a situation when a losing candidate for a board of education vacancy says the reason he lost is not the reason he lost.

Keep to the right

DID CAPE Girardeau put that right lane on Mount Aurburn Road just for me? It seems only a small handful of other motorists and I actually use it. Granted, it seems to be used mostly for passing. When are the residents of this area going to remember the rule about "slow traffic keep right"? It sure would be nice to have those reminders in this area. The majority around here seem to think the left lane is the place to be no matter how slow you are going. Get over and let people pass where passing was intended.

Post-election poetry

I DO not feel

for Ferrell.

Ferrell fired Fidler

and now foolishly

says firing Fidler

did not foil

his chance for

freedom from

public furiosity

over firing Fidler.

So, I do not feel

for Ferrell.

Ready for change

FERRELL ERVIN can kid himself all he wants, but the unnecessary firing of Randie Fidler definitely played a part in his defeat at the polls. He is right about one thing, though. We were ready for a change of leadership. One down, four to go.

No tax increase

THIS COMMENT is made to Jackson School Board members: You better think twice before you put a tax increase on the next ballot. It will not fly. People are tired of constantly being asked for more money. You need to remember one thing. We are the taxpayers, and we make the ultimate decision on how we spend our money.

It's never too late

THOUGH STILL early in the month, the Rip Van Winkle Award for April goes to the Speak Out caller warning us of an international communist conspiracy.

Liquor industry next?

NOW THAT the tobacco companies have been forced to pay up, when will the liquor industry be forced to pay up? It's a killer too.

No dirt, please

HILLARY ANGRILY said, "We don't need dirty water," referring to arsenic regulations. We didn't need a dirty White House either, but we got one.

Take a tax stand

I FIND it ironic that state representatives from St. Louis, along with the late Gov. Mel Carnahan, were against Missouri taxpayersgetting their hard-earned money back because of the Hancock Amendment, and now those same state representatives are trying to put even more tax burden on the citizens of Missouri because the millionaires who own the St. Louis Cardinals are threatening to leave the state if they don't get a new stadium. I say it's time to give our own threat. If this new stadium in St. Louis is approved, all Missourians will move out. Then our representatives can play all the baseball they want.

A bad wish

I OVERHEARD a coffee drinker state that he wished the economy would collapse so President Bush would take credit and the Democrats would take over the Senate and presidency next election. Can you believe this not caring what happens or what hardships it would inflict on our country?

Change prom date

CAPE CENTRAL High School is having its prom night on the same night as Jackson. Cape Central should change its time, because a lot of people will have dates who will only want to go to one prom that night. Since Central is a much smaller school than Jackson by about 200 students, I think it needs to change its date.

Target the devil

I HAVE just come from my Bible study group. We discussed that we need to get Christ back in this country. So let's just start a big revival and include everybody. Let's see if we can't get the devil on the run.

Kids want you

KISS YOUR kids goodnight. They don't want more money. They want you. Take all pill advertisements off the air. Doctors alone should prescribe pills, or maybe an older person whom life has given the recipe. Amen.

Pay child support

I'M A single mom with two kids. I'm working two jobs to make ends meet. I haven't been getting child support for the past two years because it suddenly stopped after four years. My ex-husband quit his job because I have two jobs. I called the prosecuting attorney and finally got my chance in court. I didn't get to speak. How can my ex-husband not pay child support for two years, but he can afford to get a lawyer to come to court? I don't think that is right.

Looking for officials

I called both the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office and the sheriff's department with information about a pending case. The deputy investigating the case wasn't available. When I told the person who answered the phone that I didn't want to leave a message on voice-mail, she told me that was all I could do. No one would take a message. When I called prosecuting attorney's office at 8:10 on a Monday morning, nobody was in that office. This raises a question. I've noticed that some of our county offices do not keep regular hours. Maybe it's time they start keeping the hours the taxpayers pay them to keep.

It's the company

I'VE LIVED in this area close to five years and have never felt that any men have talked down to me. I suppose it's where you hang out and the company you're keeping.