SPEAK OUT

Cleanup request

TO THE genius whose bright idea it was to patch roads north of Cape Girardeau with tar mixed with asphalt, I'd like to take this opportunity to personally invite this person to wash and scrape the underside of my car this weekend.

Student recognition

Regarding the Scott City High School commencement program: I was there and thought the graduating class handled its part of the program very well. Those young people could have used some assistance from the school faculty and board. The valedictorian and salutatorian were allowed three minutes each to do their speech. How many minutes would have been given to any other speaker who might have been asked to speak? The valedictorian and salutatorian were not introduced with a grade-point report or any other special recognition, which was certainly due them, being that they led the class in grade points. As far as the girl who did not live to graduate with the class, there was also another classmate who had died from medical problems. This year's valedictorian and salutatorian each carried in a parcel of red roses. They laid them in the two empty chairs among the rest of the class in honor of the two deceased classmates. When all of them marched out, the valedictorian and salutatorian gave the roses to the mothers.

Poor scheduling

I'D LIKE to know why whoever schedules the city's street work scheduled the work for Arena Park's road at the height of summer when people are trying to get to and from sports and other activities at the park. We were trying to get to a game, and they've closed off another road. We had to go all the way over to Clippard Elementary School just to get to the ballfield at Arena Park. This work could have been done earlier in the year or after summer was over when the fair was finished. There needs to be some accountability from these people who schedule street projects. They tear up the same streets three and four times. They tear up the streets around SEMO every August, right when the students are coming back. And now they tear up Arena Park's street right at the height of summer. Do they not have any sense? Do they not have any consideration for the people who live here?

Elder-snoops

I THINK the senior citizens in Cape Girardeau are rude and always sticking their noses in other people's business. I think the older people should stay out of other people's business and live their own lives.

Evil spirits

IN REFERENCE to today's headline, "McVeigh in good spirits in final day." I think it was very inappropriate. I don't think anyone is concerned about his good spirits. He has evil spirits. I wish you could have used some other way to convey the message of his execution today.

Bad comparison

A SPEAK OUT caller says people judge Bill Clinton by comparing President Bush's daughter to a man who had sex in the White House and lied under oath. I'm shocked, but wouldn't you expect this reaction from a liberal? Don't decency, values or honesty mean anything?

Farmer's wife -- again

I HAD to laugh when I read about the angry police officer's wife's comment. I don't know how many times I've seen a police officer at a stoplight while someone ran a red light and he just sat there. Or the time my husband was working at his job and saw two officers standing outside eating doughnuts at our substation, which they close early. Has her husband ever got kicked or chased by angry bulls or pigs? Have bugs eaten him up when he's out working late night? Almost got shot by illegal hunters on his land? Had a tractor roll over on him? Tonight when her husband is sitting in his air-conditioned car going through the fast-food drive, remember where that meat came from. Also, my husband won't be parking his tractor at a motel or the veteran's home hoping it will do his job for him.