speak out 4/14

Bluebird builder

SOMEONE COMMENTED in Speak Out thanking whoever was responsible for building the bluebird houses along the county roads. Richard Lewis, a retired citizen of our community, built many bluebird houses. He's up in his 90s now and a resident of the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. It would mean the world to him if you would send him a card or note thanking him for the bluebird houses.

A big responsibility

PARENTING SKILLS are different. Some people may do their best to be good parents but still fall way short. Schools can be a safety net for children. Teachers should know they have one of the greatest responsibilities of all. If home fails and school fails, what's left for those kids? Teachers should take great pride in helping turn a life around.

Matching hours

CAPE PUBLIC Library is open Sunday afternoons October through April only. School begins in August and ends in May or June. To best serve students, I think their Sunday hours should match the school schedule.

Potholes still there

I'M CALLING about Belleridge Pike in Woodland Hills Subdivision. The potholes are so big that your car drops off. It's been like this now for months.

Yellow ribbons

I THINK it's great that the seventh graders are doing this Operation Yellow Ribbon. I feel a lot of people need to get behind them and help. I know it's going to take a lot of volunteers. Our community needs to support them.

Gone to Syria

I'M WONDERING if we are going to hear something to effect that most of the Iraqi regime escaped to Syria and they took weapons of mass destruction with them.

Insurance rates

I DON'T live in the city of Cape, but I would encourage those of you who want a volunteer fire department to call your insurance agent and see how much your insurance would increase if Cape had a volunteer department. Be thankful for your firefighters and paramedics.

Cape needs the best

A CITY like Cape Girardeau needs a paid fire department. You need professionals who are capable of fighting that fire and putting it out. Cape Girardeau should want the best. Sometimes people need time to think and chew on new ideas. It's good that the city council has faith that the people will come around on certain issues and give them time to think about it.

Fund-raising idea

MISSOURI AND the Cape Girardeau could raise some money by catching the speeders on I-55 down by the Diversion Channel construction. The speed limit is 50 mph. Everyone seems to go 70 mph and 80 mph through there. The city could do the same thing by sitting on South Kingshighway when Central High School lets out. The students seem to think Kingshighway is a race track.

Still waiting

I THINK Dan Rather is a great reporter and reports the news as it is. He's fair.. We liberals want to see the weapons of mass destruction that President Bush claimed the Iraqis had. When it's all over, we wonder if Bush turn those oil wells back over to the people of Iraq. I only hope and pray that we were in the right.

Preschool advantage

SOCIO-ECONOMIC doesn't determine good ACT or SAT scores or report cards. That would be saying that only wealthy people should have children. One of the best things for raising children is a good preschool education. The public school is there to back the parents up by providing a good preschool education at affordable costs. This does not mean that you have to be poor for this. It just means that if you want your child to have a good chance, then it might be a good idea to have a a good preschool education.