Speak Out 7/3/06

Prayers for chopper

IN ADDITION to saying a prayer for an accident victim or someone ill and needing emergency transport, please remember those aboard a LifeBeat helicopter. We live on the flyway and each time a chopper passes I say a prayer for the safety of the crew and the wellness of the patient they are transporting. The power of prayer is greatest when delivered with sincerity and without a self-serving agenda.

Dropout drain

THE DROPOUT rate at Central High School is 22 percent. With the population holding in Cape Girardeau, that indicates that certain problems are not being addressed at the high school for that many kids to drop out. Why isn't the administration held accountable for a school climate that is not parent- or student-friendly? It's all about the top 5 percent and not much about the lower 50 percent. We have to make changes to reach all students. Kids who drop out become a drain on society.

Jackson schools

ONCE AGAIN, Jackson School District has manipulated circumstances to get what it wants. It seems obvious the administration had no intentions of hiring anyone who applied for the high school principal's position. One of their major excuses for wanting to hire Rick McClard was that he knew the high school buildings and property so well. If that's the case, why not hire the custodian of the high school buildings or someone from maintenance? I'm sure they know every nook and cranny of the property. It also amazes some of us how Jackson has escaped the judgment Bell City is facing. For now, Jackson schools seem to be flourishing. Just remember, they bigger they are, the harder they fall. Your taxpayers are watching.

Bad behavior

I SAW the young men who were in the camp to recruit men for nursing careers. They had camouflage shirts saying "No girls allowed." Could someone tell me why they were at the train in Arena Park scaring young children away with their behavior? They were throwing wood shavings everywhere by the train and also playing on the train. Their behavior was ridiculous.

Parking-lot safety

I HAVE a car with bucket seats. When I back up, it's hard to turn around to look out the back window. Even if I could, the roof blocks a lot of the view. I have to use my mirrors. When you're walking down the aisles of a parking lot and see a car backing up, look out. A lot of times, those drivers have limited view and can't see behind them all that well. Either stop or take a wide walk around the car, because there's a chance the person driving the car may not see you.

Great fun

WHAT GREAT fun it was to watch the First Annual Downtown Golf Tournament. You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy that. We look forward to the second annual.

Trail repairs

WHY WON'T Jackson fix the trail around the lake where the roots have pushed up the asphalt? It's been that way for months.

Good emcee

I'M CALLING in regard to the Scott City Summerfest. I was impressed with the woman who emceed the pageants. She did a wonderful job. She was so polite and kind and was entertaining in between. She did a good job.

Thanks to mentors

THANKS TO all the women who are mentors to the young moms in the Missouri Mentoring Partnership. You are wonderful and make a difference in the young parents and children we serve.

Time to talk

I WANT to thank the nice young man on his bike on the bike trail by the water fountain. I was out there with my son and another gentleman riding our handicap carts. It was the first time I had been out like that. He stopped and took time to talk to us. He was very friendly. We talked about Jesus. He goes to Cape Bible Church. God bless him, and God bless all of you. I wish there were more people who cared about individuals no matter what they talk about.

Capital comparison

I DON'T understand what all the fuss is about. The gentlemen's club across the river in East Cape Girardeau bears a striking resemblance to our nation's capital. It too is filled with people lacking moral fiber and willing to do most anything for a dollar.

Moving on

I READ a Speak Out comment from someone who apparently wasn't as well-educated as the handicapped student he was criticizing for graduating from high school. I have two children who are mentally handicapped and graduated from high school. They learn to the best of their ability while they are in school, and they earn their diploma just like the rest of the students. People need to let these young adults go on with their lives as best they can.

Flood plain woes

I READ your article on the issue with Alexander County and the flood plain. I live in Olive Branch, Ill., and have had nothing but grief since moving here. The problem is not with the ordinances or any regulation that we have to abide by. It's the fact you can't get answers for any questions. If you were to ask any of the county leaders, you would get a blank stare. My father and I went to a Union County meeting to talk with a representative from the state to get some answers, most of which we received. Alexander County is creating its own problem by not keeping its residents informed. I am in favor of this flood plain so I can sell my house and move elsewhere. If FEMA can rebuild coastal homes for hundreds of millions of dollars, I don't think our small county would be a problem.

Partial answer

IT IS astounding, if we really think about it unemotionally and realistically, to discover that our educational system may have a policy that allows students to learn "to his/her ability. ... After they have achieved all they can, they graduate." Perhaps that answers some of the questions many of us have regarding what has happened to our educational system the past few decades. My 44-year-old brother, who is 6 years old mentally, could have been a high school graduate?

Special rights

THE 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that "No State shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Why does the Senate immigration bill give special consideration to illegals that are denied to citizens?