Speak Out 7/30/07

Hilly campus

REGARDING SOUTHEAST Missouri State University students who park in residential areas around the university: I'm sure this must be irritating to residents in those neighborhoods, but it's hard to get around the campus. I was a student there not all that long ago when I was in my 40s. Some of the students are not your usual healthy 20-year-old. It would be OK if the campus were level. This is a university built on a hill. It's hard to struggle up and down these hills and get to class on time.

Drug tests for drivers

GRAVES COUNTY in Kentucky now requires students who drive to school to take drug testing. This is stupid and an infringement on teenagers' rights. It's not like you hear about a drugged-up teenager hitting another teenager going to school. If they're not a harm to each other, it's affecting their rights. Drug-testing polices are up to the school when it comes to sports players. I don't have to be drug tested when I get my driver's license.

Immigration lottery

IN ORDER to resolve the illegal immigrant problem, we must first secure our borders. Next we should decide how many of these people we can accommodate. Then a lottery should be held among the illegals with winners sworn in as citizens. Losers get on the bus. Winners may get on the bus if they choose. Losers cannot get off.

Deer in the evening

ON THE way back this evening along Old Sprigg Street Road in the bean patch were 10 deer. There were four to five babies. They were the prettiest things I ever saw. I stopped and rolled my window down, and they just looked at me. I said, "Fill your bellies, babies, the beans are free." Every evening I go out there and see deer. The prettiest animal God ever made was a deer. Next is dogs.

The last customer

IF A customer comes in five minutes before a restaurant closes, that is his prerogative. A place is not closed until it's closed. A place closes when the last customer is gone.

School nepotism?

I AM a graduate of Jackson High School who was active in sports and leadership while there. I also graduated from college with honors in my four core subjects. I applied for a job at Jackson and was interviewed. I was excited after I had a successful interview. I was let down when I heard that another family member was given the job. Take a look at Jackson's younger teachers. You will find that most of them are related to other people in the school district. Is this good for our school? Is this good for our district? Isn't this nepotism?

More classes, choices

I AM a former Central High School student. When I was there I was excited to have an extra class period. There were so many classes I wanted to take but wasn't able to take simply because of the required classes. Most students only have the ability to choose one elective because P.E. is required for several years on top of the five other required courses. I was only able to take foreign language one year, and I had to drop music. This really hurt me, and I wish I had been able to take more electives.

Weeds at state park

A BIG thank you to workers at Trail of Tears State Park. The weeds at the riverfront have been sprayed. Sunday was could enjoy the view of the tugs and the barge traffic on the river. Thank you.

Great work

COUNTY ROAD 318 looks fantastic. Thank you for your hard work. The improvements are much appreciated.

Customer service

ANYONE IN the serving business should accept customers whenever they come in. Or close your doors and let someone who wants to serve customers serve your customers.

Good location

I DON'T know why people are saying that putting the war memorials at the county parks would be hiding them when there are hundreds of people who use that park for exercise, family reunions, parties there or driving through there to see the Christmas lights. People are constantly using those parks. I have never been on the property of the Missouri Veterans Home. Putting a memorial there would be hiding it more there than it ever would be at Cape County Park.

Testing is good

I APPLAUD the decision by the Graves County, Ky., school district requiring mandatory drug testing. All schools should have mandatory drug testing. Why would any parent or guardian object? We need to be doing something. Drug use in our teenagers is out of control.

Security turnaround

GREAT JOB to the owners of Cape Meadows. The Cape Meadows Circle has made a complete turnaround from a few years ago. Children are out playing, and people feel 100 percent safer. Security cameras are a big plus. Thanks. My property value has also increased.

Bad policy

I WENT to a grocery store to cash a $1.80 check. I was told the store would be glad to cash the check, but I would owe the store 20 cents as it charges $2 to cash checks. That's the same logic being applied to the new Medicaid rule for pharmacists. Medicaid says mail-order pharmacies charge less, and that's what Medicaid is going to pay walk-in drugstores. The result is going to be people in small communities are going to have their local drugstore close, because those drugstores will be getting paid 36 percent less than what they paid out for the drugs. That's going to mean people are going to have to drive quite a way to get to a larger pharmacy. Call your lawmakers. Call Medicaid. Call somebody. Tell them what you think.

Municipal band

I WANT to thank the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band for playing for us every Wednesday. It is such a delight to sit under all those beautiful trees. The band members are so good to do that for us every week. The musicians play well, and I like their selections. I want to give my heartfelt thanks for doing that. I wish the band wouldn't quit so soon.