Speak Out 8/13/04

Picking up trash

WHILE WALKING the Osage Trail last Saturday morning, we met a nice bunch of young people that were picking up trash dropped by unthinking people. They were very friendly. I told them I would call Speak Out and tell of the kindness they were doing. Thank you.

Money returned

I WOULD like to say thank you to Pamela Turlin of the J.C. Penney Beauty Salon who returned my money to me. It just proves that there are still a lot of honest people in the world. Thank you very much, Pamela.

Time to change

I FEEL it will be a wonderful gesture if the Jackson School Board would consider renaming the Jackson Indians after possibly the Redhawks like Southeast Missouri State University did to alleviate this problem with the derogatory comments that run down our Indians. As a former alumnus of the class of 1969, I think it would be great for the school board to remove the Indian name and update to a more proper mascot-type name. I like Redhawks. I think it would be a good coordination with the university since we're so close.

Inspiring article

I JUST wanted to say how much I appreciated the article about Miss Lilly Watson, the foster parent who had her first foster child graduate from high school. I thought it was a nice article, and it was inspiring. Thank you.

Ask the developers

TO THE person who wants a water park in Cape Girardeau: Why don't you call all the developers in this area and ask them why they don't build one? They're the ones with the money. Why should the taxpayers pay for it?

Missing lawn ornaments

I'M THE type of person who takes pride in my yard and surroundings. I have a hard time trying to figure out what type of person would remove a gazing ball and pedestal from my front yard. Many of these gazing balls have been taken in Scott City. I have very little respect for anyone who is doing this. I'm sure others feel the same way.

Don't just fiddle

SINCE DAVID Broder is the only sensible syndicated columnist in the Southeast Missourian, I'll go along with his stipulation that we shouldn't rush to implement the 9-11 commission's recommendations. I can only hope and pray that he is correct and that history does not someday record that, like ancient Rome under Nero, we continued to fiddle.

Help with reading

IT IS time to educate everyone about reading coaches. Federal funding is paying the salaries. Reading coaches are for students who need extra reading help. With legal issues concerning mainstreaming and inclusion of students with any type of special needs, it is essential that there is someone who can give those students extra help. Reading coaches are not being used because classroom teachers cannot do their jobs. They are being used to help out the students who need that extra help so classroom learning can keep moving onward. This is a positive solution to a nationwide illiteracy epidemic.

Fence them in

PARENTS NOT only need to build a fence around their pools to keep other children out, they need a fence to keep their children in. I saw a women sitting in her pool while her child was in the street in his diaper.

Let them pay taxes

NOT-FOR-PROFITS operating fitness centers demand to be tax exempt yet are in direct competition with fitness centers operated by entrepreneurs who must pay taxes. I say tax them both.

Build your own

HERE'S SOMETHING those whining for a Cape Girardeau water park may be interested in: The Poplar Bluff water park isn't owned or operated by the city. It is a private venture. If it's that important to you to have a water park and you think it will be a great success, stop waiting for government to provide for you and go build your own.