Speak Out 8/28/04

Drink whole milk

Pharmaceutical companies, television commercials and everything you see in the paper say whole milk is not good for you. But that's what caused me and my elder sister's osteoporosis. So I'm going to tell everybody in this country right now: You'd better drink your milk. Don't drink watered-down milk. That's not good for you unless you want osteoporosis.

Business ideas

HERE ARE ideas that could greatly benefit the economy of Missouri and its people: aqua-culture such as farming of freshwater fish, frogs, crayfish and snails; fresh flowers; herbs and spices; organic agriculture; nut production; and old crafts such as handmade fine furniture, hat making, glass blowing, ornamental hardware, handcrafted tobacco pipes, leather crafts, quilt making, fine handcrafted area rugs and jewelry making. Each of these trades require a relatively small amount of space and investment. Most can be exported. Get excited and get busy.

Spending ideas

I CAN'T believe the tourism board doesn't know what to do with the $1 million surplus. Why not buy a new fire truck for the city that would benefit the whole town? Or buy the tornado sirens that the town desperately needs.

Board doesn't listen

I'M SURE the Cape Girardeau School Board is very proud of its tax increase and can justify it all they want by saying it should have been done 10 years ago. Ten years ago we were told we had plenty of money. We passed a bond issue to build a high school. There's a reason no one at the board meeting spoke against the increase. Taxpayers have learned in the last two years that it doesn't matter if you go to a school board meeting, it doesn't matter if you speak, it doesn't matter if you bring in a petition with a lot of names. The board will still ignore us. The board ignored us on the study hall issue, on a coaching issue and all kinds of other things. They do whatever they want.

Robin Hood in reverse

I'M CALLING in about the Cape Girardeau School District tax increase. An endless supply of money is not out there. Robin Hood took from the rich to give to the poor. The school district is doing just the opposite, taking from the poor to give to the rich. That's my theory of the school tax.

Speeding on Pacific

I LIVE on Pacific Street between Independence and William streets. The speed limit needs to be enforced there. It's just like a drag strip all hours of the day. And there are kids who live on that street.

Vote on water park

I REMEMBER WHY the water park was voted down. It was on the ballot along with five other things that Cape Girardeau wanted, and the total amount was huge. Put the water park on the ballot by itself and watch it fly.

Low property taxes

CAPE GIRARDEAU is one of the least expensive places to live as far as real estate taxes go. I suggest people who think they pay too much in property taxes in Cape Girardeau check what real estate taxes are in other states. I will support the school board, because I think board members are trying to do the best job they can with limited resources in supporting the children of this community and providing an opportunity for them to have a competitive education.

Paying more for the fair

DOES THE SEMO District Fair Board think we're stupid? We used to pay $2 to park and $2 to get into the fair. So if there were four people in my car, we would pay $2 to park and $8 for the four to get in. That made the total cost $10. Now they're going to have free parking and $4 for each person to get in. That makes the charge $16. Tell me why.

Change bad habits

HEIDI HALL is in her 30s and needs to grow up. She's always talking about her bad habits of smoking and drinking, and she puts down people who look nice. If she's jealous of these people, she needs to change her bad habits.