Speak Out 8/28/05

Unsafe training

COACHES IN Jackson are having kids run up and down busy streets after school. I'm not Einstein, but it wouldn't be hard for me to understand some kid getting hit. The coaches need to find a safer place for those kids to run.

Good mileage

I AGREE gasoline is high, but the people who use the gas are at fault because they will not change their driving habits. We went to Sedalia, Mo., to the state fair. I set the cruise on about 65 mph. Everybody on the highway passed me, but I didn't change my speed. Going there, we averaged about 27 miles per gallon, and coming back we averaged about 26 miles per gallon. This was in what is called a big car. But it shows you can get good gas mileage.

Road improvements

THERE ARE about 100 yards of highway at Center Junction between Jackson and Cape Girardeau that don't have asphalt shoulders. It's about time that the Missouri Department of Transportation paved those shoulders and made the entrance to I-55 South longer. It would be safer for all and improve traffic flow.

It could happen to you

THE WAY Wal-Mart is treating Debbie Shank is not surprising. Try being a small business and get the tax advantages that city fathers fall all over themselves to give Wal-Mart. Pretty soon there will be a few large retailers that will control everything. When that happens, what is happening to Debbie Shank will be the rule rather than the exception.

Lost dog

IF ANYONE has lost a dog in the vicinity of Independence Street and Sprigg or Pacific streets, I took it to the police station because I didn't want it to get hit. The police took it to the Humane Society's animal shelter.

Funny and smart

I'VE LOVED Heidi Hall's columns. I'm so sorry she is discontinuing them. Humor is always relevant, as is an intelligent opinion, and her columns are both funny and smart. I'm not a subscriber because I no longer live in or near Cape Girardeau, but I have friends in the area, so I occasionally read the Southeast Missourian electronically. The first thing I do is check for a column from Heidi or Joe. Thanks for the pleasure she's given me.

Robertson is right

I JUST heard about Pat Robertson's statement about the dictator in Venezuela, and I agree with him. People don't like that. They may think it isn't Christian, but sometimes a bullet is the only answer whether we like it or not.

Stricter regulations

THE NEW fuel-mileage regulations for SUVs are not stringent enough. The automakers in the last few years have increased horsepower tremendously in the vehicles they produce for no reason other than to satisfy someone's ego. This is ridiculous. The government needs to put more stringent controls on the car manufacturers. Motorists will complain about gasoline prices, but they won't care enough to drive economically.

South side problems

I DON'T know how to explain what the south side of Cape Girardeau is all about. I've lived here 13 years, and I haven't been up many of these streets on the south side after dark. But tonight I had to go up one of them because I couldn't get past the kids playing basketball in the street. I've lived in St. Louis and a few other big towns, and those towns have nothing on us. It's really a nightmare down here. Come down here and take a look. I can understand why it isn't cleaned up, because it's pretty dangerous out there.

See for yourself

I HAVE only missed one Thursday night since the Cowboy Church started about two years ago. I receive a blessing from every sermon and spiritual music. Come and visit the Cowboy Church sometime. It just may be the night the pastor preaches the sound-doctrine message on gossip and hearsay. Let's love one another.

You will be missed

TO HEIDI Hall: I will miss your columns. I always looked forward to your nonsense. I hope someone gets this to you and lets you know that you will be missed. Much happiness in your future.

School is too small

I THINK Cape Girardeau School District taxpayers have been sold a bill of goods. We're in our fourth year in our new high school, which was supposed to answer all of our problems. My child has a teacher who doesn't have a classroom. Her class moves from room to room because Central High School already is too small. This makes no sense to me. Football stadium? You won't get my vote. Remember when we were told that Schultz School was horrible and nobody could have classes there? We're using Schultz again for the alternative school, and it's working just fine.

It's not boring

I CAN'T believe Heidi Hall thinks her weekly column is boring. Please don't leave us, Heidi. We will miss you.

Movie credits

I'D LIKE to thank Chuck Martin of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Jim Dufek at the university for getting the movie in Cape Girardeau. They deserve all the credit. This is going to be a big deal for Cape Girardeau.