Speak Out

Bob Miller's column about changing the mascot in Jackson makes sense to me. I have always been against using a person as a mascot, but it really hit home when Jackson hung a tiger high up on a crane and I realized that Cape could not do that to Jackson because they cannot hang an Indian. I even hated seeing the tiger hanging. Tasteless!...

Selfies prove you don’t have friends. Staged family photos prove your family doesn’t do things together. Using a random “thank you” post to lead into a post about your kid proves you’re humble bragging. That completes your lesson in how the rest of the world views Facebook posts ...

I would like to give the Saxony Lutheran High school girls basketball team a big shout out for making it to the state quarter finals and for winning their district for the seventh straight year. You have made your school and fans proud. Also, congratulations to coach Sam Sides for winning your 500th coached basketball game this past season. Go Crusaders!...

Biden and Bernie are starting to stump but no one should worry, neither one can beat Trump. I think the Republicans should investigate Adam Schiff for impersonating Edwin E. Newman of Mad Magazine; Maxine Waters for impersonating Aunt Esther of the Redd Foxx Show; and Dick Durbin for impersonating Mr. Roper on Three's Company. These investigations would be more fruitful than the Mueller probe...

A recent Speak Out about SEMO sports leads to a key question. Why is SEMO even a Division 1 program? Most SEMO teams are lackluster in performance and attendance compared to other teams in the OVC. They would probably be in the middle of their old D-II conference, the MIAA. They could still offer the same sports and continue to play their valuable "money" games. So the continually unanswered question -- Why is SEMO D-1?...

Last Saturday my husband had a medical problem while we were attending a ballgame at the Sportsplex. As I was trying to get him out to the car, a wonderful lady from Jackson and the staff of the Sportsplex rushed to help me. The staff brought a wheelchair and everyone helped me get him in our vehicle. I did not get any names but I would like to thank everyone for their help. We have wonderful people around us...

The article in the Southeast Missourian on March 5, re: the trash in the Red Star area was a good article. Dan Presson is the first city councilman to express his interest in Ward One in many years. KFVS did an excellent ride-along with Dan Presson to view the many areas of trash being dumped. The illegal dumping is a real problem...

Such a shame that the newspaper donates so many resources to covering Southeast Missouri State’s dismal basketball teams, but can’t dedicate a single article to our track and field athletes who competed in the OVC Championship meet. ...

People complaining about smaller tax refunds need to remember that the size of your refund has little to do with how much tax you actually pay. People largely have control over the size of their refunds by withholding more or less from their paychecks. If you get a large refund, that simply means that you paid too much and gave the government an interest-free loan. That is money you could have kept and spent as needed throughout the year, or saved in an account of your own...

More made up fake news, "The Smollett Story." ABC, CBS, NBC, and especially CNN have egg on their collective faces again. Watch any of these networks and then believe the exact opposite of what you see and hear. Mr. Knudtson outlines all the progress that has been made in bringing folks and dollars to Cape. ...

All streets need repaired; not just the ones on the north and west side. Too much emphasis is placed on the “nice” areas! I care about my home and vehicle, so fix our south-side streets also! ...

Again the voters of Cape voted for funds for a project without the EXACT details of the project. We vote for a swimming pool replacement and now getting neighborhood redevelopment. If the school board keeps changing the plans, it will soon be in Jefferson School, now attached to the school with a glass wall and concession in the school cafeteria. If Cape needed 15 million to build the quality pool that this city deserves, it should have submitted that to the voters...

Cape needs a refresh of its old slogans. Many moons ago we were the "City of Roses," then there was the strange "City of a Thousand Tales." More accurate and appropriate would be "City of a thousand potholes." The downhill sides of Mt. Auburn near apartment city are now alignment wreckers as are numerous others on Cape Rock...

Mayor Hahs told the Southeast Missourian readers that a "use tax is essential for city services." He must hope that we've essentially forgotten how essential the $300,000 park bathroom is and why it was essential to replace a pedestrian bridge that an engineer firm said didn't need replaced. I essentially reject your silly spending...

Investigation The Trump family needs to be investigated until someone gets to the bottom of all the lies around the interactions with WikiLeaks and the miscellaneous Russians. Trump could release his taxes. He could tell the truth on a regular basis. We won't hold our breath...

It's plain to see. We America have a President that has done more for America than any President. Democrats in Washington are upset because they wanted him to fail. I'm a Democrat in Missouri -- or was a Democrat. Being against the wall is not equivalent to being against border security, despite what Trump is repeatedly expounding. ...

Why does President Trump have to ask congress for permission to do anything at all, while Obama could do whatever he wanted on a whim with his pen? Sure is a double standard in this country depending which party occupies the White House. This week we learned that "executive time" constitutes 60 percent of President Trump's schedule. Most of that is spent watching television. What would you do if one of your employees spent 60 percent of their time watching television?...

Super Bowl was more of a Pooper Bowl. Puppy Bowl XV was more exciting by far! Go, team Ruff. ...

The narrative about girls joining Boy Scouts is that Girl Scout troops can't hike, camp, fish, etc. The truth is, Girl Scouts are what the troop wants to be. If they want to craft, craft. If they want to hike, hike. If parents and grandparents want the kids to have great scouting experiences, they should step up and volunteer!...

Wake me up when high school football returns. Instead of building a wall on the Mexico border, let's build a wall along the border of Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Let California have all the illegal immigrants along with Speaker Pelosi and all the other nuts out there...

Big thanks to all who braved the cold to serve others. My postman delivered to me. My newspaper was there early. Trash being picked up. Thank you to all who have to work outside even when the conditions are rough. Thank you to St. James Church and Salvation Army for taking care of the homeless. God be blessed that no one has frozen to death in our area. Could you imagine if the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics had taken place when the weather was with wind chill below zero?...

The shutdown is over. Will the Democrats realize this or will they do nothing on border security as always? They have 3 weeks to do something, but will probably go on vacation again instead. As the two major political parties claim victory for ending the partial government shutdown, there was only one winner -- Congress. ...

Speak Out has recently received several long comments, including one that was 308 words. Speak Out does not print comments of that length -- or near it. Letters to the editor are limited to 250 words, and we encourage you to submit your more in-depth comments there. Readers also tend to take signed letters more seriously. Thank you...

Is it a law or a courtesy to pull over and give the right of way to an ambulance? At Independence and Kingshighway today, I observed cars ignoring an on coming ambulance that had its lights flashing and was trying to move through traffic. Cars were not stopping but pulling out and crossing in front of it. Drivers! What if the person in that ambulance was you or a loved one and someone caused an accident that caused a delay getting you to the hospital that caused tragic results in your health...

The Democrats should hold firm until the government is reopened. Trump lies and does not honor his commitments. Bad faith negotiation is no negotiation. ...

The democrats have Trump and Obama mixed up. Obama was the hostage taker, Trump set the economy free with deregulation and tax cuts. The new "aquatic center" will NOT be a world class facility since it will NOT be Olympic-sized. We will lose our status as a swim hub between St Louis and Memphis. Please don't build half-court sized pool...