SPEAKOUT

It the taxpayers' money

THANK GOODNESS for Jim Drury. At least the taxpayers in Cape have someone backing them. The city fathers prefer to do it their way regardless of the outcome of the elections. We do not need the River Campus project. If the state thinks we do, then I think that should be put to a vote. Let the taxpayers decide, not the governor. It's not their money to use as they see fit. It is the taxpayers' money.

That wasn't drag racing

THERE WAS an article on the unfortunate accident out on Highway 177 where the two cars collided. While not trying to take away from the tragedy of the event, I'd like it to be known that they were not drag racing. Drag racing is an organized event done either in quarter- or eighth-mile increments, taking off from a standing start. As an avid drag-racing participant and fan, I'd just like it to be known that this person was no more of a drag racer than he was a stock car racer or any kind of racer. The driver was reckless, but he was not a drag racer. I don't want the sport of drag racing to be injured by this.

We need another Bush in there

I WISH that the person who called in about the fiscal deadbeats would remember that we've had a Democratic president in for eight years. You know, eight years is a long time. Reagan had to build up the military. It had been left in such bad shape that it was a shame. Yes, we need another Bush in there, folks. Please don't forget him when voting time comes in November.

It's taking a long time

WHAT'S GOING to get finished first: Bloomfield Road or the new bridge?

Single people have obligations

IN USA Today there was an article about parents with children in the workplace. My sisters are single, but they have obligations too. They have to care for our ailing grandmother, taking time away from their jobs to do this. An alternative would be to place our grandmother in a nursing home, where she would be very unhappy. Single people have their obligations too, not just married people.

Board has tunnel vision

DO THE taxpayers of Jackson School District understand the arrogance and egotism of the Board of Education? They offer only one option: the one they want. The board has admitted to the media that they will repeatedly spend your money to put this issue up for election time after time. Why does it choose to ram our throats? Why does it treat certain classes of the public as enemies and choose to not place them on the get-out-and-vote telephone lists? Why does it treat the public as being too ignorant to know what's good for it?

SEMO basketball, now and past

I AGREE with Marty Mishow's comment about Southeast Coach Garner. He was my choice, and he has done a great job. But I totally disagree with Mishow's analogy. If he's going to bring up anything about the past, which is inappropriate here, he should explain the eight-year rule that the previous coaching staff had to deal with, making recruiting quality players impossible. That was a great coaching staff also, including former head coach Ron Shumate, who still holds the winningest record in Southeast basketball history, including two national runner-up championships. I feel credit should also be given, since he brought it up.

Cape needs schools too

I'M JUST happy to see that Cape Girardeau is not the only school district that has problems. I'm glad that people are actually realizing that Jackson does have school problems too with their new and existing schools. They're growing as fast as Cape is. Cape needs new schools too. I hope Cape people see this and get on the bandwagon and get us a new school. Jackson is growing, but it's not near as good as Cape. Sounds like everything is not a bed of roses over there. I hope the Cape people wake up and realize it.

Mailman goes the extra mile

PEOPLE SAY a lot about the postal workers, but recently my wife put all our bills together, about 10 envelopes, and put them out to be mailed. A little bit later someone rang the doorbell. It was the mailman, who told us we had forgotten to put postage on our envelopes. He said he would wait while we put the stamps on. He went the extra mile for us, and I really appreciate it. They do a good job and they really help out.

Replace Schultz school

TAMARA IS right. The Schultz school building needs to be replaced. It is going downhill. But it has one of the best sets of teachers and staff in the entire district. It's a wonderful school. Maybe we should just replace it with a new Schultz school. We could build a new Schultz school for 400 students a lot cheaper than we could build a new high school for 1,600. It makes sense to replace the building that needs to be replaced.

Mules at the museum

SAM BLACKWELL's story about Terry Givens' mule breeding was very interesting. I've always heard mules were smart. Cape River Heritage Museum has a great pictorial exhibit about our Missouri mule. It also has other informative exhibits about the Show Me State and the Mississippi River.

Divisiveness is bad

I'M AN independent voter who has lived under 10 different presidents, I have never seen a president who has been more divisive than Bill Clinton. People either love him or despise him. Just read the Speak Out comments. Some callers think Clinton is the best president since Abe Lincoln, while others call him Slick Willie, pervert and any number of unflattering names. Without going into reasons for this rift, I simply want to state that this divisiveness is bad for our country. Al Gore might have some good ideas, but I'm afraid a Gore presidency, because of his close relationship with Clinton, will only prolong all of the bad feelings that have existed since 1992. With George Bush, we at least have a chance to be united once again. With Al Gore, no chance exists.

Outstanding musical

THE MUSICAL "My Fair Lady" presented by Cape Central High School was fantastic. We were truly impressed by the beautiful blending of the talented voices and the orchestra. Our sincere thanks to the cast, directors and all others for the many hours given to make this such an outstanding production and memorable experience.

No protection on drains

I LIVE in Jackson on the 300 block of Missouri Street, down behind the American Legion. I have constantly had to run small children out of these two large sewer drains that come down off the back road at the American Legion. I've gone to the city hall and to the city waterworks and told them about it. No one is making any effort to do anything about it. Recently I had to literally pull a small girl that had almost her whole body down in this rain drain. There are no shields or anything on them. I was just wondering if there was somebody who can take a look at this and do something about it before a child ends up getting drowned.

Inappropriate behavior

AT 8 o'clock on a Monday night I was at a local grocery store when I was almost trampled by 30 to 40 teen-agers. They bought canned whipped cream and sprayed it in their mouths and on the registers. It was repugnant. They said they were on a church-sponsored scavenger hunt. As a Christian, I do not think this is what God had in mind. I was shocked and dismayed at this inappropriate behavior, and I hope I will never have to witness this again.