SPEAKOUT

Not the whole package

I LIVE in the Jackson school district. I think that even though we might not be in favor of the taxation coming up on the bond issue, the schools are very crowded. The junior high needs to be fixed. What makes the public mad is that they attach different things to it. In order for us to pass the junior high, we have to pass the new elementary school issues too. I just don't think that's fair. I know they need the junior high. If we change our school board, we might have a better voice, and they might listen to our concerns.

Casting the first grain of sand

AS THE Bible says, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. To my Republican friends, I would like to say, you are really over the edge in your attacks on Clinton and Gore. In the last few years you have foisted off on the American public Newt Gingrich, Bob Livingston, Henry Hyde and Dan Burton, just to name a few of your phony adulterers who acted so sanctimonious until caught. If you follow what God said, the most you would be able to do is throw a fine grain of sand and that very gently.

Don't lower blood-alcohol limit

SPEAK OUT, I want to voice my opinion about the senator who's going to vote against lowering the legal blood-alcohol limit. I commend people like him. I appreciate intelligent people. After all, he's right. An experienced drinker can blow 0.1 and not even be impaired. In fact, I think they ought to raise the legal limit. Look at all the other people they let drive on the roads. And they don't say anything about the elderly people, people with poor vision, people with health problems, those who try to drive when they're sleepy. Nothing's done about them, so why should they bother people like me?

Scaring the birds away

I SEE where the city council on recommendation of the chief of police has decided to outlaw bottle rockets in Cape Girardeau. Bottle rockets, especially those that have the scream to them, are very useful in preventing blackbirds from covering up your trees and your house. I wonder if the city is going to spend time moving these birds somewhere else or if they're going to pursue arresting people that use bottle rockets to frighten away the blackbirds.

Bottle-rocket ban is good

THIS IS a first. I'm proud of the Cape City Council for having the initiative to stop the sale and discharge of bottle rockets. Most states have already discovered these are potential weapons. Now if Jackson will just join the 21st century and ban them also. Every year it's like a war zone. A person has to get out and hose everything down a few times a day, especially when there's a dry season going on. So thanks to a few of you on the council for doing the right thing. We can have plenty of fun watching the professionals handle the gunpowder. I'd like to see fireworks banned completely, but I know that's impossible with all the money behind them.

Mildly drunk is more dangerous

ON THE Opinion page, someone says he is against the 0.08 percent drunk driving law. He is sadly misinformed. As a police officer with 34 years of experience, I can tell you that the person driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 to 0.15 percent is the most dangerous driver on the road. The law is not drunk driving, it's driving under the influence, which is a different thing. Under the influence means that their perception and judgment are impaired just enough to create a problem. These are the people you don't know are drunk until they cause an accident. The ones with higher blood-alcohol content are obviously drunk, and you can see them coming. That doesn't mean they shouldn't also be arrested.

In time, you'll find friends

I'M CALLING about the Speak Out item about Jackson problem. It's a small-town snob problem. I moved to Southeast Missouri over 10 years ago. Nobody knew who I was, what I stood for, what my family stood for, my values or my morals. They didn't know if I was a victim of incest, if I was an ax-murderer or if I was the valedictorian of my graduating class. All they knew is what they saw. I also attended church on a regular basis. Ten years later, people know who I am and what I stand for. And I am very well-liked in my community. It has taken a long time to get to that point. This is a small community. People in the cities don't care who their neighbors are. In a small town, you're related to one another, everybody knows what you did when you were in kindergarten and what you did when you graduated. Give it time. You'll find out that Southeast Missouri is a wonderful place to live and to raise your children and to be a part of.

Welcome back, Heidi

I JUST wanted to say how very much I enjoy Heidi Nieland's column. I really missed her when she quit writing for a while. I hope she continues to write and stays with the Southeast Missourian. Hurray for Heidi!

It's front-page news

WE HAD people call Speak Out about the SEMO Indians being on the front page instead of being on the sports page. They did a great job. They deserved the front page. Then we had someone complain about Heidi Nieland's column being a waste. I love her column. Keep up the good work, Missourian.

Council meeting was a fiasco

I ADMIRE those who get involved with city government and have an interest in civic matters. A few may seek importance and prestige, but not the majority. I think the councilmen should have more input than "I second the motion" on most topics. However, the last city council meeting was a fiasco. I disagree that there's no revisiting any action taken by the council. Ordinances and city laws aren't written in stone. There are mistakes made, as when allowing alcohol sales and so on too close to a day care. The voting on the fireworks and property upkeep ordinance was a joke. No one knew what they were voting for or against, or even the results. By the way, does anyone understand the gentleman who reads the proposed ordinances?

Coordinate stoplights

I JUST noticed an item in Speak Out about the traffic signals in Cape Girardeau. It amazes me how you can go to cities such as Murphysboro, Carbondale and Marion and seem to drive straight through town without ever having to stop at a stop light because they're set appropriately to do so. But if you come through Cape Girardeau late at night when no one else is out, it's amazing how many times you have to stop. In all four directions the lights are turned red. I'd think whoever had this brainchild on setting these lights would understand it's more fuel efficient if we could drive straight through town. The traffic would flow much quicker after everybody gets off work trying to get home. Maybe the city officials or whoever's in charge of setting the lights need to rethink and try to do something since we're all in a big fuel crunch in this country.

Stay-at-home mom by choice

I'D LIKE To say I'm a stay-at-home mom, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Sure, if I went back to work I'd be able to buy that expensive house or car, but it's not worth it. They grow up so fast. I admit money gets tight some months, but we budget, and this way we get to watch our kids grow up. It's great. I realize some people can't afford to do this. There are single parents out there who can't. But I watch around me and see a lot of people who could.

Jackson tax would go up

I'D LIKE to relate to the voting citizens of the Jackson School District some truths of the coming election that are not readily available without searching for it. The proposed school levy will total $3.76 per $100 of evaluation as compared to the past year's $3.21, which is an increase of 55 cents. Did you know this?