SPEAKOUT

Justice will be done someday

IS THERE no justice left in the world? You know, the family of Debra Poch really didn't need to hear again on TV that she was drinking alcohol. Do any of you all drink alcohol? Do any of you all come in at 12 o'clock at night? No one will ever know what really happened to Debra Poch, but some day justice will be done because God knows.

Shooting was unjustified

I WAS just calling in regards to the man who shot the woman. I think that was unjustified. Even a police officer has to know who he's shooting at or he'd be in trouble.

It's just a mistake

HAS MORLEY Swingle's brain slipped a cog? I guess anybody who's at the door -- a pizza boy, salesman, whoever -- at night and you're scared can be shot right through the door. And it's not murder. It's not manslaughter. It's just a mistake.

Not guilty due to paranoia

ALTHOUGH MY heart goes out to all involved in the Spanish Street tragedy, I must protest Mr. Swingle's decision. I think Mr. Bucher's action was reckless and negligent and he should be prosecuted. Following Mr. Swingle's logic, we can all watch the crime report on the evening news, shoot our neighbor and declare ourselves not guilty due to paranoia.

Shooting wasn't wrong

I'D JUST like to say that the man who killed the woman here in Cape had all rights in the world to own a gun and to protect his home and the ones who was inside. I see nothing wrong with what he did. Another thing, I think our district attorney did what was right.

Youngsters are unsupervised

I'D LIKE to address the problem of the kids who feel it's necessary to walk down the middle of the streets instead of using the sidewalks. I'm surprised there hasn't been a major accident of a group of kids being run over because they refuse to use sidewalks like they're intended to be used. Plus, now I have to worry about being bombarded with fireworks as I'm driving because unsupervised kids use the streets as war zones, shooting big rockets at each other plus cars instead of using the fireworks safely and from their back yards. Do the parents of these kids really not care about what they're kids are doing and where? I would like to know what the parents are thinking. A little parenting now is better than a call from the hospital saying your kid has been injured or killed because he walked down the middle of the road or was too young or immature to be shooting fireworks off unsupervised. Doesn't Cape have some laws for this? And why can't the parents do a little policing of their kids on their own?

City paid for park land

I JUST read the letter about Gwen Winningham in Jackson. She did not donate that land. She was paid for that land for the city park.

Gwen Winningham is appreciated

I'D LIKE to second the letter about Gwen Winningham that she doesn't even get half the credit she deserves. Gwen has given of time, hard work, land, money and so forth for the city of Jackson to have such a beautiful area. You might say Gwen has given up most of her possessions for us to have places to enjoy. This includes the youths of our area also having places to go. Many thanks to Gwen. You're appreciated and loved by more than you might know.

Regarding the school decision

CHILDREN MAY pick their own schools they want to attend. This is get-well wishes and a quick recovery by the Cape school board members who recently had their backbones removed. Maybe sympathy cards would be better for children they are affecting. Wouldn't it be nice to have more members who could think of the children and make a decision for them and decide where everyone is going to school? Did you parents really win? I think not.

Build grade schools first

HAS EVERYONE at the university gone out of his mind? Why don't they just gut the entire thing and start building again? Every time we pick up the Southeast Missourian all we see is what SEMO wants to do. I cannot believe that Gov. Carnahan would go along with giving them any kind of money. We need grade schools. Somebody better do something.

Take defensive action

WITH THE number of murders that have taken place in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area during the last 20 years, it is beyond my comprehension how anyone can suggest that if a person hears someone trying to break into his home or break down the door, the individual should check who's trying to break down the door. If someone is trying to break down your door, waiting until you're absolutely certain the person means to do you bodily harm means that you may very well end up one of those murder victims. How many of the murder victims of the last 20 years ended up victims because they did not take defensive action soon enough?