SPEAKOUT

School neighbor says thanks

I WOULD like to thank the principal, teachers and police who have given time and effort in maintaining order around the residences of Central High School. We have very crowded conditions in this area. A new Central High School should be a top priority.

Bombing was a warning

NOW WE know why the Chinese embassy was bombed in Yugoslavia. It was to warn the Chinese to keep their mouth shut about traitor Clinton accepting Communist Chinese money to get re-elected in exchange for nuclear intelligence info to China. Three Chinese are testifying about money swapped for the nuclear info. The Chinese may be the undoing of Clinton and show him up for what he is: a traitor to America for self-aggrandizement.

Suggestion: Move to Hollywood

HOW LUDICROUS of Hillary to say the Clintons had been ostracized because they came from Arkansas. And she now has decided Arkansas or Illinois is not good enough for her and Bill. They will go to New York after his scandal term is over. Hollywood would be more fitting as they could wallow with the low-lifes they have become.

Just a coincidence

I THINK the article about the town nuts written by Heidi Nieland appearing in the paper on the same day that Alan Journet's letter to the editor regarding Bond's petition drive is just really hilarious and a real coincidence.

Didn't like cigarette wrapper

I AM very, very disappointed to see the wrapper on my Sunday newspaper advertising cigarettes. I don't think this is appropriate, and I feel like it should not happen again.

Memorizing Bible verses

IT CONTINUES to amaze how some people justify their criticism of other people with verses from the Bible. They end usually with the assessment that they probably go to church every Sunday. I would suggest that people who do go to church know more about what they speak of than those who memorize self-serving verses. Mean, narrow-minded hypocrites? Sounds like something from Bill Clinton's dictionary.

The voice of experience

I'M A middle-aged who that had a child young in life. Fortunately, I had a young man that loved me. We married, and I wouldn't give anything for that child, nothing on this earth would be enough for giving him up. I would have been proud to be on the front page of my paper even though I had a child at 15 and was three-months pregnant when I was married. It's time that we quit judging. We should all set an example for our young people, whether our children, you know, get pregnant, whether they take drugs, whether they drink, but most of all, we should set an example to be a Christian in front of our children and then our children would live in a better place. Those who judge will be judged in the end.

No flagpole at Osage Centre

I NOTICED on the front page of the Southeast Missourian that a ceremony honoring our veterans will be held at the Osage Community Centre. As of this writing, there is no flag pole at the center for the American flag. The newspaper gave more than adequate publicity for a city flag. Would it not be proper to publicize the need for a flag pole at Osage Centre? Please, Cape, be proud of our country.

Good job, regents

THE SOUTHEAST Missouri State University Board of Regents is to be congratulated on creating two new administrative positions at a cost $200,000 while appointing a president who has never taught a class. Good job.

Make Riverfest earlier or later

HERE'S SOME suggestions for people organizing Riverfest. Hold the event earlier like in May when the weather is cooler and the university is in town. Maybe you can get a lot of fraternities and sororities to help volunteer for Riverfest as a community service. In June, most of the college kids are gone and a lot of people are on vacation and gone. I think you would get more turnout either in the fall of the year when it's cooler or in early spring. Again, you may run into rain either way, but it seems like in June, you run into rain almost every single time anyway, and it's hot and humid. People don't want to walk downtown in that type of atmosphere.

Call in the Army engineers

I'M A veteran of the Korean War from an engineer battalion. I just watched on the news where they're going to close the bridge that goes from Cape over into Illinois. The regular Army engineers have pontoon bridges that would go across the Mississippi one way and another pontoon bridge the other way temporarily until they get the darn bridge finished. I wish someone would look into it.

Concerns about the bridge

REGARDING THE Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge: I wonder whose head's going to roll in Jefferson City for making the boo-boo on this bridge, which started out at $51 million, I believe, to build. Now it's going to cost $100 million. The old bridge is falling down. The understanding I get, Missouri DOT performed two drillings on this rock bed where they're having the problem now. Somebody's head should roll in Jefferson City, because somebody's not doing his job. I cannot understand why they can't double up crews on this new bridge and get this new bridge built before the old bridge falls down, which is apparently what it's going to do. Somebody needs to pay for the mistake they made on this bridge. When it goes from $51 million to $100 million, something's wrong. I don't believe the bridge will ever be built.

Need buses, storm warnings

I THINK it's time that the city of Cape Girardeau quits backing the university and get the senior citizens and other citizens public transportation and some kind of an alarm system for tornadoes. They say watch the news on KFVS, but let it lightning or storm, and the TV goes off. So we need some kind of a warning system, and we some kind of public transportation system. We don't need anymore college remodelings or fountains or river campuses. We need to take care of the people here.

Against school uniforms

I WOULD like to comment on the Perryville School District's uniform issue. I don't believe that's necessarily a good idea for students to wear uniforms. Freedom to dress as you please is one of the benefits that comes from attending a public school. If administrators are worried that students may be hiding guns and other things in their clothing, maybe they should enforce the dress codes more firmly or even tighten them up a little. It is important students be comfortable when sitting in a classroom hours on end. They will be able to relax and concentrate better. There's also the issue of purchasing special uniforms. This may be unreasonable for some families.

Spend the money locally

IN READING the evening paper, I noticed where the university had to go to Texas to find a capable architect for the Kent Library renovations. Most other businesses around Cape can find local architects, or at least architects within a 100 miles radius. Why are our architects not capable of doing for the university? If it's necessary to spend all that money at the university, at least they should be able to keep it local.

Board member confuses duties

I'M AN area high school teacher who read with interest your article in the May 25 paper in which Bob Fox is quoted several times in his opposition to elimination of the second preparation period at Central High School. He says that he's taking this stand because he believes as a board we need to stop making decisions that alienate our staff. Mr. Fox is mistaken in what his role as a board member is. His role as a board member is not to worry about whether he alienates the staff or makes them happy. I think he's got his duties as a husband mixed with his duties as a board member. His duty as a board member is to do what is best for the community and a district as whole. And he says that eliminating the second prep will not save money, but it will. In some of the larger departments, one teaching position will be removed. One teaching position removed is in excess of $20,000 per year saved in future salaries. When you multiply that the number of affected departments, that is a savings, and I don't know how he can think we as taxpayers are so foolish that we cannot see that. Furthermore, Mr. Fox says that there is a popular opinion that the area schools do not have one preparation period. I have called every school in the area as far south as Sikeston and East Prairie and as far north as Ste. Genevieve. Other than Jackson where some teachers have one prep and some teachers have two, we are the only school district that allows two preparation periods for secondary teachers. Mr. Fox, I really think you need to separate your role as a husband from your role as a school board member. Stop worrying about alienating your wife and her friends and start doing what's best for the taxpayers, the students and this district, or you won't be re-elected the next time you're up for office.

Showed some common sense

I WOULD just like to say thank you to the Cape Girardeau School Board for its continuing effort to drive off our best teachers by making bad decisions on pay schedules and working conditions, specifically, the elimination of the second prep period. Because of you, all of our good teachers are applying to other districts, and the other districts will be the ones that reap the rewards for your mistakes. Bob Fox is the only one who has any common sense out of the whole group.

A foolish decision

THANK GOODNESS Bob Fox is willing to take a stand on our school board to vote against eliminating the teacher preparation hour. Not only is he correct that it will be less likely to alienate the faculty. but think of the endless hours we sit and wonder about what is happening to our children. Wouldn't it stand to reason that if our teachers, who we expect way too much of already, are less alienated and more respected that they'd be better able to help our kids? All of you who voted to scrap the prep hour acted foolishly and should reconsider your way of thinking before the school year begins.

Get up-to-date library materials

KENT LIBRARY'S biggest need is not renovations. It needs updated materials. When you go to Kent Library to research, one of two things usually happens. Either there are no materials related to your subject or they date back to the 1950s and 1960s which is usually unacceptable to professors.