SPEAKOUT

Watch speed on Greensferry Road

THIS IS for anyone who drives down Greensferry Road in Jackson. You need to slow down. The speed limit is between 30 and 35 mph. Someone almost hit me today because he was driving down the middle of the road instead of his own side. Luckily I honked my horn so the driver would get back in his lane. Someone's going to get hurt on that road. You really need to slow down. There are people walking and jogging and riding their bikes in the road. Drivers need to watch out for others and slow down on Greensferry Road.

Clemency for all conspirators?

SINCE MR. Clinton is so concerned about the Puerto Rican terrorists to whom he's granted clemency and let them out of prison, perhaps he would show the same mercy to Nichols. You know, McVeigh's big buddy who conspired with him to blow up the federal building in Oklahoma? I mean, if conspirators only are to be given a clemency by Clinton, maybe he should give all conspirators clemency. After all, Nichols did not really blow up the building. He only conspired with McVeigh to do so.

Lear to appreciate the parade

REGARDING THE fair parade: I may be an old fuddy-duddy, but I'm sure our younger generation will grow up and not know what a real parade is. With all the candy flying through the air in all directions, I'm sure that is all the young ones will know about a parade. We should be taught to appreciate a good parade and show respect for all the hard work involved. It would also be nice if the city police required people to stay back at the curb and not fill up the street and intersection. Thanks, Cape, for another parade and also to the 4H Ranch for the beautiful camels.

Accountable for destroyed lives

HOW TOUCHING that we have a governor so concerned about the rights of people who kill innocent babies. He is apparently unable to comprehend that the victim is the baby whose life is lost to satisfy financial needs of someone who has taken an oath to help people. Our Democratic governor's complete lack of moral standards is echoed by the Democratic circuit judges in Cape and Scott county who have no sense of family values and a complete disregard for the rights of parents to raise their children without unlawful court interference. We should all be thankful for the election of two Republican state representatives in Southeast Missouri, helping rid this area of the corrupt Democratic influence that has held Southeast Missouri down long enough. It is very important that we have contested races for every elected office in the next election. Things will improve with competent people in public office. It is time that we let our politicians know that they will be held accountable for their decisions that destroy people's lives.

Saving bridge is a great idea

I WAS just reading a comment in Speak Out about the old bridge. I think that's a great idea that we could just leave the old bridge where it is and use it as a recreational spot. There are a lot of things that happen on this river that people are not aware of. I work on the river at the dry dock, and I see boats everyday going up and down the river. I think it's a great idea to have a high place to watch them. Let's put it to a vote and see what happens. It would save a lot of money, not having that old bridge torn down, and it might have some historical value.

Explanation of an alcoholic

I'M CALLING in reference to George Bush being a former alcoholic. Myself, I am an alcoholic, and I always will be an alcoholic. People have a misconception of the word alcoholic. An alcoholic is a person who does not drink. People don't realize that. They think that because a person who drinks a lot all the time, then he's an alcoholic. I'm an alcoholic, and I don't drink all the time. I try to stay away from it as much as I can, but I'm still just one drink away from a drunk. And if George Bush is a true alcoholic, he's one drink away from a drunk.

It's called the three monkeys

I CAN sum up exactly what is going on in Jackson. It's called the three monkeys: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. It's been going on in Jackson for 20-plus years, and it's still going on today. It's time for people to open their eyes. Otherwise we're going to have the next Columbine shooting right here.

It's not the school's problem

I LIVE in Jackson, and I've known the boys involved with the prank for many years. My sons grew up with them. What they did was very bad. They should have been severely punished. But that lies in the court system. If there is a problem we need to complain to the juvenile judge. As far as school, it did not happen on school grounds or school time, so the school should not be bearing the burden of this. As far as the kids playing sports, I've personally talked with people with the Missouri State High School Athletics Association. Interesting little tidbit there: You can be failing two classes and still be eligible to play any kind of high school sports. So where does the blame really belong?