SPEAKOUT

Signs of anger in letter

TO STEVE Mosley regarding Jim McFarland's opinion about Laura Johnston's history article" If it's true that jealousy and sarcasm are forms of angers, you must be a very angry man.

Interested in library and shelving

I LIKE the picture of the Anna library. Looks like a beautiful building I ought to go visit sometime. And also I liked the article about Lee Rowan's shelving. They make that stuff in Jackson? Is there a factory outlet in Jackson next to the factory?

REPLY: There is no outlet store at the factory, but the shelving is available in retail stores in the area.

Thanks for checking on recycling

REGARDING recycling in Scott City: I applaud Mrs. Davis for checking this out. Things go on in city hall that people are unaware of and would be very unhappy about.

Criminal society brings need for new laws

CONCERNING SOBRIETY checkpoints and home searches. An increasingly criminal society leaves lawful authority no other choice than to create new laws to control new lawlessness.

Thanks for surprise birthday party

MARCH 8 was a very special day for me. It was my 75th birthday. My daughter and her family had a turkey dinner for me and a beautiful birthday cake with gifts and flowers. Then driving home into Chateau Estates down Cordoba Lane, I noticed yellow leaflets on everyone's mailboxes. I wondered what they were. Lo and behold, I soon found out at my home on Bordeaux Drive. It was decorated with balloons and long banners that said "Happy 75th birthday," and the leaflets were invitations for the neighbors to come to a surprise party at 4 p.m. They came, about 25 or more, with cakes, cookies, pies and beautiful cards and flowers. I wanted to say thanks for a beautiful day to everyone. Chateau Estates is a great place to live. And thanks to my sister for helping the neighbors plan it. It was great.

Execute, then use body parts

REGARDING death-row inmates' donating body parts: I think that we should go ahead and execute the death sentence and use their body parts. I don't know why they have a right to their body parts in an execution.

Old hospital worth saving

I WANT to say a big thank you to Paula Kempe for the wonderful letter about the old St. Francis Hospital. This is a beautiful building, and I believe it is structurally sound. It may cost a lot to replace the inside, but what would it cost to build a new building of this size and quality? I'm sure this could be used for many reasons.

Country was founded on free speech

THIS IS to the caller who thinks there's too much free speech. I think we need to send that person somewhere else. This is what the country was founded on.

Cayman Islands set an example

IT SEEMS like the United States itself could learn quite a bit from paying attention to the Cayman Islands in action it took recently. The Cayman tourism officials denied permission for a specially chartered cruise ship for gay people to make a port call on Grand Cayman. A letter from the tourism minister, Thomas Jefferson, said, "Careful research and prior experience has lead us to conclude that we cannot count on this group to uphold its standards of appropriate behavior expected of visitors of the Cayman Islands so we regrettably cannot offer our hospitality." The letter also noted the denial was voted upon by the joint ministries of the government of the Cayman Islands. About 10 years ago, a cruise ship of gay people called on Grand Cayman. The tourism officials were never informed as to the nature of the passengers until they had actually landed in the Cayman Islands. A Cayman Department of Tourism spokesperson said, "Residents were shocked to see men holding hands and kissing. Church groups vowed never again allow gay cruise ships stop in the Cayman Islands." The source for the foregoing is the Cayman Compass. I think that the United States could learn a lot from listening to this.

A lack of compassion

IN SPEAK Out, somebody was again bashing the gays. They're either bashing the president or they're bashing one thing or another. I wonder what Jesus would think of all these people in this area who have no compassion whatsoever.

Show up to support our teachers

OUR SCHOOL district is in a financial crisis right now. I think it's time that the people need to propose that we don't need so many administrators at Clark Street. We can cut two administrative positions and save money for teachers. Let's get right down to the facts, people in Cape. Our teachers are teaching our students, not our administrators. We need you to come to the board meeting March 16 at 6 p.m. at the junior high. Please try to come support our teachers and support our students. We must make this administration accountable for the deficit that has arisen. They must do better in the next following year.

Drinking limits should be lowered

I SEE where Peter Kinder doesn't want to lower the drinking level below 0.10 percent. In Illinois, I just see in the paper, in addition to having 0.08, they want to have a new classification, aggravated drunken driving, which they go to a 0.16 that carries up to a three-year prison term, up to a $10,000 fine and it's a felony. They say the average DUI has an alcohol level of 0.18, so they would just be cleaning out the people that don't need to be on the road anyhow. I think it's a very good idea, and I think Kinder ought to get with it.

Car needs blinker fluid?

TO PEOPLE who don't use blinkers before they turn: Maybe you all need to put blinker fluid in your car.

Everyone should pay for new roads

OUR TAXES should pay for new roads. Not all people who are forced to pay for streets are rich. Everybody uses them, and everybody should pay for them, not just a few people who are losing their property. Mayor Spradling says that it's always been that way and it wouldn't be fair to change it. What does he think about women voting, indentured servants, slavery, child labor? Those are just a few things. They have been good changes.

Dressed-up goose brings a smile

I HAVE occasion to go down Sherwood Drive many times during the week, and there's a darling little goose sitting on a stoop on one of the houses along there. Everybody should go by and look at it because whoever owns this house changes the costumes on this goose about once a month, and they are absolutely adorable. I just think it would make everybody smile and make their day go better to go by and see it.

Thanks for catching juveniles

I WANT to congratulate the police department for taking two juveniles into custody Saturday night for curfew violation and possession of a controlled substance in our neighborhood. There are eight to 10 juveniles who roam the neighborhood before and after curfew, going through yards and up and down driveways to a secret smoking place. Keep up the patrol. Perhaps you can save a boy or girl on a downward path or catch the adult or parent who furnishes the controlled substance.

Concerned about sterilizations

AS A concerned citizen and an expecting father, I would like to speak out concerning some controversial issues that are taking place concerning the merging of our two hospitals. The controversy I am speaking of deals with abortion and sterilization. It is my understanding that once our hospitals merge, neither abortion nor sterilization services will be able to be performed at either hospital. As a non-Catholic, I find this very alarming. Although I do not believe in abortion, I do believe that I should have the right to decide what action should be taken should my wife develop complications during labor and a choice must be made as to which life should be taken, my wife or the baby. However, should the merger go through, the right for people to make this decision will be taken away. It should also be noted that no sterilizations will be performed at either hospital. Although one of the hospitals states it will not become a Catholic institution, it is taking on all beliefs and actions of it, and I feel that this merger is taking away our freedom of choice. I think I can speak for 70 percent of the husbands who will be taking their business out of Cape should this merger go through.

Look closely at assessment policies

THIS IS about the transportation tax. If the citizens of Cape would just take the time to find out what's really being proposed by our city officials for street assessments, they would have to understand that three of the five policies being proposed do not give the landowners the option to donate their property rather to be assessed. Some of these policies require the landowners not only to donate their property but also to pay assessments much larger than previously required on street projects in this city.

Money in envelop is returned

I WANT to pass along a compliment. I lost $670, in a bank envelop. It was returned to me the next day by the police department. Someone had turned in the entire amount intact and left no name. Therefore, I really want to compliment and thank the integrity and the honesty of the person who returned me every cent that I lost. I will never forget this act of kindness.