SPEAKOUT

Don't make school finances personal

I HAVE been reading with much interest the woes of the Cape public schools, and I am sorry for the children and their future outlook. But I would suggest that no one person is to blame but a combination of people and situations. One mistake should not be made. No one should try to be given the title of sainthood nor be completely to blame for the mess the schools are in.

Commercial building too close to highway

IN REGARDS to the development in Jackson, I think that maybe the Missouri Department of Transportation should look into it. On U.S. 61 two new businesses are causing a dangerous situation. I feel that building is too close and is protruding out on the highway. They make everybody else put their residential homes back a certain amount of feet. I think somebody needs to stop Jackson from doing this, and they need to look into it.

Jay Nixon is Mel Carnahan's puppet

WITH THE holiday season approaching, a few extra bucks would certainly come in handy. I wonder if Speak Out readers realize Missouri has over $700 million in excess revenue that is owed to the taxpayers because of the Hancock Amendment. The average taxpayer would receive a check for $167. However, Gov. Mel Carnahan and Attorney General Jay Nixon want to keep the money that is owed to us. These two people took an oath to uphold Missouri's Constitution, and the Hancock Amendment is part of that Constitution. Carnahan's violation of the oath is not surprising. Remember, he's the guy who promised not to raise taxes without a vote of the people. Oaths don't mean anything to people of his caliber. Attorney General Nixon was elected to his office, yet he acted as if he were appointed by Carnahan. His primary job is to ensure that the provisions of Missouri's Constitution are upheld. One of those provisions clearly states the taxpayers should be refunded the excess taxes that they paid. It's clear to me that Jay Nixon is doing the wishes of Mel Carnahan and not the wishes of the people who elected him. I hope voters remember that if Jay Nixon is Carnahan's puppet, think what he'll be for Clinton if he is elected U.S. senator.

Don't air condition school buildings

IF THE school board wants to keep in the black, they should cut out air conditioning. They could build for air conditioning, but do not hook up air conditioning. Three months of air conditioning would cost more than nine months of heating.

Thanks for work at Shady Grove Cemetery

I JUST wanted to thank the two girls who helped Shady Grove Cemetery, and I'm just ashamed that I couldn't get my own family out there to help them. God bless those girls.

Adjust traffic signals for safety

I HAVE a simple solution to eliminating accidents we are experiencing at intersections. These are caused by someone trying to get through the intersection after the light turns red. When the traffic light turns red for the traffic going one way, the light turns green at the same time for the opposite traffic. My suggestion is to adjust the lights so there is a two-second delay before the opposite traffic light turns green.

Nixon era makes it OK for Clinton?

WHEN DEMOCRATS are confronted with Clinton's corruptness, they always answer that Nixon was corrupt. Are they suggesting that because Nixon was a crook, it's OK for Clinton to be one?

A little effort to keep Lorimier tidy

ABOUT SOUTH Lorimier Street in Cape Girardeau: it could be the most beautiful street in the world if just a few people would pick up after themselves and not throw their trash and their bottles in the street. Part of the neighborhood on South Lorimier, the ones closest to the bridge, is really pretty. A few of the people need to be more concerned about their neighborhood. At least pick up a piece of paper now and then out of your yard or off the street. You could see how much it would help. It would help everybody. Even themselves.

More info on Jackson's 1935 team

I'M CALLING in response to the caller asking about the brothers on the Jackson 1935 football team. There were five sets of brothers, Marion and Milton Nothdurft, Robert and Marion Rogers, Lorel and Arnell Godwin, Emil and Lawrence Loos, Sherman and Edward Cracraft. Ryland Milner was the coach. The team was unbeaten and unscored on that year.

Make it easier to pay tax bills

I VOTED for the higher school tax, and I'm glad it passed for the children's sake. But I didn't know I was going to have to pay the whole thing at one time. We should split the tax bills in half -- half in June and the other half in December. It wouldn't be so much at one time. And if people would get as excited about building new schools as they do about prisons, with better education we wouldn't need the prisons, would we?

Opposed to felons so close to school

AS A parent of a handicapped child who attends Parkview State School, I just wanted the community, City Council members and anybody who has anything to do with the proposed zoning change to allow the Gibson Center to house convicted felons and criminals in close proximity to the Parkview State School to know that I am personally vehemently opposed, and I would love for the community to let these City Council members know these children have enough problems on their own without worrying who's being housed 500 yards away from where they are. This is something that would be better done at some kind of penal system or something else. That's something that they should have thought about when they built the Gibson Center in such close proximity to the state school. So come on, community, get behind us and speak out.