SPEAKOUT

Vanna should stay on TV

THIS IS in response to the caller who thought Vanna White should take time off while she's pregnant. Why should she? She has nothing to be ashamed of, and just because one person has a problem seeing a pregnant woman on TV and sharing the joy she feels doesn't mean anyone else does.

Just don't watch

PAULA ZAHN or Vanna White shouldn't have to take off three months while they're pregnant. For the person who doesn't want to see this, do as I do. I wasn't aware through this on the air because I don't tune into these shows. Don't tune into things you don't if you don't like seeing it.

Priorities are wrong

I AM very disappointed in our school officials whom we thought were trustworthy and would straighten out the mess we found ourselves in. With the reasoning behind the proposed school tax now placed before us, I see that is not true. The first plan calls for a new vo-tech building with the present building being used for administrative offices. First, we already have an administration building that should be sufficient. The huge vo-tech building is a sprawling complex much too large for administration. Consider the cost and upkeep of the unneeded space. The vo-tech building is also used by many from adjoining counties who pay for the privilege of using the facility, and the people of Cape Girardeau do not need to fund the cost of a new building for vo-tech use. If some of our school buildings need work and improvement, that is another matter, but our leaders are not starting with the most important needs. Until the board decides to cut waste, I will not vote for any school tax increase. Not even the $3.1 million we could receive from the state budget will change my mind. Come on, where does this money come from? It comes from the state which is us. We are already taxed to the limit. Dr. Tallent, please explain how you can save money by spending money, especially when the proposed spending is unneeded.

Reply: As the caller mentioned, the area vocational-technical school is in line to receive more than $3 million is state funding. And, as the caller further mentioned, other district that use the vo-tech school pay their share, which means they help support the building expense.

Speak up about the lake project

VOTERS OF Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties, speak up. The lake issue at hand is extremely important to the growth and prosperity not only to both counties involved but to surrounding counties as well. They too will feel the positive effects of the lake should we be fortunate enough to have this type of recreation/water/electric generating facility in our area. Our representative, David Schwab, is proposing that landowners in the lake area have the first opportunity to put this issue on the ballot or vote it down. We must realize a very important issue here. We are all affected by this lake proposal. We must all exercise our right to vote. To let a few hundred decide the future of tens of thousands if absurd. Remember, majority decides. This isn't an issue of taking someone's land from them. They will be paid the value of their land which will be determined by an accredited appraisal firm. This, in fact, is an issue of two communities coming together on a common goal to achieve together the growth and prosperity that both counties greatly deserve and more importantly need.

If we say no, we mean it

I AM tired of the bureaucrats coming to us with their hands out begging for more taxes to flitter away. We have repeatedly said no. How many times do we have to say it? This is not too mysterious. If children refuse to take no for an answer, we would understand perfectly. They are too immature and selfish to consider the needs of anyone else. All they want is to have their own selfish ways. They're past experience have taught them if they will keep asking, their parents will become weary and surrender their good sense to gain peace. Well, school board, I am as stubborn as you. I will not vote any tax increases, your rationalization notwithstanding. You must learn that no means no. Plan you budget the way we have to plan ours. When the money runs out, we do without. There is no one we can shake down to pay for our whimsy. Why is it so hard for you learned gentlemen to understand that?

We are a community

THE NAACP is way off base on not supporting the school bond issue. Black teachers and white teachers want the same basic thing: a job that pays well and is in a safe and well-equipped building. We will never be able to draw the best black teachers to Cape if all we can offer them is old buildings that fall apart around them. Black teachers are in demand in Missouri. Why come here when they can go to a district like Farmington with higher salaries and new buildings? I hope Cape's black leaders will wake up and realize this. We are a community and will advance or stagnate together.

NAACP doesn't speak for blacks

I'M JUST calling to inform the Cape Girardeau community that Mr. Sterling and the NAACP does not speak for the black community. We all have different opinions. My personal opinion is that I do support the bond issue. The NAACP is not speaking for the majority of the black community. I'm sure you'll see that in the near future.

Racism is perpetuated

I'M VERY pleased that the local chapter of the NAACP is taking action on certain issues that are very important to Cape Girardeau. But they continue to perpetuate racism by making remarks like "It is shameful to black students to use Martin Luther King's birthday as a make-up day." It is shameful. It is shameful to all students.

Cut costs or spend?

I AM confused. I just got through reading the article on the front page of Southeast Missourian about the Corps of Engineers not having funding to pay the entire bill of constructing a levee in Southeast Missouri. Lloyd Smith from Jo Ann Emerson's staff indicated in the article that since Illinois received federal funding, that southeast Missouri should receive federal funding also. I'm confused. I thought the federal government was trillions and trillions in debt. And the Republicans are claiming that they are the only majority party that is pushing for a balanced budget. As your article stated, President Clinton wants to cut more than $44 million from the Corps' budget for levee projects. So how can you balance the budget without cutting your expenses when you're in debt? I'm confused. I thought the Republicans stated during the last two national elections that they want government out of their lives. Now Emerson's office is asking for federal funds. Smith also stated in the article that the federal government should pay the entire cost of the levee project. Why don't they keep it local like the Republicans have been claiming they wanted and tax those wealthy landowners in Scott, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Stoddard and Dunklin counties, because those are the people who will benefit from the levee project? What happened with Newt Gingrich's Contract With America?

More on dining and smoking

I'M CALLING about the comment on smoking and dining out. Not to excuse the fact that smoking does contribute to lung problems for the smokers and other people, but to blame everything on smoking is a little bit naive considering the same things are put out by car exhausts and factories. There are a lot of things that effect our breathing, but the smoking industry seems to be taking the brunt of it. And if smoking does bother you, then go some place where smoking is not allowed. As far as people who do smoke, they don't care whether they're missing good dining somewhere or not. If you do, then you need patronize that place instead of someplace where there are smokers if it bothers you that much.

Little support for beer ad

TO THE person complaining about the beer commercial being shot at the Show Me Center. Actually, I think it was really quite successful because if you'll notice they wanted 500 people and they only had less than 200 people show up. So I think it proved just the opposite, there is a strong Christian neighborhood in this community because they couldn't get enough people to shoot the commercial that they wanted. They can do it all they want to, but I think they found they're not going to get a whole lot of support from people in this area.

Looking out for his district

THANK YOU, Mr. Schwab. To the person who said that Mr. Schwab was talking out of both sides of his mouth. He is looking out for all his district. Let's see if you are bright enough to catch onto this. Fact: The dam is an earth dam. We will have an earthquake in this area which will liquefy this dam. Anybody or anything that is below the dam will not stand up to a wall of water that will be released. Fact: There are cemeteries that will have to be moved. Fact: Businesses are growing without this lake. Fact: The dirt is clay and made of shell which will make the water greenish and murky, not good for swimming. Fact: There is not much farmland left anymore. These farmers are what put food on your table and mine. You should be thanking these farmers. Fact: I bet if this was your place somebody wanted to grab for fishing and swimming, you wouldn't be for it either. Yep, I wish it was in your back yard.

Students, vote absentee

ATTENTION RECENT CHS graduates: I'm calling to encourage recent Central High School graduates who are away at college but still registered here at home to vote yes twice by absentee ballot for the upcoming school election. You have until Wednesday (March 26) to request a ballot by mail. Send your request fast to Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, 44 N. Lorimier, or call 335-9060 for information. Many of you will be home will be home for spring break or home for Easter. Please put "Vote yes twice for school election" on your calendar and go to 44 N. Lorimier, the building behind the county courthouse, to vote absentee. Support your public schools in Cape Girardeau.