SPEAKOUT

Reassessment notice

THE REASSESSMENT came, a whopping 25.4 percent increase in value. The assessor says the "overall" increase for tax collections cannot increase more than cost of living (2.9 percent) and 5 percent, a total 7.9 percent. Some parts of the area will have a decrease in taxes, but the assessor would not commit to saying I could expect another 15-17 percent increase in taxes, plus the cost of the tax increase for paying off the school bonds. People of Cape Girardeau got a less-than-honest presentation from the school board and from the news media on the bond-issue tax increase for Cape. I still say you can't trust the school administration on the basis of one year in office and what they say will happen. Money does not give a good education in and of itself. Wake up people, you bought a pig in a poke. and now you'll pay for it.

REPLY: The fact that property taxes would go up due to reassessment was thoroughly reported in the Southeast Missourian during the campaign for passage of the school bond issue. School district officials carefully reviewed the tax situation at each of the many presentation that were made regarding the bond issue. Examples were given, both at the meetings and in the newspaper, of how taxes would increase in various subdivisions and neighborhoods.

Still more kindness

THIS IS a lady from Jackson. I really would like to remind everyone that even though Random Acts of Kindness Week is over, the random acts of kindness still go on. In fact, I'd like to thank very much the people from Garrett's Auction and the people who gave to Garrett's Auction for helping so much with the needs of a widow woman who had just lost her husband. I think it would be nice if they all knew it was appreciated.

Buckle up young children

I CANNOT believe what I just saw. While getting into my car, I noticed a lady with two tiny infants getting into her car that had no seats except a driver's seat. She set these kids on the floor and took off. How ignorant and cruel can a person be? I think people who don't buckle their kids up should do jail time or community service. Police should also enforce this law. There is no excuse for someone to not buckle up their young children. They are unfit parents. What is worse is that people who see parents just setting them in the car and not buckling them up do not say anything. So from now on I am. I don't care how rude I might be, but I could be saving an innocent child's life.

Paying for aliens' flights

I CANNOT afford to fly. I don't want to in the first place. What I want to know how can a taxpayer afford to put criminal aliens on board an aircraft to get them to their destinations? That is disgusting to me.

Stand in schoolhouse door

THANK GOODNESS for Gov. Carnahan. Stand in that school room door if that's what Peter Kinder thinks your doing. Do not take my tax money to support a private school. Do you understand this, Peter Kinder?

Thanks, Coach Shumate

THANKS, COACH Shumate, for the many exciting years of great SEMO basketball. We've watched and supported you and the team through the years from Houck Stadium to the Show Me Center. We know that you really do care about your players, both on the court and off. Good luck and God bless you in the future. True SEMO basketball fans will truly miss you.

Thanks for special help

I WANT to thank my neighbors, Jay and Rachel Story, for shoveling snow from my steps and sidewalk in the winter and for collecting my newspaper when I am gone. Also, a sincere thanks to a wonderful paper carrier who puts my Southeast Missourian by my front door every morning.

It's not all road costs

THE ROAD plan mired in debt doesn't give us any figures for the money that's spent for unmet needs: railroads, waterways, airports, pedestrians and bicyclers. If all of the fuel tax money went for highway needs and highway patrol, it would make quite a large difference, and the motorists wouldn't mind paying an increased fuel tax. I think a lot of these costs have been slipped in there in the last few years without any publicity.

Living their religion

THANKS TO Helen and Bob Stroder who have assisted me on numerous occasions and other persons also. They are a couple who live their religion. Thanks a lot.

Youth league sportsmanship

MY SON plays baseball at Scott City. We have a wonderful youth league here, and I have to say that we have a wonderful coach. He calls them gentleman and sir, and not only teaches them a lot, but he never forgets to pat him on the back and say good job. I am truly proud to have my son take part in such a positive experience. Our games have started for the year, and our first game experience was horrible. I suppose that in a way I'm naive and believe that everyone teaches their children good sportsmanship. But I was shocked when I found out that not only is this not true, but sometimes the parents aren't even good sports. I would like to tell these parents that their sons are playing professional baseball and they aren't even earning a salary. These boys are 9 and 10 year olds and should be out there to have fun and learn something about baseball. When you see parents who are yelling things to the other team that I would not even allow my son to say to another person, it's a little pathetic. I suppose if you don't know or understand good sportsmanship, you surely can't teach it. It is truly sad that out of a such good league, we have to put up with one bad team. As for the other team, you boys are very talented and do a great job on the field. You deserve a great big pat on the back, and you're a terrific team and honestly worked for the win. It's just sad what you have to put up with from your fans.

Thanks to those who helped

I WANT everybody to know that Cape Girardeau Super Wal Mart has some wonderful people that work there. I had some very important papers that were lost. I called over there I don't know how many times, and they couldn't find them, and they were lost more than a week.since Saturday of last week. Then I was called and told that they had been found. The woman searched the telephone directory and found my name and called me. Her name is Marie Wright, and there should be more Marie Wrights in this world. She is a great person. Also, two weeks before, I locked my keys in the car, and someone was helping me try to get them out but couldn't get it done. A guy in a pickup wheeled in and said, "Looks like I can do my good deed for the day. I'm from Arkansas, ma'am. I do this thing, retrieve keys from a car." He jumped down and got my keys, unlocked my door and wouldn't take a dime. So there is another good person. I don't know who he is. He said he is from Arkansas. He just came by.

Lost watch is found

I WOULD just like to thank the person who found my watch that I lost up at Boatmen's Bank and turned it in at the desk. I was very pleased. It was a Christmas gift from my late husband, and I treasured it deeply. I'm so glad to know that there still are some honest people in this world. I'd just like to thank them very much.

Credit to President Truman

YOUR "Ask Jackson" article about patriotism was excellent. Being a veteran of World War II, I can't say enough about those who served our country. But I once again want to praise Harry S. Truman, the president who made the decision to save thousands and thousands of our lives during World War II. Many of us veterans really appreciated President Truman's decision. I truly believe that bombing our enemy and forcing the Japanese to surrender before we had to invade their homeland probably saved my life. We knew we getting ready to invade Japan. In my prayers, I always thank you, Mr. Truman, for probably saving my life. We should all remember and give thanks to Mr. Truman. It's a known fact that if the bombs had not been dropped, the Japanese would have killed thousands and thousands more Americans. I'll always thank Mr. Truman, not only on Memorial Day, but in my prayers.

People need to know

I THINK the people of Cape Girardeau need to know now the basis for the termination of Coach Ron Shumate. They don't need to wait six months or a year from now. They need to know the information that the administration had to make the termination now and/or they need to request the resignation of President Nitzschke and Vice President Ken Dobbins now. All of those out there who support this, please call Speak Out. Let's get justice done.

Try common courtesy

THE PERSON who hit and knocked a taillight off my blue and silver pickup truck in the Southeast Missouri Hospital parking lot can still show common courtesy and personal responsibility by reporting his or her name and phone number to the hospital security office.