SPEAKOUT

Warning to New Hampshire swimmers

I SAW your headline to the effect that Missouri Republican U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft is testing the presidential waters in New Hampshire. As a result, I hope New Hampshire lifeguards have been placed on full alert.

Citizen ready to help curb crime

LIKE VIRTUALLY all citizens of Cape and the surrounding area, I hate crime and stand ready to do my part in curbing it. Having said that, I must admit I think a televised "Cops in Cape" would be cool.

Help the poor in Jackson

I AM a Jackson resident and have lived here for a few years. I wish they could do something about the poor people in Jackson. They should do something for the poor and quit kissing up to the others.

Word of caution to intoxicated driver

TO THE man in the black Mazda truck who drives wildly through my neighborhood, runs through the neighbors' yards and harasses the little kids when he is intoxicated: You know who you are, and it is going to catch up to you.

Signs for tobacco retailers are available

THANKS TO all the reporters who provided coverage of the Operation Storefront project. If any retailers who currently sell tobacco need signage to comply with Missouri law, they may call ASSIST at 651-0540. We will see that you receive appropriate information and signs.

We're just simple folk hereabouts

A SPEAK Out caller from Houston recently asked how people from Cape survive on meager pay. Briefly, we Cape Girardeans are not interested in amassing wealth. We live simple and ascetic lives. Worldly success is unimportant to us. We know we will receive our reward in the afterlife. Caller, get thou back to Houston.

Good decision was really caving in

THE SOUTHEAST Missourian said the Cape school board made a good decision in allowing the teacher-student ratio to rise to 30 to 1 in some schools. Since when has "good decision" become synonymous with "caving in"?

Farm Bureau attacks line-item veto

I DON'T get it. The Republican-dominated Missouri Farm Bureau was all for the federal budget deal. Then the president used the line-item veto the Republicans gave him to cut pork-barrel spending. Then the Farm Bureau went off on the president big time. What gives? Did President Clinton cut out some good pork?

Tired of bankrolling I-66 dream

THIS IS in regard to your recent article on bankrolling the I-66 dream. I think that's all it is. Walt Wildmen has a dream, and we are bankrolling him. I'm getting a little bit tired of supporting his dream. I'm against the city and county continuing to support him.

Help with ketchup is appreciated

I WOULD like to leave a message to say thank you for the young lady in Schnucks who helped me. I had my two young children and was in line and had forgotten ketchup. She was more than happy to get the ketchup for me. I thought that was very nice. You do not find that in young people, and I was very grateful.

If the shoes fit, women will keep them on

THERE HAS been a lot of talk about women without shoes in the paper. One person complains, the other complains about the complaining and one in support of it. My feelings are why not just wear comfortable shoes? Therefore, you won't have to take them off and spread athletes foot or any other fungal disease around. Basically, that's a good reason to wear shoes. I work in a shoe store, and these ladies want to get into a size 5 when they are a size 7. Please, just get a size 7.

Someone has to pay for rollerblade damage

I'M NOT sure that I entirely get the point of the letter which was written by the 18-year-old rollerblader. But I think what he was trying to say is that people don't allow him to rollerblade where he wants to. Possibly what he needs to understand here is that the type of rollerblading he does it damages railings and scratch paint and curbs. These things have to be repaired by the business owners or the city. The problem is the damage they cause. If he wants to rollerblade up and down the street all day, that is fine. But he needs to stay off the curbs and railings and stop scuffing things up.

Drug-bust investigation took too long

I HAVE being seeing praise in the paper for the recent drug bust of 20 drug pushers. The one thing the people missed in that article is that this was an ongoing investigation for a year and a half. Put that into perspective. How many crimes where committed in that time so they could buy those drugs. How much money was made during that time? Why does it take a year and a half to bust 20 people. If you go down to the 200 block of South Middle Street any time, day or night, you can get whatever you want. It is like a candy store. I've been approached in that block, and one gentleman jumped into my car and tried to sell me drugs. Each time I report this to the police department, but there is no response. We know where they are. We know what they are doing, but still it's out of sight out of mind. Remember, when these people are out selling their drugs, other people are out stealing from you to buy the drugs, so it is your problem.