SPEAKOUT

Overeaters Anonymous is the answer

THERE IS no magic pill for weight loss. The answer is Overeaters Anonymous. Go to their meetings, share, learn what it's all about, and you'll know why you're fat.

Throws cold water anyway

COLUMNIST Jack Stapleton recently wrote, "Far from me to throw cold water on prosperity" and then proceeded to throw cold water on prosperity.

Midterm grads forfeit a lot

I JUST found out today that at Jackson High School, if you graduate at midterm, you forfeit all rights to scholarships, you can't go to the prom and you lose several other rights. This is ridiculous. If somebody graduates at midterm, it means they have excelled in school. They have proceeded faster than other students, and they have worked harder and carried a heavier caseload and they should be reward instead of punished for this. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I live in Jackson, and my kids went to Jackson High School and I just can't believe this. This is ridiculous.

Don't burn leaves in the street

I JUST read the Speak Out with reference burning leaves. I also understand you could not burn them in the street, that they had to be burned either in your driveway or your yard or your property. I didn't know if that was correct or not.

REPLY: You are correct. Don't burn anything in the street.

Inconsiderate mower on Saturday mornings

ON SATURDAY morning at a quarter to 7, this man gets out and cuts his grass. He is home every day. We work every day. This is one day morning we can sleep. You would think he would cut later in the day.

Media shortchange Cape Central Tigers

I'D LIKE to say something how all the local media puts down the Cape Central Tigers football team. It seems every pregame news article in the Southeast Missourian leans or even falls over onto the Tigers' opposing team and then the next day they have to cover themselves with a contradictory story because the Tigers stomped the opposing team so badly. Also, KFVS 12 never does the Central Tigers story in the Heartland Football Friday. They show maybe two or three plays and right off to the next teams they go. I thought KFVS and the Southeast Missourian were Cape Girardeau-based media. And last, we don't have any community enthusiasm whatsoever. I think more Cape people need to get off their butts and come and help the Central Tiger cheerleader squads at home Friday games at 7:30 at Houck Stadium.

Wasting money on prosecution

I'D LIKE the way they say it's a waste of time and taxpayers' money to further prosecute Marshall Shain. They don't seem to mind wasting the taxpayers' money on other people they prosecute.

Students pay taxes too

I'M THE caller who said college students pay tax. I'll tell you all the tax they pay. They pay sales tax. They pay taxes that we don't even understand what the taxes are for. I happen to own my own house. Who says I don't pay property taxes? And for those who rent houses or apartments, guess what: Some of their rent goes to pay property tax. I'll tell you what, they have a right to park wherever they want to just as much as any mom with a 3-year-old. I guarantee you that mom with a 3-year-old is not paying nearly as much taxes as I am.

More memories of Woolworths

LET ME get in my 10 cents worth on the old Woolworths downtown Cape. My first memory was when I was about 5 years old in the late '40s. The first was when my mama and a lady talking about the floodwater coming under the front Main Street doors. The river was rising. The next there was "you break you pay for it, don't touch." Later years, as you entered Main Street door at the left was the fresh smell of roasted peanuts, cashews, chocolate candies. Mmm, good. Up front were the beautiful blues bottles of Blue Waltz perfume. What a Christmas gift to give. Remember? On the right side was the lunch counter where with the tickling bubbles of a fountain soda, fresh cake under glass and delicious sandwiches. Ladies in hairnets waited on you. Our neighbor lady spent her Friday's after work buying jewelry to wear. She was a dime-store millionaire, Mama said. Of course, there were sewing notions, clothes, plants, toys, pots and pans, Christmas bubbling lights, not to forget all kids favorite, chirping birds and goldfish to take home toward the back door. All this was yesteryear at a nickel and dime store.

This is why we're losing the war

YES, ON reading the articles about the lawyer who was a drug addict and drug dealer, I can now see why we're losing the war on drugs. As many time as he was arrested, it seems like the judges and criminal justice system in general wanted nothing more than a slap in on the wrist. I can't see where he's ever been punished for his deeds.

Kids causing trouble late at night

IT MUST be a very boring life if you have nothing better to do than get high and come around neighborhoods and mess around in everyone's yards from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. These junior high and high school kids must do their sleeping at school. Where are the parents while they are all out wandering? Sure hope the police catch them soon and give them work-detail jobs so they will have something better to do.