SPEAKOUT

An exceptional column

ORDINARILY I do not agree with Peter Kinder's writing. However, his commentary June 14 concerning Norm Lambert was exceptional, very well written and very right.

Common sense with purses

I'D LIKE to share my idea with the ladies of Cape. We should take one check with us to the store and leave the purse at home. You can enter the amount of groceries in checkbook later. This is a good way to nip these purse snatchers in the bud before it gets too far out of hand. The police can't go to the store with us, so we have to use some common sense.

It's old, but valued

I HAVE an '84 Jeep Cherokee with primer on it because I am fixing it up. Someone hit my back door and dented it but did not leave a note. Just because a vehicle looks old does not mean it is not valued by the owners.

A wonderful column

THE COLUMN about Norm Lambert by Peter Kinder was a wonderful, wonderful article. I agree with Mr. Kinder 100 percent, and I thank him for writing it.

Street is caving in

I DON'T know whose responsibility it is, but I think someone with authority had better inspect Main Street at Mill Street in Cape Girardeau. This street is literally falling in. This has been dug out and worked on three or four different times, and this street still does this. If something isn't done pretty soon, there's going to be a car or somebody lost in the hole. It is ridiculous that a street would be in this kind of condition.

Boys look like old men

I WOULD just like to tell all these boys in these big baggy pants way down and their underwear sticking up and showing out that they look like a bunch of old men. I swear I've seen old men wearing their pants like that for years and years and years. You guys might as well be Al Bundy.

Vehicles vs. pedestrians

YOUR RECENT article about the teen-ager being struck at the corner of Broadway and Sprigg brings up a question I've had for a long time. Trying to cross Broadway on Frederick Street has become almost impossible. The cars don't slow down or give way to pedestrians. I always thought that as long as you crossed at the corner that cars should give way. I notice there are no crosswalks anymore in this city except at just a few locations.

REPLY: Motorists certainly are required to be alert and avoid running into pedestrians, but vehicles have the right of way unless there is a marked crossing that gives pedestrians the right of way.

How about Kitchen Ballpark?

IF THE name changed on the ball diamond at Capaha Park -- I don't think it should be -- why not call it Kitchen Ballpark? If I remember correctly, didn't the late Noah Kitchen start the Capahas?

Abortion can be a blessing

I DIDN'T realize abortion was performed as cruelly as they say it is. I don't believe they were even that cruel when it was done in some back room by some quack doctor. I'm not for abortions done with that procedure, but I prefer it to women having the babies who don't want them, don't love them, abuse them, draw welfare off of them and let someone abuse them every day of their life. I think abortion would have been a blessing to those kids. I think there should be more done about this.

A revolving reward fund

MONEY CAN solve many earthly problems including lawbreakers. I propose a revolving reward fund for those helping catch and convicting felons. A $1,000 reward is suggested for purse snatchers and so forth. A published physical description, including clothing type and color would be helpful. Many, including myself and businesses, would gladly donate to a police or bank collecting such a fund. Names of those who provide information must be kept confidential for their protection.

REPLY: The idea of a reward fund sounds like it could have merit. However, descriptions of suspects rarely produce results, because most descriptions are generic enough to apply to a large percentage of the population. Most information produced as the result of a reward comes from snitches who either know the suspects or have access to someone who knows the suspect.

Lock your car when shopping

I HAD an experience that I definitely did not expect. I went to a store and wasn't inside 10 minutes. When I came out, somebody had been in my car, Unfortunately, I had not locked it. I had a little wooden cross on a gold metallic thread on my mirror. Obviously, in the sun, this little gold thread look like a gold chain, and somebody had tried to steal it out of my car. When they realized it was a thread, it looks like they stopped and left. I definitely knew somebody had been in my car because it was half undone. The moral of story is not only be aware of your surroundings when you get in and out of your cars in these parking lots when you're alone, but also lock your car when you have to go into a store. Because I forgot, I almost became a victim.

TV talks about violence

IF ANY acts of terrorism occur in Atlanta during the Olympics, you can blame the television media and the power of suggestion. They have done nothing but suggest and promote the possibility of terrorism in Atlanta during the Olympics. Well, that's because they've got to have something to talk about.

Old seminary tour was great

I WENT on the Old St. Vincent's College tour Saturday at Riverfest, and I really thought it was great. I can't imagine why the Catholic church isn't helping to preserve it for a future tour attraction.

Don't change ballpark name

I WOULD just like to comment on changing the name of the ballpark here in Cape Girardeau. There are a lot of people who have worked with the children. I have three sons who don't live here now, but they all three played ball and they loved that park. They're not in favor of changing the name because they like to come back and say they played ball at this park and it's not a new name. So I think they should reconsider and just leave things as they are.

Scott City pool needs cleanup

I WOULD like to know what is happening to our Scott City pool. I was up there Sunday. There is graffiti on the deck, weeds are growing in the cracks and trash is strewn all around where you eat. I would like to say please, let's clean this up.