SPEAKOUT

A test of balloons

I TOOK my family out to the SEMO Fair last week. The kids got a blue Team Emerson '96 balloon and a yellow Vote Democrat balloon. The next morning the blue balloon was on the floor. The yellow was still flying high. I guess the Democrats had more hot air.

What about Akins concert?

IT REALLY bothers me that the SEMO District Fair is going to profit from a concert that Rhett Akins was supposed to give. I know that he got sick but we did pay for our tickets and we did pay to see him but yet they are not refunding money.

Akins performed two songs, and then was taken to St. Francis Medical Center. He was suffering from hoarseness, chills and fever. He then elected to go back to Nashville for treatment and canceled two other concerts. Pete Poe, fair board chairman, said they have not settled with the Akins promoter yet as the fair board's cost for his shortened performance. Interestingly enough, Poe said the fair board office didn't field a single complaint about this matter. Perhaps it was because the Bryan White performance was so well received that same night. Those individuals who would like to talk with a fair board official about the concert can call the office at 334-9250 and leave a message on the recording.

Thanks to stranger

TO THE lady that picked up my check at Applebee's Friday, Sept. 13, I want to thank you. I didn't get a chance in person. Thank you again. May God bless you.

Schooling for Emerson

I HAVE a question for someone on your staff. Where does JoAnn Emerson's 13-year-old daughter attend school? I can't find her in the Central High School roll. Possibly she would be in another school in Cape Girardeau.

She is a ninth grader at Langley High School in McClean, Va.

Firebaugh and Emerson

I WAS wondering since Mrs. Emily Firebaugh is running as a Democrat why no one in the news media has questioned her about her close ties to Bill Emerson and his campaigns in the past. I think she should answer these questions about her funding his campaign.

Emerson's campaign office said Firebaugh wasn't listed as a past contributor to the campaign. Lloyd Smith said Bill Emerson was acquainted with Firebaugh in her role as a newspaper publisher.

Botanical garden great idea

I JUST read that the St. Vincent's Seminary grounds may possibly be made into a botanical gardens. I love that idea. I think it would be wonderful. I'm sure a lot of volunteer work could be enlisted in order to help this come true. I think it would be great.

Throw away the key

I HAVE to speak out about an item that was in Friday's Speak Out column. It was about the young man who's been caught drinking and driving more than one time. I've got one thing to say. Some other people know that man too and even though he might have the wool pulled over some other people's eyes, some people know how he truly feels and how he acts all the time. And he's been seen out in public doing the same thing before this second incident happened. He deserves to be locked up and throw away the key.

Cancer society support

COULD SOMEONE please tell me what the American Cancer Society address is for this area? I'd like to contribute something towards it but I'd like to contribute it so it would go for this area.

You can send your donations to American Cancer Society, 937 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.

Gardening column missed

POLITICS IS fine in Speak Out but how about a change in the paper. I was just wondering why a town of this size can't have a gardening column in the paper, say once a week. Also, maybe a pattern of the week. Maybe crochet, tatting, knitting, like the former newspaper had. Please give this some thought.

Minimum wage hike will hurt

MINIMUM WAGE is an election year ploy which hurts business and ultimately every working person. It may raise the standard of living for a few at the lowest wage scale temporarily, however, lowers the standard for all of those just above the minimum wage as prices rise. If it were possible to raise the standard of living through the government dictating to the private sector what they pay their employees, then it stands to reason that a minimum wage set at $50 an hour would make things a whole lot better for all of us. Fact is, it don't work. Socialism and capitalism just will not forever exist together.

Watching events in Iran

CONCERNING THE foreign situation going on in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and the Kurdish people and what not, President Clinton for the first time in a real way is getting a test. If he passes, I think we've got a guy. But if he fails and takes out Saddam Hussein, which would be a mistake, that would be a failure and Mr. Clinton, I'm afraid, will not be a very good foreign policy president although everyone agrees his economic policies seem to be working right now. I'm looking forward to what happens.

New food stamp policies needed

I WILL be so glad when the government comes through with the new food stamp policies. I work in a grocery store and I'm sick and tired of someone buying something for 10 cents and then using the change they get back to buy beer or cigarettes.

Teaching and Lexington

SCHOOL TEACHERS beware. Seems to me that Bill Clinton has put you all down for not being able to teach kids to read. I don't know where he comes off on that. Secondly, to you joggers that are walking on Lexington Street at 6 a.m. It's dark, I'm fighting traffic coming head on and you're walking three abreast. Lexington is not that wide. Use an alternative route or if this city can afford it, which I'm sure they can, get some sidewalks for these people. Somebody's going to get hurt.