SPEAKOUT

A cable viewer's complaint

IF ANYONE at TCI actually reads the newspaper, maybe you should listen to this for a second. There are a few reasons why VH-1 and the Comedy Channel don't have good viewership in this area. No. 1, they share the same satellite, and at a certain time of the day and the certain time of the night, VH-1 turns over to Comedy Central or Comedy Central turns over to VH-1. Then at night it's the Psychic Friends' Network or something equally abysmal. I'm a big fan of the Comedy Channel, but that's because I have a sense of humor. I would watch more of the Comedy Channel if it was on more. "Absolutely Fabulous" was one of its greatest shows. It had huge viewership. It was canceled, but they're going to have a big "Absolutely Fabulous" movie coming on Jan. 19. Now we don't get to see because you have decided to cancel it. I'm not a big fan of VH-1, but it is just starting to get some interesting shows on like flashback shows to the 1970s and 1960s and some interview shows that have people on them like Janis Joplin and John Lennon. People here like country music. They've got TNN. That's just great. So now we're not going to see any VH-1. As far as WGN, pardon me, but some of us here are Chicago Cubs fans. And because KBSI and KFVS and sometimes ESPN and Prime Sports don't put on certain Cardinals games, we like to watch when Cardinals are playing the Cubs on WGN. This happens quite a bit throughout the spring and summer. Now we won't be able to do that. It's not all right with viewers that you're trying to bully your way around our cable channels, TCI. You cancel things without asking us. You raise rates without asking us if it's OK. You put on two fewer channels without asking if it's OK. The Cartoon Network? Yeah, thanks a lot. You know there are adults who watch cable too.

We want local news

IF TCI Cable System drops KFVS channel 7, then we will also drop TCI. We are interested in the local news.

More on health fraud

I READ with interest the letter from Harold Reed of Leopold, "Health charges are fraud." Yes, they are. Medicare and Medicaid are being ripped royally by providers charging for services not rendered, and Missouri's attorney general's office has its hands full right now, investigating quite a few of these. So, Harold, I'd like to tell you to get in touch with Jo Ann Emerson immediately.

Leave the president alone

I WISH Peter Kinder would leave the president and his wife alone and tend to the business of state. Peter Kinder ain't got brains enough to know what he's doing as it is, let alone picking on the president and his wife. I just think it's time that he mind his own business for a change and attempt to do the job for which unfortunately he got re-elected.

Not there for fun

WOULD YOU tell our ex-ambassador to the United Nations, Ms. Albright, that she wasn't there to have a good time. She's supposed to be there to do a job. I hope she doesn't go to the White House on Mr. Clinton's staff just to have fun. I hope the woman does something worthwhile.

They're chicken hawks

I WANT to comment about the new secretary of state, this Madeleine Albright. I've read in the paper that she's a hawk on Bosnia and that she believes in sending troops into these places. I wonder what her military background is. Has she ever served where you get shot at in military service? I wonder if Clinton's daughter will be serving over in the mines of Bosnia. It's easy to send other people's kids when you don't have to go. In my opinion, what we've got here instead of hawks is chicken hawks -- people who'd be glad to send your kids, but they wouldn't go themselves.

Time to ad KPLR

THIS IS for TCI. There's no excuse now. Bring us KPLR for St. Louis. They just keeping taking and taking and taking from us and raising the prices. It's ridiculous.

Burglars, not strippers

I THINK the police department can spend more time in trying to catch these burglars that are bothering these old people in place of worrying about a stripper on South Kingshighway.

Maybe it's gang related

THIS IS about all the burglaries and break-ins of the senior citizens of the community. It seems like the police are missing the boat here somewhat. This just jumps out to me to be a gang initiation rite. What better way to get initiated in a gang than to go out and do such thing on a repeated basis. And the more successful they are, the more they'll do it. I'm thinking the police have ignored or haven't taken seriously the gang influence in the community even when it's been pointed out to them. I think we're starting to reap what we sowed when we ignored this, when we could have done something before.

Light thief steals spirit

OUR HOME and our spirits have been darkened due the cowardly act of Christmas light thieves. Hope you get as much enjoyment out of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus as our five great-grandchildren and your abode is well lit from the hundreds of lights you took from our home. Next time, knock on the door and we'll give you some lights. This is the time to celebrate Jesus' birthday. Please remember that.

Cable rates are high

THEY JUST announced where TCI is cutting it's work force. No wonder their rates are so high. Plus we are a small business owner, and they told us our rates double with a three-year contract or triple with a one-year contract. Yes, city of Cape, the residential customers will probably get it next. That's why the businesses are all canceling the cable.

Drug dealing in school

THE DRUG problem in our school systems is getting really out of hand, and so many teachers, students and parents are just ignoring it. My son saw a drug deal go down in the hall while teachers and students walked by. Don't tell no one knows what's going on.

Harassing adult entertainment

IT MIGHT be more appropriate for the powers that be, including the police department, to spend less effort harassing the adult entertainment businesses in Cape and more effort pursuing crimes involving victims. After all, no adult business has tackled someone off the street and dragged them inside and forced them to spend money. A few more boo-boos on the part of the city and it will probably cost the citizens of Cape more money than most of us think reasonable.

It's up to the police

YOUR HEADLINES on Saturday's paper says that Crime Stoppers would help nab Cape burglars. Well, if you had a good police department in Cape Girardeau they would nab the Cape burglars without the Crime Stoppers.

Call in the National Guard

IN AN emergency, the National Guard delivers medicine and food to the elderly and disabled. It sure would be nice if there could be one or two of the Guard members in each house that looks vulnerable so that they could catch some of those crooks.

Burglars, not speeders

ONE OF the ways they could help clean up this burglary outbreak in Cape Girardeau and solve it is take some of the police officers that they're using in the speed traps all over town and utilize their services while they're on the payroll and work on the burglary system instead of on the taxpaying citizens who are merely trying to get to work.

Cleaning up at Central

HIGH PRAISE to all Central High students engaged in SAGE, Students Aspire to Guard the Environment. We adults would do well to follow your example. It takes courage and humbleness to clean up after your peers. Don't give up. You're the really cool ones.

Immorality and Democrats

ONCE AGAIN, I have opened up the Southeast Missourian and turned to Speak Out and have seen the word "immoral." I immediately knew that I would find Clinton's name soon to follow. The narrow-minded people who read the Southeast Missourian think that immorality applies to Democrats and Clinton. I've never heard anything about immorality with the Doles, the Bonds and the Emersons. Come on, folks, get real.

Never forget Pearl Harbor

IN 1942, I won a pair of snow boots for singing "Let's Remember Pearl Harbor" in a talent contest at the Princess Theater in Texarkana, Texas. I am now 67 years old, and today hardly anyone remembers Dec. 7. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was horrible and unforgettable. I will never forget.

A second chance

AS A reformed alcoholic, I encourage more people to quit drinking. I'd like to thank the judges for giving me a second chance too.

Pearl Harbor mentioned

I CANNOT understand why the Missourian did not have something about Pearl Harbor Day in Dec. 7. Now, if there's something in there and I overlooked it, I apologize, but I sure looked twice and I did not find anything that even had a mention of this historic day in American history.

REPLY: One of the editorials on Dec. 7 was a tribute to those who died on that fateful day.

Santa's got the habit

WELL HERE it is, getting close to Christmas. I had my Santa sitting in his chair in the driveway. Evidently, some neighbor kids turned him on to cigarettes. He should be helping the elves prepare for Christmas but all he wants to do is sit in the driveway, smoking cigarettes. Thanks a lot.

Columnist is a nitpicker

PETER KINDER'S columns are always so picky, picky, picky. He always picks on Hillary Rodham Clinton. Why doesn't he give us something informative instead of being such a nitpicker?

Something to talk about

I'M SO glad we got a Democratic president and Hillary Clinton. I tell you, if it wouldn't be for them, we wouldn't have nothing in Missouri to talk about.

Split tax bills in half

THIS IS to Mayor Spradling and the council members. It would be a big help to property owners and the city budget to have taxes payable half in June and the rest in November. Coming at Christmas time is hard on most people. See what you can do about it.

The real flip-flops

SEN. BOND, get real. The president may agree with some of your ideas. That doesn't mean he's become a Republican. Matter of fact, I think you're rather hypocritical, Sen. Bond. You'll up and call him a liberal, you and your party, then you'll up and say he's turned Republican. You talk about flip-flopping. I think the Republicans are the biggest flip-flops that God ever put breath into. One minute he's a liberal Democrat and he doesn't want to admit it, and the next minute he's changed to Republican. I think the only reason you people took control of Congress is because you threw a scare into the American people that you didn't want to give Bill Clinton the Republican Congress.

It's up to the police

YOUR HEADLINES on Saturday's paper says that Crime Stoppers would help nab Cape burglars. Well, if you had a good police department in Cape Girardeau they would nab the Cape burglars without the Crime Stoppers.

Call in the National Guard

IN AN emergency, the National Guard delivers medicine and food to the elderly and disabled. It sure would be nice if there could be one or two of the Guard members in each house that looks vulnerable so that they could catch some of those crooks.

Burglars, not speeders

ONE OF the ways they could help clean up this burglary outbreak in Cape Girardeau and solve it is take some of the police officers that they're using in the speed traps all over town and utilize their services while they're on the payroll and work on the burglary system instead of on the taxpaying citizens who are merely trying to get to work.

Cleaning up at Central

HIGH PRAISE to all Central High students engaged in SAGE, Students Aspire to Guard the Environment. We adults would do well to follow your example. It takes courage and humbleness to clean up after your peers. Don't give up. You're the really cool ones.

Immorality and Democrats

ONCE AGAIN, I have opened up the Southeast Missourian and turned to Speak Out and have seen the word "immoral." I immediately knew that I would find Clinton's name soon to follow. The narrow-minded people who read the Southeast Missourian think that immorality applies to Democrats and Clinton. I've never heard anything about immorality with the Doles, the Bonds and the Emersons. Come on, folks, get real.

Never forget Pearl Harbor

IN 1942, I won a pair of snow boots for singing "Let's Remember Pearl Harbor" in a talent contest at the Princess Theater in Texarkana, Texas. I am now 67 years old, and today hardly anyone remembers Dec. 7. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was horrible and unforgettable. I will never forget.

A second chance

AS A reformed alcoholic, I encourage more people to quit drinking. I'd like to thank the judges for giving me a second chance too.

Pearl Harbor mentioned

I CANNOT understand why the Missourian did not have something about Pearl Harbor Day in Dec. 7. Now, if there's something in there and I overlooked it, I apologize, but I sure looked twice and I did not find anything that even had a mention of this historic day in American history.

REPLY: One of the editorials on Dec. 7 was a tribute to those who died on that fateful day.

Santa's got the habit

WELL HERE it is, getting close to Christmas. I had my Santa sitting in his chair in the driveway. Evidently, some neighbor kids turned him on to cigarettes. He should be helping the elves prepare for Christmas but all he wants to do is sit in the driveway, smoking cigarettes. Thanks a lot.

Columnist is a nitpicker

PETER KINDER'S columns are always so picky, picky, picky. He always picks on Hillary Rodham Clinton. Why doesn't he give us something informative instead of being such a nitpicker?

Something to talk about

I'M SO glad we got a Democratic president and Hillary Clinton. I tell you, if it wouldn't be for them, we wouldn't have nothing in Missouri to talk about.

Split tax bills in half

THIS IS to Mayor Spradling and the council members. It would be a big help to property owners and the city budget to have taxes payable half in June and the rest in November. Coming at Christmas time is hard on most people. See what you can do about it.

The real flip-flops

SEN. BOND, get real. The president may agree with some of your ideas. That doesn't mean he's become a Republican. Matter of fact, I think you're rather hypocritical, Sen. Bond. You'll up and call him a liberal, you and your party, then you'll up and say he's turned Republican. You talk about flip-flopping. I think the Republicans are the biggest flip-flops that God ever put breath into. One minute he's a liberal Democrat and he doesn't want to admit it, and the next minute he's changed to Republican. I think the only reason you people took control of Congress is because you threw a scare into the American people that you didn't want to give Bill Clinton the Republican Congress.