SPEAKOUT

Record news is important

PLEASE LEAVE the police reports, the marriage licenses, divorce and court news in the paper. I buy the paper for news, and those items are news.

Special term limits

WE CERTAINLY have our share of whining crybabies in this town, and it seems the majority of them have chosen to associate themselves with education, from the university to the public school system. Figure it out: If you can't do your job, you'll be replaced.

Who's next on list?

WELL, AMY, you got the school board in shambles. Who's next on your vindictive list? Let us know. We're waiting with baited breath.

Maybe I'm nosy

THE TODAY'S record section is for local news. Please do omit any police, divorces, marriage licenses, court news or births. You may call me nosy, but it's why I buy the paper.

Should have quit sooner

ABOUT the last two board members who have resigned: Mr. Ruopp and Ms. Swan. Mr. Ruopp obviously should have resigned long ago as the board didn't have the public trust. Ms. Swan should have resigned at least a year ago when she was in on the shenanigans on the change in graduation requirements to go through the ceremony. And how dare her accuse Bob Fox and others of unethical conduct, when I believe the boy who was allowed to go through graduation was a very close friend of Ms. Swan's daughter as well as Dr. Clark's children.

CONGRATULATIONS to Kathy Swan and Pat Ruopp. At least they followed their gut instincts. That's more than Fox and Wright will do.

Carpets or education?

THE PICTURE in Wednesday's paper makes a clear statement by the university, which can spend $40,000 on scripted floor covering when there are financial concerns about whether students will be able to afford tuition, books or housing. Does it not say something about our society when carpet is more important that our children?

Thanks for good service

THIS IS a thank you to Ed Thompson, Kathy Swan and Pat Ruopp for their many years of dedicated work on the public school board. You did a good job, and this is a big thank you from a mom and grandmother.

Waiting for computers

I'M A full-time student at Southeast Missouri State University, and I pay tuition and fees to use their equipment. Today, however, when I went to Kent Library to use the computer lab, I was horrified to see I had to wait in line to use the computers while junior high kids played games on five of them. I think this should be stopped, or they should have to pay the fees as I do.

Look for your name

THIS QUESTION is to the person who wants the police report and divorce section taken out of the paper: What's the matter? Afraid you'll see your name?

Other volunteer opportunities

I JUST wanted to say hurray for Pat Ruopp and Kathy Swan. We suggest you put your children in the parochial schools where you volunteer work is truly appreciated.

Proud Advance team

I JUST saw in the paper where Advance school cannot afford to pay $300 to send the math team and coach to state competition. The school has always sent junior high and high school winners and coaches to state competition until this year. Are they that hard up now for funds, or is there something rotten in Denmark? Did the school board make this decision or just the superintendent? These junior high students and coach have stayed after school off and on all year to learn more and work faster to solve math problems. They also gave up some Saturdays going to contests and won the right to go to state. It seems like a slap in the face for them to beg for funds. The school should be proud for them to represent it at state and make them feel honored to be from Advance.

Inspiring FDR tribute

I WAS watching the tribute on C-Span for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the 50th anniversary of his death in Warm Springs, Ga., at the little White House. It was very inspiring, and I loved it very much. I was thinking how nice 50 years later if we could all give our present President Clinton honor and encourage him instead of trying to run him down. He is doing the best he knows how, and that is all that is asked of anyone.

High school concerns

I'M A senior at Cape Central High School. I have two points of concern. Seniors have gotten out a week early for many years, and it's a shame we don't get that privilege. Two, they say we can't go to our peers' awards assembly because it would make some of us feel inferior. I am proud of my class, and I have seen classes before mine excel and I would like to see which people in my class achieve things. I cannot wait until I get out of the Cape public school system.

Clogged arteries?

I'VE ONLY got one thing to say. I read your paper everyday. I love your paper. It's like butter. Southeast Missourian is to die for.

Why the commission?

I'D LIKE to know why the county commission is going to pick the new school board members. I thought the school district was its own political district because it has the right to levy taxes in the city for our own school district and it's not in the county.

REPLY: By state law the county commission fills school board vacancies whenever there are more than two positions open at one time.

They did something right

THIS IS the first thing that Swan and Ruopp have done right in all of these years. Hallelujah.

PAT RUOPP and Kathy Swan are acting like spoiled brats. Just because they didn't get their way, they resigned. It's a shame they couldn't think about the children of Cape Girardeau rather than themselves.

What about Amy?

I WAS just thinking, since Cape Girardeau needs a new school board member, what about Amy Randol? Seems to me she's tried and trusted. She ought to make a good one.

Black representation

I WOULD like to urge the black woman from the south part of Cape Girardeau who ran for the school board a couple of years ago and was defeated to submit name to the county commissioners for one of the school board positions. I voted for her then, and I would like to support her now.

Vindictive duo

IN REGARDS to Kathy Swan quitting the school board and Amy Randol applying for the school board: I hope the county commission doesn't replace one vindictive woman with another vindictive woman.

Actions over words

KATHY SWAN, have you ever heard the phrase "actions speak louder than words?" Your statement about your offer of a reconciliation with the other board members and your caring for the children seems to come with a stipulation that you be president of the board. You're like a child who claims if I can't have my way, I won't play. All you seem to want to do is attack other people who oppose you power. Your resignation is no loss.

Personal attacks

KATHY SWAN'S personal attacks on the remaining school board members is petty and childish. Two of the members have only held their board seats for a few days, so how can she possibly accuse them of having a personal agenda? When it comes to personal agendas, Kathy Swan wrote the book. It was her personal agenda that brought about the graduation controversy and the beginning of Dr. Clark's troubles.

Clinton is the best

I AGREE with the Speak Out about Clinton being the best president we ever had. Folks, watch out on coming election if you want to eat, more jobs and so forth.

Pick up the marbles

THIS IS in regard to the school board members who resigned. They remind me of some kids playing marbles. If they don't win, they pick up their marbles and go home. But these two are supposed to be mature adults. Sure makes one wonder.

Only way is up

THE NEW Cape school board has only one way to go, and that is forward.

Lagging on recycling

THE CITY council is still dragging their feet over recycling and trash pickup. It should have been done years ago.

A correlation?

HOW COME the Cape schools are in such a poor predicament now if the old board was so perfect?

More witch hunts?

NOW THAT Amy Randol has completed her witch hunt, it causes me to wonder who will be next. With all respect and thanks due Ed Thompson, John Campbell, Kathy Swan and Patrick Ruopp, I would urge them to never accept another public service position, because they will be persecuted just as our dear Lord was crucified years ago for being perfect.

A good work ethic

I AM really concerned about our young people today. I have asked several young people in my neighborhood if they would like to earn extra money by cleaning snow off my sidewalks, raking leaves and other odd jobs. They all say no and act indignant that I'd ask them. Why? Because their parents give them money, cars and anything they need to hang out as they call it or stay at the mall. When my son and daughter were growing up, they shoveled snow, raked leaves, babysat, ran errands and made good money, and it has made them responsible grownups and it is now showing up in my grandchildren. Wake up, parents of teens, teach your child to learn responsibility and how to be self-reliant.

Gephardt and Gingrich

IN REGARDS to the person who said that Newt Gingrich and Dick Gephardt are the same is just like saying cold is the very same thing as hot. You won't find Dick Gephardt thinking children should be in orphanages, and Gephardt is for national health care and increasing the minimum wage. He's maybe for a little smaller government, but he still thinks government needs to have certain powers. They're all together different. It's an insult to compare good statesman like Gephardt to the rich man's representative, Gingrich.

The graduation issue

I SAY thank heavens Swan and Ruopp are gone. Maybe now the school board can get something done and get rid of Clark. If she had kept her nose out of graduation, she might have been elected. She shouldn't have assumed she would be president.

AS A former supporter of Mrs. Swan and Mr. Ruopp I was greatly saddened by the decision to resign, but what troubles me more deeply is the childish manner in which they have behaved concerning all this. When they were among the majority on the board, they didn't mind handing down rulings that didn't follow proper procedures such as the graduation ceremony and many other fiascoes those two board members have been involved in. So as a former supporter, I'm deeply disappointed, and I think the Cape Girardeau public school system and the community are much better off with those two people back in private business.

Pick up the litter

SINCE April 17-22 is spring cleanup, I would like to suggest that everyone go over their own business or property and pick up the litter. The litter along the Main Street is unbelievable. Also the maintenance at the post office could clean up along the gutter on the parking lot. It is filthy.

Good move in Advance

THIS IS regarding the Advance Police Department. Congratulations, Advance Board of Aldermen. I feel you have made a very wise decision. Being a police officer is not about being in the spotlight of the local media for doing your job. It is about protecting and serving your community. Maybe the former police chief, Don Cecil, should have focused on serving his community without contacting the media every time he did something within his job description. Maybe he did do something worthwhile, but it should have been started years ago.

A soap opera

I HOPE all the school board pettiness will end soon. We sound like a soap opera. Dr. Ruopp and Mrs. Swan sound like two spoiled children, they didn't get their way. The other four wouldn't work with them, but for the sake of the children why wouldn't the two work with the other four?

THIS IS to Kathy and Pat. It is inconceivable that two adults and supposedly professional people could act to childish. Grow up. Your attitude is not becoming. If you don't get your way, you pack up your dolls and go home mad. Now you're twisting it around to make the new board president and vice president look like the bad guys. Well, they aren't. They had the strength to stand up to you. Your credibility in this community has been lowered by your behavior.

AFTER READING Kathy Swan's long overdue resignation letter in the Missourian, it is apparent that she just can't handle the idea of being in the minority. In spite of her fabulous years of experience, I prefer the common sense and integrity of the new board members. After all, Kathy, what good is experience if you're out of touch with the community?

TWO MORE bite the dust. Kathy and Pat can't have their way so they just won't play. All I can so much the better for our schools. The only thing that I can possibly see that would be any better is that Clark would follow their way.

NOW THAT Kathy Swan and Dr. Ruopp have resigned from the school board, they have done the school district and the city of Cape Girardeau a great favor. Now if Dr. Neyland Clark would be as wise to resign and leave this area, then we could hire somebody who knows what they're doing. I wish all the new members and all those that will be appointed by the commission a great deal of success. Our hopes and prayers go with them.

I WANT to thank Pat Ruopp and Kathy Swan for resigning from the board. I believe it was way overdue for them to resign.